A new special Presidential Task Force headed by the Governor of the Western Province Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Gunatilleke was appointed yesterday to ensure health security at military camps.
This decision was taken at a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa with the participation of retired security chiefs and medical experts.
The newly established Presidential Task Force is responsible for preparing, implementing and monitoring an effective mechanism for this purpose under the guidance of Secretary Defence and Commanders of Tri-Forces.
“It is equally important to protect the people as well as Security Forces personnel. Special attention should be paid to groups who have moved closely with the infected. Those who are infected should be directed to hospitals while the people they had associated with should be sent for quarantine. The prime objective is to prevent the community transmission of the virus,” President Rajapaksa said.
The President instructed the panel of experts to immediately prepare a report following visits to all military camps. Priority should be given to the health security of the security officers who are engaged in quarantine activities. The President also advised to the Task Force to obtain the assistance of medical experts as and when necessary, to promote health and hygiene facilities within camps.
The President emphasized the necessity of identifying shortcomings, if any, in the process of successfully containing the virus so far.
Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundera, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, former Commander of the Air Force, Governor of the Western Province Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Gunatileke, former Commander of Sri Lanka Navy Admiral (Retired) Jayantha Perera, Director General of the Department of Civil Defence Rear Admiral (Retired) Ananda Peiris, Major General Sunedha Perera, Medical Consultant Bandula Wijesiriwardene and Medial Specialist Vajira Senarathne were also present.