Chamini Kulathunga

Hello everyone, I safely landed to my beautiful island on June 27, 2021. I had to go through a very extensive and exhausting planning period as the guidelines changed three times between when I first started planning my trip and before I finally arrived in CMB. I’m going to share my experience in detail for anyone who is planning to travel to Sri Lanka during the height of its Corona virus third wave and under the guidelines that were revised on June 7, 2021 and for those of you who like to plan your international trips to the utmost possible point of precision available to us under these stressful times.

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My port of embarkation was a small town in Texas. I had transits at DFW and DOH. I travelled with American Airlines (AA) and Qatar Airways (QR). I always go for this airline combination because they are well-coordinated partner airlines. And I always use this route, sometimes ORD instead of DFW.

I used the repatriate route, so I travelled with my Sri Lankan passport. It was less of a hassle. Planning the trip was stressful. I had to make multiple phone calls about getting permission by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and about making a reservation at a Level 1 safe and secure hotel as there was conflicting information in the document issued by the Civil Aviation Authority pertaining to Sri Lankan passport holders (one section states that Sri Lankan passport holders who have made a reservation at a Level 1/ quarantine hotel do not need permission and another section says that no approval needed from the MFA for the said category regardless of having made a reservation). I contacted several Level 1 hotels none of whom gave me the right information. Club Dolphin didn’t even have the courtesy to get back to my email and Facebook message! But, Susan Bradbury in Repatriates Sri Lanka 2020-2021 Facebook group gracefully clarified for me the difference in the protocol for the travelers using the repatriation route and the tourist route. However, I also emailed the MFA and obtained a response email from them (in less than 24 hours!) verifying this information and kept a print copy with me just in case. I also obtained an email from the Sri Lankan Embassy in the US (Washington DC) verifying the same information as QR specifically urges the travelers to contact the relevant embassy regarding the additional requirements they have to fulfilled as issued by the final destination; I didn’t want to spend my time and energy arguing with the airline staff in a likely case. I also took printed copies of the QR Consent Form (1 copy) and Health Declaration Form required by the Sri Lankan authorities (2 copies, one for my first flight with QR and another, for the health official at CMB airport) and filled them in advance so my process became easier at various points of checking into flights and at the CMB airport. I also had a printed copy of the document issued by the Civil Aviation Authority and the latest revised guidelines issued by the Sri Lankan government on June 7^th with sections relevant to my category highlighted. Plus, I printed the travel requirements as indicated on Sherpa (American Airlines) and Qatar Airways about my final destination and transits with dates from my computer appearing on the screenshots. I was ready to make a case if necessary. The last date QR had updated their requirements for Sri Lanka was on June 3rd, 2021, but on June 6th, 2021, Sri Lankan authorities revised the guidelines extensively for several categories of travelers. However, I didn’t have to pull out any of those copies or have any sort of back and forth exchanges with the airlines; the process was smooth and easy.

PCR Test

Since 96 hours is a pretty good time frame to get the results, I took a PCR test instead of an antigen test. I took an RT-PCR test and Walgreens did it for free and emailed me the results in less than 48 hours! Apparently there is another test the results of which are given within 20 mins to 24 hours and the samples are tested on-site the pharmacy/clinic that you give the samples to as opposed to sending them over to a laboratory. QR customer representatives emphasized that the latter wasn’t acceptable, but I’m not sure if they really fussed about it. So, mine was a drive-through test and I was the one who took my own test sample under the instructions of the physician at Walgreens, and I was thankfully able to avoid letting someone else scratch my brain. I had additional copies of my test results printed in case the airlines wanted to keep copies with them (on their website, QR specifically asks their passengers to do just that). AA didn’t ask to see any of the documents although I mentioned them twice before boarding to my first flight that my final destination requires me to fulfill additional requirements. Only QR requested to see that at the DOH check-in counter. They only took a photo of the report and gave me my copy back. I also had to fill a form for QR agreeing that I will be paying for my on-arrival PCR out of my own expenses. The form was given to me at the counter.

