An island-wide curfew will be imposed from 6.00 pm today (20) until 6.00 am on Monday (23), says the President’s Office.

The curfew is to be imposed with a view to prevent violation of provisions and regulations of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance imposed for prevention of spreading COVID - 19 alias New Corona Virus.

All individuals shall remain indoors during the time of the curfew, the Acting IGP C.D. Wickramaratne said in a statement declaring the curfew. 

Furthermore, permission will be granted only for vehicles delivering / transporting essential services and media services during the time of the curfew while those travelling under permission granted shall use their official identity card issued by the relevant institution as the curfew permit. 

Whereas those flight passengers headed towards Katunayake airport may use their air ticket as a curfew permit, the Acting IGP said.

In the meantime, the police curfew imposed within the Ja-Ela and Wattala Police Divisions from 10 pm yesterday (19) was lifted at 9.00 am this morning and will be in force again starting from 12 noon until further notice.

Previously, police curfew was imposed in 11 police divisions in Puttalam, 7 in police divisions in Chilaw and the Kochchikade police division in Negombo from 4.30 pm on Wednesday (18) until 8.00 am yesterday. It was re-imposed at 2.00 pm in the afternoon and temporarily lifted this morning.