Special traffic plan in Colombo from today

2026-01-30 - 04:39

Sri Lanka Police said a special traffic plan will be implemented in Colombo from today (Jan. 30) in view of rehearsals and festivities related to the 78th National Independence Day celebrations. Rehearsals will commence from today, during which traffic restrictions will be imposed on roads surrounding Independence Square. During these periods, vehicle movement in and around the Independence Square area will be limited at specific times. On 30 and 31 January and 2 February, restrictions will be in place from 7.45 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. A full dress rehearsal on 1 February will require earlier controls, starting from 5.00 a.m. until 1.30 p.m. On Independence Day itself, traffic diversions will begin at 5.00 a.m. and continue until the conclusion of the ceremony. Several key roads surrounding the venue will be closed or partially closed during rehearsals. These include sections of Nidahas Mawatha, Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Wijerama Mawatha, Maitland Crescent and Horton Place, particularly the approaches leading to the Freedom Roundabout and Independence Square. On 4 February, a wider security and traffic perimeter will be enforced from the early hours of the morning. Additional stretches such as Horton Roundabout, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Dharmapala Mawatha and F.R. Senanayake Mawatha will also come under restriction along with the previously mentioned roads. Police say residents and institutions located within the affected zones will still be allowed access for essential travel, subject to checks and guidance from officers on duty.