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Don decries failure of authorities to keep country ticking despite lockdowns

Published

4 years ago

2021/09/4

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Eighteen months had passed since the first lockdown but the government had not put a system in place for public servants to work from home and ensure service delivery, Prof Manuj Weerasinghe, Head of the Department of Community Medicine, University of Colombo said yesterday.

The government should now at least use the current lockdown to introduce a system for government employees to work remotely in the long term, he said.

Prof. Weerasinghe said that many public servants still worked maintaining files and digitalisation was still not widespread.

“It has been 18 months since the first lockdown, and we still don’t have a system where government servants can work from home. If we had started the digitization process and worked from home protocols in 2020, a lockdown wouldn’t affect the service delivery of the government. In fact, the government could have saved tens of millions every day by keeping most of its employees at home. In New Zealand they have the systems in place and they immediately shutdown the country after they found one delta case, but the government sector didn’t shut down,” he said.

A few months ago, the government decided to bring back all government sector workers to office and there was a massive congestion in public transport and that too probably contributed to the spread of the virus, Prof. Weerasinghe said adding that once the current lockdown was over and offices resumed, buses and trains would be packed, which in turn would lead to more COVID cases.

“The transport system is a big problem. We had 18 months to set up a working public transport system and we had done nothing. Once the lockdown ends and buses are on the road, you will see that we are back at square one. It’s as if the last 18 months never happened,” he said.

Prof. Weerasinghe said the government as well as the general public believed that once the vaccination was over, the country could go back to what it was before COVID-19. Thus, there was no interest in setting up any system. Taking the example of problems in the food distribution system, Prof. Weerasinghe said that there was a crisis in food distribution during COVID-19 because our cooperative system had collapsed.

“Because of this we encouraged mobile trucks to distribute food. When the country was shut for a few months in 2020, a system of distribution was established where essential items were brought near people’s homes. When the country was opened the system died a natural death. When we had to shut down again, it took a few days to set this system up anew. Again, we see some mobile vendors on the road, are we going to let this system die once we lift the lockdown? Or are we going to formalize this so that people don’t need to move about much?” he asked.

Prof. Weerasinghe added that many countries in the world had learnt from COVID-19 and had changed their systems to be more resilient. A number of protocols, from introducing new technologies to remote working, had been introduced to make the system more efficient and resilient beyond the pandemic, he said.

“The world won’t go back to 2019. Neither should we. We must look at establishing systems where essential items are delivered home and promoting remote work. We must get along with the times,” he said.

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“Investments in Professional Education Are Investments in Institutional Strength and National Progress” – PM

Published

9 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that strengthening Sri Lanka’s professional education framework and aligning it with internationally recognised standards is essential to building a skilled, ethical, and globally competitive workforce.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the official launch of the QS-accredited Chartered Qualification in Human Resource Management (CQHRM) at SCQF Level 11 (New Syllabus), organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Sri Lanka under the theme New Heights of Recognition. The event was held on Wednesday, 18 February at the Cinnamon Life, Colombo.

Emphasising the importance of expanding professional and vocational education pathways, the Prime Minister stated:

“This is of crucial importance to us in broadening our educational pathways and opportunities. We need to increase access to education that is globally recognised and that offers multiple pathways in professional and vocational fields. This aligns closely with the reform process we have initiated in the education sector and with our commitment to lifelong learning where individuals can work and learn at the same time, and where education is not limited to a particular age group but continues throughout life.”

Highlighting Sri Lanka’s national priorities, the Prime Minister further observed:

“At a time when Sri Lanka is focused on economic recovery, institutional reform and sustainable growth, the need for competent and ethical human resource leadership is clear. A competitive economy depends not only on investment and infrastructure but also on skilled professionals who can lead institutions effectively.”

The Prime Minister noted that the QS accreditation of the CQHRM qualification strengthens international recognition of Sri Lankan human resource professionals, enhances professional progression pathways, and reinforces confidence in the country’s professional education system. She also underscored the role of human resource leadership in advancing equity and inclusion within workplaces, including fair recruitment practices, safe working environments, leadership development for women, and inclusive policies for persons with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals.

Addressing the future of work, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of preparing for rapid technological transformation, including the growing impact of artificial intelligence on industries and workforce management, encouraging institutions to proactively adapt to emerging demands.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, along with other distinguished guests.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts

Published

13 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 12.00 noon 19 February 2026 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 19 February 2026

The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.

General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

News

Navy and Coast Guard seize 04 Indian fishing vessels poaching in Sri Lankan waters

Published

13 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

During operations conducted in the dark hours of 18 Feb 26, the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard seized 04 Indian fishing boats and apprehended 22 Indian fishermen, while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters north of Mannar and off the Delft Island, Jaffna.

Recognizing the detrimental effects of poaching on marine resources and the livelihoods of local fishing communities, the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard continue to conduct regular operations as proactive measures to deter such activities. These efforts underscore the collective robust approach and steadfast commitment to safeguarding the nation’s marine ecosystems while ensuring the economic security and wellbeing of its citizens.

The 02 fishing boats along with the 10 fishermen held in Mannar were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mannar and the remaining 02 fishing boats intercepted off the Delft Island, together with 12 Indian fishermen were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy for onward legal proceedings.