Today, long queues were seen near pawning centers islandwide after travel restrictions were relaxed.
It was reported that people had gathered near pawning places in Colombo and surrounding areas to pawn jewellery.
When we inquired, the people who were there said that they had come to buy essential food items by pawning their jewellery as they could not earn enough money to buy essential food items in the past due to travel restrictions.
Some were seen waiting at queues for hours to pawn their jewelry.