President Gotabaya Rajapaksa paid homage to the Temple of the Scared Tooth Relic in Kandy today (28).

President was received by Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara at the venue.

Diyawadana Nilame donated Rs. 10 million to the COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund.

President called on the Maha Nayaka of Malwatta Chapter Most. Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thero and President briefed on the measures taken by the Government to mitigate the spread of COVID – 19 in the country.

Maha Nayaka Thero invoking his blessings made a donation of Rs. 5million to the Fund.

Later, President paid a visit to the Anu Nayaka of Malwatta Chapter Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thero.

President explained the initiatives launched by the Government to prevent the spread of COVID – 19 to the Maha Nayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero. The Prelate donated Rs. 5 million to COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund on behalf of the Chapter.

President extended his gratitude towards the donations.

A historic relief package has been announced by the government yesterday for the public in the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet media briefing at the Government Information Department, Co-Cabinet spokesman Dr Bandula Gunawardena said the Cabinet of ministers has approved President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s proposal to temporary suspend repayment of leasing facilities for three wheelers, school vans, buses, small trucks and etc. for six months with aim of providing them with financial relief until they return back to normal.

He said the Cabinet approval has also given to suspend repayment of personal loans of less than Rs.one million obtained by non-executive public and private sector employees for three months.

Gunawardena said the deduction of loan repayments from public and private sector non – executive employees was also suspended until May according to the cabinet approval.

Several other reliefs meaasures to protect the apparel and tourism industry would also be given in the future as both industries are badly affected from the COVID – 19 situation.

“US$ Five billion of the US$ 11 billion export income is earned from apparel exports, but the raw material importing countries such as China and supply countries such as USA are badly affected by COVID – 19. Therefore, the industry has to face a huge challenge to protect workers,” Gunawardena said.

Co – Cabinet spokesman Dr Ramesh Pathirana said the Government is grateful to the three forces and police for their valuable contribution. during this period. He said that the Government also increased the benefits of Agrahara Insurance of public servants.

Dr. Pathirana said that World Health Organisation (WHO) too appreciates Sri Lanka government’s initiative to tackle the COVID – 19 outbreak.

He said that Sri Lankan companies are starting to make face masks as well as ventilators and it should be appreciated.

A Special Task Force headed by former minister Basil Rajapaksa was also set up to help people by delivering essential items to their doorsteps, he added.

Donations to COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund that has been established to strengthen the mitigation activities aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus in the country and related social welfare programme, have been exempted from taxes and foreign exchange regulations.

A special account had been opened at the Corporate Branch of the Bank of Ceylon under the account number of 85737373.

Deposits can be made through cheques or telegraphic transfers. Donors are requested to inform the Presidential Secretariat along with the relevant documents about their donations in cash to   the Fund.

COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund was established by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on last Monday. Creating the Fund President Rajapaksa donated Rs. 100 million from the President’s Fund.

President requests everyone to work in unison and brotherhood in the wake of the present challenge before the nation. Local as well as foreign donors can make their financial contributions to the COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund.

The Fund has been set up to meet the following objectives.

To provide immediate funding requirement of Director General, Health Services to meet all expenditure connected with COVID-19 related healthcare facilities including drugs, testing equipment and capacity expenses.

To meet  expenses connected to healthcare and safety of health sector employees and all logistic providers working to provide essential public delivery services.

To provide basic essentials to children, women, low income, elderly, differently abled and vulnerable people.

To mobilize required funding to strengthen public healthcare systems, including village and remote area dispensaries, testing and treatment centers, family healthcare system, to further consolidate Sri Lanka’s public healthcare system to reduce country risks to communicable diseases.

To assist indigenous medicine, sanitary product manufacturing and distribution, promote research to use resources, knowledge and skills to innovate new health and sanitation products based on local raw materials.

To promote research and innovation using Sri Lanka’s medical and scientific knowledge and experience to develop protective dresses and sanitation products to global market.

To promote healthy living with organic food consumption, valuing traditional, yet rich living styles, through media and educational programmes.

To coordinate fund raising with WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, ADB and Sri Lanka’s major development partner community and agencies based on best guidelines for resource allocations, harmonized national procurement system and governance practices.

The Fund will be managed under a management committee consisting of relevant Line Ministry Secretaries, Bankers, Financial Analysts and Health authorities.

The Government has focused its attention to the grim financial realities faced by the public due to the prevailing situation over COVID-19 in Sri Lanka and offered a plethora of measures to cushion off these effects, Minister of Higher Education, technology, innovation and information Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said yesterday.

Appearing in a live televised appearance on national television yesterday evening, Dr. Gunawardena said the Cabinet had arrived at several relief measures in an attempt to relieve the burdens faced by the public as well as key sectors of the economy.

"There is no one who is not in debt," he said. "Many sectors in our island nation such as tourism and garment industries have felt the effects much harshly than others. The President and the Prime minister have devoted more time to think of ways to assist the public during this difficult period than any other cause."

