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Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga seen inaugurating the new PCR testing facility on 23 September – File photo
By Charumini de Silva
Despite spending millions of dollars at a time the Government is facing a foreign exchange crisis, the dedicated new PCR facility opened in the vicinity of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake remains in limbo after its soft opening two weeks ago.
On 23 September, the ‘Hospinorm Laboratory Lounge’ was symbolically declared open by Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. It had been declared open for incoming passengers by Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella from 25 September with a capacity of 500 PCR tests per hour and 7,000 tests per day for a fee of $ 40 per passenger.
However, on 27 September, the Airport and Aviation Services (Lanka) Ltd. (AASL) temporarily suspended the new PCR unit opened on 25 September, until technical issues are resolved along with improvements in service and comfort levels following complaints from incoming passengers.
“The facility is not in operation now,” AASL Vice President Rajiv Sooriyaarachchi told the Daily FT.
The state-of-the-art laboratory facility was built at a cost of $ 5 million. The facility was set up to issue a PCR test report to tourists arriving in the country in as little as three hours.
With the million-dollar facility remaining closed, the AASL was conducting necessary PCR tests within the airport.
“There is no hassle for the incoming passengers if the need arises to do a PCR test as we facilitate it within the BIA premises. Daily, we conduct around 40-50 PCR tests for the same fee of $ 40 per passenger,” Sooriyaarachchi said.
He said the number of PCR tests they had to conduct had reduced with the Government decision to relax entry rules to the country.
The Health Ministry last week announced eased entry rules by exempting on-arrival PCR for fully vaccinated travellers who receive a negative result in a PCR test conducted within 72 hours of departure from 1 October. However, those not vaccinated will be required to undergo a 14-day hotel or home quarantine.
On 27 September, Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. Hemantha Herath said the dedicated PCR laboratory in the vicinity of the BIA was not fully-fledged, and it is yet to officially start operations.
AASL suspended the new PCR unit following complaints from incoming passengers after the technical glitches led to massive delays.
“If operations are to commence at the PCR laboratory, authorities need to be satisfied with its capacity, and it should be able to operate continuously subject to several test runs,” Dr. Herath told journalists.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Ramannya Nikaya Chief Sangha Nayake Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said certain businessmen have capitalised on the Government’s decision to stop conducting PCR tests in the dedicated facility established in Katunayake.
“There is a massive fraud taking place in Katunayake with regard to PCR testing. Innocent passengers were forced to stay at private hotels, paying exorbitant prices; and when this was uncovered by the media, the Government took measures to open a PCR laboratory in the vicinity of the BIA at a huge cost. The facility has the capacity of conducting 500 PCR tests per hour, but the facility was in operation only for a couple of days when they decided to cease all operations,” he pointed out.
Sobhitha Thera said it is clear that these programs are not being initiated with good intentions. “Act according to your conscience. We can only say to heed the advice of the Buddha,” he said.
Sooriyaarachchi said they were expecting few approvals from the Health Ministry on the system and the measures are underway to rectify it.
“The health authorities are in the process of inspecting the machinery and systems. We are in the course of getting all necessary approvals for it,” he added.
