Sri Lankan President highlights efforts to combat COVID-19, corruption and poverty

Colombo: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said Wednesday in a special address to his nation that the government was ready to strengthen efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, corruption and poverty.

In the statement televised on all television channels and radio stations on his first year anniversary since being sworn in as President, Mr Rajapaksa said, with the world presently experiencing a second wave of the COVID-19, the country was acting according to a plan.

While successfully containing the spread of the coronavirus, Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector had been able to maintain a mortality rate of less than 0.05 per cent of those diagnosed with the disease and referred for treatment.

He called on all the Sri Lanka people to adhere to health guidelines and fulfill their respective duties as responsible citizens so as to control the new wave of virus.

Mr Rajapaksa further pledged to eliminate waste and corruption in the state administration as well as in all the ministries and government institutions.

The President further said that within the past one year his government was able to provide 100,000 jobs targeting the poorest of the poor in the country and through each of these employment opportunities, a foundation was laid for a better future for extremely poor families.

So far, 35,000 jobs have been given to the most suitable candidates. The rest will be given jobs soon, he said.