Sri Lanka, Nov. 5 -- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the country need not be locked down if the public followed the health guidelines issued to them in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the movement of the public cannot be curtailed by imposing curfew indefinitely. Businesses and other operations pertaining to businesses and factories can continue while ensuring that people follow the health guidelines, adding that decisions must be made taking into consideration the livelihoods of the public, the country's economy and all other relevant aspects.

The President noted that the entire country cannot be under lockdown until a solution is found for the control of the COVID-19 virus, adding that everyone should be...