Sri Lanka Navy says that around 4000 people at the Sri Lanka Navy Camp in Welisara, including sailors and their families, were quarantined within the camp while tests were carried out to ascertain if they had contracted the Novel Coronavirus.
In addition, a considerable number of sailors who had had contact with sailors who had tested positive, and gone on leave were recalled to the Welisara Navy Camp on health grounds.
A statement from Sri Lanka Navy noted all quarantine measures are taking place as per directives of Health authorities.
Meanwhile, authorities have been on the alert over places these sailors have been to, while on leave.
Travel restrictions, lockdownsFour villages in the Uhana and Damana Divisional Secretariats, Ampara district, namely Rajawewa, Madawalalanda, Pahalalanda and Nawagiriyawa have been subjected to travel restrictions.
Also, the 12 villages located in the Lankapura Divisional Secretariat remain isolated after a sailor who had returned home from the Welisara camp was found to be infected by Covid-19.
There villages are Lankapura, Weerapura, Poomadiya, Pulasthigama, Abhayapura, Somapura, Baudharthagama, Sanghabodhigama, Alhilalpura, Rifaipura, Thambaala and Patunugama.
Forty three persons from 11 families in the Poomadiya village have been directed to two quarantine centres in Batticaloa. However, others were directed to remain in self isolation within their homes.
More self isolated in BadullaMeanwhile, measures have been taken to isolate several Navy personnel who had come to home from the Welisara camp, Haldummulla PHI - Asanka Sampath says.
He adds that eleven persons including these sailors and their families have been self isolated from today (24) onwards at their homes.
These persons are from the villages of Haldummulla, Marangahawela, Sirimalwatta and Bathgoda, he further added.
These sailors are to be subjected to PCR testing, the Haldummulla PHI office states.
The Haldummulla police says that investigations are underway to track persons who had come in contact with them since their return from the camp.
Sailors from Welisara tested at GalleMeanwhile, sources from the Karapitiya hospital in Galle says that 08 sailors from the Welisara camp, who are currently on leave, were brought in today for PCR testing.
These sailors hail from Dadalla, Maitipe, Meegahagoda in Ahangama, Neluwa-Medagama, Rathgama, Kandegoda, Hikkaduwa and Narigama and returned to their homes on leave on April 18 and 21. However, upon learning of the outbreak at the camp, they had been kept in self-isolation in their homes.
(Mirror)