Accordingly, the Kollupitiya Junction until the Lotus roundabout is slated to be temporarily closed for several days in the months of January and February, owing to National Day rehearsals.The relevant area will be closed off on 26th, 27th and 31st of January and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of February.

During the proceedings of the National Day ceremony, the Galle Face Centre Road will be kept closed from 4.00 a.m. until the conclusion of the ceremony and traffic restrictions will be imposed on several roads surrounding Galle Face Green and in Colombo Fort from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m.

Addressing the queries by media persons on the changing long-used ‘Independence Day’ to ‘National Day’ for this year’s celebrations, Minister Abeywardena said the 4th of February is referred to as the ‘National Day’ in the Article 8 of the Constitution, not as the ‘Freedom Day’.