No quarantine curfew or lockdown of Western Province this weekend in Sri Lanka

Colombo, December 24 (Daily Mirror) – There will be no quarantine curfew imposed in Colombo or the Western Province during the long Christmas weekend and travel restrictions outside the province will also not be imposed, Army Commander said. 

Army Commander and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID -19, Lt. General Shavendra Silva told Daily Mirror yesterday, following a widely circulated message on social media, claiming that quarantine curfew will be imposed within the Western Province from midnight tonight till Jan. 2, 5 am, Silva refuted this claim saying there were individuals who were attempting to create panic and spread false messages at a time when authorities were attempting to contain the pandemic.

He however said, despite no curfew or lockdown being imposed within the province, officials at ground level would continue to monitor the situation and he urged people to strictly adhere to the health guidelines.

“Now it all depends on the public’s behaviour. Our officials on the ground will continue being on the alert, implementing all the necessary guidelines to prevent a further spread, but, the public assistance is needed. We encourage people to avoid gatherings and to strictly implement all the health guidelines,” Silva said.

Police and health authorities continue to be deployed at all the exit points of the Western Province and will continue conducting random Rapid Antigen Tests. This will remain in place at least until after the New Year. (Jamila Husain)