We have a Health Ministry that cannot make accurate announcement about the number of COVID deaths or even the number of PCR tests that are conducted daily with results, the Health Services Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) President Saman Rathnapriya said.

He told the media today that if the health ministry is unable to release accurate information, the country cannot control the pandemic.

"It is an unfortunate situation. Without having updated and accurate daily COVID figures, it is very hard to control the situation. Every PCR test takes a maximum of four days to release results and there is no proper mechanism to update the daily COVID deaths," he said.

Senior officials, including doctors, will reap the full benefits of continuing with this practice. However, nurses and junior staff are yet to receive any.

Therefore, we staged a slience protest on June 3 and urged the nurses and minor staffers should be delivered justice. They are not even compensated for the services they provide.

"Now they are staring at a situation of being thrown out of their boarding houses," he said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Pix by Kithsiri de Mel