Although President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa ordered the security forces to tighten travel restrictions over the weekend, the real question is whether those orders were properly implemented or not.
That’s because by now, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kataragama and Sigiriya and Dambulla are overcrowded with local tourists. Circuit bungalows and resorts have been overflowing since yesterday. There is hardly a room to book in a tourist hotel in those areas in the next few days.
Although provincial travel restrictions have not yet been lifted and public transport services have not been permitted between the provinces, there are daily bus services from Colombo to many parts of the country at night, sources said.
Most of the buses ply from Colombo to Akkaraipattu, Kalmunai, Kathankudi and Batticaloa after a previous reservation at the lodge while the buses have been operating in areas such as Maradana and Punchiborella.
In addition, passenger buses have been plying from Wellawatte to Jaffna. It is said that these buses are luxury buses and charge passengers Rs. 2500 and above per journey.
