A S M JAVID
COLOMBO: As the country-wide curfew was lifted at 4 am on Tuesday, the country was restored to normalcy with people beginning to do their daily routine work from home to their respective offices.
Early in the morning, bus commuters went to bus stands, while the train travellers were present at the Railway stations to catch their earlier trains.
The emphasis on face-masks, hand-wash and maintaining self distance was felt at all public places. Improvised taps were available for bus and train travellers to wash their hands and face before they got into their public transport.
The police were strict in maintaining the curfew and quarantine regulations and have said violators will be punished with jail sentences.
The Government has announced that the curfew for all districts will be in force between 10.00 pm and 4.00 am daily, from Tuesday, May 26, onwards. This curfew relaxation schedule will be operative until further notice.
In Colombo and Gampaha districts, which were among the high-risk zones for COVID-19, the curfew is being eased after an extensive 67-day period.
The Government said that travel between districts will be permitted from today, however, except for Colombo and Gampaha.
The general public has been urged to strictly adhere to the guidelines prescribed by the health authorities during the operations of factories, institutes, offices, and shops as well as public transportation to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
These guidelines include disinfection, wearing face masks, frequent washing of hands, and maintenance of social distance.
Heads of state and private sector entities are free to decide on the number and categories of workers to be called in for work in consideration of the nature of the services they provide and the issued health guidelines.
The Government has requested the public to adhere to health recommendations while engaging in their daily activities even after the curfew is relaxed.