UK maintains Sri Lanka on travel advisory list

Sri Lanka is not among the list of 67 countries that has been exempted from the Global Travel Advisory or border restrictions for the British nationals against all but essential international travel at the initial stage, the British High Commission in Colombo said issuing a statement.

“Sri Lanka has not been exempted from the Global Travel Advisory or border restrictions at this initial stage,” it said.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) last week announced a change to its Global Travel Advisory, exempting 67 countries from the Global Travel Advisory from July 4th of onwards.

The exemption list includes some of key tourist destinations in Asia Paficic such as Malaysia and Thailand as well as financial hubs such Singapore and Hong Kong. 

However, none of the South Asian nations have been removed from the Global Travel Advisory.

“This first review is part of a gradual and ongoing process of opening up global travel routes and relaxing border restrictions, and will be kept under constant close review to ensure it reflects the latest situation. The UK hopes to add other countries to the exemption list as conditions allow,” the High Commission said.

In addition, the UK last week allowed quarantine-free international travel to around 50 countries “lower risk countries” exempting from 2-week self isolation quarantine regulation from 10th of July onwards when arriving back to the country. 

Some countries such as Thailand, and Malaysia which have been exempted from the Global Travel Advisory have not made into this list.

Sri Lanka remains one of few countries along with Vietnam which has successfully tackled the first wave of  COVID-19. 

“The process for considering changes to Travel Advice takes into account a wide range of factors, including the entry requirements of that country, the availability of transport options and quarantine requirements,” the High Commission reasoned.

However, Vietnam had made into both exemption lists of the UK government. 

Sri Lanka is planning to open the country for international travel by mid august after delaying initial plans to open up the country on first of August amidst surge of returning migrant workers to the country.