Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives has stated travellers to Sri Lanka are required to complete a 14-day quarantine in the neighboring country.
Sri Lanka raised restrictions to control the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and minimise the risk of spread of a new variant of the virus. In a press release, the foreign ministry stated Sri Lanka's new restrictions require all travellers over the age of 12 to complete a 14-day quarantine at a hotel or centre designated by the Sri Lankan government. Travellers are also required to take an on-arrival PCR test and will be released from quarantine once the exit PCR test taken on the 11th day of quarantine is negative.
Furthermore, the foreign ministry stated travellers requiring critical medical treatment can be quarantined at a hospital after obtaining a permit from Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health.
The Sri Lankan government will be imposing the new restrictions until May 31. The foreign ministry urged Maldivians to search for the latest information before travelling abroad, as travel guidelines are liable to change.
Many Maldivians travel to Sri Lanka for various reasons including for medical treatment, and the neighboring country has a significant Maldivian community. Sri Lanka has recorded around 138,000 positive cases and over 900 COVID-19-related deaths in total.