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Blogs from Tikalanka are designed to enhance your knowledge of Sri Lanka and Maldives and keep you up to date with recent developments. We intend to post regular features on travel, news, lifestyle and accommodation as well as guest articles from current and past customers, which will give you first-hand experience of Tikalanka, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Posted by John on 25th March 2020
All types of visas to enter Sri Lanka have been temporarily suspended for all foreign nationals until further notice. Also, all visas already granted to foreign nationals who have not yet arrived in Sri Lanka will be temporarily suspended and they will not be allowed to enter the country until 01 April 2020.
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Posted by John on 24th March 2020
EXCEPTIONAL TRAVEL ADVISORY NOTICE - As countries respond to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, including travel and border restrictions, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Any country or area may restrict travel without notice. If you live in the UK and are currently travelling abroad, you are strongly advised to return now, where and while there are still commercial routes available.
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Posted by John on 23rd March 2020
Etihad Airways and Emirates will suspend flights out of Colombo by 25 March 2020; SriLankan Airlines and Qatar Airways are still offering flights. The arrivals terminal at Colombo airport is closed until further notice as another measure to help prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from entering Sri Lanka, although the departure terminal is open as normal. The curfew continues at varying times around the island, and a 24-hour hotline is now available to all foreign tourists to provide assistance during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Posted by John on 22nd March 2020
The curfew imposed throughout Sri Lanka will be lifted at 06.00 on 23 March 2020 and re-imposed at 14.00 of the same day until 06.00 on 24 March 2020. Further curfews will be notified later. The Sri Lanka government has also banned all passenger flights and ships from entering the country until further notice with the aim of preventing the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
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Posted by John on 21st March 2020
There may be problems arranging transport to the airport for your flight home, although a number of taxi and tourism companies continue to operate airport runs, but will require advance booking. For once, I agree with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa that the Sri Lanka government “have taken all possible measures to ensure the safety of our people” facing the threat of coronavirus disease. We will see how the UK government’s actions compare as time goes on…
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Posted by John on 20th March 2020
There is a nationwide curfew in Sri Lanka from 18.00 (local time) today (20 March 2020) until 06.00 (local time) on 23 March 2020, which could be extended further. The government has confirmed that travellers in possession of a valid airline ticket will be allowed to travel to the airport during curfew periods. If possible, you should travel with an extra printed copy of your airline ticket which your taxi driver can use for the return journey from the airport.
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Posted by John on 18th March 2020
The Government of Maldives has announced a ban on entry into Maldives of anyone who has left or transited the UK in the last 14 days, with effect from 23.59 local time (18.59 GMT) tonight (18 March 2020). This does not affect British Nationals already in Maldives who should follow the advice of local authorities. If you are already in Sri Lanka, the government has announced that visit visas will be extended to 12 April 2020, if necessary, although an extension fee will be charged.
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Posted by John on 17th March 2020
EXCEPTIONAL TRAVEL ADVISORY NOTICE – The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises British people against all non-essential travel worldwide for an initial period of 30 days. This advice takes effect immediately and it is the first time ever that the FCO has made such an announcement. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions.
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Posted by John on 16th March 2020
Today (16 March 2020) has been declared a special Public, Bank and Mercantile holiday to prevent the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Sri Lanka. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka is now 18 (17 active cases). All national parks as well as zoological and botanical gardens run by the Wildlife Department are closed for two weeks with immediate effect.
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Posted by John on 15th March 2020
The Sri Lankan Government has just announced that people arriving from or travelling though the UK, Belgium and Norway will not be allowed to enter Sri Lanka from midnight on 16 March 2020 (Sri Lanka time) to midnight on 30 March 2020 (Sri Lanka time). As a consequence, the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office advises against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka, if you are travelling from or via the UK.
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