Army Commander General Shavendra Silva admitted that he received repeated phone calls to lift the lockdown status in the Poliyandala Police Division.

Earlier, the government imposed a lockdown on all 52 Grama Niladhari divisions in the Piliyandala police division, and it was later reduced to 10 Grama Niladhari divisions.It was widely speculated that an influential Cabinet Minister in the area was instrumental in changing the lockdown status in the police division.

The Army Commander, in an interview with a TV channel last night, said he informed the President and the Prime Minister about the situation in the Piliyandala police division.

"We will not lift lockdown based on requests by MPs. The relevant decisions will be made by the MOH and other health authorities," the Army Commander said.

"Depending on the current situation, any area can come under lockdown without prior notice," he added.