• Three individuals with the new variant were identified from the community in Colombo
• We obtained 55 samples out of them, 36 belong to the lineage B.1.411, which is predominately found in Sri Lanka
• Two returnees from Qatar were found with the South African variant B.1.351
• Seven individuals with the UK variant, B.1.1.7 were also detected and one was a fisherman who was arrested in the seas for smuggling illegal goods

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

Three individuals with the new variant belonging to the Denmark/Iraq lineage of COVID-19 (B.1.428) have been detected from Colombo, Dr Chandima Jeewandara, Director of Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the University of Sri Jayewardenapura said.   

He said the three individuals with the new variant were identified from the community in Colombo and added the samples were brought by intelligence.   

“We obtained 55 samples out of which 36 belong to the lineage B.1.411, which is predominately found in Sri Lanka. These samples were obtained in strains found in Sapugaskanda, the elderly home in Battaramulla, Mannar, Jaffna, Colombo and Kegalle. Here, some had certain mutations of interest, which we are investigating further,” he said.  

“Apart from that, two returnees from Qatar were found with the South African variant B.1.351 while seven individuals with the UK variant, B.1.1.7 were also detected out of whom six were from quarantine centres and one person was a fisherman who was arrested in the seas for smuggling illegal goods.   

Moreover, he said it is when the virus spreads only, the mutations appear and therefore, urged people to stick to the basic health guidelines in order to prevent the virus from spreading.