Pre-Departure Plans

My first flight was a domestic flight with AA and as I mentioned before, they didn’t check any documents including the PCR test results. It was at the Qatar Airways check-in counter at DFW that I had to provide the documents in order to change my AA boarding passes into QR boarding passes. And by the way, there was a very, very long line at the QR check-in counter with only two staff members in the beginning to issue boarding passes for the passengers of the entire flight. One of them were handling the documents of the Qatar skydiving team, so only one other staff member had to check-in all the rest of the passengers. Although I was the fifth in line, I had to wait about an hour to get my AA boarding passes exchanged. Then, a third staff member showed up. You’d want to go at least 3-4 hours earlier to get this done. There were some mad passengers who shouted at the already pressurized staff members every few minutes. The monitor at the counter said the check-in closes 60 minutes prior to departure, that might have freaked the other passengers out. But at the end of the day, the airlines MUST take all of us on board because it wasn’t our fault that they are short-staffed. At the same time, let’s also remember that we are flying during unprecedented times and let’s be patient but informed about what’s happening during the trip. As a result of this understaffed scenario, my flight from DFW to DOH departed an hour later than scheduled which almost made me miss my next flight at DOH as I only had 1 hour and 20 minutes of a transit there. During my 15-hour flight from DFT to DOH, they changed my next flight twice. I had the QR app downloaded and bought wifi for the full duration of the flight, so I could see what was going on. However, the flight landed to DOH before the departure of my next flight but giving me less than 20 minutes to get to my initially scheduled flight in the itinerary. I was freaking out for obvious reasons, but there were two staff members waiting for me when I got off the flight to take me to the DOH-CMB flight and they had prepared my next boarding pass. I didn’t have to go through a security check at DOH because I was picked up and dropped off by the airlines. That made things a lot easier. QR also checked me into my next flight before I got off the DFW-DOH flight; I could also see this information on the QR app, so I knew my trip was being coordinated real time. A shout out to QR! I also saved my food from the last flight as I was not in a mood to eat and mainly because I wasn’t sure if there was going to be any food at the hotel between the wee hours and breakfast. And it turned out to be a right guess.

We arrived in CMB around 2.30 am. The airport was very quiet and peaceful. I had to produce my vaccine card, the Health Declaration Form, and the pre-departure PCR test to a medical officer at a counter. He approved it with a seal, and then I went to the immigration counters. Remember to grab a form and fill it, declaring the purpose of your visit before you go to the immigration counters. I always get too excited and miss this step. Then, I had the option to buy things at the duty-free shops, but I didn’t bother. There were people in my flight who bought electronic items like big TVs and stuff. I understand that it’s their choice and rights. But it only made things difficult at the next few steps during transporting us to the hotel as the Army had to load everything into the buses. They didn’t complain of course. 

A very nice porter at the airport helped me get my baggage and took me through customs to the next few stops I had to make. These people are one of the hardest-hit employment groups in Sri Lankan travel industry as not many people are visiting the island currently. If I’m not wrong, they do not receive a fixed salary per se and only get tips from the passengers they help out. So, if you are in a position, do consider giving them a good tip. Once I picked up my quarantine option as hotel quarantine, I was assigned a hotel by the Army. I did not have a choice in picking the hotel. They are pre-assigned by the Army for each day and flight. This was true for the travelers using the repatriation route. The ones using the tourist route have the option of making a reservation at a Level 1 Safe and Secure hotel for 14 days before embarkation, but the rates are very high. I had to wait thirty to forty minutes until the passengers who picked the hotel quarantining option from the designated flights showed up to the hotel-assigning area. So, if it’s not entirely necessary, it’d be great if you could get to this area as soon as possible without spending too much time at duty-free shops and other optional stops along the way. It saves other people’s time/energy and we were very tired at this point of our trip (I, for one, had flown for over 25 hours by this time). Once everyone seemed to have arrived, we were asked to get into the coaches. The army and the airport staff helped me with the trolley and loading my luggage to the bus. There were three coaches altogether, and we were all taken to a hotel in Negambo, about twenty minutes away from the airport. The drive from the airport to the hotel was relaxing. The driver from the army was very gentle. I was able to relish the peacefulness of my island in the early hours of the day.

Quarantine Hotel

The hotel we were assigned to was Regal Reseus Hotel & Spa in Negambo. It was an awesome property and I have nothing but gratefulness for them! They extended a very warm welcome to us which lasted till we checked out. What I liked the most about the hotel was, of course their great property. The staff was super friendly, gentle, courteous, and above-all professional and knew what they were doing! They were all dressed in PPE and masks. There was a nice mix of homely-feeling blended with the professional charm of the hoteliers! I couldn’t hope for a better place.

The hotel staff unloaded our baggage and we were asked to get down once the passengers from the other two coaches were checked in. The hotel staff disinfected our luggage, shoes, and carry-on bags. Before going to the hotel’s check-in counter, I was given a form to fill which asked for specific information like the nearest MOH and the Army camp to the residence where I was planning to home-quarantine myself. The Army helped me fill out those two questions as I wasn’t sure about mine. So, maybe have those details in hand by the time you get to this point?

I was given a room in the fifth floor with a great view of the ocean. The room was smelled fresh and clean. I got the entire room for myself and it cost me 13, 100 LKR. Paid it with my BOA credit card. My baggage was brought to my room by the hotel staff. 

