Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry, on Friday said that individuals arriving in the island country after receiving both doses of the anti-Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations would be exempted from the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

In new health regulations released by the Director-General of Health Services, Dr Asela Gunawardena, dual citizenship holders and foreigners can also come into the country two weeks after immunisation.

He said such people should also undergo a Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on the first and seventh day after they arrive.

“On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, all returnees must produce their vaccination cards, including an English copy of the card if it is in a foreign language.

“Authorities will then transport them to their designated hotels or quarantine facilities and a PCR test will be conducted from an approved testing lab within 24 hours upon arrival,’’ the health guidelines said.

Once a negative PCR test report is declared, travellers can be released from the quarantine centres or hotels by obtaining a discharge document from the quarantine authority at the hotel or centre.

They are also allowed to book their own transport but must adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures.

The health guidelines said that tourists who have received the vaccine can arrive two weeks after the second jab and must follow the same rules and produce the necessary documents.