Airport PCR lab reopened

The PCR lab at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), which had been closed down after the Health Ministry failed to authorise its operations, was reopened yesterday.

Now all passengers who leave the country and those who arrive in Sri Lanka with one vaccination will be subjected to PCR testing.

Earlier, the Director General of Health Services had authorised the PCR lab, SASL Hospinorm, to operate. Lab Manager Sumudu Sarasiraja said that they could provide PCR reports within three hours.

“Those who test positive for COVID will be sent to quarantine centres under the airport. Any passenger can get a PCR result in three hours. Thus, passengers need to arrive at the airport six hours before their flight. Passengers are provided with all facilities until the result is released,” she said.

The first passengers to benefit from the lab were those who arrived in QR 668 of Qatar Airways at 2:15 a.m. on Thursday.