Oct 31, Colombo: The government this morning lifted travel restrictions between provinces enforced across the country to control the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the recent Special Committee on COVID-19 Control instructed to remove the inter-provincial travel restrictions that were in effect for over three months from 4.00 am on Sunday, October 31

He said the decision was taken with the aim of maintaining the people’s daily lives under the new normalization.

Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena said that despite the removal of provincial travel restrictions, the public should act responsibly. Although a significant control of the COVID-19 epidemic in the country is achieved, there is still a risk for escalation in COVID-19 transmission due to cluster formation, he said.

The Ministry of Health yesterday issued a new set of instructions to follow for the next 15 days until November 15.

Meanwhile, the Inter-provincial bus and train services will resume with effect from November 01, according to the relevant officials. Director General of the National Transport Commission Nilan Miranda said the inter-provincial bus service will commence from today (31) with the easing of travel restrictions and steps have been taken to operate special bus services for office workers coming to Colombo from various parts of the country.

General Manger of Sri Lanka Railways Dhammika Jayasundara said that inter-provincial trains will be operated from November 1.