SRI Lanka declared a 3-day holiday on Tuesday (17) till March 19 to minimise public interactions in curbing spread of COVID-19.
“This is applicable to all public and private entities except essential services. Please support the effort by staying home & practice social distancing,” said president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka so far has 29 confirmed coronavirus cases.
The Island-nation also suspended all international flights arriving in the country.
"A decision has been made to suspend all international flights arriving in the country with effect from 1500 hours on Tuesday due growing threat of the spread of the coronavirus,” said Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka also decided to evacuate 300 pilgrims currently touring in India.
Although the state offices will remain closed, essential services such as food supplies and banks will continue to function, the government said.
“In order to minimise public gatherings, decision has been taken to curtail court proceedings except for emergency matters and the Prisons Dept has halted visiting prisoners by the public.All measures are being taken to minimise disruption to daily life while keeping citizens safe,” the president tweeted.
The doctors’ trade union has urged the president to order a complete lockdown of the country in order to facilitate the prevention operations.
The government also announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, who is the chief of the Army, to head the National Operations Center for Prevention of COVID-19.
The Army is already in charge of the quarantine Centers where the suspected cases are kept under observation.
Dharavi slum in Mumbai
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)