A widely-shared image on social media, showing a row of men kneeling in front of soldiers for reportedly violating Sri Lanka’s current lockdown, has prompted the Army to probe the incident.
Issuing a media statement on Sunday, the Army said “it immediately removed” the personnel from their duties, “after an alleged improper conduct of a few army personnel” in Eravur, a Muslim-majority town in the eastern Batticaloa district. Initial investigation has begun, the army said, pledging “strictest action”.
The Sri Lankan Army, along with health professionals, helms the country’s pandemic response, although government critics have slammed military involvement in addressing a public health crisis. Army Commander General Shavendra Silva heads the ‘National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak’.
The incident on Saturday — which came to light after the photograph of kneeling men went viral online — has heightened fears in Eravur, locals said. It also…