Colombo, 29 January 2024 — The 76th National Independence Day celebrations are approaching, and with rehearsals scheduled from 30 January to 3 February 2024, a special traffic plan has been outlined to manage traffic restrictions, road closures, and alternative routes in the Colombo area.

The traffic plan, effective from 6:00 am to 12:00 noon for rehearsal days (30 Jan to 3rd Feb) and from 2:00 pm on 3 February 2024 until the conclusion of the ceremony on 4 February 2024, includes several restrictions and road closures in key areas of Colombo.

Traffic Restrictions and Road Closures:

Galle Face Circular Road, Galle Face Roundabout to N.S.A Roundabout, and Chaitya Road area.
Kollupitiya Junction towards Galle Face Roundabout and entering Kollupitiya Railway Station Road.
Entering from St. Michael's Roundabout towards Galle Road.
Rotunda roundabout towards Galle Road.
Ceramic Junction towards N.S.A Roundabout.
York Street towards Bank of Ceylon Avenue.
York Street towards Chatham Street
Mudalige Mawatha from York Street.
Baron Jayathilake Mawatha from York Street.
Khan Clock Tower Roundabout towards Y.M.B.A Roundabout.
CENOR Junction towards Olcot Mw, CTO Junction.
CTO Junction towards Lotus Road Ceramic Junction.
Gamini Roundabout to D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha.
Slave Island Police Roundabout towards Regal Junction.
Markan Marker Mawatha, Baladaksha Mawatha Junction towards Galle Face and Baladaksha Mawatha.
Galle Road Bambalapitiya junction towards Kollupitiya.
Bambalapitiya railway station road junction on the Marine road towards Colombo.
RA de Mel Mw from Thunmulla junction through Baudhdhaloka Mw
Towards Liberty roundabout from Ananda Coomaraswamy Mw and Flower Road
Liberty roundabout to St. Michael's Roundabout

Alternative Routes for Buses and Light Vehicles:

Vehicles from Galle Road towards Fort can turn right at Bambalapitiya Junction, Baudhaloka Mawatha, Tunmmulla Junction, Thurstan Road towards Fort, Pettah.
From Kollupitiya Junction, turn right through Liberty Roundabout, Dharmapala Mawatha, towards Fort, Pettah.
Vehicles can exit from Olcott Mw, Technical College Junction, Sangharaja Mw, Panchikawatta Road, Maradana Palam Junction, along Gamini Roundabout, Pettah

Entry and Exit for Goods and Other Vehicles:
Turn right from Wellawatta W.A. Silva Mawatha to Old Havelock Road, Maya Mw Roundabout, Havelock Road towards Fort, Pettah.
Technical Junction via Olcott Mw, Sangharaja Mawatha, Panchikawatta Road, Maradana Palam Junction, Gamini Roundabout, T.B. Jaya Mawatha to Pettah.

Roads will be reopened for vehicular traffic after the rehearsals and Independence Day celebrations conclude. Residents are advised to follow the instructions of traffic officers and use alternative routes during the specified times to avoid inconvenience. The public and drivers are urged to plan their journeys accordingly.