Ambassador for the Federative Republic of Brazil, Ambassador for the Islamic Republic of Iran and the High Commissioner of the Republic of India, based in Colombo presented their credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today (14).

It was a historic moment as the credentials were presented via a video conferencing ceremony. This is the first time in Sri Lanka for this solemn ceremony to be conducted using internet technologies. Instead of postponing the presentation ceremony until the COVID-19 crisis ends, President instructed for the ceremony to proceed as per schedule.

This is one of the many innovative ways adapted by Sri Lanka in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result Sri Lanka, while successfully containing the virus, had continued to make progressive steps socially and economically and now diplomatically.

It was a relatively short ceremony. The diplomats presented their credentials to the President by displaying it to the camera. Afterwards, the President welcomed them.

The envoys who presented their credentials today were:

1. Mr. Sergio Luiz Canaes

Ambassador- designate of the Federative Republic of Brazil based in Colombo

2. Mr. Hashem Ashjazadeh

Ambassador- designate of the Islamic Republic of Iran based in Colombo

3. Mr. Gopal Baglay

High Commissioner- designate of the Republic of India based in Colombo

Minister of Foreign Relations, Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Relations  Ravinath Aryasinha and  Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations Admiral Jayanath Colombage  also participated at the ceremony.

A top medical doctor with vast experience in medical administration and an impeccable service record as a military medical officer has been appointed new Secretary to Ministry of Health at this crucial time to spearhead the battle against dreaded COVD19 pandemic. Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, the Director General of Army Health Services, who assumed duties at the Ministry of Health last week has a proud record of performing amputation and other surgeries sometimes under a shade of a tree in the battlefields in the North during most parts of the 30 year old war and formulating medical policy for the armed forces medical corp.

Major General Munasinghe was the Director General of Army Health Services, and President of Sri Lanka College of Military Medicine and Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps. He also served as Consultant Radiologist at the Army Hospital.

A brilliant student of Ghnaodaya Vidyalaya – Kalutara and Thissa Vidyalaya – Kalutara, Sanjeewa Munasinghe joined the medical faculty in 1978 successfully competing with most privileged students of premier schools in the island.

This patriotic youth, served as a medical doctor at hospitals in Galle and Badulla before voluntarily joining the army when there was an urgent requirement of young doctors to treat the wounded soldiers in the battlefields in the North and the East in 1986. “When the war intensified, there was an imperative need for Army doctors and I decided to join,” he said. The doctors were sent immediately to the front where they had to perform even surgeries under the shade of a tree. He recalled that they had to perform amputations, ICT insertions, tracheotomy, arresting bleeding and many such surgeries.

Dr Munasinghe was also actively involved in the field during the Vadamarachchi Operation, in which Brigadier Denzil Kobbekaduwa was the Field Commander. “That was an unforgettable experience. Amidst gunfire and shellfire we had to treat the wounded soldiers”.

When the Indian troops were deployed, the military operations of Sri Lankan army were ceased and Dr Munasinghe utilized the time for his post graduate studies. After completing MD at the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine he went to Australia on a fellowship to study Interventional Neuro-Radiology. He also did further studies at Oxford University in UK and Maryland University in USA.

While he was employed in Australia, the second face of conflict in Sri Lanka began in 1995 and Dr Munasinghe volunteered to come back to serve the Motherland once again. He was appointed Commanding Officer at Military Hospital in the following year and he was entrusted with all medical planning during the military operations. At the same time, Dr Munasinghe continued to make field visits to operation areas.

Recognizing the invaluable services rendered, he was promoted to the rank of Major General in 2009.

During his Military Career he was awarded with a number of decorations and awards includes Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Rana Sura Padakkama, Vishishta Seva Vibhushana, Uththama Seva Padakkama, East Humanitarian Operation Medal, North Humanitarian Medal, Poorna Bhoomi Padakkama, North and East Operation Medal, Wadamarachchi Operation Medal, Riviresa Campaign Medal, 50th Independent Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal and Sri Lanka Armed Service Long Service Medal.

In the following year, he was made the Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Army Medical Corp. In 2012, Maj Gen Munasinghe was appointed as first Director General Army Hospital Services and also DG of Technical Operations.

