Intl. Chamber of Commerce wants biz resumed with improved public safety

The International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka, in a statement yesterday, urged for the resumption of business and economic activities in tandem with improved public health safety measures. 

The statement said ICC Sri Lanka fully supports The President’s initiative to re-open the Sri Lankan economy safely, prudently, but decisively, and to move towards restoring economic activity at levels allowable within safe public health limits, and restart associated civilian livelihoods without endangering lives of the population.

The economy is in a challenging state. The continuous shutdown of the key GDP generating districts would undermine the viability of businesses, entire sectors, and millions of livelihoods.

Under the leadership of the President, the country has done commendably well to contain the pandemic (at a prudently managed economic cost), with rigorous contact tracing and quarantining measures. 

“We have thus far seen very low fatality numbers in Sri Lanka. Throughout Asia recovery rates are around 96%+. We must therefore look at the mortality and recovery rates, which are heartening here and in much of Asia. The contribution and the untiring efforts of the medical professionals, public health authorities, the Tri Services and the police should be commended,” ICC Sri Lanka Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody said.

And going forward, under the President’s leadership and the Task Force, Weerakkody noted that the Chamber will work to comply with “best practice” in terms of social distancing, hygiene, remote work wherever possible, splitting shifts where necessary, and letting people return to work and to their livelihoods.

Where there are spikes as may happen,  post lock-down, or when we open borders, targeted quarantining and isolating, rather than shutting down an entire city or district, much less the entire Island, would be the prudent way forward, while safeguarding the health and safety of citizens alongside an effective public healthcare system.