Curfew to be relaxed in two stages

Curfew in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttlam districts will continue to remain until May 04 while curfew in all other districts will be relaxed from April 27, the President’s Media Division said.

Accordingly, it said the curfew in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttlam districts will be in force until 5.00 am on Monday, May 04.

Curfew in all other districts will be lifted at 5.00 am on Monday, April 27 and will be re-imposed at 8.00 pm on the same day.
 
Thereafter, the curfew in these districts will be in effect between 8.00 pm to 5.00 am every day until further notice.
  
The regulations have also be relaxed to open state and private companies from May 04 in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttlam districts despite the curfew which could be in force.

All the state departments, corporations, statuary boards and private sector industries, working places, fish, vegetables and retail stores can also be operated under strict regulations.

The private sector entities should open to work at 10.00 am daily. The head of each organization has the freedom to decide who should report to work and the number of employees.

Only 1/3rd of the total workforce of the state organizations should report to work. All the employees of the state sector who are not required to report for work should work from home. 

The responsibility to decide who should come to office and who should work from home lies with the head of the companies.

These organizations should strictly follow the Coronavirus prevention measures endorsed by health authorities. 

Meanwhile, the PMD said public transport would only be allowed for the use of people who are travelling for work while others should stay at home.

People are permitted to go out only to buy medicines or essential goods to the places closest to their residence.Moreover, all schools, universities, tuition classes, other educational institutions and cinema halls should be kept closed until further notice.Earlier, the schools were scheduled to be opened on May 11.Meanwhile, the PMD said movement across Districts would only be permitted for essential services.All kinds of functions, pilgrimages, trips, meetings etc have been banned until further notice and religious leaders are requested to ban observances and events at places of worship.The Government requested the people to be humble enough to bear the inconveniences when implementing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Strick action will be taken against anyone who disrupts the well-being of the people and the society,” the PMD said.