A quarantine curfew has been imposed in 64 police areas in the county and the curfew imposed in the Payagala, Beruwala and Aluthgama areas in the Kalutara district will continue until further notice, said Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana.

Quarantine curfew was imposed in several Police areas in the Colombo District yesterday evening.

Accordingly, a curfew was imposed from 6 pm yesterday (25) in the Fort, Pettah, Borella and Welikada Police areas.

Mattakkuliya, Modara, Wellampitiya, Bloemendhal, Grandpass, Kotahena, Dematagoda, Maradana, Gothatuwa, Mulleriyawa, Maligawatte, Keselwatte, Dam Street, Barber Street, Foreshore, Fort, Pettah, Borella and the Welikada Police areas remain under quarantine curfew in the Colombo District.

“However, the Police curfew in the remaining 61 Police areas will be in force until further notice. These areas include 37 Police areas in the Gampaha District, five in the Kuliyapitiya Division and 14 Police areas in Colombo and four Police areas in the Nugegoda and Wellampitiya areas,” he said.

Four Police areas in the Nugegoda Division,namely, Welikada, Wellampitiya, Gothatuwa and Mulleriyawa would also be placed under quarantine curfew.

The DIG noted that all essential food sales outlets and pharmacies have been permitted to operate within the Gampaha District today (October 26) to enable people to purchase their essential requirements.

In addition to that state and private banks will also be allowed to be opened from 8 am until 10 pm in the Gampaha District to enable people to carry out their banking requirements.

However, he noted that special Police teams have been deployed to arrest those violating the quarantine laws. He said the special Police teams would monitor if people are adhering to the mandatory rule of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, adding that those violating these regulations would be dealt with sternly.

He added that this law is especially to be implemented in public places and this applies to other areas where there is no curfew too.

So far, over 100 suspects have been arrested for violating the quarantine curfew and quarantine regulations since October 4, the Police Spokesman said. “In addition, 165 suspects had been arrested during the 24-hour period ending last evening for violation of quarantine curfew and curfew regulations. Further, 140 vehicles had also been taken into Police custody. Thirty vehicles had been taken into Police custody on Saturday for the violation of quarantine rules and regulations,” he said.

DIG Ajith Rohana however noted that the quarantine curfew does not apply to students sitting for the GCE A/L examination, examiners and other staff members of these examination centres. He said they could travel to these centres and back home without any hindrance by producing their Identity Cards. They could also use any mode of transport facilities.

“We have also given permission to the employees of essential services such as ports, airports, immigration, Customs, media, health services, water, electricity and communication services to use their official ID as curfew permits.”

Further, members of private security services working at government and private establishments could also use their service ID’s to travel during curfew and all Police stations in curfew imposed areas have been notified of this provision. The DIG also appealed to the public in non-curfew areas to adhere to health guidelines and respect the face mask regulation and social distancing regulations and support the efforts in preventing the spread of COVID-19.