Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) would be conducted on the passengers crossing the borders of the Western Province with effect from Friday (18) until further notice targeting the travelers who are leaving the province during the festive season, informed sources said.

“The purpose is to prevent further spreading of the Covid-19 into outside the Western Province,” a senior officials at the Health Ministry said.

The ministry in a letter to the Western Provincial Director of Health Services, the testing would be carried out to identify risk of passengers in three locations in the Province and also to prevent the virus from spreading to other districts.

The process will be facilitated by the police. In addition, respective Regional Directors of Health Services must deploy their teams to the following locations to carry out Antigen tests.

1. Nittambuwa along the Kandy-Colombo Road

2. Salawa, Kosgama along Avissawella-Colombo Road

3. Katunayake along Colombo-Chilaw Road