UNP general secretary calls for countrywide lockdown

COLOMBO: UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara has said that if the country is not immediately locked down for two weeks, the people will have to face a greater problem than the economic problems they have to face.

If the decision is not taken immediately, the death toll and the number of COVID-19 infected may increase rapidly, he said.

He was speaking at a media briefing held at Madurankuliya in Puttalam.

Bandara said the government should confirm or refute the speculation that there is a shortage of PCR test kits.

If it is true, authorities should answer as to how they plan to rectify the problem and how soon the new test kits can be deployed, the former MP said,

Bandara said the government had lost control over the COVID-19 pandemic and the only option was to go for an immediate lockdown to minimize the spread.