The Minister of Civil Aviation has launched a covert operation to dismantle the state-of-the-art PCR laboratory at the Bandaranaike International Airport, build a laboratory for a foreign finance company and allow it to receive money. While the “scholarly” health ministers have remained silent on the plan to demolish the country’s fastest-growing laboratory at the airport under the Ministry of Health’s responsibility and seek commissions from foreign finance companies, some specialists act as the laboratory services support this move.
Accordingly, the finance company will build the laboratory on the airport premises and charge more than forty dollars for each PCR test. As this is a dividend-sharing venture between the groups involved in the plan, even the amount of testing that the airline passengers will have to do will be determined to maximize profits.
Allowing the demolition of a state-of-the-art laboratory maintained under the Ministry of Health’s supervision could provide a responsible test report and generate revenue for the country merely to allow individuals and politicians to earn commissions is indeed very disgusting.
A PCR Laboratory has been set up at the International Airport with a long-term plan to test PCR for airborne passengers and tourists and food and plants entering and leaving the country through the airport. But, from the first moment the lab was installed, several specialist doctors worked temporarily in private labs, and several top health officials tried to thwart the move. Even though the Ministry of Health which could provide adequate fund didn’t do so after putting forward the concept of Zero budget, a handful of people challenging the move of the authorities supported the construction of one of the best PCR laboratories in the country and one capable of surpassing the Medical Research Institute.
As a result, it received a number of donations, and some health officials disrupted the work of the laboratory by not allowing the donation of equipment worth Rs. 100 million received for the laboratory.
After opening up the country, the PCR specimen collection team was removed from testing at the airport, even before the arrival of passengers into the country. Accordingly, samples were taken from hotels, and all airline tests were subtly directed at the private sector, targeting a private laboratory with political affiliations.
We strongly condemn the policy of not allowing the Ministry of Health to carry out laboratory work at the airport without turning it into a mafia and the silence of some specialists who pretend to be the laboratory services owners in anticipation of commissions in such matters.
Also, as every business that sells the corona epidemic and brings it to the forefront of food seems to be doing its job without hindrance, we are not expecting the President’s silence on this matter, regardless of the Minister of Civil Aviation’s conduct.
As the Minister of Civil Aviation has made corona epidemic a business to make money and is carrying on a mafia without any hindrance, the President’s silence in this regard is a situation we never expected.
