If the current Colombo International Book Fair continues in this manner, completely disregarding the rules and regulations of health, the Ministry of Health will be informed within two days and the exhibition will be stopped, Chief Medical Officer of the Colombo Municipal Council, Ruwan Wijayamuni told Lankasara.
According to the Cheif Medical Officer health authorities allowed the exhibition on the condition that all health regulations and instructions be followed in the same manner. However, he noted that all basic health rules, including the wearing of proper face masks, are being violated and the organizers are exceeding the 300 limit imposed when admitting people to the main hall.
Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni pointed out that although the administration and the Publishers’ Association were informed about this on a number of occasions, they are still not following the advice given.
At one time, nearly 20 public health inspectors were deployed to oversee the exhibition’s health regulations and found that booksellers were the most likely violators of the health regulations imposed.
In a special press release on the eve of the book fair, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Head of the National Action Center for the Prevention of the spread of the Covid-19 virus warned that action will be taken against those violating health regulations after receving special permission to hold certain events.
