Connect with us

News

Work with people to defeat Covid-19

Published

5 years ago

on

by Jehan Perera

The sudden resurgence of the Covid pandemic in Sri Lanka was totally unexpected by the people at large though it was expected and predicted by those in the scientific and medical communities. The people had been reassured by the political leaders and sections of the media that Sri Lanka was a success story unlike other countries, including more developed ones that had been devastated by the pandemic. However, the country had received an early warning in the second wave which had commenced in October last year with the spread that was believed to have originated in the garment industry. But much before this the country’s top medical associations had been warning that community spread of the coronavirus had already commenced. These warnings were neither heard nor acted upon by the vast majority of the population. The mainstream view, until the shock of the third wave in April, was that Sri Lanka was a success in Covid management.

Sri Lanka enjoyed undoubted success in combatting the first wave of the coronavirus, with the participation of the security forces in implementing the lockdown and tracing of persons infected by the coronavirus. This success seems to have given rise to the misperception that the country was secure enough in terms of Covid control to give priority to the revival of the economy. But there was a big information gap between the appearance and the reality that swayed the governmental decision-makers. There can be no other explanation for their failure to heed the warnings that came from the medical and scientific community in the week, prior to the New Year shopping and holiday season.

Scholars, who have studied disasters that have afflicted human beings over the millennia, have noted that lack of proper information was often at the centre of those tragedies that might have been averted. Famines have taken place in many parts of the world and have led to millions of deaths that need not have happened. There was sufficient food stocks in other parts of the world, sometimes in the country itself, that could have been sent to the areas that did not have food. The Bengal famine of 1943 in British India is an example. The policy failures began with the provincial government’s denial that a famine existed. There was a breakdown in the lines of communication that could have led to food supplies from areas, where food stocks existed, being sent to the areas with short supply. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_famine_of_1943)

Since the successful containment of the first wave of Covid by the strict policy of lockdown and curfew adopted by the government, the restoration of the economy has been its first priority. The economy and people’s livelihoods received a severe battering during the two-month long lockdown. The Covid spread was contained but the economy shrank by more than it ever has in the post-independence period. The government gained the appreciation of the general population and the international community for its success in containing Covid. But the downturn in the economy needed to be restored which is what the business advisors of the government set out to do.

Unnecessarily risky

In retrospect,some of the government’s decisions, taken to revive the economy appear to have been unnecessarily risky in terms of containing the Covid spread. One was the partial reopening of tourism industry which led to an influx of tourists from countries that had poor track records of containing the pandemic, most notably Ukraine and India. These tourists were meant to arrive in a “bubble” and depart having toured the country in a “bubble” but even with these most stringent precautions it seems to have paved the way for new Covid variants to have taken root in the country. More recently there was media exposure given to a variety of “quarantine tourism” from badly affected countries from which the wealthier people wished to temporarily take a respite. The actions of government ministers in pouring “sacred water” into rivers to forestall the pandemic and their imbibing of a special “Covid herbal concoction” to protect against the virus was not based on science, professional advice and rationality that the country needs its decisionmakers to follow.

In these circumstances, it seems unfair that the blame for the resurgence of the Covid pandemic should be put on the people themselves who are charged with being negligent in their duties to take care of themselves and of others. Shock and awe treatment of ordinary citizens who were not taking the Covid pandemic seriously was witnessed on a video clip that were released of the police apprehending people who did not wear masks in commando-style. The videoing of the operations was done with precision and widely circulated on the media for maximum impact. The videos show police personnel in Covid protective clothing going into crowded urban areas, apprehending offenders who are not using masks properly, carrying them physically and bundling them inside parked buses to be taken to be charged. Such governmental actions can breed resentments that grow with the passage of time. The danger is also that the security forces may be induced to act similarly in other situations, too.

 

FRAUGHT TIMES

For the past year, after the success of the government in controlling the first wave of coronavirus, the people at large have been made to believe that the government has everything under control and that Sri Lanka has certain unique conditions that will spare it the fate of other countries. The recent police operations in different parts of the country to apprehend members of the general public who were either not wearing their face masks at all, or improperly by not covering their noses, suggests an intention to instill the importance of following health guidelines in the people. It would have been better if these police actions had been done consistently throughout the period, and by police in the course of their regular duties, such as during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities in different parts of the country.

