15 May 2020 12:00 am
By JAMILA HUSAIN
Sources from the government yesterday said the ongoing curfew in Colombo and Gampaha will continue for at least the next two weeks after which authorities will review the situation and decide whether to extend it further.
Sources told the Daily Mirror that the Bandaranaike International Airport will also remain closed for incoming passengers till the global situation of the COVID-19 improves and authorities are continuing to monitor the situation.
“We will not open up our port of entry if the global situation remains seriously affected. We will review the global situation such as how airports in other countries are also functioning and only then make a decision,” sources said.
While only one active cluster remains in Sri Lanka presently, sources said the threat of the COVID-19 was not entirely eliminated as most of the patients detected within recent weeks had not shown any symptoms. However the navy cluster which was the only cluster active, was also under control as many of the sailors were recovering while many had been discharged.
Meanwhile, following President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s instructions, random testing in congested areas will soon begin in order to prevent the further threat of the virus.
The Daily Mirror learns that random testing would be carried out in market areas and other business areas in order to ensure the safety of citizens and prevent a possible spread.
Meanwhile a senior police official said that strict checking would continue in Colombo to apprehend those who violate the curfew and only those traveling to work and those eligible for the NIC number system would be permitted to travel on the roads. Since the resumption of economic activities earlier this week, police said overall operations was progressing smoothly while Colombo remained under a curfew but there had been some incidents of people violating.