President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said the country’s health sector is capable of controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and what is needed is the support of the people.

The COVID pandemic is a health issue. The responsibility of protecting the people against the virus and steering the country forward lies with the health sector and the Government.

The President said that he strongly believes that Sri Lankan doctors and the health sector, one of the best in the world, can easily achieve the target.

President Rajapaksa made these remarks during the daily discussion with the members of the Task Force on COVID Prevention held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday(9).

“We have three options in the face of the spread of the pandemic. The first is to lock down the entire country by imposing curfew. The second is not to do anything at all. Carrying our normal activities while controlling the disease is the third option and we opted for that,” the President added.

“Our doctors and the hospital staff were able to diagnose COVID infected in the first stage and treat them accordingly. Therefore, intensive care services were not required. People must also extend their support in controlling the spread of the disease and preventing infection.”

The President reiterated that media are responsible and duty bound to communicate health guidelines that need to be followed to the public.

“Following the successful containment of the virus, the media as well as the people have forgotten everything and shirked responsibility. The result is the current situation. The country cannot remain closed until the pandemic is wiped out from the world. We have to understand the ground reality and act accordingly. Infected persons are reported daily even from areas that have been closed for nearly 40 days. This shows that the pandemic cannot be controlled by lockdowns alone,” the President said.

“Closing down the country is the easiest solution. But people have to live. It is my responsibility to keep the economy going while ensuring all the activities including employment, agriculture and fishing move forward. The daily expenditure by the Government for PCR tests exceeds Rs.60 million. A huge sum of money is spent daily on the entire process including quarantine. It is a personal responsibility of the people to comprehend this situation and avoid falling prey to the disease,” the President noted.

Ministers Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Keheliya Rambukwella, Member of Parliament Madura Vithanage, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga and members of the Task Force were present during the discussion.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Zoom yesterday. The two leaders shared their experience on administrative matters according to reports.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane, Education Minister and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Prof.G.L. Peiris, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam and several Provincial Councillers participated in this discussion.

Head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China, Song Tao, Communist Party Secretary of Hainan province Liu Cigui and several other officials participated.

The State Katina ceremony was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the historic Somawathi sacred premises in Polonnaruwa today (8).

This is considered to be the first occasion since the reign of King Parakramabahu II to hold a Katina ceremony sponsored by the state.

It is the tradition since the days of ancient kings to cultivate cotton, spin yarn and use the cotton cloth woven from yarn to sew the Cheevara (Bhikkus robe) and presented to Maha Sangha.

Arriving at the Katina Cheevara Pooja ceremony organized with the approval of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa , President Rajapaksa met the Chief Incumbent of Somawathi Raja Maha Vihara Ven. Pahamune Sumangala Thero and received blessings.

After observing religious rituals President attended the ceremony.

Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara brought the Katina Cheevara followed by the alms giving.

President bequeathed it to Maha Sangha.

Anu Nayaka Thero of Malwatta Chapter Ven. Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Thero delivered the main sermon.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena, State Ministers Siripala Gamlath and Roshan Ranasinghe and several others were present on the occasion.

Cabinet approval has been granted to the proposal made by Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa to provide a loan subject to a maximum of one million rupees for the implementation of new small and medium scale projects.

This loan scheme is aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 40 to further their business ventures. Young Entrepreneurs who engage in Information technology (IT), agriculture, dairy, animal husbandry, tourism promotion related projects and innovative and machinery design projects can apply for this loan up to maximum of Rs. 1 million.

At the suggestion of Minister Namal Rajapaksa, this loan scheme operates under the “Small Business Development Division” of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed officials to strictly monitor the self-quarantine process now under way to contain the spread of COVID -19 virus even after the curfew is lifted.

All families identified as having close contacts with COVID infected were directed to self-quarantine at their homes. Their number is closer to 84,000 in 31,457 houses islandwide. In the Western Province 40,676 belong to 13,911 families are currently undergoing self-quarantine.

President Rajapaksa issued these directives during the daily meeting with the members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Prevention held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (5).

While paying special attention to close associates and the areas they belong to in the event infected persons are found in the community, and if necessary, President advised to declare those areas as isolated. Importance of concentrating on estates and flats was discussed in length.

