The curfew will be lifted only once the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat is eliminated, the Ministry of Defence said yesterday.
Defence Secretary Maj.Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said that the curfew was imposed to control the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus.
However he said that considering the present situation related to COVID-19 in the country, the Government had not taken any decision to announce a complete lockdown next week.
Commenting on some rumors going viral claiming that there would be a complete five-day lockdown in the country, he said those rumors were spread to create a fear psychosis among the public but asserted that no such decision had been taken by the Government so far.
“The curfew has been imposed to control the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus. Once the health and security forces with the support of the public have been able to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, we will be able to remove the curfew gradually,” he said.
Maj.Gen. Gunaratne said the public should not be misled by rumors and the Police would deal with rumormongers who are creating unnecessary panic among the people.
(Colombo Gazette)