Colombo (News 1st); A Russian staying in a tourist hotel in Matara tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday (23), Health Authorities said.

Medical Officer for Health at the Matara Municipal Council Achala Gamathige speaking to News 1st said Russian national was immediately taken away to the Hambantota General Hospital for treatment.

The Russian was among a group of 15 Russians who arrived at the Mattala Airport on September 13th and were staying in the tourist hotel.

However, the PCR tests confirmed the 14 others had not contracted the virus and all 23 close contacts of the Russian were directed to immediate quarantine and another 150 – 200 people have been identified as those who made contact with the 23 people currently placed in quarantine.

Medical Officer for Health at the Matara Municipal Council Achala Gamathige said an investigation is currently underway to determine as to how the Russian had managed to leave the Quarantine Facility.

• Air quality likely to improve today (9)
• Advisory for Cyclonic storm “Mandous”
• Unhealthy Smog : Special Holiday for all Government, Govt-funded, Catholic schools on Friday (9)
• ‘Cold Colombo’: Temperatures plummet across smog-covered Sri Lanka
• Budget 2023 passed in Parliament by majority vote