News

Covid-19 pandemic spreads due to lack of a people-based campaign

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/9

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread at an alarming rate in Sri Lanka and in most countries world-wide. This is mainly due to the lack of a people-based campaign with proper leadership. In Sri Lanka the corona virus was introduced into the country by identified individuals coming from abroad. By identifying each case and the contacts who formed a cluster and isolating each cluster for the required period, the spread to the community was prevented.

This was done effectively by Sri Lanka’s good Public Health Service well supported by the Armed Forces. But with a high percentage of those infected not showing any symptoms (maybe as much as 80%), the virus began to spread among the community.

But that stage is well passed and today there is extensive spread among the community island- wide. Community spread began in the Western province with Colombo as the focus. Had there been early recognition of this change, a campaign to create awareness among the public and effective action to perform effective crowd control measures, the spread could have been controlled to a considerable extent. For some strange reason, this was not publicly accepted, as if a natural epidemiological effect was a sign of failure, and the campaign was continued on the basis of the cluster concept.

The Health Service backed by the Police and Armed Services is bearing the brunt of the present campaign. Fever cases are being tested with the PCR and RAT and positives are being hospitalized. Due to shortage of hospital beds, some milder patients are being isolated in their homes. Other public health measures are being implemented. But the epidemic is spreading fast. This is not surprising with the large number of asymptomatic infections in the community. This calls for a community based approach which is carried out nationally. We have a multicultural society and the practices of each community should be accommodated in the campaign.

My first suggestion was that all political leaders be brought into a Covid control committee so that it becomes a National Campaign. This Committee should interact with the Minister of Health both within and outside Parliament in a supportive manner. The most important step is to ensure that the whole community, every household is involved and made fully aware. Intense health education using all media would achieve this in a week or two, from children right up to the elderly. The core message should be that one has to presume that everyone in society is infected, and that for one’s own protection, the three health practices must be carried out: wearing a face mask properly at all times, especially when one goes outside the home, and even at home when any outsiders come in, practice social distancing (two meters is better), and frequent hand washing, especially when touching any object that someone else may have touched.

Avoid crowd gathering. This should be practiced by everyone, with political and social leaders setting the example. The reaction of people in the country should be that if anyone is seen to break the rules, others should point this out to him at once. This practice should prevail in town and village, at home and workplace. Sharing of towels, handkerchiefs, pillows, sheets etc. should stop. Everyone should carry one’s own small hand towel in the pocket or handbag.

A Covid Committee should be established in every village, at street level in every town, and in all workplaces. Besides its preventive role, it must help the family of an infected person, e.g. supply food and other needs, and give moral support. The Committee must ensure that the contacts do not infect anyone else. If any person develops any possible symptoms, the patient should be shown to a doctor at once. The Covid Committee should have a health official like a PHI or Midwife to be in contact.

The Committee should ensure that people do not crowd together. All social and political meetings should not be allowed. Essential meetings should be confined to the smallest number of essential people, who must observe the health guidelines. At the entry and exit to all public places, soap and water with washing facilities must be provided and their use made compulsory. If possible hand washing facilities with 80% alcohol sprays could be provided.

All Government officials, especially the Police, should prevent people crowding together e.g. at shops, bus stands and buses etc.. They should ensure that the three health practices are observed. Stern action should be taken against violators.

The Covid 19 virus is new to the world and there is no herd immunity. We have much through research to learn about it so that we can better control its spread and treat it. The Coronavirus that causes Covid-19 is fairly large (80 to 160mm) and generally multiplies in the human respiratory tract cells. As other coronaviruses can enter our body through the mouth and then multiply in the bowel, this is a theoretical possibility, but any indications to that occurring have not been established to my knowledge. It is generally transferred from an infected person to another person from the nose, mouth and possibly from the eyes through sneezing (nasal secretions) coughing (saliva and respiratory secretions) and tears.

