Police have announced a special traffic plan for Colombo and surrounding areas from September 8 to 10, covering the official visit of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Restrictions will be imposed in intervals along the routes he uses, based on his movements and the prevailing security situation.

Motorists have been asked to plan journeys accordingly, and Police Headquarters warned that further restrictions may be added during the visit.

Tuesday, September 8

From about 1.30 p.m., restrictions run from Bandaranaike International Airport to the Taj Samudra Hotel, via the Katunayake–Colombo Expressway, the Colombo Port premises and the NSA Roundabout, Ada Derana reported.

Between 8.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m., he travels from the hotel to India House via Galle Face Roundabout, Kollupitiya Junction, Liberty Roundabout, Pittala Junction, Red Cross Junction, Library Roundabout, Glass House, Nanda Motors and Independence Roundabout, returning by JOC Junction, Flower Road, Liberty Roundabout and St. Michael Junction.

Wednesday, September 9

Between 9.50 a.m. and 11.25 a.m., the route runs along Galle Road between the hotel and the Presidential Secretariat.

From 2.00 p.m., movements shift to Battaramulla for a visit to the Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial at the Ape Gama premises, followed by the Ministry of Defence at Akuregoda (2.45–3.45 p.m.), Parliament (4.00–4.30 p.m.) and the Gangaramaya Temple at Hunupitiya (4.35–5.00 p.m.), Hiru News reported. He returns to the hotel at about 5.30 p.m., with a further short movement to the Colombo Port between 7.00 p.m. and 7.10 p.m.

Thursday, September 10

Between 9.00 a.m. and 9.10 a.m., he travels from the hotel to the helipad at the Colombo Port — for a visit to Nuwara Eliya, Hiru News and the Daily Mirror reported. Ada Derana’s account lists the helipad trip without naming a destination.

Two things the route list settles

The traffic plan answers questions the visit announcement left open. Our earlier report on the visit noted that no outlet had said whether Singh would travel outside Colombo, or published any itinerary beyond general themes. The police routes supply both: he leaves the capital by helicopter on the final morning, and his programme takes in the Ministry of Defence and Parliament.

The IPKF Memorial stop carries particular weight. This is the first visit to Sri Lanka by an Indian defence minister in nearly four decades — the last was K. C. Pant in 1988 — meaning no holder of the office has come since the period of the Indian Peace Keeping Force deployment itself. The memorial commemorates the Indian soldiers killed during it.

Not reported

No outlet says whom Singh meets in Nuwara Eliya or why, gives a departure time from Sri Lanka, or reports whether any agreement will be signed. The Parliament visit is listed as a movement without a stated purpose.

Sources