Sri Lanka declares public holiday due to concerns over virus

Tourists standing outside the closed Dehiwala National Zoo due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat, in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday (March 15). The Govt has announced that Monday is also a public holiday and All businesses and shops will be closed and people have been requested to remain indoors. Schools are also closed till April 20. - AFP

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government on Sunday (march 15) declared March 16 a public holiday after the number of confirmed Covid-19 (coronavirus) cases rose to 10.

In a statement, the government information department said that the holiday had been declared to prevent the spread of the virus across the island country.