Sri Lankan authorities have arrested a Hindu priest on Wednesday in the northern city of Jaffna in Sri Lanka, for violating COVID-19 health guidelines reported Newswire. 

Police said he was arrested for holding the temple’s chariot festival on Sunday (25) in violation of the COVID-19 quarantine regulations. The arrested priest is also the President and the Secretary of the Sri Kamadchi Amman Kovil in Jaffna. 

The chariot festival was held at a time when the Sri Lankan government prohibited all public events in the country amid the recent surge in coronavirus infections. During the event, large crowds had gathered for the festival, with many failing to wear face masks or maintain social distancing.

The recent wave is deadlier than the previous one, as many young adultsthis time are requiring hospitalization and ICUs beds, according to the director-general of health services in the island nation.