Covid vaccination begins for those involved in the tourism industry - The aim is to give a fresh start to the tourism industry which has collapsed due to Covid 19. Accordingly, the program was launched in the Hambantota District, and in the next few weeks, Covid vaccination is expected to be given to all tourist zones and tourist districts in the country. The program was initiated in the Hambantota district. With regard to this initiative, 500 tourist hotel employees, tour guides, tour drivers and 150 safari drivers were vaccinated at 4 locations in the Hambantota district on Saturday (10).

Nearly half a million people are involved in the tourism industry in the country and their number of dependents are close to two million.

The tourism industry in the country resumed on January 21 after the Covid epidemic. A regulatory project to attract tourists to the country was also launched from December 2020. Since the opening of the country to tourists (July 08) 17,642 tourists have arrived in the country. Of these, only 188 have been reported infected with Covid . So far 138 of them have recovered and returned to their homeland.

Addressing a media briefing held at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Weerawila, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga stated that the government intends to make Sri Lanka a country free of Covid this year. He said that under this program, he hopes to make Sri Lanka a safer country for tourists as well.

Speaking at the event, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa said that the country has entered a significant period of implementation of the largest vaccination program in the history of Sri Lanka. He also pointed out that Sri Lanka was the most successful country in controlling the Covid epidemic in the South Asian region.