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Government defends decision to ban passengers from the Gulf
Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said that with over 100 Covid positive patients being reported from among arrivals from the Middle East, the Government was compelled to enforce the temporary ban.
As was reported by Daily Mirror, Cabinet was yesterday briefed on a decision to temporarily ban passengers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
The National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) had reached the decision last evening (Monday) and the Cabinet was also briefed about the move, sources told Daily Mirror.
NOCPCO had decided to temporarily ban passengers from Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.
Rambukwella confirmed today that the Cabinet was briefed on the matter yesterday and had the support to enforce the temporary ban.
He said that there is an allegation that the Government is allowing people to come from countries where the virus is spreading.
The move will likely impact several Sri Lankans seeking to return from the Gulf.
Rambukwella said the Government will look into the matter and introduce a system when bringing back Sri Lankans stranded overseas.
NOCPCO had announced yesterday that passengers from the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries will not be permitted to disembark in Sri Lanka with effect from 0001hrs on 1st July 2021. The restriction will be in force until 2359hrs on 13th July 2021.
Sources said the decision was taken as over 100 coronavirus infected persons were detected among those arriving in Sri Lanka from the Gulf.
According to sources, it was decided to temporarily enforce the ban in order to control the situation.(Eswaran Ratnam)
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