17,469 tourists have arrived to the country so far, since the re-opening of the country for tourists after Covid pandemic and it has been revealed that only 183 cases of Covid infections have been reported. Out of the 183 Covid infected tourists, 138 have recovered and returned to their homes.

This was revealed at a special discussion held under the patronage of Minister of Tourism, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga.The discussion was held to discuss the further actions to be taken regarding the bringing of tourists to the country under health guidelines.

 A total of 2258 tourists have arrived in the country under the Pilot Project launched last December, of which only 09 were reported to be Covid infected.  The highest number of tourists visited the island during the period from January to July and that number is 4,581.

The Director General of the Tourism Development Authority, Mrs. Dhammika Wijesinghe emphasized that the allegations made by various parties that the Covid pandemic had spread in the country due to the re-opening of the country to tourists were completely false.  According to health officials, the second wave of Covid pandemic in Sri Lanka was caused by a Ukrainian national, but by that time tourist arrivals had been suspended in the country.  The Ukrainian pilot had not arrived in Sri Lanka as a tourist.  The Indian Delta variant of Covid, which is spreading these days, was first reported from a Sri Lankan who came to Sri Lanka from India.  Health officials confirm that the South African variant was first reported from a Sri Lankan who came to Sri Lanka from South Africa.  It was emphasized that none of the 183 tourists who have been reported to be infected with Covid so far, have been in contacts with the Sri Lankan society and the infected persons have not been reported in the society, as the bringing of tourists into the country has been carried out under a bio-secure travel bubble.

Tourism Minister, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga said that the opposition was deliberately trying to obstruct the bringing of tourists to the country.  That is why they allege that the Covid pandemic has spread in the country through the arrival of tourists.  The Minister pointed out that they want to stop bringing tourists to this country and for that they are trying to create an unnecessary fear among the people on tourist.

The Minister also instructed the officials to prepare a Road Map to expedite the process of attracting tourists to the country.  Accordingly, the Minister instructed that a report be submitted to him within two days on the existing issues, the action to be taken in that regard, the countries to be selected and the promotional campaigns etc.

Mr.S. Hettiarachchi, Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Mrs. Dhammika Wijesinghe, Director General of the Tourism Development Authority, Mrs.Madhubhani Perera, Acting Managing Director of the Tourism Promotion Bureau, Members of the Ministerial  Advisory Committee on Tourism, Mr. Chandra Wickramarasinghe, Mr.Hiran Cooray, Mr.Nimesh Herath,Secretary of the Tour Operators Association,Mr.Nalin Jayasundara  were attended to the discussion.