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GL: Vaccine no panacea, don’t lower guard
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Education Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (27) warned that vaccines were not the panacea for the unprecedented Covid-19 challenge. Declaring that the government was to receive the first consignment of vaccine on Thursday afternoon, Prof. Peiris, who is also the Chairman of the ruling SLPP, urged the public to follow health guidelines in spite of the launch of a high profile vaccination programme.
The acute warning was given at the opening day of a well-attended national conference, titled “COVID-19: Impact, Mitigation, Opportunities and Building Resilience” at the BMICH.
The National Science Foundation organised the event. Asserting that there had been what he called a great deal of misinformation, Prof. Peiris said that right decisions could be made on the basis of right information and right direction. Therefore, the people should keep in mind the vaccines available to the world was certainly not a panacea for the crisis. Failure to follow guidelines or in other words if the public lowered their guard there would be a calamity.
However, the availability of vaccines would definitely change the public mindset, the top academic said. The availability of what the Minister called a potent weapon would change the mood of despondency.
India and China have assured free supply of 500,000 and 300,000 doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccines, respectively. The Indian consignment is due today.
Among those present at yesterday’s event were internationally acclaimed Virologist Prof. Malik Peiris, Dr. Palitha Abeykoon, WHO representative in SE Asia and State Minister Seetha Arambepola
Over 80 papers on the issues at hand were to be presented, including presentations by internationally renowned scientists of Sri Lankan origin from Europe, Oceania, North America, Africa and Asia.
As Prof. Malik Peiris has asserted that what was needed was to respond to the continuing health emergency in a productive and meaningful manner, which was an essential prerequisite for a multi-disciplinary or trans-disciplinary approach.
Pointing out that Prof. Peiris also emphasized the unpredictability of the threat, Minister Peiris said: “None of us. No country was prepared for Corona because there was no previous experience at any level. Prof. Malik Peiris quoted a notable French philosopher as having said that nature was going to strike back at an unpredictable time in an unforeseeable manner.
The education minister said: “That is exactly what happened. Not only Sri Lanka, but the entire world has been taken unawares. The crisis is upon us. We have to respond to it swiftly and effectively. We have to innovate. We are in uncharted waters. That is the essence of the challenge.”
“We must have courage. We must have faith in ourselves, Minister Peiris said, pointing out how the Education ministry coped with an extremely dicey situation. The Education Ministry had to take some decisions in that regard, Prof. Peiris said, pointing out that there were two ways to respond to an emerging crisis. One could put off everything because things could go wrong. Otherwise, the crisis could be tackled though things could go wrong, the one-time Foreign Minister said.
The minister explained how through measures issues could be dealt with, though particular situations couldn’t be brought under control, totally.
Prof Peiris explained how Year 5 Scholarship examination and the GCE Advanced Level examinations were conducted just weeks after the second Covid-19 eruption in the first week of Oct, 2020 while interested parties warned of catastrophe. The minister said he was warned of serious consequences if he went ahead with countrywide examinations.
Declaring that a successful conclusion of examination wouldn’t have been possible without the cooperation of all sectors, Minister Peiris said over 362,000 sat the AL examination at 2,900 centres. Among them, nearly 60 answered question papers while in quarantine, the minister said; their results could be released in April, hopefully to pave them to enter Universities by Sept.
The minister also discussed how the ministry commenced the functioning of the school system with Grade 6-11 students except in the Western Province though schools therein were beginning to function, gradually.
Referring to the massive hit on the national economy as a result of Covid-19 disrupting garment trade, tourism and remittances from Sri Lankans working overseas, Prof. Peiris paid a glowing tribute to the public sector for facing up to the challenge. The minister explained how some major players in the garment trade, in spite of severe difficulties faced the challenge. They made significant changes to operations as major orders for Personnel Protection Equipment (PPEs) were accepted, the minister said.
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PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC is not bound by recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, or presidential directives in that regard, according to authoritative sources.
They said that the AG couldn’t under any circumstances initiate legal proceedings until he had received the full PCoI report.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the PCoI report on Feb 1. The President’s Office delivered a set of PCoI reports to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Feb 23, a day after the report was presented to the cabinet of ministers. The Island raised the matter with relevant authorities in the wake of a section of the media reporting the PCoI recommending punitive measures against former President Maithripala Sirisena, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujitha Jayasundera, Chief of State Intelligence Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Chief of National Intelligence retired DIG Sisira Mendis and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Rishad Bathiudeen et al over the Easter Sunday carnage.
