Govt. requests public to follow official channels on COVID-19 info

• Says action will be taken against those spreading false news
• Live program to be aired on COVID-19 on Sunday at 10 a.m.

The Government yesterday requested the public not to pay attention to unverified information about COVID-19 and criticised the misinformation that was being circulated on social media, warning that legal action could be taken against those spreading misinformation. 

Issuing a statement, the Government information Department said strong action would be taken against those spreading false information about the virus and requested people to refrain from such actions.

The Government will officially inform if infected individual are identified through State media institutes, it said. 

Meanwhile a COVID-19 information centre has been established collectively by the Department of Health and Health Promotion Bureaus well as the Department of Government Information to disseminate verified information to the public both on social media and dedicated websites. 

According to the Government Information Department, confirmed official information will be published on Facebook pages of Health Promotion Bureau, Department of Government Information and the website of News.lk.

A special live program will be telecast on all television channels on Sunday at 10 a.m. to inform about COVID-19, the Government Information Department said. 

Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Specialist Dr. Ananda Wijewickrema and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva will also join the program.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) also advised the public to refrain from misuse of all forms of telecommunication services to circulate or share false or fabricated information on COVID-19 to create unnecessary panic among the general public. The TRCSL also stated that circulating false information was a punishable offence under the law.