Army Troops with FTZ Authorities Carry over 5100 Stranded Employees Home

Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Head of the (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army in a pre-recorded statement in parallel with the simultaneous routine Media interaction at the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) this evening (27) at Rajagiriya made following observations.

"On Thursday (26) it was found that a patient who was confirmed a positive COVID-19 patient had got in contact with 26 individuals in Ataluwagama, Bandaragama areas in the last few days. On being informed, measures were immediately adopted in cooperation with medical authorities to isolate all of them in one improvised Quarantine Centre," so remarked Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva.

"Resolving one more most pressing issues that prevailed in the FTZ areas in Wathupitiwela and Katunayake where employees, majority being females, remained stranded either in their boarding places or residential quarters, being unable to move out, Army troops with the coordination of respective companies transported a total of 5180 employees to their nearest destinations during the course of the day (27)," Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army revealed.

"Sri Lanka Army, together with Navy and Air Force personnel meanwhile facilitated the homeward passage of 501 quarantined individuals in Army-organized transport after completion of their quarantine process. Instructions were also issued to them for self-quarantine inside their homes for two more weeks without taking unnecessary risks. To-date, we have allowed 1179 quarantined persons to join their families while there still remain persons in quarantine at 46 Quarantine Centres (QCs), "he added.

He also added another batch of 300 returnees would leave QCs after quarantining on Saturday (28) and urged the people to remain inside their homes, although we still see people moving along roads without any purpose. Hon Basil Rajapakse has been implementing a project to deliver food varieties and essential medicine to the doorsteps in a safe and hygienic manner.

"Many operational mechanisms for people to buy their provisions from homes are now in place and some appear to be misusing this flexible approach. Forces will assist the Police to strictly impose Curfew hours and take the violators into custody since these efforts are poised to arrest transmission, protect the people and eradicate this deadly threat. If people do not adhere to health guidelines, all our attempts would fail, "Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva pointed out.

Source: www.army.lk