• The islandwide travel restriction, similar to a curfew, would prevent  people from leaving their homes and only essential services and apparel  workers would be allowed to function

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

An islandwide travel restriction will be imposed from Friday, May 21 at 11 p.m. till 4 a.m. on May 25 while it will be imposed again from May 25th Tuesday at 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. on May 28th  Army Commander and Head of the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19, General Shavendra Silva told Daily Mirror yesterday.   

He said the restriction will be lifted from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday (25).  
General Silva said the islandwide travel restriction, similar to a curfew, would prevent people from leaving their homes and only essential services and apparel workers would be allowed to function.  

People have been urged to adhere to the travel restriction as authorities attempted to break the spread of the COVID-19 virus which has to date infected over 30,000 people in the month of May alone.  

“When the travel restriction is lifted on May 25th at 4 a.m. people will be allowed to go out to purchase groceries on the NIC system and the restriction will again come into effect on May 25th at 11 p.m.,” General Silva said.  
Meanwhile the government has declared May 24 and May 25 as special holidays.  

From May 28 onwards, islandwide travel restriction will be imposed from 11p.m. to 4 a.m. till May 31 in order to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, General Silva said.  
He said Inter-provincial travel restrictions will also be in force till May 30. 

• The government has declared May 24 and May 25 as special holidays