SRI LANKA UPDATE – 31st January 2023

Despite the challenging political unrest and the decline in the economic situation, the country has been peaceful since early July 2022, with over 85,000 tourists travelling during the months of July and August 2022. Several countries stepped forward to support Sri Lanka’s recovery due to the initial setbacks in terms of lack of fuel, food items, LPG, along with medical supplies.

On a positive note, several countries relaxed their ‘Travel Advisories’ as a result of the pollical stability along with economic recovery. Furthermore, all established hotels are fully functional and there have been several campaigns initiated by the Ministry of Tourism to attract travellers to the country.

WHY DID SRI LANKA WITHSTAND POLITICAL UNREST?

Sri Lanka has been facing wearisome political and economic instability since early 2022, resulting in a series of anti-government protests that were initiated in April. The country’s foreign reserves have been recorded as their lowest, affecting the importation of essential items, fuel, gas, food, and medical equipment.

Colombo’s Galle Face Green has been the centre of “the Aragalaya” or the struggle where protesters believe the “Rajapaksha” regime is to be held accountable for the deep economic crisis ensuing from corruption, inefficiencies in government establishments and lack of decision-making.

The struggle gained momentum as it was joined by people from all walks of life, thus resulting in the former PM, Mahinda Rajapaksha and his cabinet resigning post the 9th of May and his brother, the former President Gotabaya Rajapaksha leaving on the 15th of July 2022.

Ranil Wickremasinghe was sworn in on the 21st of July following a poll among the government ministers on the 20th of July. He is now seeking the support of all political parties to establish an all-party government and develop the economy despite the steep challenges.

CURRENT UPDATE

The government is currently in discussions with IMF and Japan, which are pivotal in supporting the country’s economic recovery. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Tourism together with the private sector has also launched several PR campaigns to boost local tourism and to inspire further action for the responsible and sustainable recovery of tourism.

It is optimistic to mention the supply of fuel, LPG and food, steady supply with US aid and donor agencies supporting the health care centres with medical supplies.

COVID-19 UPDATE

Sri Lanka has been at the forefront of controlling the pandemic and currently, Covid-19 cases are at record-low levels. Travellers can now visit the country without any restrictions. Further details are below for your reference.

UPDATED COVID-19 PROTOCOL FOR SRI LANKA

Please find below an update from the Ministry of Health effective from 7th December 2022 on the COVID-19 protocol.

• Travellers arriving in Sri Lanka via an airport or seaport will no longer be required to provide a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
• Travellers are not required to present a pre-boarding or on-arrival negative COVID-19 test (PCR/RAT).
• If foreign nationals and travellers test positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Sri Lanka should isolate for 7 days in a private hospital, hotel, or place of residence. They are required to bear the expense of the treatment and isolation.

The above measures will be applicable irrespective of other directives in any previous guidelines/letters/circulars issued by the Ministry of Health.

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THE PANDEMIC IS NOW LARGELY CONTROLLED 

In terms of control of the Covid Pandemic including the new Omicron Variant, Sri Lanka has managed this remarkably well compared to the region and globally.

VACCINATION PROGRESS:

TOURISM:

Currently, travel within Sri Lanka is not restricted to those who are fully vaccinated.

1. Cultural sites and attractions such as National Parks are now open to tourists
2. Currently, there are no travel bans to Sri Lanka from any country

The government and the Health authorities assure us that this temporary measure would benefit everyone in the next few weeks whilst obtaining the vaccines remains its highest priority.

