The scheduled tour to Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa for a group of Ukrainian tourists has been temporarily suspended by the Ministry of Tourism.
The Central Cultural Fund (CCF) said the group was to visit the two tourist attractions today and tomorrow, and the sites were restricted to local tourists during this period.
However, the Tourism Ministry has been forced to suspended the tours after issues arose following the recent tour of the Yala National Park by a previous group of Ukrainian tourists.
Tourism officials were accused by drivers of Safari Jeeps who were engaged in conducting the safaris of being forced to undergo mandatory quarantine for 2-weeks without prior notice.
Sri Lanka Tourism says it got to know of Ukrainian tourists’ visits to Mirissa & Yala through media
The CFF said as a result, the Ministry has decided to temporarily halt further tours of the Ukrainian tourists.
It further said Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa will be reopened for local tourists from today.
Meanwhile, former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga said all 173 Ukrainian tourists who had arrived in Sri Lanka on Saturday (02) have tested negative for COVID-19.
The group that had arrived via SkyUp Airlines had undergone PCR tests at the hotel designated for their accommodation.
Weeratunga further said among the nearly 567 Ukrainian tourists who have arrived so far in Sri Lanka, only two have tested positive for COVID-19.
He said the two patients who had shown symptoms of the virus have been placed in separate rooms within the hotel.
Udayanga Weeratunga said the fourth batch of tourists from Ukraine will arrive at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport in Mattala at 2.15 p.m. today.
He further refuted allegations leveled against reopening the country for tourism for foreign tourists during the coronavirus pandemic, and stated that the intention was to kick start the struggling tourism sector and pave the way for more industries to benefit from this move. (NewsWire)