Armed Sri Lankan soldiers have been enforcing quarantine procedures for arrivals coming into the island at Colombo’s international airport this week, as the military expands its role in tackling the coronavirus outbreak.
Soldiers from the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive Wing of the Sri Lankan air force were seen inspecting disembarking passengers, as well as transporting them to quarantine centres around the island.
Sri Lanka’s militarised response comes after the government announced accused war criminal Shavendra Silva will be heading a coronavirus task force, and that all arriving flights from the island would be suspended for the next two weeks.
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