No new CVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka; Rajapaksa calls for debt moratorium

IN a major relief to the island nation, no new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Sri Lanka on Wednesday (25) till evening.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has requested international donor agencies to provide a debt moratorium or debt deferment facility to all vulnerable developing nations to the COVID-19 risk.

The health minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said that 99 patients are in hospitals after they were tested positive for the virus as three patients, including the Chinese national--the very first case in Sri Lanka--were discharged.

According to the data of the Epidemiology Unit at the Health Ministry, 225 persons are currently in hospitals with the symptoms of COVID-19 virus.

The Presidential Media Division said that the president had urged Director General of the World Health Organization to forward a request to multi-lateral and bilateral lending agencies to announce a moratorium on loans.

He sai that this relief would be helpful to manage COVID-19 Social Distancing, Public Health and Social Security Systems in those countries, a statement said.

Sri Lanka government will distribute a relief package containing five essential food items to people who are in dire need at this time of crisis, reports said.

The package will include rice, potatoes, onions, Dhal and canned fish. This will be distributed in all areas.