Quaking fears caused by tourists from Covid infected Ukraine

Cass was well aware we were in the second wave of Covid-19 infection with a Ukrainian pilot bringing in a more ferociously spreading variant which spread to the Brandix factory and Peliyagoda fish market, but she managed to muster hope that the dawn of 2021 would usher in a decline of the wave and also rejuvenate those who govern us and those of the Presidential Task Force to regain the strength they exhibited when the pandemic first came to Sri Lanka, of course minus Dr Jasinghe, who we all admired but was given a kick to serve in a Ministry alien to him, his training and proven ability. So there was a glimmer of hope and a lessoning of gloom and doom. But, and here is the damning BUT – optimism was doused, hopes crushed and expectation from powers that be to lead the country to overcome the wave was dashed and smashed. Utter despondency descended when hordes of Ukrainian tourists were welcomed at the Mattala airport with dance and drums and Udayanga Weeratunge prominently present. Cases against him seem to have been won or set aside. Cass does not know whether the Minister of Tourism was present or not, but he fully endorsed the tourist invasion – test case as they labeled it. We lost all confidence in Prasanna Ranatunge after he threw pots in a river a la Pavithradevi. Did he also smack his lips with the kapurala’s goddess given peniya? Now he is accomplice to endangering the country with the further, rapid spread of the Ukranian variant of Covid 19.

Evil holes to pick in the Ukrainian tourist influx

This despondency descended on Cass, one totally unimportant Sri Lankan, but the gloom she greeted the New Year with was shared by millions; these being genuinely concerned about the country and its people. Our feelings are important. We won’t forget.

Cass questioned the wisdom of the move – testing the water of tourism – as far too soon with the second wave of Covid-19 in full force. And the country selected: Ukraine with a per capita income less than ours and a very fertile ground for a deadlier mutation of C19. She questioned in her previous Cry whether the Tourist Board had given its consent and was involved. Monday 4th night’s TV I news telecast; and Tuesday 5th The Island and TV shown debates in Parliament justifies her doubts. Headline: “Row over Ukrainian tourists deepens as visiting English cricketer also tests corona positive: British Airways flight allowed in regardless of ban”. I leave out the cricket business as it is a small number who’ve arrived, surely minus their boisterous Barmy Army of cheerers. But the Ukrainian tourists are an entirely different danger, so large in number and so many health guidelines disregarded. Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT) Chairperson, Kimarli Fernando, in no uncertain terms said required info had not been supplied to them vis a vis this blatant act of getting hordes of tourists. She was brave as she named a close relative of the R family with very special privileges. Hence the glaring hole to pick is that SLT was not consulted nor its permission received. We disregard the Minister’s approval.

Rules and stipulations about precautions to be followed seem to have been thrown to the winds. The Ukrainians arrived with many not wearing face masks. No two weeks or even 10 days quarantine for them. They were traipsing around all over the island and visiting major sites. The worst is that Yala jeep drivers who seem to have been forced to drive the batches in, had to then undergo two weeks quarantine. What on earth is this? Is it God dictating things? And we often see on TV police stopping people who do not cover half their faces and fine them.

The worst is that these tourists did not bring much forex to the island either. Black money? A news item reported that hotels were bargained with and prices lowered drastically. Why on earth? At least earn a fat lot while endangering the entire country and more so hotel and site workers.

There really is much rot and disaster brought on the country by people who are not within official systems exploiting us. Udayanga Weeratunge is well known!

Further input to Cass’ protest was forthcoming. Minister of Tourism admitted he had been remiss in not demanding a detailed itinerary of this batch of Ukrainian tourists. An early morning reading of newspapers had one TV channel reading from a paper that quoted an interview a Swarnavahini reporter had with Udayanga Weeratunge. When told that people comment he should be quarantined for two weeks, he said he did not mind it with the beauties from Ukraine. Ha! Ha! (bitterly). Cass had a friend phoning her that when she was touring Britain, she was warned by several to beware very pretty European girls travelling around. “They are Ukrainian girls and given to pickpocketing and ….” She noticed they unnecessarily crowded bodily touching her husband! (Forgive the gossip! We need this and laughing to alleviate our deep worry and concern).

We earnestly hope, nay demand, as everything is done for us the people, politicians say; that this test case of bringing in Ukrainian tourists is THE VERY LAST.

Vaccination

Cass meant to write that while no decision or no moves have been made to get a vaccine rolling in this fair land, dangerous tourists are brought in hordes. However, a doctor involved in this kind of medicine who appeared in the Face the Nation programme on TV I Monday January 4, said that committees were studying the various vaccines available and would soon submit recommendations. We hope these will be taken serious note of and a decision made on them and not a stubborn decision by one person; or politicized. Public hands are raised for the Oxford vaccine. Cass hopes this was the most highly recommended by the doctors who know what they recommend, and the government will follow their recommendation.

We have excellent experts who advise or are able at advice. Are they being hearkened to? Or does the Minister of Health like a puppet move when strings are pulled, in between endorsing cults, quacks and cures. Excellent all encompassing article in The Island of Monday 4 by Dr LakKumar Fernando – How can Sri Lanka benefit? Insights and solutions detailing all issues connected with vaccinating our population. Dr Upul Wijayawardha calling out to the Prez comments choice of Lalith Weeratunge to be in charge of vaccination programme is good.

So, there are slight streaks among the dark clouds of doom and the devious. Thank goodness – there are honest, loyal Sri Lankans against so many crooks! Hope the former are hearkened and followed while indulgence of the latter ceases.