Was Piliyandala lockdown opened because of Minister Lokuge’s large warehouse?

Residents of the Piliyandala area allege that Minister Gamini Lokuge intervened to remove the decision after isolating the Piliyandala police area where the coronavirus was spreading rapidly because of a warehouse of a well-known company located on one of his lands.

Although the health authorities tried to isolate the Piliyandala police area due to the rapid spread of the virus, several Grama Niladhari divisions were released in isolation after the intervention of the Minister, media reports.

Health officials speak up against the decision to remove the isolation of the Piliyandala police area after few hours it was imposed.

It is true that he has been running a warehouse of a well known company on his land for about 20 years but he did not make such a request due to that. Minister Gamini Lokuge, he has stated in an interview with the Lankadeepa newspaper

However, the Minister has stated that he had submitted information to the authorities at the request of the people