Sri Lanka’s success in containing and controlling the global COVID-19 pandemic is an example to the whole world, Defense Secretary Retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne says.

The Defense Secretary said even the most powerful countries in the world have not been able to create a climate free of fear and suspicion for their citizens to live in the face of the virus threat.

The Defense Secretary made this statement in Jaffna today addressing the troops and policemen who are performing commendable humanitarian services, irrespective of risks for their own lives to curb the COVID-19 epidemic.

“It is difficult to say that wealthier a country is, the more powerful it is. What is the use of power if the people in the country cannot live in an environment without fear regardless of military strength or wealth or the power to trample on others.”

“In that sense, this little country of ours has been able to set an example to the whole world in the face of the global threat of coronavirus,” said the Defense Secretary.

During his address Retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne appreciated the role of armed forces and shared New Year sentiments with hundreds of tri service, Special Task Force personnel and Policemen, engaged in COVID-19 control tasks in Jaffna peninsula, identified as a High risk area for COVID-19.

“Your dedicated contribution in most risky districts, like in Jaffna or elsewhere in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts assisted Health authorities enormously. Many of those infected victims have had so many contacts at different levels and they had probably transmitted the virus without their own knowledge. Likewise, our forces and Policemen had to operate in multifaceted ways since many of those individuals were trying their best to hide information about the whereabouts and places they visited. Our dedicated troops and Policemen had to toil very much day and night to exactly confirm their 2nd, 3rd, 4th circles of contacts, etc. even monitoring or tracking their mobile phones and all other modes of communication. All those minute and relevant information were traced by you, our intelligence forces and policemen who joined hands with Health authorities,” he pointed out.

Urging them to continue their great work and assistance to all Jaffna-based civil authorities to maintain essential services of the people, the Defense Secretary paid special tribute to medical officers, nurses, para medical staff, Public Health Inspectors, Grama Seva officials and all stakeholders working for the benefit people in Jaffna.