The Government was strongly mulling the recommencement of the operations of both the National Carrier SriLankan Airlines and the Bandaranaike International Airport as early as June, Tourism Ministry sources told the ‘Daily News Finance’ yesterday.
This was discussed at a meeting which was chaired by Minister of Industrial Exports, Tourism and Aviation Prasanna Ranatunga which also had the presence of the four heads of the tourism sector. They were Ministry Secretary Marina Mohamed, Chairperson of SriLankan Tourism, Kimarli Fernando, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines Ashok Pathirage, Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd (Retd) Major Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri and Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority Upul Dharmadasa.
Sri Lankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage said that the national carrier was ready to adopt the standards stipulated by the World Head Organization and the Civil Aviation Authority was tasked to connect with the international covenants as well.
Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando told the meeting that that arrangements have been made to identified to recommence the hotel operations and where the revival of the tourism sector have been identified on the short term and long term basis. She also told the meeting that the best practices which had been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) will also be implemented in the tourism sector as well. She also said that even the hotels should adhere to the social distancing practices and other practices while serving food and drink as well.
Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services ( Sri Lanka) Ltd Retired Major General G.A. Chandrasiri also told the meeting that the WHO had outlined best practices to be adopted where both incoming and outgoing passengers should be quarantined and they should be strictly adhered to. He also said that arriving and departing passengers should be certified that they are free of COVID 19 free and he assured that these best practices would be strictly adhered to.
Minister Ranatunga had also assured the meeting that he would very soon, submit a Cabinet Memorandum on the incentives which would be given to the industry. He also directed all the Heads of the Departments that he was heading to adhere that hey strictly adopt the WHO guidelines in all operational aspects.
The Minister also said that plans were afoot to commence the operations of all the eleven institutions which were under his purview on Monday May 11.
Add new comment