Army Commander calls public to fight pandemic with determination

By Sandun A Jyasekera  

Chief of Defense Staff and Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lt. General Shavendra Silva said yesterday that all Sri Lankans must be determined not to become a virus carrier nor should be vulnerable to get infected from others.   

“If you all are resolved to adhere to this simple policy, the eradication of this dreaded viral infection from the soil of Sri Lanka will not be a challenging task,” Mr. Silva stressed.   

General Silva, who steer heads the fight against the Covid-19 endemic, told the media that the lifting of curfew in 21 districts and resumption of work in the public and the private sectors in the Western Province and in the Puttalam District while the curfew remains in force, was not a permit granted to the public to behave like in the pre-Covid-19 period.   

“Sri Lanka is reaching the final stage of bringing the pandemic under full control. The behaviour of the public as well as the COVID 19 viral infection itself in the next few days will be vital when the government reviews the  cause of action to be taken next,” he said.   

The public have made a big sacrifice in assisting the health authorities, the Armed forces and the Police to keep the COVID 19 pandemic under control. A mistake committed by a single person is sufficient to infect a dozen

“The public have made a big sacrifice in assisting the health authorities, the Armed forces and the Police to keep the COVID 19 pandemic under control. A mistake committed by a single person is sufficient to infect a dozen. Therefore, it is extremely vital to follow the health and security guidelines and instructions in the next few weeks and be patient as you had been doing, until we bring this dreaded viral infection under full control,”
Mr. Silva stressed.   

Health Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi said the government relaxed the curfew in the Western Province and in the Puttalam District and lifted in full in other 21 Districts in order to stimulate the economic revival and set the country back on track. 

 
“What is important is that the COVID 19 has not infected any civilian from the society for two weeks and all victims are from among the Navy personnel from Welisara Naval detachment who had participated in raids carried out at Suduwella and Bandaranayakapura and those closely associated with them or members of the fallen Naval ratings. This means we are winning the war against COVID 19 gradually but surely,” Minister Wanniarachchi stressed.   

Director General Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that there must be a change in attitude among the public in the fight against the viral infection and people must be ready to take the threat of the viral infection with maximum capability because there was a vast difference between the pre and post period of COVID 19 pandemic.   
“If you find anyone infected during this relaxed period, isolate him, call 1990 or 1999 immediately to take the patient to one of the 30 hospitals with isolation facilities and all others who had contacts with the patient, for 14 days of quarantine,”

Dr. Jasinghe said.