Port City bill passed but Govt. did not update laws affecting public health: UNP

By Asiri Fernando

The priorities of the Government were made clear when they pushed through a bill on the Colombo Port City, but failed to heed repeated calls to update outdated public health laws needed to effectively manage the COVID-19 outbreak, charged United National Party (UNP) Chairman Vajira Abeywardana.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the former Parliamentarian charged that the Government should be ashamed of using laws that were made more than 150 years ago to respond to a modern pandemic, pointing out that other countries have updated their laws to better contain COVID-19.

“This Government should be ashamed of itself. They have not presented one bill nor one amendment regarding the old quarantine laws that we are still using to battle COVID-19 today. Only MP M.A. Sumanthiran has put forward a private members bill regarding it. 

The former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has highlighted the importance of updating the laws several times,” Abeywardana stated.

The Opposition politician also called the move by the Health Ministry to gag health professionals from sharing information regarding the COVID-19 crisis with the media and public a dangerous trend.

Abeywardana reiterated the UNP's call for front line personnel involved in containing the spread of COVID-19 to be given a risk allowance of Rs. 25,000, and stressed that the Government should introduce a life insurance scheme to compensate the families of those who succumb to the virus.

Abeywardana said that the Government, in its prioritisation of the Port City Bill, had neglected to address the risks taken by front line personnel nor establish a mechanism to ensure the financial stability of the families of those who lost a member to COVID-19.  

The UNP had earlier called for life insurance that will award a sum of Rs. 5 million to the families of Government employees who succumb to COVID-19 while engaged in front line duties, and Rs. 2.5 million to be awarded to families of a member of the public who succumbs to the virus.  

He also blamed the Government for rushing through the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill without giving the necessary time for a broad discussion to be held on the matter.

“The UNP made its stance clear, we asked that the bill not be rushed through, and sought broad consultation. The Government didn't listen to reason; we wanted a consensus on the bill and wanted harmful elements to the country removed," he added, pointing out that the bill, which was passed in Parliament, will not attract the investors needed and will not fulfil the aspirations of Sri Lankans or the Chinese investors in the long run.

The UNP also questioned the Government as to what law they are following by prohibiting vehicular movement during the relaxation of travel restrictions. Issuing a press release, UNP Working Committee member Dinouk Colombage stated that the Party welcomed the decision by the Government to extend travel restrictions. However, Colombage urged the Government to enforce these measures while adhering to the laws of the country.