Authorities in Sri Lanka have barred Indian nationals from entering the country in the wake of a disastrous surge in Covid-19 cases in India, reported Daily Mirror. The order has effectively put the air bubble agreement signed between Sri Lanka and India on hold. 

As the region witnessed an unprecedented surge in cases, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) on Wednesday decided to suspend all Indian passengers entering the country with immediate effect.  

CAAS Additional Director General P. A. Jayakantha said this is with the view to prevent the Covid-19 virus from entering the country from the Indian subcontinent. However, there is the possibility that fast-spreading variants might already be there in Sri Lanka by now. 

The country is yet conducted broad genome sequencing tests.

A notice has already been issued to all airlines to prevent disembarking passengers. Other countries, too, have imposed similar flight ban from India (SAM).