May 10, Colombo: The Sri Lankan Government is preparing to re-commence all state and private sector services tomorrow while the curfew imposed in the capital Colombo will continue to be in effect.

The curfew will continue to be imposed in the high risk districts of Colombo and Gampaha, the President’s Media Division (PMD) in its latest announcement informed.

In other districts including high risk districts of Kalutara and Puttalam curfew will be effective only from 8.00 pm to 5.00 am daily from tomorrow, Monday, May 11th until further notice.

Resumption of civilian life and work while curfew is in force in the districts of Colombo and Gampaha will commence tomorrow, May 11th as previously scheduled and conditions included in previous announcements regarding the resumption of normal life will remain unchanged, the PMD said.

As scheduled all state and private sector service across all the districts in the country will commence operations tomorrow under a newly-devised program on a methodical basis with restrictions, the head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said.

Earlier, instructions had been issued with details to all heads of state and private sector agencies in relation to conduct of affairs in their respective places of work with one-third of their staff. Accordingly, it is expected that the commencement of work would follow those instructions. Likewise, health guidelines, social distancing and transport program, etc. have been already issued.

The NOCPCO Head said similar to what was introduced earlier in districts where curfew hours were in force, people who need to go out for personal needs should follow guidelines given to suit the national identity card number. The lifted curfew hours in other districts will continue as usual.

Since the public transport has been made available only to the persons on essential services, the general public should desist from using such transport facilities.

Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva urged the people to extend their maximum support to the Police, armed forces and Civil Security Department personnel for them to conduct their duties in the best interests of the public.