Under the circumstances, the President had granted the required funds and additional funds as well, adding that the Rs. 40 million funding which had not been received by December 31, 2019 had also been granted by the President, she said.

She said this during the joint media broadcast on the facts and myths about the Coronavirus.

Commenting on the rumour that there is a shortage of face masks for health services personnel, she said that was absolutely no shortage of face masks.

The Health Ministry Secretary also added that all drugs required are to be purchased under emergency purchases and that an emergency meeting is scheduled to be held between the drug supplying companies and the Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi at the Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Ministry on March 18th at 12.00 noon.