There are a large number of private companies that are affected due to the Coronavirus epidemic. If the garment factories close down, hundreds of thousands of our people will not have an alternative means of survival. Many countries are in total shut-down and there is an issue in obtaining raw materials. If the countries that purchase our garments do not purchase them, then we cannot force it on them.

The Government is contemplating relief measures taking into consideration the plight of the people. A large number of people earn a living through the tourism industry both directly and indirectly. What the Government intends in granting relief to the tourism industry is not assisting the rich.

There are others involved in a small and medium scale and they have leased their vehicles. Hence, the President proposed to suspend the leave payments for such persons for a period of six months, which received the Cabinet nod.

Further, the bus operators and school van operators have no income due to the Corona situation.  Therefore, the President’s proposal to suspend the lease payments for a period of six months from March 24th has been accepted by the leasing companies. He said the government and private sector workers loans being deducted from their salaries would also be suspended until May 30.  

The recovery of loan instalments for personal loans of less than Rs.one million, has been suspended for three months. For credit cards less than 50,000 the interest will be reduced to 15%.  Further, the Agrahara insurance benefits would be doubled and interest free loans could be obtained through Samurdhi Banks. There will be a six month moratorium on the leasing loan installments of all three-wheelers. He said this was part of measures to provide concessions to the public in view of the Covid-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka. 

In order to strengthen the efforts of the Government to prevent spread of COVID – 19 virus in the country, the duration from March 30^th to April 03^rd had been declared as a Work from Home period.

This will apply to all State, semi-government and private sector entities except which are categorized as essential services.

This period is not considered as public holidays. Uninterrupted continuation of public services is the responsibility of the Government. However, the objective of this measure is to prevent unnecessary gathering of people and pave the way for self-quarantine.

Earlier, a Work from Home Week was announced from March 20^th to March 27^th. The Government announces the same procedure should follow during this time too.

On the directives of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Public Relations Division of the Presidential Secretariat will remain open 24 hours to receive public complaints.

People can lodge their complaints on violations of government orders and regulations or any inconvenience caused through 011-2354550 and 011-2354655.

In the event the public cannot get through on these telephone numbers they can contact the officials through direct numbers of the Presidential Secretariat on 011-2354354 extension 3872/3874/3875.

The Director of Public Coordination Kapila Gunasinghe can be contacted on 077-3743718.

The telephone numbers to complain on any matter related to the spread of  Coronavirus are 011-2860003 and 011-2860004 as well as the public can contact through the telephone number 0112354354 with the extension of  3355 and all information given by the public will be immediately directed to the relevant divisions.

A full investigation would also be held on the non-compliance to the directives of the President.

As per the powers vested in the President under the Constitution, the responsibility to ensure that the civilian life moves on without any hindrance has been bestowed with the Presidential Task Force established to combat COVID – 19 in Sri Lanka.

The Special Representative of the President Basil Rajapaksa has been appointed as the Chairman of the Task Force while Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Anton Perera serves as the Secretary.

The membership of the Task Force is 40 including Provincial Governors, several Secretaries to Ministries, Commanders of Tri-Forces, security chiefs including Acting Inspector General of Police, Chairmen of several Departments, Corporations and Authorities and District and Divisional Secretaries.

The President had declared powers and functions of the Task Force through a special gazette notification.

The Task Force should carry out its responsibilities covering every district in the country while giving priority to districts of Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Puttalam, Jaffana, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu which have been identified as fasing a greater risk.

Provision of required facilities to farmers for the production of rice, grams, vegetables, fish, dairy and egg and crops including tea, cinnamon and pepper is one of the main tasks. The Task Force should maintain a proper coordination mechanism with Ports, Customs, corporate banking sector and other State regulatory entities to create a conducive environment to import essential dry food items and medicine and to export goods such as tea and sanitary apparel and implement decisions.

The Task Force will ensure supply food items purchased from producers directly to the consumers while presenting operational reports to the President.

All Government Officers and other relevant persons who may be requested to extend assistance to deliver services shall comply with the instructions in respect of such tasks. The President has instructed government officials and others through circulars that they should provide all necessary assistance and information. The Task Force is also required to report to the President regarding all incidents related to delays or omissions in the discharge of duties and responsibilities by an assigned officer.

Some of the other tasks assigned to the Task Force are,

–          Directing and providing facilities to the Department of Agriculture and to the Department of Agrarian Services to provide seeds, plants, fertilizer and equipment required for the farming activities.

–          Encourage seed farming, use of organic fertilizers and home gardening as well as to grant loans to farmers through Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank, Regional Development Banks and Samurdhi Bank branches.

–          Particular attention should be given to women, low income families and vulnerable persons in carrying out the related tasks.

The distribution of rice, vegetables and products to the people of all districts should be streamlined to strengthen the farmer and the local economy. Organizing of Co-operatives, Sathosa, Economic Centers, Cargills, Keells, Arpico and Laugf business networks. Helping farmers for farming and plantation activities the Task Force is empowered to continually sustain the process that required for maintaining the day-to-day life of the community, including the distribution of medicines and the opening of commercial banks.