President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed securty forces to refrain from closing roads causing obstruction to the general public in order to facilitate easy and free movement of VIPs and their convoys.

The President discussed the matter at the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday, the President's Media Division said in a statement.

The PMD said gave these instructions to the security forces taking into consideration the difficulties faced by the public due to the closure of roads to facilitate VIP movements.

"Accordingly, the relevant authorities have been informed to apprise the VIP security personnel in this regard, and to move the vehicles of the VIPs in a manner which would not obstruct the general public," the statement said.