Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday made a clarion call for unity to defeat the common enemy COVID-19 keeping aside all political, religious, ethnic or other differences.
Addressing the nation on television last night, Prime Minister Rajapaksa stressed that the Government is determined not to back down from the fight against COVID-19 despite the unprecedented challenges it has faced locally and internationally.
He pointed out that the Government, well aware of the difficulties faced by the public, is focused on providing relief as much as possible to the needy people and all other affected segments of the country.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the need to bring the situation under control before long, adding that the effort needs unconditional support of all citizens.
“I am addressing you at a time when the Government and the people are in war against the coronavirus pandemic. Your vigilance, sacrifice and discipline decide as to how effectively we tackle this problem,” the PM said in his televised speech.
The PM also requested the people’s full support in the Government’s endeavour to revive agriculture and achieve self-sufficiency. “I request your support in all our endeavours to protect you. We have to make pre-plans as to how we are going to face the post-pandemic situation. We need to cultivate as much as possible to achieve self-sufficiency. It is time to revive the home-gardening concept. We have to revive local industries, cultivate our own food and stand on our own as a strong nation giving an example to the world,” the PM stressed.
Appraising the urgent measures the Government had taken and has been taking to control the spread of the virus, provide relief to the needy and to make sure that all people have access to essential food items, the PM observed that the Government’s efforts earned the praise of the World Health Organization Chief.
“As at now, the Government has given direct relief to about five million people. They constitute about one fourth of the country’s population. We did so, when all income avenues to the country have been obstructed. However, we never say ‘no’ or ‘cannot’ to the people. We will never give up this fight,” PM Rajapaksa stressed.
In reply to the Opposition’s calls to re-convene Parliament, the PM observed that the people question its purpose as Parliament did not support President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s move to give relief to the people. “We provided all these relief measures without a budget. Parliament did not support to pass the Vote of Account we presented. Then what is the use of re-convening Parliament?” he asked.
However, the PM appreciated that all party leaders have closed ranks to extend their unconditional support to the Government to face the current challenges.
He also stressed that this is no time to think of traditions or beliefs of a specific community, but is a time to put the country first and be united in the name of humanity.
PM Rajapaksa expressed his sincere gratitude to the committed and selfless service of the Health staff, police and Tri-Forces personnel at this critical time.
He added that even the State Intelligence officers were deployed to track down the suspected COVID-19 patients who dodge medical help. He added that thousands of contacts of suspected patients who have come from overseas have been instructed to self-quarantine. He pointed out that the curfew, which did not prevail even during the war, was imposed respecting the opinions of the health specialists.
“We have faced more difficult times in the past and had made many sacrifices during such times. Therefore, I believe staying at home during this brief period is not an impossible task for you. I request the public to make that sacrifice. I am confident that we can avoid the grave situations experienced in some other countries,” he stated.
“With the curfew, thousands of factories, companies and government institutions had to be closed. Despite that, the Government has shouldered the onerous task of supplying the goods and services needed for the day to day life of the people. We have also established a supervisory mechanism to monitor those activities. We have done everything possible to control the food prices. We have granted Rs 5,000 allowance to the disabled persons, elderly community, kidney patients, fishermen and farmers. The allowance has been extended to those who are in the waiting list of the above categories. Samurdhi beneficiaries, totaling to about 2.3 million, have been provided Rs. 10,000. Pension was paid on time to all pensioners and pregnant mothers and malnourished children were given special care,” he elaborated.
The PM observed that the April salary of all public servants was paid despite the fact that they are at home due to the curfew. He added that amidst looking into all these issues, the Government also gave a prompt relief package to small scale entrepreneurs and the business community.