Despite repeated promises to left the ban on social media and messaging platforms in 72 hours, the Sri Lankan government has chosen to continue with restrictions on the internet, causing panic among Sri Lanka's social media users. 

Although the government earlier said the ban would be lifted by Saturday (10), it reneged on the promise and continued with the ban. When contacted by media, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka said they were yet to receive directives from the Ministry of Defence to lift the ban. 

President Maithripala Sirisena, also the Minister of Defence, is currently in India attending a solar energy conference.

Highly-placed government sources said a special meeting on the social media ban will take place tomorrow and a final decision would be made at that meeting. 

Meanwhile, some sources said the restrictions on online platforms will continue until the end of the emergency regulations.