A special Police operation is to be launched to monitor those violating the quarantine law by misusing permits issued to employees of essential services to travel during the islandwide travel restriction imposed in Sri Lanka.
Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said Police officers deployed at the 14 entry and exit points of the Western Province today observed an unusual number of vehicles attempting to enter the Province.
Traffic congestion had been reported along Galle Road, High Level Road, Low Level Road, and the Kandy and Negombo roads, with a majority claiming to be employees of essential services required to report to work today.
DIG Ajith Rohana said it had been noted that letters have been issued by employers to multiple employees without reason and the Police personnel at roadblocks have taken electronic copies of the letters from randomly selected employees to be verified.
He said Police teams have been deployed to visit the workplaces to ascertain if the employee has reported to work or not.
In the event the employee is not at work or the employer had issued the letter without a valid reason to report to work, stern action will be taken against both the employer and the employee, the Police Spokesman said.
DIG Ajith Rohana said their actions will be considered as a violation of the penal code, as well as the quarantine law. (NewsWire)