At this crucial hour of combating the most dangerous COVID19 pandemic, the Health Secretary will have a vital role to play and it is befitting that a person with vast experience in medicine as well as medical policy and administration has been appointed to the post. Maj Gen Munasinghe said that his fist task would be to attend to important issues such as ensuring sufficient supply of medicine, deployment of medical personnel, including paramedics and taking speedy action to minimize shortages in medicine and medical personnel. “What is essential is to educate the people about maintenance of social distancing after the lifting of lockdown. Health personnel and Security Forces will do everything possible to combat COVID-19. However, for absolute success, the cooperation of the people is essential”.

Sri Lanka’s post covid-19 economy will receive a major boost from foreign direct investments (FDI) due to the way the government controlled the covid-19 situation, Minister of Information & Communications Technology, Higher Education, Technology and Innovations, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said.

In an interview with ‘Daily News Finance’ he said that even the projects like Colombo Port City and mega apartment projects will receive a keen interest from the foreign buyers and investors.

Most of the affected and deaths from corona virus were senior citizens in Europe. This proves the medical system in those countries were not geared to tackle issues of this nature and in contract Sri Lanka has provided its medical care is above worked class. Sri Lanka had only 9 deaths from nearly 900 patients and this is a remarkable success and this speaks volumes of Sri Lanka’s medical capabilities.

“This will provide a sense of health security for senior citizens who will be keen to spend rest of their lives in Sri Lanka opening up new vistas in elderly care segment in Sri Lanka.”

The term ‘Make Sri Lanka Your Home’ and not ‘second home’ will now have a more secure and realistic meaning. We even expect most of the diaspora to return and settle down in Sri Lanka and start business in the island”

Today most of the Sri Lankan students residing overseas are returning. “I am now talking to some of the world’s leading Universities to open their Universities in Sri Lanka so that this student migration with reverse and also attract students from the region to come and study in these universities.”

The Minister said that already several international universities are talking to him in this regard.

The government has already allocated a special dedicated Higher Education dedicated zone in Gampaha to accommodate foreign universities. “They will be given all facilities and tax concessions.”

This intern will open up a new supply chain.

Dr. Gunawardane said that he also expects many multinational companies to open their regional offices in Sri Lanka due to the health safety factor and also security aspect. In addition the Political stability and also media freedom are some other plus points for investors.

He said that Sri Lanka was in par with Israel which has the most sophisticated intelligence agencies in the world to successfully track and treat clusters of Corona virus patients.

The innovative skills of Sri Lankans were also highlighted during this crisis and several patented medical robots and protective gear were created. “Inventers must now try to market them globally and government will egg them to with assistance.” 

We will have to maintain a balance between steps taken to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease on the one hand and the restoration of normality on the other, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stated yesterday.

“Even countries like Italy, Britain, France and the USA which experienced tens of thousands of Coronavirus related deaths have commenced programmes for the gradual restoration of normal life. What is meant by restoring normality is the process of extending the restoration of public life in a controlled way, to the sections of the population that had been confined to their homes during the shutdown,” Prime Minister Rajapaksa said, issuing a special statement.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa said Government and private sector institutions will begin functioning with a limited number of employees. “The number of passengers on trains and buses will be limited. Schools and tuition classes will remain closed. Social distancing norms are to be maintained when commencing work in this phased manner.”

“We should be aware that even though the spread of Coronavirus has been brought under control, it has not been eradicated completely. Random sample testing will continue. Quarantine centres will be kept open. Even after the restoration of normality has begun, it may be necessary to isolate and lock down certain areas and even to impose police curfews,” he added.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to Health, Armed Forces, Intelligence and other sectors for controlling the COVID-19 spread to the point where Sri Lanka is well ahead of most countries. “It's noteworthy that while 25 Sri Lankans resident in Britain have died of the Coronavirus, only nine Sri Lankans resident in Sri Lanka have died of this disease so far. It must also be stated that had Gotabaya Rajapaksa not been elected President on 16 November last year, none of these achievements would have been possible.” 

In the two districts of Colombo and Gampaha curfew will be in force until further notice.

In other districts including Kalutara and Puttalam curfew will be effective only from 8.00 pm to 5.00 am daily from tomorrow, Monday, May 11^th until further notice.

Resumption of civilian life and work while curfew is in force in the districts of Colombo and Gampaha will commence tomorrow, May 11^th as previously scheduled.

Conditions included in previous announcements regarding the resumption of normal life will remain  unchanged.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is optimistic that the economy adversely affected by the COVID – 19 pandemic could be re-built on a solid basis.

