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Govt. is fully geared to face coronavirus: Defence Secretary

14 March 2020 04:18 am - 5     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said the government was fully geared to ensure the protection of country’s 21.4 million population from coronavirus or COVID -19, yesterday.

He said there was no need for people to get panic as the Defence Ministry was working closely with the Health Ministry and other relevant authorities to provide assistance to confronting the spread of the coronavirus.

“Defence Ministry together with the Health Ministry has taken all precautionary measures to prevent the spreading of coronavirus in the island under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s directives,” he said.

At a ceremony organised to award scholarships for the children of fallen and disable soldiers and civilians of the Gajaba Regiment held at the regimental headquarters in Anuradhapura yesterday (13), he told the media that some issues had triggered when residents in those areas protested against setting up of quarantine facilities in some locations.

“We also had to face objections by some passengers, who arrived from COVID- 19 hit countries, when they were asked to undergo 14-days quarantine process,” he said adding that they were also panicked and were impatiently waiting to return to Sri Lanka to join with their families.

However, the Defence Secretary said despite objections of those who were arriving from COVID-19 hit countries, it was mandatory for them to undergo quarantine procedures as the safety of the country’s entire population is more vital.

“We are giving them the best possible care and facilities during the quarantine process,” he said adding that panic buying and stockpiling of essential items is not required as the Government would not let COVID 19 to spread throughout the country.

Maj.Gen. Gunaratne said as usual the military, which was the first respondents in a disaster situation, had come forward to support to mitigate spreading the virus further.

“The military is also tasked to analyse past records, items used, places that the infected people had visited and people whom they had associated,” he said adding that the Army Chief Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva has been appointed to coordinate the entire COVID-19 mitigation process.


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  Comments - 5

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  • Patriot Saturday, 14 March 2020 11:41 AM

    I doubt there may be international dollar paid couriers who are going around the world and spreading COVID-19, this must be investigated by WHO.

    Sokrates Saturday, 14 March 2020 03:12 PM

    I never heard such a nonsense. You must have mental problems if you believe in such conspiracy theory or is the virus attacking your brain?

    Dhanush Saturday, 14 March 2020 12:53 PM

    How come a defense secretary talks about covid19 control instead of health secretary Are we ruling by military by any chance?

    Senaka Withanage Saturday, 14 March 2020 03:05 PM

    Please, for God sake try fix the problem at the Airport arrival section..! It was a real mess last night.. 4-5 flights arrived at the same time around 10-11pm and our health dept officials had one counter to deal with 800-900 passengers..! unorganised and unprepared...! surely they all knew that there will be number of flights arriving at this time.. and most of the Civil aviation security people had no idea what to do , they acted like children.. When confronted the senior members of the security Team ,the answer given was 'sorry we cant do anything just join the queue".. So please enough talking, ask someone with balls to introduce a proper system in this section of the Airport.

    Roger Haĺliday Saturday, 14 March 2020 03:17 PM

    How can somebody not in the health sector talk on this subject. Can weapons stop the covid virus


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