By Shamindra Ferdinando

Education Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (27) warned that vaccines were not the panacea for the unprecedented Covid-19 challenge. Declaring that the government was to receive the first consignment of vaccine on Thursday afternoon, Prof. Peiris, who is also the Chairman of the ruling SLPP, urged the public to follow health guidelines in spite of the launch of a high profile vaccination programme.

The acute warning was given at the opening day of a well-attended national conference, titled “COVID-19: Impact, Mitigation, Opportunities and Building Resilience” at the BMICH.

The National Science Foundation organised the event. Asserting that there had been what he called a great deal of misinformation, Prof. Peiris said that right decisions could be made on the basis of right information and right direction. Therefore, the people should keep in mind the vaccines available to the world was certainly not a panacea for the crisis. Failure to follow guidelines or in other words if the public lowered their guard there would be a calamity.

However, the availability of vaccines would definitely change the public mindset, the top academic said. The availability of what the Minister called a potent weapon would change the mood of despondency.

India and China have assured free supply of 500,000 and 300,000 doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccines, respectively. The Indian consignment is due today.

Among those present at yesterday’s event were internationally acclaimed Virologist Prof. Malik Peiris, Dr. Palitha Abeykoon, WHO representative in SE Asia and State Minister Seetha Arambepola

Over 80 papers on the issues at hand were to be presented, including presentations by internationally renowned scientists of Sri Lankan origin from Europe, Oceania, North America, Africa and Asia.

As Prof. Malik Peiris has asserted that what was needed was to respond to the continuing health emergency in a productive and meaningful manner, which was an essential prerequisite for a multi-disciplinary or trans-disciplinary approach.

Pointing out that Prof. Peiris also emphasized the unpredictability of the threat, Minister Peiris said: “None of us. No country was prepared for Corona because there was no previous experience at any level. Prof. Malik Peiris quoted a notable French philosopher as having said that nature was going to strike back at an unpredictable time in an unforeseeable manner.

The education minister said: “That is exactly what happened. Not only Sri Lanka, but the entire world has been taken unawares. The crisis is upon us. We have to respond to it swiftly and effectively. We have to innovate. We are in uncharted waters. That is the essence of the challenge.”

“We must have courage. We must have faith in ourselves, Minister Peiris said, pointing out how the Education ministry coped with an extremely dicey situation. The Education Ministry had to take some decisions in that regard, Prof. Peiris said, pointing out that there were two ways to respond to an emerging crisis. One could put off everything because things could go wrong. Otherwise, the crisis could be tackled though things could go wrong, the one-time Foreign Minister said.

The minister explained how through measures issues could be dealt with, though particular situations couldn’t be brought under control, totally.

Prof Peiris explained how Year 5 Scholarship examination and the GCE Advanced Level examinations were conducted just weeks after the second Covid-19 eruption in the first week of Oct, 2020 while interested parties warned of catastrophe. The minister said he was warned of serious consequences if he went ahead with countrywide examinations.

Declaring that a successful conclusion of examination wouldn’t have been possible without the cooperation of all sectors, Minister Peiris said over 362,000 sat the AL examination at 2,900 centres. Among them, nearly 60 answered question papers while in quarantine, the minister said; their results could be released in April, hopefully to pave them to enter Universities by Sept.

The minister also discussed how the ministry commenced the functioning of the school system with Grade 6-11 students except in the Western Province though schools therein were beginning to function, gradually.

Referring to the massive hit on the national economy as a result of Covid-19 disrupting garment trade, tourism and remittances from Sri Lankans working overseas, Prof. Peiris paid a glowing tribute to the public sector for facing up to the challenge. The minister explained how some major players in the garment trade, in spite of severe difficulties faced the challenge. They made significant changes to operations as major orders for Personnel Protection Equipment (PPEs) were accepted, the minister said.