Business magnate Dhammika Perera says that the seriousness of an issue depends on how one perceives the issue.

He mentioned this speaking on the COVID-19 and its effects on the economy at the 360° political program on TV Derana last night (16).

Perera says that the coronavirus epidemic had emerged in the world on 06 previous occasions and it had died down on all 06 occasions even without a vaccine.

He says that his belief and principle is that the current pandemic too would end within 1 year and 5 more months.

“When COVID-19 first emerged, I first researched on what coronavirus is. This first appeared in 1960. It ended within 2 years. But there was no vaccine. Then it came for the second time in 1967. However, it ended after a while. Then it comes in 2002 for the third time. Then in 2003 for a fourth time and in 2005, and in 2012. Then it comes for the 7th time in 2019.

Six times it has come and gone, even without a vaccine. I live on that principle.

The current coronavirus breeds within 6-7 days to be transmitted to another person. After 60 cycles, that means after 360 days, the rate of transmission reduces.  This time, that day falls on March 15 next year.

If you consider the previous 06 instances, the [COVID-19] situation in certain countries that have completed a year [with the virus] should de-escalate after March 15.”

The business tycoon added that a person should perceive the situation in a positive way in their mind and work on the plans that are to be imposed after the coronavirus situation ends.

“Based on the 06 previous occasions, I have a hypothesis that this current pandemic, too, will come to an end in 1 year and 5 months. Therefore, today I work on the things I have to do after coronavirus.”

Further speaking, Dhammika Perera said that he is completely against the lockdown of the country, especially considering Sri Lanka is an economy based on exports.

“We should primarily think about health safety. But what should we do if people in the country die of hunger?”

However, he pointed out that while adding ‘circuit breakers’, such as isolating certain areas to curb the spread of the virus, will have an impact on the country’s economy, it will not completely destroy the economy.

“If we completely shut down the country, there will be no income. Then the banks which give us loans will not loan to us anymore. We are a country run on loans. If banks refuse us loans, how will we run the country?”