Quarantine isolation order relaxed in several Police divisions
The quarantine isolation order has been relaxed in several Police divisions, especially in Kurunegala, Kuliyapitiya, Horana and Ingiriya Police areas and in the Police areas of Ruwanwella and Mawanella in the Kegalle District, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.
However, he said that the quarantine isolation order remains as it is in respect of 15 Police areas in Colombo and Gampaha districts. There are 13 Police areas in Colombo and six in Gampaha district. These 19 areas will experience lockdown until further notice.
These police areas are Mattakkuliya, Modara, Foreshore, Grandpass, Dematagoda, Kotahena, Bloemandhal, Kotahena, Borella, Wellampitiya, Wolfendal Street, Maligawatte, Keselwatte, Angulana, Wattala, Peliyagoda, Kadawatha, Ragama, Ja-Ela and Negombo.
In addition, a decision had been taken to isolate another six areas from today (16) and these Police areas include, Maradana, Fort, Pettah, Slave Island and the Dam Street Police areas in the Colombo District and the Kelaniya Police area in the Gampaha District.
“Despite the lockdown, the Maradana and Colombo Fort Railway stations will be allowed to function and trains will also operate. The Central Bus stand would also operate as usual. However, all private and public transport, though allowed to operate, cannot drop or pick up any passengers from the lockdown areas,” DIG Ajith Rohana said, addressing a media briefing yesterday. Accordingly, the lock-down order will be implemented from 5.00 am today in respect of 24 Police areas of the country and for the rest of the country the isolation orders imposed would be lifted from today (16).
“Specially, we are going to conduct special patrols in the lockdown areas to maintain security in these areas and no one would be allowed to leave or enter. However, all essential services in these areas including health, would be allowed to function and the employees of such services would be allowed to enter and leave the isolated areas as per their requirements,” he said, adding that those residing in the lockdown areas should stay at home and should not leave their residences under any circumstance other than for medical urgencies. However, medical services, pharmacies and other essential services would be allowed to operate normally.
He also noted that port workers, health workers, communications services workers, Court employees, media personnel and power and energy workers would be allowed to report for duty. These workers could travel by public transport to Colombo and the respective establishments must arrange for transport from there to their respective workplaces. DIG Ajith Rohana also said, “A special mechanism has been created for the functioning of factories and other institutions in the lockdown areas and the mechanism would be announced in due course.”
The Police have enforced the quarantine laws very strictly and 20 suspects were arrested on Saturday for violation of quarantine rules and regulations such as failure to wear face masks and not maintaining social distancing.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Panadura Police had received information from the public that a bus plying from Panadura to Matugama was carrying a number of passengers violating the basic concept of social distancing.
“Therefore, the Police were compelled to arrest the driver and the conductor of that bus and the bus too was seized. We will be filing charges against the driver and the conductor for violation of quarantine laws. Therefore, in terms of the provisions of the quarantine gazette notification published in October there is a liability upon the driver, conductor and the owners of the buses to follow the health guidelines issued by the health authorities.”
Meanwhile, the Courts, Board of Investments (BOI) and Export Development Board (EDB) approved institutions and essential services located in the isolated areas in Colombo are able to function despite the restrictions, the Department of Government Information stated.
However, these areas will have to operate under strict adherence to Government health safety guidelines.