COVID-19 has not reached full SL quarantine level : President

Colombo ( News 1st ) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the COVID-19 situation in Sri Lanka can be controlled if all those who arrive from affected and other countries as well as all suspected cases are quarantined continuously. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa does not believe the COVID-19 situation in Sri Lanka has reached a level to quarantine or close-down the entire country. According to the President's Media Division, the President had decided not to allow anyone to enter the country until further notice. In a statement, the Presidents Media Division announced aircraft will not be permitted to land at the Bandaranaike International Airport, for a period of two weeks with effect from 03:00 pm this afternoon.(17) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said those who arrived in the country from Italy, South Korea and Europe should be quarantined even in their respective houses. The President went on to note, the Royal - Thomian Annual Big Match cricket encounter went ahead despite his requests not to host the match, citing growing concerns over COVID-19. The President added, there are some who do not adhere to the instructions of the government not to engage in unnecessary visits and trips, adding there is no point of a lock-down if people do not take these precautions seriously. Speaking on the Sri Lankan businessman, the husband of a Foreign Ministry Official, who visited Germany and tested positive, the President said as soon as the test result came in, he instructed the intelligence bureau to locate the businessman's partner immediately as he too could have contracted the virus. The President said unfortunately, the business partner had switched off his mobile phone, visited three hospitals and evaded authorities. The President instructed officials to institute legal action against the said individual. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa speaking in a stern voice, said the man from Kuliyapitiya who tested positive failed to inform authorities he visited his father in Galle, who later tested positive for COVID-19