By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Police was only helping the health authorities to maintain the guidelines issued in order to prevent the further spread of COVID- 19 pandemic by erecting barriers and checking buses which approached Colombo, Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekera told Parliament yesterday.  

Minister Weerasekera came out with this remark in response to Leader of Opposition Sajth Premadasa and SJB MPs who made an uproar in the House alleging that police had prevented people coming into the Colombo City in the morning.  

“Police were only helping the health authorities to maintain guidelines which they have issued to contain the pandemic. What the Opposition should do now is to assist the government to destroy the virus. However they are only helping the virus to destroy the government and the people,” he added.  

“We have ensured the country’s security and no one should get worried on terror attacks,” he also said in response to a question raised by the SJB MPs as to whether any terror attacks was expected.  

Mr. Premadasa earlier alleged that the police had visited  houses and had told the people not to come into Colmbo City yesterday. “How can they prevent people in this manner when the Judiciary had allowed the SJB to carry out the protest?” he questioned.  

Several SJB MPs including Nalin Bandara, J C Alawathuwala, Buddhika Pathirana, Harshana Rajakaruna and Chaminda Wijesiri rasied objections creating an uproar in the House.

• How can they prevent people in this manner when the Judiciary had allowed the SJB to carry out the protest?