COVID-19: Tracing Italy-based Lankans hampered by restrictions - Priest

By Yohan Perera 

Getting correct information on Sri Lankans in Italy has become difficult and therefore it is not possible to determine whether any of them have been infected with COVID-19, a Sri Lankan priest residing in Rome said yesterday.   
A Sri Lankan priest, Rev. Fr. Neville Joe told Daily Mirror that the prevailing situation does not allow anyone to get a correct picture as far as the Sri Lankans who live in Italy are concerned.  “We stayed indoors and get information only through media. We are not in a position to travel and find out whether any Sri Lankans are affected,” he said.  However he did not rule out that there are no Sri Lankans among the patients, but said that there were no Sri Lankan priest or nun  among those clergy who died from the disease in Italy. It was reported that around 40 Catholic priests and 60 nuns have died from the disease so far.