Sri Lanka has beefed up maritime security to prevent Indians from entering the island by sea after reports that people from South India are coming to Sri Lanka due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus epidemic in India, according to internet newspaper ColomboPage.

Army Commander General Shavendra Silva has asked the local fishing community also to be vigilant in this regard.

The Sri Lanka Navy has increased patrols, especially in the Northern and North Western seas in view of the prevailing situation, Navy media spokesman Captain Indika de Silva said.

A woman who had arrived in Sri Lanka by boat from India recently and another woman who had come to Sri Lanka with her and was in hiding were arrested in the Kochchikade area in Negombo.

They had arrived from the port of Tuticorin in India. The two women were later directed to quarantine.