Measures to prevent coronavirus infected entering from BIA

• Three thermal scanners installed at BIA to identify infected travellers
• Industry concerned by negative impact on arrivals from China, other Asian countries
• Five-member Health Ministry Unit at BIA conducting scans according to WHO criteria 

By Charumini de Silva

The Government yesterday said that a special program is being carried out in collaboration with the Tourism Ministry and Health Ministry to identify coronavirus-infected tourists coming through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.

“Three thermal scanners have already been installed at the BIA to identify the infected. We have taken all possible measures to prevent the arrival of new coronavirus-infected travellers from Katunayake airport,” Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said yesterday.

The coronavirus outbreak, which originated in Wuhan, China, is now spreading in many Asian countries as well as other countries which have also reported the illness, including the first US instance overnight.

«All incoming flights from Asia and others where incidents have been reported will be inspected,» the Minister told the Daily FT.

Health Ministry Quarantine Unit Director Dr. S. M. Arnold said that a five-member unit is conducting coronavirus scans at BIA, according to the criteria outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr. Arnold said a three-year-old child from China, whom they suspected was coronavirus-infected, was admitted to IDH Hospital Colombo, but investigations later confirmed that the child was not infected.

Minister Ranatunga also inspected the three thermal scanners installed at BIA yesterday and instructed airport authorities to provide necessary protective gear to BIA employees.

The virus outbreak also comes as Chinese are expected to make about three billion trips for the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year), which officially kicks off on Friday, followed by the Spring Festival.

When asked if there will be an impact to the arrival numbers, particularly from China, the Minister said there will be no negative impact for Sri Lanka tourism.

However, industry experts opined that there could be a negative impact, as most Chinese tourists come to Sri Lanka during the Lunar New Year.

In 2019, Sri Lanka received 217,477 tourists from North East Asia and 68,904 from South East Asia.