New PCR unit at BIA temporarily closed

• Incoming passengers complain of delays and difficulties at dedicated facility opened on Saturday
• BIA assures re-opening after improvements
• Health Services Deputy Director says new unit not fully-fledged yet to officially start operations

Airport and Aviation Services (Lanka) Ltd. (AASL) has temporarily suspended the new PCR unit opened on Saturday until technical issues are resolved along with improvements in service and comfort levels following complaints by incoming passengers.

“The operation of the PCR laboratory at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is temporarily suspended. There is a technical glitch, and the experts are making efforts to rectify it as soon as possible,” AASL Vice President Rajiv Sooriyaarachchi said at a press conference yesterday.

Several tourists and passengers have complained via social media platforms about inordinate delays as well as poor services apart from non-availability of food and beverages at the facility which promises to give PCR result tests within two to three hours.

«People who have been travelling for days are now sobbing because of exhaustion and no food and water,» was the response of one arriving passenger. 

“The unit is located about two kilometres from the airport and instead of the promised two hours, passengers have had to languish for over five hours without food or water,” said another.

However, Sooriyaarachchi said most of the tourists had benefited from the dedicated PCR facility, though there had been delays for some.

“The unit was launched only on Saturday to facilitate incoming tourists. We were informed of the delays, but some passengers had also provided wrong information which added to those inefficiencies. However, we have taken measures to rectify them,” Sooriyaarachchi added.

The ‘Hospinorm Laboratory Lounge’ was symbolically declared open by Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga on Thursday at the BIA. It has been open for incoming passengers from Saturday with a capacity of 500 PCR tests per hour and 7,000 tests per day for a fee of $ 40 per passenger.

Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. Hemantha Herath said the new PCR laboratory at the BIA was not fully-fledged yet to officially start operations.

He said passengers arriving in Sri Lanka continued to undergo PCR testing under the existing system. 

“If operations are to commence at the PCR laboratory, authorities need to be satisfied with its capacity and it should be able to operate continuously subject to several test runs,” Dr. Herath added.