2,797 persons held for violating curfew: Defence Ministry urges public to heed curfew law

As 2,797 persons have been taken into custody for violating curfew regulations in last three days, the Defence Ministry requested the public to heed to the instructions and advices issued by the Defence and Health ministries in order to restrict public movements and also gatherings to keep spreading of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Defense Secretary Maj.Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said the Government was re-imposing islandwide curfew to restrict public movements and also gatherings to keep spreading of the coronavirus (COVID-19) at bay to ensure public safety and health. According to the Police, a total of 2,797  individuals and 729 vehicles have been arrested for violating the curfew during the last four days.

Issuing a statement, the Defence Secretary said as a pre-emptive measure in ensuring public safety against the spreading of the coronavirus pandemic, the Defence Ministry would re-impose curfew until the danger of spreading the virus eased to a controllable stage and requested people to support the move by staying indoors.

“We need public support to contain the spreading of COVID-19. It is difficult to control spreading the virus if we don't stop mobility and avoid following social distancing,” Maj. Gen. Gunaratne said. The Defence Secretary said the public servants attached to the essential services could use their service identity cards as curfew passes to report to their respective institutions during police curfew.