22 December 2020 12:00 am
By JAMILA HUSAIN
The Public Health Inspectors Union yesterday urged authorities to impose immediate travel restrictions for all nine provinces by sealing its borders, warning that if urgent steps are not taken, the repercussions may be seen in January.
PHI Union Secretary Mahesh Balasuriya told the Daily Mirror that they had informed the authorities to impose the restrictions immediately as already an influx of people had left the Western province and many would travel out in the coming days as well due to the festive season. He warned the Western Province was still a hot bed for the COVID-19 and if steps are not taken, there was a risk that the virus may spread to other provinces.
"So many times we have urged the people not to travel out of the Western province. Even the authorities including the police have discouraged such travel. But an influx of people are leaving. The situation can worsen and we may see the repercussions in January," Balasuriya said.
He further said that PHI's had received information that there were large scale Christmas parties being organised which posed a grave risk of the virus spreading and reminded the public that holding any kind of indoor or outdoor gathering presently was prohibited. He said this information would be passed on to the police and legal action would be taken against the organisers under the quarantine and prevention ordinance.
PHI clearance compulsory for Nuwara Eliya, Sri Pada, Kataragama
By JAMILA HUSAIN
People travelling to Nuwara Eliya, Sri Pada and Kataragama will not be able to lodge at any hotel in those areas if they fail to produce a PHI clearance report that they are COVID-19 free, PHI Union Secretary Mahesh Balasuriya told the Daily Mirror.
The Daily Mirror learns that as a result of this new requirement there have been several cancellations of people travelling into those areas for pilgrimage and leisure during the upcoming festive season.
Mr. Balasuriya said the Nuwara Eliya district committee had taken a decision to make it mandatory to produce this clearance certificate in order to prevent a spread of the COVID-19 virus, especially since there was an influx of people who had booked to go into the district to celebrate the festive season.
Accordingly, discussions are ongoing to produce the same clearance certificate for those who travel for pilgrimage to Kataragama and Sri Pada.
This requirement will remain in place till January 1.