Govt. should prioritise containing COVID-19, not passing the Port City bill: SJB

SJB Parliamentarians Mujibur Rahuman and Rohana Bandara addressing the press yesterday 

By Asiri Fernando

The Government needs to prioritise the health and safety of the public in the face of a worsening COVID-19 crisis, and not lose focus in trying to push through the Port City Bill, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Mujibur Rahuman said yesterday.

“At this moment, the Government’s priority needs to be ensuring the wellbeing of the public, not trying to push through the Port City Bill. The Government is trying to secure its political survival and not of the people,” he said at the Opposition Leader’s office yesterday along with fellow SJB MP Rohana Bandara.

MP Rahuman alleged that the Government was not adhering to warnings given by medical professionals and experts and was making critical public health-related decisions based on political preferences.

“Medical professionals and PHIs had warned that the situation was deteriorating but the Government didn’t make decisions based on their warnings, they took decisions based on their political views. We urge the Government to listen to the experts, don’t endanger the lives of the public, this is a crisis moment. The head of the PHIs said that they were told to reduce PCR testing. State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said that the Government got it wrong. The Government got it wrong because of their stubborn decision-making process which doesn’t listen to expert advice,” MP Rahuman charged.

He also alleged that from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government had not followed expert advice, and had stumbled on testing, hospitalisation facilities and importation of COVID-19 vaccines in advance. 

MP Rahuman claimed that a lacklustre approach to testing and implementing public health restrictions on movement had lulled the public into a complacent state, which may have aided in the rapid spread of the virus.

The SJB MP accused the Government of seeking short term economic gains over the public well-being by allowing Ukrainian, Indian and other foreign nationals to visit the island for tourism at a time the COVID-19 situation was out of control in those countries.

MP Rahuman questioned why the Government was in a rush to pass the Port City Bill, which could have a significant and long-term impact on the country’s sovereignty and economy, without adequate consultation and oversight, especially while the nation is struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19.