President assures opportunity for everyone to return to SL
June 04, 2020- Medical laboratories to be established at the BIA
- Possibilities to conduct PCR tests in relevant countries to be explored
- 14-day quarantine for direct returnees on completion of PCR test
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, assuring avenues for everyone who wishes to return to the Sri Lanka, has instructed relevant authorities to direct returnees for 14-day quarantine process after completion of PCR tests at the airport.
The President has directed airport authorities to accommodate all returnees in an isolated location while providing them required facilities until the test results are released.
President Rajapaksa issued these guidelines after discussing issues related to PCR testing and inceasing number of coronavirus infected returnees from the Middle East, with the medical professionals and members of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) appointed to mitigate the spread of coronavirus held at the Presidential Secretariat, today (June 4).
The President emphasizing on the testing facilities at the airport, said that the decision to set-up a laboratory at the airport to expedite the PCR testing process, was taken following the predictions of health authorities that the virus would retain for some time.
President Rajapaksa also directed authorities to check possibilities of conducting PCR tests overseas with the government’s mediation or with the assistance of respective governments.
" Early identification of coronavirus positives would help to direct them to hospitals and quarantine centres soon," he emphasized.
Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Western Province Governor Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, Presidential Advisor Lalith Weeratunga, Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Health Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Tri-Forces Commanders, Acting Inspector General of Police, Director General Health Services, PTF members, and a host of medical professionals attended the meeting.