Health Services Director-General Dr. Anil Jayasinghe said the government's request for 1000 body bags was a mere technical requirement.

Issuing a statement, Jasinghe said the letter did not in any way indicate that Sri Lanka was expecting 1000 deaths due to the COVID19 pandemic.

Jasinghe also explained that it was an internationally accepted practice to place the bodies of those who die due to "unidentified reasons."

Therefore, the Health Services Director-General said, the public should not be panicked by the letter which is being widely circulated on social media.

The letter sparked a controversy on social media last night after Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Sunil De Alwis first denied that he signed such a letter.

Later, he admitted the authenticity of the letter and said he initially "did not recall signing it."