Managing Business Through Covid-19 Pandemic To Transform From A Global To A Local Economy

The national operation centre for prevention of covid-19 outbreak is a new innovative project committee, which has been set up and a similar concept could be used to manage business through the covid-19 pandemic to transform from a global to a local economy

- Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many countries having lockdowns, mainly to control the spread of the coronavirus. This pandemic, which started in Wuhan, China, has now spread worldwide, with Europe and America experiencing a major impact and huge loss of lives.

Sri Lanka has taken corrective measures early and this has resulted in the leadership given under the directions of the president, who set up the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, headed by the commander of the Army with the Health Services head, armed services, and Police, to assist and work with the health authorities to control this epidemic. This has resulted in controlling the movement of people, which will prevent the spread of the virus.

Those returning from the affected countries such as Italy and South Korea were isolated and corrective action was taken by the authorities by sending them to quarantine centres and treating those affected, which has reduced the spread of COVID-19 and saved the lives of those who were affected. While the priority is to wipe out COVID-19 from Sri Lanka and get back to normal life, the process is not easy and time-consuming.

This would mean, with a lockdown, normal life is disrupted and the economy and business come to a standstill, with many losing jobs and affecting the small and large businesses and self-employed. This would need an early national action plan for economic revival headed by a similar committee, which should include both the public and private sector, together with the armed services and Police giving the necessary strength and courage to resurrect our economy, similar to what has been done to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global and local economy