China accused of negligence

Consumer rights group obtains legal advice 

• They ensured it did not spread from Wuhan to Beijing. But they did not take steps to prevent it from spreading to the world
• China must take full responsibility for the spread of the virus in Sri Lanka and other countries

By Easwaran Rutnam and Indika Sri Aravinda 

 
With individuals and groups in the US and the UK initiating legal action against the Chinese Government over the spread of the coronavirus, local groups in Sri Lanka are now preparing to do the same. 

Ranjith Vithanage, Chairman of the National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection told Daily Mirror that China must take full responsibility for the spread of the virus in Sri Lanka and other countries.   
Vithanage said that their legal advisor, Prof. Prathiba Mahanamahewa and others are in the process of studying the legal aspects of steps to be taken against China.   He accused China of negligence in allowing the virus to spread to other countries.   Vithanage said that China did little to ensure it did not spread to other countries.   
“They ensured it did not spread from Wuhan to Beijing. But they did not take steps to prevent it from spreading to the world,” he said.   

Vithanage said that if the Sri Lankan Government fails to ensure China at least drops all outstanding payments as a compensation for what has happened, the National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection will join hands with foreign groups and demand justice.   A prominent lawyer based in the United States had recently filed a US$20 trillion lawsuit against China and, in an interview with Daily Mirror, he called on countries like Sri Lanka to do the same.