• FSP’s Nagamuwa et al. released from Pallekele, Mullaitivu centres PHIs deny knowledge of ‘forced quarantine’ letter PHIs can report facts to court directly per QPDO: PHIs Union Secy.

BY YOSHITHA PERERA Several trade union activists who were arrested and sent to forced quarantine after being enlarged on bail were released from the quarantine centres on Friday (16), The Sunday Morning learnt. The officials of the Mullaitivu Quarantine Centre, operated by the Air Force, released 16 trade union activists who were placed under isolation at the facility following a public demonstration conducted by them on 8 July. Meanwhile, the officials of the Pallekele Quarantine Centre, run by the Army, released Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Member Duminda Nagamuwa and five others from isolation on the same day. More than 30 civil and trade union activists including Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin, who peacefully protested at the Polduwa Roundabout in Battaramulla against the proposed General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University (KNDU) Bill, were arrested on 8 July over the alleged violation of quarantine regulations. On 7 July, FSPer Nagamuwa and five others were arrested by the Police while they staged a protest in front of the State Engineering Corporation (SEC) in Slave Island, against the interdiction of two employees on political grounds and the non-payment of salaries to SEC workers on time. Accordingly, these trade and civil society activists have been produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court and the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court, and they were subsequently released on bail. When the Police had requested the Magistrates to send them for quarantine, they were informed that these courts have no powers to send the suspects for quarantine as per the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance (QPDO). However, later, the Police had forcibly placed some of the trade union activists under quarantine, claiming that they had obtained approval from the relevant public health inspectors (PHIs) and the medical officers of health (MOHs). When The Sunday Morning contacted PHIs Union Secretary Mahesh Balasooriya regarding the matter, he said that as the PHIs Union in the country, they had not been made aware of any letter issued by the health officials to place civil and trade union activists under quarantine. “If there was such a letter issued by the health authorities, the Police have to produce it before courts. However, we have not been made aware of the existence of any such letter issued by the PHIs to quarantine these activists.” Balasooriya noted, however, that the Health Services Director General (DGHS) had issued a letter banning public demonstrations and gatherings temporarily due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country, and observed that therefore, legal action could be taken if the protests had caused severe public disturbance. He also added that if these protestors had violated the health regulations according to the QPDO as mentioned by the Police, the PHIs have the power to report facts to the courts. “There was also no necessity for the PHIs to give such a letter to the Police when they can report facts to the courts directly, as per the powers vested with them under the said Ordinance. However, as the Union’s Secretary, I haven’t seen any such letter.” Deputy Director General Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath refused to comment on the matter and directed us to DGHS Dr. Asela Gunawardena; unfortunately, attempts to get in touch with the latter proved futile.