In 2020, the world was devastated by an outbreak of COVID-19. People were confined to their homes and workplaces and their freedom was restricted. In Sri Lanka, the imposition of a curfew across the country left many communities vulnerable and instilling fear and distress. Misinformation also resulted in growing fear and suspicion of COVID-19 patients and their loved ones, and they were shunned by the public.The economic strength of common people were challenged as they were compelled to stay indoors isolating themselves from society. Faced with the growing pressures of economic burdens and mental distress all at once, a disgruntled public paved way for communal disharmony. Minor disagreements between different religious and ethnic groups escalated into callous social discriminations. It was evident that some had forgotten the true values of humanity and religious teachings.

In light of this, Sarvodaya Shanthi Sena Sansadaya along with the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union have constructed this archive of memories and experiences of the lockdown into a book. These are stories of real-life people, collected at ground level and showcase both struggles and resilience, challenges and determination. All the stories in this publication are based on real events, and published with due permission, with names and places changed to protect the identity of the contributors.