Three tourists who arrived in Sri Lanka from Ukraine recently have tested positive for COVID-19, confirmed Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath on Wednesday (30).
These three Ukrainians tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday (29) night and Dr. Hemantha Herath said the patients were moved for treatment.
On Monday (28) 180 tourists from Ukraine arrived in Sri Lanka, as the first visitors to the country after the airports were opened for inbound travel.
The special charter flight arrived at the Mattala International Airport and these tourists were the first to arrive in Sri Lanka as part of the government’s pilot project to attract visitors to the country.
The Boeing 737-900, flight no PQ555, arrived at MRIA at 1406 hrs. The flight was warmly welcomed with a water salute.
Cultural dancing performances had been organized in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tea Board to welcome and entertain the tourists.
Shehan Sumanasekara the Director of Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd on Monday (28) said the tourists will be accommodated in hotels in Bentota and Koggala for a week, where they will be subject to PCR tests.
Based on the results of the PCR tests, the tourists will be allowed to visit selected locations in the country, authorities said.
There was a wide condemnation on social media, as Sri Lankan netizens pointed out certain tourists were not wearing face masks in a proper manner.
On Tuesday (29), 460 COVID-19 cases were reported, with a majority of the cases being reported from the Colombo District.
Among Tuesday’s cases were 07 returnees from overseas.
(newsfirst.lk)