Sajith criticizes govt.'s battle against COVID-19

COLOMBO (News1st): Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has said that the government's work plan to combat COVID-19 is failing. "There is no coordination between sectors. Introduce rapid testing, antigen testing and mobile laboratories," Premadasa insisted in Parliament on Tuesday. He called on the government to obtain the support of the opposition over its battle to combat the virus. The opposition leader pointed out that the government could have procured ventilator machines, PCR machines and prepared sufficient ICU beds when the first wave of the virus had died down. Health minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi countered the claim by stating that 200 ventilators were distributed among hospitals last month. However, the opposition leader pointed out that the ventilators that were being referred by the health minister had been donated by the US and not procured by the government. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the Jathika Jana Balawegaya opposition party, also warned that the country would head into a disaster if the elderly are affected. "I don't think that we have been elected to Parliament to blame each other and neglect our responsibilities at such a situation," the opposition lawmaker noted. State Minister Nimal Lanza alleged that the opposition is eager to witness the pandemic worsening in the country to blame the government. "They are anticipating COVID-19 cases to increase in the country and that the deaths must increase as well while the economy continues to face a breakdown," Lanza claimed. However, Dissanayake rejected such claims and said he anticipates the country to successfully combat COVID-19.