Colombo, Mar 20 (IANS): The Sri Lankan government has announced a nationwide curfew from Friday until March 23 as a preventive measure against the coronavirus pandemic, according to the President's Office.

The Office said in a statement that the curfew will be imposed with immediate effect from 6 p.m. on Friday until 6 a.m. on March 23, reports the Colombo Page newspaper.

Earlier a police curfew was imposed in the Puttalam, Chilaw and Negombo police divisions and Ja-Ela and Wattala areas in order to restrict the movement of the people to prevent the spread of coronavirus that has infected 59 people in the island-nation so far.

Only public transport and essential services were permitted to pass through the curfew imposed areas during the curfew.

The announcement comes after the National Election Commission on Thursday postponed the country's parliamentary polls which were scheduled to be held on April 25 until further notice.

Also on Thursday, the government declared a period of work from home for both public and private sectors starting from March 20 to 27.