Army requests arrivals to comply with quarantine

While asserting that all facilities had been provided to the passengers who are being sent directly to quarantine centres as they arrive in the country, the army yesterday said, those who refuse to undergo the 14-day quarantine have the option of returning to the country they came from and if not, facing legal action which will be taken against them.

Army spokesperson Brigadier Chandana Wickramasinghe said the Tri forces, police and the health authorities were taking measures and precautions to protect the general public from Covid-19.

He said on a directive of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Tri-services are facilitating the quarantine process in the east with the Health Ministry and Ministry of Defence officials.

“Under the power vested on the Director-General of Health, the Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander Shavendra Silva has been appointed as the person-in-charge for the quarantine process,” he told a media briefing held at the Ministry of Defence yesterday.

He said they have arranged to quarantine foreigners and Sri Lankans arriving in the country from Italy, South Korea and Iran with effect from Tuesday. “Passengers arriving from those countries will be sent to to quarantine centres in Punani and Kandakadu. They had been given facilities free on charges. Those who refuse to undergo the quarantine process can go back to where they came from or action could be take against them, as there are legally empowered to do so, the spokesman said.

Brigadier Wickramasinghe urged to those under quarantine and the general public to assist the quarantine process facilitated by the Tri forces and health authorities and not to panic over false rumours.

Meanwhile, Police Spokesman SP Jaliya Senaratna said the arriving passengers should focus on the bigger picture of contributing to prevent the virus from spreading instead of resisting the quarantine process.

“Legal procedures are available on the Prevention of Diseases and Quarantine, for action to be taken against those who refuse to comply with the quarantine processes. If found guilty by a court, those who violate the laws and regulations can be sentenced to six months in prison or fined an amount ranging from Rs.2,000 to Rs.10,000 or both. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)