Colombo: Sri Lanka on Friday lifted a six-week lockdown as Covid-19 cases and deaths declined, but would restrict the movement of people for work and only those who can get essentials – amid economic concerns. The islands are running low in the country.
The lockdown was imposed on 20 August and was extended thrice as Sri Lanka grapples with the growth of Covid-19 due to the delta variant. The government has ramped up vaccination in recent months, with more than 50% of the 22 million people fully vaccinated.
New daily infections have fallen below 1,000 and fewer than 100, from a peak of more than 3,000 cases and more than 200 deaths in early September. There have been more than 516,000 infections and 12,847 deaths in the country.
Despite the end of the lockdown and the curfew, strict restrictions remain. People are allowed only for work or to buy essential goods. Public gatherings have been banned, while cinemas, schools and restaurants will still remain closed Ministry of Health. Strict rules are also in place on public transport, weddings and funerals.
The lifting of the lockdown is expected to boost tourism and ease the fall in foreign exchange, which had led to a shortage of essential commodities such as milk powder, sugar and cooking gas. Long lines outside shops in the capital Colombo And in its suburbs people rushed to buy milk powder.
“I am really fed up with these shortages, first gas, then rice and now milk powder,” Chandana KumaraA laborer of a private company, 46, said while waiting in a queue to buy milk powder.
He said, ‘I don’t know who to blame.. but these things have made my life miserable, and my only worry is that this situation will continue for a long time.’
Officials and traders said more than 800 containers were stuck in the country’s main port due to a lack of US dollars to carry essential goods.
Minister of State Consumer Protection Lasantha Alagiyawanna said the government was taking steps to address the problem and would release $50 million to importers to clear cargo of essential commodities, including pulses and milk powder.
Sri Lanka’s government has reduced foreign currency outflows after the island nation’s economy contracted by 3.6% last year, the deepest recession since independence from Britain 73 years ago. The government has also cut imports of cars, agrochemicals and hundreds of other foreign-made goods.
The move to conserve foreign exchange is apparently to ensure that the country can meet a total of $1.4 billion in foreign debt repayments over the next three months, and the growing debt obligation is expected to increase to $29 billion over the next five years. Is. Sri Lanka The rupee is gradually depreciating against other major currencies, making such repayments more expensive at the local level.
“Yes, the country is facing a foreign exchange crisis,” a government spokesperson said. Ramesh Pathirana. He blamed the loss of nearly $7 billion in income from the tourism sector over the past two years. Tourism accounts for about 5% of Sri Lanka’s GDP and is the country’s second largest foreign exchange earner. More than 3 million people are employed in this sector.
The lockdown was imposed on 20 August and was extended thrice as Sri Lanka grapples with the growth of Covid-19 due to the delta variant. The government has ramped up vaccination in recent months, with more than 50% of the 22 million people fully vaccinated.
New daily infections have fallen below 1,000 and fewer than 100, from a peak of more than 3,000 cases and more than 200 deaths in early September. There have been more than 516,000 infections and 12,847 deaths in the country.
Despite the end of the lockdown and the curfew, strict restrictions remain. People are allowed only for work or to buy essential goods. Public gatherings have been banned, while cinemas, schools and restaurants will still remain closed Ministry of Health. Strict rules are also in place on public transport, weddings and funerals.
The lifting of the lockdown is expected to boost tourism and ease the fall in foreign exchange, which had led to a shortage of essential commodities such as milk powder, sugar and cooking gas. Long lines outside shops in the capital Colombo And in its suburbs people rushed to buy milk powder.
“I am really fed up with these shortages, first gas, then rice and now milk powder,” Chandana KumaraA laborer of a private company, 46, said while waiting in a queue to buy milk powder.
He said, ‘I don’t know who to blame.. but these things have made my life miserable, and my only worry is that this situation will continue for a long time.’
Officials and traders said more than 800 containers were stuck in the country’s main port due to a lack of US dollars to carry essential goods.
Minister of State Consumer Protection Lasantha Alagiyawanna said the government was taking steps to address the problem and would release $50 million to importers to clear cargo of essential commodities, including pulses and milk powder.
Sri Lanka’s government has reduced foreign currency outflows after the island nation’s economy contracted by 3.6% last year, the deepest recession since independence from Britain 73 years ago. The government has also cut imports of cars, agrochemicals and hundreds of other foreign-made goods.
The move to conserve foreign exchange is apparently to ensure that the country can meet a total of $1.4 billion in foreign debt repayments over the next three months, and the growing debt obligation is expected to increase to $29 billion over the next five years. Is. Sri Lanka The rupee is gradually depreciating against other major currencies, making such repayments more expensive at the local level.
“Yes, the country is facing a foreign exchange crisis,” a government spokesperson said. Ramesh Pathirana. He blamed the loss of nearly $7 billion in income from the tourism sector over the past two years. Tourism accounts for about 5% of Sri Lanka’s GDP and is the country’s second largest foreign exchange earner. More than 3 million people are employed in this sector.
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