The Police have denied local media reports claiming that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickramaratne has been placed in self-isolation and that nearly 150 officers from the Police Headquarters have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Aruna newspaper reported that IGP Chandana Wickramaratne was placed in self- isolation form Monday (07) after a member of his staff had contracted the coronavirus.
As a result, the IGP had not attended the National Security Council meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held yesterday (08).
The IGP and his staff members at the Police Headquarters have reportedly gone into self-isolation after his driver had tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
According to the reported, the Police Media Unit had reported that officers from other units have been restricted from visiting the IGP’s office.
The report further said officers attached to the Intelligence Unit office under the purview of the IGP located at Malalasekara Mawatha in Colombo have also been placed in self-quarantine after a Covid patient was detected from the office.
Meanwhile, Lankadeepa reported that nearly 150 Police Officers at the Police Headquarters have contracted the virus.
Issuing a statement, Police Spokesman, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ajith Rohana refuted the Lankadeepa report stating that the front page news article in this regard was false.
He further said that only three officers attached to the Police Headquarters were infected as of now.
Meanwhile, the Police Media Unit refuted the Aruna news article claiming that the IGP has been placed in self-isolation.
The Police Media Unit said that the report was false and the IGP was currently engaged in his duties.
It is reported that nearly 1500 officers from the Police force have contracted the coronavirus since October 04. (NewsWire)