News
MPs cannot be compelled to get vaccine – Sgt-at-Arms
MP: ‘Refusal to take jab can be quite deadly’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Members of Parliament couldn’t be under any circumstances compelled to receive vaccine in spite of the growing danger posed by the raging Covid-19 epidemic, Sergeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando told The Island yesterday (11).
Fernando said that perhaps about a dozen MPs out of 225 hadn’t taken the vaccine. Responding to another query, the top official emphasised that as inoculation was not mandatory, the MPs and the Parliament staff could decline the offer. Fernando said that as much as 98 percent of parliament staff had been vaccinated. Journalists assigned to cover parliamentary proceedings, too, had been vaccinated with the intervention of the Parliament, Fernando said.
Asked whether he had been inoculated, Fernando said that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayaka too received the vaccination. In addition to AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Pfizer, Sputnik and Modena were available for the population.
When The Island pointed out that the Health Ministry had been repeatedly stressing the need for all to be vaccinated, Fernando said that people couldn’t be forced to receive vaccinations unless new laws were introduced.
According to the Sergeant-at-Arms, nearly 150 members of parliament had received the vaccination at the Military Hospital at Narahenpita and several dozen at other places. The majority are believed to have received Covishield (AstraZeneca) from the Indian grant of 500,000 doses on January 28. Inoculation commenced on the following day. Fernando said that some members received Sputnik.
The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, who was hospitalised along with his wife, Jalani after being tested positive for Covid-19 told The Island that he had received Pfizer at the Military Hospital.
Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena and SPC Chairman Dr. Prasanna Gunasena this week underscored the need for all to get vaccinated. Last week, the police repeatedly urged those who missed getting vaccinated so far to go to the nearest vaccination centre or face the consequences.
The Island
sought the views of the Sergeant-at-Arms on the advice of a spokesperson for the Speaker’s Office. Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake was not immediately available for comment.
SLPP National List MP Mohammed Muzammil said that in spite of certain interested parties propagating lies the vast majority of people enthusiastically obtained vaccines. The National Freedom Front (NFF) member hailing from Matale said that his family had been vaccinated whereas he received his at the Military Hospital at Narahenpita. The former JVP MP urged people to have faith in the vaccination drive. Responding to queries, lawmaker Muzammil alleged that those who propagated extremist views discouraged people. The MP insisted that he was not referring to any particular community but the country’s overall response to the unprecedented Covid-19 challenge.
MP Muzammil said that recent data made available by health authorities here as well as internationally proved the scientific basis for the vaccination to be the primary safeguard against the epidemic.
The MP noted that a very small percentage of those who had taken both doses and one dose succumbed to Covid-19. Appreciating the efforts made by the government to procure required stocks and the vaccination drive carried out jointly by the health staff and the military, lawmaker Muzammil said he earnestly hoped those below 30 years of age, too, would get the jab soon.
Lawmaker Muzammil said that the rising death toll should be a warning to all those opposed to the vaccination drive on unsubstantiated grounds. Acknowledging that vaccination was not mandatory, the MP emphasized that it shouldn’t be an excuse for people to shun it.
The vast majority of those who had succumbed to the epidemic were not vaccinated at all, the MP said.
The death toll has neared 5,400 with daily infections over 2,000 over the past ten days.
News
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (07) are Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon.
By Norman Palihawadane
The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as ‘Choka Malli’, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday.
The CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on August 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. The Department has subsequently informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.
The Supreme Court last Friday ordered Jayasekara, and two other men, to appear before court on October 21, and imposed a ban on their overseas travel.
The orders were made as the Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the acquittal of the three men in connection with the 2015 murder of Shantha Dodangoda, also known as D.G. Sunil Perera.
The appeal was filed by Dodangoda’s wife against a decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and release Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.
Dodangoda was killed in a shooting in Kahawatta town, in the early hours of January 5, 2015, while a group of people were putting up decorations for an election rally in support of then common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Two others, Karunadasa Weerasinghe and Mohamed Ilfan, were seriously injured in the shooting.
Following the incident, the Ratnapura High Court convicted Jayasekara, former Chairman of the Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana de Silva, and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayakody, sentencing all three to death.
The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted the three men and ordered their release.
The victim’s wife later challenged the acquittal before the Supreme Court.
The appeal was taken up before a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested that the court impose overseas travel restrictions on Jayasekara and the other respondents.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered all three to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on them.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva and President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondents. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris represented the aggrieved party.
Police sources said that the discovery that Jayasekara had already left for Thailand, on August 31, has raised concerns over the timing and enforcement of the travel ban.
Sources said that the CID had notified the Attorney General’s Department and was taking further action in relation to the development.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far, according to the Dengue Control Unit.
The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone.
Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, while 10,155 cases were reported in August.
Earlier in the year, 8,590 cases were recorded in May and 7,866 cases in January.The Western Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for more than half of all dengue cases reported nationwide. A total of 50,851 cases have been recorded in the province, representing 52.84% of the country’s total.
The Southern Province has recorded 13,950 cases, followed by the Central Province with 8,818 cases and Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,925 cases.
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Uva and Eastern provinces.
Harshitha’s composed knock seals Sri Lanka’s semi-final berth
‘Choka Malli’ slips out of country before travel ban
Dengue death toll rises to 73
Ranil accuses govt. of undermining democracy
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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