Former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said Sri Lanka needed more ventilators and ICU facilities to fight the COVID19 global pandemic and called for increased support from global bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO).

In an interview with WION India, Premadasa said Sri Lanka must build its capacity to treat a larger number of "prospective patients."

"We have to plan for the unexpected. In that context, the WHO has to play a very constructive and prominent role," he said.

Speaking further, Premadasa said powerful nations must not lose focus to fight the global pandemic while addressing "extraneous issues" on the part of the WHO.

However, the former Sri Lankan Opposition Leader said there were shortcomings and discrepancies in the approach of the WHO at the initial stages of the global health crisis.

Premadasa's full interview with WION India: