Switzerland funds first-of-its-kind COVID RT-PCR testing facility at BIA

16.11.2020 Handing over of PCR Test Kits at the Ministry of Health - Swiss Ambassador Dominik Furgler and Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi 

• Gesture inclusive of 39,000 test kits 

The Government of Switzerland has extended support to Sri Lanka in addressing the unprecedented impact of COVID-19.

“This collaboration is testimony to the excellent long-term bilateral relationship as well as the ongoing Migration Partnership between Switzerland and Sri Lanka with the purpose of supporting the Government’s efforts of safely repatriating migrant workers who are stranded overseas due to COVID -19,” the Swiss Embassy said in a statement.

It said Switzerland had funded the installation of new, semi-automated Roche Diagnostics RT-PCR testing machines at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and provided 39,000 COVID RT-PCR test kits.

This newly-installed advanced equipment at the BIA is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka and significantly increases the testing capacity enabling 1,300 RT-PCR tests per day with a turnaround time of approximately three hours. Switzerland believes this arrangement would considerably contribute to and facilitate the safe and speedy return of Sri Lankan migrant workers.

The One Million US Dollar project is implemented by the International Organization for Migration in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. and other relevant stakeholders.

Switzerland has also supported a number of other COVID-19 Emergency Response projects in Sri Lanka since March.