Uma Oya Project 85 Iranian technicians arrive in SL

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

The 85 Iranian technicians, who arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday in connection with the Uma Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project, will be quarantined at the Karandagolla Special Residential Center operated by the Army, Military Spokesman Brig. Chandana Wickramasinghe said.

He said the Iranians were employed by one of the main contractors in the ongoing Project and  were subjected to PCR tests at the airport and were staying at a luxury hotel in Negombo until the results were received. The spokesman said at the end of the quarantine period they would have to undergo a second round of PCR tests before being taken to the project site.  

Meanwhile, he said 34 Sri Lankan expatriates stranded in Nepal because of the COVID-19 outbreak, arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday morning on a special flight chartered by Himalaya Airlines. Most of them are students pursuing higher studies at Nepali universities and on arrival they were subjected to PCR tests and directed to Tri-Forces-managed quarantine centres.  

He said as of last morning 14,097 people quarantined at Tri-Forces managed centres had left for home while 4,384 are still at these quarantine centres.