17 August 2021 01:55 pm Views - 2488
While stressing the need to consider the recommendations and predictions of the local medical specialists and foreign experts on the pandemic situation in the country, former President Maithripala Sirisena said today the government should be flexible in making decisions and act during this pandemic crisis.
He told Parliament that the Government should act with responsibility on the escalating Covid deaths and positive cases.
“It is vital to consider predictions and recommendations of the local medical specialists and foreign experts. We should listen to everyone and be flexible in this issue,” he said.
Mr. Sirisena said the World Health Organisation (WHO) is a friendly body and pointed out the need to seek more assistance from them than what we get today.
“I personally know as a one time health minister and a President that the WHO is more friendly with our country. We can obtain more assistance from them than we do today” he said.
He also said it was important to introduce a joint mechanism with the Government and the opposition to combat this situation.
He said the President should convene a meeting with the representatives of political parties representing Parliament to discuss the critical scenario that the country is facing.
The former President also said that the people have lost hope of their lives and became demoralized due to the prevailing situation and pointed out the need to introduce a mechanism to uplift their mental stamina and give them hope. “Specialists claim that mental strength is important to boost immunity,” he said.(Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)