Category: Uncategorized

No-pay Foreign Leave

The following documents should be submitted to extend No-pay Foreign Leave.

1. Request letter addressed to the relevant authority through Sri Lanka High Commission, London. The letter needs to be consisted with all the contact details of the relevant authority.
2. Previous Leave approved Letter
3. Passport
4. Valid Visa
5. An utility bill to prove the residing address
6. Any other supporting documents related to the request

Please note that all supporting documents should be submitted in originals with 01 set of photocopies of each, on one side of A4 size paper.

* The applicant should be present to hand over the request.

*There is a fee of GBP 20/= for processing the request.

The preventive measures for persons arriving in Sri Lanka from overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic, which were last put in place by the Health Authorities of Sri Lanka on 18 April 2022 have been revised with effect from 7 December 2022.

Accordingly;

• The requirement to produce COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate by any person arriving in Sri Lanka from overseas has been removed.
•  The requirement to produce a pre-boarding on on arrival negative COVID-19 test (PCR/RAT)  by any person arriving in Sri Lanka from overseas has been removed.
• If any foreign national tests positive for COVID-19 after arrival in Sri Lanka, they should isolate for 7 days in a private hospital, hotel or place of residence. The cost of treatment or self-isolation should be borne by them.
• The above measures will supersede all other directives previously issued by the Health Authorities of Sri Lanka.

For the most recent regulations on travelling to Sri Lanka during the COVID-19 pandemic, which have come into effect on 18 April 2022, please click here.

The UK Government introduced its bespoke UK GSP Scheme “Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS)” on 16 August 2022.

• 65 countries will benefit.

• Sri Lanka is a beneficiary country under the DCTS Enhanced Preferences Scheme. 

• DCTS will replace the UK’s current Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) in early 2023.

• The scheme will apply to countries currently benefiting under the UK’s GSP.

• DCTS will provide duty-free, quota-free trade to LDCs on everything but arms and duty-free, quota-free trade on 85% of eligible goods to most low income (LIC) and lower-middle income (LMIC) countries.

• Policy paper on DCTS https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/developing-countries-trading-scheme-dcts-new-policy-report/developing-countries-trading-scheme-government-policy-response

For more details, please contact:

Commercial Section of Sri Lanka High Commission – London

02072621841 Ext 248 /246

trade@slhc-london.co.uk / assttrade@slhc-london.co.uk

International Tea Day is a United Nations observance celebrated annually on May 21 to express the economical, biological and physical benefits of tea. It was inaugurated by the General Assembly and essentially replaced the unofficial observance of the same name, which used to be celebrated on December 15 in tea producing countries. The observance of International Tea Day is promoted and facilitated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in collaboration with other relevant organizations and stakeholders.

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Sri Lankans returning to home country and ex-Sri Lankans traveling for family visits etc

The following categories of persons will be permitted to enter Sri Lanka without prior approval of the Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority:

1. Sri Lankans (including Sri Lankan seafarers arriving by air)
2. Dual Citizens who travel on Sri Lankan Passports
3. Foreign spouses of Sri Lankans
4. Unmarried children of Sri Lankans, who hold foreign nationality

Ex-Sri Lankans holding foreign passports (who do not hold Dual Citizenship) as well as Dual citizens travelling on foreign pasports travelling to Sri Lanka for family visits/family emergencies etc should continue to obtain prior approval of the Foreign Ministry. Such persons should obtain Foreign Ministry/Civil Aviation Authority approval by sending a request to the Covid Team at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo to email address entry.permission@mfa.gov.lk with copy to kanchana.bandara@mfa.gov.lk giving the following details:

1. Name of the passenger
2. Nationality and the passport number
3. The country of departure
4. Intended date of entry into Sri Lanka and the flight number, if available
5. Purpose of the visit

They should have prior visas to enter Sri Lanka as On-Arrival visas are not issued at present. As visas for Sri Lanka are issued only by the Department of Immigration and Emigration at present, any person of this category who need a visa for Sri Lanka should arrange a representative to visit the Visa Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka at Battaramulla with the relevant documents (copy of the passport of the traveller and the approval received by email from the Foreign Ministry for traveling to Sri Lanka) to obtain a visa/Landing Endorsement by paying the relevant fee.

Ex-Sri Lankans and foreign nationals visiting Sri Lanka for tourism

Ex-Sri Lankans holding foreign passports and foreign nationals who wish to travel to Sri Lanka for the purpose of tourism should follow the Tourist Travel Bio Bubble procedure of the Sri Lanka Toursim Promotion Bureau. The procedure, including how to obtain the approval for travelling and visa procedure is available on the website at the link https://www.srilanka.travel/helloagain.

Last updated on 07 June 2021