Pathfinder Foundation briefed by Chinese Ambassador on COVID-19 situation

Ambassador Chen Xueyuan, Milinda Moragoda and Bernard Goonetilleke, Lou Chong Head of Political Section of Chinese Embassy at the Chinese Embassy in Colombo

Pathfinder Foundation Founder Milinda Moragoda visited the Chinese Embassy to meet Ambassador Chen Xueyuan and to express solidarity with the Government and people of China. During the meeting, Moragoda expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the COVID-19 (nuovo coronavirus) and expressed confidence that China would overcome the epidemic soon.

Ambassador Chen appreciated the expression of solidarity by Moragoda and said he saw the Pathfinder Foundation as a ‘Friend in need is a friend indeed’ and appreciated the visit and the words of comfort. Moragoda was accompanied by Pathfinder Foundation Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke.

The Chinese Ambassador detailed the measures taken by the Chinese Government to contain the epidemic and prevent its spread within and outside China. He said the decision taken by the Chinese leadership to bring the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the epidemic, under lockdown status was an unprecedented measure taken by the authorities concerned. Further, China is cooperating with the WHO and publishing detailed information on those who are taken in for medical checkups, mortality details and those who recover from the disease, so that the world would be fully aware of the events unfolding in his country. 

The Ambassador highlighted the feat achieved by the Chinese authorities by building two new hospitals within days to treat COVID-19 patients, which demonstrated the commitment of his government to bring the epidemic under control and treat those, who have contracted the virus. He added that China expects the epidemic to peak in the coming days following which the casualty rates would go down gradually.

China considers Sri Lanka as a close friend and facilitated the evacuation of Sri Lankan students stranded in Wuhan in the midst of the burden they had to shoulder. In fact, that was the fourth such evacuation facilitated by China, after the US, Japan and S. Korea. Facilitation of the evacuation demonstrated the high priority given by China to Sri Lanka.

The Ambassador elaborated on measures taken by the Embassy to ensure that Sri Lanka would be spared of the virus. The embassy is keeping a close tab on those who are arriving in Sri Lanka from China. In the case of the Chinese woman tourist, who was the only confirmed casualty so far in Sri Lanka, he said, she has been cured, but is still under observation. No other positive cases have been detected in Sri Lanka, which is an encouraging development.

With a view to prevent spread of the virus, China has enforced a ban on group tourists visiting Sri Lanka. This measure would adversely affect Sri Lankan tourism, as China is the second largest source country for tourists, but stringent measures are necessary to ensure Sri Lanka will not be affected.

Ambassador Chen pointed out that even the embassy staff, who returned to Sri Lanka from other areas of China, are being kept in isolation for 7-14 days within the embassy premises to ensure that no transmission of the virus would take place locally. Even other Chinese visitors, who arrive from China, are advised to undergo self-imposed isolation just to make sure there are no new transmissions. With these measures, Ambassador Chen was confident that every possible precaution is being undertaken to prevent the spread of the virus in Sri Lanka.