Militarisation in Jaffna ramped up as COVID-19 cases rise

Large numbers of Sri Lankan army and police officers were deployed across Jaffna, as stores were forced to close following a sharp increase in the district’s COVID-19 cases.

All stores in the central market were ordered military-enforced disinfection and quarantine emergency meeting held by the Jaffna COVID-19 Prevention Task Force on Thursday.

Military-enforced lockdowns masked severe intimidation and harassment on Tamils and Muslims in the North-East under the guise of coronavirus procedures. The lockdowns have also took a severe toll on the local economy of fish markets, timber shops and other businesses.

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