President can decide on lockdown in a matter of minutes - Bandula

COLOMBO (News 1st); The President can decide on imposing a lockdown within a matter of minutes, said Sri Lanka's Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena on Wednesday (18).

'Yet, the government must think about the millions who have not been infected and how they will survive,' he told reporters.

The Trade Minister said if the import process is suspended, it would lead to a serious shortage of essentials and the prices would increase rapidly.

'Prices of goods are gradually increasing and if we can increase local production, the prices of goods will drop,' he pointed out.