By Yohan Perera 

Around 20,000 could die of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka by September this year if the country fails to arrest the vast spread of the disease, former Minister Mangala Samaraweera who quoted a research report by University of Washington said yesterday. 

“Mr. Samaraweera said in a statement that Sri Lanka should focus on this research report. The University of Washington had done a deep study on the pandemic and had focused on the entire globe. Therefore Sri Lanka should act fast and take steps to arrest the spread of the pandemic” he said.