Ten MPs identified as close contacts of Minister Vasudeva instructed to undergo PCR tests 

Ten MPs have been identified as close contacts of the Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara, who tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday.

The 10 MPs have been instructed to appear for PCR tests, parliament sources said.

Serjeant-at-Arms of Parliament Narendra Fernando said that all MPs would be subjected to PCR tests on Jan 13 and 15.

MP Gayantha Karunathilaka and his family had tested negative for COVID-19, Narendra Fernando said.

Narendra Fernando said MP Karunathilaka had been identified as a close associate of MP Rauff Hakeem, who recently tested positive for the highly contagious virus.

Karunathilaka is reported to have attended Parliament on Jan 05 together with Hakeem.

Narendra Fernando said upon being notified, MP Karunathilaka had volunteered undergo PCR tests.

He said the test results had confirmed that the MP and his family had not contracted the virus.

Nearly, 15 MPs who come into direct contact with MP Hakeem have been identified.

Minister Nanayakkara is the third MP to have tested positive for COVID-19, following MPs Dayasiri Jayasekara and Rauff Hakeem.