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SJB: Situation wouldn’t have deteriorated if govt. had acted six weeks earlier

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

‘PM ruled out lockdowns in talks with Chinese Defence Minister’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman yesterday (13) alleged that the country was paying a huge price for the government’s refusal to heed medical experts’ advice to impose stringent measures to curb movements.

Had the government acted at least six weeks ago, the ground situation wouldn’t have deteriorated to such an extent, the Colombo District MP told The Island.

Wednesday’s sudden declaration that countrywide travel restrictions would be imposed on Thursday (13), at 11 pm till Monday (17) 4 am pending further measures depending on the requirement revealed the crisis the country was facing, the MP said.

Lawmaker Rahman pointed out that no less a person than Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as late as April 28 assured the visiting Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe that in spite of the increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, the government wouldn’t declare countrywide lockdowns due to the impact such lockdowns would have on the economy and society.

Rahman said that the Premier Rajapaksa’s assurance to Minister Fenghe couldn’t be taken lightly.

Responding to another query from The Island , lawmaker Rahman alleged that the government pursued a political agenda brazenly at the expense of overall safety and security of the people. The government obviously felt the need to act at last after the country reported over 2000 new cases on a daily basis over the past ten days with alarming increase in the number of deaths.

Referring to a spate of statements issued by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) over the past couple of months, the former UNPer said that the crisis the country was experiencing could have been certainly avoided, if the powers that be acted responsibly. Instead, the government undermined Covid-19 health guidelines by encouraging public gatherings, MP Rahman said. The MP said that the April Covid-19 cluster was nothing but a creation of the SLPP government now blaming the public for the crisis.

Rahman said that though the government referred to a countrywide lockdown it was actually a curfew. Asked whether the SJB as the main Opposition party that backed such measures regardless of difficulties caused to the public, the Colombo District MP said that when it came to the country’s interest there couldn’t be a dispute over the required harsher strategy. However, arrogant SLPP leadership should learn, at least now to seek a national consensus on not only a strategy to meet both the daunting Covid-19 challenge as well as post-pandemic scenario.

The national economy that had been in severe difficulty due to waste, corruption, irregularities, mismanagement and shortcomings was now in such a critical situation due to Covid-19 fallout, the country needed a common agenda, MP Rahman said. Unfortunately, the SLPP, had never followed expert advice much to the discomfort of those who believed in a sensible approach, he said. Asked to comment on a shortfall of 600,000 covishield doses for those who needed the second jab, MP Rahman emphasized the government owed an explanation why 927,000 were given the first dose when the country received only 1,264,000 in three separate consignments from India.

Who decided to continue the first covishield round till April 6th, thereby created a wholly unnecessary problem? MP Rahman asked.

The SJB spokesperson said that the government struggled to cover up its failure. Referring to various statements attributed to different government spokespersons and those who serve the interests of the SLPP, in this regard, MP Rahman said the bottom line is that uncertainty gripped over 600,000 people.

MP Rahman appreciated GMOA and GMOF (Government Medical Officers’ Forum) quite rightly pointing out those who received covishield couldn’t receive second jab by way of Sputnik V or the Chinese vaccine in the absence of proper study into such ‘mix-match’. But, that didn’t prevent Co Cabinet spokesman Udaya Gammanpila declaring the possibility of vaccine ‘mix-match.’

Rahman reminded that the second jab would have to be administered between 12-16 weeks after the first. The SJB MP asked the government to issue an official statement in that regard without further delay.

The UNPer said that the SLPP, in spite of winning 2019 presidential and 2020 parliamentary elections with a commanding majority in parliament was struggling to cope up with a spate of issues. The crisis caused due to the mismanagement of the rampaging pandemic was one issue at hand but definitely not the only problem, the MP said.

Asked whether the SJB was trying to exploit the situation regardless of the consequences, Rahman said that the SLPP should accept the responsibility for the situation.

Having won two national elections, the SLPP, instead of seeking a consensus on a national agenda, enacted the 20th Amendment at the expense of the 19th brought in with the backing of over 200 lawmakers, MP Rahman said. Enactment of a new law meant to suppress democratic opposition through vile means and fighting an epidemic two different things, the MP asserted, urging the government to review the overall strategy.

Let the government strategy depend on nothing but sound medical advice backed by political will, Rahman said.

Commenting on accusation directed at Transport Minister and SLPP heavyweight Gamini Lokuge regarding his May Day intervention in lifting of ‘Piliyandala lockdown,’ lawmaker Rahman said that the government explained how a specific directive issued by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Asela Gunawardena was countermanded. Who took responsibility for the subsequent deterioration of the situation in Piliyandala area? the MP asked. The situation therein should be examined against the backdrop of the government deploying police to carryaway those who walked about with improperly clad facemasks on the basis they undermined public health. The government conveniently ignored its much touted “One Country, One Law’ slogan, the former UNPer said.

