Features

‘Nobody is safe until everyone is safe’

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/2

The world faces a ‘catastrophic moral failure’ because of unequal COVID vaccine policies. With more than 80% of the COVID vaccines being given in high and upper-middle income countries, low-income nations are left at the receiving end with just 0.5 percent.

The inequitable distribution of vaccines have left the poor nations in the lurch and if the rich countries ‘keep their vaccine promises, the pandemic can end,’ observes the Director General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus.

Randima Attygalle speaks to Dr. Palitha Abeykoon, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General’s Special Envoy to facilitate the COVID-19 response in Southeast Asia, for the latest developments of the pandemic which has taken a new shape, pushing countries to deploy new management strategies. Following are excerpts:

Q: With new COVID variants emerging, what are the predictions for both the world and us in the next few weeks and months and what precautions are encouraged?

Considering the factors and trends in other parts of the world, particularly in India, we can talk of certain potentials. As a country, we managed both the first and the second waves relatively well with a ‘whole of society approach’; people and the government stakeholders, particularly the frontline health workers and defense personnel working together, standing on the same side. However, with the onset of the recent festive season, this ‘whole of society’ approach was slackened leading to this spike we are experiencing right now. Even in the case of India with some mammoth super-spreader events and dropping of the guard including non-observance of simple health protocols, a spike was inevitable. We are only hoping that it is only a spike and not a surge, both locally and globally.

Here at home, if the number of infected cases does not rise rapidly in the next two weeks, our health sector will be able to manage the situation, albeit with considerable strain, but if the numbers do not come down by the middle of next week or so, it will certainly lead to a deeply worrying situation.

The evidence we have now reflects, (unlike in the first or second round), that the UK Variant of Concern (B1.117) is now established in Sri Lanka and with this virus the transmission is more efficient, more young people are infected, more serious complications are developed with more patients requiring oxygen and ICU facilities. If numbers increase, we will have a problem with capacity. The health sector is now setting up intermediate centers to isolate and treat patients, however, it will be a big strain on the system. Although we were fortunate to have vaccinated our frontline health workers and other personnel, we should not forget that they are working round the clock and are physically and even mentally exhausted. The logistical demands and shortcomings are an added burden on them.

The world still does not know enough about COVID 19 variants or the way the virus behaves, hence extreme precautions are necessary. The University of Jayewardenapura is doing a splendid job isolating the variants, particularly the variants of concern. We will need to do more sequencing which is a very expensive exercise. However, we cannot afford to neglect that also. There has been concern that some of the variants are not completely covered by some of the vaccines available; but this should not be much of a worry as the vaccines we use do give adequate protection, particularly preventing serious complications and death. Random testing in high transmission areas should also be given more muscle.

There is also this recent story in a reputed journal gaining ground that transmission is through aerosols in addition to being through droplets but research is still in process to establish it. In any event the key measures needed for preventing transmission in either case would be similar and are now well known.

Q: What lessons can we draw from India’s predicament?

India is alerting us that ‘no one is safe unless everyone is safe.’ Being a large player in the drugs and pharmaceutical industry, India is today struggling to meet their health demands. With havoc in Delhi and Maharashtra, they do not have sufficient personal protection equipment, oxygen etc. We need to be mindful that the Indian situation can affect our supplies as well as we are a major importer of Indian pharmaceuticals and equipment.

Today the Indian health system is burnt out and this is an eye opener for us. We need to endeavour to prevent the Indian variant entering Sri Lanka and do more sequencing to determine if the new Indian variant (B. 1.617) which seems more virulent and produces serious complications, has entered the country.

In the past few weeks, we have been too lax and let our hair down too early and easily. The situation in India should push us to strengthen our ‘risk communication’ to the public.

Q: Do you think there is a need for tighter inter-province travel restrictions right now because despite warnings, people from ‘red zones’ such as Colombo still tend to flock into outstations?

Yes, certainly there should be certain restrictions. In a country where the majority are daily wage earners, we cannot afford to go down for a long lock down risking the livelihood of thousands. What is needed is a balancing act for which selective lockdowns which are now in force and travel restrictions as indicated. There should also be other restrictions with regard to assembly, any type of gathering or ceremony and these restrictions should be strictly enforced. It is urgent that the transmission from ‘red zones’ to other ‘not-so vulnerable regions’ is suppressed. I reiterate that we cannot afford to overwhelm our health sector exceeding its capacities.

Q: What is the overall success rate of the vaccination programme world over?

