Up to 15 people were arrested by the Mannar police for allegedly violating COVID lockdown regulations.
On Sunday morning, the Sri Lankan Air Force and the Mannar Police used a drone camera, from the Mannar city bus stand, to monitor the movement of the public in the area. The camera captured youths playing on the sports ground and gathering on the streets, leading to the arrests of those seen allegedly violating the coronavirus rules.
The arrested persons have been taken to the Mannar Police Station to obtain the arrestees’ statements.
The Air Force and the police will continue to monitor the movement of civilians in the area using drone cameras, the police said. Given the extended national lockdown, the police have also warned that action will be taken to monitor and arrest those who travel without permission and those who roam the streets unnecessarily.
The state’s use of drone cameras was launched last week and is being observed in north-eastern areas, including Mullativu, Nallur, Kurunegala and Ariyalai. To date, at least ten arrests have been made in Jaffna for reasons such as “standing on the road without wearing helmets” and others for “violating traffic restrictions."
