Priority In Sri Lanka To Contain Further Spread

The COVID-19 pandemic is exacting an unprecedented toll on Asia and the Pacific. No country has been spared from the devastating impacts on well-being and shocks to the economy and healthcare systems. We know that with stronger investments in people and planet, some of these impacts could have been mitigated

- Easwaran Rutnam

As Sri Lanka continues to battle coronavirus (COVID-19), the United Nations (UN) says emergency fiscal support will help the country cope with the added burden on the healthcare system due to extra patients and testing. UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana told DailyMirrors measures which need to be taken by the government to respond to COVID-19 would place more stress on debt in the country, similarly to many other countries in the region. She urged the international community to offer an immediate fiscal assistance package to countries like Sri Lanka to help them manage outstanding foreign debt. Excerpts:

Q Do you think the Asia Pacific region was under-prepared to face COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic is exacting an unprecedented toll on Asia and the Pacific. No country has been spared from the devastating impacts on well-being and shocks to the economy and healthcare systems.

We know that with stronger investments in people and planet, some of these impacts could have been mitigated. That is why we are arguing over responses that prioritise people while cushioning economic shocks to build resilience against future pandemics. Investment must be directed towards providing universal health coverage and a social protection floor for marginalised populations. Social protection serves as a stabiliser in times of uncertainty to protect the most vulnerable. Immediate fiscal measures are also essential and must support job retention and guarantee minimum living standards for workers and households.

Q Coronavirus has had a severe impact on Sri Lanka, like it has on several other countries. What can a country like Sri Lanka do to mitigate the serious impact this is having on its economy?