Sri Lanka replaces health minister as COVID outbreak worsens

Wanniarachchi, who publicly endorsed sorcery and magic potions to battle the virus, axed as infections and deaths soar.

Sri Lanka’s president has demoted his health minister, who publicly endorsed sorcery and magic potions to battle COVID-19, as infections and deaths hit record highs. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office on Monday said Pavithra Wanniarachchi’s health portfolio had been given to Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella who is also the government spokesman. Wanniarachchi was in intensive care in January after contracting the virus despite publicly consuming and endorsing a “magic potion” against COVID-19 made by a sorcerer.