brand logo

Public should remain cautious of Covid: Army Chief

26 Aug 2020

Sri Lanka cannot be declared a country that has eliminated Covid-19, given that the pandemic still prevails in other foreign countries, Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said. The Army Commander pointed out that due to everyone’s sustained efforts under the guidance of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, no Covid-19-positive cases were reported from the community for 50 days after 30 April. “However, it does not mean that the epidemic is over in the country. The new cases we come across are amongst those coming from overseas, and we cannot reject them since they are Sri Lankans.” These remarks were made while Silva addressed the media at the Digampathana 53 Division Silver Jubilee celebration on Monday (24), the Army said in a press release. Currently, 7,653 individuals are quarantined at facilities operated by the tri-forces. “We have to take them all into the country in a very safe manner, although even flight crews undergo risks. We have to take them carefully with utmost care and precision,” Silva said. “We previously sent expatriates only to hotels with more than 100-plus rooms for practical reasons and now we are sending those expatriates to small-scale hotels too, so that those hoteliers are also benefited. “All Sri Lankans have to continue (following the) health guidelines further and protect (themselves) from this fast-spreading virus as necessary, although there is no heavy threat as such,” the Commander further remarked.


More News..