COVID Task Force should be reformed: JVP

Political leadership and mechanism in place to combat COVID pandemic a failure

By Ajith Siriwardana   

While claiming that political leadership and the mechanism in place to combat COVID pandemic have become utter failure, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday called for the reforming of the COVID Task Force.   
JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a news conference that considering the pandemic as a health issue, the health sector should be given more powers within the mechanism in respect of recommendations, monitoring and guidance.   

“I am not  appreciating or humiliating anyone in particular. However, former Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Chief Epidemiologist Paba Palihawadana and Dr.Jayaruwan Bandara of the Medical Research Institute should be recalled for the COVID Task Force.They have rendered a yeoman service to the prevention of the pandemic during the first wave. This mechanism should be reformed,” he said.   

He said just as in any catastrophe, there should be a strong political leadership during this pandemic as well, adding that it should be a collective political leadership.   

“The whole mechanism has been put under single political power. This should be brought under a collective political force. Initially, We asked the government to set up a mechanism with all political parties in the Opposition. If they are reluctant to join the political parties in the Opposition, this should be put under collective leadership, at least within the government. There are two former Presidents in the government. There are people who had held Deputy Chairmanship of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Consultant Virologists and Specialist Doctors within the government. Such a mechanism can be used to take short-term decisions,” he said.   

Mr. Dissanayake said the Government should immediately take steps to rescue the people from this catastrophe and added that the JVP as a political movement, was ready to contribute their utmost support to rescue the people from this pandemic.   

Former Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Chief  Epidemiologist Paba Palihawadana and Dr.Jayaruwan Bandara of the Medical  Research Institute should be recalled for the COVID Task Force