Current Covid Spike In Sri Lanka Started On 25th of July ,Two Weeks After Start Date Of Teachers Udghoshana Demonstration – Evidence of Cause Of Present Spike – “The Opposition Inspired Super Spreader Udghoshana Pokura”
Posted on August 13th, 2021
Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM FRCP/FRACP
Dear Editor,
I am writing in absolute frustration & anger on watching parliamentarian Mudgibur Rahman blaming the government for the present spike in incidence of Covid in Sri Lanka claiming that it was because of the delay in securing vaccine because it wasted time chasing a ‘Paniya’ without placing orders of vaccines.Nothing is further from the truth.
For a start , as the graphs above shows the Aluth Aviruddha pokura started rising at the end of April , coinciding with two weeks since lifting travel restrictions for Aluth Avuruddha. By mid May numbers rapidly reduced coinciding wth two to three weeks since starting mass vaccination in the western province, with the arrival of Sinopharm vaccines in large quantities. This trend bottoms out at the end of July when the trend is suddenly reversed coinciding with two weeks of the start of the demonstrations, Uthgoshana, first with the SJB against the petrol price increases, Farmers against ban on chemical fertiliser imports and the final straw was the starting of island wide teachers Uthgoshana, on 12th of July. The spike starting on 25th July fit perfectly and is a carbon copy of the super spreader Trump rallies in the US at the end of 2020
Mujibur also tries to make out that the calling back of public servants on the 2nd of August was the cause of the spike. The spike has already started by then and the call back of the public servants was reversed in a day or two, but not the Uthgoshana which are still on going with the overt and covert support of the political opposition. This is an Opposition Inspired Uthgoshana Pokura.
Nor was the real reason for the delay in securing the required large quantities of vaccine, thirty million at least for the the 15 million over 18 years old out of the 21 million total, explained properly. SL had placed orders for Astra Zenicker from India way back in 2020 when they were liberally distributing it labelled India’s Vaccine Diplomacy” . However, when their numbers went berserk, and India stopped export of vaccine, SL had to look elsewhere. Till end April, SL had low numbers and hence a low priority for supply for vaccine manufacturers. When the numbers started spiking again at end of April, the situation changed and the President has done a wonderful job securing the about 25 million doses that have already arrived , mostly from China , to whom Sri Lanka should be really grateful. This is some thing the opposition politicians have not still brought themselves into acknowledging.Also not acknowledged is that by September SL would be bottling the Chinese vaccines brought here in bulk securing further their supply. This is amazing and all credit to those at the driving seat.
Mujibur also tired to blame the government off going after a Paniya” as the cause of the delay in vaccine availability . As explained above the Paniya” had nothing to do with arrival of vaccines . The Paniya was presented in Dec’20 . Vaccines were not available then but the Astra Zeicker from India had already been ordered and nothing was delayed because of the Paniya. It was taken when nothing was available to treat or for prevention . No western conventional medicine availability was compromised because of this. It infuriates me to see Sri Lankan politicians being so immoral as to so mislead the public and try to destroy the confidence of the people with Covid control measures of the government and so their compliance with these measures . Shame ! Shame!
I live in New Zealand, We placed orders for over five million Pfeizer vaccines in mid 2020, but have only just secured two million doses as we were low priority because of our low numbers. Australia also got caught off guard . Having depended on the locally produced Astra Zenicker, their public were put off from taking it for under fifty year old females because of cerebral thrombosis risk. When they placed orders for Pfeizer in late 2020/early 2021, they were a late cab off the rank, partly accounting for their Covid troubles now.
For a non vaccine manufacturer Sri Lanka’s success in securing the vaccines as they have is a Monumental Achievement, acknowledged by even the WHO but not the opposition.
The former mandateless prime minister, who was only able to secure one seat for the UNP , for the whole country, totally rejected by the electorate , is up to his usual tricks of misleading the public and doing his dam-nest best to under mine the monumentally successful vaccination program and now wants to be a part of a National Committee” , to manage covid, just as he tried to secure presidential powers while being only a PM with his 19th amendment to the constitution.
