• Shops in some areas including Embilipitiya and Gampaha were reported to be closed yesterday 

By Yohan Perera  

The closure of shops and calls for a self-lockdown is a conspiracy to destabilise the country, a senior Minister said yesterday. 

Chief Government Whip and Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando told journalists that the closing of shops in some areas in the country is a conspiracy hatched by the opposition.  

Shops in some areas including Embilipitiya and Gampaha were reported to be closed yesterday according to reports.  

“We knew that this would happen. Shops have been closed with the aim of creating disability across the country. We knew this was going to happen,” he said.  

“Those who closed their shops today should have done so to show their disapproval of the move by the opposition to hold protests and break quarantine laws. They did not do it,” he added.   

“Some including those in the opposition are requesting us to go for a lock down and they will urge us to open up when we go for a lock down,” he also said.  

Commenting on yesterday’s cabinet reshuffle he said it was done in order to provide a better service to the people. 

“The President has powers to reshuffle the cabinet at any time. He did so yesterday to provide a better service to the people,” the Minister said in this regard.