By Maheesha Mudugamuwa
Poor-quality food, inadequate water, and unclean toilets are among the complaints that have poured in from various Covid-19 quarantine centres around the country. Pressure now mounts on the authorities over the regulation and monitoring of the standards at these centres, especially those run by the private sector.
These quarantine centres mostly house people who came into contact with a Covid-19-positive patient or those who have come down to Sri Lanka from abroad. While some were given the opportunity to quarantine at hotels for a fee, those who could not afford it were given quarantine facilities provided either by the Health Ministry or the Sri Lanka Army.
Nevertheless, complaints were recorded from both paying and non-paying centres.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, a woman who had undergone the quarantine process at one of the non-paying centres recently complained about the food that was served to her at the centre.
“We were held with many others and were given three meals a day, but the quality was absurd. All I wanted was to finish my quarantine period and come back home without testing positive for the virus. But since we were caged with so many other people who came from different areas, I was scared. The main issue we had was the quality of food. We were given only food and water – nothing else,” she said.
She went on to say that quarantine at home would be the best option for her, as she said her house had more space for isolation than at the centre.
Another seafarer who went on quarantine at a paying hotel told The Sunday Morning that the stay was not worth the money that was paid.
“We have spent a huge sum of money expecting to be given a star-class facility. But instead, we were given food which I really think is much more similar to that given to one of my friends who went on quarantine at a non-paying centre,” he said, adding that when the number of people coming for quarantine had gone up, the quality had gone down.
In the meantime, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam openly criticised the food given at the Periyakallar Hospital in Batticaloa. He tweeted on the Twitter platform that patients have complained the food provided for them was not worth the money they had paid.
“Covid patients at Periyakallar Hospital in Batticaloa complaining about the food provided. Surely the food given doesn’t seem to be worth Rs. 750. Quality of food has been poor for the last five months. I informed the authorities and requested to change the contractor,” his tweet reads.
However, updating the situation at the Periyakallar Hospital, the MP had stated last week that the authorities have changed the contractor and quality food was now being given to the patients.
He has stressed that he would keep monitoring the situation.
In the meantime, another video of a quarantine centre near Seeduwa made rounds last week, as the video shows the dilapidated condition of the centre.
When contacted by The Sunday Morning, Military Spokesman Brig. Nilantha Premaratne said the quarantine centre in the video was not administered by the Sri Lanka Army but was a centre operated by a private company to quarantine their employees.
“There are three types of quarantine centres, including the centres fully operated by the Sri Lanka Army. In those centres, food and other infrastructure are administered by the Army. There is another type of centre that is managed by the Health Ministry, and the Army has nothing to do with those centres. The last type of centre is jointly managed by the Sri Lanka Army and Health Ministry,” he explained, emphasising that not all centres are managed by the Army.
Meanwhile, the Army has provided a total of 19,501 metal beds to Army-improvised intermediate Covid-19 centres (ICCs) across the country, most of which were manufactured after the epidemic struck last year at the Army Industrial Complex in Kosgama. These are run by skilled troops of the Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps (SLAOC) as per the guidelines given by the Master General Ordnance (MGO) of the Army.
Accordingly, Army-improvised ICCs and hospitals in total have set apart 22,198 beds for Covid-19 patients, including those supplied by the Army.
Reiterating that the quality of the centres managed by the Army is at its highest, Brig. Premaratne said there were no issues with regard to the quarantine facilities at the centres mentioned above.
Meanwhile, the Itukama Covid-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund established by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has spent a total of Rs. 38,031,065 to maintain quarantine centres, according to the sources from the Presidential Secretariat.
