The Gampaha Werellawatta Polytex Garments factory, which was closed at a cost of Rs. 10 million, was converted into a Covid Disease Treatment Center yesterday (03). The Western Provincial Council has agreed to provide Rs. 10 million for the construction of the temple following a request made by Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga to the Governor of the Western Provincial Council Roshan Goonetileke. With the assistance of the Navy, work has been expedited to transform the factory into a treatment center and a team of 70 Naval Officers is already providing its services. The Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa has also agreed to provide the labor of the representatives of the youth organizations to further expedite the activities of this treatment center which is being built with the capacity to treat a large number of patients at once. The factory is expected to have a capacity of 40 beds, 50 nurses and 55 minor staff after it is converted into a 2,000-bed emergency treatment center with all facilities such as oxygen and urinals, including the supply of oxygen. Prasanna Ranatunga, Minister of Tourism and Roshan Goonetileke, Governor, Western Province were present today to inspect the construction of the new treatment center. Addressing the media after the observation, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said, “According to the spread of the disease, the highest number of patients are reported from Colombo and Gampaha districts. The health sector has prepared a program to prepare the Gampaha district to face this situation. It is the responsibility of the government to provide the necessary infrastructure. By now, with the intervention of the Governor and the Secretary of the Western Province, a sum of Rs. 10 million has been allocated for the construction of a treatment center in Werellawatta." Speaking further, he said, "The Navy is carrying out construction work here. This money was set aside for them to obtain the necessary raw materials for construction. There are two more buildings here. Both buildings will be converted into treatment centers as required. The first building to be built could hold a thousand beds within a meter. The Navy is intervening in hospitals in the Gampaha District. Our country is far ahead of the rest of the world in controlling the Covid virus. The health sector, the armed forces, the police and government employees have taken steps to control the coronavirus." He stated that considering the current situation in India, the travel bubble system has focused more on Indians coming to Sri Lanka.  "The tourism bubble has not officially stopped with India . The implementation of that methodology was delayed until a program was prepared. If an Indian national comes to Sri Lanka and goes to a Middle Eastern country after being quarantined, a separate methodology was implemented against them. But we will not stop Indian investors from coming. The health sector has been advised and the necessary methodology has been introduced," he said. Responding to a question raised by journalists as to whether Parliament should convene at a time when meetings are prohibited, the Minister said that Parliament is required to sit in implementing the Finance Acts required for the administration of the country. Therefore, the Speaker has taken steps to convene the Parliament by reducing the number of employees as per the health instructions, the Minister added. Member of Parliament Sahan Pradeep, Gampaha District Secretary Sunil Jayalath, Gampaha Regional Health Services Director and Gampaha Regional Engineer were also present on the occasion.