Long queues have been reported outside pawning centres following the lifting of the islandwide travel restriction today, Lankadeepa reported.
Pawning centres opened today after a period of one month, during which many people were seen queuing up to pawn their belongings.
It has been reported that people have been forced to pawn their jewellery due to not being able to earn their daily income to purchase essential goods as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Not only residents of Colombo and its suburbs, but also those from outside are said to have arrived at banks and pawning centres today.
Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, highlighted the plight of the general public by sharing images on social media of people queuing outside pawning centres in Colombo.
“This is just one of many photos people sent me of lines forming outside pawning centres in Colombo. Notwithstanding pompous statements by the @GotabayaR Government of #SriLanka low income people are desperate to make ends meet,” he tweeted. (NewsWire)
This is just one of many photos people sent me of lines forming outside pawning centres in Colombo. Notwithstanding pompous statements by the @GotabayaR Government of #SriLanka low income people are desperate to make ends meet. pic.twitter.com/SXg2PYQUau
— Harsha de Silva (@HarshadeSilvaMP) June 21, 2021