By Ajith Siriwardana

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday urged the government to formulate a mechanism to distribute essential commodities among the people claiming that they had faced numerous issues due to the imposition of travel restrictions.  

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a news conference that daily wage earners had lost their livelihood while farmers and fisher folk were helpless without any ways to sell their produce.  

“A mechanism should be in place for the people to purchase their essentials and medicines. Otherwise, people might express their pressure in other ways. We saw how people reacted during the second wave. We have a strong state mechanism. Private sector should also be part of this mechanism so as to minimize possible issues,” he said.  
Mr. Dissanayake said people should adhere to travel restrictions if they are to get the maximum results from the travel restrictions.  

“We should reap the maximum benefit from the imposition of travel restrictions. Otherwise, the impact to the economy and social life due to travel restrictions will be of no avail,” he said.  

He also said the government should review its COVID prevention measures during the past and added that the President should be humble and take decisions strictly and clearly in order to reap the benefit of the imposition of travel restrictions.  

MP Dissanayake said steps should be taken to reassure people’s lost confidence on data and statistics, the decisions taken by the Government should be passed down to the people clearly and definitely by one or two responsible persons of the government and also to formulate a mechanism to vaccinate the people.  

• We should reap the maximum benefit from the imposition of travel restrictions. Otherwise, the impact to the economy and social life due to travel restrictions will be of no avail