Apr 30, Colombo: Sri Lanka government today urged the people in the country to avoid from taking unnecessary foreign visits to prevent contracting swine flu.

Sri Lanka's Health Ministry said this would be the main precautionary step to avoid the swine flu virus entering into the country.

Meanwhile Director General of Health Services Dr. Ajith Mendis said the only machine that could inspect the visitors at the Bandaranaike International Airport for various diseases is out of order and has been sent to a foreign country to repair.

However he pointed out that Sri Lanka has a fully equipped laboratory to test all virus.

Sri Lanka government has already taken several steps to prevent the swine flu virus entering the country following the outbreaks in Mexico and few other countries. The disease is blamed for 168 deaths in Mexico and one in the United States.