COLOMBO, Nov 10: The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on Friday issued an order banning the use of loudspeakers between 1pm to 6am with immediate effect.

The Supreme Court also ordered the immediate cancellation of all the permits issued by the police to use loudspeakers, the state run Daily News said on Saturday.

However, the court had directed that permits could be issued for special religious functions or events after 10pm ascertaining the views of the residents in the vicinity.

“A record of such matters should be maintained and the grant of such permits shall be forthwith reported to the nearest magistrate,” the court noted.

The police was asked to submit a report to the court by Dec 12 on the implementation of the new order on noise pollution.

The need for regulations against noise pollution was first proposed by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA).

—Correspondent