FCCISL writes to President urging him to declare one-week essential leave for private and public sector employees

• Says drastic action needed to contain COVID-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka

Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), the apex body of the country’s chamber movement, yesterday urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to consider drastic action including essential seven-day leave initially, with an option of another seven-day extension, for all employees in State and private sectors excluding essential services to contain spreading of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. 

FCCISL President Shirley Jayawardena yesterday submitted a letter to President Rajapaksa highlighting a range of drastic measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka while appreciating all the measures taken by the government so far to protect the economy and the people including foreigners who are in the country.

The Chamber submitted the letter as six more persons had been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 infection on Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 28 in the country.

“We wish to encourage the government to take all drastic and legitimate action needed at this point of time to contain the spreading of the virus and would like to request you to kindly consider declaring essential leave for 7 consecutive days initially for all those in the government and private sectors except those engaged in essential services such as health, defence, energy, sea ports and export/import related services, water, food etc..,” the letter stated.

The FCCISL also encouraged the government to extend the proposed one-week essential leave by a further seven days, depending on the spread of the virus during the period. 

In addition, Jayawardena also backed a temporary travel ban on Sri Lankans leaving the country while stressing the need to impose a proper quarantine for all Sri Lankans and other nationalities arriving in the country.

“We are also fully aware of the need to impose a proper quarantine for all Sri Lankans and other nationalities arriving right now to identify if there are any infected persons and take them separately for treatment respectfully,” she stated. 

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) yesterday announced that passengers from Qatar, Bahrain and Canada are not allowed to land in the country.

The authorities have already imposed a travel ban for passengers arriving in the island from Iran, Italy S. Korea, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden and Austria.The FCCISL pointed out that it’s wise to bear the anticipated financial and economic losses from these drastic measures instead of potentially facing a near calamity due to lack of measures to tackle the virus spread. 

“We envisage that our country is likely to experience considerable financial and economic losses due to the present virtual shutdown of some economic sectors. However, we are of the view that as a country it is better to take this calculated loss and risk rather than face a near calamity, which is now being faced by some European countries,” Jayawardena elaborated.

Further, FCCISL also proposed a mass scale programme for disinfection of public utilities such as buses, trains, stations, restaurants, cinema’s etc. in all major cities in the country.

Jayawardena also encouraged the government to seek the expertise of the ayurvedic medical sector in addition to the Western medical services to improve the immunity of those already affected. Further, the FCCISL also underscored the need for an information centre at our Foreign Ministry backed by a proper mechanism to disseminate information of Sri Lankan expats living aboard to their relatives living in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the Chamber commended President Rajapaksa for joining the recent SAARC State leaders’ video conference for a possible joint action plan to combat the spreading of the virus within SAARC countries and calling for closer economic cooperation within South Asian countries.

“FCCISL being the chair and the lead Chamber/country focal point of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Islamabad, Pakistan will certainly rally the support of the private sector of all SAARC countries to any future collective action plan of SAARC Head of States,” it stated. FCCISL being the chair at Asia Pacific Trade Agreement Chamber of Commerce and Industry (APTA CCI) in Beijing - China, is in constant commutations with its sister chambers in China to seek their expert opinion, and experience in sharing, information on enterprises /State agencies on health sectors and demand for protective material etc.

“We will be vigilant and promptly share all information made available to us with the health sector both State and private sectors in Sri Lanka which hopefully will enable us to control the spread of the disease and eradicate it completely,” the Chamber stated.