Lankan President blames public rallies for spurt in COVID cases
Posted on August 6th, 2021
Courtesy NewsIn.Asia
Colombo, August 6 (newsin.asia): Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has pointed out that a rash of protest rallies across the island recently has contributed to the spurt in the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The intelligence agencies have found that the spurt giving rise of unprecedented congestion in the hospitals is due to the over 120 demonstrations across the country with over 1500 people participating in each of them, the President said on Friday.
People getting together in this manner without following health guidelines have led to the rapid spread of COVID-19, the agencies had told him. There has been an increase in the number of patients being treated at hospitals in several major cities including Colombo with COVID-19 symptoms.
The President emphasized that the patients should not be inconvenienced due to the congestion. He said that intermediate treatment centers have been set up in several major cities recently. The President pointed out the need to refer those who show symptoms first to the Intermediate Treatment Centers and then to the hospitals after monitoring the patient’s condition.
The President made these remarks at a meeting held with the Special Committee on Prevention of COVID 19 Outbreak on vaccination drive and its future plans, at the Presidential Secretariat today (06).
Many of the personnel who are involved in the operations to contain the COVID-19 virus spread take indigenous medicines daily and this has greatly contributed to enhance immunization, said Indigenous Medicine Promotion State Minister Sisira Jayakody. He stated that even if the vaccine is administered, taking indigenous medicines daily with steam inhalation will help minimize the risk of contracting the virus.
President Rajapaksa further stated that it is the responsibility of health professionals to constantly advise the public through the media to avoid contracting the virus.
It was also decided to provide facilities for anyone over the age of 30 to receive the first dose at any of the vaccination centers that administer the second dose. Vaccines have been ordered to provide both doses to all citizens over the age of 18 before September. The government is even prepared for a third dose.
Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said it is disappointing to note the lack of support from the public to prevent the spread of the virus.
August 7th, 2021 at 8:11 pm
Mr President – Lead from the front!
The President was elected by the people – 69 lakhs of them. It is true that his candidature was spearheaded by Pohottuwa but he is not the leader of this political party. It is time President took the people into his confidence and come out of virtual ‘hiding’ in the Presidential Secretariat. Even at this late stage he should understand that micro managing is not a successful strategy. He should lay out broad policies and then hold subject Ministers responsible for the successful implementation of policy. According to Prof Northcote C Parkinson any meeting that has over 10 participants, is a disaster. More than that the meeting loses its coherence and become disjointed and ineffective. Trying to decide how to have more hospital beds should be the job of the subject Minister or Ministers.
What the people see is that the President and his government are firefighting with no clear strategy. His job is to make the necessary funding available through the Cabinet followed by parliamentary approvals when and where necessary. The President and the Pohottuwa has nearly 2/3 majority in parliament and the 20th Amendment in his pocket. Most of the time what is required is only a simple majority in the parliament.
As per the news, there has been over 120 protests since he came to office. Looking at these protests and their sloganeering it is quite apparent that their express intention is disruption and bringing the government in to disrepute. It is obvious that encouragement and even funding is available from external powers in and outside the region. The local agents at every occasion are the same – The Kuhaka Jana Balawegaya and the traitorous JVP.
These protests are like soap operas. They are the stuff that feeds the headless chooks – called the media. Camera in hand they move everywhere and their reportage has little of news worthy content only an inherent need to satisfy the hidden agendas of their bosses. The narrative keeps moving with no apparent reason other than the present moment negative excitement they provide to the viewer to increase their dispondency. Each protest has a life time of a few weeks. During this time, they are successful in grabbing the public attention, then when it wanes they move to another eye and ear grabbing episode. Today the fuel price protest, the farmers fertilizer protest and similar many many others since Nov 2019 are all behind us. Right now on the streets there are thousands of teachers, principals demanding higher salaries and university students against Kotalawala Academy are making pandemonium spreading the virus. It is obvious this type of protests should not be happening at the time of a pandemic. What makes them come to the streets at a time like this? All what one sees are a hapless majority led by street savvy agent provocateurs belonging to various political parties and other interested parties connected to mala-fide NGOs. All this are happening at a time when there are enough quarantine laws available for the Government to take sterner actions.
Democracy, human rights and freedom of speech should take a back stage at a time like this. The level of Security and Freedoms of a nation should depend on their affordability. When security is threatened it is obvious that some freedoms should be curtailed to suit the government’s purse. Allowing for Wal Booru Nidahasa – freedom of the jackasses, as we now witness on the streets is not statesmanship; it is giving into petit politics both within the government and outside!
President passed the first wave and second wave of the pandemic with flying colors. The third – the New Year wave was a grave mistake if looked at the situation in isolation. All over the world, governments have come to the conclusion that countries have to be opened up and live with the virus as the situations permit and demand. The only long-term solution is to achieve herd immunity through successful vaccinations. The economies must be revived while the virus is still around in order to keep the people fed and nourished. For this the machinery of the government and private sectors should be kept turning! So far President’s island wide vaccination drive is a huge success thanks to the indefatigable health services and the armed forces.
It is far better to face Geneva than get a Nobel Price after saving the nation and her economy. This is the stuff that history remembers!
THE OPPOSITION LAUNDROMAT
The sole intention of the Opposition Laundromat led by Kuhaka ( Samagi) Jana Bala Wegaya and murderous JVPers is to disrupt all government measures to successfully sail through the troubled waters of Covid-19 and the resultant Economic Crisis. They have no answers to what ails the economy but are intent on not allowing the government to make a success of it either. The contribution so far by the opposition is all negative, reprehensible and clearly not praiseworthy.
WHERE THE PROMISES OF ‘THE VISTAS OF PROSPERITY ‘ STAND TODAY AND IF THEY HAVE TO BE MODIFIED TO SUIT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SITUATION SHOULD BE TOLD TO THE PUBLIC TRUTHFULLY. THERE ARE MANY ACHIEVEMENTS INSPITE OF THE ADVERSE PANDEMIC SITUATION. CORRECT INFORMATION OF SUCCESSES AND FAILURES MUST BE TOLD UNDILUTED WITH REASONS FOR ANY FAILURES. THIS INFORMATION MUST BE FLAGGED IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE LEST THEY FORGET. HE HAS ONLY A FEW YEARS OF HIS FIRST TERM LEFT TO LAY A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR A SECOND TERM IF THAT IS HIS INTENTION. FOR THIS HE NEEDS A STRATEGY. FOR THIS HE MUST LEAD FROM THE FRONT, BE SEEN AND ADDRESS THE NATION MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN NOW WITH A SMILE. SMILES BRING CONFIDENCE! HIS JOB SHOULD BE TO TAKE THE PEOPLE INTO HIS CONFIDENCE AND NOT LET THAT CONFIDENCE FALTER. THE ORIGINAL ENTHUSIASM OF THE NATION MUST BE REINSTATED.
IF THE NATION IS A SHIP, THE PRESIDENT IS THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP AND THE PILOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCCESSFUL NAVIGATION THROUGH TROUBLED WATERS. IF THERE IS MUTINY ON THE SHIP, IT IS ALSO UPTO THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP TO QUELL THE MUTINY AND IF NECESSARY ‘KEEL HAUL’ A FEW TO BRING SANITY AMONG THE REST.
IT IS UP TO HIM TO INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN THE NATION AND TO STEER THROUGH WITH A FIRM HAND. AS LONG AS THIS IS NOT DONE, EVEN LITTLE AJITH ROHANA THE LEADER OF THE PHI ASSOCIATION LOOKS LIONIC, SOUNDS LIONIC AND MORE PRESIDENTIAL!