Sri Lanka, March 27 -- On March 12, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the new coronavirus, COVID-19, to be a pandemic. With cases in Sri Lanka reaching over a 100, the government of Sri Lanka has taken several measures to prevent the spread of this disease. One such measure was enforcing an islandwide curfew.

The risks posed by COVID-19 to the health and safety of our population are considerable and the measures to prevent the congregation of people and spread of the disease are commendable. A lockdown may certainly be warranted, yet a highly restrictive and prolonged curfew may prove to be counterproductive. As witnessed on Tuesday, March 24, the short window given for basic necessities such as groceries, medicine and other s...