Short-term lockdown will not cripple the economy: Dr. Harsha

• Says Govt. must not forget that it is about the lives of the people, not money
• People no longer listen to Govt. and have given a clear signal by going into self-isolation
• Urges Govt. to step out of vicious political cycle, consider managing pandemic from a humane perspective
• Opines economy cannot be managed like a war, calls on President to seek expert advice
• Suggests restructuring loans, obtaining 2-year moratorium

Stressing that a much-needed short-term lockdown would not cripple the economy, Main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva on Thursday urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to act fast as the country was inching closer to the tragic milestone of 200 COVID-19 deaths a day. “The economy cannot be managed like how you fight a war. A temporary closure of the country will not crash the economy. The market cannot be controlled the way we want in a pandemic,” de Silva told journalists at a media briefing.

De Silva called on the President to seek expert advice from the Central Bank and business chambers, and explore measures implemented by other countries to manage the economy.

“There are alternatives to overcoming economic glitches. Get the loans restructured and seek a two-year moratorium. Use the $ 10 billion saved for social welfare of the general public.”

De Silva’s plea comes at a time when 10 political parties affiliated with the Government had written to President Rajapaksa calling for a lockdown.

The former State Minister added that the Government had finally realised that the foreign exchange crisis could no longer be managed by printing money.

“The total reserves are now at $ 2.8 billion. The cumulative loans of the private and public sector are at Rs. 7 billion. How can we expect China’s $ 300 million as a bailout when Bangladesh is also lending us $ 200 million?” he queried.

De Silva said that people were no longer listening to the Government and had given a clear signal by going into self-isolation mode.

He called on the Government to step out of its vicious political cycle and consider managing the COVID-19 pandemic from a humane perspective so as to save the lives of innocent people.

“If the Government cannot save the lives of the people, what can we expect from them? The Government must not forget that it is about the lives of the people and not money.”

He pointed out that the expert committee had stated that failing to go for a lockdown would result in the death toll rising to 18,000 in the coming days.

According to de Silva, Sri Lanka is now ranked third in the world for the highest deaths to one million people ratio.