Covid concerns: Britain flashes red for travellers from Sri Lanka

Sri Lankans have been restricted from entering the UK with effect from Tuesday (8) due to COVID-19 concerns.

The restrictions will come into effect at 04.00hrs (UK time) on June 8. Sri Lanka joins seven other countries added to the UK’s “red list".Countries on the red list are subjected to the toughest COVID-19 travel restrictions in the UK. The other countries that have been recently added to the red list are Afghanistan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Sudan and Trinidad & Tobago.

“For countries going on the red list today, COVID-19 prevalence is assessed to be high and there is evidence to suggest community transmission of variants of concern,” UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Thursday while announcing the new additions to the red list.

Issuing a statement yesterday, SriLankan Airlines clarified that passengers who have already booked their travel tickets on the next three flights to London (UL 503) on June 5, 6 and 7 will not be affected by this change.

From June 8 onward however, passengers from Sri Lanka will not be allowed to travel to the UK unless they are British nationals, Irish nationals or have residence rights in the UK.

Passengers who are allowed to travel have to take a COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result three days (72 hours) before their travel and book a managed quarantine hotel within a 14-day period before arrival. The booking will include hotel, quarantine transport and travel tests for COVID-19 tests on day 2 and day 8 of quarantine. Passengers must also complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) with details of where the passenger will quarantine when they arrive. Passengers must provide a quarantine package invoice number to complete their PLF, the airline stated.

SriLankan Airlines cargo flights will continue as usual.