Sri Lanka Temporarily Suspends Crew Change Amid COVID-19 Scare

Sri Lankan government has decided to temporarily suspend any crew change for the foreign nationality seafarers. The decision was taken as 29 seafarers were tested positive for COVID-19. These seafarers were the part of a group of seafarers who arrived in Sri Lanka on June 22 via a charter flight from India.

Out of the 29 seafarers, 23 were Indian seafarers supposed to sign on, whereas 6 were Sri Lankan seafarers who signed off from India. The reports of another 5 seafarers are inconclusive.

The seafarers with confirmed reports were taken to a special COVID-19 hospital for the treatment. They are kept in isolation under doctors’ observation.

Srilanka Govt Order at 0745 Hrs today

* Foreign Seafarers in Lanka, waiting to sign on ships permitted
* Any crew is signing off and leaving the country by air is also permitted by Charter Flight.
* What is suspended is to bring in Seafarers by air for the time being.

— Capt Sanjay Prashar (@PrasharSdp) June 24, 2020

Questions are being raised on the labs responsible for testing, as recently Sri Lankan government gave the contract for COVID-19 testing to the Private labs.

Everything was well till Srilanka decided to give contract for Covid 19 testing to Private lab. First time they did the job & says 29 Seafarers Covid positive.
All crew did Covid test, had negative report filed with Srilanka & then flew from Mumbai. Now re-run of test being done

— Capt Sanjay Prashar (@PrasharSdp) June 24, 2020

Presently, Sri Lanka has asked the responsible firms and companies to cancel any impending air movements even if they were earlier approved.