Travails Of People In Troubled Times

Curfews, lockdowns, or travel restrictions are generally understood as government regulations requiring people to remain indoors during specified hours.

- Piyumi Fonseka

They are some of the methods adopted to restrict the fundamental freedom of free movement, because of the more important need of ensuring public health, national security and for other essential purposes. In Sri Lanka, the Executive President has exercised his power to impose a curfew with the Police being directed to uphold the law.

In a bid to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic which invaded Sri Lanka in March last year; lockdowns and curfews were imposed on several occasions. Currently, travel restrictions are in force till June 14. However, many argue that the law is applied unequally and the violation of quarantine regulations by privileged individuals being allegedly overlooked. There is an ongoing public outcry on social media regarding how several ‘powerful’ individuals including politicians had blatantly violated travel restrictions.

Fingers have been pointed at several politicians who have publicly and privately flouted both official restrictions and health guidelines now in force in the fight to eradicate the deadly virus. The recent incident was that of the Kurunegala Mayor’s birthday bash held in Kurunegala Police premises. Some of the participants had been unmasked while the Mayor was seen cutting the birthday cake and the pieces later shared with the invitees.

This event was a clear violation of Sri Lanka’s ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions imposed in the midst of an unmitigated health crisis. Subsequent to a load of criticism, the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) was transferred for allowing the celebration at a time such as this. However, there has been no action taken against Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa Vitharana.