A special traffic plan has been announced in preparation for the official visit of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Sri Lanka from tomorrow to September 10.
According to the traffic plan announced by the Police Headquarters, temporary restrictions on vehicular movement will be imposed along several roads in Colombo and surrounding areas as the Indian Defence Minister travels to various locations during his three-day visit.
Traffic arrangements on September 8
At approximately 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (08), traffic restrictions are expected along the route from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo.
The route will include the Katunayake–Colombo Expressway, the Colombo Port premises and the NSA Roundabout before reaching the hotel.
Between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., traffic restrictions are expected as the Indian Defence Minister travels from the Taj Samudra Hotel to India House.
The route will include the Galle Face Roundabout, Kollupitiya Junction, Liberty Roundabout, Pittala Junction, Red Cross Junction, Library Roundabout, Glass House, Nanda Motors and Independence Roundabout. The return journey will proceed via JOC Junction, Flower Road, Liberty Roundabout, St. Michael Junction and Galle Face Roundabout to the hotel.
Movements on September 9
On September 9, between 9:50 a.m. and 11:25 a.m., traffic restrictions are expected along the route between the Taj Samudra Hotel and the Presidential Secretariat.
The Indian Defence Minister is scheduled to travel via Galle Road and return to the hotel along the same route.
From approximately 2:00 p.m., a number of movements are scheduled between Colombo and Battaramulla.
The first journey will be from the Taj Samudra Hotel to the Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial at the Ape Gama premises in Battaramulla, via Galle Face, Galle Road, Kollupitiya, Dharmapala Mawatha, Liberty Roundabout, Pittala Junction, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Nelum Pokuna Roundabout, Horton Place and several other junctions before proceeding along Sri Jayewardenepura Mawatha.
The Indian Defence Minister is then scheduled to travel to the Ministry of Defence between 2:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., followed by a visit to Parliament premises between approximately 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Between 4:35 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., the scheduled movement will be towards Gangaramaya Temple, with the route passing through Jayanthipura, Polduwa, Buthgamuwa, Welikada and several other junctions before proceeding towards the temple.
At approximately 5:30 p.m., the Indian Defence Minister is scheduled to return to the Taj Samudra Hotel via Sri James Peiris Mawatha, Perahera Mawatha and Galle Face Roundabout.
A further movement is scheduled between 7:00 p.m. and 7:10 p.m., when the Indian Defence Minister will travel from the Taj Samudra Hotel to the Colombo Port premises. The route will include Galle Face Central Road, Baladaksha Mawatha, the NSA Roundabout and the A01 entrance to the Colombo Port, before returning to the hotel.
Traffic arrangements on September 10
On September 10, between 9:00 a.m. and 9:10 a.m., the Indian Defence Minister is scheduled to travel from the Taj Samudra Hotel to the helipad at the Colombo Port premises.
The route will again include Galle Face Road, Baladaksha Mawatha, the NSA Roundabout and the Colombo Port A01 entrance.
Accordingly, the Police headquarters has warned that further traffic restrictions may be imposed, if necessary during Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s stay in Colombo.
