A countrywide travel restriction will come into effect from 11.00 pm tonight and will be lifted at 4.00 am on Tuesday, May 25, and will once again be imposed from Tuesday 11.00 pm and will be lifted on May 28 at 4.00 am.

Head of National COVID-19 Operations Centre General Shavendra Silva told Daily Mirror that no one will be allowed to leave their homes when the restriction is underway except for essential service workers, food vendors and those transporting fruits and vegetables in lorries. The government has instructed everyone to keep businesses closed except for the apparel industry who can work on minimum staff and pharmacies have also been instructed to be open in case of urgent medical requirements.