President wants ad-hoc actions halted

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday chaired a meeting of the COVID-19 National Task Force, where a host of issues were discussed and key decisions were made

• President chairs COVID-19 National Task Force meeting

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday directed that no instruction or communication by any Government Agency be issued without the prior concurrence of the Presidential Secretariat, and that any such action be taken only in consultation with Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, who heads the National Operations Center for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak.

The decision was taken by the President following observations made at the COVID-19 National Level Task Force Review meeting today, that various Government Agencies have issued ad-hoc operational instructions not consistent with the Government’s overall strategy with COVID-19 management issues, disrupting the routine, regular work of the Government.