Minister of Tourism, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga says that once the vaccination targets are achieved, it will be possible to remove the existing travel restrictions in the country.

The Minister said that the aim of the vaccination program is to build immunity in the body of the majority of the population of the country.

The Minister said this while participating in a press conference held with Russian journalists yesterday (06).This press conference was organized at the St. Regis Hotel this morning with the Minister of Tourism who is in Russia to participate in a tourism promotion campaign implemented by the Tourism Development Authority of Sri Lanka.

This press conference was the inaugural program of the Russian Tourism Promotion campaign. Under this campaign, meeting with travel agents, a photo exhibition featuring photographs of Sri Lankan tourist destinations and several other events will be held in Russia in the coming days.

The Minister said that Sri Lankan government has so far been able to administer the first dose of the Covid vaccine to 90% of Sri Lankans over the age of 30 and the second dose to 60%.Responding to questions raised by Russian journalists, the Minister said that he believed that the vaccination program for Sri Lankans over the age of 20 would achieve 100% of the target within the next few weeks.

Sri Lankan President, H.E. Gotabhaya Rajapakse strongly believes that the safety of the lives of the people must be ensured first in order to move the country forward in the face of this global pandemic.

The Minister also said that Sri Lanka could be considered as a safe and suitable tourist destination for the Russians, as the government is taking necessary steps to promote the tourism industry by ensuring the health of the people and tourists.

Accordingly, a program has been introduced in Sri Lanka to prevent the spread of the virus from tourists to Sri Lankans and from Sri Lankans to tourists.

He also spoke to Russian journalists about the secure travel bubble system that Sri Lanka introduced to the world and the success of the pilot project so implemented. Steps have been taken to identify 6000 new tourist destinations of historic value and entertainment and to develop the facilities required for tourists to visit these places.

Therefore, we request that Sri Lanka be selected as an attractive tourist destination for the Russians in the coming winter ˜ the Minister further added during the press conference with Russian journalists.

State Minister of Regional Cooperation, Hon. Tharaka Balasuriya, Chairperson of the Tourism Development Authority of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Kimali Fernando and Chairman of Sri Lankan Airlines, Mr. Ashok Pathirage were also present on the occasion.