14 May 2021 03:21 pm Views - 1490
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday urged the government to appoint a national disaster management council and convene it to decide what steps should be taken to arrest the prevailing pandemic situation.
SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva who made this request at a press conference said the government is legally bound to appoint and convene the council at the moment.
“The President should head the Disaster Management Council as per the Disaster Management Act, while the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, selected Ministers and five opposition MPs have to be included in it. Therefore we request the government to set up this council and convene it as soon as possible. Around 25 people are dying of COVID and more than 2000 new cases are being reported daily. Therefore it is appropriate to appoint and convene this council,” he said.
Quoting Health Expert Ravinda Rannan–Eliya, Dr. de Silva alleged that the warning given by the former that the UK variant was present since February was neglected by the government authorities. “This is similar to those in the previous government neglecting the warnings given by the intelligence units on the Easter Sunday attack,” he said.
Also he said this negligence is similar to what had happened to Brazil, though results are of a different scale.
Meanwhile, SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna who also participated in the press conference urged the government to call up retired doctors, nurses and medical experts and make them also assist in treating COVID patients. (Yohan Perera)