Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said although UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has strongly criticised the Army for their involvement in the Covid-19 vaccination drive, he too received his vaccine from the vaccination centre at the Army Hospital, Narahenpita.
He said that the public would decide whether Wickremesinghe’s criticism of the Security Forces and their contribution to the vaccination drive is justified, when he himself had obtained his vaccination at the Army Hospital.
He told the media following his recent visit to the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, the Army Commander said that the people of this country have highly commended the vaccination program carried out throughout the country by the Army and the Security Forces.
He said although one person’s criticism is not acceptable, it is his duty as the Army Commander to respond to the UNP Leader’s criticism. He said many have expressed appreciation for the efficient management of the vaccination drive by the Tri-Forces.
He said that all decisions pertaining to Covid control are taken collectively, adding that neither the President nor the National Operation Centre for the Prevention of Covid-19 takes individual decisions.
General Silva said, “We are doing what is the best for the entire country. It is important not to misuse the chance given to travel through Provincial borders. We cannot just rely on the implementation of regulations because people also have a major responsibility.”
Curfew
Co-Cabinet spokesman Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the curfew will be enforced only as the last resort to curtail the spread of Covid-19 adding that mass vaccination is the only long-term solution to the current Covid-19 crisis.
The Minister told the weekly Cabinet press briefing, that even after receiving both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, people should strictly follow protective and hygienic measures.
He said that a decision on imposing a curfew will be taken if the public does not follow the health guidelines. He said earlier people refused to take vaccines due to undue fears but now we can see people lined up in queues to get jabbed after realising the critical condition of this pandemic.
Minister Rambukwella said certain Opposition members levelled allegations against the Government claiming that it did not have funds to purchase vaccines. But the Government has already achieved great success in the vaccination drive.
All-party conference
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has expressed his willingness to support the Government to overcome the current disastrous situation. However, he questioned the delay on the part of the Government to call for an all-party conference.
Premadasa in a statement noted, “Though it would be appropriate to call for an APC to discuss and decide on the steps that should be taken to deliver the nation from the disaster it is facing, the Government does not seem to be prepared for such a course of action.
“This clearly indicates the stubborn attitude of the Government.” He warned of an oil scarcity as the country’s oil reserves were declining fast. The Opposition Leader said, “We see long queues to purchase gas and milk powder. The Government has failed to regulate prices of essential goods. According to the Global Cost of Living Database, Sri Lanka is among the five nations which manages the cost of living poorly.”
Legal action
The Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya (Our Power of People Party (OPPP) will take legal action against its sole Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera over the latter unheeding the party’s call to vacate his seat.
The party plans to give the seat to OPPP member and Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera as agreed upon during the last General Election. Party sources told the media that they will state the next step with regard to the matter soon.
The OPPP has sent all the legal documents about taking action against Ven. Rathana Thera. Despite calls from the party to vacate the party’s National List MP post, Ven. Rathana Thera remains in the MP’s seat.
The party had called on Ven. Rathana Thera to resign from his MP post, as per the party agreement which stipulated that he should resign after three months of being sworn in as a MP. However, Ven. Rathana Thera had claimed that nobody from the party had called him or sent a letter to him in this regard. He said “We don’t have such an agreement as has been claimed. Therefore, I will remain in the MP position and seat.”
‘Failed’
UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena said the people are paying with their lives for the blunders committed by the Government, which has mismanaged the pandemic response measures.
Abeywardena told the media at the UNP headquarters, Sirikotha, that the Government had failed in managing the Covid-19 pandemic owing to its shortsighted policies. He said, “Take a look at the number of Secretaries appointed to the Ministry of Health since the pandemic began. The Government did nothing but change officials. Nothing meaningful was done to prevent the crisis.
“Now people die in their hundreds. Our Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that a separate committee should be appointed under the guidance of the WHO to manage the pandemic. Every other country in the world has such mechanisms; only Sri Lanka does not have one. Instead, we have a committee to attend to Covid-19 related matters but it has no powers.
“The problem with this Government is that it is not ready to listen to the experts. The experts called for the shutting down of the airport before the virus came into the country. The Government did not listen. Then there was a call for placing orders to purchase the vaccine on time, but the Government did not listen.
“Thereafter, the experts again urged the Government to shut down the country in view of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, but that call was not heeded. Now the experts are calling for an immediate lockdown without letting this crisis turn worse,” he said.
