Expatriates who wish to return to Sri Lanka can directly purchase their own tickets and they should not approach any third party in this regard, the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) has decided.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was requested to consult the national task force and seek approval prior to arrangements of future repatriation schedules. "Expatriates who wish to return can directly purchase their own tickets. They should not approach any third party in this regard, except for their respective embassies. Let the NOCPCO decide," the meeting was told.
The meeting was held led by Army Commander Shavendra Silva and Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena.

Experts at the meeting also discussed recent developments, including the detection of clusters and measures to combat the rising the amount of Covid-19 cases.

The management of isolated areas, infiltration of the virus into new areas, essential services in these areas as well as public behaviour, were discussed at the meeting. Recent discoveries about the virus, the conduct of the GCE O/L examination as well as the latest prison cluster were also among topics addressed at the meeting.

Common sanitary facilities which are not cleaned with disinfectants constantly may be a possible cause of virus transmission, the experts discussed. Random PCR testing across economic centres, practicing social distancing and other hygienic practices were also discussed at the meeting.