COVID-debate mired by allegations and counter allegations

The adjournment debate on the COVID situation in the country moved by the Opposition on Friday became one of trading allegations, personal insults and speeches irrelevant to the issue.

Former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Foneseka was one of the few who spoke on a vital point, how Sri Lanka should be prepared for the vaccines offered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) sometime next year.

He said a carefully drawn out programme should be in place especially regarding storage and transportation of the vaccine as it had to be administered in two stages.

Field Marshal Fonseka’s comments came in for praise from some of the opposition members while State Minister Dr Sudharshani Fernandopulle pointed out that Sri Lanka’s experience in carrying out successful immunization programmes would be of great help. The debate began with government and opposition members trading allegations at each other, especially about whjat has become a controversial topic, the import of the Antigen test kits to be used to detect COVID-19 positive cases

Former Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne said the government has delayed getting the test kits even though tenders had been called earlier and thereafter sudden approval was given by the National Medical Regulatory Authority last month for samples to be imported by two companies.

Dr Senaratne elaborated that the State Pharmaceutical Corporation chairman had said that the Technical Evaluation Committee was still evaluating the test kits whereas the company had already imported them.

He said that the practice was that any medical device imported had to go through clinical and lab trials before being permitted to use.

But, State minister Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, Prof Channa Jayasumana responding said that the tender for Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits for state employees is still under technical assessment and had not been given to any specific company.

Prof Jayasumana said that as they could not wait for the medical device evaluation committee to have a meeting and decide since it was an emergency purchase a subcommittee was appointed consisting of a microbiologist to look into the matter.

Among the other speakers who contributed to the debate that lasted three and half hours was

ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran. He pointed out that Sri Lanka did not have laws to deal with public emergencies and the declaration of quarantine curfew was not in keeping with the laws of the country. He said that the Human Rights Commission too had taken up the matter with the government but no action has been taken .

State Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said that the government has rapidly expanded the health services to face the COVID19 crisis.

SJB MP Harin Fernando said that Prof Channa Jayasumana had written to the NMRA to bring pressure on them, but Prof Jayasumana responded by saying that was a general letter to expedite services at the Authority and not regardingthe Antigen tests.

Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that the government has made all efforts to control the spread of the virus and performed better than some of the developed countries.

SJB MP S.M Marikkar pointed out that the government was unable to distribute food items to to those those living in flats in affected areas and that many people were starving as the areas are under lockdown.

NPP MP Dr Harini Amarasuriya pointed out that there were shortcomings in distributing relief to those most affected and there were questions about the repatriation programme for Sri Lankans stranded overseas.

SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara said that the state Minister for Health spoke if he was the medical representative of a company and it appeared that the pandemic was being used for some to make money. “A new App is being introduced that too is questionable as close associates of he government have been given that contract too," he charged.

She said that the purchase of medical items come under the purview of the State Minister and the purchases are carried out under the guidelines of the NMRA.

She said that the task of the government was to control the COVID situation without hurting the economy.