It needs to be kept in mind that these are very fraught times in which the majority of people are struggling to make ends meet. Due to the economic downturn many of them have lost their jobs or are getting only a part of their salaries. According to the World Bank, “With jobs lost and earnings reduced, especially in urban areas and among private sector employees and informal workers, the $3.20 poverty rate is projected to have increased from 9.2 percent in 2019 to 11.7 percent in 2020.” (https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/04/09/sri-lankan-economy-recovers) Daily wage labourers find it harder to get daily work as potential employers do not wish to give them work and hire them for fear of Covid infection. Those who are fortunate enough to have their children attending schools with online teaching have all to meet extra expenses such as phone data charges for their children’s education.

At the same time as there is public resistance to a lockdown there is fear and apprehension about contracting Covid and the health consequences in a situation where the hospitals are full and not able to accept more patients. In these circumstances there can be pent up anger within society that can suddenly come to the fore. The government needs to take these tensions within people into account when it designs its responses to the unfolding crisis. Instead of demonstrating the punitive powers of the state machinery there could be an emphasis on messages of care from the government to the people. The government could take the people into its confidence and educate them about the true situation with regard to Covid spread and what can be done in partnership to mitigate it. It needs to come up with economic support schemes, such as the Rs 5000 dole or food coupons for the poor, that will make the people ready for a lockdown. A democratic polity will seek to inform, educate and work with the people to overcome any crisis the country faces.


Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Ex-lawmakers group calls for IPU’s intervention to check “irregularities” in Parliament

Published

9 hours ago

on

2026/04/18

By

Association of Former Members of Parliament of Sri Lanka has requested the Inter-Parliamentary Union to inquire into, what the group calls, institutional irregularities in Parliament.

The Association cited the decision taken by the Attorney General not to appear for Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremeratne, in a case filed in the Court of Appeal by sacked Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, to underscore the need for IPU’s intervention.

The following is the text of the letter signed by former JVP MP Premasiri Manage, on behalf of the Association:  We write to Your Excellency on behalf of the Association of Former Members of Parliament of Sri Lanka, an independent body representing former legislators who have served the Parliament of Sri Lanka across successive administrations. The Association is committed to upholding democratic values, parliamentary traditions, institutional integrity, and the rule of law within Sri Lanka’s governance framework. It is with grave concern that we bring to your attention a series of developments that, in our respectful view, seriously undermine parliamentary democracy, administrative fairness, and institutional independence in Sri Lanka.

1. Unlawful Cancellation of Parliamentary Pensions

The present Government of Sri Lanka has, through actions that we consider both unlawful and unethical, cancelled the pension entitlements of former Members of Parliament. This decision appears to have been taken arbitrarily, without adherence to established legal principles, legitimate expectations, or due process, thereby undermining the dignity and security of those who have served in the national legislature.

2. Illegal and Malicious Interdiction of the Deputy Secretary General of Parliament

We wish to draw urgent attention to the interdiction of the Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, which raises serious concerns regarding abuse of authority and interference in administrative due process. According to material presently before the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka (CA/Writ Application No. 109/2026), the interdiction:

• Was imposed through the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Committee (PSAC), which lacks lawful authority to exercise such disciplinary powers, rendering the action ultra vires;

• Was based on a preliminary inquiry conducted without proper legal mandate, thereby invalidating the process from its inception;

• Was not the result of an independent administrative determination, but was carried out following the direct personal intervention and influence of Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne;

• Appears to have been driven by personal and retaliatory considerations, amounting to a malicious exercise of authority rather than a lawful disciplinary process.

Importantly, it is also noted that the Attorney General of Sri Lanka has withdrawn from appearing on behalf of the Hon. Speaker in the related proceedings, reportedly in view of serious procedural irregularities associated with the interdiction process. The Speaker has consequently retained private legal counsel. This development strongly indicates that serious legal and procedural defects exist in the interdiction process, further reinforcing concerns regarding its legality and propriety. It is therefore evident that the lawful disciplinary framework vested in the Secretary General of Parliament was bypassed, resulting in a serious violation of the principles of natural justice, institutional independence, and the rule of law.

