BIA uses nano technology to purify air against coronavirus

Sri Lanka’s main international airport at Katunayaka, through nano technology, is taking stringent measures to combat the coronavirus, a senior official at the airport said on Monday.
Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. (ASSL) Director Shehan Sumanasekara told Times Online that they were ahead of most other airports in the use of nano technology at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in a bid to combat the virus outbreak.
The airport has installed about 24 machines since January 28 to ensure that the flow of air is sent out to ensure it eliminates all kinds of viruses, he said.
In addition, airport staff has been directed to wear masks during their daily operations while the measure is not strictly enforced for passengers.
All passengers at the airport are subject to a thermal screening that ensures all passengers are subjected to a heat screening to check on their temperatures, it was noted. Chinese passengers and those arriving from China are subjected to a special screening through a quarantined gate.
So far, there had been five suspected cases identified at the airport with four from China and one from another destination, Mr. Sumanasekara said.
Separate airline parking facility is also accommodated for carriers coming from China, it was noted.
Since January 24 about 840 Chinese passengers arrived in the country and there are Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) at all gates at the airport, he explained. (SD)