There was a finely stocked tea/coffee station in my room. I got my breakfast around 8 in the morning. The breakfast was a delight! It was milk rice with a super thrilling chili-paste (lunu miris), the exact same first meal my mom would’ve given me as my first meal upon coming home to Sri Lanka. It was accompanied by a boiled egg, a devilled fish curry, fruit platter, and a piece of cake, each item in a separate disposable container. They had a side table placed in front of every room, where they kept every meal for us and rang the door bell informing the meals were brought to us. They also had kept extra trash bags outside each room. Everything was well-thought out!

At 10 am, I got a local herbal drink (coriander with some other herbs) known to be great immunity boosters. So thoughtful!

The medical team called me around 12 pm for the PCR test. They were a Colombo-based laboratory service. Although I was planning to pay with my credit card, their card reader didn’t have enough battery. It was 7,000 LKR for the test and I paid the amount in cash with dollars ($35) as I didn’t have exchanged money. They gave an exchange rate of 199LKR per USD. They were very courteous and apologized for the inconvenience. So maybe have some cash in hand either in LKR or USD just in case?

I got my lunch soon after, around 1pm once the medical team left. It was rice and curry. After the breakfast, I informed the front desk not to send me fish/meat but also requested them not to bother about sending in a full vegetarian meal if they don’t already have a vegetarian menu. I’m not fussy about my meals, so it was a personal choice. But they did send in a full vegetarian meal for me from that point on. My lunch was rice accompanied by spicy stir-fried Kangkung leaves; eggplant pickle (moju) with pineapple, onion, and pepper; a dish of fried green beans cooked in coconut milk, and of course, the mandatory dhal curry! Youghurt for desert.

They had also left a fish bun, ketchup, and Faluda drink in the evening. I must have not heard the bell ring as I’ve fallen asleep by this time. But I took everything inside with my dinner. This snack became so valuable the next morning when I woke up around 4.30 am with a terrible hunger. The bun was still in good shape and I had it with tea.

Dinner was a soup, fried-noodles with vegies, and custard pudding. All the food was just so yum and more than I could finish by myself! 

The following morning, the duty manager Nishantha (a very fine, smart, and kind hotelier!) called me around 6.30 am with my PCR test results. It was a relief to know that I was tested negative. I was sort of concerned about my exposure to the passengers in my first two flights many of whom had their noses hanging outside the mask, some even sneezed with their masks off! When I sighed that sigh of relief, the manager laughed and told me that their record of getting a positive PCR result so far since the last nine months was 1%. The medical team, then, knocked on my door, handed me the PCR test results and my vaccine card (which was collected at the check in), and gave me instructions for the next few steps.

I got my breakfast on the second morning around 8am. It was a cheese and mayo sandwich with an omelet, sausages, a spicy dry potato dish, tapioca and rice pudding, a muffin, and fruits. I checked out between 10-11 am. Although I stayed around 30 hours at the hotel, they only charged me for the first 24 hours. They also asked me if I needed transport to my residence, but I had already arranged it by that time. Once again, a special shout out to the hotel management and staff! They brought on-arrival quarantining experience to a whole new level. I could feel the effort, passion, and artistry of these hoteliers during every minute of my stay. I later learnt that the property was opened as recently as September 2019 and that its initially intended clients were foreign tourists during pre-COVID times. I could sense the respect with which they welcomed every guest regardless of the change of their initial client base. Oh, by the way, they have a killer rooftop with a fantastic view on the seventh floor (pictures/videos included), a restaurant with an ocean view on the sixth (video included), a spa, and a karaoke bar all of which are closed for guests due to COVID. I’m definitely going to check out this place once they open for business under normal circumstances. 

I’m now in my private residence, completing the rest of my quarantine period. 

My hats off to the Sri Lankan Army who coordinated everything to precision and perfection. I believe I had a minimum wait time between my arrival at CMB and checking in to the hotel. They are doing a fantastic job. I’m grateful! Made me fall in love with my Lanka all over again!

Also, a special shout out to Qatar Airways for coordinating my flights really well!

I hope this note becomes useful to you guys in some way. 

Some useful tips

• Have printed copies of the Health Declaration form and consent forms of the airlines you travel with and have them filled out in advance
• I made a nose-only mask for myself to be used when eating during the flights. Everybody is taking off their masks at this time. They talk, sneeze, and do all kinds of unimaginable things without masks. This was an extra cautionary act on my part. I know the in-flight air is being filtered every 2-3 minutes, but I didn’t want to risk testing positive on arrival as I have unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated parents at home.
• Plan to buy some food at CMB or save some from your last flight if your arrival time is during the wee hours
• Tip the porters at the airport and the minor staff at your hotel. Totally optional. But you’ll feel great. The porters are one of the hardest-hit employment group in SL. And I learnt that the hotel staff is on duty 24/7 during these times and not allowed to leave the property due to health/safety reasons. 
• Check-in to your flights as early as possible to avoid anxious waiting times.