Measures to prevent coronavirus outbreak in Colombo Port

Wednesday, 5 February 2020 00:59 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

 

 

Passengers from cruise ships being quarantined at the Port of Colombo

Additional Managing Director Upali De Zoysa, Ministry of Health Director (Quarantine) Dr. S.M. Arnold, Harbour Master Capt. Nirmal Silva, Community Health Specialist Dr. Dihani Samarasekara, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Wickramasinghe, Medical Officer Dr. R.K.S. Wijesinghe, Police Constable (Police Canals) K.P.D. Gunawardhane with Police Dog Ted attending the port quarantine program


 

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has implemented a successful program to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus from all ports including the Port of Colombo.

This program is implemented under the guidance and supervision of Minister of Ports and Shipping Johnston Fernando and State Minister of Ports Development Kanaka Herath, with the leadership and initiative of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman General Daya Rathnayake, and with the supportive assistance of SLPA Managing Director Capt. Athula Hewavitharana, Additional Managing Director Upali De Zoysa and Harbour Master Capt. Nirmal Silva. SLPA Senior Security Manager K.G. Upali, SLPA higher officers, staff of the SLPA Medical Division and Medical Office and representatives of shipping lines and vessel operators also attended the launch of the program. 

The SLPA therefore responsibly claims that the Port of Colombo and all other ports under its purview are safe and that certain parties’ claims that there is no mechanism for quarantining passenger ships and passengers arriving at the Passenger Terminal of the Port of Colombo are completely false.

SLPA Additional Managing Director Upali De Zoysa at a special briefing said the Sri Lanka Ports Authority has launched this special quarantine program under directions and supervision by Ports and Shipping Minister Fernando and Ports Development State Minister Herath, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping M.M.P.K. Mayadunne and SLPA Chairman Ratnayake to coincide with the national program on preventing the spread of novel coronavirus in Sri Lanka. 

The program is also launched with the support and coordination of Ministry of Health Director (Quarantine) Dr. S.M. Arnold and Deputy Director Roshan Sampath. Here at the Port of Colombo, the medical records of the passengers and crew of the vessels are obtained through ships’ Captains and checked to investigate if they are infected or suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus. Doctors and staff of the SLPA Medical Division, its Health office staff, the South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) and Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) of the Port of Colombo, the Port Police, Sri Lanka Navy, the vessel agents’ associations, Sri Lanka Association of Vessel Operators, and all other concerned institutions are engaged in collaborative teamwork around the clock to facilitate the program.

Accordingly, all necessary steps have been arranged to send any patient or suspected passenger or crew member to specified hospitals to facilitate screening and treatments. Arrangements have also been made to provide all services, including vehicle services, to facilitate the program.

 “Sri Lanka’s ports are expected to grow fast to keep up with Sri Lanka’s reputation as a tourist destination. On the journey to becoming green and smart ports, all ports in Sri Lanka will also be developed as quarantine ports,” SLPA Additional Managing Director Upali De Zoysa said.

Ministry of Health Director (Quarantine) Dr. S.M. Arnold said that the special quarantine program at the Port of Colombo has been successful in parallel with the national program to curb the spread of novel coronavirus in Sri Lanka.

Passengers of the cruise ship ‘Sun Princess’ who had sailed from Australia and via Thailand to the Port of Colombo were inspected for any patients or persons with symptoms.

He also praised the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), its Chairman and the Management for their dedication and commitment on behalf of the Ministry of Health for the immediate steps taken to control coronavirus at the port. “The assistance of all the directors of SLPA and the top management of the SLPA is very important in the process as these quarantine measures are expected to be implemented successfully in all ports in Sri Lanka,” he said.

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