Controlling the Covid-19 crisis comes at the huge cost that is disrupting both everyday life and the economy. Sri Lanka from the onset of this crisis has taken steps to return life to normalcy and to keep the economy from collapsing. However, the people’s support is needed for the country to put this crisis behind us, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.
This was stated at a discussion President had with his Principal Advisor Lalith Weeratunga on April 20 on the key concerns regarding the Covid-19 crisis.
“We considered the many issues that will arise when we impose curfew and confine people to their homes,” President stated.
Accordingly the President explained that a number of decisions had been taken after consultations with the senior economic specialists at the Central Bank as well as stakeholders in industries and businesses.
“We have studied the requirements especially with regard to the virus and the requirements that will arise after opening the country again,” explained President, “and have balanced these two requirements to open the country in a controlled manner.”
The areas the infected patients were from had been closely monitored. Thus, throughout the period that curfew was imposed, the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam districts remained in continuous lockdown.
“We studied to see the smallest area they can be confined to,” the President said. “We checked the possibility of confining the curfew to police areas. The police areas that had a significant number of infected people could not be opened at all. However, there were districts that did not have a single infected case. In some districts, there were one or two cases, who had returned to the country from a recent overseas trip.”
Hence it had been decided to open the districts that did not have any cases in a controlled manner. This decision was primarily taken to allow industries and businesses to return to work as well as allow local agricultural produce to be transported.
“Public servants too have been confined to their homes for nearly a month,” said the President. “The public sector plays a huge role in providing services to the people.”
Though the country is gradually opening again for business, the President called upon the people to use their freedom responsibly. He noted that some had got arrested for violating curfew regulations and their vehicles were retained. He urged all to adhere to regulations of the health authorities.
“This crisis is not over,” the President emphasized. “The careful plans executed by the Administration - may be through the Health Department, the Tri-Forces, or the Police - will not be fully effective if people do not support it.”
– President’s Media Division