With the declaration of a global pandemic and as countries all over the world fight the coronavirus which is wreaking havoc on lives and economies people’s fears are not limited only to the virus but other factors as well. One of the biggest fears apart from contracting the virus is job security, finances, and sanity. There is a very real threat that many employees will have to either take a drastic pay cut or they may lose their jobs, small businesses will struggle and those in the tourism and leisure sector are looking at an industry that is struggling to raise its head. Known as a nation of fearless and stoic people how are we reacting to the threat of the Corona Virus? While many have a gung-ho attitude towards dealing with the fall out of the virus others are more cautious. Either way as a country we need to be united in our stand to get through this situation by supporting each other and local businesses.

The biggest fear during the COVID19 Shutdown was being unable to get our clients motivated. We overcame this by posting videos on YouTube and Facebook, doing live sessions on FB Live and virtual sessions on Zoom. Today our group numbers per session exceed 100 members at a fraction of the cost  and has resulted in a Win-Win situation all around.

James Rosario, Founder of Sweatshop Fitness

Sri Lanka was just starting to recover from the 2019’s attack on churches on Easter Sunday, when the Corona Virus knocked Tourism down almost completely. This time Tourism took a hit globally. As for the future of Sri Lanka’s tourism, post corona depends on how not only the Sri Lankan government but also the world handles the situation and  helps to rebuild confidence in travel. Media will have an important role to play in rebuilding Tourism. Once the News circle moves on, people will forget just like everything else and tourism will bounce back.. People will travel. So the fear is how we survive this lockdown period. Once it’s over, for the next few months, electronic media will play a greater importance, guests will be more cautious about travel….. but with time, it will change and will bounce back.

Druvi Gunasekera, Founder of Boutiques in Sri Lanka.

The Holiday of a Lifetime! Or is it? I don’t think life has ever given us a more uncertain time in our lives.. As much as it’s been a great time of reflection, humility, appreciation and love, it has also been a time of Heartache.. People are dying and we have no control, our businesses no longer exist, and our staff are left helpless.. with nearly  80 employees probably going to lose their jobs during this time just from my end we are left without an option. .The only thing left to move forward in the coming months is our positivity and resilience and this will lead the way. It will be a time, for people to help one another in what ever their line of business be.  I pray people we will not forget this time, and learn to appreciate the world we live in.. May god bless us with another chapter in our lives

Natalie Jayasuriya, Managing Director Kama Entertainment

I’m a germaphobe so I’m sure going to get more eccentric about this! Going to places, eating out, meeting people (especially who are not my close circle) in a month to come will be challenging 

Radhika Mendis, Fashion Designer

After we deal with the horror of the actual disease, for us living in a capitalist economy, the repercussions of predicted global economic recession would have to be the worst fear come true because we probably will have to say goodbye to a lot of pointless things we were basing our happiness on. However, in my family, my late mother in law, and my daughter too were already practicing a lifestyle of utmost simplicity- of vegetarianism and of avoiding pretty much anything processed if at all possible. In the last few years, we came willingly to a lifestyle that rejects such manufactured items as shampoo, beauty products, most detergents and anything in a plastic package. So frankly I have no fears there, that we will manage to be happy in future too if we have some vegetables. My hereditary diabetes is a bit of a worry since I may not have access to medications (I think the next 12 to 18 months will be chaotic) but I'm working on diets which will reduce the need for meds. Prefer to look on the bright side of it, now that I'm forced to face this painful transition. Let me assure you that as a librarian, I don't have much in the way of savings, so I'm not even thinking about the finance aspect of the near future. However, if it means that I am finally able to live in less hurried times, and have a simple lifestyle, maybe trying out some gardening, retiring and moving into teaching, then these were my plans anyway so I really should have nothing to fear, and everything to look forward to :-) 

For combatting anxiety, I strongly recommend listening to Sandaguru or to Eckhart Tolle's on YouTube, reading his book The Power of Now, and doing breathing exercises and heartfulness meditation - these have been invaluable to me. Much love and stay safe, everyone! 

Chandrika Gadiewasam, Writer and Librarian

Getting back to "normality" after this episode we as a whole    have faced will be challenging, no doubt!  But if history has taught us one thing is that we as an advanced race have always, whatever the adversities are thrown at us we will adapt, grow and become better, the realisation of our flaws, our insecurities, and our thought process, they'd all be heightened. Ones fear of social normality will change after going through such traumatic events but when cornered it's either you face it head-on or you sink.We are going to get through this together as now the earth heals, future generations will learn from their history books and so would we!

