06-month prison term for violators of COVID-19 health regulations: Min. Pavithra Wanniarachchi

COLOMBO (News 1st): The gazette on legal amendments to arrest those who violate health regulations, without a warrant and impose a 06-month prison term will be issued in two days, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, the Minister of Health said on Sunday (Oct. 11). While admiring the general public as the biggest strength in preventing the spread of COVID-19 within the community; Health Minister, Pavithra Wanniarachchi said "The government decided to declare COVID-19 health regulations practiced at present as the law."  Thereby, the Legal Draftsman's Department has been informed to prepare the gazette in this regard. The Minister was hopeful the draft of the gazette will be submitted to her by tomorrow (Oct. 12) and the gazette could be published as early as Tuesday (Oct. 13). "Based on this gazette, which is to be issued, anyone who acts in violation of its provisions could be arrested without a warrant and a case be filed to impose a 06-month prison term," Minister Wanniarachchi emphasized. According to the Health Minister, under the gazette to be issued on Tuesday (Oct. 13),

• The COVID-19 health regulation of wearing face masks, which is compulsory at present will be declared as the law.
• The COVID-19 health regulation of maintaining a 1 m distance at crowded places, which is compulsory at present will be declared as the law.
• The COVID-19 health regulation of owners' responsibility to check the fever/temperature of those who enter their premises will be declared as law.

"Likewise, COVID-19 health guidelines that people should abide by at present will be declared as the law through the issuance of a gazette, in two days," Minister Wanniarachchi further noted.