PCR Laboratory at Bandaranaike International Airport to commence operations on Monday (July 13)

COLOMBO (News 1st): Operations of the PCR laboratory established at the Bandaranaike International Airport will commence from next Monday (July 13), the Ministry of Health said. Under the first phase, PCR tests of all Sri Lankans who are returning to the island from overseas will be carried out at this laboratory. According to the Ministry of Health, all PCR tests conducted at the BIA PCR laboratory will be free of charge. Based on the present capacity of PCR testing in Sri Lanka, a total of 500 tests per day can be conducted, at the airport's laboratory. The Ministry of Health is in the process of increasing the rate of PCR tests at the BIA laboratory to 1000 tests per day. Due to the lack of a PCR laboratory at the Katunayake Airport, Sri Lankans who were brought to the island recently had to undergo tests outside, to confirm whether they were infected with COVID-19.