Private hospital representatives in key talks with Tourism Development Authority, Health Ministry officials

COLOMBO: The government has decided to increase the number of PCR tests to detect more COVID-19 patients, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga was quoted as saying in a local English daily.

This is aimed at expediting the repatriation of Sri Lankans and ensuring that tourists entering the country are not infected with the COVID-19 virus, Dailynews.lk reported.

The decision was taken during a meeting with Tourism Development Authority and Health Ministry officials and representatives from private hospitals held at the Tourism Ministry.

The minister reportedly requested health officials to take measures to increase the number of PCR tests conducted daily as the country is now open for tourists and was repatriating more Sri Lankans stranded abroad due to the pandemic.

The Health Ministry is currently conducting around 15,000 PCR tests a day while around 3,000 PCR tests are being conducted by private hospitals daily.

Since, the government has decided to reopen the airports officially for both passenger and commercial flights at the end of next month, the minister stressed the importance of increasing the number PCR tests. it has been decided to increase the number of PCR tests by 3,000 for Sri Lankans repatriating to the country and foreign tourists entering the country.