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BSS-41
SAARC-VIDEO-MEET-SRILANKA
Rajapaksa for Saarc ministerial group to fight coronavirus together
DHAKA, March 15, 2020 (BSS) – Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
today urged the Saarc leaders to establish a ministerial group of Saarc
members to deal with the deadly coronavirus together.
“I wish to recommend establishing a Saarc ministerial group to discuss the
shared practices and coordinate regional matters in combating coronavirus,”
he said while speaking during a videoconference among eight-member nations on
coronavirus, hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mentioning that Sri Lanka’s economy had taken a severe blow due to the
impact of Covid-19, Rajapaksa proposed setting up of a joint mechanism to
tide over the economic situation.
Sharing experiences and proposals with leaders of Saarc nations in the
videoconference, he said the Sri Lanka’s economy has taken a severe blow due
to the coronavirus, particularly in tourism, since most of the tourists are
from Germany and Italy and other countries in Europe.
“Our export is also adversely affected. Therefore, I strongly recommend
Saarc leaders to formulate a mechanism to assist our economy to tide over
this very difficult period,” he added.
Rajapaksa also confirmed that although mass gatherings have been
restricted there, the Sri Lankan elections will be held as per the schedule
on April 25 despite the coronavirus threat. “The elections will be held as
per the plan,” he said.
A task force with round the clock hotlines had been set up for monitoring
the spread of virus and listed other efforts, including quarantining, testing
and social distancing, he said.
The Sri Lankan President said: “School holidays have been advanced,
universities and institutes closed to minimise social interaction. The first
reported case of coronavirus in Sri Lanka was a Chinese women tourist, who
has been cured and has now left Sri Lanka.”
Highlighting the steps taken by Sri Lanka to fight Covid-19, he said a
large number of Sri Lankans work in Italy and South Korea, both affected
badly by the virus, but they can’t be stopped from coming back to their home
country.
“They are being subjected to 14-day quarantine upon their return”
Rajapaksa said.
He said 750 Sri Lankan students studying in different provinces of China
have returned home and were put under quarantine, too.
BSS/MRI/RY/20:20 hrs