IMPORTANT

• Tourist arrivals are soaring every month
• We are pleased to mention that almost all our Airport Staff, Regional Staffs, Guides & Chauffeurs are “fully Vaccinated”. The hotel staff and restaurant staff too are fully vaccinated
• Travel Portal
  Now travellers can pay for their local “Travel Insurance” via an online travel portal (visitsrilanka.gov.lk). Those who are not vaccinated can also pay for their PCR test via this portal
• All not-vaccinated / not fully-vaccinated travellers are exempted from On-arrival (day 01) PCR test and quarantine period from 20^th April 2022.
• All not-vaccinated / not fully-vaccinated travellers must arrive with a negative PCR test report done within 72 hours or a Rapid Antigen Test report (self-swabs are disallowed) done within 48 hours prior to the embarkation. Children below 12 years are exempted.
• Submission of the online Health Declaration Form is not required.
• Visa on arrival for those who are “Fully Vaccinated”
• If an international traveller has a history of Covid-19 infection during the past 7 days to 6 months/ but has a single dose of a two-dose (should travel after 2 weeks of vaccination) can travel without any Covid-19 tests

HEADLINE SUMMARY

Sri Lanka is reckoned as one of the few countries/destinations that have successfully controlled the spread of the pandemic.

• Our International borders have been open for Tourism since 21st January 2021
• The government & the Tourism Ministry has encouraged all Hotels, Restaurants, DMCs and Tourism service providers to implement safety guidelines and protocols so that everyone is safe
• The Tourism Ministry has been conducting awareness and training sessions for National Guides, Chauffeur Guides, and Drivers on how-to on best practices within the new COVID guidelines and protocols
• “Safe & Secure” Certification has been awarded to hotels, DMCs and other supplier categories on successful completion of stringent audits and in-person training.
• For the approved list of Places of Interest and Monuments under the current bio-bubble, please visit –  Approved Tourist Sites & Attractions.

UPDATED ENTRY/ VISA POLICY:

Please click on the links below for details of the new regulations (Page 5 of the guideline) –

Sri Lanka Travel | Hello Again

Sri Lanka Tourism Safety Protocols

PROGRESS ON VACCINATION

• Sri Lanka completed the inoculation of its front-line workers (Healthcare and Military Personnel) by mid-February 2021
• Over 40.1 million vaccines have been administered in Sri Lanka
• Over 14.7 million (Approximately 99.55% of the population over 20+ years) are fully vaccinated
• The government has administered “AstraZeneca”, “Moderna”, Pfizer”, “Sputnik V” and “Sinopharm” to those over the age of 20 years and “Pfizer” vaccines for children between 12-19 years
• Over 8.2 million people have now been administered the Pfizer Booster Vaccine
• Authenticities – All our Staff members (100%) are now Fully Vaccinated
• All our Guides & Chauffeurs (100%) are now “Fully vaccinated”

OUR INITIATIVES

• Authenticities was one of the first DMCs to be certified for “Safe & Secure” travel by Sri Lanka Tourism & audit firm KPMG
• We produced our own safety guidelines and protocols which we have implemented
• We are currently conducting awareness and training sessions amongst our Drivers and Chauffeur Guides on how to perform tours within the established guidelines

OUR PLEDGE

• As global travel continues to be affected by the spread of COVID-19, we want you to know that doing the right thing by our guests is our guiding light
• Please don’t hesitate to call us at + 94 77 361 3267 with any questions or concerns
• The well-being of our guests is our priority. We are happy to share our safety protocol with you so that you are comfortable with what we have done so far

Careers @ Authenticities

Authenticities Sri Lanka is a privately held DMC, focusing on inbound Travel to Sri Lanka. Founded in 2013, the firm creates and operates intellectually stimulating premium travel programs within the boundaries of Sri Lanka. Our clients are experience travelers; our goal is to offer the highest caliber of travel experiences and quality to our clients characterized by logistical elegance combined with private access and special visits.

Our Culture

The culture we have built empowers our people to look for something unique and special. This helps us to transform our business. Our people are at the heart of everything we do from design aspects to how we could improve efficiencies and improve service quality.

We are a true believer in investing in our people through meaningful activities and programmes which invoke new thinking. The health and wellbeing in the workplace is as important and we understand the importance of exposing our people to elements of art, architecture and attention to detail.

Our workplace

The “La Forteresse” provides a healthy workplace and an environment in which our people can enjoy elements art and architecture. Technology plays a pivotal role in the way we advance and we re-invest in technology to leapfrog into the future.

