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Infectious Diseases Hospital Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama quits Covid-19 Committee 

07 Sep 2021

  • To remain in Communicable Diseases Committee 
  • Health Ministry urges reconsideration 
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Senior Consultant Physician at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama has resigned from the Health Ministry’s Covid-19 Technical Committee, which is tasked with making recommendations with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic control measures.  The Health Ministry’s Communications Director, Public Health Services Deputy Director General (DDG) and the Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath confirmed this to The Morning yesterday (7) evening. Commenting on Dr. Wijewickrama’s resignation, Dr. Herath said that he would request the former to reconsider his decision. “There are various problems in the society in which we live. It is a common thing in any institution to have such problems. But we must try to correct those shortcomings and move forward. We will not be able to achieve anything by resigning,” he opined. He also described the potential for adverse effects as a result of experts leaving such institutions.  “If experts leave in this way, who will the authorities seek advice from in the end? It is impossible to act without expert advice.”  When queried about the role of the Committee of which Dr. Wijewickrama was a member of, Dr. Herath said that the said Committee is being consulted on the steps taken by the Health Ministry to control the Covid-19 pandemic. He added that it is not a decision-making body and that officials such as the Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe would usually seek the advice of members of the said Committee on matters relating to Covid-19. When inquired about the media reports that Dr. Wijewickrama had resigned from the Committee as he was not in agreement with certain decisions taken by the Committee regarding the Covid-19 vaccination drive, Dr. Herath noted that no decision regarding vaccination would be taken through that Committee. “Vaccination-related activities are carried out by different committees.”  However, Dr. Wijewickrama is a member of several other committees in addition to the one he has resigned from and he would continue to be a member of these committees such as the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD), he further said. Meanwhile, when questioned about the media reports that Dr. Asoka Gunaratne, a member of the same Committee, had also resigned following the resignation of Dr. Wijewickrama, Dr. Herath emphasised that he was not aware of this as of yesterday evening. “It is difficult to confirm this because I am not currently aware of it. Delays in receiving messages could take place and it is therefore difficult to confirm quickly. But if he has informed it, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena will announce it as soon as he receives the letter,” he elaborated. Several attempts to contact Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Dr. Munasinghe and Dr. Gunawardena to inquire about the resignation, proved futile.


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