News
State offices change services over COVID
After the largest COVID-19 outbreak in Minuwangoda and cases being reported in and around major cities, state institutions providing public services closed their doors and offered online services with hotline numbers announced for use.
PCR tests being carried out in Vavuniya. Pic by Romesh Madushanka
Secretary to the Ministry of Public Services J.J. Ratnasiri told the Sunday Times several public institutions resorted to these measures to prevent public gatherings and that each institution would decide whether to continue services this week depending on the COVID situation.
The Consular Affairs Division of the Foreign Ministry, located at the Ceylinco Building in Colombo, was closed to visitors last week.
Queries related to deaths of Sri Lankans overseas, and death-related documentation assistance as well as attestation of export documents are done on a strictly prior appointment basis, a senior official of the Consular Division said.
“This will most probably continue this week as well due to the possible community spread of COVID. The consular services attracted about 800 persons per day before the earlier COVID situation. After that, services were offered based on appointments. However, this decision was taken as there was a risk even with smaller gatherings,” she said.
The head office of the Department for Registration of Persons and all provincial offices will not be opened to the public until October 16, Commissioner-General P.V. Gunathilake said.
He said the decision was taken as people were arriving at the head office even from areas where curfew was imposed, some not following proper health and hygiene measures and gathering in crowds.
“The ID office is among the top government institutions attracting people to its premises. During a situation like this we have to reduce people-gathering,” he said.
Mr. Gunathilake said those who have applied for one-day service for National Identity Cards (NIC) and received an appointment date and time, can hand over to their areas Divisional Secretariat’s NIC division. Those who want to apply through normal service should handover to the grama sevaka of their respective areas.
“There is a special programme to accelerate one-day service and normal service without delay. Although the public is not allowed in, our services will continue,” he said.
Department of Immigration and Emigration closed to the public. Pic by Sameera Weerasekera
Postmaster-General Ranjith Ariyaratne said all postal services to Gampaha district will be temporarily halted until October 17 and public services offered at the Central Mail Exchange in Colombo 10 will also be halted next week. Business mail and parcel delivery should be arranged by appointments by contacting the Assistant Superintendent (Commercial) of Posts.
Attorney-General Dappula de Livera has directed all officers of the Attorney-General’s Department to refrain from summoning public officers and police officers for consultation from areas under curfew due to the prevailing situation, Attorney General’s Coordinating Secretary said.
This direction comes after about 100 police officers from Minuwangoda police underwent PCR testing after a police canteen employee was found to be COVID positive.
The Inland Revenue Department was also closed to the general public until further notice while e-services were offered via the department’s website www.ird.gov.lk and the hotline number 1944 was given for other services.
The Department of Motor Traffic announced its offices will be closed to the public until October 16.
DMT offices in Narahenpita, Werahara and Gampaha were closed last week.
The issuing of revenue licences for vehicles in the Western Province was temporarily halted till October 16. Western Province Chief Secretary Jayanthi Wijethunge said revenue licences set to expire during this period will not attract fines until November 15.
The head office and the regional offices of the Department of Immigration and Emigration are closed to the public as a measure to prevent the spreading of the virus.
Department services can be obtained over the telephone and though email during office hours on the numbers and address provided for each division – travel, visa, citizenship, overseas missions and port).
The Pensions Department requested pensioners to refrain from coming to their offices last week.
“The Department is functional but we requested pensioners to not to come in but to call and inquire us on any issues until the situation is safe for them,” an official of the department said, adding that the situation would be reviewed this week.
The Government Information Department announced that the sales section of the Department of Government Printing would be closed until further notice. The Publications Bureau of the Information Department will be closed until October 16.
The Department of the Registrar of Companies was also closed for the general public until further notice.
“All required services for the general public such as Incorporation of companies, registration of societies and registration of public contracts could be obtained through the department’s official website www.drc.gov.lk and relevant information can be obtained by calling the department, the Registrar General of Companies, D.N.R. Siriwardena, said.
The Panadura Base Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit has been closed following the discovery that the daughter of a nurse attached to the ICU had been found COVID-positive, the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr. Indrani Godakanda, said.
She said several doctors and nursing officers are in quarantine within the ICU building