We offer a salary and full benefits package, including medical insurance programs and a bonus program. We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to promoting a diverse workforce. .Please send resumes via email to hr@authenticitiessrilanka.com. If your qualifications and competencies meet our current need we will contact you shortly.

Current positions

Sorry, there are no positions available at this time.

Apprenticeships

We believe that meaningful short-term placement programmes and apprenticeships are a future investment for our company. We are really excited to have the opportunity to teach and guide young people about the DNA of Authenticities and the manner in which we see luxury travel.

We look for energetic and ambitious young people who can relate to our culture. Our training programmes are designed in a manner in which you are exposed to practical learning and careful mentoring to ensure your potential is maximized.

However due to the current Covid19 situation, this programme is kept on hold.

We refer to the European Union regulations on data protection (GDPR/ General Data Protection Regulation), which has come into effect from the 25 th of May 2018. We understand the importance of securing data and privacy of clients traveling through AUTHENTICITIES.As such, we are pleased to respect the regulations and agree to comply.

Diversity & Inclusion Policy

Here at Authenticities, our approach to diversity is simple and based on the Golden Rule ‘Treat others the way you want to be treated’. We want all of our employees to feel valued, appreciated, and free to be who they are whether at home or at work, in the office or on the road.  We recognize that an inclusive and diverse work environment respects Gender Identity, Gender Expression, unique characteristics, skills and experiences of all employees. In the competitive world of travel and hospitality, it is more important than ever to foster an environment of inclusion and growth among all our staff which we know will translate to excellence at all levels of our organization. Creating a successful business and work-life balance requires that every employee deserves respect and support, regardless of their race, colour, gender identity, religion, ancestry, physical abilities, age, and sexual orientation.

Crisis Management and Incident Reporting Policy

Authenticities (Pvt) Ltd will immediately notify the relevant partner/ customer concerned of any crisis and emergency situation via the emergency lines/emails provided by our partners and customers.

In the event of serious accident, illness or death of any person, Authenticities or its representative will;

• Verify this with our guides and hotels we work with
• Make all necessary arrangements and provide all necessary assistance and support
• Liaise with all relevant third parties, emergency services and insurance companies
• Contact our partner/ customer immediately and provide all relevant details
• Seek clarification of the clients insurance policy/ and act as per instructions

Responsible And Ethical Travel

The following examples would define our commitment;

• We encourage travel with responsibility, to minimize the use of plastics and polythene
• Discourage our guests to ride on elephants which is an optional activity in certain areas of the country
• Encourage animal-friendly travel. This would mean maintaining a respectful distance between jeeps and animals in a National Park or the distance between boats and marine life/whales etc.
• Travel with responsibility would also mean, avoiding feeding animals on the roadside
• We do not encourage and work with suppliers who promote animal shows, zoos and promote places where animals are chained or caged
• We do not encourage experiences which involve swimming with marine life or feeding them
• We do not work with suppliers who use boats which damage corals, flora and pose dangers to marine life
• We do not work with suppliers who use animals to pose for pictures and photographs
• Not work with suppliers who encourage manhandling turtles at any conservation establishment
• We work with suppliers who keep the environment and surroundings clean and minimize the use of plastics and polythene
• We encourage suppliers to adapt proper garbage disposal system through regular inspections, educating them and assisting them to care for nature and cleanliness
• Discourage our guests from purchasing souvenirs made from wild animals such as ivory, shells, teeth, turtle shells etc.
• We encourage to only visit and support sanctuaries and shelters involving wild animals in captivity if the objectives of the organization are in the animals’ best interests (e.g. re-homing, rehabilitation or release into the wild). We do not promote the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
• We encourage our guests to speak up and inform the tour guides/chauffeurs (they’re travelling with) if they see an animal in distress. Request them to take a note of the date, time and location as well as the type and number of animals involved. Take photos/or videos as proof. Alternatively, if they see an animal that is well looked after, offer praise to the owner and tell him/her why the guests have chosen to visit them.

