No Covid restrictions on inbound tourist arrivals: DG: Health Services

• The tourism authorities have no right to take decisions on disease control
• He told Daily Mirror that even the WHO had not announced any specific guidelines on tourist arrivals from China.  

By Kelum Bandara   

The health authorities reiterated yesterday that it would not impose fresh Covid restrictions on inbound tourists, be they from China or elsewhere despite the Tourism Ministry claiming otherwise.  

Asserting that the Tourism Ministry had no authority in the exercise of disease control, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena told Daily Mirror that even the World Health Organization (WHO) had not announced any specific guidelines on tourist arrivals from China.  

“The tourism authorities have no right to take decisions on disease control. It is vested with the Health Minister and transferred to the Director General of Health Services,” Dr. Gunawardena said.   He said tourists are not required to carry any rapid or PCR test reports when arriving in Sri Lanka.  “However, we monitor the situation along with the WHO,” he said.