Intelligence agencies put on alert to nab rumour mongers: Defense Sec

While strictly warning rumour mongers to avoid making misleading statements using the cyber space to create unnecessary tension among people over the Government’s efforts to mitigate coronavirus or COVID – 19, Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne has requested all Sri Lankans, including those who are living abroad, to support the government's efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak by being indoors and following the advice given by the Health and Defence ministries.

Defence Secretary warned the rumour mongers not to post any false or misleading information and damaging posts on social media platforms related to on-going government’s efforts to control COVID-19 as the intelligence agencies were strengthened and empowered to nab such irresponsible people or groups.

Making a statement on measures taken by the Ministry to contain COVID-19 situation, he said similar to the responsibilities held by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, all state institutions coming under Defence and other ministries, including the Tri-Forces and Police, all Sri Lankans were required to come forward to protect country’s population of 22 million people from the COVID-19 and also act responsibly without inflicting an artificial fear among the public.

“This is similar to how the entire country got together to defeat terrorism in 2009. The government needs the support of all citizens of Sir Lanka irrespective of their differences to face the coronavirus outbreak,” the Defence Secretary said.

He said as the Defence Secretary he could assure that all the required measures had been taken by the Tri-forces, Police and all related intelligence agencies, which were working around the clock to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Maj. Gen. Gunaratne said the people who were directed to quarantine centres should not have any fear as it was done to control the spread of the virus and requested people to be in their own houses to undergo a self-quarantine process, which was the best measure to contain spreading the virus.

“When a suspected coronavirus infected individual is identified, we direct them to a hospital such as the IDH and take all necessary measures to provide medical treatment. Taking precautionary measures will not end after admitting the patient to the hospital as we will find those who are associated with the patients and, if we fail to trace their whereabouts we will get the assistance of the intelligence agencies to track them to put them on self-quarantine process in their own houses,” he explained.