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Sri Lanka to impose restrictions on overseas returnees

17 April 2021 04:53 pm - 34     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Restrictions are to be imposed on foreign arrivals to Sri Lanka considering the global pandemic situation that seems to be worsening, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said.

He told media that many foreign countries have imposed severe exit/entry restrictions after the emergence of the third and fourth wave of COVID-19 in their respective countries.

“However, the COVID-19 situation in Sri Lanka is currently at controlled state and therefore, it is important to maintain the momentum. For that, the Government will have to impose restrictions when returnees arriving from overseas considering the global pandemic situation,” Dr. Samaraweera underlined.

“We may also have to go back to the strict quarantine process, which we applied earlier on returnees,” he stressed. He also said they had noticed a notable rise in cases being detected among returnees in quarantine centres.

“We detected a total of 3,480 cases in the month of April alone, and out of which 538 are returnees who are at quarantine centres,”

“We have been monitoring this situation and time is now ripe to impose certain restrictions to ensure virus does not enter the country,” Dr. Samaraweera added. (Sheain Fernandopulle)


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  Comments - 34

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  • Sam Silva Saturday, 17 April 2021 06:03 PM

    But not for the tourists. Shame !!.

    G abe Saturday, 17 April 2021 06:15 PM

    What about tourists? Are they immune to virus? Or just sri Lankans? Big multinational hotels are the ones making money, grass root people dont matter as admitted by animal rajapaska, ours is one of only a few countries that treat its population worse than foreigners

    curious Saturday, 17 April 2021 07:02 PM

    Overseas returnees are permitted to board the flight with a negative PCR report. Wonder from where and how they get the decease.

    Boomipithra Nandasena Saturday, 17 April 2021 07:03 PM

    Ha Ha Ha Good excuse to stop those want to return home and not to lose foreign exchange.

    Ina Saturday, 17 April 2021 07:03 PM

    Is it possible to know what these restrictions are so returnees can be better prepared?

    Lal Saturday, 17 April 2021 07:54 PM

    Please tell us how many people effected those who are Middle East countries ???

    Symon Saturday, 17 April 2021 08:27 PM

    One week ago they released a 12 pages gazette notification to reduce the quarantine period. Now back peddling. Why this government is so inconsistent in decision making? How can people plan their travel?

    Dee Saturday, 17 April 2021 08:30 PM

    Please stop testing the local community! That's the only way to keep the positive cases down!

    mohan Saturday, 17 April 2021 09:33 PM

    Yes PCR are strictly Monitored and how come over seas returnees are infected with Covid

    Srilankan Saturday, 17 April 2021 09:45 PM

    Infected from unhealthy quarantine center........

    Joshua Saturday, 17 April 2021 09:46 PM

    What nonsense are you talking? Tourists are exempted ? The country seems to be governed by set of fools.

    Nirmal Se Saturday, 17 April 2021 09:54 PM

    This is stupidity. Govt allowed to celebrate Sinhalese new year without any restrictions and people misused it big time. Next wave for SL will start within the country rather than from returnees.

    Muda Saturday, 17 April 2021 11:04 PM

    And needs to be quarantined in a rajapaksha hotel

    GGT Saturday, 17 April 2021 11:42 PM

    From the beginning Mr. Sudath Samaraweera opens his mouth only to utter lies.

    Jerome Sunday, 18 April 2021 12:08 AM

    So you guys are about 15 % and not worried about 84% think what are you going to about internal infections and finally a doctor speaks not army staff

    Fernando Sunday, 18 April 2021 01:42 AM

    The country needs tourists many countries are welcoming tourists if both vaccination has been taken what is the problem. The country needs foreign currency not nails.

    vince Sunday, 18 April 2021 02:44 AM

    Another liar from the ruling mafia

    Ranaweera Sunday, 18 April 2021 08:37 AM

    I am not understanding. The returnees are supposed to have a negative PCR test. Are they getting it from the quarantine centre after arrival. Are the returnees fully vaccinated. Stopping returnees but allowing tourists does not make any sense.

    Buruwa Sunday, 18 April 2021 09:33 AM

    Whats the logic here? Whoever returned from foreign coutries are tested twice and sent back to their homes after seven days of quarantine . The positive cases identified are kept at quarantine centers . So there is very little chance that expat workers returning home will spread the virus . This is a pretext for anticipated rise in covid cases within the country after avurudu season . Conveniently , to the government the Sri Lankan workers become the responsibility of other coutries and Sri lanka wants only the dollars they earn. What type of a country we live in? You should go home for your inability to take necessary action to prevent people from gathering during the festive season . Sounds like hotel mafia also back in action too.

