Sri Lanka, March 27 -- Taiwan has never forgotten the nightmare of a 2003 epidemic - SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) which devastated many East Asian metropolises. In its wake, Taiwan along with few others doubled down on preparing for any future crisis.

And when COVID -19 hit them, they were ready.

Today, Taiwan has had brought COVID -19 outbreak under control - and without resorting to China's measures.

Although copying other countries' techniques used in handling COVID-19 may not be the right solution for us, it is natural enough for a common Sri Lankan citizen to look at Taiwan's example and wonder why we didn't do what they did, or, more pertinently, could we have done what they did?

Taiwan's struggle

Taiwan is an islan...