Sources pointed out that due to the inordinate delay in sharing the PCoI report with the AG, the department hadn’t been able to take preliminary measures required to initiate the proceedings. Sources said that a team of officers would take at least six weeks or more to examine the report before tangible measures could be taken.
With the AG scheduled to retire on May 24, 2021, even if the AG Department received the P CoI it would be quite a tough task to initiate proceedings ahead of retirement, sources said. However, in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in last October, both the AG and the IGP could receive extensions beyond 60 at the President’s discretion.
Dappula de Livera received an Acting appointment as the AG a week after the Easter Sunday carnage whereas his predecessor Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, was elevated to Chief Justice.
Responding to another query, sources said that the Attorney General two weeks ago requested Secretary to the President for a copy of the P CoI. However, the AG was yet to receive one, sources said. In spite of the AG not receiving a P CoI copy, the AG had instructed the IGP to obtain a copy of the report when he requested the police to complete investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage. The AG issued specific instructions after having examined police files pertaining to the investigations.
The IGP, too, hadn’t received a copy so far though some sections of the report were in the public domain.
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage displayed at a live political programme on Derana a copy of the P CoI report he received at the cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
Sources said that the Attorney General’s Department couldn’t decide on a course of action in respect of the Easter carnage on the basis of a section of the report. In terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Section 24), the AG enjoyed significant powers/authority in respect of investigations; sources said adding that the Department urgently required both the P CoI report and police investigations report. The Attorney General’s Department has raised the delay in receiving a P CoI report amidst the Catholic Church attacking the government over the same issue.
Sources said that ministerial committee appointed to study the P CoI report couldn’t decide on how to proceed with the recommendations and the matter was entirely in the hands of the AG. Sources pointed out that the delay on the part of the government to release the report had received the attention of sections of the international media, including the New York Times. Public Security Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera having met Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Bishop’s House on Dec 8, 2020 said that the AG would get a copy of the P CoI report once the President received it. Minister Weerasekera said that the CID had handed over the relevant files after having completed investigations into eight blasts. Referring to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on the Easter Sunday carnage, the former Navy Chief of Staff said that all such documents would have to be brought to one place and considered before initiating legal proceedings. Acknowledging that there could be delays, lawmaker Weerasekera said that on the instructions of the Attorney General a 12-member team of lawyers was working on the case. The minister vowed to expose the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Investigations continued while some of those wanted were overseas, the minister said.
The minister acknowledged that the Attorney General couldn’t proceed without the P CoI report. Minister Weerasekera reiterated that once the President received the P CoI report, it would be sent to the Attorney General. The minister said that there were documents two to three feet high that needed scrutiny. The minister assured comprehensive investigation. The minister said that investigations pertaining to eight blasts had been completed and the reports handed over to the AG. However, the Attorney General had found shortcomings in those investigations.
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By Saman Indrajith
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday bombings had failed to identify the mastermind of , the JVP said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said that the PCoI report had levelled accusations against former President Maithripala Sirisena, former IGP and head of intelligence for their dereliction of duty, shirking of responsibilities and not taking action to prevent the attacks and negligence. There were reference to the causes of the terror attacks and actions to be taken to avoid such attacks and the influence of extremist organisations. “However, there is no mention of the mastermind of the attacks, the handlers of the attackers and those whose interests the carnage served. It is also not mentioned whether there has been any foreign or local organisation behind those attacks. As per the PCoI report the attack took place as a result of culmination of extremism.
“According to the PCoI the extremist activities were a result of the prevailing political situation then. The entire nation was waiting to see who was responsible and who masterminded those attacks. The PCoI has failed to identify the true culprits responsible for the terror attacks. The report says that the leader of the suicide cadres killed himself in the attacks and it was a puzzle. That means those who are actually responsible for the attacks are still at large. The report does not provide exact details of the sources of the attacks. The PCoI had sittings for one year and five months. It summoned various persons and got their statements but it has failed to shed any light on the terror attacks. Everybody knows that the top leaders of the government and heads of security and intelligence establishments failed in their duties. Ranil Wickremesinghe was the second in command and he too is bound by the responsibility but the PCoI report fails to identify him as one of the persons against whom legal action should be instituted. The PCoI has treated Wickremesinghe and former President Maithripala Sirisena differently. We are not telling that this report is a total failure but we cannot accept this as a complete report. The PCoI handed over its report to the President on Feb 1. After 23 days it was sent to Parliament. Now, a copy of the report is there in the parliamentary library for the perusal of MPs.”
Herath said that the PCoI did not have powers to take punitive action. “It only has powers to name those responsible and recommend action to be taken against those named.