    Lalith de silva Sunday, 18 April 2021 10:33 AM

    Hi Dr Please explain all air line need a PCR nagative to board taken 72 hrs before Why dont you do PCR at the arrival airport again and if nagative send them for 7 daysand check again i go between gulf this way no hassle How about if you are fully vaccinated all gulf and some countries do not check even a PCR IF YOU HAVE GREEN VACCINATED CARD introduce some thing like that not stop completely arrival DO YOU GET COMMISSION FROM HOTEL I FELL YPU GET THAY IS WHY YOU ARE TRYING TO STOP COME ON DR SEE HOW OUR COUNTRYMEN BEHAVE LALITH

    Damian Sunday, 18 April 2021 10:58 AM

    Stop confusing everyone provide accurate information once you make up your mind ? Tourist are Immuned to the virus ?? what a joke Hope the Donkeys know what they're talking about All Sri Lankan Citizens living abroad should stop remitting foreign currency until the President gives us some sort of assurance and stop harassing innocent people

    Isham Cader Sunday, 18 April 2021 12:28 PM

    The concept of quarantine in SL is a well thought out money-grabbing scam! My brother recently returned to SL. He was asked to pay Rs.170,000 for 2 weeks quarantine. Upon arrival at the quarantine centre (a Hotel), he was subjected to a PCR test. Next day he was confirmed negative and was told by a high-ranking army personnal who was incharge of the quratine center, that he can returnto his home. He only spent one day at the qurantine centre. So they just pocketed the money.This is a business venture well thought out and executed. Country is bankrup so start robbing the people. Disgraceful and shameful

    Jerome Sunday, 18 April 2021 01:55 PM

    Only returnees bring covid not tourists

    Amila Sunday, 18 April 2021 02:42 PM

    People need to understand the bigger picture. This is something Sri-Lankans don’t understand. Tourists bring foreign currency more than repatriates do. The value of the LKR is depreciating rapidly. There’s 3 ways to fix it. Limit the imports, increase the exports and foreign currency reserves. Tourism needs to stay open even if repatriation stops. Sri Lankan citizens can still return to Sri Lanka by paying a little bit more to stay in a tourist hotel.

    Saman Sunday, 18 April 2021 03:01 PM

    This govt completely lost its direction in every angle.

    rama Sunday, 18 April 2021 03:25 PM

    All Sri Lankan Citizens living abroad should stop remitting foreign currency until the President gives us some sort of assurance and stop harassing innocent people. That Srilankan who have take proper 2 vaccine can come to srilanka.

    Alex Gunarathne Sunday, 18 April 2021 03:53 PM

    Absolute piece of crap, by a bunch of lunatics coming up with all these nonsense

    Nawagamu Deshabandu Sunday, 18 April 2021 04:48 PM

    Hope this time they would not allow COVID-19 again into garment factories as friends of the government dignitaries.

    Buuruwa Sunday, 18 April 2021 04:49 PM

    This guy says the Govt. has controlled the pandemic... by stop doing voluntary testing I presume. This is what happens when you read someone else's script. You all have become a bunch of jokers nowadays... may be the money someone earned from the hotels would have been reduced....

    Placid coorey Sunday, 18 April 2021 05:04 PM

    Ukraine, Germany ,France,Poland and India has the highest infection rates but Sri Lanka allows tourists from these countries but places restrictions on SriLankans from the Mid East . Is it because the government is desperate for money and ignores the danger to its ordinary citizens

    LankanLover Sunday, 18 April 2021 05:24 PM

    Wonder of Asia, No wonder, So obvious, what else can you expect

    FF Sunday, 18 April 2021 06:13 PM

    GOVT LOOKING FOR WAYS TO STOP RETURNEES. IF WE COME WITH NEGATIVE PCR REPORT HOW AND WHERE DO WE GET INFECTED? CAN THE FIRST AND FOREMOST THE GOVT SHOULD CHECK THE CONDITIONS IN THE QUARANTINE CENTERS. ASK THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PAID AND SPENT THEIR QUARANTINE PERIOD IN THE SO CALLED STAR CLASS HOTELS IN THE GOD FORSAKEN PLACES. THE GOVT SHOULD NOT GO AFTER TO STOP THE RETURNEES.

    Lankan Sunday, 18 April 2021 06:59 PM

    Sri Lankan rules and regulations never make any sense. What's wrong with our so called government/leaders? Get the facts together and come up with solutions that make sense for crying out loud!

    Buddhist Sunday, 18 April 2021 07:17 PM

    Covid management in SL has failed. We have three heads Pavithra, Sharvendra and Fernandopulle, what's the point? All three are working for the Chinese and not for SL citizens.


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