Sri Lanka reopens: first tourists arrive under pilot programme
The island's airport reopened to tourists on 26 December 2020, with a Ukrainian charter the first arrivals under the pilot.
Sri Lanka's international airport reopened to tourists on 26 December 2020, marking the end of a nine-month closure. A charter flight carrying Ukrainian tourists landed at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport as the first batch of international visitors under the pilot programme, which is supervised directly by the Ministry of Health. A separately scheduled flight bringing Russian visitors was put on hold.
Entry comes with specific requirements. Visitors must commit to a minimum 14-day stay and book pre-paid accommodation at designated Level 1 quarantine hotels — properties that have passed health inspections and are approved for tourist bio-bubbles.
If you're planning a return to Sri Lanka soon, expect these bio-bubble rules to evolve as the pilot expands — we'll keep this page updated as requirements change.
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