Sri Lanka, March 30 -- Over a quarter of the world's population is currently under movement restrictions. For the first time in recent human history, coronavirus has shattered the myth that the economy must come first. While public health concerns, undoubtedly, should take precedence over all other considerations when dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be unwise to ignore the economic costs of the current situation.

Reviving an economy where production grinds to a halt in a hitherto unprecedented manner is not an easy task and if not done properly, will lead to further damage. Small economies such as Sri Lanka, in particular, whose economic backbone is made up of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), dependent on e...