Tuesday Apr 16, 2024
Tuesday Apr 16, 2024
Friday, 14 May 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Travel restrictions in place until 4.00 a.m. on Monday are similar to quarantine curfew imposed during previous COVID-19 outbreaks, with the exception that pharmacies will be permitted to operate during this time.
Clarifying travel restrictions announced on Wednesday, Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said stores and supermarkets cannot open for customers during this time but can operate delivery services.
This also applies to restaurants and food outlets, which can only deliver food items.
However, the Police Officer-in-Charge of the area must be informed of delivery services operating during this period.
Persons can travel to the pharmacies closest to them as well as hospitals in hired or private transport. However, hired transport will not be permitted to operate until Monday for any other travel. Public transport will also not be permitted to operate during this period.
Economic centres as well as the Manning Market and the Peliyagoda Fish Market will be permitted to operate for wholesale trade only, and road development, including construction will be permitted to operate.
DIG Rohana added that employees attached to BOI and EDP industries as well as food, pharmaceutical and other export-oriented markets will be permitted to travel to and from work within a bio-cell. In addition to this, persons travelling abroad can use their travel documents in lieu of a permit to travel.
Persons in essential services can use their office IDs in lieu of a permit but must show confirmation that they are required to report to duty.
While severe restrictions have been implemented to limit movement, DIG Ajith Rohana said marriage registrations can take place in the couple’s place of residence with adherence to safety guidelines. However, only the couple, their parents, marriage registrar and witnesses will be permitted to attend the ceremony. Relevant health officials of the area must be informed of the fact.
The COVID-19 vaccination program will continue, and persons can travel to their designated vaccination centre.
Despite these travel restrictions ending at 4 a.m. on 17 May, they will be once again enforced between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. daily until 31 May.
“From 17 May to 31 May, persons who are not travelling for work must remain at home. People can only leave the house based on the NIC last digit system,” DIG Rohana said, explaining that persons with an odd last digit can leave the house on odd dates and persons with an even last digit can leave the house on even dates.
Inter-provincial travel will also not be permitted during this time and 14 exit points in the Western Province will be monitored.
DIG Rohana added that 20,000 Police personnel were deployed from 10:00 p.m. yesterday to ensure restrictions are adhered to.
In addition to this, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday stated 11 Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions were placed under isolation until further notice. This includes the Uggala GN Division in the Padukka Police Area of the Colombo District and Palugahawela GN Division in the Divulapitiya Police Area of the Gampaha District.
GN Divisions in the Dehiaththakandiya Police Area in the Ampara District, Pelmadulla and Kuruwita Police Areas in the Ratnapura District, and Ahangama and Habaraduwa Police Divisions in the Galle District are also under isolation.
The NOCPCO stated that the Gonagalla and Akkara 30 regions in the Fordays Estate Division in the Nuwara Eliya District have also been isolated.