3. Discrimination and Harassment within Parliamentary Administration

We are also deeply concerned by credible allegations of discrimination and harassment within the parliamentary administrative structure, which, in our respectful view, have arisen as a result of the interference of the present Speaker in the administrative affairs of Parliament, thereby undermining the independence of the parliamentary administration. These concerns include:

• Discriminatory conduct affecting senior officials, including the Deputy Secretary General;

• Harassment and discriminatory treatment of female staff members within Parliament;

• The resignation of one female officer due to such circumstances;

• Confirmed findings of harassment in respect of another female officer attached to the Information Technology Division, as established by a report submitted by a former High Court Judge.

These incidents indicate a disturbing pattern of administrative misconduct and a failure to ensure a safe, independent, and professional working environment within Parliament.

3. Broader Institutional Concerns

The above matters collectively raise serious concerns regarding:

• The erosion of the independence of parliamentary administration;

• Abuse of authority and concentration of power;

• Undermining of due process and established legal frameworks;

• A broader decline in adherence to democratic governance standards.

 Request for Engagement

In light of the foregoing, we respectfully request that the Inter-Parliamentary Union:

1. Intervene and monitor the situation;

2. Call for reports and clarifications from the Speaker and senior parliamentary administration;

3. Facilitate independent review and observation of relevant judicial proceedings;

4. Promote accountability and restoration of institutional integrity within Parliament.

Given the IPU’s distinguished role in safeguarding parliamentary democracy and promoting good governance worldwide, we firmly believe that your timely engagement will contribute significantly to restoring institutional integrity and public confidence in Sri Lanka’s Parliament.

Continue Reading

News

Power and Energy Minister, Ministry Secy resign over coal probe

Published

9 hours ago

on

2026/04/18

By

Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala have resigned from their posts.According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the two officials submitted their letters of resignation to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake this afternoon.

The resignations come in the wake of a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe possible unlawful activity and financial irregularities in coal procurement and power generation.

The PMD said the decision was taken to ensure that the Commission’s work proceeds without interference or perceived influence from individuals holding office.

Minister Jayakody, in his resignation letter, noted that following the appointment of the Commission, he had requested that investigations into coal imports, since 2009, be referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), describing it as part of the government’s anti-corruption mandate.

He added that the inquiry should be conducted independently and without bias, and said his continued presence in office could be perceived as an obstacle to the process.

Prof. Hemapala, in his resignation letter, said his decision was intended to facilitate the commencement of investigations and ensure a transparent and independent process, the PMD said.

The Special Presidential Commission was recently appointed to examine allegations of irregularities in coal imports and electricity generation over a prolonged period and to recommend corrective measures.

Continue Reading

News

President appoints Commission to probe irregularities in coal imports from inception of Norochcholai

Published

9 hours ago

on

2026/04/18

By

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday appointed a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged irregularities in coal imports and electricity generation, amid concerns over possible financial losses to the State.

The President’s Office said the Commission would examine transactions from the inception of coal-based power generation in Sri Lanka up to April 16, 2026, focusing on operations linked to the CEB-affiliated Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd., its successors, and private suppliers.

The three-member body is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga, with Court of Appeal Justice Adithya Patabendige and High Court Judge Sanjeewa Somaratne as members. Former Ministry Secretary P.V. Bandulasena has been appointed Secretary to the Commission.

Appointed under the Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Act No. 07 of 1978, as amended, the Commission has been mandated to scrutinise procurement procedures, supply chains, quality testing, and operational processes connected to coal imports and utilisation.

The Commission has been tasked with the following mandates:

• To determine whether irregularities or illegal acts occurred in the procurement process for coal imports and to assess any resulting financial loss to the government.

• To investigate whether substandard coal was imported during the relevant period and to examine the entire associated workflow, including procurement, supply, quality testing, operational, and utility processes.

• To ascertain whether electricity generation using imported coal reached the expected levels of efficiency and productivity.

• To investigate whether legal or financial irregularities or illegal acts occurred during the power generation process if substandard coal was indeed utilized.

• To examine whether there were any breaches of expressed terms or conditions in these processes and, if so, whether measures such as withholding payments or other compensatory actions were taken.

• To identify the political authorities, government officials, officers of Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd, suppliers, or their agents responsible for any such incidents and to recommend future action to be taken against them.

• To propose measures to prevent the recurrence of such alleged malpractices or illegal acts in the future and to ensure proper governance and integrity.

In addition to the above, the Commission will also report on any other alleged malpractices or illegal acts related to coal importation and electricity generation, and recommend preventive measures to address such issues.

Continue Reading

Trending