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Failure to gazette Covid-19 health guidelines: Authorities unable to take legal action

17 Jun 2020

PHIs and EC seek gazetting of health guidelines Health officials unaware of plans to print gazette By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The Health Ministry is yet to gazette the Covid-19-related health guidelines issued to the general public and for the parliamentary election under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Act so as to enable the authorities concerned to take legal action against those who violate the guidelines, The Morning learnt. It is learnt that both the Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and members of the Election Commission (EC) had informed the Government and also the Health Ministry about the necessity of gazetting those guidelines under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Act in order to ensure these were strictly followed by the public, especially during election campaigning by political parties, politicians, and their supporters. The PHIs were to launch trade union action demanding that the necessary powers be vested with them under the Act, and that the guidelines be gazetted to empower them to take action against violators. Following a meeting held with the Government, union action was postponed till next week. Speaking to The Morning, PHIs’ Union of Sri Lanka President Upul Rohana said that, at a recent meeting, Health Ministry officials had promised to gazette those guidelines within the week and sort out the issues faced by PHIs. Meanwhile, EC members also questioned the Government on the action authorities could take if political parties or their supporters did not adhere to the health guidelines. The Commission had already made a formal request to the Government asking that the Covid-19-related health guidelines issued for the upcoming parliamentary election be gazetted. However, when contacted by The Morning, Ministry of Health Public Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. Paba Palihawadana noted that she was not aware about the decision with regard to gazetting the guidelines. Another senior official who wished to remain anonymous told The Morning that such a decision had not yet been taken by the Health Ministry. All attempts to contact Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi and Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe proved futile.

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