AG seeks clearance to resume work

• ASG writes to SIS Director asking if it is safe and permissible for employees at AG’s Dept. to resume work
• Dept. has been out of bounds since Monday after a security officer tested positive for COVID-19

The Attorney General’s Department yesterday sought clearance to resume work for concerned authorities after the department was declared out of bounds on Monday following a security officer employed there testing positive for COVID-19.

Additional Solicitor General (Administration) Sumathi Dharmawardena, PC wrote to the Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) inquiring if it was safe and permissible for the officers and staff of the AG’s Department to resume their normal work.

The SIS has been called into conduct necessary investigations with regard to contact tracing after the department was declared out of bounds on Monday after a female security officer attached to the department tested positive for COVID-19.

Six members of the private security service who supposedly had contact with the lady security officer were tested for the coronavirus and their test results had come back negative.

Writing on the instructions of AG Dappula De Livera, Dharmawardena said that the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) had taken measures to disinfect the premises after the detection of the COVID-19 patient.

“In these circumstances, please be kind enough to inform me as to whether it is safe and permissible to permit officers and staff to visit the AG’s Department and resume their normal course of work, whenever the situation demands it,” the letter said.