Sri Lanka
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- Restrictions on long-term stays which in most cases is defined as over 90 days.
The types of restriction are:
- HIV testing/disclosure required for residence.
Restrictions on entry to Sri Lanka
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Sri Lanka based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Sri Lanka does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
Nothing on the website of the Department of Immigration and Emigration suggests an HIV related restriction on entry.
The entry visa form does not contain questions or fields in relation to any health condition or status.
The Department of Immigration and Emigration states that a Yellow fever vaccination certificate should be produced to the immigration and emigration counter at the airport by the passengers from the countries in the list available on their website. If they fail to do so, they will not be allowed to enter the country.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Sri Lanka
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Sri Lanka based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Sri Lanka does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Sweden has a list of supporting documents that should be included with a work visa application and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Sri Lanka
We are aware of some official restrictions on long-term stay of people living with HIV in Sri Lanka.
According to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, ‘all Residence Visa applicants are required to undergo a Health Assessment as part of the Health Protection Plan introduced by the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine (MoH) before submitting Residence Visa (new entry or renewal) application to the Department of Immigration & Emigration (DIE) of Sri Lanka, with effect from 03rd June 2019. Health Assessment for the Health Protection Plan for resident visa applicants is valid for One year.’
The examination is a focused screening for Four diseases: Tuberculosis, Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Filariasis. Applicants with positive screening test will have to go for further testing and referral through Immigration Health Unit (IHU) of MoH. The information supplied suggests that this does not result in residence status being denied or revoked.
Treatment access in Sri Lanka
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Sri Lanka. There is no evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
IOM reports that in 2019, the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine introduced the Health Protection Plan, a mandatory social protection plan for all residence visa applicants in Sri Lanka. The residence visa is issued for a one‐year period by the Department of Immigration and Emigration for all applicants who have undergone a health assessment. The Health Protection Plan entitles residence visa holders to a health check‐up at the Inbound Health Assessment Centre and access to health benefits at Government‐funded health institutions, including emergency care, primary outpatient care and treatment for diseases identified in the health assessment.
Applicants for residence permits shall receive the Health Protection Plan (HPP) Card once the Health Assessment is completed. From the HPP card, applicant can access health benefits at Government Health Institutions for Out-Patient Department Services, Emergency Medical Care, Primary Health Care and treatment for diseases diagnosed in the health assessment, free of charge. The HPP does not entitle applicant’s access to hospitalisation for non-emergencies or treatments in private hospitals.
The online registration service for the Health Assessment provides this document with Information of Diseases Screened at the Health Assessment Center which specifies the following: ‘If you are found to be positive for the HIV screening test, you will be referred to the Sri Lanka government National HIV/AIDS control programme, where you will need to undergo confirmatory tests for HIV/AIDS. If you are found to be positive, you will be registered at the NSACP and treatment will be initiated. All treatment, investigations and monitoring will be provided free of charge, and strict confidentiality of the patient information will be maintained. Your full compliance to the advice and protocols provided by the NSACP will be required, to ensure your disease is controlled and that your resident visa status is not affected.’
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Sri Lanka page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
UNAIDS Global AIDS monitoring data
This information about access to HIV services comes from UNAIDS https://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/, a platform to view data on HIV-related laws and policies. This is information provided by national authorities and civil society and may contradict other sources.
Migrant populations
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
| Migrants are able to access HIV services | Yes |
Refugees and asylum seekers
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
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This site focuses on information about HIV travel. Please also consult your own Foreign Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, or the local consulate of the country you are visiting, to see what restrictions there are specifically for you as a citizen of your country, regardless of your HIV status.
