22,000 Police officers deployed for quarantine operations

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Police arrested 423 people for failing to wear face masks, maintain social distances and follow quarantine rules and regulations, during island-wide quarantine operations conducted in a 24-hour window that ended on Saturday (May 22). "We have deployed 22,000 police officers across the country in order to implement quarantine rules and regulations. We are conducting mobile patrols, motor-cycle patrols, and foot patrols. Moreover, roadblocks will also be implemented at borders," Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st on Saturday (May 22). Since 30th October last year, up to date, 11,743 people have been arrested for violating the quarantine rules and regulations, he added. According to DIG Ajith Rohana, 98 people were arrested from Matale and 65 were arrested in Kandy on Friday (May 21). Moreover, 10,815 people were inspected during a special operation carried out in the Western Province with regard to quarantine regulations; of them, 2,292 people were admonished, the Police Spokesperson further noted. Another operation was conducted at 14 checkpoints located at the Exit and Entry points of the Western Province, where 4,752 people were inspected; of them, 2015 people who were trying to cross the provincial borders in violation of the inter-provincial travel restriction, were turned back, DIG Ajith Rohana added.