The United National Party has issued a statement today accusing the government’s delayed response in combatting the fresh outbreak of COVID-19 in the country. "Despite repeated warnings of a pending second wave from the World Health Organisation, the government chose to propagate the idea that they had defeated the virus, without taking adequate steps to protect the citizens of the country from a resurgence," it stated. The UNP believes that the government failed to enact relevant legislation which would have benefited the anti-COVID efforts. The lack of proper laws has resulted in the breakdown of the prevention methods as was seen last evening (29) when the citizens of Colombo left the city in large numbers ahead of the pending lockdown. "The inability of the government to curb the movement of citizens from the Western Province has now endangered the citizens of the other Provinces in the country," it further stated. The UNP stated that it was the responsibility of this government to have ensured adequate testing facilities were installed around the country to prevent delays. There is also a concern regarding a pending shortage of hospital beds and ventilators. The government must make all efforts to increase the capacity at the hospitals to accommodate patients from this second wave. The UNP urged the government to give full priority to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, and uphold its duty of ensuring the health and safety of the citizens of the country.