•  It had been identified in a Sri Lankan citizen who had recently returned  from Nigeria on November 24 and was now at a quarantine centre
• He had been detected in the gene sequencing
• The patient had not been vaccinated

By Jamila Husain  

The first patient carrying the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus was identified in Sri Lanka yesterday, the Health Ministry said. According to investigations, the new variant had been identified in a Sri Lankan citizen who had recently returned from Nigeria on November 24 and was now at a quarantine centre.   

The Daily Mirror learns that he had been detected in the gene sequencing.  

Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine at Sri Jayewardenepura University, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said the patient had not been vaccinated and added the patient was presently under quarantine. The Health Ministry urged people not to panic as all preventive measures were being taken to prevent a spread. 

• All preventive measures were being taken to prevent a spread