Legal action against Dambulla resident who ignored orders to self-quarantine

Dambulla police and the Municipal Council took measures to disinfect a branch of a state bank in Dambulla town yesterday (30) after it emerged that an individual who was supposed to be in self-quarantine had visited the branch. 

The individual and his wife had been instructed to self-isolate for 14 days after returning to the country from abroad. However, he had allegedly slipped out of his house yesterday (30) during the time that the curfew in the area was temporarily lifted. He had visited several locations in the town and had also visited the bank. 

Public Health Inspectors (PHI) who periodically visit the houses of those in self-isolation to check up on them found yesterday when visiting the individual's house that he was not there. At this point, they immediately contacted the Dambulla police and conducted a search operation to locate him. 

He was later traced to the premises of the state bank but had fled when police entered looking for him. It later emerged that he had met with the bank manager and had also engaged in conversation with one of the bank tellers. Immediate steps were then taken to disinfect the entire bank premises while officials said they will take a decision later on whether to seal the premises and isolate the bank employees who came into contact with the said individual. 

Police also found that the individual had used a trishaw to come to Dambulla town and had visited several other locations. 

Police are still searching for the suspect and say they will file legal action against him under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance. 

Text and Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa