Several roads will be closed on February 2, 3 and 4 due to the 70th anniversary celebration and rehearsals of the Independence Day, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.
Accordingly, roads at the Galle Face roundabout to the NSA roundabout and from the NSA roundabout to Ceramic junction on Lotus road will remain closed from 07.00 am to 12.00 noon, he said.
Furthermore, from the Slave Island Station area to the Galle Face roundabout, the Marcan Marker road, will also remain closed during rehearsals, he said.
The road from Kollupitiya junction to the Galle Face roundabout traffic will be restricted and vehicles entering the hotels and offices in that area will only be permitted to enter during the rehearsals.
Therefore he appealed to motorists to use alternate routes to avoid the Slave Island and Kollupitiya areas.
On the Independence Day, which falls on February 4, roads at Galle Face roundabout to the NSA roundabout and from the NSA roundabout to Ceramic junction on Lotus road will remain closed from 05.00 am to 12 noon.
In addition to that the following roads would be restricted due to the independence parade from 06.00 am to 12 noon.
Kollupitiya junction to Galle Face roundabout, Kollupitiya St. Michaels roundabout to Galle road, Rotunda roundabout to Galle road, York Street to Bank of Ceylon Mawatha, Ceynor junction to Fort CTO junction, Fort CTO junction to Ceramic junction, Khan roundabout to Fort, Marcan Marker road to Galle Face roundabout from near the Slave Island railway station, Gamini junction to D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha and Slave Island police junction to regal roundabout will remain closed or traffic will be restricted.
The Police Spokesman also said all heavy vehicles entering Colombo on February 4 will have to use alternate roads from W.A. Silva Mawatha in Wellawatte through Havelock road, Thimbirigasyaya, Thunmulla towards Town hall and then proceed towards Colombo.
Heavy vehicle users leaving Colombo are advised to use the rout to Thunmulla junction, Duplication road to exit from Colombo.
Other vehicles are also advised to use the same alternate routes during the 70th Independence Day parade proceedings on February 4.
Short distance busses entering Colombo, are advised to pass Bambalapitiya and turn right at Bagathale road and enter Duplication Road (R.A. de Mel Mawatha) Boudhaloka Mawatha through Thunmulla towards Town hall and proceed to Colombo from there.
When exiting Colombo the short distance busses are advised to turn towards Town hall, Thunmulla and Duplication road.
Light vehicles entering Colombo can use any permitted by lane from Wellawatte to Bambalapitiya and through Duplication road, proceed towards Thunmulla, Town hall and head towards Colombo.