14-day home quarantine not mandatory for Sri Lankan returnees

COLOMBO (News 1st): 14-day home quarantine is not mandatory for Sri Lankans returning from overseas, as steps were taken to amend the mandatory quarantine period for those returning to Sri Lanka from overseas, the Army Commander said on Saturday (Dec. 12). Under the new decision based on instructions issued by the Director-General of the Ministry of Health, the 14-day self-quarantine period will be removed. Completion of the 14-day mandatory quarantine period at quarantine centres operated by the government or hotels is adequate, Army Commander - Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, the Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) told News 1st on Saturday (Dec. 12). The practice at present is one where returnees undergo the mandatory quarantine for 14-days at quarantine centres operated by the government or hotels; then further quarantine for another 14-days at home. Accordingly, PCR tests will be conducted within 10-days of the 14-day quarantine period and following negative results, the returning passengers will be released from quarantine.