Ukrainian tourists Opposition created false fear: Minister

• Airport will be opened for tourists on Jan. 21 after rectifying shortcomings

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga charged that the opposition only tried to create a false fear in the minds of people about the possible emergence of a new Covid-19 cluster from Ukrainian tourists, but the government took effective measures to avert it.   

Talking to the media in Moneragala on Wednesday, he said 1,200 tourists had arrived from Ukraine under the pilot project, and only two of them tested positive for the disease upon arrival. He said the airport would be open for tourists on January 21 after the rectification of shortcomings identified in the execution of the pilot project.   

The Minister said three million people depending on tourism are in the lurch today due to the impact of the pandemic on the industry.   
“The opposition tried to create a false fear in the minds of people because it does not want the economy  revived,” he said.