President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the country need not be locked down if the public followed the health guidelines issued to them in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the movement of the public cannot be curtailed by imposing curfew indefinitely. Businesses and other operations pertaining to businesses and factories can continue while ensuring that people follow the health guidelines, adding that decisions must be made taking into consideration the livelihoods of the public, the country’s economy and all other relevant aspects.

The President noted that the entire country cannot be under lockdown until a solution is found for the control of the COVID-19 virus, adding that everyone should be prepared to engage in their daily activities while following the recommended health guidelines. He also advised the police to strictly enforce the curfew in the respective areas to control the spread of the virus.

The ‘Suwen Sitimu’ digital project formulated by the Information and Communication Technology Agency to assist with the COVID-19 prevention drive was also presented to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday during the meeting.

This digital platform provides solutions to two of the biggest challenges in the fight against covid which is information on the contacts of COVID-19 infected persons and the movements of carriers.

The new platform was introduced by the Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency Jayantha de Silva during the daily meeting of the National Operation Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19.

The Stay Safe Digital Project is based on a QR code and would be implemented in a simple easy to use manner which would be easily accessible and user friendly to state and commercial institutions and the public.

The platform could be accessed on staysafe.gov.lk and each company could obtain their unique QR code. This project would be operational from next Saturday. The unique QR code could be obtained by providing the name of any institution, address and the name of the owner and telephone number.

This QR code could then be printed and displayed on the entrance to that company’s office. All those in possession of smart mobile phones could registered and their whereabouts could be identified.

The Information and Communication Technology Agency would be taking steps to inform all media in this regard.

During yesterday’s meeting the National Operation Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 updated the President on the COVID-19 situation in the Western Province and throughout the country.