All economic centres across the country will remain closed when island-wide travel restrictions come into effect from Thursday (May 20) midnight, a spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture said on Wednesday (May 19) .
Accordingly, operations at economic centres will cease from May 21 - 24. However, all economic centres and the Manning Market in Peliyagoda will remain open from 4.00 am 11.00 pm on May 25, a media release from the Ministry stated. The establishments will close again from May 26 - 28 while travel restrictions will be in force next week.
Travel permits will be issued to lorries to transport vegetables and fruits to these establishments on May 24 and 25.
The Agriculture Ministry has directed District Secretaries and the police to introduce an efficient measure to issue these permits to mobile vendors, wholesale traders, farmers and retailers before travel restrictions are imposed on May 21.
Traders have been instructed to arrive at economic centres before 4.00 pm on May 24 to procure vegetables and fruits and to transport the goods to the economic centres in Colombo and Gampaha and to the Peliyagoda Manning Market before 4.00 am the following day.
Farmers have been also instructed to take their produce to the relevant economic centres by 2.00 pm on May 24.
They can obtain permits from the Grama Niladhari offices, Divisional Secretariats or nearby police stations for the purpose.
Mobile vendors and retailers in Colombo and Gampaha have been asked to arrive at economic centres in these two areas by 4.00 am on May 25 to procure their requirements.