It was decided to restrict the economic centers to wholesale trade only. President noted that trade activities should continue while strictly adhering to health guidelines and continuously conducting PCR tests.

Every step has been taken to continue operations at the Free Trade Zone in Katunayake. The President also instructed to carry out random and continuous PCR tests in the trade zone under the supervision of the Health Ministry and Sri Lanka Navy with the assistance of private hospitals.

Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, MP Madura Vithanage, Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundera, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga and members of the Presidential Task Force were present during the meeting.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday requested from Maha Sangha to chant Rathana Suthra at every temple to invoke blessings on the public and the country during this pandemic situation. Observing that it is a trying time for the country and all other nations in the world, PM Rajapaksa requested Maha Sangha to chant Rathana Suthra every day to bless people’s health and good life.

Chanting of Rathana Suthraya is presently carried out by many temples in the country.

Curfew imposed in Western Province will continue till 5.00 am on Monday the 9th
• Police advised not to issue curfew passes
• Self-quarantine to be monitored
• Those under self-quarantine will be subjected to PCR tests after 10 days
• Goodie pack worth Rs. 10,000 for those under self-quarantine
• Distribution of essential goods in curfew areas in the same manner as earlier
• Strict restrictions on travelling between districts

President Gotabya Rajapaksa has made several concrete decisions to curb COVID spread without disrupting public life and the economy.

The measures taken by the Government to self-quarantine the infected at their homes instead of taking them to quarantine centers have produced results as expected. In order to make it more effective the process should be continuously monitored by the Medical Officer of Health, the Public Health Inspector, the Police and the Army, President pointed out.

PCR tests on people under home quarantine should be conducted on the 10th day. President instructed to bring back those non-infected to normal life after 14 days.

President made these remarks during a discussion with the members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19 Prevention held at the Presidential Secretariat today (01).

The government was able to protect the people during the first outbreak even when there was no experience on COVID – 19. President said that steps should be taken to control the current situation utilizing the lessons learnt from previously adopted strategies and methods.

President emphasized the importance of conducting continuous and regular random tests. He also stressed that every effort should be made to provide the results within a short period of time. No matter whether the PCR tests are done by a private hospital or the Government, it is mandatory to quarantine the person until the results are released and PCR tests conducted in private hospitals should be closely monitored by the Ministry of Health, President noted.

Isolation of close associates and areas after COVID infected persons are detected is being carried out as an immediate measure to prevent the spread of the virus. In addition to this, curfew will be imposed with the objective of containing the disease. Therefore, the President instructed the police to strictly enforce the curfew once it is declared.

It was also decided to suspend travel between districts except for the purpose of essential services including distribution of goods.

The Head of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival Basil Rajapaksa said that essential goods will be distributed in areas where curfew is inforce as in the past.

Mr. Rajapaksa also said that the program will be implemented by assigning responsibilities to District and Divisional Secretaries, Grama Niladharis and Local Government Representatives and the monthly elders’ allowance will be handed over at the doorstep similar to previous occasions.

Steps have also been taken to provide a bag of essential goods worth Rs. 10,000 to those under quarantine at homes.

                                                                                Message

Sri Lankan Muslims today celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad in solidarity with the Muslim brethren around the world.

It is my view that living by the ideal of sacrifice that the Prophet made for the sake of humanity lays the foundation for a better and more developed society. We must eliminate hatred and suspicion among each other and live with the qualities that Prophet Muhammad preached.

Today the entire humankind is faced with an enormous challenge in the wake of COVID – 19 pandemic, which is spreading across the globe causing unprecedented hardships. Living while giving priority to religious beliefs at a time of distress like this brings solace to mind. Also, we must socialize the virtues learnt from the character of the Prophet to achieve mutual prosperity, reconciliation among different ethnic groups and the common good.

I hope when the world celebrates the birth of Prophet, Muslims will join hands with determination to defeat all forms of extremism and create a better society keeping in line with the values he professed.

I wish a happy Milad – Un – Nabi to the Sri Lankan Muslim community as well as to the Muslims around the world

October 29, 2020                                                                                                    Gotabaya Rajapaksa