Sri Lanka: Process of tracing origin of Covid shouldn’t be politicised

Amidst a simmering dispute between the US and China over the origins of Corona virus, Sri Lanka yesterday (8) said that the tracing process should be based on scientific and evidence-based methods. Colombo urged that the issue at hand shouldn’t be politicised.

The following is the text of a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry: “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruptions to the health, safety, and livelihoods of people around the world. Therefore, multilateralism and international cooperation provide the best possible means to effectively and sustainably defeat the pandemic.

It is equally important to conduct a comprehensive, inclusive, and impartial study on the origin of the virus.

Sri Lanka notes the leading role played by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in this regard and the contents of the joint report of the WHO–convened Global Study released in March 2021.

Sri Lanka reiterates that the study on the origin tracing of SARS-Co-V-2 should be based on scientific and evidence-based methods and should not be politicised. The next phase of the study should reflect the key findings of the previous WHO-led joint study report.

Sri Lanka will continue to constructively engage with all international partners to find amicable and comprehensive solutions to unresolved issues in this regard.”