(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – The government has so far spent Rs. 286 billion to control the COVID-19 epidemic and to provide relief to the people, said Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
He was speaking to the media after a discussion held at the Central Provincial Governor’s Office Yesterday (05) on the control of the Covid epidemic in the Central Province.
He said during the first wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, the government has spent Rs. 80 billion to provide Rs. 5000 financial assistance per family, Rs. 15 billion during the Sinhala New Year and Rs. 35 billion at present. The rest has been spent on controlling the epidemic including the vaccinations.
The Minister said that despite the allegations leveled against the provision of Rs. 5,000 allowance to 4 million families, the provision of financial assistance is being carried out with maximum fairness.
Sri Lanka will receive the second batch of Sputnik V on the 11th of this month and the vaccine will be available to the public from the 15th of this month, the Minister said adding that part of the doses will be given to the Kandy district.
The Minister pointed out that no country in the world has controlled this epidemic within a specific framework and said that the government is committed to implementing the recommendations of the health sector for the control of the disease.