GDPR

We refer to the “European Union” (EU) regulations on data protection (GDPR/ General Data Protection Regulation), which came into effect from the 25th of May 2018.

We understand the importance of securing data and privacy of guests traveling through Authenticities and will not share nor publish data relating to our guests without prior permission.  Hence, we shall safeguard all data and information and respect the sensitivity and privacy of all our guests.

This website www.authenticitiessrilanka.com is hosted through a hosting provider from the United States and is owned and operated by Autheticities Sri Lanka (Private) Limited of Sri Lanka.

Acceptance of terms and conditions

Your access and use of the Website is conditional upon your acceptance and compliance with these terms and conditions.

Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited may amend the Terms of Use from time to time and without notice. By continuing to use the Website you accept and are bound by the Terms of Use as they apply from time to time.

Material on the website

The material on the Website, including all text, graphics, images and other material is provided by Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited for general guidance and is intended to offer the user general information of interest only. The Material is not legal, financial or other professional advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for such advice. Neither the transmission of Material on the Website nor your receipt of any material is intended to create any professional or fiduciary relationship between you and Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited.

Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited makes no warranties or representations regarding the quality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability or fitness for purpose of any of the Material. We endeavour to take care in compiling the Material, however the Material may contain inaccuracies, errors or omissions. Any use and/or reliance on the Material is at your own risk.

It is your responsibility to carry out an appropriate virus check to ensure that the Website and the Material is free from viruses and other harmful code before using and/or accessing the Website and any Material.

Modification of these terms of use

Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited reserves the right to change the terms, conditions, and notices under which the Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited Website is offered, including but not limited to the charges associated with the use of the Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited Website.

Restrictions on use

You may only access, use and/or print the Material for non-commercial or personal uses provided that any copyright notice on such page is not removed. All other use, copying, reproduction, republication, uploading, transmission, distribution and/or modification of the Material is prohibited unless provided for in the Terms of Use or on the Website or expressly authorised in writing by Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited or as permitted by applicable copyright legislation.

No unlawful or prohibited use

As a condition of your use of the Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited Website, you warrant to Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited that you will not use the Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited Website for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these terms, conditions, and notices. You may not use the Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited Site in any manner which could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited Web Site or interfere with any other party’s use and enjoyment of the Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited Website. You may not obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information through any means not intentionally made available or provided for through the Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited Websites.

Links to or from other sites

The Website may contain links to other websites. Unless expressly stated, Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited is not responsible for, nor does it sponsor, endorse or approve any Linked Sites or any content on them, nor does Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited provide any warranty or take any responsibility for any aspect of those Linked Sites or their content. You must not create or maintain any link from another website to this Website without the written consent of Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited

Privacy

This Website does not use cookies nor does it collect personal information from people who use the Website unless expressly stated. Our Internet server may record details about any computer used to access the Website (e.g., the domain from which you access the Internet, the date, time and duration of visits and the Internet address of the website from which you linked to this Website) and details of the information downloaded. The information we collect is used for internal statistical purposes and to improve this Website.

Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited excludes completely all liability to any person for loss or damage of any kind (however caused, including by negligence) arising from or relating in any way to the Material and/or use of the Website (Services). Where any law implies a warranty into these Terms of Use which may not be lawfully excluded, then to the maximum extent permitted by law, our liability for breach of the warranty will at our option be limited to the supply of the Services again, or the payment of the cost of having them supplied again.

Jurisdiction

These conditions and all other terms of the contract shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Sri Lanka. Acceptance of the terms herein and all other terms of the contract is a necessary condition of any work entered into with Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited and is not subject to approval or examination.

Copyright and trademark notices

All contents of the Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited Web Site are its. All rights reserved

Trademarks

All names, logos and trademarks are owned by Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited or the third parties who have contributed to the Website. Nothing on the Website should be interpreted as granting any rights or any license to use or distribute any names, logos or trademarks, without express written authorization of Authenticities Sri Lanka Private Limited or the relevant third parties