RW proposes Public Health Emergency Act to Govt.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe  

• Draft proposal to be presented by UNP leader today 
• Proposes public health emergency council to be established under President 
• Act includes giving powers to PM to issue gazette restricting public movement for up to 14 days 

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will today submit to the Government a draft proposal for a Public Health Emergency Act which is aimed at better controlling the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The proposed Act calls for two-thirds support from the Parliament, acting on the written advice of the Director General of Health Services to declare a state of public health emergency. The Act also provides provisions for the Parliament, the Cabinet of Ministers, courts and the proposed Public Health Emergency Council to convene and meet using audio-visual linkages during a ‘Public Health Emergency’. 

Wickremesinghe proposes a ‘Public Health Emergency Council’ (PHEC) chaired by the President, with the Prime Minister as the Vice Chairman. The proposed PHEC will include the leader of the Opposition, ministers in charge of Health, Social Welfare, Environment, Home Affairs, Science and Technology, Defence, Police, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Education, Director General of Health Services and any other Minister or person referred to in subsections of the Act as members. 

The functions of the Council are to formulate and implement a national plan and program for the effective use of resources for the detection and containment of the contagious disease specified under part of the proposed Act. The Council is also empowered to enhance public awareness and offer training to help members of the public to protect themselves from the any identified disease and ensure the uninterrupted supply of goods and services. The proposed Act empowers the Prime Minister to issue a gazette on the written advice of the Director General of Health Services to restrict or prohibit fundamental rights of the public for a period of 14 days. 

The restrictions include public assemblies; religious worship, observance, practice, and teaching in public; engagement in an occupation not specified in Section 10 of this the proposed Act, travel to and from places of dwelling, being on any public road, railway, public park, public recreation ground, the seashore, or in a public restaurant, hotel, place of public entertainment, or any other such public place. 

The 10-page proposed Act will be submitted to the Government by Wickremesinghe today, UNP sources said. (AF)