July 09, Colombo: In view of diagnosing the COVID-19 affected passengers arriving in Sri Lanka, a PCR test laboratory has been established at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to conduct PCR tests on passengers and issue results.

The Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited handed over the new laboratory designated as a Molecular Biology Laboratory to Ministry of Health & Indigenous Medicine today, 9th of July 2020 with the participation of Major General Dr. S.H Munasinghe Secretary of the Minister of Health & Indigenous Medicine, Dr. Anil Jasinghe Director General of Health Services, and Major General (Rtd.) G. A. Chandrasiri, Chairman AASL.

The Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited has funded Rs.16.5 million for this (PCR) laboratory valued at Rs. 70 million. It has the capacity to conduct 500 PCR tests per day.

The laboratory set up at a cost of Rs. 70 million has been equipped with a collection of laboratory equipment donated to several hospitals in the country. Among the installed equipment are two PCR machines, two nucleic acid separators and three safety cabinets.

Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara Director of Sri Lanka Medical Research Institute, Mr. Rajeewasiri Sooriyaarachchi Vice Chairman AASL, Board of Directors AASL, senior officials of AASL and other officials of Ministry of Health and Medical Research Unit participated in the occasion.