(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Sri Lanka security forces in close collaboration with authorities in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Defense have finalized arrangements to quarantine foreigners and Sri Lankan expatriates arriving in the island from the COVID-19 coronavirus hot spots in the world.
Chief of Defense Staff and Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva says the two makeshift quarantine Centers in Punani and Kandakadu in the Eastern province can accommodate at least 2000-2500 of the visitors for a fortnight. In addition, the planned accommodation in Diyatalawa Army camp can hold 300 more in the event of any emergency.
Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, together with Major General Rasika Fernando, Commander, Security Forces-East and all stakeholders including the Health Ministry officials visited the two facilities Monday and reviewed the final arrangements in order to assess their preparedness.
The Army Media Unit said hundreds of Security Force personnel under the Security Force HQ-East in the last two days have been upgrading the requirements in both quarantine centers at Punani and Kandakadu furnished with all facilities.
The quarantine locations, equipped with necessary medical tools, Wi-Fi communication facilities, thermometers, laundry and entertainment facilities suit to medically-sound quarantine purposes by keeping each occupant for an incubation period of two weeks, together with 5-6 medical teams, equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
These Quarantine Centers are now operational as per directions given by Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva and will have Sri Lankans and foreigners arriving directly from Iran, Italy and South Korea quarantined in these locations at the initial phase.
