The followng is a public statement (in all 3 languages), signed by 105 individuals and 35 unions/movements/networks/organisations, calling on the Govt. to be responsive to the needs of the people and change course immediately with regard to their current response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.
Marisa De Silva <desilva.marisa@gmail.com>
The government must recognise that the discriminatory practices it is adopting with regard to managing the COVID pandemic, is ultimately putting all the people of the country at risk. It is essential that the government be more transparent and accountable in how it manages the pandemic and prioritise the health and wellbeing of all the people of this country. In its eagerness to declare ‘victory’ in managing the pandemic, the government is missing the woods for the trees. The virus is not an enemy to be conquered using a military strategy. It is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, the likes of which the world has not experienced in recent times. What is required at this point urgently is a humanitarian response that brings together all the different sectors to respond to the many dimensions of this crisis. It must be informed and managed/lead by medical health professionals and available science when responding to COVID-19, rather than political expediency.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis, that is still evolving. Despite early efforts that were successful in containing its spread, Sri Lanka is not immune to it. This is an unprecedented crisis that must be responded to through collective and sustained efforts and with attention paid to human dignity, equal treatment and the multiple requirements of vulnerable communities. The efforts must range from consistent and continued prevention of spread, to treatment. It must also address the economic challenges that vulnerable communities experience at this time as a result of the pandemic.
We are deeply disappointed with the overall response of the government to the recent outbreak of the virus centering around the Brandix factory in Minuwangoda. The most vulnerable – the factory workers – who toil to earn much-needed foreign exchange for this country, have been treated with utter contempt and a basic lack of dignity. On October 11th night and 12th early morning, workers were rounded up for quarantine, taken to the quarantine centres without any explanation, and their medical conditions were spoken of publicly. The media as well as government spokespersons reporting on the pandemic regularly stigmatise factory workers as threats and have paid little or no regard for their privacy. This is all the more notable, when other members of staff, situated in different levels within the same corporate have been treated very differently. As reported by the company itself, staff members returning from India were quarantined in well-equipped hotels and allowed to self-quarantine. This is in stark contrast to the factory workers from Brandix and other factories, currently being quarantined.
Brandix has been extremely evasive with the details of what exactly happened in the Minuwangoda factory, or the measures such as Government recommended health regulations adhered to ensure the health and safety of all of its employees and not just a privileged few. We believe that Brandix could not get away with this level of evasion without support from the highest levels of the government.
The government must recognise that the discriminatory practices it is adopting with regard to managing the COVID pandemic, is ultimately putting all the people of the country at risk. It is essential that the government be more transparent and accountable in how it manages the pandemic and prioritise the health and wellbeing of all the people of this country. In its eagerness to declare ‘victory’ in managing the pandemic, the government is missing the woods for the trees. The virus is not an enemy to be conquered using a military strategy. It is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, the likes of which the world has not experienced in recent times. What is required at this point urgently is a humanitarian response that brings together all the different sectors to respond to the many dimensions of this crisis. It must be informed and managed/lead by medical health professionals and available science when responding to COVID-19, rather than political expediency.
We make the following recommendations:
- Recognise that responding to COVID-19 is a long-term issue and Sri Lanka cannot afford to relax. Constant vigilance and careful planning by professionals and experts are required.
- Increase PCR testing outside of existing and identified clusters so as to ascertain if or not there is community spread, and expedite the release of test results.
- Prevention of spread will necessarily require certain restrictions on people’s freedoms – especially mobility and association. However, the implementation of restrictions should not lead to the blatant discrimination of specific communities and individuals, especially those from marginalised, under-privileged and vulnerable communities.
- Quarantine sites are currently over-crowded, poorly serviced and not conducive to preventing the spared of the virus. Instead, some of them may further increase the spread. It would be far better to self-quarantine contacts and those who test positive under the strict monitoring of local health personnel.
- Only those who require treatment should be hospitalised, thereby minimising the pressure on health services.
