Government's process of repatriation draws flak from opposition

COLOMBO (News 1st): Leader of the National People's Power Anura Kumara Dissanayake queried in Parliament today (7th) regarding the repatriation process of Sri Lankan expatriates. "The average rate at a hotel is around 3,000 to 3,500 rupees. However, they charge in excess of 12,000 rupees at hotels to undergo quarantine. These hotels are owned by their close allies. This has turned into a source of income for the infamous business supporting the President. How can they profit out of another person's plight? Overall it costs more than 400,000 for a citizen to return to the island", he said. The repatriation process had been made a tool for infamous businessmen to profit out of, Dissanayake alleged. " Udayanga Weeratunga is bringing down tourists from Ukraine. Which quarantine process are they undergoing? They don't even complete 7 days in quarantine and go gallivanting to Mirissa in 5 days, he noted. In reply, Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi claimed, according to her knowledge in excess of 60,000 Sri Lankans had been repatriated from the Middle East. The Government and the Ministry of Health bear the cost of the PCR tests conducted on those returnees, she added. "Those undergoing quarantine at hotels have been charged 8,000 rupees on two separate occasions for PCR tests to be conducted. If you assure that the Ministry of Health will bear the cost of the PCR tests, thank you very much for that", Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. " The Government conducts PCR tests on those who opt to undergo quarantine at centres instead of hotels", the Minister of Health replied.