ICCs managed by the Army The Periyapachchapalai, Vaddukoddai Technical College, Kopay National College, and Navathkuli ICCs are managed by the Jaffna Security Force Headquarters; Thirumurukkandi, former Army Hospital in Bharathipuram, and Paranthan ICCs managed by the Kilinochchi Security Force Headquarters; Batticaloa Campus in Poonani, Pulathisipura Teaching School in Gallella, Nilaveli Samurdhi Centre, Brandix in Poonani, Hardy Technical College in Ampara, Kandakadu and Kanthale Youth Centres, and Nursing Training School in Ampara managed by the East Security Force Headquarters; Battalion Training School 68 Division and Puthukuddirippu Veenawil managed by the Mullaitivu Security Force Headquarters; and Turkey City School of Mannar, Wahamalgollewa SLAOC Factory, Vavuniya Economic Centre, CSD Galkiriyagama Training School, and CSD Mihintale managed by the Wanni Security Force Headquarters. The Yakkala Youth Centre, Wathupitiwala Youth Centre, Bingiriya Teaching School, Saripuththa Teaching School in Dambadeniya, Marsy Education Centre in Madurankuli, Ayurveda Hospital in Rajagiriya, Brandix in Rambukkana, Mahaweli Youth Centre in Embilipitiya, Ruwanpura Teaching School in Kahawatte, Teaching School in Dharga Town, Pasdunrata Teaching School in Horana, University of Colombo Horana Sripali Art Faculty, and Ruhuna Teaching School managed by Sri Lanka Army. Also, hospitals including those in Karandeniya, Polwatte, Habaraduwa, Bentota, Weligama, Deiyandara, Deniyaya, and Pallegama are managed by the Army. Furthermore, Jamiya Nalimiya Vocational Training School in Beruwala, Belihuloya Electricity Board Training Centre, Meegoda Ayurveda Hospital, School of Excellence in Madurankeni, Baduraliya Ayurveda Hospital, Iranawila Hospital, Colombo Campus Ayurvedic Faculty, Meegoda HR Centre, Avissawella HR Centre, Kalawana Electricity Board Building, Brandix in Seeduwa, Mathugama Hospital, Navinna Ayurveda Hospital, Convention Centre in Colombo, Wariyapola Wayamba Agriculture Training School, Meethotamulla Government Paddy Store, Vocational Training School in Ratmalana, Ratnapura Ayurveda Hospital, Jamburaliya Ayurveda Hospital in Piliyandala, Ayurveda Hospital in Kegalle, Maliyadeva Rajamaha Viharaya Wattarama in Kegalle, Ayurveda Hospital in Meegoda, Chandrika Wewa Hospital, Eheliyagoda Hospital, Balangoda Hospital, Batapola Regional Hospital, Baddegama Hospital, Hakmana Gangodagama Regional Hospital, Dickwella Hospital, Akuressa Hospital, Horana Salvation Army Centre, Child Protection Training Centre in Panadura, and Idalkanda Garment Factory are managed by the West Security Force Headquarters. The DEPO building in Kahagolla, Mahaweli Teaching School in Polgolla, Agunukolapalassa Agro Training School, Bindunuwewa Teaching School, Panideniya Teaching School, Gampola Youth Centre, Gampola Meepilimana Youth Centre, Hambantota General Hospital, Ambalantota Hospital, Medagama Hospital, Walasmulla Hospital, Wellawaya Youth Centre, Kirinda Hospital, Tangalle Hospital, Buttala Hospital, NIPM Bogawanthalawa, Middeniya Divisional Hospital, Town Hall in Nuwara Eliya, Kirama Divisional Hospital, Hambantota Weerawila Youth Centre, Siyambalanduwa Youth Centre, Lunugamwehera Youth Centre, Monaragala Youth Centre, Mapakadawewa Youth Centre in Mahiyangana, CTB Merrygold building in Badulla, and Faculty of Agriculture in Waligatta are managed by the Central Security Force Headquarters. Apart from these, the Nalanda Hospital, Galewela Hospital, Laggala Hospital, Matale Technical College, Ambana Hospital, Dambulla Tech College, and Inamaluwa Youth Centre are managed by the 53 Division Headquarters.
Nevertheless, complaints were recorded from both paying and non-paying centres.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, a woman who had undergone the quarantine process at one of the non-paying centres recently complained about the food that was served to her at the centre.
“We were held with many others and were given three meals a day, but the quality was absurd. All I wanted was to finish my quarantine period and come back home without testing positive for the virus. But since we were caged with so many other people who came from different areas, I was scared. The main issue we had was the quality of food. We were given only food and water – nothing else,” she said.
She went on to say that quarantine at home would be the best option for her, as she said her house had more space for isolation than at the centre.
Another seafarer who went on quarantine at a paying hotel told The Sunday Morning that the stay was not worth the money that was paid.
“We have spent a huge sum of money expecting to be given a star-class facility. But instead, we were given food which I really think is much more similar to that given to one of my friends who went on quarantine at a non-paying centre,” he said, adding that when the number of people coming for quarantine had gone up, the quality had gone down.
In the meantime, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam openly criticised the food given at the Periyakallar Hospital in Batticaloa. He tweeted on the Twitter platform that patients have complained the food provided for them was not worth the money they had paid.
“Covid patients at Periyakallar Hospital in Batticaloa complaining about the food provided. Surely the food given doesn’t seem to be worth Rs. 750. Quality of food has been poor for the last five months. I informed the authorities and requested to change the contractor,” his tweet reads.
However, updating the situation at the Periyakallar Hospital, the MP had stated last week that the authorities have changed the contractor and quality food was now being given to the patients.
He has stressed that he would keep monitoring the situation.
In the meantime, another video of a quarantine centre near Seeduwa made rounds last week, as the video shows the dilapidated condition of the centre.
When contacted by The Sunday Morning, Military Spokesman Brig. Nilantha Premaratne said the quarantine centre in the video was not administered by the Sri Lanka Army but was a centre operated by a private company to quarantine their employees.
“There are three types of quarantine centres, including the centres fully operated by the Sri Lanka Army. In those centres, food and other infrastructure are administered by the Army. There is another type of centre that is managed by the Health Ministry, and the Army has nothing to do with those centres. The last type of centre is jointly managed by the Sri Lanka Army and Health Ministry,” he explained, emphasising that not all centres are managed by the Army.
