The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has stated that the news item published in the national newspapers and social media today (07) under the headline “600 Corona from the Ports Authority” is a false news story based on complete misconceptions.
The Ports Authority has strongly denied the allegations, saying it was “irresponsibly reported news”. Accordingly, they emphasize that the news is being socialized as a misleading and intimidating lie to the employees of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, port users and the general public.
According to the report, although the health sector has officially reported the number of Covid infected people, the Ports Authority said in a statement that only the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Port Health Office are maintaining their official data.
The present capacity of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority is around 9000 employees. Accordingly, the total number of Covid infections reported from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority at present is 31. The Ports Authority says that they have been referred to hospitals and other treatment centers and are following the required health guidelines.
According to the report, “PCR tests have been suspended since last May” is false. With the beginning of the Covid epidemic in Sri Lanka, the Covid 19 Prevention Active Committee (CPAC) was established, mobilizing all sections of the port to control the Covid epidemic in the Port of Colombo. Random PCR tests are being carried out as per the instructions of the CPAC Committee and Medical Divisions of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. During a recent random PCR test, about 20 patients were found and 14 of them were referred to the Kandakadu Quarantine Center and 6 to the Kosgama District Hospital for treatment.
Other service providers, including the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, located in the Port of Colombo, and private terminals are currently managing the Kovid properly and with due diligence, and the port is operating without any hindrance.
