News

Covid Task Force to decide tomorrow on next step

19 Aug, 2021

By Ashanthi Warunasuriya

The Covid Task Force will meet tomorrow and decide on the next step to be taken to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Sources said that the Task Force will decide if to further strengthen existing quarantine regulations, especially over the weekend.

Panic buying was seen in several areas today as speculation spread of a lockdown being declared tomorrow.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been put under pressure to shut down the country to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Leading Buddhist monks and some political parties affiliated with the Government have demanded a lockdown.

Chief Prelates of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters have urged the President to enforce one-week lockdown.

The Chief Prelate of the Malwathu Chapter, the Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangalabhidhana Thero and the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Venerable Warakagoda Dhammasiddhi Sri Pagnananda Thero have raised concerns over the situation in the country.

They have?urged the President to follow the advise of health experts and impose a lockdown.

Meanwhile, 10 political parties affiliated with the Government have also urged the President to enforce a lockdown.

Government Ministers and members Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and?A. L. M. Athaullah are among those who have called for a lockdown.?(Colombo Gazette)

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