Mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake yesterday called for a total lockdown of the Colombo City for at least three weeks, warning that not doing so could result in a disaster, with an increased spread of COVID-19 to other parts of the island.

“We should impose strict movement restrictions and heavy control over Colombo city so that no one can enter or exit the city, especially isolated areas,” she said, adding that there were reports of families directed for home-quarantine in Mattakkuliya reporting for duty at their places of work.

The increasing number of COVID-19 deaths was another contributing factor to the call for lockdown. While the COVID-19 death toll currently stands at 61, a majority of the recent deaths have been from Colombo. All five COVID-19 deaths confirmed on Sunday, for instance, were residents of Colombo city, as were two of the three deaths confirmed yesterday.

Senanayake went on to say: “If we don’t enforce strict control, we will have to face a massive disaster.” She added that the city had a high elderly population, and it was currently a question of being able to protect these persons. 

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