Outgoing health minister’s exceptional efforts to defeat COVID-19 praised

New Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has thanked his predecessor Pavithra Wanniarachchi for her exceptional efforts in handling COVID-19 pandemic in the country effectively.

“I am privileged and honored to be appointed by President@GotabayaR & PM@PresRajapaksa as the Health Minister. I thank my colleague Pavithra Wanniarachchi for the stellar job she has accomplished in handling the #COVID19SL pandemic to date,” he tweeted.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa demoted the health minister as coronavirus infections and deaths hit record highs.

Rajapaksa’s office said Wanniarachchi’s health portfolio had been given to Rambukwella who is also the government spokesman.

Wanniarachchi was in intensive care in January after contracting the virus.

Sri Lanka’s health ministry under Wanniarachchi came under intense criticism last week for understating coronavirus infections.

Despite the demotion, she will remain in the cabinet — the president gave her the less important transport ministry.

The number of daily virus deaths crossed 150 in the past week, overwhelming crematoriums.

Daily infections crossed 3,000, and with hospitals struggling to cope, even government health workers say the actual number of infections could be three times higher.

The government has so far rejected calls for a lockdown to contain the surge, but last week tightened restrictions.

Wedding and parties have been banned from Tuesday, while state ceremonies and public gatherings are also prohibited until September 1.

Shops, restaurants and officers will have to follow a night curfew from Monday.

In the Cabinet reshuffle, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Education Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris swapped their portfolios.