JVP Colombo municipal members urge govt. to provide slum dwellers with face masks

JVP CMC member Hemantha Weerakoon flanked by fellow party councilors Mohamed Nishabdeen and Rohana Weerasinghe addressing the media in Colombo yesterday.

By Saman Indrajith

JVP Colombo Municipal Council members yesterday called on the government to provide people living in the slum areas of the city with face masks free of charge because they could not afford them.

Addressing the media in Colombo, JVP CMC member Hemantha Weerakoon said that people living in the Colombo city limits were a high risk group. “One third of the COVID-19 deaths have been reported from within Colombo City limits. Those living in slums are exposed to danger. Although the government instructs them to practice physical distancing they cannot do that because their dwelings are tiny.

About 100-120 families are living small areas called ‘wattes’. Most of the time, several families share a single toilet. It is not practical just to tell them to wear face masks, because they have no money to buy them. If the government at least provides them with facemasks the number of infected can be reduced.”

“One of the main reasons for the spread is the high population density in the Colombo city. Recently, there was PCR testing at Jampettah Street on 300 persons, and 176 of them tested positive.

Municipal Councilor Weerakoon said that around 200 CMC workers had been infected and their families had to undergo quarantine. “Soon, there will be a situation when we won’t be able to maintain Municipal services. Already collecting garbage has become an issue. In some cases drug addicts have been hired to collect garbage and there is the danger of the virus spreading through them.

JVP CMC members Mohamed Nishabdeen and Rohana Weerasinghe also addressed the media.