Two areas in Trincomalee placed under lockdown following rise in COVID-19 cases

<p>Following a rapid rise in the number of coronavirus cases, Sri Lanka has imposed a lockdown on the &nbsp;Abhayapura Grama Niladhari region and Dinanagar region in <u><a href="https://colombogazette.com/2020/12/24/two-areas-in-trincomalee-placed-u…">Trincomalee</a></u>.</p> <p>Close to 70 infected people were detected in Trincomalee over the past few days. Earlier this week, the <u><a href="http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Refrain-from-visiting-Trinco-du…">Eastern Province Governor</a></u>, Anuradha Yahampath, requested people to not make visits to the region, except for matters of urgency.</p> <p>She further instructed Sri Lanka’s security forces to strictly enforce the law against those who violate quarantine. Security forces were to monitor those who arrived in the districts and the number of checkpoints in the area were to be increased.</p> <p>The increasing <u><a href="https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/continued-militarisation-tamil-ho…">militarisation of the Tamil homeland</a></u> as well as civilian functions has raised <u><a href="https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lanka-remains-human-rights-pr…">international concern.</a></u></p> <p>The Sri Lankan government has instructed Avissawella, Kosgama and Ruwanwella police divisions to be designated as <u><a href="http://www.colombopage.com/archive_20B/Dec24_1608820656CH.php">isolated</a></u> but has denied claims that a lockdown has been imposed on these areas.</p>