Sri Lanka suspends visa on arrival for Chinese citizens after 1st case of coronavirus

Sri Lanka suspended its policy of granting visa on arrival for Chinese travellers on Tuesday, a day after health authorities detected country's first coronavirus infection.

Sudath Suraweera, chief epidemiologist of country's health ministry, said on Monday that a 40-year-old Chinese woman was found positive for virus.

"She arrived on January 19 and was tested positive for virus when she was leaving airport on January 25. She was mitted to infectious diseases hospital," he said.

Following first detection of coronavirus case, Sri Lankan health authorities ordered suspension of on arrival visa policy for Chinese nationals.

Travellers from China must apply for visa via online portal, authorities said.

officials at Colombo international airport said entry to airport's arrival and departure terminals h been restricted to passengers only.

Some 65 Sri Lankan students in China returned by Monday. Ar flight to evacuate students is due to leave on Tuesday. A total of 204 students have been evacuated in last three days.

government has said that it has completed collection of information on students in China. A National Action Committee to prevent spreing of coronavirus was convened on Monday. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed committee comprising health experts.

Sri Lanka has become a major travel destination for Chinese tourists. Many Chinese nationals also work on Chinese-funded infrastructure projects - including a sea port, port city and highways.

death toll in China's dely coronavirus epidemic has crossed 100 mark while confirmed cases have gone up to 4200.

In April last year, Sri Lanka suspended its plans to grant visas on arrival for citizens of 39 countries after devastating Easter suicide bombings that killed nearly 360 people.