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Quarantining procedures for all returning Sri Lankans
With queries to the Sunday Times about quarantining procedures for Sri Lankans (including students or dual citizens) who are returning to the country, with or without vaccination, this is what Consultant Community Physician, Dr. S. Dilhani Samarasekera of the Quarantine Unit said:
- The person has to get approval from the Foreign Ministry by sending a request on email to Foreign Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage giving information whether he/she would be staying back permanently or returning, passport number, country of embarkation and a tentative date of arrival. The ‘entry permission’ email is available on the Foreign Ministry website https://mfa.gov.lk/ or information may be sought by calling the Foreign Ministry. Sri Lanka’s foreign mission in the country from which the person is embarking should also be informed beforehand. The Foreign Secretary approves such requests and passes them onto the relevant authorities. Thereafter, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) will give their approval.
Both those approvals are necessary to board the flight as well as to disembark and get out of the airport. The person can book a flight to Sri Lanka through any airline that operates to
Sri Lanka.
The person has to get a negative RT-PCR test report in English within 96 hours prior to embarkation to
Sri Lanka (this applies to foreigners as well) or a negative antigen test within 48 hours prior to embarkation to Sri Lanka. The latter is only applicable to
Sri Lankans and dual citizenship holders.
The usual quarantine laws of Sri Lanka would apply – on arrival, the person would have to either go into a designated hotel or a state-run quarantine centre for a 14-day quarantine period. If the person opts for a hotel, once he/she arrives, the person would be taken to a hotel – it would not be of his/her choice because it would depend on room vacancies at the time of arrival.
At the hotel, on the day of arrival another RT-PCR test would be done by a private hospital (all paid for with the airfare costing) and a third RT-PCR any time between Day 11 and 14. The person would be released on Day 14 if all these tests are negative.
Those who have been at hotels do not have to have a 14-day home quarantine if all tests are negative but those who have gone into state quarantine centres have to undergo a further 14-day home quarantine.
In the case of someone who is returning with a severe medical condition
- If someone is coming to Sri Lanka with a severe medical condition and needs to be admitted to hospital; in the first email that is sent to the Foreign Ministry Secretary, this request and details about the medical condition should be included.
- When the person arrives in Sri Lanka, his/her medical condition would be assessed by the Airport Health Officer and he/she would be sent to the relevant hospital if medical treatment is needed.
- The 14-day quarantine period will be at the hospital. If, however, the person recovers and is discharged before the 14 days are up, then the remainder of the quarantine period has to be spent in a quarantine facility.
- The bystander who accompanies the patient is usually not allowed to be with the patient. There are private hospital managed quarantine centres and sometimes the bystanders ask whether they can stay in those. They have to get the approval through the first email to the Foreign Secretary, which request would be evaluated by the health authorities.
Foreigners
- Foreigners who come into the country to work on projects, etc. have to make the request with the relevant documentation.
The transport and quarantine facilities are mainly managed by the army.
Tourists
Sri Lankans who apply as tourists (aside from the usual foreign tourists) have to follow the procedure for tourists such as being restricted in the travel bubble and staying in the designated Level I hotels. They cannot meet family or friends. Please see: https://www.srilanka.travel/helloagain/