Mar 27, Colombo: Chairman of Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority Upul Dharmadasa has issued the following statement regarding the operations of international airports in Sri Lanka during COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 virus in Sri Lanka the following steps have been taken based on the instructions received from the Presidential Task Force for prevention of COVID-19 with regard to the operations of international airports in Sri Lanka:

1. All Online and Offline Airlines were informed that all international Airports in Sri Lanka will be closed for the operation of inbound international commercial passenger flights (i.e. arrivals) until 2359hrs on 31 March 2020 (local time in Sri Lanka). This closure is due to be reviewed by the Sri Lanka Authorities.

2. During the above mentioned closure period the following will be permitted:

a). Aircraft Departures with passengers originating from Colombo, Stop overs, transit passengers or visiting tourists.

b). Emergency Diversions to Bandaranaike International Airport.

c). Freighter Operations and humanitarian flights to Bandaranaike International Airport.

d). Technical landings at Bandaranaike International Airport.

e). Inbound ferry flights (without passengers) at Bandaranaike International Airport.

3. All online and offline Airlines have been instructed that Passengers are permitted to use Bandaranaike International Airport to transit to an onward destination provided:

a) That acceptance of any passenger desiring to transit via BIA should strictly be on the basis that the concerned passenger has a confirmed onward Connection out of Bandaranaike International Airport to an onward destination.

b) That the maximum permitted transit time at BIA for any passenger transiting via Bandaranaike International Airport should strictly be not more than 6 hours.