Rapid increase of infections among returnees

● Govt. to continue with repatriations

● 34 Sri Lankans who returned to the country on Thursday found to be infected

A rapid increase of coronavirus infections has been noted among returnees to Sri Lanka.

Concerns had been raised on the matter when the coronavirus task force headed by Army Commander Shavendra Silva met yesterday.

It was noted that 40 returnees had been detected with the virus by last evening.

On Thursday, 34 Sri Lankans who returned to the country had been found to be infected. Returnees are found to be infected daily, based on the PCR results. However, at the coronavirus task force meeting it was noted that the Government will not impose restrictions on the number of people returning to Sri Lanka from overseas.

On a directive of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Foreign Ministry had this week reviewed the entry procedure as a measure of relief for prospective Sri Lankan returnees. Under the new procedure, Sri Lankans, dual citizens who travel on Sri Lankan passports, spouses and unmarried children of Sri Lankans, who are foreigners and Sri Lankan seafarers arriving by air will be permitted to enter Sri Lanka without prior approval of the Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority. The responsibility of maintaining a manageable number of passenger arrivals has however been entrusted with the Civil Aviation Authority, who will, through the respective airlines, regulate the numbers in a manner that would cope with the local capacities of quarantining and other logistics required.