Give us a jab so we can do our job, industry bosses plead
As the country limps back to normalcy with the relaxation of restrictions, struggling sectors have called for the national vaccination programme to include their members and staff so that they can provide services.
State services, businesses transport providers and other industries gradually resumed operations after nearly twoand- a- half months of restrictions following the third wave of the virus, which broke out after the Sinhala and Hindu New Year holidays.
The managing director of a private clothing shop, Anuruddha Wijeratne, called for the extension of the vaccination programme to employees of private retail shops. “Customers only shop if they feel safe,” he said.
Those in the entertainment industry continue to be hit by lockdown restrictions on carnivals and musical shows.
The leader of the Marians band, Nalin Perera, especially popular in the Negombo area, said musicians are badly affected.
Veteran musician Keerthi Pasquel told The Sunday Times engagements on television shows and in recording studios had dwindled for artistes while big events and shows remained out of reach.
Speaking for himself, he continued to have online classes, used his home studio to write and record songs, and posted them on social media. “Even one of my shows scheduled to be held at the BMICH in June was cancelled. I did not worry about it and used the time I had to produce more music and songs,” he said, adding that he continued to carry out his social welfare activities.
OHME band leader Randika Fernando said the biggest challenge was not to collapse mentally but meet the situation bravely because all musicians “faced the music” with zero income.
Public transport sector providers are unable to resume inter-provincial journeys as they must limit the number of passengers to 30 per cent of seat capacity in the Western Province or 50 per cent elsewhere.
Sri Lanka Transport Board Operations Deputy General Manager A. H. Panduka Swarnahansa said 3,000 buses are currently operating throughout the country, keeping to provincial boundaries.
The current low commuter levels made the limitations on seating capacity bearable but if numbers rose and the limitations remained, then more buses would need to be deployed, he said.
The Private Bus Owners Association said the seating system was impractical and called for a subsidy payment to be given to drivers and conductors.
Otherwise, the organisation’s president, Gamunu Wijeratne said, bus operators would be reluctant to maintain seating regulations. “Due to lack of passengers most bus owners have reduced the buses they deployed,” Mr. Wijeratne said.
Colombo District Secretary Pradeep Yasaratne called for the vaccination of state officials, saying that divisional secretariats were engaged on essential work, even opening on weekends to deal with COVID-related matters.
“We have notified the health authorities to vaccinate officials of the Survey and Valuation departments as well as of ficials of Road Development Authority. There is a great deal of development activity within the Colombo district that should be resumed,” Mr. Yasaratne said.