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Mandatory vaccination: Former Human Rights Chief backs the move
‘… status of vaccination is no longer a purely personal matter’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Former Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission Dr. Deepika Udagama yesterday (18) backed calls for making vaccination mandatory to curb the rampaging pandemic.
Asked what her stand on calls for mandatory vaccination and whether she had received the vaccine, the outspoken academic told The Island: “One’s own health situation is a private matter. However, in my opinion, in a pandemic situation (public health emergency) the status of vaccination is no longer a purely personal matter. Not only are we entitled to rights, but we also have duties to society. Yes, I am fully vaccinated. I did so after consulting my physician.”
State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control Dr. Mrs. Sudarshini Fernandopulle strongly recommended making vaccination mandatory as there was no other cure.
Noting that some person has recently moved court against making vaccination mandatory, Dr. Udagama emphasized that if the vaccination was to be made mandatory it should be done in terms of the Constitution. Underscoring the importance of achieving the desired objective in a lawful manner (e.g., not via ad hoc press statements) with the State presenting a compelling reason or reasons. Dr. Udagama said that the decision should be based on medical grounds and no other. “It is also a fact that several countries have lawfully (some through statutes) mandated Covid-19 vaccination to at least those who are considered to be most vulnerable,” the academic said underscoring the importance of consensus on this matter.
Trade union activist and former UNP National List MP Saman Ratnapriya, too, told The Island that the country was in such a grave situation making vaccination mandatory seemed to be a step in the right direction. Urging the government to be mindful of the dangerous consequences in further delaying locking down the country, Ratnapriya said though he strongly opposed what he called executive actions, making vaccination mandatory looked right. With the total number of deaths now around 6,500 and climbing amidst a geometrical progression in the number of positive cases, inoculating the population was of paramount importance, the Opposition activist said.
The Island also sought the response of the HRC regarding calls for tougher vaccination policy as a senior spokesperson for the Covid-19 Task Force said that a significant number of people continued to dodge getting vaccinated. Human Rights Commissioner Harsha Kumara Navaratne said that the HRC was scheduled to meet on Aug 24 to discuss the issue at hand. Acknowledging the deterioration of the situation over past two weeks, Navaratne, Sri Lanka’s HC designated to Canada said the HRC would make its stand public after the meeting. Asked whether he had received the vaccination, the former Seva Lanka Chief said that he recognized the requirement for the robust continuation of the vaccination programme.
President of the Government Medical Officers’ Forum who is also the director at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital at Kalubowila Dr. Rukshan Bellana said that tangible action should be taken to make vaccination compulsory though the immediate requirement was nothing but imposing what he called lockdown conditions. “We are at a critical stage with the health sector and the military grappling with the rapidly deteriorating situation. We are being overwhelmed by the challenging task,” Dr. Bellana said, urging the government to act now or face the consequences.
Pointing out that the government shouldn’t create an environment conducive for health sector trade unions to force a lockdown at the expense of the hapless people, Dr. Bellana said. All stakeholders, including the political leadership should respond to Covid-19 threat rationally without exploiting the situation to their benefit, Dr. Bellana said.
An irate Bellana warned all parties concerned to reach consensus on both immediate and short-term plans to meet the challenge. “Lockdown is the immediate need whereas making vaccination compulsory can be the short-term response,” the GMOF President said.
State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana, who is at the forefront of the government’s response to the epidemic, regretted that a section of the population was turning down free vaccination. Some campaigned against the ongoing vaccination drive for political reasons whereas a section did so due to religious beliefs, Prof. Jayasumana said. Making vaccination mandatory would be ideal and would certainly facilitate the vaccination process, the Anuradhapura district MP said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
