The Government has clarified that the reopening of Sri Lanka’s borders on 26 December is a pilot project, while official lifting of restrictions is slated for January, the Daily FT reported.

The pilot project’s key focus will be to assess the protocols that have been implemented to handle the influx of tourists once the country’s borders are formally opened for international tourism by mid-January.

Government officials said the pilot project will be implemented for a month’s period, until a formal announcement is made on the resumption of international tourism in January.

According to the Daily Ft, sources have said the pilot project is the same initiative which was approved by the Cabinet to bring 44,000 tourists from the Russian Federation.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando said they were awaiting the final protocols from the health authorities and assured that they were keen to implement them in the immediate future.

She further said nearly 70 hotels accounting for around 6,500 rooms have received ‘Safe and Secure’ compliance certification to resume operations post-COVID.

According to Health Ministry guidelines, no more than 300 tourists per day in total would be allowed at both the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and Mattala International Airport (MIA), while it would be reopened for tourists in a phased-out manner.