The Police has introduced four new methods of obtaining curfew passes.
The President’s Media Division said the public gathering in large numbers to obtain passes during curfew, has hampered government efforts in containing the spread of the coronavirus.
Accordingly, the Police will issue curfew permits under four methods.
The passes will be issued by the Police Headquarters, office of Senior Deputy Inspector General, offices of Police Superintendents and Police Stations.
Curfew passes for companies in the Colombo District with 50 or more employees will be issued by the Police Headquarters.
Curfew passes for the Gampaha and Kalutara Districts with 50 or more employees will be issued by the Western Province Senior DIGs office.
Passes for all other provinces excluding the Western Province with more than 50 employees will be issued by the respective Senior DIGs office, while institutions with between 10 and 50 employees will be issued passes by respective Police SP offices.
Institutions with less than 10 employees will be issued permits by respective Police Stations. The PMD said Police Stations have also been informed to provide permits on humane grounds.
The new system comes into place on the directives of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to the Acting Inspector General of Police CD Wickramaratne.
The Acting IGP has informed institutions to determine which departments require curfew passes.
The PMD said curfew permits must be issued only on justifiable reasons.
Those within the President’s Office, the Ministries that fall under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Office, Departments, Corporations, Boards, Authorities and certain other organisations will be able to use service IDs as curfew passes.
The Police said stern action will be taken against persons who misuse service IDs.