Recent mention has been made of a new variant that can be airborne i.e. be carried by air (currents) just as virus particles. If true, this means that the masks should be able to block the small virus particles, and the social distance rule needs to be further lengthened. But as a single or a few virus particle are unlikely to transfer the infection, we can let events justify the need to take these extreme steps.

As is well known viruses multiply and grow only in specific living cells, in this case those of our respiratory tract. If they fall elsewhere, in a matter of hours they die. Therefore, let us focus on practicing our health rules. But everyone must do this as a habit. In this way, we can protect ourselves and at the same time, protect everyone else. If everybody does this the virus will die out.

Much effort and money is being spent on obtaining vaccines to protect our people. But it usually takes several years, about seven years on an average, before the ideal vaccine that is safe and effective, is developed. What is being offered may or may not work, or be safe considering the short period.

The duration of protection is unknown. It may need to be repeated in a year or two. Even the best vaccine only protects that particular individual (as this is not a live virus). To protect everybody, it must be given to each and every one. Then only will transmission stops. With luck, it may stop with about 80% coverage. Vaccinating those who run the risk of dying (vulnerable people) like the elderly and those with heart and lung disease or debilitating conditions like diabetes, is to be recommended. Those who are exposed to repeated infection like doctors and nurses should be covered. Taking our financial situation as a country and the outcomes, limiting vaccination to vulnerable groups is more sensible.

Prof. Tissa Vitarana

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News

New Constitution to decide fate of executive presidency, PCs: NPP

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

By PRIYAN DE SILVA

The government’s position on the abolition of the Executive Presidency and the future of the Provincial Council system will be set out in a new Constitution, NPP General Secretary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe has said.

Abeysinghe made the remarks when a delegation from the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) met him at the NPP headquarters in Pelawatte on Friday evening. Former NPP General Secretary and MP Laxman Nipunarachchi also participated in the discussion.

Dr. Abeysinghe said the JVP, the main constituent of the NPP, had consistently advocated the abolition of the Executive Presidency and that it was also a key pledge in the NPP election manifesto.

Responding to calls for the Provincial Council elections to be held under the existing electoral system, Nipunarachchi said the system was being changed to introduce the new electoral system.

He stressed that conducting the elections under the old system was therefore not acceptable.

CaFFE Executive Director Manas Makeen suggested that the Election Commission should be vested with adequate financial authority to ensure that elections are held on time.

Dr. Abeysinghe also requested CaFFE and other stakeholders to submit any proposals for constitutional amendments for consideration.

The NPP made the abolition of Sri Lanka’s executive presidency and the adoption of a new Constitution a central constitutional pledge in its 2024 presidential election manifesto, A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life. It promised to draft and enact a new Constitution after public discussion and a referendum, abolish the executive presidency and replace it with a president without executive powers elected by Parliament, while introducing a new parliamentary electoral system.

However, in June 2026, Public Administration Minister Chandana Abayaratne was quoted by the media as having said that although this remained an electoral promise, the Government did not regard it as a priority at that point, saying other constitutional and electoral reforms were being considered first.

The Opposition has accused the goverment of trying to retain the executive presidency by delaying the constitution making project.

News

NBRI issues landslide warning for three districts

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

By Chaminda Silva

The National Building Research Institute (NBRI) has issued a Level 3 (Red) landslide early warning for several areas in the Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya districts amidst continuing heavy rainfall.

The warning, issued at 2 p.m. yesterday (20), will remain in effect until 2 p.m. today (21).

In Kandy District, the red alert covers the Pasbage Korale Divisional Secretariat Division and surrounding areas.

In Kegalle District, red-level warnings have been issued for the Dehiowita, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Mawanella and Yatiyanthota Divisional Secretariat divisions and surrounding areas.

In Nuwara Eliya District, the warning covers the Kothmale West, Kothmale East, Ambagamuwa and Norwood Divisional Secretariat divisions and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, a Level 2 (Amber) landslide warning remains in effect for selected areas of Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts.

