Hindu temple officials arrested in Sri Lanka for holding festival amid Covid-19
Posted on April 28th, 2021
Courtesy The Hindustan Times
A huge crowd attended the festival at the Sri Kamakshi Amman Kovil temple in Tamil-dominated Jaffna without maintaining social distance or wearing face masks.PTI |
Top officials of a Hindu temple in Sri Lanka have been arrested for holding a festival despite a ban on large gatherings amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, according to a media report.
A huge crowd attended the festival at the Sri Kamakshi Amman Kovil temple in Tamil-dominated Jaffna without maintaining social distance or wearing face masks, the Colombo Gazette newspaper reported.
Police said that the Chairman and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the temple have been arrested for holding the event despite a ban.
Such large events have been banned by the Government until May 31.
Last week, the government announced that tuition classes, parties and public gatherings have been banned until May 31st after Sri Lanka was placed on Alert Level 3 following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
Health officials have warned of a potential surge to follow the traditional new year festivals in mid-April.
According to new health guidelines, casinos, night clubs and beach parties have also been temporarily banned.