Hundreds gather outside Kilinochchi courts to obtain bail for family members

By Dinasena Ratugamage

Over 300 people gathered opposite the Kilinochchi Court on Thursday to obtain bail for their family members, arrested by the police for violating COVID-19 health guidelines.

As those who had gathered outside the court too were violating health guidelines, PHIs and the Police had to warn them. Police arrested about 70 people for violating the Covid-19 protocol.

On Thursday three COVID-19 cases were reported from Kilinochchi for the first time. The Northern Province Health Services Office said action had been taken to raise public awareness of the health regulations in place to fight the pandemic.

Regional health authorities will also carry out PCR testing in areas where cases were detected in Kilinochchi from yesterday (30.)

A CCTV system has been installed at Kilinochchi to identify those who do not followed health guidelines that are being enforced to minimise the spread of COVID-19. Chairman of the Pradeshiya Sabha, Arunachalam Welamakithan said that SARS-CoV-2 was becoming a serious problem in Kilinochchi but people were generally not adhering to health guidelines.

Welamakithan said that the vendors at the Kilinochchi wholesale market worked closely with the commercial hubs in Dambulla, Vavuniya, Jaffna and Thambuttegama. “These are areas with high coronavirus prevalence,” he said.

“Our fishermen also associate with their Indian counterparts. They also deal with smugglers. This is a dangerous situation.”