<span style="color: #222222;">Sri Lanka has decided to temporarily halt the repatriation of its nationals from overseas after a record 300 people were tested COVID positive yesterday. Additional Secretary to the President Jayantha Colambage said, the process will be temporarily halted from Tuesday due to the COVID outbreak reported at a Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre. He said, as the number of patients increases, the government will require more quarantine centres to place people in quarantine.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The official said, as Sri Lankans being repatriated will also be required to be placed in quarantine centres, it was decided to temporarily halt the repatriation process. Admiral Colombage said, the health officials and the army will be given three to four days from Tuesday to organize the quarantine centres and address issues, following which the Government will recommence the process.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It may be mentioned that 34 people from the rehabilitation centre have tested positive over past two days signifying a sudden surge in number of COVID cases in Sri Lanka. Presently, 463 patients are being treated at hospitals for COVID while the total number of recoveries is 1,980 among a total of 2,454 infections. The country has seen 11 deaths due to COVID so far.</span><br />''