1 June 2020 01:05 pm
Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said today the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test would be conducted on all passengers arriving in the country from today ( June1) at the Katunayaka airport and that all those who come to Sri Lanka will be either hospitalized or sent for quarantine following the result of the test.
He said this step was taken following a decision taken by the Presidential Task Force appointed to control the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said at a media briefing held in Udugampala that the Katunayake airport is scheduled to open for tourists from August. “Although the Katunayake airport will be opened for tourists in August, all those tourists arriving in the country would be subjected to PCR test,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister said the government’s intention is to repatriate all Sri Lankans stranded overseas and that programme would not stop.
“Nearly 10,000 Sri Lankans stranded in 21 countries have been brought to the country as of now and another 20,000 are expecting to return.
The minister said those Sri Lankans will also be brought back in the country in a proper mechanism. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)