In order to reduce cross-border transmission of Covid-19 and based on characteristics of the Omicron variant and the principle of being scientific, targeted, flexible and convenient, starting from 6th July, 2022, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka has updated the Requirements on Issuing Green Health Declaration Codes(HDC) as follows:

I.Testing requirements

(i)All passengers going to China by flight should take "double nucleic acid" test within 48 hours before boarding, and the last nucleic acid test should be within 24 hours before boarding.

(ii)The interval between two samples of "dual nucleic acid" shall be more than 24 hours, and two different reagents shall be used for testing in different testing institutions.

II.Prevention and control requirements for different personnel

(i)Personnel from Chinese-funded enterprises or projects in Sri Lanka, personnel temporarily going abroad from China, and crew members disembarking in Sri Lanka shall implement the prevention and control requirements for ordinary personnel.

(ii)Persons returning from a third country via Sri Lanka should be tested in the place of origin and Sri Lanka according to the requirements of "I", then apply for health codes respectively. Sri Lanka airport does not have the conditions for nucleic acid testing, so it is necessary to take nucleic acid testing outside the airport. Please make proper arrangements for transit passengers and leave enough time for testing to avoid flight delay or detention.

(iii)For people with a history of Covid-19 infection, those who have recovered more than 14 days shall be treated as ordinary people; recovery less than 14 days need to make up 14 days. The standard for recovery is two negative nucleic acid tests at an interval of more than 24 hours. If there is no abnormality during the 14-day health monitoring period for personnel with previous infection history, the pre-boarding detection requirements are the same as those for ordinary personnel.

(iv)For close contacts, persons with suspected symptoms, persons whose nucleic acid test results are "uncertain", and persons whose nucleic acid test CT values are in the "gray zone", health monitoring shall be conducted for 5 days. If there is no abnormality during the period, the pre-boarding testing requirements shall be the same as those for ordinary people.

III.Requirements for application documents

As it takes some time for the embassy to review the health code, applicants must apply for the health code as soon as they get all the test reports, and submit the application no later than 6 hours before the departure time of the flight. Fill in the information truthfully and upload the following information completely:

(i)  “ Double nucleic acid test ”report within 48 hours (People with previous infection history should also submit two nucleic acid test reports proving that they are cured)

(ii) Vaccination certificate (if have)

(iii) Itinerary, Sri Lanka visa (if have)

Sri Lankan and third-country travelers can log in to https://hrhk.cs.mfa.gov.cn/H5/ or scan the QR code below to apply for a health declaration through a computer or mobile phone.

IV. Other instructions

(i)Please check the transit country's entry regulations and its nucleic acid tests requirements beforehand. Failure to enter the transit country or meet the requirements regarding the tests and the green code could result in being stranded and heightening infection risks.

(ii)Please monitor your health before travel to China and protect yourself before boarding the flights and during the trip.

(iii)According to the General Administration of Customs of China, Announcement on Re-adopting the Health Declaration Form for Inbound and Outbound Travelers, please declare the health conditions to quarantine officers of China Customs on Entry/Exit, and follow with quarantine measures such as temperature monitoring, medical inspection and investigation. You can choose to declare the health conditions online 24 hours in advance (please click the link:https://htdecl.chinaport.gov.cn/htdeclweb/home/pages/healthDeclare/declare.html)

The telephone number of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka: (+94) 112676033, the email address of the consular division of the embassy in Sri Lanka is: colombo@csm.mfa.gov.cn

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka, Colombo