Second Ukrainian group arrives in Mattala: Govt. to intensify PCR testing

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Sri Lanka yesterday (29) received the second group of tourists from Ukraine as Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the health authorities would step up RT-PCR testing to facilitate the arrival of tourists and expatriate Sri Lankans.

Ukrainian national airline flew in 204 men, women and children to Mattala airport yesterday afternoon. The flight crew comprised six. The first group that arrived on Monday (28) consisted of 186 persons. They were moved to hotels in Koggala and Bentota after subjecting them to PCR tests, an official said, adding that they would be tested again after a few days.

Minister Ranatunga summoned a meeting at his ministry to discuss the latest developments. Among those present were representatives of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Health authories and staff of private hospitals tasked to conduct PCR tests.

The spokesperson quoted Minister Ranatunga as having said that in support of the ongoing government efforts to allow arrivals of both tourists and Sri Lankans the number of PCR tests would have to be increased.

A decision was taken to conduct an additional 3,000 PCR tests each on tourists and Sri Lankans returning home, in addition to about 15,000 tests conducted by the public sector and 2,500 to 3,000 by private hospitals at present.

Meanwhile, Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday said that nearly 10,000 rapid antigen tests had been conducted since Dec 18 to 6 am yesterday (29) at 11 locations targeting especially large numbers leaving the Western Province on account of the festive period. According to DIG Rohana, 61 positive cases had been detected and 315 who were in contact with them, too had been traced.

DIG Rohana said that the rapid antigen tests would be conducted till January 5, 2021 at those 11 locations.