- Essential service personnel such as those in the health sector, transport, food and medicine distribution and law-enforcement must be provided with the fullest support to carry out their duties effectively. This includes the provision of PCR equipment, special transport arrangements, and if required lodging and food, and special allowances.
- Recognise the extreme vulnerability of factory workers, especially in the FTZ, as demonstrated during this outbreak and make appropriate accommodation. In the FTZs, workers endure:
- Rigorous working conditions that place meeting production targets ahead of health concerns;
- Cramped living conditions where risk of virus spreading is high;
- Exclusion from community services, resulting in FTZ workers being marginalised from support services and stigmatised by communities when they do fall ill;
- Lack of understanding by authorities including employers of the conditions under which the workers live. For instance, most workers exist on daily provisions – they are unable to stock essentials for days. This has two consequences: constant movement in the community in search of essentials as well as severe hardship when movement is curtailed.
- Therefore, we propose specific interventions to protect workers in sites such as the FTZ. These include:
- Strictly enforced health guidelines for employers and employees if factories are to continue functioning. If workers are expected to continue to work, employers must be held responsible for their living arrangements as well. These includes safe measures for transport, lodging, purchase of essential goods and support for their families. If employers are unable to provide these services, they should not be allowed to keep factories open.
– Provision of quality standard medical services, leave, etc.
– In the event they contract COVID-19, proper medical care, medical insurance, paid leave, etc.
- The practice of ‘out-sourcing’ has given employers room to wriggle out of bearing responsibility for those working on their sites especially by claiming that some tasks were undertaken by out-sourced manpower are not categorised as their employees. Employers must be held responsible for all categories of workers functioning in their factories/offices including ‘out-sourced’ workers.
- Linking workers to local health and social services. They must be registered with relevant Grama Niladhari and be eligible for the same services provided to the community in general.
- Prioritise the health services. Ensure to the extent possible, uninterrupted services, especially in public hospitals, clinics etc. during this period. A shortage of essential drugs is being reported even in some of the key hospitals causing serious problems for patients living with non-communicable diseases in the community – increasing their vulnerability to COVID as well. Ensuring uninterrupted health services also requires that health personnel be given all support to carry out their duties without fear.
- The countries that are most successful in navigating through this pandemic, are those that have secured the TRUST of the people. Trust is built on confidence and not on fear.
We the undersigned appeal to the government to be responsive to the needs of the people and change course immediately. If not, what is becoming evident is the ineffectiveness, inadequacy as well as inhumanness of the current response with devastating consequences especially for under-privileged sections of the country. It is ironic that these are the very groups whose support was essential for this government to gain the mandate that it did at both the Presidential and General elections.
Signatures;
Individuals
- A. Ajitha
- A. Rahman
- Abiramy Sivalogananthan
- Amali Wedagedara – University of Hawai’i, Mānoa
- Amalini De Sayrah
- Anithra Varia
- Anthony Jesudasan – Human Rights Defender
- Anuratha Rajaretnam
- Anushaya Collure
- Ashila Niroshi Dandeniya
- Chamila Thushari
- Chandra Devanarayana
- Chandrika De Silva – Freelance Journalist
- Chintaka Rajapakse
- Damaris Wickremesekera
- Dee Jayasinghe
- Deekshya Illangasinghe
- Dilhara Pathirana
- Dr. Ameer Ali – School of Business and Governance – Murdoch University, Western Australia
- Dr. Jehan Perera
- Dr. Leonie Solomons
- Dr. Ranil D. Guneratne
- Dulan de Silva
- E.M.B Menike
- F. Zackariya
- Francis Costa Priyankara
- Francis Raajan
- Gayathri Gamage
- Geethika Dharmasinghe – Cornell University, New York
- Godfrey Yogarajah
- Herman Kumara
- Ishara Danasekara – www.vikalpa.org
- J.A.N.N. Priyantha Fernando
- Janakie Seneviratne
- Joe William
- Juwairiya Mohideen
- K. Hemalatha
- K. Nihal Ahamed
- K. Saranhan
- K. Sathiyaseelan
- Kalani Subasinghe
- Kamala Vasuki – Feminist Activist, Batticaloa
- Lakmali Hemachandra – Attorney-at-Law
- Lal Wijenayake – General Secretary, United Left Front / Wame Wedikawa
- Linus Jayatilake – President, United Federation of Labour (UFL)
- M. Nirmala
- Mahaluxmy Kurushanthan
- Maithreyi Rajasingam
- Marisa de Silva
- Melani Manel Perera
- Mujeebur Rahman (LLB)
- N. Girithy
- Nagulan Nesiah
- Nilshan Fonseka
- Niyanthini Kadirgamar
- P. Deepan
- Paba Deshapriya
- Padma Pushpakanthi
- Philip Dissanayake
- Philip Setunga
- Prof. Ajit Abeysekera
- Prof. Kanchana N. Ruwanpura – University of Gothenburg, Sweden
- Punitham Selvaratnam – Women for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka
- Rajany Rajeshwary
- Rasika Mendis – Attorney-at-Law
- Rev. Dr. Jayasiri Peiris
- Rev. Fr. Aloysius Pieris, S.J.
