Monday (March 16th) declared a public, bank & mercantile holiday

COLOMBO (News 1st):- The Government Information Department on Sunday in a special statement said that there is no change in the government's decision to declare Monday as a public, bank and mercantile holiday. "In addition to the government's decision to declare Monday the 16th as a bank and public holiday, there is no change in the government's decision to make it a mercantile holiday," Nalaka Kaluwewa the Director-General of the Government Information Department said in a statement. "But the government notes that all essential services including the health and other services and wholesale and retail shops should remain open." Earlier Minister of Public Administration Janaka Bandara Tennakoon has issued the gazette declaring Monday (March 16) as a Public and Bank special holiday. "By virtue of the powers vested in me by Section 10 (1) (a) of the Holidays Act No 29 of 1971, I Janaka Bandara Thennakoon, Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs and Provincial Councils & Local Government, do by this order declare Monday, 16th of March 2020 a Public and Bank special holiday to support quarantine process on Coronavirus. This Holiday will be extending if necessary," the gazette said.