Former Prime Minister Ranil makes several recommendations to the government. Controlled by Covid

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe has issued a statement.

“First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to the doctors, nurses, researchers, public health inspectors, junior staff, and Grama Niladharis, including the Armed Forces and Police, who have dedicated themselves to the people of Sri Lanka since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the country.

We will never forget the people who worked so hard in the aftermath of the disaster. I strongly encourage all citizens to express their gratitude to this organization.

Our health-care personnel are exhausted today after working nonstop for the past year. Continuing in this direction is risky. The health-care industry has reached a critical juncture. The only way to safeguard them is to establish a set of universally accepted norms. Only with such a strategy can we bring this crisis to a halt.

First and foremost, adhere to the doctor's directions. The medical advice is still being ignored by the government. Malaysia, on the other hand, chose to shutdown the country for 14 days after receiving medical advice.

Furthermore, our country has yet to get the necessary amount of immunizations. The Pfizer Vaccine Company presented its offers as soon as the Minister of Health stated that she would sign an agreement to buy the vaccine in November. However, it did not work. Unfortunately, the government did not devote sufficient attention to the immunization program until seven months later. This is a heinous act.

If we acquire the vaccine today, it will have to be administered by a corporate representative. Other organizations are hoping to profit from the vaccine sales. I strongly encourage the government to refrain from using the vaccination program as a way for middlemen to profit.

Vaccinations for children above the age of 12 have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). The amount of vaccines necessary for Sri Lanka will rise from 30 million to 35 million if we also vaccinate youngsters beyond the age of 12.

Countries with vaccine surpluses have chosen to give them to the World Health Organization's COVAX excess. COVAX vaccines will be administered to children beyond the age of 12 in these nations, resulting in a further reduction in the quantity of vaccines provided. With the current circumstances, it is expected that all of our countrymen would have been vaccinated by the end of next year. The second dose should be completed in the same manner as the first.

As a result, a method to restrict the spread of the disease should be created until the vaccination is completed. The government must have a proper program in place to deal with this.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has established guidelines for curbing the spread of the virus. We have not fully implemented those instructions.

Take, for example, how South Korea handled the situation and how England handled the disease after the second round. We must work in accordance with such plans.

We need to think about the future. COVID-19 has yet to be suppressed by a medication. According to some specialists, a lasting solution for COVID will be discovered around 2024. We must be ready to deal with such a catastrophe. We must also consider the amount of money required to keep people's life afloat throughout this period.

A significant percentage of people in the country are unable to purchase food. A significant number of people have also lost their sources of income. This, too, must be handled.

The number of treatment centers must be increased. The University of Sri Jayewardenepura's research arm, the Medical Research Institute for COVID Research, should be strengthened further. For virology research, a new laboratory is required.

The medical laboratories at the universities of Colombo, Peradeniya, Ruhuna, Jaffna, and Ragama should enhance their current equipment and facilities. This will enable us to develop COVID-suppression programs.

India is the world's leading researcher on the COVID virus's regional status. Several countries, like the United Kingdom and China, are also conducting studies on the global issue. All of these research institutes must be consulted. To undertake this research, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura collaborated with the University of Oxford in England.

The President's Cabinet should now draft a plan outlining a set of common policies to combat the pandemic. This should not be coordinated by anyone else. Discuss this Cabinet-led draft with non-government party leaders and the Opposition in Parliament and seek their views. All opposition parties should submit proposals and help. I believe it is critical to debate this with medical professionals as well as specialists, including businesspeople.

After all of the conversations, the country will be able to propose a draft agreement that will be agreed upon by everybody within a month. This allows legislation to be passed to control a pandemic.

To yet, no legislation to combat the pandemic has been passed. Other countries around the world are enacting and executing the required legislation.


I urge the Cabinet to draft a law to combat the pandemic and keep the country and economy afloat. Let us collaborate to develop a shared policy. The noble purpose of safeguarding Mother Sri Lanka will then be achieved.”