There are two topics that were discussed in various media in the country yesterday (31). News of the arrest of the Kurunegala Mayor while he was celebrating the birthday of the Mayor of Kurunegala and the birthday of beautician Chandimal Wijesinghe at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo.
At a time when travel restrictions have been imposed, the country’s attention has been drawn to the fact that they are doing so despite the quarantine laws, finding that the law applies equally to them.
Thushara Sanjeewa, Mayor of Kurunegala celebrating his birthday in violation of quarantine laws after obtaining permission from the police to hold a Pirith chanting. Nearby was an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) from Kurunegala. It is said that the birthday cake was given to the mayor by the police.
Following the revelation of this incident by the media, a special investigation has been launched into the case on the instructions of the Senior DIG in charge of the North Western Province.
Also, the officer has been transferred to Kuliyapitiya. According to the Police Media Spokesman, several police officers were also present at the party and a special investigation is to be conducted regarding them according to the Establishments Code of the Police Department.
But there is no mention of how the law applies to the mayor. Chandimal Wijesinghe’s incident was reported as the news spread on social media networks.
Renowned beautician Chandimal Jayasinghe and model Piyum Hansamali were arrested by the police at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo for violating traffic restrictions and quarantine laws.
The two were produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court and released on Rs. 1 million bail each.
That is why they are not quarantined and the relevant hotel is not legally enforced.
Chandimal Jayasinghe’s birthday party was attended by 25 people and 12 of them have already been identified, said police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana.
He also said that investigations have been launched to identify the remaining persons.
In the case of Piumi and Chandimal yesterday, the police requested the Fort Police to remand them in custody until June 11 and also to quarantine them. Ajith Rohana had said this while participating in a program on a private TV channel.
We inquired about the non-quarantine of Chandimal and Piumi by Upul Rohana, President of the Sri Lanka Public Health Inspectors Association.
He asserted that his confession had been obtained through torture, and that his confession had been obtained through torture.
The Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance No. 03 of 1897 was introduced to provide the necessary provisions to prevent the spread of all types of contagious or infectious diseases inside and outside Sri Lanka.
According to Section 2 of the Act, the Minister of Health can issue relevant orders to prevent the spread of diseases.
Section 19 of the Act specifies 19 matters for which such orders can be imposed and the orders issued by the Minister in terms of Section 12 of the Act should be published in the Gazette.
Similarly, the present Minister of Health, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, also issued quarantine gazettes containing the new Covid Prevention Act No. 2197/25.
Accordingly, those who can be quarantined are those who are infected, those who are first class acquaintances of an infected person, those who come from abroad and those who go home from the hospital after recovering from an infected condition.
Also, the Minister of Health, the Director General of Health and the Public Health Inspectors have the legal authority to carry out this quarantine process.
Mr. Upul Rohana stated that apart from this process, there is a possibility of quarantining as per the court orders after reporting the relevant persons to the court.
He further added that the quarantine of persons acting contrary to the circular issued by the Director General of Health is an improper detention and a violation of fundamental rights.
Shani