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Expert warns overcrowded public transport recipe for fresh spike in pandemic
… urge public and private firms to provide transport to their workers
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Both public and private companies should immediately provide adequate transport for their staff if the country was to avoid another spike in COVID-19 and a costly lockdown, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Management Consultant Dr. Sanjaya Perera told The Island yesterday.
Commenting on congestion in buses, Dr. Perera said that it was obvious that most companies had not taken ‘work from home’ initiatives seriously.
“Buses are overcrowded and this is a dangerous situation. After 18 months of costly COVID control measures, we have learnt nothing. If public and private sectors insist that they want to bring employees back to office en masse, they must provide them with safe transport options,” he said.
Dr. Perera added that he had suggested to several top private companies to cut down on subsidies on meals and invest the money in transport. He noted that most institutions provided free refreshments several times in a day, but also canteens in various institutions were highly subsidised.
“However, since the beginning of the pandemic, most office workers are wary of eating out. They are bring food from home and I know that a lot of food is wasted. Perhaps, these institutions can reduce the subsidy on meals and invest funds so saved in transport for their employees,” he said.
Dr. Perera was also critical of the government circular that discouraged people in the same office from carpooling. While there is a risk in sharing the same vehicle, the risk is far lower than travelling in overcrowded buses and vans, he said.
“The problem here is that we are relying solely on the vaccine. Surely, vaccination is of great importance. However, countries that have successfully dealt with COVID have done so through good practices and protocols. We have had more than enough time to figure out what to do but we have not cared to do so.”
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on 04 Apr 25, departed the island today (07 Apr). The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of INS Sahyadri took part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation. In addition, they also explored some tourist attractions in the country. Further, personnel of Sri Lanka Navy had the opportunity to visit INS Sahyadri, gaining insights into her operational capabilities.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. 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.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
INS Sahyadri sets sail from Colombo
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
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