RW calls on Govt. to disclose fate of $ 230 m WHO funds

Thursday, 11 June 2020 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Wickremesinghe says funds provided by WHO to support COVID-19 mitigation measures
Argues should have been used to scale up PCR tests, PPE, face masks
Claims if Parliament was in session, Health Minister would have been held accountable

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday called on the Government to disclose how an estimated $ 230 million (Rs. 42.6 billion) provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to fight the COVID-19 virus was utilised.

Ranil Wickremesinghe

Addressing a meeting of candidates from the Kalutara and Matara districts, Wickremesinghe said the Government had not purchased new PCR tests, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), face masks, or ventilators with the funds. Wickremesinghe urged the Minister of Health to disclose to the public what these funds have been spent on.

“In other countries, Governments purchased the necessary medical equipment when they were informed about the funding, without waiting for the money to arrive,” Wickremesinghe said. He went on to ask the Minister as to why they did not purchase medicine from local manufacturers if they did not have foreign exchange available to import medicine.Drawing attention to the example of Kerala, Wickremesinghe highlighted that the health authorities there did not waste time when purchasing the necessary medical equipment.

Wickremesinghe went on to state that if Parliament had been in session, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi could have been questioned by the House. However, since she cannot be held accountable by the legislator, she must be held accountable by the public.

He further added that the UNP and some of the other Opposition political parties refrained from engaging in conventional politics, and where possible, provided the Government with the support necessary to combat the virus. However, in return the only thing that they had asked the Government to do was carry out 5,000 PCR tests a day, something the Government has failed to do, Wickremesinghe noted.