By Sheain Fernandopulle

The present lockdown will be of no use if public movement is not properly curtailed, Public Health Inspectors Union (PHIU) claimed.

PHIU Head Upul Rohana said people were behaving as if there is no lockdown or quarantine curfew in the country.
“It's in fact futile to extend the curfew because it is apparent that the ideal results expected of a lockdown cannot be achieved with the prevailing lockdown in the country,” he pointed out.

“We do admit the fact that the economic activities should be maintained; however, what we find so tricky is that every other activity is being carried out under the guise of maintaining the economy," the PHI Head emphasized.
He said if the authorities pay no attention to this, the situation would be more detrimental in the future with more contagious and lethal coronavirus variants.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director-General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said neither the PHIs nor other health officials can curtail the movement of people during the lockdown.

“People themselves will have to be responsible and most importantly, the law enforcement authorities should make sure the quarantine curfew is properly observed by the general public.