Sumanthiran stresses need for proper laws to tackle public health emergency

By Saman Indrajith

TNA Jaffna District MP MA Sumanthiran told Parliament yesterday that the issues related to importation of rapid antigen test kits were due to the absence of proper laws to deal with public health emergencies.

 Participating in the adjournment debate on COVID-19 second wave, the MP said that the health sector, particularly the public health sector, had often asked for laws that could help deal with such situations. “I heard state minister Jayasumana used the phrase ‘public health emergencies’ several times in his speech.

We don’t have a law to deal with public health emergencies. We have outdated laws like the Auarantine Act. etc. Laws are insufficient to deal with the current crisis. I will deal with only one example, the issue of this quarantine curfew. On May 3 I wrote to the Human Rights Commission expressing the view that lockdowns and curfews were necessary at certain times, times like this. But we don’t have sufficient glows to deal with this and what is being done is not lawful.

“On June 8 the Human Rights Commission wrote to the Secretary to the President and sent me a copy of that letter making certain recommendations. In that letter, they have very clearly stated that what is being imposed in the country calling it curfew is not lawful. We need laws.”

The government has been advised under the Human Rights Commission Act section 10 officially. They analysed all the laws in the country at present and made certain recommendations.

“There is no proper law to deal with this public health emergency. Even with regard to the importation of rapid antigen test kits, and all of that, all these issues have arisen because there are no proper laws.

Finally, this is the month of November in which the people in the world over remember fallen heroes who have participated in wars. Our country has also had to unfortunately go through a three-decade war. But our parents are not allowed to remember their dead. I urge the government in this debate because I believe the authorities are using Covid-19 as a ruse to stop people from visiting the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried.”