Leave of all Sri Lanka Navy personnel cancelled until further notice

COLOMBO (News 1st): Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy, Vice Admiral - Piyal De Silva said leave of all Sri Lanka Navy personnel has been cancelled until further notice. The Navy Commander on Saturday (25th April), said all naval personnel will not be allowed to leave their bases as well, until the prevailing situation subsides. "Information regarding those who maintained contacts with infected Naval personnel has been obtained and steps are underway to direct all those people for quarantine," said Vice Admiral, Piyal De Silva. According to the Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe in total 65 Navy Personnel attached to the Welisara Navy Camp have contracted the virus. The Welisara Navy Camp is currently isolated, with around 4,000 naval personnel. "Around 400 PCR tests are set to be conducted at the Welisara Navy Camp today," said Dr. Anil Jasinghe on Saturday. On Wednesday (22nd of April), Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva making a special statement said a sailor attached to the Welisara Navy Camp, who was on leave was admitted to the Welikanda Base Hospital after suddenly falling ill, and a PCR test confirmed he had contracted the virus. Thereby, travelling in and out of 4 villages falling under the purview of 3 Divisional Secretariats of Ampara district, Uhana and Damana was limited with effect from yesterday, since sailors from the Welisara Navy Camp had engaged in duties in the aforementioned areas. Two drivers and two assistants of a truck in which a sailor who tested positive for COVID-19 had travelled in when travelling to Polonnaruwa, were subjected to PCR tests at the Polonnaruwa Base Hospital on Friday. The Wariyapola Pradeshiya Sabha premises was temporarily closed off, since an employee at the Wariyapola PS resides in close proximity to the residence of the sailor who tested positive for Covid-19. The wife and child of a sailor attached to the Welisara Navy camp, who tested postive for Covid-19, was admitted to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital on Friday. The Eye ward of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital was temporarily closed down and disinfected on Friday, since a sailor attached to the Welisara Navy Camp had arrived at the ward to tend to his child who was admitted at the ward. It was confirmed, the sailor attached to the Welisara Navy Camp who contracted the virus initially, was involved in carrying out their duty to combat COVID-19; where he was enaged in moving the group of people who tested positive for COVID-19, from the Suduwella area in Ja-Ela, into quarantine.