It is very clear that the countries which vaccinated more than 50% of their populations have demonstrated a lesser number of cases. In fact Israel has achieved nearly 85% of a roll out – the first country to achieve such a large number – and it is considered to have achieved ‘herd immunity’ and able to relax the earlier restrictions. For a while Israel has been reporting a very few cases and this is an example to the rest of the world. Even in England, the number of cases has come down, and can be attributed in some measure to the impact of the vaccination program, and so is the case in some of the states in the U.S.

Q: Many malpractices and managerial drawbacks were witnessed when the first dose of the Covax vaccine was locally administered. How important is it not to replicate these during a possible second roll out?

If the programme stuck to its original mandate of vaccinating the frontline personnel and those over 60 years, it would have been much more successful because still the world over, most number of cases and deaths are reported among the elderly. With the initial mandate shifting from senior citizens, some people attempted to take advantage of the vaccination program and this was unfortunate. So prioritizing of the elderly and those with co -morbidities in the next phase of the program is still a must. We also need to prioritize factory workers and those who contribute significantly to the economy and among whom the spread of the infection is common.

Q: There is concern over the second dose with a possible shortage of vaccines. Where do we stand in this backdrop?

Still there is an uncertainty about the quantity of the second doses which will be available, and whether we will receive these in time. I am aware of the efforts made by those responsible to ensure supplies for the second dose. We have already got around 600,000 doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine which is awaiting WHO Emergency Use Listing which is likely to be obtained by the second week of May. (Our regulations require either WHO clearance or another similar stringent authority’s clearance for the administration of a new vaccine). We are also expecting the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in the next few weeks. With the possible arrival of these vaccines, we should be in a much better position within the next four to five weeks support the control of the spike to a limited extent and expand the vaccination program simultaneously.

Q: What are the other South East Asian countries which come under your purview that administer Chinese vaccinations and the Russian Sputnik V?

The Maldives started administering the Chinese Sinopharm in small doses about two weeks ago. This vaccine was also gifted to Nepal and just a few days ago they commenced their roll out. Indonesia is using the other Chinese vaccine- Sinovac. Pakistan is using both Sinopharm and Sinovac. The Sputnik V is not yet being used in the region but it is likely that it will also soon get into the regional vaccine portfolio. Beyond the South East Asian region, the Chinese vaccines are also being used in the UAE, many South American countries and in certain parts of Africa.

Q: Bhutan is considered a model in COVID management efforts. Can you throw more light on this?

It is indeed a model. Bhutan illustrates well how an enlightened leadership and a disciplined and sensible population managed to mitigate the risks and prevent the transmission and spread of the disease in the country. Bhutan prevented the infection coming into the country for a long time but it eventually did arrive there from the borders of her ‘big brothers.’ Nevertheless, they have been very successful in suppressing the virus. So far the country has only reported less than a thousand cases and just one death. It is also a country which has already vaccinated nearly 70% of their population, more than many of the developed countries. This is quite a feat.

Q: WHO Chief has expressed his concerns about the inequitable distribution of vaccines. In his recent report which appeared in the New York Times he had noted that if the rich nations ‘keep their vaccine promises, the pandemic can end.’ What are your thoughts?

Although the rich countries talk of ‘One-health, universal health coverage’ etc. they have left only very few vaccines for the poor countries. More than 80% of the vaccines are found in the rich countries. This is a very sad situation and the rich countries should now ‘make a choice’ as the WHO Director General remarked. The ACT Accelerator (Access to COVID-19 Tools) was set up by a number of organizations including the WHO and European Commission and several more global bodies to enable tools such as vaccines, drugs, supplies and equipment to fight the pandemic. In fact the WHO has developed a fair allocation formula through the Covax facility. This global collaboration has worked to a large extent with regard to everything other than the vaccine distribution that was iniquitous. This is a serious problem and apart from the ethics and social justice, the rich countries should realize before it’s too late that they are not going to be safe until others are also safe. In economic terms alone too, the global economy cannot recover if there are serious disparities in vaccine coverage and it is a false economy for countries to do it alone.

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Features

Proactive peacemaking becomes a paramount need

Published

22 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Wasting wars: Some war-displaced people in Lebanon. BBC

It may be some time before the full impact of food inflation is felt in the West. Until such time the world would continue to keep itself in suspense over whether the Trump administration is in earnest when it seeks to convey the impression that it is backing a negotiated solution in West Asia.

As is usually the case, consumer stress would be one of the final determinants of political change. To the degree to which the average US consumer somehow ‘muddles through’ and puts the food on the table, to the same extent would the Republican sections of the US public in particular be tolerant of the Trump administration’s inconsistent handling of the West Asian war and the main issues stemming from it. That is, there would be no grave popular disaffection and a demand for political change in the short term.

