We are ready to rescue our country – Sunil Handunnetti

The failure to prioritize elders’vaccination against covid has contributed to the increase in covid deaths. People are being oppressed on all sides. We are ready to accept the responsibility of rescuing our country and people from this situation and will act responsibly, says Member of the Political Bureau of the JVP Sunil Handunnetti.
He was speaking at a media briefing held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta yesterday (12th).
He said, “Today, with the rapid spread of the Delta variant, we need to reveal to the country our position on the uncertainty that has arisen in the country due to the contradictions in the government’s response. The highest number of deaths for a day, that is 124, was reported yesterday (11th) and so far 5,424 have died due to the epidemic. More than three hundred thousand have been infected. As a society, as a country, we have to face extremely painful experiences. Today the epidemic has spread to the point where we have to ask who is not infected. At a time like this, the people of the country need to know the real data. It is important to have this factual information when it comes to taking risks as well as decision-making.
However, it was confirmed yesterday that there are serious discrepancies in the data presented. There are serious contradictions between the findings of the Gampaha District Epidemiology Unit and the District Secretary’s Coordinating Committee. The Coordinating Committee of the District Secretary reveals that there were 12,555 infected persons in the Gampaha District during the first 08 days of August.
The covid Suppression Force has reported only 3,729 regarding those 08 days. Thus, there is nothing about 8,826. Due to this 3,223 have been added as the number missed yesterday. Meanwhile, according to the Covid Suppression Force, there are 45 in Batticaloa in the Eastern Province, but in the District Health Officer’s Office, the number is 342. When the force says there are 71 in Trincomalee, the Director of Health says there are 163. The situation in Ampara is similar. There is a problem as to who is telling the truth. The Presidential Task Force obtains this information from the Ministry of Health through the Director-General of Health. Either the Director-General of Health has provided incorrect information. Alternatively, the Army Commander as the head of the Presidential Task Force has given false information. If the correct information is not provided, the people will have serious doubts..
Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, the Chief Specialist in Epidemiology, was removed from his post due to a question regarding information. According to reports published by the media yesterday, who is making the information bigger or smaller should be revealed. This is a serious issue. The government is playing with the lives of the people. The victims of this plague were not criminals. The people are falling prey to the epidemic as a result of the foolish decisions of the government. Doubts have been raised as to whether this is also the case with the deceased. According to hospital reports, a tragedy has befallen everyone in the community. People have the right to know the truth when making decisions and presenting information regarding their safety. We urge the government to take responsibility without distorting information.
Of the 354 deaths in the recent 3 days, the majority were over the age of 60. The government says they died because they were not properly vaccinated. We ask the government whether there are people over 60 who refused to be vaccinated. Even before the vaccination began, the WHO made recommendations. According to the report submitted on November 13, 2020, priority should be given to the health sections. Their recommendation is to prioritise health sections in the first phase when 10% of the population will be vaccinated and then prioritise those over 60 years of age. Protecting the health sector is done first and then the elderly. In the second phase, it was recommended that 20% of the population be vaccinated, prioritising the elderly. But when our country received the first consignment of AstraZeneca, the government took action to provide it to politicians, their families and the labour force. Some members of the government started a vaccination robbery.
On the other hand, a fraudulent decision was made to vaccinate the labour force between the ages of 30-60 to make money. What is being propagated today is a story of people over 60 committing suicide without getting vaccinated. That is not true.
No one refused the vaccine. As a result, about 95% of people over the age 60 would die. We believe these are murders, not deaths from the corona. Innocent people in our country have to pay the final price for the sin of government rejecting the recommendations of the WHO. Despite the catastrophic situation in the country, the government continues to ignore the views of epidemiologists. Health officials and experts warn that about 1,200 people could die in the next 20 days. Professor Suresh Angampodi of Rajarata University has made a similar projection. Experts say that decisions should be taken to tighten the travel restrictions without delay, within five days, or more would die. Some ministers are trying to hand over the people to God.
Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle has stated that decision-makers do not mind her views. The Minister of Health is not summoned to the cabinet when the press release on the main issue in the country is issued. Putting The opinion of experts is thrown away as trash. Many in the government are making decisions sitting on their brains. There is a problem whether the President makes decisions based on the recommendations of the health sector or the information of the Army Commander and the intelligence services.
The severity of the epidemic has been exacerbated by the arrogant and arbitrary decisions of the government. We think the people of the country should be concerned about this. The government is not looking at how to overcome the epidemic but for ways of carrying out cremations. Therefore, the people should be more concerned about this. In addition, when commodity prices rise Today, people whose incomes do not increase have to take to the streets to make a living. There are queues. As the government does not take responsibility for human lives, the people have to take responsibility. We call on the people to work towards survival and strategies to overcome this disease. We have to take the responsibility of saving the lives of children as well. The government puts the responsibility of the dead on those who die. The government does not convene the cabinet to make decisions on behalf of the people.
Also, the country’s people have been sent in gas queues to extort money for the trade mafia. Laugfs Gas submitted a cabinet paper stating that the government should cover its loss and they would hand over their Hambantota gas terminal to Litro. If the government accepts the loss of the private company, they promised to make gas available at Rs. 1493. However, today the gas price has been increased by Rs. 363. Earlier it was said that there are liquidity issues. However, the increase in gas prices does not address any other issues after the extortion. Even if the government accepts a private company’s losses, they will be passed on to the people. Without doing so, the price increase will be imposed directly on the people. Now the state-owned Litro Gas Company has also sought permission from the Consumer Affairs Authority to increase prices.
In this epidemic situation, the government is not looking for answers to any questions when there is a shortage of essential commodities due to rising prices. People are being oppressed on all sides. We are ready to accept the responsibility of rescuing our country and people from this situation and will act responsibly. As a first step, we urge the government to listen to the views of health experts immediately. We also urge the people to unite and work together to protect our children as the government relinquishes its responsibilities. Let’s be safe. We invite you to come forward.”