Factories, pharmacies, shipping lines to remain open

COLOMBO: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has taken a number of decisions to avoid impact on the people and the economy when imposing travel restrictions from 11.00 pm on May 21 as a step to contain the spread of COVID-19, the President’s Media Division (PMD) says.

During a discussion with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 held at the Presidential Secretariat, the president has briefed the ministers and relevant officials on the steps to be taken in this regard.

Steps should be taken to keep factories, pharmacies, shipping lines open and continue the production in bakeries as well as the distribution of food items during the travel restricted period. The President also instructed the relevant authorities to distribute essential food items to the public without any shortage, using mobile services at divisional level.

The president gave further directives to provide the confiscated essential consumer goods that had been illegally imported into the country, to Sathosa and to assign the recruits from the 100,000 job opportunity program to pack essential goods in Sathosa warehouses island-wide.

It was decided to issue the necessary permits by the Divisional Secretaries for the distribution of essential goods and to deploy the Army along with the police for the convenience of the roadblock operations.

The president also stressed that these travel restrictions should not impede regular daily cleaning routines including garbage disposal in all cities, road development and other constructions, agricultural activities, and to issue permits to transport the produce to the economic centers prior to the day they are scheduled to open.

If a person was tested positive for COVID-19 following the testing conducted at either a government or a private entity, the responsibility of treating them should also be given to the respective institution that conducted the testing, the President instructed the health authorities.