Serious differences of opinions have ocurred in the government over persistent calls for a countrywide lockdown.

Ten constituent parties representing the government sent an open letter to the President calling for a countrywide lockdown considering the pressure mounted on the country's healthcare system.

Ape Jana Bala Party (Ven. Athuraliya Rathana Thero), Democratic Left Front (Vasudeva Nanayakkara), Lanka Sama Samaja Party (Tissa Vitarana), the National Freedom Front (Wimal Weerawansa), Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (Udaya Gammanpila), National Congress (A. L. M. Athaulla), Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (Tiran Alles), Sri Lanka Communist Party (G. Weerasinghe), Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (Asaka Nawaratne) and Yuthukama National Organization (Gevindu Kumaratunga) signed the letter.

Meanwhile, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga sent a letter to the President this morning urging him to consider the repercussions of a countrywide lockdown.

Ranatunga said such a lockdown would force government workers to sacrifice their monthly salaries.