COLOMBO – Former Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, passed away at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Angoda on Sunday (14), as Sri Lanka fatality count neared 400 and the virus tally topped 75,000
Lokubandara, who was 81 years old at the time of his death, was confirmed as COVID-19 positive while being treated at a private hospital in Colombo. He was later transferred to IDH Colombo, where he passed away.
Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 2004 to 2010, Lokubandara was Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province from 2010 to 2015, and held several ministerial portfolios in the government, including Minister of Cultural Affairs, Education and Media and Minister of Justice, Law Reforms, National Integration and Buddha Sasana. He was also the Chief Opposition Whip of Parliament from 1994 until 2001.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka announced seven more COVID-19 related fatalities and 801 new cases on Sunday taking the death toll to 397 and the novel coronavirus tally to 75,654 with 6,561 actives cases receiving treatment at various designated hospitals across the country.
The Department of Government Information in a statement announcing the deaths identified the deceased as one male aged 85 from Gothatuwa, and six females, including a 79-year-old from Jaffna. The other females aged 72, 65,60, 82 and 51 are from Angoda, Kurunegala, Mahawela, Peradeniya and Gampola, and had all died in hospital while receiving treatment.
The statement said Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, had confirmed the deaths to be COVID-19 related, taking the COVID fatality count to 397
Three hundred and eighty four deaths have now been officially recorded since October 24, 2020, several on admission to hospitals, since the emergence of a new and more virulent strain of the virus in a new cluster in Minuwangoda, with the apparel factory in the area as the epicentre earlier in the month. Since then the cluster has seen sub-clusters in several parts of the country, including a prison cluster, with the largest case load reported from the Peliyagoda fish market. The cluster now accounts for 71,627 cases.
Sunday’s confirmations take Sri Lanka’s novel coronavirus count to 75,654 with 68,696 being deemed recovered and discharged under the new health ministry guidelines.
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka inform that a Secretarial staff working at the High Commission had tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday (13) and that the official had been placed at a designated Sri Lankan Government medical facility for treatment. Keeping in line with COVID-19 guidelines prescribed by Government of Sri Lanka, the Family members of the official have been placed on quarantine, it added.
The statement said the official has limited interaction with most members of the High Commission and no interaction with outsiders in discharge of his official responsibilities. However primary contacts of the official at the High Commission are isolating themselves and are undertaking other precautionary measures in accordance with stipulated health safety norms, the High Commission said, adding that the High Commission premises have been sanitized and all other necessary steps are being reinforced as per standard protocols.
It also noted that the High Commission would continue to function on limited strength as it follows a rotational policy in view of evolving COVID-19 situation.
Separately, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) announced Sunday that the government has not taken any decision to lock down the country completely due to a number of case of the highly contagious UK COVId-19 strain being reported in the country.
“The government is paying close attention on reports and the spreading of the new Covid variety from various parts of the country,” he said, assuring the government will take steps to implement the appropriate measures for the safety of the people as instructed by the health sector.
-ENCL