The coronavirus variant spreading in Sri Lanka has been confirmed to be the strain found in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Chandima Jeewandara from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura said the variant was detected from samples obtained from Colombo, Boralesgamuwa, and Kurunegala.
The Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the Sri Jayewardenepura University said it has been identified as the mutations specific to the UK variant, B.1.1.7 lineage.
He said it has been confirmed that the B.1.1.7 lineage of the virus is the current strain circulating in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Chandima Jeewandara added that the strain is responsible for current massive outbreak reported in the country following the April festive season.
The UK strain of the coronavirus was initially detected in Sri Lanka in February, after which the strains found in South Africa and Denmark were found in Sri Lanka in March and April respectively. (NewsWire)
