Thirty-five out of 277 residents in the Matara District who had returned to Sri Lanka from several countries have gone missing, Matara District Health Services Director Dr. Upali Karunaratne said yesterday at a special meeting held at the Matara District Secretariat.

The meeting had been organised on the instructions of Education Minister Dulles Alahapperuma with the participation of heads of all departments in the Matara District.

“The public need not panic as not a single person suspected of being infected with coronavirus has been found in the district. I have instructed relevant medical authorities to locate and identify those from the Matara District who had gone through the scanning process at the BIA arrival terminal or had been subjected to a quarantine period and others who did not go through these processes,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, Matara SSP Anil Priyantha agreed to provide police assistance in tracing the 35 individuals who had returned from overseas and found not residing at the addresses provided. He also agreed to provide details about foreign tourists who presently occupied rooms at tourist hotels in the district.

Moreover, a special unit has been established to treat those who are suspected of having contracted the virus. Also, a special operations room has been put up to provide accurate information to residents. It is encouraging to see the Matara District Disaster Management Centre stepping forward to provide active support in this regard.

Former State Minister of Tea Industry Kanchana Wijesekera, Southern Province Senior DIG Rohan J. Silva, Matara Government Agent Pradeep Rathnayake and several other police officials participated in the discussion. (Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk)