Trust us, we will do our best for inmates at quarantine centres – Army Chief

Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva making a special announcement last evening requested the public to have faith in them in handling the well being of the inmates detained at the quarantine centres.

 “No one should believe in rumours or fake stories, being circulated in social media which is at times completely false and misleading. As Sri Lankan’s, you should trust the Tri-Forces, Health Ministry and the action being taken by the Government. We will not tell lies, nor will the Army hide anything on this issue,” said Lt. Gen. Silva.   

 “We are an Army which has won a war that was considered unwinnable and gained the full confidence of the public. Anyone wishing to make any complaints, collect information or discuss anything regarding our quarantine issues is free to dial Tel No: 0113090502 or 113. Even inside the Army improvised Quarantine Centres, there is a proper system through which inmates are provided with food and refreshments. We are an Army who are used to sleeping in jungles, under trees and rocks, yet we would be the last to offer tea or coffee to any one in a cup made by cutting plastic bottles in half. Even in jungle operations we have maintained standard procedures,” Lieutenant General Silva remarked.   
 “A social media post had depicted an image of milk being served in a cup made from half a plastic bottle and it had been pasted by a person under quarantine in the Kandakadu Quarantine Centre. Sometimes, people might be misled due to these social media posts and these would have been done with ulterior motives and such actions are condemned with ridicule. We sympathize with this person who is being held at this Quarantine Centre before he goes home free from any infection just in 12 days.”   

 “We are operating these Quarantine Centres as per instructions issued by HE the President who is constantly in touch with us. If anyone feels that injustice is being meted out to any of the inmates, they are free to inform or contact us. We would do our best to address their concerns. What all of them should understand is that what the Army is currently involved in is a service to protect the lives of 22 mn of our people. It is mandatory that a quarantine process carried out meticulously to mitigate any threat to the rest of the society. All of you who are under quarantine are not at all virus affected patients, nor have you been so far diagnosed to be so,” he pointed out.   

 “We repeatedly urge you to confide in members of the armed forces as guardians of the country. You must also remember that we are the first to mediate in times of any emergencies or national disasters when it matters landslides, floods or any other emergency. Perhaps, those who were abroad for some time may not be aware of these things.