Sajith pledges to support Govt. to contain COVID-19

Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa 

                                                                            – Pic by Pradeep Pathirana 

Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday pledged to support the Government to contain COVID-19 and called for Parliament to be convened while criticising the decision not to quarantine tourists arriving from China.  

Speaking to media at the SJB head office, Premadasa said his party was ready to discuss with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on how they could support the Government to contain the virus. He added the SJB would work in the public’s interest. 

“We will fully support the Government to contain COVID-19. This is the time to keep our different political views aside and work as a team to face this challenge. We are ready to share our ideas with the Government to control the situation,” he said.

The former Opposition Leader charged the Government was focusing on the General Election when it should be concentrating all its energies on combating the virus. He argued that if his suggestions, which have been submitted to Parliament were taken into consideration, the situation would have been better managed.

“Five weeks ago, I have submitted a set of proposals to Parliament to contain the virus but the Government ignored the risk and criticised my proposals. They even used several medical officers to counter my proposals. If they had taken my ideas into consideration we could have contained the virus with less effort,” he charged.

Premadasa also requested the Government to convene Parliament to discuss ways to contain the virus. Despite Parliament being dissolved, he argued that due to the current situation Parliament should be convened. “The Government should convene Parliament immediately to discuss the situation. It is important to openly discuss the current situation,” he argued.  

He also criticised the Government decision not to quarantine tourists arriving from China and demanded an explanation from the Government on the decision. However, Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe said the Government had take into consideration the fact that patient numbers had been declining in China since February and the country was successfully containing the outbreak. 

Premadasa also requested the Government to set up a support system to provide relief to industries affected by COVID-19. “I request the Government to set up a mechanism to provide interest free loans to local industries to recover from the hardships that have arisen due to the virus,” he said.