President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa appealed to all Sri Lankans to support the national effort to create a country that’s safe from COVID-19.

The President requested the public cooperate with officials in the quarantine process.

"Quarantine is not a punishment but a preventive measure to protect you, your family, friends and society at large," Rajapaksa said. The Army is supporting the health authorities in ongoing measures to prevent the spread of the Corona Virus in the country.

SriLanka detected its first COVID-19 victim yesterday and he is currently being treated at the IDH.