Power and Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday expressed hopes that curfew could be relaxed in Colombo and Gampaha Districts also by Monday bringing the normalcy to the entire country.

“The government is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in the country. We have observed that there has been a downward trend in the infection of sailors from the Welisara Navy camp. There are no infections reported from among the people at large. These are positive signs to consider the situation in the country in respect of curfew. However, we don’t take any decision on COVID-19 or curfew without the advice of medical experts and security heads,” Minister Amaraweera stressed.

He said the Sri Lanka Railways and the SLTB would gradually increase the number of buses and trains deployed for public transport and added SLTB and private buses would be allowed to start inter-provincial services from today, but strictly adhering to safety measures. After the full relaxation of Curfew, a set of new regulations based on a study conducted by a team of academics of the Moratuwa University would be introduced for trains, SLTB and private bus crews and passengers, Minister Amaraweera said.