• Concedes wrong info led to extension of travel restrictions from 14 June onwards instead of relaxation

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday clarified that only 15 COVID deaths occurred on 11 June and not 101 as previously reported.

He informed of this correction during the meeting of the special COVID Committee meeting yesterday. 

According to a statement from President’s Media Office, the meeting was told that though it was originally decided to lift travel restrictions on 14 June, steps were taken to extend the restrictions until 21 June based on the data received that 101 deaths were reported on 11 June. 

At the meeting the President extensively elaborated on the data obtained by the health sector and the Intelligence Unit following a thorough investigation conducted into the causes of deaths. 

The President said that it was revealed following an in-depth investigation that the death toll on 11 June was not 101 but only 15. He emphasised that accuracy and timeliness in the provision of data was essential for making the right decisions.

It was also revealed that some of the deaths occurred during the four-month period from 6 February to 11 June, and death certificates had also been issued. Information on certain deaths was found to have been mentioned twice, the statement added.

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