COLOMBO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government on Thursday urged citizens to halt overseas tours unless it is for an essential purpose, following the global COVID-19 outbreak, a statement from the government information department said.
The government also said that the quarantine process presently carried out by the authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka was not only applicable to Sri Lankan nationals arriving from the countries of Italy, South Korea and Iran but also for tourists arriving from those countries in the island country.
"Several foreigners arrived from such countries to Sri Lanka are being quarantined in the nominated quarantine centres by now," the statement said.
"The relevant parties are requested by the government to adhere to the procedures applied while none of the individuals reserves the social or legitimate right to refuse the quarantine procedure carried out for the security of the country," the statement added.
