President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed the authorities last week to lay key emphasis on the initiatives taken to curb the Covid-19 third wave while imposing countrywide travel restrictions.
When the Government’s anti-Covid-19 vaccine drive is continuing successfully, instructions have also been given to identify the Covid-19 patients and treat them. When all precautionary measures are taken by the Government to control the outbreak, the main Opposition, SJB is making a big hue and cry to convene an All-Party Conference to discuss possible solutions to the prevailing pandemic situation. The JVP which dismissed SJB’s call for an All-Party Conference described it as a mere ‘political comedy’.
On the directives of the President and the Prime Minister, Government officials have taken steps to increase the number of beds in hospitals countrywide and also to set up Intermediate care centres to treat Covid-19 patients. The responsibility of operating the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) political mechanism has been taken over by SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa and it was evident he was highly involved in the process over the past couple of days. The SLPP as a political party has also decided to actively contribute towards the Government’s program to curb the Covid-19.
Personal reasons
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Namal Rajapaksa told the media that SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa who is heading the high-powered Presidential Task Force for Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication went abroad suddenly not to seek treatment for any illness but for personal reasons.
Earlier, certain sections of the media had reported that Rajapaksa left for the USA to receive treatment. Responding to a question raised by journalists, the Minister said, “Basil Rajapaksa went abroad on a personal matter, so it is normal. He is expected to return to Sri Lanka within three weeks. He did not have any illness to go for treatment. When I went there on May 12 to meet him, there was no illness. He clearly went on a personal matter. So, everyone has personal matters in their personal life. I don’t think we should interfere too much.”
Social mission
Wipakshayen Husmak A Breath from the Opposition), the social mission of the Unity Movement against Covid-19, was launched by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on May 11. The program was launched on a concept by the Opposition Leader to donate hospital equipment that is essential for the health service. This initiative has been launched by Samagi Jana Balawegaya assuring the Opposition’s role in protecting the country’s people from the global pandemic.
The Opposition Leader said, “On several previous occasions, the main Opposition, SJB (Samagi Jana Balawegaya) has taken steps to donate hospital equipment to ignite the livelihoods of the people who are suffering from the outcome of the pandemic, and the new phase Wipakshayen Husmak is expected to bring the initiative to a whole new level.”
He said that SJB will continue to stand unconditionally to ignite the aspirations of all the people of this country, regardless of their party affiliation. The SJB as the main Opposition had urged the Government on a number of occasions to prepare for the upcoming dangers, since the contagion incepted in China. Without stopping from there, SJB and its leadership had given priority to many interventions for the benefit of the people, abandoning the typical verbal politics, thereby breaking the image of the traditional opposition.
Opposition Leader Premadasa said instead of playing with the lives of the public amidst a global pandemic, SJB continued to emphasise the need of a people-oriented program to eradicate Covid-19, contributing an unconditional assistance to rebuild the lives of the people in its capacity as the Opposition, sparing political differences.
No time for meetings
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said despite the SJB’s call to the President in April last year calling for an All-Party Conference to discuss how the country should face the Covid-19 pandemic, it has not taken place as yet. When asked by the media if there is potential for such a meeting to occur in the near future, Bandara had said that this is unlikely.
He said the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) seeks to show the public that they can handle the prevailing Covid-19 situation by themselves, even though they have failed to do so. However, Minister Namal Rajapaksa has said that there is no time for meetings. He had said that in times such as this, it is important for all parties to get together and come up with an effective solution.
JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake dismissed the SJB’s call for an All-Party Conference to discuss possible solutions to the prevailing pandemic situation. Responding to media queries on his party’s position with regard to the proposal of setting up of an All-Party Representative Committee (APRC), Dissanayake during a press conference held at the Party Headquarters said that the APRC meetings were mere political comedies.
He said, “There are around 40 parties and they have at least 80 representatives attending such meetings. Suppose the meeting starts at 10 a.m. in the morning. Each representative would be given at least three minutes so by the time they finish their three-minute speeches it would be around noon. The meeting is adjourned thereafter so that those who attended the meeting could give voice cuts to television channels on their way out of the premises of the meeting.”
Dissanayake said, “Sajith Premadasa and his men have such a need to speak to television channels and show their faces there so that they could show their faces on TV twice – at the APRC meeting and thereafter giving voice cuts to the media. All APRCs held in this country ended inconclusively. We have no intention of attending such a conference.”
