May 12, Colombo: The Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ajith Rohana says that despite the various views expressed regarding the quarantine curfew, which has been implemented since March 20, its approval by the Attorney General and the judiciary is a victory for the people.

Speaking at a media briefing held today at the Police Headquarters, DIG Rohana said expectations of some people and organizations exacerbating the epidemic were defeated by the court ruling.

SSP Ruwan Gunasekara speaking at the media briefing said the Gampaha Chief Magistrate Manjula Karunaratne issued a 15-page verdict declaring that the curfew imposed on the request of the health authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 was legal.

He explained that a pharmacy in Gampaha police division was open during the curfew and when the owner was arrested for violating the curfew law and few other charges and presented in court a major objection was raised claiming the curfew was illegal.

“Accordingly, the necessary legal opinions regarding the legal status of curfew were presented before the Gampaha Magistrate's Court,” said SSP Gunasekara.

Meanwhile, Police Media Spokesman SP Jaliya Senaratne at the media briefing said that 5,212 persons have been charged in violation of curfew.

Since the curfew imposed on March 20, the number of people arrested by the police for violating curfew has exceeded 50,000. During the period, 13,594 vehicles were also seized by the police for traveling without a curfew permit.