Authorities in Sri Lanka banned arrivals from South Africa and South American countries with immediate effect due to the coronavirus situation in those countries. The ban came at a time when Sri Lanka itself is struggling to control the raging virus.

Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority, in a statement released on Saturday, said that passengers with a travel history (including transit) in the past 14 days to South Africa and countries in South America will not be permitted to disembark in Sri Lanka. 

The fresh instructions were issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, and all airlines operating in Sri Lanka have been informed about it.

South America includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Earlier, Sri Lanka had banned passengers with a 14-day travel history to India and Vietnam. 

(SAM)