Connect with us

News

HRCSL recommends guidelines on regularising quarantine processes

Published

on

…acknowledges need to restrict movements et al

Acknowledging the need to restrict freedom of movement and liberty of people in the interests of public health and public order during an extraordinary health emergency such as that facing the country at present, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has in a letter addressed to Health Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID 19 Outbreak, made a series of recommendations to address public concerns.

HRCSL Commissioner Ramani Muttettuwegama said that the Commission appreciated the efforts that were being made to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the country. The Commissioner said: “The Commission continues to recognise the need to restrict freedom of movement and liberty of people in the interests of public health and public order during an extraordinary health emergency such as that facing the country at present. The Commission has observed that a large number of persons have been subject to quarantine processes in view of the resurgence of the fear of spread of COVID-19 pandemic and has received a variety of complaints and expressions of concerns relating to the process.”

The Commissioner said: “The Commission has observed that a large number of persons have been subject to quarantine processes in view of the resurgence of the fear of spread of COVID-19 pandemic and has received a variety of complaints and expressions of concerns relating to the process. In this regard, the Commission welcomes confirmation that first contacts of the COVID-19 infected patients who were earlier sent to quarantine centres, will now be home quarantined. We are in agreement that quarantining persons to their home will be the best option.

Since it is incumbent on the Commission under Act No. 21 of 1996 to examine whether restrictions on liberty are compatible with our Constitution and international human rights obligations, having given due consideration to the concerns expressed by the general public, the Commission presents the following guidelines:”

The Commission is of the view that the quarantine process can be regularized under the law by:

(i) Transparency in delegation of powers by the “Proper Authority”;

(ii) Vest powers of testing on designated qualified personnel;

(iii) List the places designated as quarantine centres and the designating authority.

(iv) Clarify the period of required quarantining.

(v) Create a receipt system for quarantined persons including the reason for quarantine, the place they are being taken to and the length of isolation;

(vi) External scrutiny of quarantine centres, especially by the “proper authority”;

(vii) Prohibit those handling quarantine from informing the media of the proposed quarantining efforts, exposing those being quarantined to public gaze as though they were offenders rather than unfortunate victims of a virulent virus.

The Commission is also of the view the hardships imposed by the quarantining process can be ameliorated by:

(i) Ensuring quarantined period is considered paid/ duty leave;

(ii) Ensuring financial or any other assistance to families of those in quarantine;

(iii) The Grama Niladhari be immediately informed when a person is quarantined;

(iv) In the circumstances where the vulnerable dependents in the families are left behind due to quarantine process, the Grama Niladhari to ensure provision of all necessary support to vulnerable persons including alerting the proper authorities.

The Commission wishes to emphasize that nothing in these recommendations should be construed by any member of the public to act contrary to health guidelines issued by the public health authorities in regard to the COVID 19 pandemic or act in a manner that would be harmful to public health in general. The Commission also reiterates that placing the persons of first contact with COVID 19 patients under home quarantine will remove most of the concerns listed above but is issuing these recommendations in the event the  government wishes to establish quarantine processes again in the future.



Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Chilaw, Bingiriya, Halmillawewa, Panduwasnuwara, Gokarella, Kawudupelella, Koppaveli and Kirankulam about 12:12 noon. today (09)

Published

on

By

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from the 05th to 15th of April  this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (09th) are Chilaw, Bingiriya, Halmillawewa, Panduwasnuwara, Gokarella, Kawudupelella, Koppaveli and Kirankulam about 12:12 noon.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Heat Index at Caution Level in the  Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district

Published

on

By

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 4.30 p.m. on 08 April 2026, valid for 09 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the  Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.


Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Continue Reading

News

AG: Coal procurement full of irregularities

Published

on

AG S. Jayarathne

The Auditor General has warned that delays in coal procurement and continued reliance on suppliers of questionable standards could disrupt the supply of electricity.

The special audit report on coal imports was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (07) by Bimal Ratnayake, Leader of the House, at the commencement of proceedings.

However, Opposition MPs complained to Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne that copies of the report had not been distributed to Members of Parliament. Responding to the complaint, the Speaker said it was the responsibility of the Parliamentary Secretariat to ensure the report was provided to MPs.

The special audit, requested by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), examined the coal procurement process of the Lanka Coal Company for the Lakvijaya Power Plant and purchases planned for the 2025/2026 season.

The audit revealed several irregularities in the tender process. It found that the laboratory issuing quality reports at the loading port for the controversial supplier Trident Company had its licence cancelled. The report also disclosed that at the time advertisements were published calling for tenders,the company had not completed its registration but was awarded the tender. In addition, three other suppliers who had not confirmed their registration were allowed to submit bids.

Coal shipments for the Lakvijaya Power Plant are tested at both loading and unloading ports. According to the audit, Mitra SK South Africa had been appointed to conduct testing at the loading port, but due to the absence of accreditation the task was assigned to PT Mitra SK Analisa Testama Samarinda, an Indonesian firm whose licence had been cancelled on December 29, 2025. Auditor General S. Jayarathne has noted that the audit could not confirm whether the licence had been renewed by March 31, 2026, and that all 12 shipment reports issued at the loading port lacked accreditation.

The report has further pointed to discrepancies between loading port laboratory reports and data recorded at the plant’s main control unit. Despite the availability of alternative verification methods, the Lanka Coal Company failed to use them to confirm the accuracy of the reports.

The audit also highlighted that no coal shipments were brought to Sri Lanka between November 13 and December 30, 2025, despite the need to secure maximum stocks during that period.

As a result of the shortage, an emergency procurement was carried out on March 18 this year, selecting Taranjot Resource Pvt Ltd. as the supplier. However, the Auditor General revealed that this company had failed within the previous 36 months to supply coal with the required calorific value of 5,900 or above to the Lakvijaya Power Plant.

The report warns that delays in coal imports and dependence on suppliers with questionable standards could adversely affect the continuous supply of electricity from the plant.

The National Audit Office of Sri Lanka has further estimated that the use of substandard coal has caused losses amounting to nearly Rs. 2.24 billion.

According to the report, losses incurred from individual shipments included more than Rs. 160 million from the first vessel (consignment No. 456), over Rs. 90 million from the second vessel (No. 457), more than Rs. 310 million from the third vessel (No. 458), and over Rs. 150 million from the fourth vessel (No. 459). Additional losses included nearly Rs. 180 million from the fifth vessel (No. 460), about Rs. 30 million from the sixth vessel (No. 461), over Rs. 240 million from the seventh vessel (No. 462), more than Rs. 390 million from the eighth vessel (No. 463) and over Rs. 390 million from the tenth vessel (No. 464).

The report has also noted that because the available coal stocks cannot generate electricity at the plant’s full capacity of 300 megawatts, additional power may have to be obtained from alternative sources. The estimated additional energy requirement for this purpose is 76,354,087 kilowatt-hours, the report has pointed out.

By Saman Indrajith

Continue Reading

Trending