• Public urged to refrain from visiting the town
• Employees in establishments and hotels were most vulnerable to the virus

By Athula Bandara and Mahesh Keerthirathne 

All business establishments, hotels and banks in Kekirawa town put up shutters for the second day yesterday in view of the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Health authorities had pointed out that the employees in business establishments and hotels in the town were the most vulnerable to the virus. 

The business community has taken this step in response to a decision of the Anuradhapura Corona Control Committee that met on Thursday (12) under North- Central Province Governor Maheepala Herath. 
Police request the public to refrain from visiting the town where all business establishments, hotels, banks, and other monetary institutions had been closed. 

Meanwhile a similar step has been taken by the business community in Palapathwela and Madawala Ulpotha towns in Matate. 

They had volunteered to close all business establishments in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the area. Secretary of the Palapathwela Traders’ Association J. G. Dissanayake said the business establishments that put up shutters yesterday will reopen next Wednesday (18). 

• Consumers were informed through public address system to purchase their requirements prior to the closure