What will happen to Sri Lanka's economy if there is an epidemic in the future ?
What is virus and history of pandemics.
A virus is genetic material contained within and organic particle that invades living cells and uses their host's metabolic processes to produce a new generation of virus particles. Even with a regular microscope, you can't see a virus. 10% of the human genome is derived from virus DNA. The earth truly is a 'virus planet'. Virus are so hard to stop from spreading because virus particles are so incredibly small, billions can float on tiny droplets is the air from jest one cough. Viruses try to get into living cells for reproduction.
Let's see history of pandemics.
Cholera, bubonic plague, smallpox and influenza are some of the most brutal killer in human history. And outbreaks of these diseases across international orders, are properly defined as pandemic, especially smallpox, which throughout history, has killed between 300-500 million people in its 12,000year existence. Beginning in December 2019, in the region of Wuhan, China a new (Novel) coronavirus began appearing in human beings. It has been named COVID 19. A shortened of 'disease of 2019'. This new virus spreads incredibly quickly between people, due to its newness- no one earth has an immunity to COVID 19, because no one had COVID 19 until 2019. While was initially seen to be an epidemic in china, the virus spread worldwide within month. Actually, we cannot stop the epidemic. A war of men and plagues persists. There may be epidemics in the future. Bill gates sums this up well.
If there is an epidemic in the future, what will Sri Lanka's economy be like? Let's think, Sri Lanka is an import oriented country. All essential services to the country are imported from foreign countries. The foreign exchange reserves in Sri Lanka will have to be imported. There will be no exchange earnings. As you know the garment industry and domestic services provide a boost to Sri Lanka's economy. If there is an outbreak again, the impact on Sri Lanka's economy and domestic services are all but diminished. There could be a financial crisis.
Similarly, if a global epidemic is to occur again the country will have to be lock down for the safety of the country. The internal affairs of the country and the day to day affairs are monitored. As a result, the government has to subsidize private savings. When the economy is negative it is set for another setback. If the country is to have an epidemic in the future, the impact will be limited if the country is in a high position not only in terms of economy but also health and safely. We need to improve our preparedness. That means committing ourselves to seriously invest on pandemic preparedness and building a global fire brigade, long before the house catches on fire next time.
MAPT/19/B1/28
W.A.S.P.Rathnasiri
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