"No one should think that due to this decrease, the pandemic is now over," he said.

Health workers also demand that the government name the health profession a closed service

 "Due to not having a clear idea about how the virus works, the health authorities had to take certain measures."

The ban was eventually lifted in early 2021 but burials were strictly limited to a site in Ottamavadi.

Some officials are outsourcing laboratory services to the private sector in exchange for commissions, he claimed.

"We are aware of this issue with the lack of fuel, but we have not taken any decisions regarding it yet."

"The Ministry of Health has not acted in good faith to prevent trade union action," he said.

Sri Lanka has seen an increase in inbound travellers, mainly tourists, to the country.

“We need fuel supply as a priority, because without fuel we cannot supplement the electricity supply with generators."

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