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IGP urged to act against Lokuge

07 May 2021

  • Organisation wants Lokuge charged with attempted murder

By Pamodi Waravita   A letter has been sent to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne by the “Jana Bala Pawura” organisation, urging him to take necessary legal action regarding the alleged role that Minister Gamini Lokuge played in the lifting of the lockdown restrictions imposed on Piliyandala earlier this week. Furthermore, as Lokuge had allegedly placed the people of Piliyandala in grave danger due to his unauthorised actions, the letter claims that it violates Section 300 of the Penal Code, which deals with the offence of attempted murder. “Lokuge has stated that he has the right to lift Covid-19-related lockdown restrictions in Piliyandala. However, that violates the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance No. 3 of 1897, as the regulations under this Law give the authority of imposing and lifting lockdowns to the Director General of Health Services (DGHS),” claims the letter, as seen by The Morning. The letter further explained that the DGHS Dr. Asela Gunawardena had stated to the press that he had not played a role in lifting the lockdown restrictions in Piliyandala this week. Ministry of Health Media Secretary Viraj Abeysinghe had told The Morning on 5 May that the controversial decision to lift the lockdown restrictions imposed in the Piliyandala Police area was not a directive issued by Dr. Gunawardena. Also on 5 May, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head and Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva denied the allegation that the lockdown was lifted due to a request made by Lokuge, and said that it was a decision arrived at after consulting a group of specialists and the persons in charge. However, Lokuge told The Morning on 5 May that he had “requested the authorities” to lift the lockdown. All attempts to contact Lokuge yesterday (6) for further clarifications, proved futile. The Piliyandala Police area was isolated with immediate effect on the evening of 2 May in an attempt to control the spread of Covid-19. Following the lifting of the lockdown restrictions on 3 May, 10 Grama Niladhari divisions in the Piliyandala Police area were then placed under isolation.  Reports later emerged stating that the Kesbewa Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samanthika Wijesundara was not informed of the move to lift the imposed blanket isolation which she had requested.


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