Why Covid 19 safe Sri Lanka has been excluded in approved EU travel list?

Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has been informed by the European Union that Sri Lanka has not been included in the countries allowed to travel to Europe despite being Covid 19 safe as the country’s airports remain closed for travellers. 

While the Sri Lankan Embassy to the EU in Brussels had raised its concerns of Sri Lanka not being in the list despite combatting the Covid 19 pandemic successfully and stressed that it should e included in the list allowed to travel to Europe, the EU had informed that only countries which have allowed international visitor travel was included into the list. 

The EU recently announced a list of 15 countries that will be allowed to travel to EU countries. This included Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zeland, Ruanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. Chinese nationals can travel to the EU based on approval from Chinese authorities. 

However, this list will be updated from time to time sources said. Opening of Sri Lanka’s airports remains in limbo due to concerns of Covid 19 re-entering the country.