Sri Lanka has reopened to tourists for the first time in almost a year.
The island nation, which is a favourite with holidaymakers from the UAE, closed to international travellers in March 2020, and has remained shut to tourists for almost 10 months owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
Following a pilot programme during which approved groups of tourists visited the country in December, operations at Sri Lanka's international airports have resumed and tourists can once again fly to the South Asian destination.
There are several new regulations in place designed to protect travellers and citizens during the pandemic. In a media briefing with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) on Tuesday, chairwoman Kimarli Fernando set out the new policies.
"Travellers are most welcome in Sri Lanka. If you are an independent traveller, please book whichever Level 1 hotel you would like to stay in, then ask them to arrange your transportation from the airport. What is different from pre-Covid-19, is that you cannot just walk out of the airport and use public transport."
What is different from pre-Covid-19, is that you cannot just walk out of the airport and use public transport
All visitors travelling to Sri Lanka must show a negative Covid-19 PCR test result before flying, then take another test on arrival. Tourists must also stay in government-approved hotels for the first 14 days of any trip, although they can leave the premises for organised sightseeing purposes.
There's also a limit on the number of passengers who can fly to Sri Lanka. This is currently capped at 3,300 per day to help prevent crowding.
As one of the country's biggest industries, employing more than two million Sri Lankans, tourism is on course to restart in an effort to help boost the nation's economy.
If you are thinking of paying Sri Lanka a visit this year, here's what you need to know before you go.
Can anyone travel to Sri Lanka?
There are only a few limits on foreign travellers planning to visit Sri Lanka. The most notable exception is the UK, with travellers from the country currently not permitted and flights to Sri Lanka cancelled.
Before flying to Sri Lanka, all tourists must apply for an online visa. This can be done via the Immigration ETA portal. To complete the process, travellers first need to book and pay $40 for each PCR test they will require during their stay. For visits of up to seven days, two PCR tests are required. For stays of more than seven days, three tests will be needed.
Tourists must also take out compulsory insurance that covers treatment for Covid-19 before submitting their visa application. There is a mandatory policy that costs $12 per person. Finally, all travellers must have a reservation in a government-approved Level 1 "Safe and Secure" hotel before visa applications can be processed.
Do I need a PCR test before flying?
Yes, in addition to booking a PCR test on arrival and during their stay in Sri Lanka, travellers must also take a Covid-19 test before they fly. This includes children. Negative results must be received within 96 hours of arrival in Sri Lanka and will be requested by airlines before boarding is allowed.
What are the rules if I'm vaccinated?
At the moment, the rules are the same for all travellers, whether people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or not.
Which airlines are flying to Sri Lanka?
Sri Lankan Airlines is flying in and out of the country to several destinations. From the UAE, Etihad is operating three times per week to Colombo, while Dubai's Emirates says it is operating four flights per week. Tickets for seats on these flights remain limited at this time.
A spokeswoman from flydubai told The National that "flights to Colombo have not resumed yet", however, tickets for this route are available to book on the low-cost airline's website from Sunday, March 28.
Do I need to stay in Sri Lanka for 14 days?
"There is no mandatory minimum quarantine, meaning you can come for any number of days, whether it's one day, two days, five days … Sri Lanka has not indicated that you need to stay for a specific number of days, it's up to you," said Fernando.
However, for the first 14 days of any visit, travellers must stay only in Level 1 certified "Safe and Secure" hotels. If travellers have received their negative on-arrival PCR test result, they are allowed to change to other Level 1 certified hotels, and can stay in several different resorts located across the country. This means that travellers don't need to spend their entire trip in one region of Sri Lanka.
For those staying in the country for more than four days, another PCR test will be conducted at approved hotels on days five, six or seven. A third PCR test must be carried out for travellers staying longer, with tests conducted at hotels between days 10 and 14.
Can I leave my hotel?
Tourists will not be in strict quarantine in their hotel and will be able to use all the facilities, including pools, spas and restaurants with social-distancing in place. Shoreline hotels that have worked with the country's tourism development authority have to ensure there is no mingling between locals and tourists can also offer guests beach access.
Tourists can also leave their hotel to visit approved tourist sites under the safety of what authorities are calling a "bio-bubble".
