Sri Lanka fallen into a wartime-like situation' – Deputy Minister

Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala told Parliament today (06) that Sri Lanka is in a situation similar to wartime, which he described as an unfortunate development. He mentioned that the country is facing an unprecedented scenario, unlike any seen in recent times. Watagala explained that it is hard to predict who might be affected or how people will cope with the current uncertainty. He referred to the recent occurrence involving the Iranian navy ship ‘IRIS Dena’ near the maritime boundary of Galle as an example of this growing crisis. The Deputy Minister added, “We cannot foresee when, how, or who else might need to take on responsibilities like Karapitiya Hospital suddenly had to. We cannot anticipate the effects such situations could have on our people's lives. In this war-like environment, it took just one day for Karapitiya Hospital, located thousands of miles away, to become overwhelmed with bodies. That is why we need to be ready. We must take preventive actions. Declaring a state of emergency will not give us complete protection, but it will allow us to prepare as much as we can.”