News
PHIs take exception to new Gazette issued by Health Minister
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Public Health Inspectors yesterday warned that the latest Gazette, issued by the Minister of Health, making it mandatory to obtain prior approval of the Director General of Health Services for gatherings, activities, events or similar places of meetings, might further reduce the public support extended for COVID control to PHIs and Policemen.
On Thursday, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella issued the aforementioned Gazette. The Gazette says that ‘the guidelines, circulars, directions, instructions or terms and conditions issued, given by the Director General of Health Services, supersede the guidelines, circulars, directions, instructions or terms and conditions issued, given or specified by other authorities. The regulation has been made by the Health Minister under sections 2 and 3 of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance.’
Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) Head, Upul Rohana said that there were a lot of protests against the government and all those demonstrations were a violation of the Gazette.
“This is similar to the Gazette issued by the previous Health Minister, Pavithra Wanniarachchi. The problem is how people will react. We think it is better to try to convince people of the need to abide by health guidelines. Unions and Opposition parties think the move is aimed at suppressing them.
Will they adhere to the latest Gazette or will they increase their resistance? I feel that this would only cause further friction between the people and PHIs and Policemen, who will be entrusted with taking action,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister Rambukwella has insisted that the move is not politically motivated and the government is only trying to protect the public. He has said that large protests are taking place across the country and pose threats to public health.
“We have controlled the spread of COVID-19 by making great sacrifices. However, again thousands of protesters are on the road every day. Are they doing this to create super-spreader events? We have to do something about them. This is why the Gazette was issued. I don’t care what the unions and Opposition political parties think. They can do whatever they want. I admit that unions have a right to dissent but this is a matter of public safety,” the Minister said.
A meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), was held today (21) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the discussion, Admiral Paparo extended his best wishes to President Disanayake and the new government on their planned initiatives. He also acknowledged Sri Lanka’s continued support in ensuring the security of the Indian Ocean region and maintaining a peaceful maritime environment.
Furthermore, Admiral Paparo reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to strengthening the enduring bilateral ties between the two nations and expressed support for Sri Lanka’s new governmental policies.
President Disanayake conveyed his appreciation for the assistance provided by the United States in enhancing human resources within Sri Lanka’s defence sector. The President also acknowledged the longstanding support extended by the U.S. in this regard.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, Lieutenant Colonel Anthony C. Nelson of the U.S. Army, and Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the United States Indo-Pacific Command David Ranz were also present at the meeting.
SriLankan Airlines has announced that SriLankan Airlines flights UL 503 (Colombo to London Heathrow), scheduled to depart at 12:50 hrs and UL 504 (London Heathrow to Colombo), scheduled to depart at 20:40 hrs today [21 March 2025], have been cancelled.
Passengers requiring assistance are encouraged to contact the SriLankan Airlines Customer Centre at 1979 (within Sri Lanka), +94117 77 1979 (international) or +94744 44 1979 (WhatsApp chat) or reach out to their nearest SriLankan Airlines office or their travel agent.
The United Kingdom’s Heathrow airport has closed until midnight on Friday due to a power outage, throwing the plans of tens of thousands of travellers into chaos.
London’s main airport, which is Europe’s busiest gateway, said on Friday that it had suffered a “significant” power failure due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the facility.
“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March,” Heathrow airport said in a post on X.
“Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 said the shutdown would affect “at least” 1,351 flights.
“We’re trying to stop passengers from travelling to the airport, and then work with airline partners on flights that are delayed, diverted, or cancelled,” a Heathrow spokesperson told Al Jazeera. “Passengers can reach out to airline partners to work on rebooking.”
Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull, reporting from London, said the roads leading to the airport were blocked, causing “traffic chaos locally”.
“But local traffic disruption is nothing compared to the air traffic disruptions that will be spreading around the world,” he said.
Heathrow is one of the most globally connected airports and regularly ranks among the top five busiest gateways worldwide.
The airport serves more than 200 destinations in nearly 90 different countries and territories, and last year handled nearly 84 million passengers, the largest number on record.
[Aljazeera]
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