Closure of state pharmacies across the country; public inconvenienced

COLOMBO (News 1st): Many people across the country were affected today as a result of the closure of state pharmacies and the delay in issuing medicines. The acting Inspector-General of Police had instructed the police yesterday to close down all pharmacies, supermarkets, and shops, except for state pharmacies, until further notice. The Police intervened and closed down these pharmacies as per this order. Although the general public expected that state pharmacies would remain open today, according to our correspondents they were severely inconvenienced, as certain state pharmacies had also closed down. The state pharmacy in Colombo was also closed down. People claim that they've all not got facilities to send Whatsapp messages and obtain the medicine as informed. A tense situation arose outside the state pharmacy in Kurunegala today with people gathering at the location to purchase medicine. Area residents complained that the issuing of medicine at the Matale state pharmacy was delayed. Our correspondent in Kalutara said that the pharmacy in Kalutara was also closed down today. Journalists questioned Minister Bandula Gunawardena regarding these issues when he was on an inspection tour of the Meegoda special economic centre. In response he said;

"Everyone in the world should admire the fact that when thousands of people are dying across the world, the health authorities in Sri Lanka are working hard to prevent even a single death here in Sri Lanka. We are holding discussions on a new program. According to this program medicine will be delivered through the postal department. The mailman will deliver the medicine to your home."