Asks for a pause on all development activities to channel money to arrest Covid-19  

• Government should go for a lockdown and give top priority to arresting the pandemic
• The MP said 2,000 people will die monthly in Sri Lanka if the pandemic is not controlled by June this year  

By Yohan Perera  

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) urged the government to postpone the debate on the Port City Economic Commission Bill and to go for a national lockdown of the country.   

SJB MP and Leader of Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Mano Ganesan told a press conference that the government should stop all development work and channel all money to contain the pandemic.   
“The government should go for a lockdown and give top priority to arresting the pandemic. Seeking Parliament’s approval can be sought for the Port City Economic Commission Bill later,” Mr. Ganesan said.  
“The number one priority of the government is to save the nation from the pandemic. The only difference in the pandemic situation in Sri Lanka compared to India is that you don’t find people falling dead on the streets,” he added.  

Quoting the research done with the involvement of University of Washington , the MP said 2,000 people will die monthly in Sri Lanka if the pandemic is not controlled by June this year.  

“Therefore we urge the government to go for an island wide lock down and divert funds to provide Rs. 5,000 for every needy family on a weekly basis. Sri Lankan President should not become another Narendra Modi and make similar mistakes. Prime Minister Modi constructed a cricket stadium and allowed the India Sri Lanka match to go ahead, allowed the Kumbha Mela festival and then held elections in five states. It was these mistakes which led to the surge in the pandemic in India,” he said.