Kiriella takes up call by clergy for early vaccination

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella and Colombo District SJB MP Dr Harsha de Silva meeting Ven Ittepane Dhammalankara Nayaka Thera in Kottawa yesterday

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella yesterday called on the government to make arrangements to give priority to members of the Maha Sangha and clergy of other religions in Covid vaccination programmes.

Speaking to the media after meeting with Ven Ittepane Dhammalankara Nayaka Thera, MP Kiriella said that his party requested from the government to give priority to bhikkhus, members of the Catholic clergy, Kurukkal of kovils and Moulavis of mosques in giving the covid vaccine. “The religious leaders made the request in that regard. All religious leaders are rendering a huge service by helping people to stay calm in this situation. Their service should be appreciated. They should be given priority in the vaccination programme,” MP Kiriella said.

He said the government had neglected the upcountry areas, specially the Kandy district, in its vaccination project. “PCR tests are not conducted. It is sad to say that the entire central province has only a single PCR machine. We call on the government to pay more attention to Kandy because that area is only second to Colombo in terms of vulnerability,” the MP said.

Kiriella said that Ven Dhammalankara Nayaka Thera had been informed of the government’s plan to rush the Colombo Port City Commission Bill in Parliament. “We have asked the government to postpone the Bill being debated in Parliament. Yet the government seems to be adamant in its plans to move ahead and get the Bill passed soon. We seek the intervention of the Maha Sangha to suspend this process for some time,” MP Kiriella said.

Colombo District SJB MP Dr Harsha de Silva was also present.