Political games
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said although the Government is ready to resolve the teacher-principal salary issue, it will not pander to the political games of the Opposition. The Minister said the present Government when they were in the Opposition promised to resolve the salary issue of teachers and principals.
It is also the stance of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that this 24-year-old salary issue should be resolved as soon as possible. That is why, a Ministerial Sub Committee was appointed to explore the implementation of the President’s decision.
Minister Ranatunga said, “We would have given a solution to the teacher-principal salary issue by now, if we had not faced the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. However, the Government will definitely fulfill the pledges given to people whatever pandemic affects the country in the future. Even though the Government is ready to solve problems faced by the ordinary people, it is not ready to indulge the political games of various parties.”
Discussion on Budget proposals
The first discussion to take into consideration the views of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) backbenchers to the Budget proposals for the financial year 2022 was held at Temple Trees on Wednesday (August 11) presided over by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
During the discussion organised by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, views on various development aspects at rural, divisional, district level and national level and developing the economy were obtained from the SLPP backbenchers. The Parliamentarians made suggestions on enhancing the organic fertiliser industry, export industry, attracting the rural sector for the industry and service sector, developing tourism and fisheries sector and dairy industry.
SLPP Chairman Education Minister Prof G.L. Peiris, SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam and Chief Government Whip Minister Johnston Fernando were also present.
Twenty-one proposals
UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said that he hopes that the Government will consider the 21 proposals submitted by his party as solutions, in the face of the situation where every sector of the country has collapsed due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Wijewardene told the media on Friday (August 13) that at a time when the country is facing a grave situation, the UNP had no intention to act against the Government but to contribute towards helping the country overcome the problems it is facing.
He said, “Although all parties in the Opposition are criticising the Government’s actions, no party has submitted an alternative plan to solve the prevailing problems in the country. The only party that has a plan to move the country forwards is the UNP and they have submitted a plan as well.”
He said the Party is not considering the loss to the UNP but the loss being experienced by the people and that is why Ranil Wickremesinghe continuously declared that the Presidential Task Force be dissolved and the Covid-19 control procedures be taken under the Cabinet. He also said that Wickremesinghe does not have any personal problem with the Army Commander and what he wanted was to halt the deaths of people from Covid-19.
Crucial meeting
A crucial meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Prevention of Covid-19 was convened under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday (August 13).
The discussion decided on the next steps to be taken to monitor the current Covid-19 situation in the country. Speculation had been rife over the possibility of the Government re-imposing travel restrictions or even a lockdown as urged by several medical associations and experts in the wake of the rapid spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in the country and the spike in fatalities.
State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana told reporters, following the meeting, that although the Government has no intention of placing the country under complete lockdown, there is a possibility that travel restrictions could be further tightened to some extent. He said that the discussion focused on controlling the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country. Prof. Jayasumana said, “Various opinions were presented and certain changes will be made in the coming days.”
Electoral system
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has emphasised the need for a mixed electoral system at the Select Committee of Parliament to identify appropriate reforms of the election laws and the electoral system and to recommend amendments.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party, United People’s Freedom Alliance and People’s United Front presented their proposals in writing on August 11 to the Select Committee of Parliament, chaired by Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara speaking on behalf of the SLFP said that the country needs a mixed electoral system.
He said the Executive Presidency is needed, and pointed out that proper procedures should be put in place to prevent the appointment of dual citizens to the presidency. Jayasekara said that the possibility of holding the Presidential and General Elections on the same day and the possibility of holding the Provincial Council and Local Government Elections on the same day should be specially looked into.
Speaking on behalf of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Member of Parliament Prof. Tissa Vitarana said that there is an urgent need to set up a new electoral system in the country to protect the rights of all communities. He also pointed out the importance of preventing the misuse of state property.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake said that the Government should at least now invite all members of Parliament irrespective of their parties to discuss the measures to be taken to arrest the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Attanayake said that around 3,000 people test positive for Covid-19 daily and the number of deaths is also on the increase. He asked why the Government cannot discuss these issues with the members of parliament. He also focused attention towards the shortage of LP Gas and milk power and said it is a pity that the Government has no concrete plans to resolve these burning issues. Attanayake also highlighted the soaring prices of essential food commodities. He said, “Sri Lanka has fallen into the fifth place among poor nations in the world.” He said the people also expected relief packages from the new Finance Minister but unfortunately that too has not so far happened.