727 families in self-quarantine in Matara

Dr A D U Karunarathna Regional Director Health Services Matara told the action committee setup to curtail the spread of COVID19 in the district headed by Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Affairs Dullas Alahapperuma  that there were 727 families under self quarantine in the district. The action committee has been meeting regularly at the District Secretariat in Matara after the government imposed a curfew to prevent the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

Dr Karunarathna revealed the figures when Minister Alahapperuma called  for them.

Former Parlimenterian Sunil Handuneeththi informed the committee that there were hundreds of Southerners employed in the construction sector in Colombo and its suburbs who are unable to return home due to the curfew and restrictions of travel. He suggested that the government should make arrangements to bring them back and quarantine them as they were returning illegally in vehicles that were transporting essential food items and were putting the community at risk.

District Secretary Matara Pradeep Rathnayaka said that administration services in the district have been coordinated and the Grama Seva Niladharis have been tasked to check and report on the wellbeing and welfare of all residents  in their areas.

On being informed of the plight of fishermen unable to sell their catch, Minister Alahapperuma requested the Cooperative Societies to help suggesting that the maximum purchase price of a  kilogram of Skipjack (Balaya) should be Rs 200/= and Tuna should be Rs 350/- per kg.

The Police informed the Committee that some people were misusing the permission given to transport essential food items and that they had detected a vehicle displaying an essential sevices board transporting illicit hooch.

Heads of Local Government institutions in the Matara district, heads or representatives of Government institutions and former law makers Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena,  Kanchana Wijesekera,  Niroshan Premathilake and Manoj Sirisena  attend the two hour discussion.