SRI Lankan authorities said curfew-like travel restrictions will be clamped across the island from Friday (21) night till May 28 morning with a day’s break in between to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
Army commander general Shavendra Silva said the restrictions will come into force from 11 pm on Friday (21) till 4 am on May 28 with a 19-hour break on May 25.
General Silva, who heads the National Operations Center for the Prevention of Covid-19, said the restrictions, which will be “similar to curfew,” will be lifted between 4 am and 11 pm on May 25 to enable people to stock up “only essentials”.
He said it is necessary for people to adhere to health guidelines issued by the government to prevent the pandemic from going out of control in the wake of the detection of virulent variants of the coronavirus.
People will be prohibited from leaving their homes during the restrictions and only those involved in essential services will be allowed to work. The announcement of the fresh spell of restrictions follows the previous curbs lifted on Monday (17).
While vaccination of people was taken up, health experts said that the island nation could reel under an acute short supply of oxygen if the highly infectious disease is not contained.
