(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –The Health Ministry yesterday issued a set of guidelines on how to maintain the country’s economic centres.
Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi yesterday stressed that the economic centers in the country should be maintained in accordance with health guidelines.
The Health Ministry has prepared a series of special guidelines to ensure that traders and consumers visiting the 16 Economic Centres islandwide adhere to the guidelines. She emphasised that the economic centres play a vital role in the economic development of Sri Lanka and it is important to ensure the health and safety of both traders and the consumers.
A special meeting was held yesterday at the Health Ministry to make the managers of economic centres islandwide aware about the the current COVID-19 epidemic and the measures need to be taken to prevent the spreading of virus through the economic centres.
The Minister said large quantities of goods are channeled to and from many parts of the country for economic centers in the country and therefore there is a risk of the COVID-19 virus spreading through these economic centres. Steps must be taken to ensure that these activities are carried out in accordance with health care practices.
The Minister requested the managers of Economic Centres islandwide to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the Ministry and prepare a plan specific to each economic centre for COVID-19 preventive measures and appointing an officer to look into the implementation of those plans.
The managers have also been instructed to clean the premises of the Economic Center on a regular basis and educating the people who come to the premises of the Economic Center that betel chewing, smoking and spitting should not be done inside the premises.
It has also also been advised to maintain personal distance, proper disposal of garbage in the premises of the Economic Center and also to direct visitors to the Economic Center premises for PCR tests and facilitate hand washing facilities for visitors to the Economic Center premises.
Senior Health Ministry officials participated in this meeting.
