Violators of health, security instructions would be charged

By Sandun A. Jayasekera   

While saying that the curfew would be lifted countrywide at 5.00a.m. on Monday (11) DIG Ajith Rohana stressed that the health and security advisories will not be relaxed in the country and those who violate the health and security instructions would be charged under clauses 4 and 5 of the ‘Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance’.   

“We cannot give into complacency at any cost even after the curfew was lifted on Monday round the country. The government expects to issue a new set of regulations and instructions shortly on how the public at large and the employees in the public and private establishments, their managements, the transport, industrial and agriculture sectors etc must resume their activities from Monday,” Mr. Rohana said.   

The DIG said heads of public and private sector establishments must have a working programme ready by Friday for next week and decide who among employees would be called for work.   

Trade stalls, fish and meat shops, retail outlets, dedicated economic centres, restaurants and other eateries, salons, beauty parlours and big and small factories would be issued with new guidelines before Monday outlining how to carry out businesses and productions while adhering to health and security guidelines, he noted.   
Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Transport Ministry said trains and SLTB buses would be available for employees to attend their work places.   

The SLTB buses would provide transport only to 50% of the full complements of passengers in the bus and only those having the March season ticket would be permitted to use trains to travel to and from their service station,” the spokesman said.   

“The Health Ministry has sought the advice of the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) as to whether it was permissible to let private buses to accept passengers for the seating capacity. The private bus owners had rejected the proposal to accommodate one passenger for one seat and withdrew from the service.   

If the DGHS approves the proposal to run private buses with passengers with the seating capacity, private bus operators would resume their services from Monday,” the spokesman added. 

 
 The Police countrywide has arrested 859 individuals for violating the curfew during the 24 hours ended at 6.00a.m. yesterday morning and detained 206 vehicles and from March 20th, a total of 48,725 have been arrested with 12,654 vehicles.