COLOMBO, Jun 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Sri Lankan authorities, yesterday said, an ongoing nationwide travel restriction would be extended till Jun 21 in order to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
Army Commander and Head of the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19, General Shavendra Silva, said that, following a meeting held between the COVID-19 task force and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president instructed to extend travel restriction, and to lift it on Jun 21, at 4.00 a.m.
The travel restriction was initially expected to be lifted on Jun 14.
However, Silva said, all factories, including apparel factories, major construction projects, essential services, economic centres, those involved in agricultural projects, and organic fertiliser manufacturers, would be allowed to operate. All others were urged to stay at home.
Sri Lanka is presently in the midst of a third wave of the COVID-19 virus, with over 218,000 COVID-19 patients reported to date.
Within the past two months alone, over 100,000 new infections have been reported, as Sri Lanka detected new Delta and Alpha variants of the COVID-19 from several areas, health officials said.– NNN-AGENCIES
