A release from the President’s Media Unit said:
The ongoing curfew in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam will remain in force till 5 am on Monday, May 4.
In all other districts, curfew will be lifted at 5 am on Monday, April 27 and re-imposed at 8 pm on the same day. In these districts, curfew will be effective from 8 pm to 5 am till Friday, May 1.
In order to resume work at both public and private sector entities in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam from May 4, even when curfew is in force, relevant regulations will be relaxed.
State organisations including Departments, Corporations and Boards as well as factories, construction enterprises, offices, vegetable and fish stalls and retail outlets belonging to the private sector are permitted to function.
The private sector entities should open for work at 10 am daily. During the next week, heads of the both state and private sector organisations should plan out their operations to be carried out from May 4.
Only 1/3rd of the total workforce of each state organisation such as Departments, Corporations and Boards are required to report for work. The head of each organization should ensure that only the minimum required number of employees are called for work irrespective of the essentiality of the service it provides.
All the employees of the state sector entities who are not required to report for work in office should work from their homes. The responsibility to decide who should come to office and who should work from home lies with head each organisation. The Head has the freedom to select a different set of employees each day.
As a measure to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus the public should stop unnecessarily coming to roads and gathering at various other places.
Buses belonging to Sri Lanka Transport Board and railway carriages can only transport employees who are reporting for work. Civilians except those who are essentially required to report to work should remain in their homes.
People are allowed to leave their homes only to purchase essential items such as food and medicines. They should select the closest outlet located within walking distance from their homes to make such purchases.
Even for essential purposes people will be allowed to leave their places of dwelling based on the last digit of their National Identity Cards.
Monday: People with No. 1 or 2 as the last digit of their NICs
Tuesday: People with No. 3 or 4 as the last digit of their NICs
Wednesday: People with No. 5 or 6 as the last digit of their NICs
Thursday: People with No. 7 or 8 as the last digit of their NICs
Friday: People with No. 9 or 0 as the last digit of their NICs
COVID–19 prevention health recommendations should strictly be adhered to during office hours, public transport and in shops. They include disinfection, wearing masks, washing hand from time to time and maintaining social distance. The Police and the security forces will vigilantly observe whether these guidelines are followed.
Travelling between districts is strictly limited only to official and other essential purposes. Schools, universities, tuition classes and other education institutes and cinemas will remain closed until further notice.
If any area where the curfew has been relaxed, happens to be identified as a risk village or a zone, curfew may be re-imposed limiting only to such area. No one will be permitted to enter or leave areas designated as isolated.
All forms of functions, pilgrimages and pleasure tours, carnivals, processions and meetings are banned until further notice. Since the congregation of people is a hindrance to the preventive measures to control the spread of the virus, the Government also requests to suspend all religious festivals.