August 1 scheduled airport reopening likely to get delayed

The government is likely to delay the re-opening of the country’s borders as previously planned for August 1, to facilitate the return of Sri Lankan workers stranded abroad due to 
COVID-19 pandemic.

India’s NDTV quoted Airports Authority Chairman Retired Major General G.A. Chandrasiri as saying that the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) would not be re-opened on August 1 and it will be further delayed.

“The delay is due to the need to make arrangements to bring back home Sri Lankan expatriate workers. We have already got down about 12,000 of them - another 40,000 remain to be brought back. The priority right now is to cater to them enabling their return, “Chandrasiri was quoted as saying. 

The decision will deal a blow to the country’s battered tourism sector stakeholders, as they were gearing to welcome back tourists to the country from August 1 under already set strict 
health guidelines. 

Sri Lanka recorded zero tourist arrivals for the months of April and May.

Sri Lanka recorded only 11 COVID-19 deaths from a little over 2,000 positive cases. There are no deaths reported since June 1.