The affected areas include Padukka; Nagoda, Thawalama and Neluwa; Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Walallawita and Agalawatta; Ganga Ihala Korale; Bulathkohupitiya and Kegalle; Akuressa and Pitabeddara; Thalawakele; and several Divisional Secretariat divisions in Ratnapura District, including Pelmadulla, Ratnapura, Ayagama and Kuruwita.

Residents in the affected areas have been urged to remain vigilant for signs of landslides and follow instructions issued by local authorities, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.

News

Mahaweli rises as heavy rain triggers flood, landslide fears

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

By SK Samaranayake

Heavy rainfall across the Central Highlands has triggered flood and landslide warnings, with the Mahaweli Ganga reaching spill level in Nawalapitiya and several roads and low-lying areas already affected.

The Kandy District Disaster Management Unit has urged residents living along the Mahaweli River in Nawalapitiya, Gampola, Gelioya and Peradeniya to remain on high alert as heavy rain continues on the western slopes of the Central Hills.

The Irrigation Department has warned that the Mahaweli Ganga, in the Nawalapitiya area, is nearing spill level. The river level at the Peradeniya Black Bridge, which is under repair, is also continuing to rise.

A senior official said the University of Peradeniya was taking precautionary measures in anticipation of a possible flood situation.

Meanwhile, five spill gates of the Polgolla Mahaweli Reservoir had also been opened yesterday (20) due to the heavy rainfall, Executive Engineer Thisara Bandara said.

Around 21,000 cubic feet of water per second is being released towards the Victoria Reservoir through the five gates.

Bandara warned that all spill gates may have to be opened if rainfall intensifies and urged communities downstream of the Polgolla Dam, on both sides of the river, to remain vigilant.

The threat has already translated into flooding and displacement in several areas.

Nearly 100 families have been displaced in the Pasbage Korale Divisional Secretariat area of Nawalapitiya after the Mahaweli River overflowed and inundated homes in low-lying areas, following heavy rainfall since yesterday (20), a Divisional Secretariat official said.

Kithulkote, Labuwelkotuwa and Jayasundara Ovita were among the areas affected.

The Irrigation Department has separately warned of a risk of major flooding in low-lying areas along the Mahaweli River in the Pasbage Korale area, urging residents and motorists to exercise extreme caution.

Meanwhile, roads have also been hit by the adverse weather.

The Road Development Authority (RDA) has closed the Poojapitiya–Medawela road until further notice after a section of the road at Madadeniya collapsed. The section had reportedly already been weakened during the Ditwah disaster and has now completely given way.

The RDA has closed the road from Poojapitiya town and advised motorists travelling towards Medawela to use alternative routes.

Traffic on the Hatton–Bogawantalawa–Maskeliya–Balangoda main road also came to a complete standstill yesterday after a landslide occurred near the Wanraraja Estate area in Dikoya at around 11 a.m.

Hatton Police officers and residents began clearing the earth from the road, while the local RDA office was informed to assist with the operation.

In another warning, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said a potentially dangerous situation had developed at Dabagolla Mountain in Yalagamuwa, Uvaparanagama.

Police said about 700 metres of the mountain had developed cracks measuring between 10 and 12 inches wide. In some locations, the ground had subsided to depths of seven to eight feet.

The DMC said the cracks had widened with the recent rainfall, while water flowing through them had begun loosening the soil and increasing the risk of a landslide.

Police said there were no houses or settlements around the affected mountain, which is located near a forest reserve. Several acres of pepper cultivation are, however, situated in the vicinity.

Meanwhile, heavy rain has also caused flooding in Bogawantalawa.

Several buildings in the low-lying section of Merys Estate National School have been inundated after the Keselgamu Oya, a major tributary feeding the Castlereigh Reservoir, overflowed.

A retaining wall above a house in the lower section of Kotiyagala Estate also collapsed amid the heavy rainfall, causing extensive damage to the house. Bogawantalawa Police said no one inside was injured.

Authorities have urged residents in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas to remain alert as further rainfall could worsen conditions, while motorists have been advised to avoid affected roads and use alternative routes where possible.