A person, a resident of Warakapola who consumed the "miraculous local cure" for COVID19, has been infected with the virus, Warakapola PHI Hemantha Kumara said.

He was among the number of patients reported from the Kegalle District, the hometown of Dhammika Bandara, a construction worker turned Kapurala who produced the so-called local cure.

Bandara said those who consumed his medicine would never be infected with COVID19 in their lifetime. A number of key figures in the government, including Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Indigenous Medicine Minister Sisira Jayakody and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, publicly consumed the medicine giving it the seal of approval of the government.

Bandara's conduct came under severe criticism when he behaved in an unruly manner in Anuradhapura, one of the most sacred religious sites for Buddhists.

However, in the face of severe public criticism, Bandara said he had suspended producing the medicine as no one had offered him support to counter the backlash.