Face masks not compulsory at Independence Day parade

Guests, including government members and foreign diplomats attending today's Independence Day parade at the Independence Square, are not required to wear a face mask but they will be advised to make use of the liquid hand sanitizers which will be placed in the mobile washrooms, an official from the Public Administration Ministry told the Daily Mirror yesterday.

The official said following advice obtained from the Health Ministry, it was not compulsory for guests to wear face masks as Sri Lanka had taken all preventive measures against the novel coronavirus.

Health Ministry officials said that since the coronavirus was not airborne, face masks were not made mandatory. However, any guest who wished to wear a face mask, would not be told to remove it.

Today's Independence Day parade will be attended by an estimated 2,500 guests and over a 1000 people, while 4,325 Army personnel, 868 from the Navy, 815 from the Air Force, 1,382 from Police, 515 from Civil Defence Force and 355 from the National Cadet Corps will take part in the parade. (JAMILA HUSAIN)