Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando called on people not to fall prey to the Opposition scare-mongering tactics.

Addressing the media, after an inspection visit to check the progress of the ‘10,000-beds-in-10 days’ project in Kurunegala, the Minister said the government had decided to continue with all its development projects, as scheduled, without allowing the pandemic to scuttle them.

“We do not retreat or surrender in the face of this virus threat. We have faced bigger challenges and we are ready to face this and defeat it. While the Opposition was calling for the closure of Parliament, we decided against it. Next Tuesday Parliament will meet to discuss and debate health regulations, enabling further imports of medicine. We cannot and would not hide in fear of this pandemic. The Opposition leader and his men are creating a fear psychosis to paralyze this country from fear, anxiety and uncertainty.”

Johnston said that the entire world was affected by the pandemic. “But our Opposition wants the country shut down. We must keep in mind that nowhere in the world or in past experiences of pandemics, the solution was found by hiding away but only by facing the challenge. The Opposition Leader and his men seem to think that they could turn public opinion against the government by having economic difficulties caused to the people. This is why they are pressuring us to go for a protracted lockdown. We decided at the party leaders’ meeting to meet on Tuesday to discuss medicine imports and tyre exports, and on Wednesday and Thursday to debate the Port City Commission Bill. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says we are in a mighty hurry to pass the Port City Bill. There is no such hurry. The matter has been in public domain for months. He was also opposed to debating regulations on medicine imports. Then we read the text of the regulations to him and he agreed. This is his situation and level. We cannot wait till he understands and gives his okay to proceed. This is not his government but ours.

“Premadasa and his men have started a campaign to sabotage the government’s development work. They demand that development, including the Ruwanpura Expressway be stopped and money utilised to buy vaccines. Who says that the government has no money to buy medicine? We have funds to buy medicine, buy oxygen, beds and to do PCRs. We pay the salaries of public servants on the due date. Our government has enough money to face the challenge while developing the country. The Opposition does not need to worry about how to run the affairs of government. We can do that better than they can even imagine.

“Now, the JVP too is opposing the manufacture of beds for patients. We have started making 10,000 beds in 10 days. We do our duty. Has Premadasa, or any of his men given at least a single bed to a patient? Ours is an impotent Opposition and there is no medicine to remedy their maladies. Come whatever challenge, we continue our development drive.”

Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa was also present.