With reference to the false information being shared in the social media on the Quarantine process of passengers arriving in airport and Aviation Services(Sri Lanka) Limited wishes to clarify the following……
As the civil airport operator AASL actively took every possible measure to facilitate all the precautionary measures under the directive of the health authorities and other regulatory agencies in Sri Lanka. further these measures were implemented with the recommendation of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka. The leadership the management of AASL all staff and other agencies tirelessly work round the clock keeping their lives at the risk at this critical time to fulfil a national obligation when the COVID-19 virus is threatening the whole world as a pandemic.
According to the instructions received from the Sri Lanka health authorities,
All travel beginning from Iran, Italy and South Korea to Sri Lanka and any passenger origination from those countries or who had been any of those countries within the last 14 days banned from 14th March 2020.
All travel beginning from France Spain Germany Switzerland Denmark Netherlands Sweden and Austria to Sri Lanka any passenger originating from those countries or had been to any of those countries within the last 14 days were banned from 15th of March 2359hrs.
If an airline disembarked any passengers in sri lanka between 1100hrs and 2359 hrs on 15th March 2020 coming from Austria Denmark France Germany Netherlands those countries or had been to any of those countries within the last 14days those passengers were sent to Quarantine centers.
Jaffna International Airport was closed for international operations with immediate effect from 15th March 2020.
All travel beginning from the United Kingdom Belgium and Norway and any passengers coming from those countries or had been to any of those countries within the last 14 days were banned with effect from 2359hrs on 16th of March 2020.
Steps were taken to Quarantine passengers arriving from the United Kingdom Belgium and Norway with effect from 0000hrs on 16th March 2020 till 2359 hr on 16th March 2020.
Passengers of Qatari Canadian or Bahrain nationalities or any passengers having a travel history to those countries within the last 14 days were not permitted to land in Sri Lanka with effect from 17 March 2359hrs.
All international Airports in Sri Lanka were closed for operation for inward international commercial passengers flights (i.e. arrivals) with effect from 0400hrs on 19 March 2020(local time in Sri Lanka) until 2359hrs on 25 March 2020.
Further this closure of international airports from operation for in ward international commercial passengers flights was extended sent to 31st of March and haw now been extended further up to 7th of april 2020.
Under the directives of His excellency the president the Sri Lankan pilgrims stranded in India were airlifted to BIA and immediately sent to the Quarantine process for 14days upon arrival from 19th March 2020.
Accordingly AASL has facilitated all measures implemented at international airports under the directives of health authorities with the recommendation of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka this entire process of sending passengers for the Quarantine process was implemented methodically with stringent polices adopted with the support of all military forces including Sri Lanka Air Force Sri Lanka Army Sri Lanka police and the AASL has provided its maximum support diligently.
Therefore as the airport operator we emphasize the fact that we continue to facilitate the entire process of all precautionary measures taken by the Sri Lanka Health Authorities and other allied agencies at our maximum capacity to flight against the COVID-19 virus.
The AASL requests from the general public not to be misled by such false allegations are shared in the social media without verification and appeals from all media organizations to respect the airport staff who work round the clock keeping their lives at risk at this critical time when the COVID-19 virus is threatening the whole world as a pandemic.
Finally considering it as a national obligation AASL will continue to support Health authorities and all other institutions in Sri Lanka for all the precautionary measures implemented to flight against this COVID 19 virus.