Hotels are responsible for alerting medical officers at these tourist sites that guests will be visiting and should also arrange transportation and share itinerary details with local authorities. Staff accompanying tourists on these visits will have either quarantined for 14 days or will be wearing full PPE.
Which hotels can I book?
There are currently nearly 50 hotels designated as Level 1 "Safe and Secure" by Sri Lankan authorities. These hotels are set up to ensure that tourists have a safe but enjoyable stay in the country.
Each has a dedicated medical officer on site, an isolation room and a specific QR code that tourists can scan to get more information on health services, restrictions and other information during their stay.
The hotels are dotted around the country and range from five-star hotels in Colombo to guesthouses in Tangalle and eco-safari camps in Yalla. The variety of accommodation on offer means that there's something for every budget – the complete list of approved accommodation can be found here.
What is there to do in Sri Lanka?
There's an approved list of more than 15 tourism sites that travellers can visit which can be downloaded from this site. This includes some of Sri Lanka's most popular attractions such as The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sigiriya Fortress in the Central Province, whale-spotting in Mirissa and several national parks.
Restricted opening times are in place at these sites, as well as additional safety measures such as limited visitor numbers, social distancing and separate counters for foreign tourists.
Can I stay in Sri Lanka longer than 14 days?
After the first 14 days in the country, tourists who have not had a positive PCR test result are free to stay at any hotel or guesthouse in Sri Lanka and can explore the country freely. Travellers must adhere to rules in place for all citizens and residents such as compulsory face masks, no public gatherings and social distancing.
Tourists are advised to refrain from using public transport in Sri Lanka, even when they have been in the country for longer than 14 days.
What happens if I test positive for Covid-19 in Sri Lanka?
Travellers will be covered for any positive Covid-19 test result.
“You should not worry, because if you are positive, you will simply be asked to rest in your hotel room," said Fernando. "If you have symptoms and need medical assistance, you will be sent to a private hospital, and your Covid-19 insurance will cover everything including the ambulance journey, any care in the hospital, tests, X-rays etc."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WTL%20SCHEDULE
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KLOPP%20AT%20LIVERPOOL
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SPEC%20SHEET
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
SNAPSHOT
While Huawei did launch the first smartphone with a 50MP image sensor in its P40 series in 2020, Oppo in 2014 introduced the Find 7, which was capable of taking 50MP images: this was done using a combination of a 13MP sensor and software that resulted in shots seemingly taken from a 50MP camera.
ARGYLLE
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
MATCH DETAILS
Barcelona 0
Slavia Prague 0
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Results:
6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres
Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m
Winner: Spotify, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: UAE Oakes | Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile | Group 2 | $250,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Mythical Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.20pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Major Partnership, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (11.30pm)
Saturday
Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Schalke (6.30pm)
Union Berlin v Borussia Monchengladbach (6.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldof v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Cologne (9.30pm)
Sunday
Augsburg v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Mainz (9pm)
Brief scores:
Toss: Sindhis, elected to field first
Pakhtoons 137-6 (10 ov)
Fletcher 68 not out; Cutting 2-14
Sindhis 129-8 (10 ov)
Perera 47; Sohail 2-18
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
TOUR RESULTS AND FIXTURES
June 3: NZ Provincial Barbarians 7 Lions 13
June 7: Blues 22 Lions 16
June 10: Crusaders 3 Lions 12
June 13: Highlanders 23 Lions 22
June 17: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
June 20: Chiefs 6 Lions 34
June 24: New Zealand 30 Lions 15
June 27: Hurricanes 31 Lions 31
July 1: New Zealand 21 Lions 24
July 8: New Zealand v Lions
Scotland's team:
15-Sean Maitland, 14-Darcy Graham, 13-Nick Grigg, 12-Sam Johnson, 11-Byron McGuigan, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Ali Price, 8-Magnus Bradbury, 7-Hamish Watson, 6-Sam Skinner, 5-Grant Gilchrist, 4-Ben Toolis, 3-Willem Nel, 2-Stuart McInally (captain), 1-Allan Dell
Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, 17-Gordon Reid, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Jonny Gray, 20-Josh Strauss, 21-Greig Laidlaw, 22-Adam Hastings, 23-Chris Harris
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
