Sri Lanka has partially relaxed curbs imposed in the country to check the spread of the novel coronavirus in a bid to boost economic activity.
In a release, the President's Media Division (PMD) said the coronavirus curfew will be lifted from April 20 onwards in all districts, excepting select areas, from 5 am to 8 pm.
The curfew will continue in parts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kandy, Kegalle and Ampara districts.
"Objective of relaxing curfew is to reactivate the economy, while measures to contain COVID-19 will continue in parallel. It is imperative to adhere to health guidelines and act responsibly for the safety of society at large," President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Sunday.
If any area where the curfew has been relaxed is later identified as a risk village or zone, the curfew will be re-imposed limiting only to such area, the PMD statement said. Permission to enter or leave these areas will be controlled by the police.
In areas where the curfew will continue, main roads can only be used for essential services. Schools, universities, tuition classes and other education institutes and cinemas will remain closed through out the country.
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Once the curfew is relaxed, state entities -- departments, corporations and bank -- should operate as usual.
Only one-third of the total workforce of state organisations in Colombo district should report to work. Similarly, 50 per cent of staff should report to work in state organisations in other districts.
The statement said all functions, pilgrimages, pleasure tours, carnivals, processions and meetings are banned until further notice.
The novel coronavirus, which originated in China's Wuhan city last December, has claimed over 160,000 lives and infected over 3.7 million people across the world so far. In Sri Lanka, the virus has killed 7 people with 254 confirmed infections.
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