The military funeral of late Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India General Bipin Rawat and his spouse Mrs Madhulika Rawat took place (Dece-10) with full military honours at Brar Crematorium in Dhaula Quan, New Delhi, amidst Ministerial delegates, Foreign Diplomats, both foreign and local high ranking military dignitaries, Indian government administrators, Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force Staff of the Indian Armed Forces, Senior Tri Service Officers, Family Members and a vast gathering of mourners.

The Ambassador of Poland Adam Burakowski, concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, met Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on Wednesday 8 December 2021 at the Foreign Ministry and discussed issues of mutual interest. Ambassador Burakowskiwas on a visit to Colombo to coincide with the recommencement of direct flights of LOT Polish Airlines to Sri Lanka.

2021.12.11

Release No: 1259/2021
Release Time:12.15

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Travel restrictions lift for several African countries, no PCR required for travellers below 12 – Health Services Director-General

The travel restrictions for those arriving from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini have been removed with immediate effect, Health Services Director General Dr Asela Gunawardana has informed.

Earlier the Health Service Director General imposed travel restrictions for the passengers arriving in Sri Lanka from the above countries on November 26, 2021. In addition, the Director-General of Health Services has informed the Director- General of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Chairman of the Airport Aviation Services to ensure all the travellers arriving in Sri Lanka upload online relevant documents such as Vaccination records, Pre-departure COVID-19 negative test report and Data page of the Passport beforehand. Further, the Health Services Director General instructs the relevant authorities to ensure the inbound travellers fill a mandatory Online Health Declaration at the arrival counters of the airports.

Such travellers should possess QR Codes on his or her mobile phone or hard copy. These new regulations will come to effect from 1 st  January 2022.
Meanwhile, Health Services Director General Dr Gunawardena stated that children below 12 years do not need to carry Pre-departure COVID-19 test reports. Accordingly, only for the travellers, aged 12 or above it is still mandatory to carry a negative COVID-19 PCR test report in the English language done within 72 hours before his or her embarkation.

If any traveller had contracted COVID-19 during the last three months, he or she could carry a negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test report done within 48 hours before the embarkation. They should also carry some verifiable evidence such as a diagnostic card, positive Rapid Antigen test report issued in English to prove his/ her history of COVID-19 infection.

Mohan Samaranayake
Director General of Government Information

During his first courtesy call on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa since recently assuming duties in Sri Lanka as the new Ambassador of Japan, Ambassador Mizukoshi Hideakisaid that the Government of Japan is interested in attracting skilled workers from Sri Lanka.