Hold the line

Curfew was a positive step in the context that it mandated social distancing at a time when Sri Lankans were, to some extent, unenthusiastic about keeping apart. Curfew is a term all Sri Lankans are extremely familiar with given how frequently it was imposed during the war. However, its implementation, along with other policies, is now slowly loosening at the seams and with a key festival period around the corner the Government cannot relax its stance now, or if it does decide to do so, must come with a clear plan. 

There is no doubt that people are getting increasingly tired of staying at home. Many people need essential items and others, sensing a business opportunity, are getting into the swing of launching delivery services. The curfew, which is still indefinite in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Jaffna, perhaps helped to reduce the number of cases being diagnosed on a daily basis but co-relation is not causation and there is still no indication that Sri Lanka has turned the corner on COVID-19. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines there has to be a steady reduction of cases for at least a week and there is still the ever-present danger that people carrying the virus could come from another country or an undiagnosed carrier could spread the virus within communities. 

It is precisely this community spread that people need to counter through social distancing. It is therefore disappointing that despite all the hard work that has already been done the return of free trade zone workers was not organised better. Initial reports indicate that the workers were left at their hostels or boarding places for over a week, even though factories in the free trade zone had closed due to curfew. Eventually food ran out prompting trade unions to seek Government assistance to deliver essential items. Then a decision appears to have been taken to bus the workers home. 

This may be the most practical approach but it ought to have been discussed in a transparent manner and workers given clear instructions. The transportation should also, ideally have been staggered, and people being sent home should have been tested for COVID-19. There has been a persistent concern health services do not have sufficient COVID-19 testing kits and given that there is an estimated 20,000 workers in zones waiting to be sent home, lack of testing becomes a concern. 

Free trade zones are under the Board of Investment, which was gazetted under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and house some of the most powerful and affluent companies in Sri Lanka. It is therefore additionally concerning that these companies may have disregarded the welfare of their employees to such a dangerous and callous extent. They are unlikely to be held accountable for that but it is undoubtedly their responsibility to work with the Government to ensure the wellbeing of their employees. 

At least at this late date these companies can ensure that salaries are paid to their employees and support their self-quarantine. The public sector cannot be left to deal with national crisis time and again by themselves. The private sector also has a role to play and should take it up with empathy and seriousness.  The public sector has stepped up in times of conflict, bomb attacks and natural disasters. They must continue this trend.