Sri Lankans should stay the course chartered for them by the government and be a team of 21 million led by the government, and the opposition members who have even a modicum of patriotism should join in this team effort encouraging the people to do so and not mislead and confuse them.The Uthgoshana super spreader activity should stop forth with and the opposition should see to that.
However, the government too has to get their act together better & communicate regularly with the people on their thoughts and strategy , with a knowledgable goverment minister explaining these everyday and the President or the Prime Minister every week.
In New Zealand, the Prime Minister together with the Director of Health Services had daily press briefings , broadcast live, at 1pm for about five months from first lockdown in March’20 . This was how the team of five million was achieved with every body clear of what the government plan was and what was expected of them.We all waited for this briefings to learn first hand the govt. plans. When shortfalls were identified ,they were rectified immediately. After about September ’ 20, a dedicated Covid management minister took over the Prime Ministers role in the daily media briefings. This was how the Covid eradication in NZ was achieved and we are managing to remain so. The public have already been informed of the plan, if the Delta variant arrives, a sharp hopefully short total lockdown to eradicate it.
Thankfully, we do not have such an unscrupulous opposition as in SL that is prepared to sacrifice Sri Lanka and it’s people for political power.
Sri Lankan government needs to upskill it’s communication with the people along the above lines , to secure their support and prevent them from being mislead by the unscrupulous opposition. The communication has to come from at least a dedicated minister on a daily basis with at least a weekly input from the President or Prime Minister.
There would be light and life at the end of the tunnel, if they do so.
Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZ
FRCP/FRACP
August 13th, 2021 at 7:08 pm
Yes Dr Rajapaksa thankfully, in New Zealand with approx. population of 5 million which is 25% compared to Sri Lanka with very large land area do not have such an unscrupulous opposition. In Sri Lanka its totally opposite. When opposition were in power could not do any single mean full project other than day light Central Bank Robbery & allowing Muslims to attack Christian churches on Easter Sunday. Dentist who became Former Health Minister claim during his period he tackled 6 pandemic’s. This idiot do not know the meaning of world wide pandemic comparing regional matter. First he started altering out date drugs selling to the market and subsequently manipulating State Pharmaceutical requirements and importing through his Agents. Thanks to present Government & three forces Sri Lanka still in good position comparing to powerful countries such as USA, UK & many European countries.
The best is to put all those Trade Union leaders & their political supporters behind bars.
August 14th, 2021 at 4:50 pm
Agree with your assessment of the reasons for the spread of the Covid 19 virus in Sri Lanka. As a specialist medical practitioner in New Zealand, you have correctly placed your finger on the effects of the Daily Uthgoshana carried out by the Teachers Union relating to a salary issue dating back to over 22 years, propelled by the backing of opposition political parties hoping to gain some mileage at the expense of the people’s health. The government’s failing has been its lack of communicating with the public of the steps being taken to safeguard the population from the ill effects of the pandemic.
The indiscipline among the members of the public too was demonstrated by their lack of a sense of following precautionary steps needed to be followed as emphasized by the medical community.
August 14th, 2021 at 5:52 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. It is the job of the President to appear before the nation much more regularly than now and show leadership!
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 to disrupt,to bring the government in to disrepute and if possible topple the government. 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!
The 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. Now it is the 4th and the Udgohana Ralla carrying the Covid-19 Delta variant to all corners of the country! What was the reason to allow these people on the streets?
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! This need does not include Udgoshana and sloganeering!
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, INSTILL 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!
August 15th, 2021 at 10:58 am
Chula, I 100% agree with your analysis. Now opposition goons came on TV and said we self isolate without going around. This is after months of agitation and illegal gatherines and creating supper spreads. What they were doing was campaigning
for next election. None of these goons mention about vaccination program. They cant stomach programm going well.