Sri Lanka extends "Work from Home" policy till April 20

Labourers wearing facemasks pushing and pulling a vegetable cart along a deserted street during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, in Colombo. The Sri Lankan government said on Monday (April 13) that it had extended its "Work from Home" policy to all public and private sector employees till April 20 in a bid to prevent the further spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. - AFP

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government said on Monday (April 13) that it had extended its "Work from Home" policy to all public and private sector employees till April 20 in a bid to prevent the further spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, a statement from the Presidential Secretariat said.

This policy will apply to all state, semi-government and private sector entities except those which are categorised as essential services, the statement said.

In an earlier statement, the President's Office said the "Work from Home" policy was not considered as public holidays.

"Uninterrupted continuation of public services is the responsibility of the government. However, the objective of this measure is to prevent the unnecessary gathering of people and pave the way for self-quarantine," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the President's Office said that schools will also remain closed till May 11 while schools have been encouraged to implement distance learning facilities for all students.

Sri Lanka has so far identified 210 positive Covid-19 patients while seven deaths have been reported.

Out of the total, 56 patients have recovered and been discharged while 147 are under medical observation in the designated hospitals. - Xinhua/Asian News Network