Sri Lanka, March 31 -- It is evident that the COVID-19 pandemic would create a significant economic impact globally. Whilst it is rather premature to predict the overall impact, one can safely conclude that the impact will last for a number of months (best-case scenario) post COVID-19.

In Sri Lanka too, we can expect our economy to be impacted severely. The tourism industry, which currently employs around 600,000 people both directly and indirectly, will be an industry which will be affected not only at present but also post COVID-19 as well, since tourists will probably not travel out of their home countries for a while at least.

Similarly, the tea and apparel industries in Sri Lanka will also suffer due to this pandemic, as a result o...