The Presidential Task Force  in charge of the Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication has been entrusted with the responsibility of formulating a new economic model to achieve this objective. President directed that the Task Force should prepare economic plans with specified targets in different areas that come under its purview and implement them.

President expressed these views during a meeting with the members of the newly-appointed Task Force held at the Presidential Secretariat today (6) to discuss modalities relating to the resumption of civilian life and work from May 11^th. Apparel and tourism sectors which make a huge contribution to the national economy should be revitalized to suit the changing situations, President said.

President was of the view that new opportunities are now open to attract tourists  from countries where the COVID – 19 virus has subdued. Medical tourism can be promoted by highlighting the capabilities of indigenous medical  system which was used for treatment of the virus infected people. In order to encourage high-spending tourists, visas must be issued to them supplemented by an internationally recognized certificate.

Some tourists prefer to stay longer than usual in a particular country especially during the winter season. President highlighted the possibility of strengthening the tourism sector by attracting such long term travellers. Members of the Task Force were told to pay attention to promote domestic tourism so that the local hotel industry could be saved from collapse.

President also pointed out the possibility of attracting more foreign investors to invest in the Port City and the Industrial Zone in Hambantota.  The Ministry Secretaries were entrusted with the responsibility of identifying  opportunities for investments instead of seeking foreign loans.

During the last few weeks a number of new innovations have been made in the country. Steps should be taken to introduce these products to the global market.

Head of the Task Force Basil Rajapaksa said that the newly instituted Task Force has the capability of fulfilling its mandate  with a new vision in order to achieve objectives set out by the President. The Task Force will support new businesses and will extend the fullest cooperation  to already existing large, medium and small scale enterprises, he stated.

Although the private sector offices have been advised to resume work at 10.00 am daily from May 11th, industrial and production activities can be adjusted in accordance with their requirements.  Mr. Basil Rajapaksa warned that no loss of employment should take place both in the state and private sectors while the country is moving forward.

Recalling recent requests by Sri Lankan students studying in other countries to retun home, President remarked that it was an indication of the large number of students going overseas to pursue higher education. This has caused an immense outflow of foreign exchange income. President Rajapaksa said that measures should be taken to expand investment opportunities in the field of tertiary education in the country  so that outgoing  foreign exchange could be saved while providing educational facilities to foreign students, in Sri Lanka.

A large amount of money is being spent to import medicines annually. Most of these medicines can be manufactured locally. The Task Force was requested to prepare necessary background to develop pharmaceutical production in the country.

The production of vegetable and other seeds required by farmers domestically, was also discussed.

Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Prime Minister Gamini Senarath, several Ministry Secretaries and a number of leading businessmen also joined the discussion.

President Rajapaksa told Non Aligned Movement leaders’ online summit yesterday that Sri Lanka supports the endeavours of the WHO in ensuring effective responses on the requirements of the international community in the context of the increasing challenges brought about by the virus. The Organization’s support particularly in the search for a vaccine and assisting countries to mitigate the impact of this virus, is commendable, he said.

Sri Lanka has been successfully containing and controlling the COVID-19 threat. Out of the total PCR tests conducted so far only 3% has been confirmed as infected. He briefed the Summit that when Sri Lanka detected the first Covid-19 patient in Sri Lanka, a Chinese tourist, on 12th February, the government established a Task Force comprising key health personnel, high-ranking military personnel and administrators to monitor the spread of the pandemic and also to take required measures to combat the spread of the virus and recommend to the government any measures the government should take to mitigate the consequences.

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) endorsed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s initiative to make a collective call on affluent nations and international financial institutes to grant debt relief to vulnerable countries whose economies are badly affected by lockdowns. 

Addressing the NAM Online Summit yesterday, President Rajapaksa said that Sri Lanka noted with deep concern that developing countries are facing an unprecedented economic and debt crisis due to the pandemic. The anticipated global recession will further worsen this adverse climate. As such, the need for debt relief and financial stimulus for these countries has never been greater.

He called on NAM leaders attending the Summit under the Chair of Ilam Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, to make a joint appeal to the international financial institutions and donors to provide debt relief to vulnerable countries. “This will facilitate a meaningful release of valuable funding and at the same time to stimulate such economies.”

It is important to emphasize that Middle Income Countries too face critical and diverse economic and social challenges that have been augmented by this pandemic, President Rajapaksa pointed out. Therefore, it is important to also focus on their needs at this particular juncture and accord the necessary financial support to avert negative economic consequences.

