Several kilometers long queues were seen near the Welipenna entrance of the Southern Expressway to travel from the Western Province to the Southern Province ahead of the five-day holiday.

The Welipenna Expressway Traffic Police said that the vehicles that arrived at the Welipenna entrance to enter the Southern Province from the Western Province without a permit were turned away.

The police said measures were taken to check each vehicle entering the Southern Province from the Western Province.

The Government said the inter-provincial travel ban would be strictly imposed until October 21.