Police officers test Negative for COVID-19

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Police reached a decision to direct all police officers present at a particular site, for PCR tests in the event a police officer comes in to contact with a COVID-19 patient. Police Spokesperson, SP Jaliya Senaratne speaking at the Police Headquarters said officers who were assigned to high risk areas such as Keselwatte and Bandaranaike Mawatha were subject to PCR tests and all of them tested NEGATIVE for the virus. He said Police Officers too are subject to tests for the safety of the people and Sri Lanka Police does not have any intention of putting the people in harms way. SP Jaliya Senaratne said the Acting Inspector General of Police held discussions with the Director General of Health Services and reached this decision. He added police officers assigned to high risk zone are provided with necessary protective gear and it was made mandatory for those assigned to Road Block duty to wear face masks and gloves. He went on to note, separate officers were assigned to monitor if these guidelines are followed. From 06 AM to 12 noon Sri Lanka Police arrested 264 people for violating the curfew and seized 122 vehicles. In total 41,365 curfew violators were arrested and 10,982 vehicles were seized. Further 24,960 raids on illegal spirit production and distribution took place resulting in the arrest of 25,014 people. Sri Lanka Police also carried out 9437 raids on other illegal matters and arrested 9,625 people.