- Rev. Fr. F.J. Gnanaraj Croos (Nehru) – Mannar
- Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos
- Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga
- Rev. Fr. Reid Shelton Fernando – Retired Catholic Priest
- Rev. Fr. V. Yogeswaran
- Rev. Sr. Noel Christine Fernando
- Rev. Sr. Rasika Pieris HF
- Revd. S.D.P. Selvan
- Ruwan Laknath Jayakody
- S. Easwary
- S. Ithayarani
- S. Mariyarosalin
- S. Nithika
- S. Tharsan
- S.C.C. Elankovan
- S.T. Ganeshalingam
- Sabra Zahid
- Sachini Perera
- Sakuntala Kadirgamar
- Sampath Samarakoon – Editor, www.vikalpa.org
- Sandun Thudugala
- Sandya Salgado
- Sarah Arumugam – Attorney-at-Law
- Shreen Saroor
- Srinath Perera – General Secretary, Free Trade Union Centre
- Suchith Abeyewickreme – Social Activist
- Sugath Priyantha
- Sunanda Deshapriya – Journalist and Human Rights Activist
- Swasthika Arulingam – Attorney-at-Law
- Sylvester Jayakody – General Secretary, CMU
- Tisaranee Gunasekara
- Tharmika Sivarajah
- V. Shamini
- V. Sinthuka
- V.V. Ganeshananthan
- Vanie Simon
- Vidura Munasinghe – Attorney-at-Law & Senior Researcher, LST
- Vraie Cally Balthazaar
Organisations
- Affected Women’s Forum, Ampara
- Alliance Development
- Aluth Piyapath
- Ampara District Women Network (ADWN)
- bakamoono.lk
- Centre for Justice and Change (CJC)
- Ceylon Mercantile Industrial & General Workers Union (CMU)
- Dabindu Collective
- Human Elevation Organization (HEO)
- Human Rights Office (HRO)
- Lanka Solidarity
- Law and Society Trust (LST)
- Left Voice
- Liberation Movement
- Mannar Women’s Development Federation (MWDF)
- Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR)
- Movement for Plantation People’s Land Rights (MPPLR)
- Muslim Women’s Development Trust (MWDT)
- Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum (MWRAF)
- National Fisheries Solidarity Organization (NAFSO)
- National Peace Council (NPC)
- Praja Abhilasha Network
- Progressive Women’s Collective
- Revolutionary Existence of human Development (RED)
- Right to Life (R2L) Human Rights Center
- Savisthri National Womens’ Movement
- Shramabhimani Kendraya
- Social Institute for Development of Plantation Sector (SIDPS)
- Standup Movement Lanka
- Suriya Women’s Development Centre
- United Federation of Labour (UFL)
- Upcountry Civil Society Collective (UCSC)
- Vallamai (A movement for Social Change)
- Women’s Action Network (WAN)
- Women’s Development Foundation, Kurunegala