Minister Gamini Lokuge said it was not him and the Superintendent of Police in Mount Lavinia who was involved in lifting the lockdown status in the Piliyandala police division.

Speaking to a weekend newspaper, Lokuge said that he did not even speak to the Minister of Health or the Director General of Health Services regarding this incident.

The Minister pointed out that he had never interfered with the isolation announcements and that he was not a doctor to do so. He also expressed confidence that the truth would be revealed.

Speaking to a TV channel last week, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said he received repeated telephone calls from powerful individuals to lift the lockdown status in the Piliyandala area.

The opposition, however, has demanded stern action against Lokuge