29 April 2020 12:01 am
By Sandun A Jayasekera
With the relaxation of the curfew for 15 hours in the country except in the Western Province and the Puttalam District yesterday, the trade, industries, transport and administrative activities were operated on a restricted basis with the Police and Armed forces strictly applying safety regulations and medical advisories.
The Police and the Armed forces in charge of public security in Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha and Puttalam Districts where the curfew is in force were seen checking the National Identity Cards (NIC) allowed only to those who had 3 or 4 as the last digit in their NICs to proceed. However, there were no convergence of people in large numbers at the trade stalls, retail outlets and super markets as expected after the lifting of the curfew in the 21 districts.
State organisations including Departments, Corporations and Boards as well as factories, construction enterprises, offices, vegetable and fish stalls and retail outlets belonging to the private sector were permitted to function after the curfew was relaxed between 5.00 am and 8.00 pm.
After the Curfew is relaxed on May 4, Private sector institutions should open for work at 10.00 am daily with the heads of public and private sector organisations planning out their operations.
Only 1/3rd of the total workforce of each state organisation such as Departments, Corporations and Boards are required to report to work. The head of each organisation should ensure that only the minimum required number of employees are asked to report to work irrespective of the service it provides.
All the employees of the state sector not required to report to work from office should work from home. The responsibility to decide who should come to office and who should work from home lies with head of the each organisation.