SJB backs all-party conference to manage COVID-19 crisis

Opposition parliamentarians Thalatha Athukorala, Eran Wickramaratne, Dr. Harsha de Silva and Kabir Hashim addressing the media yesterday

• Warns third wave reaching critical point 
• Says ‘state of disaster’ should be declared and more inclusive decision-making body formed 
• SJB wants to support Govt. but concerned time is running out 

By Asiri Fernando

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) senior members yesterday called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to call an all-party conference on managing the evolving COVID-19 crisis and warned it could become unmanageable unless serious steps are taken quickly.    

Opposition parliamentarians Thalatha Athukorala, Eran Wickramaratne, Dr. Harsha de Silva and Kabir Hashim, urged the Government to heed the advice given by medical experts and seek broad consultation to better manage what they termed as “the hour of national crisis.” They also assured the SJB was prepared to help. The appeal was made at a press conference held at the opposition leader’s office yesterday. 

“We the SJB urge the Government to call an all-party conference to effectively manage the COVID-19 crisis. We must first save the public,” MP Hashim appealed, pointing out that the Government had called two such conferences during the early stages of the pandemic but failed to continue the practice.

MP Hashim argued that prioritising economic revival and political interest over the health and well-being of the public was a failure on the part of the Government and a contributing factor to the worsening of the virus spread.  

“I think the time has come to call an all-party meeting and decide on how to obtain the assistance of the Opposition, but on the condition that decisions are made only on the advice of experts and not on political grounds, may it be to lockdown, partially lockdown or expand restrictions,” de Silva said.  

De Silva opined that as medical experts have indicated that the coming weeks could constitute a public health emergency, the Government should consider declaring a ‘state of disaster’ under the Disaster Management Act and allow the formulation of a more inclusive decision-making body. “Medical experts are pointing out that there is a disaster looming. The public is in danger,” he stressed.

De Silva pointed out that under the Disaster Management Act, the Government can establish a Disaster Management Council, made up of the President, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, selected Ministers, Governors of the Provinces and five members of the Opposition. He reiterated that the Opposition was ready to help the Government.

“The projections are looking bad. We need to act now,” urged SJB MP Wickramaratne, who also called on the Government to appeal to friendly countries, the international community, including the UN, to get mobile field hospitals, critical medical equipment and boost oxygen capacity as soon as possible.  

“This will be a test of the Government’s diplomacy. There is a need for 600,000 AstraZeneca vaccines. The amount is nothing compared to the millions of vaccines needed by some countries. Those who got the first dose are awaiting the second,” Wickramaratne added. He pointed out that had the Government heeded expert opinion and the views of the Opposition last year, a vaccine shortage would not have happened. “We are six months behind (the rest of the world).

“This Government has completely failed in managing the COVID-19 outbreak locally. We have been telling them from the beginning that the task forces appointed are not led by specialists. The Government opened up the country at a time it should have remained closed.”

Wickramaratne explained that the present infection rate is very high, pointing out that according to the data models they have seen the infection rate may reach 4,000 in the coming weeks. “When that happens, there may be a need for additional 10-12 ICU beds per day. Already ICU beds are scarce. This capacity needs to be increased.”

The Government cannot pass on the blame of the rapid spread of the virus onto the public and disavow any responsibility for mismanaging the situation, Athukorala added, pointing out that even though the Government failed to take expert advice and the views of the Opposition in the past, the country cannot afford such an approach again.

“Let us help you, help our public,” she said, adding that time was running out to find solutions to a rapidly deteriorating situation.