A 43-year-old COVID-19 patient who was being treated at the National Hospital For Respiratory Diseases, Welisara for a respiratory illness has escaped from the hospital, police said. Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said the escapee had provided a false address at Maradana to the hospital. “There was no such address at Maradana. However, the police has found out that he is a resident of Grandpass and addicted to drugs. The Mahabage Police are conducting a special operation to trace the patient,” he said.