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Environmentalists warn Sri Lanka’s ecological safeguards are failing

Published

42 mins ago

2025/12/28

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka’s environmental protection framework is rapidly eroding, with weak law enforcement, politically driven development and the routine sidelining of environmental safeguards pushing the country towards an ecological crisis, leading environmentalists have warned.

Dilena Pathragoda, Managing Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), has said the growing environmental damage across the island is not the result of regulatory gaps, but of persistent failure to enforce existing laws.

“Sri Lanka does not suffer from a lack of environmental regulations — it suffers from a lack of political will to enforce them,” Pathragoda told The Sunday Island. “Environmental destruction is taking place openly, often with official knowledge, and almost always without accountability.”

Dr. Pathragoda has said environmental impact assessments are increasingly treated as procedural formalities rather than binding safeguards, allowing ecologically sensitive areas to be cleared or altered with minimal oversight.

“When environmental approvals are rushed, diluted or ignored altogether, the consequences are predictable — habitat loss, biodiversity decline and escalating conflict between humans and nature,” Pathragoda said.

Environmental activist Janaka Withanage warned that unregulated development and land-use changes are dismantling natural ecosystems that have sustained rural communities for generations.

“We are destroying natural buffers that protect people from floods, droughts and soil erosion,” Withanage said. “Once wetlands, forests and river catchments are damaged, the impacts are felt far beyond the project site.”

Withanage said communities are increasingly left vulnerable as environmental degradation accelerates, while those responsible rarely face legal consequences.

“What we see is selective enforcement,” he said. “Small-scale offenders are targeted, while large-scale violations linked to powerful interests continue unchecked.”

Both environmentalists warned that climate variability is amplifying the damage caused by poor planning, placing additional strain on ecosystems already weakened by deforestation, sand mining and infrastructure expansion.

Pathragoda stressed that environmental protection must be treated as a national priority rather than a development obstacle.

“Environmental laws exist to protect people, livelihoods and the economy,” he said. “Ignoring them will only increase disaster risk and long-term economic losses.”

Withanage echoed the call for urgent reform, warning that continued neglect would result in irreversible damage.

“If this trajectory continues, future generations will inherit an island far more vulnerable and far less resilient,” he said.

Environmental groups say Sri Lanka’s standing as a biodiversity hotspot — and its resilience to climate-driven disasters — will ultimately depend on whether environmental governance is restored before critical thresholds are crossed.

By Ifham Nizam ✍️

News

IGP warns cops against presenting hampers or gifts to superiors

Published

43 mins ago

2025/12/28

Thilina Walpola

IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya has issued a letter, warning police officers against presenting gifts to senior officers during festivals or special occasions.

The letter, dated December 24, notes that some officers have reportedly offered hampers to senior officers during events such as the New Year and Sinhala and Hindu New Year, and some senior officers have accepted them.

The IGP has stressed that no officer should present hampers to him or any other senior police officer under any circumstances, and that senior officers must not accept such gifts.

Instead of in-person visits or physical gifts, officers have been instructed to convey their greetings through phone calls or WhatsApp messages, with personal visits deemed unnecessary.

News

Ravi K urges slash of politicians’ perks to fund national relief and reconstruction

Published

44 mins ago

2025/12/28

Thilina Walpola

MP Ravi Karunanayake speaking to the media on Thursday

NDF MP Ravi Karunanayake has called for the savings from MPs’ insurance coverage and allowances to be redirected to a relief fund for the public.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo on Thursday, Karunanayake stressed that the coverage reserved for MPs should be withdrawn and the funds transferred to a welfare and disaster relief fund. He mphasised that money allocated for double-cab vehicles for politicians should also be diverted to the national reconstruction fund at this critical time.

Highlighting the country’s ongoing economic and crisis situation, Karunanayake said that public representatives and senior state institutions must make significant sacrifices, and the perks and insurance benefits of MPs should be used for the welfare of the people.

He underlined that the task of rebuilding the country must start with the politicians themselves.

Commenting on state institution inefficiencies, he stated:

“Bonuses and allowances paid to officials of loss-making institutions such as SriLankan Airlines must be immediately stopped. Those funds should be redirected for the welfare of ordinary citizens currently under severe hardship—this is the responsibility of the government.”

Regarding Sri Lanka’s current foreign currency reserves, Karunanayake pointed out that, relative to their expenditure, there is no mechanism in place to replenish them—a serious problem. He urged that export performance be increased rapidly. He also suggested that renewable energy be used instead of oil-based electricity generation to save foreign exchange.

Karunanayake further revealed that, given the country’s ongoing disaster conditions, sufficient foreign aid has not yet been received. He recalled that the sixth tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was due to be received in December and stated that obtaining relief in installments would be more beneficial to the country than seeking emergency loans.

On dealing with the IMF, he added:

“Even if the IMF comes through under Ranil Wickremesinghe, we must ensure we engage properly and clearly with them. We must stick to our terms and execute them without confusion or compromise.”