The President expressed support for global solidarity, unity and renewed multi-lateral cooperation in overcoming COVID -19. Sri Lanka firmly believes that this Summit will serve as an important platform for the NAM Member States to support collective global action in combating this deadly virus and sharing best practices and lessons learnt, he said. 

Sri Lanka expressed deep appreciation to the frontline healthcare and essential workers, in Sri Lanka and globally, for their dedication and selfless commitment. Sri Lanka remains deeply concerned by the unprecedented consequences arising from this pandemic to all  countries and peoples, including its catastrophic health impacts, accompanying humanitarian crisis, devastation of economies and social and psychological tensions, among others. 

Global solidarity, unity and collective action have been key to addressing this unprecedented challenge.  As such, Sri Lanka is pleased to support various multilateral initiatives in responding to this pandemic and addressing its long-term socio-economic consequences. Sri Lanka is pleased to endorse the declaration of the NAM Online Summit, the President said.  

Sri Lanka expressed fullest support to the initiative to establish a NAM Task Force to compile a database of basic humanitarian and medical needs of the member states to sensitize donors on urgent requirements. The NAM Summit formulated a “COVID 19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan” to assist in stemming the impact of the pandemic in already vulnerable humanitarian contexts.

Further clarification

01.What are the districts where the curfew is on and at what

• Curfew will be effective in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam until further notice.
• In the rest of the districts curfew will be on from 8.00pm o 5.00 am from today (04) till Wednesday (06). Curfew which will be re-imposed in these districts at 8.00pm on Wednesday, May 6^th will be in force till 5.00am on Monday, May 11^th.

2. When will the resumption of civilian life and office work begin while curfew is still in force?

• While curfew is still in force civilian life in the distrits of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam will resume from Monday, the May 11^th .
• Although, this plan was scheduled to be implemented from today, Monday, the May 4^th, due to 04 holidays falling this week it was extended till Monday, May 11^th.

3. How do the primary functions relating to resumption of civilian life progress?

• Both public and private sector entities in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam should re-commence their work from Monday, May 11^th.
• Heads of each institute habe already had been instructed to work out a plan based on their requirements.
• Head of each entity should ensure strict adherence to the prescribed health guidelines issued to control the spread of COVID – 19 virus while carrying out their operations.
• The private sector entities are requested to open for work at 10.00am daily.
• The responsibility to decide who should come to office work and their number lies with head of the each organization.
• Buses belonging to Sri Lanka Transport Board and railway carriages can only transport employees of both public and private sectors who are reporting for work.

4. For what purposes civilian can leave their homes during curfew hours?

• Civilians except those who are essentially required to report to work are requested to remain in their homes as a measure to control the disease.
• People are allowed to leave their homes only to purchase essential items such as food and medicines.

5. What are the areas where people are premitted to leave their homes based on the last digit of the NIC and from when?

• Only in areas where the curfew is in force
• From Monday, May 11^th
• This system does not apply to areas where the curfew is relaxed

The Government expects the public will refrain from gathering unnecessarily by following above guidelines even when the curfew is lifted.

Revival of the economy and the resumption of civilian life will take place while curfew regulations are effective and controlling unnecessary congregation of people as a measure to prevent the spread of the disease is a prime objective of this mechanism.

Conditions included in previous announcements regarding the above matter remain unchanged.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa engaged in religious observances held at the historic Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi premises in Anuradhapura yesterday (02) to obtain the blessings of this sacred Bodhi upon the country and its citizens.

The President who visited the Anuradhapura sacred city met with the Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Dr.Pallegama Siriniwasa Nayaka Thero and received his blessings.

President also participated in the Kiri Ahara Pujawa for Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi held near the Ruwanweli Maha Seya.

Thereafter, the President called on the Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanweli Maha Seya Ven. Pallegama Hemaratana Nayaka Thero and engaged in a  discussion.

President Rajapaksa also visited the Mirisawetiya Raja Maha Viharaya and called on Chief Incumbent of the Temple Ven. Eethalawetunuwewe Gnanathilaka Nayaka Thero.

During the meeting, the President apprised the Nayaka Thero of the steps taken by the government to control the spread of the COVID-19 in the country. The Nayaka Thero said those initiatives receive the blessings of the Maha Sangha.

Later, the President visited the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi temple in Annuradhapura and called on the Chief Incumbent of the temple Nugetenne Pannayananda Thero and secured the blessings.