Curfew will not be extended in several areas of Western Province after Monday - Army Chief

Army Commander and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID 19 Outbreak, Lt. General Shavendra Silva says a curfew in several areas in the Western Province which is currently in effect will be lifted as planned on Monday at 5 am and this will not be extended.

Silva told Daily Mirror that in addition to curfew being lifted in areas where it came into effect on Friday midnight, authorities were also looking at the possibility of lifting curfew in some other areas in Colombo where curfew had been in effect for over a week.

"We are looking at the possibility of lifting curfew in some of these areas as well, based on if the threat level has gone down. But in other areas in Colombo we will lift curfew on Monday as scheduled," Silva said.

A province wide curfew came into effect throughout the Western Province on Friday midnight as authorities tried to restrict movement and prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 infection.

DIG Ajith Rohana said a quarantine curfew was in place and explained the difference between a quarantine curfew and a police curfew was that under a quarantine curfew, the DG of Health Services had issued powers to the IGP to impose a curfew to battle a health crisis. In a police curfew he explained, the IGP had direct powers to declare a curfew and this was to prevent forms of violence, criminal activities or terrorism threats.

Even under a quarantine curfew, the police had the powers to arrest those breaking the health guidelines and people were urged to stay at home till the curfews were lifted. (JAMILA HUSAIN)