• The Minister of Tourism has instructed the authorities to take all necessary measures for the safety of tourists visiting the country.
• Covid – 19 Insurance Coverage for the tourists is increased to $7,500.
• 11,535 tourists have arrived in Sri Lanka during the first four days of February.

Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranathunga has instructed the officials of the Tourism Development Authority of Sri Lanka to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of tourists visiting the country. The Minister further instructed the officials to immediately implement joint programs with the government institutions related to tourism zones and public transport services for tourists in addition to the already implemented program for this purpose.

Steps have been already taken to establish the Tourist Police as a separate police unit for the safety of tourists. Constructions of new Tourist Police Stations at Mount Lavinia and Unawatuna have been commenced. Accordingly, steps have been taken to establish the Mirissa Tourist Police Station at a cost of Rs. 5.3 million. Minister of Tourism said that it has been planned to set up separate tourist police units in the future in each of the tourist zones which have been already published in the Gazette. It is the responsibility of all parties to ensure the safety of all tourists visiting the country, Minister added.

Tourist arrivals in the country are currently recovering.  The number of tourists who arrived in the country during the first four days of February was recorded as 11,535. The highest number of tourists arrived in the country was on the 2nd of February and it was recorded as 3,335.And, 1,94,495 tourists visited the country last year in the face of  global pandemic of Covid -19, and 82,327 tourists  have arrived in Sri Lanka  last month.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranathunga pointed out that it has been made mandatory for tourists visiting Sri Lanka to obtain Covid-19 insurance coverage and the insurance coverage has been increased to US $ 7,500.Previously, the insurance coverage was US $ 5,000. However, the premium has not been changed.  Only $ 12 will be charged for this.  The Minister further stated that steps have been taken to increase the benefits of this insurance coverage.