Govt. has lost control of COVID-19 due to focus on 20A: SJB

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara addressing the press with SJB members Harin Fernando and Nalin Bandara 

• Calls on Govt. to be more transparent about origins of new cases
• Demands increased testing to back up claim of no community spread 
• Warns over-focus on 20A will have serious consequences 

By Asiri Fernando

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, yesterday continued their criticism of the 20th Amendment, questioning whether the controversial Constitutional change will help contain the spread of COVID-19 and the economic crisis the country is facing. 

Bandara alleged that the Government has lost control of the COVID-19 containment and the economy, due to their focus on pushing through the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. 

The Opposition Parliamentarian, joined by SJB members Harin Fernando and Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, made the comments at a press conference held yesterday, one which came in the wake of the Chief Opposition Whip Lakshaman Kiriella writing to the Speaker, seeking to postpone the upcoming parliamentary session citing public health regulations. 

Bandara pointed out that the Opposition had been warning of the impact due to the Government’s poor fiscal management and economic policies from December 2019, pointing recent downgrades and concerns raised by leading international investment banks to validate their concerns.  

SJB parliamentarian Nalin Jayamaha pointed out that 12 medical professionals and close to 40 medical staff had been moved into quarantine due to the COVID-19 spread in the Gampaha district. He charged that the Government was withholding information about the spread of the virus, causing the public to lose faith in the public health system. 

“The government has still not taken seriously the need to expand testing; we have been calling for the large-scale expansion of testing from the beginning” Jayamaha charged, accusing the health minister of being incompetent.  

Both Bandara and Jayamaha argued that COVID-19 patients have been discovered in numbers from all parts of the country. Jayamaha questioned why such patients were being classed in to the Gampaha textile factory cluster and called on the Health Ministry to give the public an explanation. 

“Today the Sanga, other religious leaders, civil organisation and members within the Government have all expressed reservations and concerns about the proposed 20th Amendment to the President. However, their concerns have fallen on deaf years, as the Government stubbornly pushes forward with the proposed changes.” Bandara charged. 

Bandara argued that the Government was quick to postpone parliament when the COVID-19 first wave happened, but are risking the health and wellbeing of policy-makers by being eager to debate the proposed 20th amendment in parliament this week, as the country struggles to contain a second wave. 

“According to the public health regulations introduced following the COVID-19 crisis, PCR tests must be done if there is a meeting; there has to be a one-meter gap as a social distancing policy. What is the Government trying to do? Are they trying to make the place that creates law, a place that breaks the law by forcing through an authoritarian constitutional change?” he charged. He calls on the Government to subject all MP’s and parliamentary staff to the COVID-19 PCR tests as a precautionary measure to ensure that the virus doesn’t spread to the Parliament. 

According to Bandara, the opposition has sought four days to debate the proposed 20th amendment from the Speaker. 

“The 20th brings major changes to constitution. Especially due to removal of key committees, which have oversight of the erosion of the auditor general’s powers. These changes will lead to 70 -75% of Government funds being removed from auditing. Why is that necessary? Who asked for such changes and why? We need to have a lengthy debate on this” Bandara stressed.  

However, he stated that the speaker, the Government Whip and Chief Organiser have only agreed to give two days for the debate. “Is this democratic?” Bandara questioned. 

“The Government is pushing the country towards an authoritarian system, where the Government is not accountable to the judiciary and the Parliament through the introduction of the 20th amendment to the constitution.” Bandara opined.