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Ranil blames Task Force for Covid deaths

08 Aug 2021

  • Urges committee comprising health experts
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Former Prime Minister and current United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian Ranil Wickremesinghe has alleged that the National Operation Center for the Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Presidential Task Force should be held responsible for the Covid-19 related deaths reported in the country so far. “This committee is responsible for the deaths we have seen,” he said, making a statement to the media yesterday (8). Wickremesinghe accused the NOCPCO of having failed to control the pandemic, despite a clear opportunity to do so since August 2020, and called on the Government to dissolve it and appoint a committee of health experts to face the prevailing situation. “The responsibility for the control of Covid-19 pandemic now lies with the NOCPCO, which has no capacity to deal with it. So far they have failed to develop a successful programme to control the pandemic. The power to take necessary decisions in a situation like this is vested in the Cabinet of Ministers in accordance with the Constitution. It is not possible to give such powers to such a committee,” he said.  Wickremesinghe further said that the Government had ignored all the medical experts’ views on the steps to be taken in the wake of the rapid spread of the Covid-19. Claiming that medical experts have requested that a “lockdown” be imposed in light of the current situation, Wickremesinghe asked the Government to inform the public immediately as to why the Government has not complied with these requests. “Health experts have advised on the steps to be taken but they have been ignored. The health sector is now completely helpless,” he added. In his first speech as an MP upon his return to Parliament, as well as in a speech last week, Wickremesinghe had called on the Government to take decisions to control the pandemic through the Cabinet of Ministers instead of relying on the NOCPCO. His comments in Parliament on 5 August followed the Karapitiya, Ragama, Kalubowila, and Ratnapura Teaching Hospitals officially running out of capacity for Covid-19 patients, with many Covid-19 patients seen seated or lying on the hospital floors on mats with no beds being available for them at these hospitals. At least two of these hospitals have declared a “state of emergency”. Recalling a recent statement made by a Health Ministry official that there would be nothing to do but wait in case of a rapid spread of Covid-19 in Sri Lanka as was the case in India, Wickremesinghe noted that there would be no other option but to just wait if decision-making with regard to the control of the Covid-19 pandemic is not taken up by the Cabinet of Ministers. Wickremesinghe added that the Government should take steps to procure what is needed to control the pandemic without resorting to lengthy procurement processes and procedures. He stressed that without it, it would take a considerable amount of time to make purchases following the procurement process, which could eventually place patients at risk.  He also suggested that temporary treatment centres be built with the support of the Army and engineering companies, in order to overcome the issue of the capacity of hospitals reaching their limit. “The pandemic is now widespread. We must control this as soon as possible. So do not go for the procurement process. Buy what you can from wherever possible and we will support it,” he said. Attempts to contact Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, NOCPCO Head Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva, Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena, and Health Ministry Communications Director Dr. Hemantha Herath to inquire about the allegations made by Wickremesinghe were unsuccessful.  


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