However, the indications are that the Trump administration’s support base is suffering some erosion in the wake of the current economic crisis. While reports indicate that Democratic sections are firming-up their opposition to the political centre, Republican support for Trump is also showing signs of waning, we are given to understand.

The above developments are probably why Trump is on record as having given Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a ‘dressing down’ recently on his seeming intransigence on the question of giving negotiations a chance in West Asia. The show of displeasure could be really aimed by Trump at containing the impatience of the American public.

However, the current ground situation in the Middle East, particularly the uncontained bloodshed, is likely to impress on the thinking sections of the world that more than temporary political change is needed in West Asia and the US.

A well thought out political solution that addresses all the contentious issues at the heart of the Middle East conflict is what enlightened opinion would demand, and very rightly. Right now, the ‘peace efforts’ initiated by the Trump administration give the impression of being piecemeal solutions at best.

There have been, of course, numerous initiatives in the past aimed at bringing permanent peace to the Middle East. These failed mainly because they did not address in full the root causes of the conflict.

At bottom the Middle East conflict is mainly about race and religious hate bred by socio-economic and material inequalities. For instance, if the Palestinian people were not displaced and deprived of land occupied by them at the time of the founding of the Israeli state, ethnic enmities would not have grown to the current unmanageable proportions.

When addressing the above questions, though, it must be remembered that the Israelis too were a displaced people who were entitled to land and a state of their own in the Middle East. Basically, out of these seemingly irreconcilable and conflicting demands have grown the Middle East imbroglio.

Middle East peace is considerably about reconciling these demands and arriving at a solution that would ensure the creation of two states that would opt for peaceful co-existence thereafter.

As long as the US does not see the need for a non-partisan solution that addresses the needs of both ethnicities and religions and goes all-out, as it were, to have it implemented, the Middle East would continue to bleed.

However, staunching the blood flow through the creation of two states would be only half the job done, though a very important part of it. More pernicious, pervasive and difficult to remedy are the inter-ethnic and inter-religious hatreds that have been unleashed over the decades.

However, if substantial, long-lasting peace is to be fostered in the region the latter ‘demons’ would need to be exorcised from the hearts and minds of the communities concerned. No doubt an uphill task but one that must be undertaken by those who wish the region well.

The UN would need to put its ‘best foot forward’ in such undertakings but it is time that it dawned on the international community and other caring quarters that Middle East peace, and all other such uphill challenges, require proactive peacemaking on the part of all civilized sections for their effective management. That is, public involvement in peacemaking too is a must.

Since hatreds are harboured in the human consciousness the enmities embedded in the latter need to be managed and defused judiciously alongside other undertakings in a peace process. In the case of West Asia, such enmities could be even spread globe-wide besides being multi-dimensional. For instance, it ought to be thought-provoking that Iran is insistent on a peace initiative that would also include Lebanon.

Besides security considerations it is also ethnic and religious affiliations that account for Iran making this demand. For instance, the Shias are a numerically important religious community in Lebanon and they provide a significant number of Hizbollah fighters, who are in a vital sense carrying out a ‘proxy war’ for Iran. It also needs to be factored in that Iran is a Shia-majority country.

Thus trans-border religious affiliations could add to the complexities and enormity of ethno-religious conflicts. However, the task of managing centuries-long enmities needs to be launched and prodded on with by peacemakers since a downing of arms alone would not guarantee substantive peace.

It is not realized sufficiently that the process of ending hatreds begins with mutual apologies by antagonists to a conflict for the harm inflicted on each other. This would be anathema in some ears but there is no getting away from the requirement. It is the vital first step to permanent peace anywhere.

In fact there could be no reconciliation worth speaking of without such mutual apologies. It is a point worth re-iterating in these times when even the government of Sri Lanka is voicing the need for national reconciliation. Well, without the words, ‘I am sorry’, there could be no permanent end to enmities – they would do well to remember.

The above requirements may not go down very well with governments, but they resonate in the hearts and minds of most people, since they are inheritors of religious traditions of some kind.

This is a principal reason why peacemaking works well when publics too are involved in them. The effectiveness of such campaigns increases several fold when they have a Mahatma Gandhi or a Jawaharlal Nehru at their helm. A strong proactive involvement by the public in peace could lead to the emergence of such leaders at some point in these campaigns.

Features

Dialog Brings Sri Lanka’s Largest Digital Vesak Experience to Matara

Published

22 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

From left to right: Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, and Lasantha Theverapperuma experience the Dialog 5G Ultra-powered VR tours.

