Mar 16, Colombo: The Government of Sri Lanka has declared a special three-day public holiday from Tuesday. The holiday will be effective from Tuesday, March 17 through Thursday March 19, the government announced.

The special three-day holiday will be effective for departments, corporations and state institutions excluding health, food supply, transport, essential services, banking, District Secretariats and Divisional Secretariats.

The government has requested the private sector to also grant the three-day holiday to workers.

The government declared Monday (March 16) a public holiday after the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose alarmingly.