No decision yet to extend island-wide travel restrictions: Army Chief

There has been no decision taken as yet to extend the ongoing island-wide travel restrictions beyond June 7 but the situation is being reviewed daily, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva told Dailymirror.

"As of now, there is no change in the decision taken to extend the travel restrictions beyond June 7. It is too early to take the decision on weather the restrictions will be lifted or extended after next Monday (7). However, the COVID-19 task force is reviewing the situation daily and will take further necessary decisions," he said.

Meanwhile, the police also strengthened its operation to identify and arrest those who are travelling on the roads unnecessarily violating quarantine  regulations.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also reportedly has instructed authorities to take action to prevent movement of people and vehicles on the road in large numbers during the ongoing travel restrictions.

Accordingly search operations will be carried out by the Police to ascertain whether the vehicles travelling on the roads are really essential services.

On June 1, police arrested a record 1,047 people for allegedly violating the restrictions and other quarantine regulations.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)