Official Digital Partner of the 2026 ‘Dakshina Prabha’ National Vesak Zone

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, collaborated with the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to bring one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most technologically advanced Vesak experiences to the ‘Dakshina Prabha’ National Vesak Zone. The three-day celebration, in Matara attracted more than hundred thousand visitors, who engaged with a series of innovative digital activities powered by Dialog 5G Ultra, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, digital pandols and a Data Dansala. The opening ceremony was attended by Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, along with distinguished guests and Dialog’s senior management.

One of the key attractions at the venue was the Dialog 5G Ultra-powered Virtual Reality (VR) experience, which attracted more than 35,000 participants. The activation enabled devotees to virtually visit and pay homage to sacred Buddhist sites, including the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in India and the Atamasthana in Anuradhapura, directly from the Vesak zone in Matara.

Visitors receive complimentary mobile data through Dialog’s QR-powered Data Dansala.

Dialog also conducted an AI Digital Vesak Greeting Card Competition from 21 May to 01 June 2026, attracting numerous entries from across the country. The shortlisted designs were showcased across 20 large LED screens throughout the venue and across Matara City, and were also made available for download via mobile devices. Further, through the use of AI, traditional Jathaka Katha were reimagined in a digital format, demonstrating how technology can be used to preserve and enhance cultural and religious heritage. Together, these initiatives blended traditional Vesak celebrations with emerging technologies, offering visitors a unique and immersive way to engage with Vesak traditions.

Extending the spirit of Vesak through connectivity, Dialog conducted a special Data Dansala powered by its QR Reload platform, enabling visitors to receive complimentary mobile data by scanning QR codes placed across the venue. In addition to the Matara National Vesak Zone, similar Data Dansala activations were also conducted at the Gangaramaya and Bauddhaloka Vesak zones in Colombo.Visitors also had the opportunity to create personalised Vesak-themed digital photos through an AI Photo Booth, generating AI-enhanced portraits using their own photographs and adding a contemporary digital element to the Vesak celebrations.

Visitors watch AI-generated Jathaka Katha

Commenting on the initiative, Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, said, “The 2026 Dakshina Prabha Vesak Festival marked the first time AI-powered digital innovations were incorporated into a National Vesak Festival in Sri Lanka. Presenting Buddhist stories and teachings through technology created a new and engaging way for visitors to connect with these traditions. We thank Dialog for supporting this initiative and for working closely with us to bring our vision to life. Their contribution played an important role in making this first-of-its-kind event a reality.”

Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “We thank the Government of Sri Lanka for the opportunity to support the 2026 Dakshina Prabha National Vesak Festival and for embracing technology as part of this year’s celebrations. As the Official Digital Partner, we were privileged to contribute through our Dialog 5G Ultra and AI capabilities, creating new ways for visitors to engage with Vesak traditions while preserving their cultural significance for future generations.”

Beyond supporting the National Vesak Zone in Matara, Dialog also enhanced the Gangaramaya and Bauddhaloka Vesak zones through a range of digital activations during the Vesak season. The company additionally continued its sustainability initiatives, including the Thirasara Aloka Poojawa, which illuminated rural places of worship through solar-powered lighting solutions.

Features

Beauty, elegance and talent…for women

Published

22 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Universal Woman is an international pageant focused on “beauty, elegance, and talent” for women, positioning itself as a platform to shape global ambassadors. The 2026 edition will be held in Cambodia, and Sri Lanka will be there, as well.

According to reports coming my way, contestants, at the international event, will work with industry trailblazers, under international standards.

Sri Lankan supermodel, runway and pageant trainer Chulpadmendra Kumarapathirana, is the National Director for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026.

With over two decades in the industry, Chula was crowned Miss Sri Lanka 2006, and has since shaped the next generation of titleholders through her Colombo-based Chulpadmendra Catwalk Studio, widely regarded as one of the country’s leading modelling academies.

The team behind Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026

A former host of Derana Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World 2008 and a judge for Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2025, Chula now serves as National Director for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026, leading the franchise’s search for Sri Lanka’s delegate to the international final in Cambodia.

Applications for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 are being taken, via WhatsApp: 077 659 4994, says Chula.

The judging panel for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 includes Senaka De Silva, Pageant Aesthetic Advisor & Chairperson of the Judging Panel, Angela Seneviratne, Caroline Jurie, Rozelle Plunkett, and Suraj Mapa.

Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 officially began its journey with a first round of auditions, held in Colombo, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in Sri Lanka’s pageant industry.

Launching the first round of auditions

The platform aims to empower women while selecting an intelligent, confident, and inspiring representative to compete at the Universal Woman International Pageant 2026 in Cambodia, this September.

Universal Woman Sri Lanka now moves forward with the vision of creating one of the country’s most prestigious and empowering pageants while preparing to crown a queen who will proudly represent Sri Lanka on the international stage.