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Manipulation of Covid figures: SLPP ally provides ammunition to SJB

Published

5 years ago

2021/08/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Gen. Silva responds to allegations

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) says the SLPP government owed an explanation regarding manipulation of Covid-19 figures, especially against the backdrop of one of its constituents alleging daily alteration of figures.

The National Freedom Front (NFF) spokesperson Mohammad Muzammil, MP, has accused a senior Army officer, holding the rank of Maj. Gen. and two specialists attached to the Epidemiology Unit, of revising figures.

Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office on Saturday (14) SJB MP Mujibur Rahman demanded the government to take the public into confidence. Pointing out the SJB had questioned the figures released by the government before the NFF, lawmaker Rahman accused the government of following a deadly policy.

Subsequent to the media briefing, MP Rahman told The Island that the whole process was questionable. Referring to the sharp discrepancy in respect of the Gampaha district Covid-19 cases as reported by some sections of the media, the former UNP MP said that those who manipulated the records obviously for political purposes should be punished, regardless of their standing in the society.

MP Rahman asked whether the military and top doctors assigned to the Epidemiology unit manipulated figures at the behest of the government.

However, the NFF spokesperson alleged that those who had manipulated the figures did so deliberately to cripple the government response. The former JVP MP pointed out how the entire government could collapse due to taking decisions on wrong figures. According to MP Muzammil, by lowering the number of detections, the daily death rate received much public attention with the Opposition proclaiming that it was the highest percentage of deaths in the world.

MP Rahman alleged that though the government announced that PCR tests would be done at local private hospitals at Rs 6,500 hereafter, the charges at hospitals in India and Bangladesh were much lower. The lawmaker asked whether the government wanted its friends and associates managing private hospitals to benefit at the expense of the hapless public struggling to make ends meet.

Rahman alleged that the government allowed private hospitals to fleece hapless for many months and finally regulated prices very much higher than those prevailing in other countries.

The Island yesterday raised the manipulation of Covid-19 figures with Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, who is also the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as well as head of the Covid Task Force. General Silva explained that the alleged discrepancy was due to deficiency in the process of the issuance of Covid-19 figures. Strongly denying accusations regarding alteration of figures, the Army Chief said that the Epidemiology Unit released data to the public through him twice every day-around 6 pm and again around 8.30-9 pm. However, figures pertaining to tests conducted during the remaining hours on a particular day up to midnight had not been released through the normal system though they were available to the decision makers, Gen Silva said.

Gen Silva emphasized that there was absolutely no intention to suppress figures. The Army Chief said that the Covid Task Force represented by all stakeholders managed the Covid response under extremely difficult conditions. Gen Silva urged the public to zealously follow health guidelines or face the consequences. Responding to another query, the CDS said that regardless of various ongoing controversies the public couldn’t be unaware of the situation on the ground.

Gen. Silva said that the recent declaration that those unable to produce vaccine certification wouldn’t be allowed to visit public places with effect from Sept 15 should prompt the unvaccinated to rush to the nearest makeshift vaccination centre or hospital. The Army Chief said that various interested parties were trying to derail their Covid response.

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Advisory for Heavy Rain issued for the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts

Published

1 hour ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

Advisory for Heavy Rain Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 08.30 a.m. on 22 February 2026 valid for the period until 08.30 a.m. 23 February 2026

Due to the influence of the low level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Therefore, general public is advised to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by heavy rain, strong winds and lightning during thundershowers

News

Matara Festival for the Arts’ inaugurated by the Prime Minister

Published

7 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

The inaugural ceremony of the Matara Festival for the Arts, featuring a wide range of creations by local and international artists, was held on February 19 at the Old High Court premises of the Matara Fort, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The festival, centred around the Old High Court premises in Matara and the auditorium of the Matara District Secretariat, will be open to the public from 20 to 23 of February. The festival will be featured by visual art exhibitions, short film screenings, Kala Pola, and a series of workshops conducted by experts.

The inaugural event was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Paulraj, along with artists, guests, and a large number of schoolchildren.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Only single MP refuses salary as Parliament details pays and allowances

Published

11 hours ago

2026/02/22

Thilina Walpola

SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilake is the only MP to forego salary and allowances, with all payments suspended following his written notification on August 20, 2025.

Only one Member of Parliament has chosen not to receive the salaries and allowances entitled to MPs, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya revealed in Parliament last Thursday, shedding light on the financial perks enjoyed by members of the Tenth Parliament.

Speaking on Thursday (Feb. 19) in response to a question from SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri, the Prime Minister outlined the full range of pay and allowances provided to parliamentarians.

According to Dr. Amarasuriya, MPs receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 54,285, an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1,000, and a driver’s allowance of Rs. 3,500—though MPs provided with a driver through the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs are not eligible for the driver’s allowance.

Additional benefits include a telephone allowance of Rs. 50,000, a transport allowance of Rs. 15,000, and an office allowance of Rs. 100,000. MPs are also paid a daily sitting allowance of Rs. 2,500 for attending parliamentary sessions, with an additional Rs. 2,500 per day for participation in parliamentary sittings and Rs. 2,500 per day as a committee allowance.

Committee meetings held on non-parliament sitting days also attract Rs. 2,500 per day.

Fuel allowances are provided based on the distance between an MP’s electoral district and Parliament. National List MPs are entitled to a monthly allocation equivalent to 419.76 litres of diesel at the market price on the first day of each month.

Despite the comprehensive benefits, only SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka has opted not to draw a salary or allowances. Dr. Amarasuriya said that in accordance with a written notification submitted by MP Wasalathilaka on August 20, 2025, payments have been suspended since that date.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that she, along with the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, committee chairs, ministers, deputy ministers, the Opposition Leader, and senior opposition whips, have all informed the Secretary-General of Parliament in writing that they will not claim the fuel allowance.

Challenging the ruling party’s voluntary pledge to forgo salaries, MP Wijesiri pointed out that all MPs except Wasalathilaka continue to receive their salaries and allowances. “On one hand you speak about the people’s mandate, which is good. But the mandate also included people who said they would voluntarily serve in this Parliament without salaries. Today we have been able to prove, Hon. Speaker, that except for one SJB MP, the other 224 Members are drawing parliamentary salaries,” he said.

The Prime Minister responded by defending the political culture and practice of allocating portions of MPs’ salaries to party funds. Referring to previous practices by the JVP and NPP, she said: “It is no secret to the country that the JVP has for a long time not personally taken MPs’ salaries or any allowances. I think the entire country knows that these go to a party fund. That is not new, nor is it something special to mention. The NPP operates in the same way. That too is not new; it is the culture of our political movement.”

When MP Wijesiri posed a supplementary question asking whether diverting salaries to party funds was an indirect method of taking care of MPs, Dr. Amarasuriya said: “There is no issue there. No question was raised; the Member made a statement. What we have seen throughout this week is an inability to understand our political culture and practice, and a clash with decisions taken by political movements that misused public funds. What is coming out is a certain mindset. That is why there is such an effort to find fault with the 159. None of these facts are new to people. He did not ask a question, so I have nothing to answer.”

The disclosures come days after the Government moved to abolish the parliamentary pension, a measure that has sparked renewed debate over MP compensation and the transparency of funds allocation.