Govt. calls on public to limit family interaction during Sinhala and Tamil New Year

• Curfew for all non-high risk areas will be temporarily lifted today and re-imposed until 14 April

The Government yesterday called on the public to maintain social distancing during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period to protect against COVID-19.

The sole purpose of curfew measures is to ensure the well-being of the people of this country in this critical situation, the President’s Media Division said in a statement.

“Hence the Government requests the public to bear the inconveniences caused as a result of ongoing curfew in a responsible manner. Also, the Government emphasises to limit the traditions and associations during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year to only the members of the family,” it said.

The curfew imposed in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kandy and Jaffna, which have been identified as high risk zones, will continue until further notice.

In all other districts, curfew will be lifted at 6 a.m. today, and will be re-imposed at 4 p.m. on the same day. This will be effective until 6 a.m. on Tuesday 14 April, when curfew will again be temporarily lifted in these districts and re-imposed at 4 p.m. the same day.

Travelling to and from all districts has been completely prohibited, except for the purpose of providing essential services.

Those who misuse regulations introduced with the prime objective of ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of essential services will severely be dealt with according to the law.

During curfew hours, the Government has put in place a mechanism to continuously supply essential food and other goods, enabling the public to purchase them while at home. Those who are engaged in paddy farming and cultivation of small tea holdings and export crops in any district are permitted to carry out their activities.

The villages which have been declared isolated areas in the districts of Colombo, Kalutara and Kandy will remain in the same category, and no one will be allowed to enter or leave from these areas until further notice.