The Government Medical Laboratory Scientists Association has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa noting that a program should be implemented through the Ministry of Health to provide PCR testing for media personnel. According to the organization’s President Ravi Kumudesh some media organizations have requested their staff to undergo PCR testing privately. He noted that it is not appropriate to allow the media personnel to bear the responsibility of undergoing a PCR test privately.
In his letter to the President Ravi Kumudesh noted the service being rendered by journalists around the country in the current situation. “Therefore it is important that they be allowed to continue their work unhindered without any doubts or risk” he said.
Kumudesh noted that several media personnel have been infected with Covid 19 already and therefore has requested the government to provide a facility for media personnel to obtain PCR testing. Currently at least four journalists covering parliament proceedings have tested positive for Covid 19.