Police officers patrol on a road in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, March 21, 2020. The Sri Lankan Police on Saturday announced that the nationwide curfew imposed on Friday will be extended in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 across the country. Sri Lanka has so far reported 77 confirmed COVID-19 cases while over 200 are under observation in hospitals across the country. (Photo by Ajith Perera/Xinhua)
COLOMBO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan Police on Saturday announced that the nationwide curfew imposed on Friday will be extended in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 across the country.
In a statement, the police said that in Colombo, Gampaha on the outskirts and Puttalam district in the north western province, the curfew will be lifted at 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning and re-imposed again at 2 p.m. on the same day while in other districts across the country, the curfew will be lifted at 6 a.m. on Monday and re-imposed again at 2 p.m. on the same day.
The police said the curfew will be re-imposed indefinitely until further notice.
The curfew was initially to be lifted nationwide on Monday morning.
The police further said that 130 people had been arrested for violating the curfew on Saturday by roaming the streets and transporting goods. They have been detained and will appear before local courts next week.
The police said that all liquor shops in the country will remain closed at all times indefinitely.
"Since there are adequate stocks of food and other essential items, the government advises the public not to engage in panic buying. Facilities for transporting these items have been ensured. Also, measures are in place to supply essential food items to where they are required," the police said.
Sri Lanka has so far reported 77 confirmed COVID-19 cases while over 200 are under observation in hospitals across the country.
