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US diplomat cleared from BIA sans PCR test: AASL

4 June 2020 04:48 pm - 15     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), after consulting the relevant ministries, have allowed a senior diplomat of the US Embassy who arrived from Qatar to leave the airport without a PCR test this morning.

Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited Chairman Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) G. A. Chandrasiri said that this was the first instance of a diplomat arriving in the country after COVID-19 protocols and standards were implemented.

“Since this was the very first case of someone with diplomatic immunity arriving, we consulted all relevant government officials including those at the Presidential Secretariat and Foreign Relations Ministry to follow, while the diplomat was waiting for four hours at the airport,” he said.

He said airport officials had also briefed embassy officials who arrived to pick the diplomat on how he should be examined by doctors at the embassy and undergo self-quarantine.

“Not that we need to, but we separately advised the Embassy officials of the process that should be followed for such arrivals. The embassies have their own programmes and procedures in relation to the COVID-19 situation to which such arriving officials should adhere to,” Maj. Gen. Chandrasiri said.

Meanwhile, AASL Vice Chairman Rajeewasiri Sooriyaarachchi told the Daily Mirror that the diplomat had refused to undergo a PCR test owing to diplomatic privileges.

-US diplomatic staff adhere carefully to SL COVID-19 guidelines: Embassy

When contacted over the incident, a US Embassy Spokesperson said US diplomatic staff adhere carefully to Sri Lankan COVID-19 guidelines, including quarantine restrictions, in close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

“The arrival of US diplomatic staff to Sri Lanka also complies with the norms and procedures outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, just as it applies to arrival of Sri Lankan and other diplomatic staff to the United States,” they said. (Lahiru Pothmulla and Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)


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  Comments - 15

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  • Thondi Thursday, 04 June 2020 08:31 PM

    quarantine protocols apply only to ordinary people. politicians and diplomats have immunity and do not get infected by virus.

    Ramal Thursday, 04 June 2020 09:42 PM

    Please name the US diplomat who evaded the PCR test, and his position so that people can keep the distance from him or her. This is important.

    CITIZEN Thursday, 04 June 2020 09:48 PM

    HE WASTED 4 HRS AT THE AIRPORT. HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE TEST AND SAVED TIME INSTEAD. HOWEVER, ALL SHOULD FOLLOW IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR NATIONALITY OR POSITION

    Jason Thursday, 04 June 2020 09:55 PM

    What joke is this...so a sick diplomat is free to infect anyone he or she wants...wow..very smart idea..why cant they wait..what's special about them...sri Lankan citizens lives are important or diplomats waiting for 4 hours ?.....

    Siribiris Thursday, 04 June 2020 10:08 PM

    With an American president , Americans coming OR going can do what ever they want . Happy 69 lakhs .

    Citizen Banda Thursday, 04 June 2020 10:21 PM

    Diplomatic immunity does NOT extend to health checks. This is nothing but arrogance of the diplomat concerned. Sri Lanka must follow up with US embassy and get their personnel to respect national health standards.

    dickie bird Thursday, 04 June 2020 10:23 PM

    This is still COVID-19 and the MCC have not yet come into operation. These b*ggers are a curse to the peaceful existence of the World.

    SL People Thursday, 04 June 2020 10:44 PM

    Hey Local US henchmen Where are you people, no comments for this act? Are you justifying US behaviour. You only see chinese faults. Yes of cos China is not giving dollars ne. US giving millions of dollars for protecting them. SL people

    Noname Thursday, 04 June 2020 11:18 PM

    This is why there is rioting in US. Absolute arrogance of some white Americans is not limited to people from 3rd world countries.

    Kingsley Wijesinhe Thursday, 04 June 2020 11:19 PM

    I am not too sure whether the Vienna Convention says anything abut mandatory health checks. This guy should be declared persona non grata and deported.

    ravin Thursday, 04 June 2020 11:42 PM

    Aha ! Biggest question is which country in the world have highest number of infected cases of COVID-19 in the world. Over to you US ambassdor.

    Kuhanesan Thursday, 04 June 2020 11:51 PM

    Money decide everything

    Kumar Friday, 05 June 2020 12:37 AM

    American official are known for this kind of behavior. So Sri Lankan officials were scared to expel the dude or the Dudet. Then after politics your president want to be on the good side of the Americans with the intension of getting his entry back to the US

    Ganesh Friday, 05 June 2020 01:13 AM

    Wimal Weerawansa over to you

    Gorge Friday, 05 June 2020 10:10 PM

    He must be corona positive patient amd racist


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