COVID-19 is the biggest challenge we are facing as a nation after the 30-year-war and the Boxing Day Tsunami. More than one commentator has recalled that in these two instances the entire country came together to achieve victory over adversity. This was also witnessed after the Easter bombings of 2019. While the war was entirely domestic and the Tsunami affected only around 14 Indian Ocean counties, the Novel Coronavirus has affected practically all the countries, infecting close to 540,000 and killing nearly 25,000. Sri Lanka itself has a little over 100 cases, but fortunately there have been no deaths so far thanks to early action and our excellent healthcare system.
But unlike the other adversaries we have seen and defeated, this time the enemy lurks among us, unseen, unheard. In short, it is a microscopic parasite that waits for an opportunity to infect a new host in order to replicate itself. But just like in a conventional war, we have to outsmart this enemy by not giving it an opportunity to ‘jump’ from one person to another.
This is why it is imperative for us to practice Social Distancing. In other words, it is better if we do not go out at all. Hence, the Government’s decision to impose an islandwide curfew, which the Police announced yesterday would be implemented very strictly from now on. It is the duty of the public to fully support these moves. Irresponsible behaviour by a few individuals has brought us to the precipice of a calamity and we simply cannot afford to pay the price that countries such as Italy and Spain are paying right now.
Having gone through several crises one after the other, we know the extent to which the economy can suffer. The country was just emerging from the embers of the Easter bombing when the coronavirus struck. One simply cannot underestimate the damage to the economy that it can cause in the long term. Global tourism has virtually collapsed and Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is no exception. Most other sectors from transport to manufacturing too have been heavily affected. The coronavirus has practically brought day to day life to a halt.
Fortunately for Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans, the decisive leadership of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been the one silver lining in this dark cloud. Together with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, health authorities, Tri Forces and the Police, he has taken many vital decisions for the benefit of the public. Perhaps the most significant of these steps is the immediate implementation of a consumer relief and economic stimulus package.
Among these measures are: To extend until April 30, 2020 all payments on income and VAT taxes, driving licence renewal fees; all bills on water and electricity, assessment taxes, and bank cheques valued less than Rs 15,000; A moratorium on loan instalments until May 30, 2020, from salaries of all public and private (except board of directors) sector employees; A three month moratorium on all personal bank and leasing loan instalments of value less than Rs. 1 million; To double the Agrahara Insurance benefits for all health, police, civil defence and all government servants engaged in controlling the spread of COVID19; A six month debit moratorium on tourism, garment and small and medium industries and for the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to re-evaluate the finances;
A 15% interest rate of credit cards for domestic transactions of value up to Rs. 50,000 and the minimum monthly charge to be reduced by 50%; To exempt Lanka Sathosa and Co-operative shops from VAT and other local taxes and charges.
Moreover, from the President’s Fund, a special bank account has been opened at the Bank of Ceylon for tasks related to preventing the spread of the coronavirus for which Rs. 100 million had been deposited from the President’s Fund. This will provide immediate funding requirement of the Director General, Health Services to meet all expenditure connected with COVID-19 related healthcare facilities including drugs, testing equipment and capacity expenses. A separate task force has been formed under the leadership of the Special Representative of the President Basil Rajapaksa to ensure that essential commodities and drugs are made available to the public without interruption during curfew hours. Agricultural and fishing activities can also be continued unhindered. Another significant development is that all opposition parties have pledged their fullest support to the Government to tackle the coronavirus menace.
These are extremely important steps that will allow the public and other vital sectors of the economy to endure the restrictions and difficulties faced during this period. If we are to emerge from this ordeal stronger, it is essential that we face these difficulties now. Experts warn that we may not be out of the woods for a few months, given the rapid spread of the virus around the world.
This is exactly why we should fully support and comply with all Government and health authority regulations at this point of time. Doing so now will enable us to avoid a catastrophe later. This is also a good opportunity for the authorities to assess the capacity of our healthcare services to meet any evolving health threat(s) and take appropriate steps. This is not beyond our capacity as a country that has already eliminated multiple diseases. But this time, more than at any other time, the key is complete public cooperation. Let us all pitch in to defeat this invader.