Total COVID-19 cases rise to 460: Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva

COLOMBO (News 1st): The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka has risen to 460, with 40 new cases reported on Saturday, a day after the country reported the highest daily tally of COVID-19. Speaking to News 1st on Sunday (26th April), Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General, Shavendra Silva said a total of 40 cases were confirmed on Saturday. "Out of these 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the breakdown goes as: 10 cases were confirmed from the Welisara Naval Base, another 10 cases were confirmed among Naval personnel who were on leave. Then we had three from the Army where one case was an army personnel, who is married to a naval officer and two others, another two close relatives of a Navy personnel also tested positive for the virus," told Lieutenant General, Shavendra Silva to News 1st. Further eloborating on the breakdown of the 40 cases, the Army Commander said, "09 of those from Bandaranaike Mawatha who were quarantined at the Kandakadu Quarantine Centre tested positive for the virus, there were another 02 from the Katukeliyawa quarantine centre who tested positive for the virus, another 03 who returned from Oman and quarantined at the Diyathalawa Quarantine centre, and another returnee from Maldives also tested positive," bringing the daily tally on Saturday to 40 COVID-19 cases. "Importantly 118 have left hospitals and are alright, so far we have 335 active cases remaining in hospitals," said the Army Commander. Meanwhile, commenting on the latest quarantine figures, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said, "So far there are 3,053 remaining in quarantine centres; whereas, 4,488 have already left from 33 quarantine centres upon completing the mandatory quarantine period." Furthermore, the Army Commander said a total of 166 students were brought back to Sri Lanka from India on Saturday. "166 Students were brought back by Sri Lankan Airlines, of which 65 students from universities, 37 students from Sri Lanka Navy who went for training and 64 trainees from Sri Lanka Army," said the Army Commander adding that they were directed for quarantine. On Friday (24th April), Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe confirmed the highest daily tally of 49 COVID-19 cases in the island.