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Staying away from Covid-19 duties: PHIs to decide next week

17 Jun 2020

Govt. assures resolution of issues By Maheesha Mudugamuwa Public health inspectors (PHIs) are to take a decision on whether to quit from Covid-10-related duties next week. PHI’s Union of Sri Lanka (PHIUSL) President Upul Rohana told The Morning that PHIs were to take a decision yesterday (16), but after a discussion held with relevant authorities and individuals including Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, the union decided to postpone the trade union action until next week. “The authorities promised to provide us a solution by the end of this week and we are waiting till they meet our demands. Should they fail, the PHIs will quit from Covid-19-related activities,” he said. The demands made by PHIs were to include the gazette of health guidelines issued by health authorities in the Quarantine Act (Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance) and to ensure PHIs are vested with powers under the Act to take action against those who violate the Act. PHIs last month warned trade union action on several demands including giving more powers to them. However, they withdrew the trade union action after a discussion held with Ministry officials. Speaking to The Morning, PHIUSL Treasurer D.Y.S.R.R. Mudalige stressed that it is difficult to take some legal action under the Quarantine Act for those who violate Covid-19 guidelines due to the lack of powers given to them. “At present, we are somehow taking legal action against those who violate the guidelines under different laws. But under the Quarantine Act, PHIs do not have powers to take legal action,” he stressed, pointing out that therefore the issues are being raised when filing cases directly under the Quarantine Act.


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