The Board of Directors of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has decided to declare market holidays on March 23rd and 24th, in view of the extension of the ongoing curfew in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Puttalam.

Accordingly, the market will remain closed on 23rd and 24th March 2020, the CSE noted.

The government decided to extend the ongoing  curfew in districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Puttalam till 6.00 am on Tuesday (24) as a means to minimize public gatherings in order to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus within the country.

As a preventive measure, the government also banned all leisure trips, pilgrimages and tours within the country until further notice.

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) had reopened for trading on Friday (20) morning, after remaining closed for four days amidst the Coronavirus outbreak in Sri Lanka.

Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC), had closed the market to minimize public interactions in curbing the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of all market participants.

In view of the government declaring a period of six working days from March 20 to 27 for employees of the public and private sector to work from home, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) had requested member firms and trading members to follow suit to the extent possible.