Green economy
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a Presidential Task Force to transform Sri Lanka’s economy into a green socio-economy with sustainable solutions to meet climate change. The Task Force has been named as the “Presidential Task Force on Creating a Green Sri Lanka with Sustainable Solutions to Climate Change”.
The Task Force, chaired by Basil Rajapaksa, the Special Representative of the President, consists of 46 members including five Cabinet Ministers, a Governor, 14 State Ministers and one female Member of Parliament. The Cabinet approved the overall policy framework and proposals contained in the Cabinet Memorandum submitted by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on April 27 to transform Sri Lanka towards a green socio-economic model with sustainable solutions to climate change.
The President has received a resounding mandate to overcome the challenges in the areas of biodiversity, use of fertiliser, land, atmosphere, waste disposal, industries, renewable energy, settlements and urbanisation, and environmental education as stated out in the “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” policy framework.
The Presidential Task Force has been appointed with the objective of achieving a number of eco-friendly objectives including saving foreign exchange outflow, enabling the country to achieve a high advantage in the emerging global economic pattern and preparing the people for an eco-friendly socio-economic model. The Task Force has a responsibility to pay special attention to 24 other issues in relation to environmental protection.
Meets Norwegian Ambassador
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met the Norwegian Ambassador in Sri Lanka a couple of days ago. During the meeting, the Opposition Leader said “Sri Lanka is in need of medical equipment such as ICU beds, oxygen and lifesaving equipment and therefore, I request Norway to assist us in fulfilling these needs.” He said that Sri Lanka needs assistance as the Covid-19 cases are escalating in the country. Premadasa said the Opposition will continue to reach foreign diplomats to seek assistance for Sri Lanka to overcome the current Covid-19 pandemic.
PM calls Nasheed’s father
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday (May 11) in a phone call inquired into the health of former Maldives President and incumbent Speaker Mohamed Nasheed who survived an assassination attempt on May 6. Speaking to former President Nasheed’s father, Prime Minister Rajapaksa wished Nasheed a quick recovery from the injuries sustained in the attack.
Premier Rajapaksa had asked what help is required from him for Nasheed’s recovery. During Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency, Mohamed Nasheed was the President of the Maldives. He is regarded as a Head of State who was committed to enhancing the friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Vaccination for journalists
The Covid-19 vaccination program for journalists commenced at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital (SJH) on Friday (May 14) with the intervention of the Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi at the request of Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
Minister Rambukwella said that a number of staff members of some media institutions, including journalists, have already been affected by the virus and if it spreads further in the future, it will be difficult to provide proper information to the public. Groups including heads of media institutions, journalists as well as media organisations have recently made requests for vaccination. There are over 6,000 journalists who have ID cards issued by the Government Information Department. The Ministry of Mass Media has instructed media institutions to direct journalists for vaccination according to priority.
Minimising economic damage
United National Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that containing the spread of Covid-19 in the country should receive priority. He said if the spread of the virus is effectively arrested, the country can minimise the economic damage. Making a statement regarding the Covid-19 outbreak in the country on Friday (May 14), the former Prime Minister said the country should be closed, if experts in the health sectors advise the Government to do so.
Wickremesinghe said, “The Covid-19 pandemic is spreading rapidly in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. Another fungal disease - Black Fungus is spreading is also spreading in India. We must protect the people of the country from all these diseases.”
He said that the Colombo Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement following discussions with a number of our medical experts recently. According to this announcement, they have predicted that the Covid-19 virus will spread rapidly in the country in the next few weeks.
“We must remember one more thing. That is, there is a shortage of vaccines in our country. It may be the end of the year or even next year before all the people of Sri Lanka can be vaccinated. Until then, the people of the country must be protected,” he said.
“It is the duty of the Government to take further steps in accordance with medical advice. If the doctors advise to close the country, we must do this,” he added. He said after that we can obtain weekly reports and check the progress of the spread of the virus. “ I don’t know if there are other options besides that. The continuous spread of the Covid-19 pandemic is a fatal blow to the already weakened economy. Therefore, it is necessary to stop the spread of the disease and save lives. If that is done, we can minimise the economic damage,” the UNP Leader said.