COLOMBO : An advanced PCR testing laboratory at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake will be opened on September 20 for arriving passengers with the aim of providing PCR test results within three hours, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said on Tuesday,September 14.
The laboratory will offer rapid COVID -19 testing with the capacity of doing more than 500 PCR tests per hour and 7000 PCR tests per day and results are available in approximately three hours.
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranathunga made this announcement when he visited the new PCR testing laboratory which is nearing completion at the BIA premises.
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and other senior officials from the airport paid an inspection tour today at the airport.
At least 3,000 tourists arrive in the country each day, and each tourist will be charged US$40 by the Tourism Promotions Authority to direct them to the PCR tests at the airport, the Minister said.
“The tourists have to wait at the laboratory until the PCR test results are prepared. According to the report, foreign tourists who have received both negative and negative dosages will be able to stay in the laboratory according to their travel plans,” he said.
Even if their PCR results proved negative, foreign tourists who have received only one dose should go to tourist hotels for the quarantine process.
Arrangements have also been made to refer foreign tourists who have received a positive PCR report for further medical treatment.
Minister Ranatunga also said that PCR laboratories have been set up at the airport premises in many of the world’s advanced airports.
This laboratory operates under the guidance and regulation of the Ministry of Health using technology in line with international standards.
Is this applicable only for foreign tourists ? What about the Sri Lankan who are arriving the country?
Our Media is more concern on tourists than Srilankans.