The JVP stating that the President has a responsibility to the people of this country, wherever his children and grandchildren live in the world, has strongly criticized the President for not closing down the country despite three new Delta variants being reported in the country.
This was stated by the Member of the Central Committee of the party Dr Nalinda Jayatissa at a media briefing held yesterday (19). Following is his full statement at the meeting.
“Given the current situation of the covid epidemic, the government has to be forced to take immediate action to save the people from it. According to the statistics we hear and see, we are at the beginning of the worst phase of the epidemic. Ignoring this situation has forced the admission of infected people beyond the capacity of the hospitals. More than 45,000 hospitalized cases have been reported this afternoon (19). This situation arose in the United States, Italy, India and Indonesia during the first wave. It is a very serious situation when the health system can not cope up with infections. More than physical facilities, intensive care units, oxygen, ventilators, and even hospital staff are not enough to treat.
On the other hand, hospital staff also becomes infected. Twenty-eight staff members of the Homagama Hospital, including eight doctors, have been infected. Four of the eight doctors are in the intensive care unit. As of yesterday (18), 265 members of the health staff, including 27 doctors and 105 nurses of the Colombo National Hospital, has been infected. Nurses are unable to change shifts in some wards due to infection. By the 18th, more than 200 doctors and more than 4,000 nurses working in our hospital system have been diagnosed with the disease. Nearly 40 public health inspectors and a large number of health workers have been infected.
At present, the country has lost many lives of the health staff, including several health assistants and doctors. These conditions indicate that the health system is not adequate to treat the growing number of patients. The health staff was not available to deploy to the intermediate residential camps built around last May. Today the situation has become unbearable for the health staff. On the other hand, three mutations in the virus have already been found in the delta variety. At a time like this, a government must take the right action at the right time to protect the lives of the people. But the government does not follow those steps but gives reasons by taking whatever action it likes. The President and his task force are not taking the necessary scientific action at the appropriate time to control the virus. If the source of the infection of a patient cannot be found, it is socialization. However, the government is not ready to accept this. At previous waves of the epidemic, attempts were made to confirm that the source was known by naming the infected as Peliyagoda cluster, Kiribathgoda cluster etc. Even now, the President and his task force are trying to say that the disease has not been socialized.
In this situation, there is no other answer but to immediately close the country scientifically. However, the President has taken a tough decision not to close the country and has deployed officials from the Ministry of Health to make statements regarding the non-socialization of the disease. Electronic media, print media and social media have all exposed the way in which false data has been presented in this regard. On the other hand, the PCR or rapid antigen testing as required are not performed to understand the depth of this epidemic. From July 18 to August 16, the highest PCR was recorded on August 12. 20,362 PCR tests and 7,098 rapid antigen tests were performed. 27,468 was the highest number of tests done in one day. Only 50% of this has been done on all other days. As a delta-like variety spreads rapidly, at least one hundred thousand tests should be performed. However, the government is deliberately blocking it. PCR and antigen testing in private hospitals has been stopped. On the other hand, tests that bring accurate data on the disease have been limited, and the results of those tests have been distorted. No matter how much the government hides the data, we are grateful to the media for providing accurate information.
In mid-June, the Presidential Task Force did something curious. The head of the epidemiology unit was blamed for reporting 101 infections and accused of conspiracy. Specialist Dr Sudath Samaraweera was removed from office, and the interpretation necessary for the President was given. The death toll was reported at 60, stating that intelligent people were sent to each house to obtain accurate information. The President wanted to show fewer deaths. It is clear that the President is behind the reporting of a low number of deaths and infections. A government MP himself had stated that the date change was made by several high-ranking officers in the army and two specialist doctors. The allegation made by the government MP has not been answered till today. It is confirmed that all the incidents from “country need not be locked down just because 28 infected have been found” or “I am the one who did best” to the removal of the head of the epidemiology unit took place at the behest of the President.
Currently, the number of patients who depend on oxygen for their lives is very high due to the rapid spread of the epidemic and the rapid spread of the Delta variety within it. As such, demands were made to immediately close the country for two weeks. Mrs Padma Gunaratne, President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, had made this request four weeks ago. He had continued the request for a discussion with the association. But even that discussion was not given. All the doctors’ unions made this request with one voice. Nursing Trade Unions, PHI’s trade unions and all the trade unions in the health sector made this request. They are trade unions that represent those who deal with the covid infection. The World Health Organization issued a report on August 10 calling for the immediate closure of the country, stating failure to do so would result in an estimated 30,000 deaths by January. Nevertheless, even the written request of the World Health Organization was not considered. Not only the members of the Opposition but also the members of the government continue to make this request. The request of Sudarshani Fernandopulle, the Minister of State, was set aside, and even the former Minister of Health was deprived of her Ministry. Many ministers, including Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila have made this request at the cabinet meeting held last Tuesday. Today, the leaders of the 10 parties representing the government have requested in writing to close the country for three weeks.
Ignoring any of this, the President restricts his staff and get them to enter the Presidential Secretariat after an antigen test. The Secretary to the President has also limited his staff. Ministers like Gamini Lokuge and Namal Rajapaksa have been sworn in as new cabinet ministers using zoom technology. They have done everything for their safety. Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the President tell the country’s people, the public servants and private sector employees, to come to work. They want to keep the shops open. In addition, the four-day session of Parliament this week was limited to one day. All the children of the Rajapaksa duo are in America. When the plague intensifies, they can return to their homeland. Their family members live there, and the duo has come here, maybe on a contract. They have little to do with this land. Hundreds of lives have been lost, but they are not responsible. We tell Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the President that these are people who died as husbands, wives, relatives or sons who worked hard to build this country. Dual Citizens Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the President are requested to listen to the views of health experts in this country. Every day we are losing the lives we can save. Today, the lives of people in our country are crying out for oxygen in hospitals. It is the lives of people in our country that die without drugs.
Arrogance aside, the country must be prepared to face this disease by prioritizing the health sector under a scientific program at the request of health experts. We reiterate to the people the seriousness of the disease. Perform all health quarantine functions, even if vaccinated. Your life is not important to the government. They have important lives in America. They keep their lives in America, and they don’t make decisions for you, for your children, for your parents’ lives. So be as careful as you can. I also urge the Director-General of Health Services, the Head of Epidemiology and the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, who rose to the top after receiving free education from the tax money of the people of this country, to respect what they have learned. Do not become a machine for spreading false ideology to the political project of the government. Do not become a cloak for their filth. You have a responsibility to the people. You tell people the right information you can get your hands on. We know that you will remain silent before the President or the Presidential Task Force. People’s lives are being lost due to that silence. Therefore, the top three officials of the Ministry of Health are requested to tell the truth in front of the people. If you keep your back straight and tell the truth, you will be left with the satisfaction of saving people’s lives. We urge all health workers who are doing their duty no matter what the government does to tell the people the truth. The media will be open enough for the truth you mention. There, people’s lives are more powerful than the Establishment Code or other laws. You can save many lives. By releasing real information, people will automatically move to a self lockdown. Finally, I urge the President to fulfil your responsibility to the people of this country, wherever your children and grandchildren live. Make the decision that the health sector demands at this point. There is no point in taking haphazard decisions. As the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, we urge the government to take the necessary decision at this juncture.
