Lanka to reimpose nationwide day-long curfew on Sunday

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Thursday decided to reimpose a day-long curfew across the country on Sunday, days after the government ordered easing of the nearly two-month long Coronavirus lockdown.

To revive economic activities, President Rajapaksa on Monday ordered easing of the

lockdown, which was in force since March 20 to combat the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.

A 24-hour curfew was lifted from the island on Monday, except for two main districts -Colombo and Gampaha.

However, to keep a check on the spread of the Coronavirus, the government on Thursday decided to declare curfew in the entire island on Sunday.

The curfew will be lifted on May 18 at 5 am in all areas, except in the Colombo and Gampaha districts, President Rajapaksa's office announced.

Only two out of the 25 administrative districts are currently observing curfew. Even in those two districts, which includes capital Colombo, business and offices resumed work this week, first time since March

20. Sri Lanka currently has 918 COVID-19 positive cases and over 500 of them are security services personnel, mostly from the Sri Lankan Navy, and their close contacts.

Nearly 400 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals so far, health officials said.

President Rajapaksa has announced to donate his salary for three months to the COVID19 Health Care and Social Security Fund. The government had previously appealed to government employees to donate their May salary to the fund.