Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the current lockwdown would stay in effect till September 21.

The decision was made this morning at the COVID19 Task Force meeting, chaired by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Rambukwella also said, "With numbers steadily declining, we're confident that Sri Lanka will once again be able to reopen without risk."

However, essential services have been allowed to operate during the lockdown and the vaccination programme has been expedited.