Meanwhile, the Army has provided a total of 19,501 metal beds to Army-improvised intermediate Covid-19 centres (ICCs) across the country, most of which were manufactured after the epidemic struck last year at the Army Industrial Complex in Kosgama. These are run by skilled troops of the Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps (SLAOC) as per the guidelines given by the Master General Ordnance (MGO) of the Army.
Accordingly, Army-improvised ICCs and hospitals in total have set apart 22,198 beds for Covid-19 patients, including those supplied by the Army.
Reiterating that the quality of the centres managed by the Army is at its highest, Brig. Premaratne said there were no issues with regard to the quarantine facilities at the centres mentioned above.
Meanwhile, the Itukama Covid-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund established by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has spent a total of Rs. 38,031,065 to maintain quarantine centres, according to the sources from the Presidential Secretariat.
ICCs managed by the Army The Periyapachchapalai, Vaddukoddai Technical College, Kopay National College, and Navathkuli ICCs are managed by the Jaffna Security Force Headquarters; Thirumurukkandi, former Army Hospital in Bharathipuram, and Paranthan ICCs managed by the Kilinochchi Security Force Headquarters; Batticaloa Campus in Poonani, Pulathisipura Teaching School in Gallella, Nilaveli Samurdhi Centre, Brandix in Poonani, Hardy Technical College in Ampara, Kandakadu and Kanthale Youth Centres, and Nursing Training School in Ampara managed by the East Security Force Headquarters; Battalion Training School 68 Division and Puthukuddirippu Veenawil managed by the Mullaitivu Security Force Headquarters; and Turkey City School of Mannar, Wahamalgollewa SLAOC Factory, Vavuniya Economic Centre, CSD Galkiriyagama Training School, and CSD Mihintale managed by the Wanni Security Force Headquarters. The Yakkala Youth Centre, Wathupitiwala Youth Centre, Bingiriya Teaching School, Saripuththa Teaching School in Dambadeniya, Marsy Education Centre in Madurankuli, Ayurveda Hospital in Rajagiriya, Brandix in Rambukkana, Mahaweli Youth Centre in Embilipitiya, Ruwanpura Teaching School in Kahawatte, Teaching School in Dharga Town, Pasdunrata Teaching School in Horana, University of Colombo Horana Sripali Art Faculty, and Ruhuna Teaching School managed by Sri Lanka Army. Also, hospitals including those in Karandeniya, Polwatte, Habaraduwa, Bentota, Weligama, Deiyandara, Deniyaya, and Pallegama are managed by the Army. Furthermore, Jamiya Nalimiya Vocational Training School in Beruwala, Belihuloya Electricity Board Training Centre, Meegoda Ayurveda Hospital, School of Excellence in Madurankeni, Baduraliya Ayurveda Hospital, Iranawila Hospital, Colombo Campus Ayurvedic Faculty, Meegoda HR Centre, Avissawella HR Centre, Kalawana Electricity Board Building, Brandix in Seeduwa, Mathugama Hospital, Navinna Ayurveda Hospital, Convention Centre in Colombo, Wariyapola Wayamba Agriculture Training School, Meethotamulla Government Paddy Store, Vocational Training School in Ratmalana, Ratnapura Ayurveda Hospital, Jamburaliya Ayurveda Hospital in Piliyandala, Ayurveda Hospital in Kegalle, Maliyadeva Rajamaha Viharaya Wattarama in Kegalle, Ayurveda Hospital in Meegoda, Chandrika Wewa Hospital, Eheliyagoda Hospital, Balangoda Hospital, Batapola Regional Hospital, Baddegama Hospital, Hakmana Gangodagama Regional Hospital, Dickwella Hospital, Akuressa Hospital, Horana Salvation Army Centre, Child Protection Training Centre in Panadura, and Idalkanda Garment Factory are managed by the West Security Force Headquarters. The DEPO building in Kahagolla, Mahaweli Teaching School in Polgolla, Agunukolapalassa Agro Training School, Bindunuwewa Teaching School, Panideniya Teaching School, Gampola Youth Centre, Gampola Meepilimana Youth Centre, Hambantota General Hospital, Ambalantota Hospital, Medagama Hospital, Walasmulla Hospital, Wellawaya Youth Centre, Kirinda Hospital, Tangalle Hospital, Buttala Hospital, NIPM Bogawanthalawa, Middeniya Divisional Hospital, Town Hall in Nuwara Eliya, Kirama Divisional Hospital, Hambantota Weerawila Youth Centre, Siyambalanduwa Youth Centre, Lunugamwehera Youth Centre, Monaragala Youth Centre, Mapakadawewa Youth Centre in Mahiyangana, CTB Merrygold building in Badulla, and Faculty of Agriculture in Waligatta are managed by the Central Security Force Headquarters. Apart from these, the Nalanda Hospital, Galewela Hospital, Laggala Hospital, Matale Technical College, Ambana Hospital, Dambulla Tech College, and Inamaluwa Youth Centre are managed by the 53 Division Headquarters.