Sri Lanka health minister sent to COVID-19 beach resort
Shaman Dhammika Bandara says minister might not have taken the proper dosage of his concoction
COLOMB O– Minister of Health, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, was isolated Saturday (23) at a beach hotel after she tested positive for the Coronavirus, officials said.
The 56-year-old minister was tested twice since Friday (22) and both results confirmed she was infected, but it was not immediately clear how she caught the virus spreading rapidly.
Wanniarachchi catching the virus shattered claims by a shaman that a potion made by him could give lifelong immunity.
The health minister had taken a swig of the concoction in front of cameras last month, in a move believed by the public as a sign of the State endorsing the untested preparation as a treatment and a vaccine for COVID-19.
The shaman, Dhammika Bandara, meanwhile, speaking to journalist on Sunday (24) about Wanniarachchi testing positive for COVID-19, stood by his concoction, alluding the minister might not have followed the proper instructions when taking the syrup.
“I told the minister to take a spoonful which she did at that moment. I’m not sure whether she continued to have the syrup in correct doses. Had she taken it in correct doses, she wouldn’t have contracted COVID,” he said, maintaining, so far nearly four million Sri Lankans have taken his syrup.
Meanwhile, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara and State Minister Piyal Nishantha de Silva were also isolated at a beach hotel, health officials said.
The resort had been named an intermediate treatment centre for asymptomatic patients earlier this month.
Former minister and opposition MP, Rauff Hakeem, was also at the same resort.
He was discharged from quarantine on Saturday and returned home, his family said.
“Hakeem is back home. He had no symptoms. He is fine,” a family member said.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader had also tweeted a photo of health workers taking his temperature and oxygen saturation levels
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