Sri Lanka removed from UK's 'red list'
As of 22nd September 2021, Sri Lanka along with seven other countries was removed from UK’s ‘red list’. The countries that were removed were Turkey, Pakistan, the Maldives, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bangladesh and Kenya.
The long list of countries on the ‘red list’ – 62 as of the last update on 26th August, will now be reduced to 54 after the removal of the above-mentioned eight countries.
From 17th May, Britain’s Global Travel Taskforce was given the official green light to permit resumption of international travel – subject to a traffic light system. This meant that countries on the ‘red list’ are considered as high risk destinations and only UK citizens and residents are allowed to enter the UK from a red list country; anyone else is refused entry at the border.
Removal from the ‘red list’ means people returning from such places as Sri Lanka will no longer have to stay in hotel quarantine and PCR tests will no longer be required for fully vaccinated travelers returning to England. Under the new testing regime, people who have had both jabs will not need to take a pre-departure test before leaving any country not on the ‘red list’.
Britain’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, when announcing these changes said that the international travel traffic light system is being simplified in England with a single red list, as part of an overhaul of the rules from 4 October 2021. He went on to add that later in October, they would also be able to replace the day two PCR test with a cheaper, rapid lateral flow test.
This is welcome news, and will provide much needed relief to the travel and tourism industries.
Citizens and residents landing in England from a ‘red list’ country will have to quarantine in a government –approved hotel and will now have to fork out UKP 2,285, with extra adult cost at UKP 1,430 and UKP 325 for children aged between 5-12 years. Children under 5 years are free. Costs include transport to the hotel, security, provision of welfare services and the two PCR tests which must be taken on day two and day eight of the stay.
For Sri Lankans wishing to travel to the UK, there is the question; what vaccines will be acceptable for entry? Despite the UK lowering Covid entry requirements for the vaccinated, how you get treated on arrival… varies hugely on where you live.
If you received the (say) Pfizer-Biontech vaccine in the US or Germany, you'll be able to enter the country -no problem. However if you got that same vaccine in the UAE or India and much of the Global South, you'll be treated as unvaccinated and have to quarantine (strangely, the UK seems to be accepting vaccines from Kuwait and Qatar but not the UAE).
Indians who are double vaccinated with Covishield are considered unvaccinated and will have to undergo self-isolation for 10 days upon arrival to the UK. Strangely, Covishield was developed by Astra Zeneca in the UK and is made under license in India. It is reported that Five million doses of the Indian made Covishield were exported to the UK for vaccinating people.
Hospitality Sri Lanka News
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