Wayne Onray

Running a home-based online business, the main fear is the loss of sales due to the after-effects of this pandemic crisis. Spending capacity is going to drop at a serious level. Also, as 95% of the goods which I sell are imported and due to the fact of the USD rate skyrocketing is going to further affect the sales as prices are going to increase. The next problem is getting down the supplies. Delays in delivery. Will have to come up with attractive sales strategies, which will be affordable to my customers. The only positive thing is that I have been communicating with my customers on a one on basis.it is the personnel touch that can revive your business. And my loyal clientele will always be with us. 

Asanka Melvanio, Founder of Dakini.lk

I think for me in terms of mental health it's more so uncertainty which leads to anxiousness which could lead to a panic attack. We will be walking into a very different world as soon as this is done.  2020 will be taken away by this virus, and thereafter, there'll be still safety precautions, limits in crowding, and people still living in fear. On top of that, I'm going into the job market this June, and nothing is certain there either. I'm in a country that's not giving any financial aid to international students. And after losing 3 jobs it's taken a toll on my mental standing. I feel burnt out all the time and thinking about a few months ahead whilst balancing full-time university, a part-time job and the live shows which take 8 hours of my day has been a lot. So I think yes it's scary. But we have to make a choice, do we choose fear or do we adapt to the new world and make the best out of it. 

Firms have to start paying attention to their employees well being more so than ever. Empathy was never a big thing, especially in Sri Lankan corporates. But now, to make sure employees have a good mindset and aren't anxious all the time, they have to find more ways of sustaining productivity. Less productivity is better than no productivity. For me, my productivity levels have gone down the drain, and my boss has reduced workload and taken some on to himself as well. So it's helping me cope with the situation. 

Sharan Velauthan, Student in Australia

The COVID 19 virus has certainly caused a large level of uncertainty in our lives with regard to our future plans. But with that being said, it is important that I stay positive and go along with changes but at the same time have a mindset where I know change is inevitable and that I should be prepared to make adjustments to my work life to suit the situation better.  Making plans that suit every possible income is another good method to keep in mind so that whatever happens post-COVID 19, I’ll be ready to face it as if it’s just another day in our lives.

Muditha Kapukotuwa, Student University of Kansas

I was initially concerned that this would affect my business in a negative way but I've begun to realize I could use this time to streamline and make my business more productive. I'm already thinking of ways how to run it more effectively once we get back to work. This also seems a time where we are also realizing where and who we are giving our priorities to, this is in terms of business and also our personal lives. I don't think we should fear this time but embrace it for what it is and look hopeful to the future.

Amrita Hapuarachchi, Founder of Armani

We face a historic crisis. We are forced to look at the future differently and look towards the new normal of life. Right now we are all in a dark tunnel of transition. This transition of leaving the old behind and embracing the new is unsettling for most of us and evokes an irrational fear. To slow down and believe that there is light at the end of this tunnel and embrace and reinvent the new is what will see us through. 

Aligning ourselves, to define true leadership at a time of crisis as we have no predefined response plan to follow. It’s a time to rise to the challenge and from a collective standpoint, an opportunity to create a mindset of abundance and love over fear and rebuild and do right by humanity and the environment.

Fazeena Rajabdeen, CEO Colombo Fashion Week 

Reflecting on changes made during the lockdown period may ease the fears of the post-COVID19 pessimism. If we make it through, having had food restrictions, anxieties over medical emergencies, increased online meetings, seamless days, interrupted days, online school projects, not seeing one's closest family for longer than we've ever done.... let's look to how resilient we really are! There will be price hikes, jobs lost, wage reductions for those lucky enough to keep their jobs, benefits cut, and in some cases starting all over again in a new way of life. A life-changing occurrence that will affect almost every survivor in the world! 

Yet, this comes with a short gift of more time with those closest and dearest to you, at home, forced to hear each one of your family members out! Time spent doing things you've never had to chance to do before... Time to reflect on how we could reduce our attention on matters material, and concentrate on things that would enhance our quality of life. Having more compassion, creating a wealth of tolerance, sharing the earth with other beings, and helping to reset the WORLD to being the rich wondrous place it is meant to be, for all of us... 

Nawamalika Wijeratne