Fresh appeals from Health sector and Police to refrain from outstation travel

Police and health authorities made a fresh appeal to the public to refrain from long-distance travel during the next few days after pointing out that it could affect the plans to reopen schools.

Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that despite the warnings not to travel between provinces there were large number of persons seen in outstations over the weekend.

He said as many as 495 persons trying to travel out of the western province were turned away yesterday (17).

“The plans to restore normalcy by reopening schools can be further affected if the warnings not to travel between provinces are violated”, he said.

Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr Hemantha Herath said that the response to not travel between provinces was poor. He said people had forgotten that the COVID-19 threat still prevails.

Dr Herath warned that if the warnings are not followed, tighter guidelines needed to be implemented.