Temple Trees not under lockdown: Yoshitha Rajapaksa

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has issued strict instructions to his staff at Temple Trees to take extreme health precautions as the COVID-19 pandemic surges, but work within the Temple Trees has not come to a halt as all offices continue to function under minimum staff, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Yoshitha Rajapaksa told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Contrary to media reports, that Temple Trees had come under a complete lockdown following positive COVID-19 cases, Yoshitha said all offices continued to function and all staff members including the security contingency had to undergo PCR tests every week.

"At no point has Temple Trees come under a lockdown. The Prime Minister has issued strict instructions that work for the country must not come to a halt. As we speak, Basil Rajapaksa continues to head the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 from the Temple Trees as well. All the staff are subject to a PCR test every week and within the past two months, all Temple Trees staff have been tested atleast thrice," Yoshitha said.

Earlier this month, some officers from the Prime Minister's back end security contingency had tested positive for the coronavirus, but Yoshitha said all precautions had been immediately taken. Staff will continue to undergo PCR tests every week.(JAMILA HUSAIN)