Travel restrictions extended till June 21

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Army Commander General Shavendra Silva.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had issued instructions to continue the travel restrictions until 4.00 am on June 21 without lifting it on June 14, Head of the National Operation Centre for the Prevention of Covid-19 Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said yesterday, June 11.

Accordingly, all essential services would continue in the same manner during the travel restriction period, including the mobile distribution of food items.

All apparel factories, major construction sites, weekly village fair (Sathi Pola), agricultural and organic fertilizer production activities will be allowed to function under health guidelines and without large gatherings.

He said that opening of the Dedicated Economic Centres will be permitted on two days next week, adding that these dates would be notified later.

The travel restrictions, which are currently in effect throughout the country, had been initially extended until June 07 and were again extended until 4.00 a.m. on June 14.

However, the Army Commander said that having taken into consideration all the facts and figures during yesterday’s meeting, it was decided that it would be best to continue the travel restrictions until 4.00 am on June 21. Accordingly, it was decided not to lift the travel restrictions on June 14 as earlier envisaged.

More COVID containment measures would be announced in due course as more contagious variants of the Coronavirus, including Alpha (UK variant) and Delta (Indian variant) have been detected locally, health sources said.

It has however been found that all currently COVID available vaccines are effective against these variants as well. The vaccination drive will continue uninterrupted during the period of travel restrictions.

Tough action will be taken against the violators of the travel restrictions and Quarantine Regulations, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.