News
224 people in self-quarantine, food programmes underway in Monaragala district
In keeping with the government’s directive, 224 people who have returned from abroad are in self-quarantine at their homes in the Monaragala district and they are being closely monitored by health officials.
This was revealed at a meeting with officials of the district’s Covid-19 prevention task force.
Medical Officers of Health (MOHs), public health inspectors (PHIs) and other health officials are keeping a close watch on those who are in self-quarantine in their houses. They have been told to strictly follow the social distancing rule.
According to the district task force, 62 people are in self-quarantine in Siyambalanduwa, 60 in Medulla, 32 in Wellawaya, 27 in Sevanagala, 30 in Kataragama, 19 in Monaragala, 20 in Buttala, 12 in Thanamalwila, 11 in Bibila, 18 in Badalkumbura, and four in Medagama.
Addressing the task force meeting at the Monaragala District Secretariat Auditorium, District Secretary Gunadasa Samarasinghe said the government had taken steps to provide dry ration parcels to families living in rural areas and families of those engaged in essential services such as health, defence and fuel distribution to ease their difficulties during the curfew period. In addition, residents affected by the drought would be provided drinking water through bowsers.
He said there were sufficient food stocks in the district to support the ongoing food supply programme for Samurdhi beneficiaries and low income families.
Attending the meeting were the district’s former parliamentarians Padma Udayashantha Gunasekara, Sumedha G. Jayasena, Vijitha Berugoda and Ananda Kumarasiri, former Provincial Councilors Shashindra Rajapaksa, Kumarasiri Ratnayake, Wimal Galagamaarachchi, RM Jayawardena and Pradeshiya Sabha chairpersons.
Meanwhile, former Uva provincial councillor Kumarasiri Rathnayake has launched a programme to produce and distribute face masks to overcome the countrywide shortage.