News
Covid-19 jab controversy: GMOA questions creation of new category
Namal promises countrywide inoculation of 20-30 group soon
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has questioned the rationale behind vaccinating those between 20-30 years of age and the prioritisation of districts, contrary to a consensus reached with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Assistant Secretary, GMOA, Dr. Naveen de Zoysa, on Thursday (2), accused the Epidemiology Unit of following a politically motivated agenda inimical to the government’s overall response to the raging Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr. Samitha Ginige is the Chief Epidemiologist.who replaced Dr. Sudath Samaraweera in June this year.
Dr. de Zoysa alleged that Health Secretary Maj. Gen. Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe has backed the Epidemiology unit strategy, thereby placing the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena and the Deputy Director General of Health Services (Public Health Services) Dr. Mahendra Arnold in an extremely difficult and embarrassing position.
Dr. de Zoysa alleged that they had lost control of the vaccination drive.
The GMOA fired a salvo in the wake of the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry announcement of the launch of vaccination drive in the Hambantota district meant to inoculate those in the 20-30 age group.
It quoted Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry Namal Rajapaksa as having said the inoculation of that particular group was now taking place in the Hambantota district and would soon be implemented countrywide.
Having visited the vaccination centres at Ambalantota, Ranna and Tissamaharama in the Hambantota district, young Minister Rajapaksa emphasized that health sector specialists approved the vaccination of this particular category. He declared that the vaccination drive targeting 20 to 30 group was being implemented with the blessings of the President, the Prime Minister and the Health Minister.
However, GMOA spokesperson Dr de Zoysa questioned the criterion under which those districts were being chosen ahead of others for vaccination and also the particular vaccine allocated on district/age group basis. Dr. de Zoysa declared they were in the dark as regards the latest controversial decision.
The GMOA spokesperson asked why only the military was tasked with inoculating the public with Pfizer vaccine. “Why isn’t the health sector given that opportunity? If we are capable of inoculating the public with Sinopharm, Moderna and Sputnik why not Pfizer,” Dr. De Zoysa asked, urging those in authority to provide a plausible explanation.
Dr. de Zoysa said that irrational decisions had placed the entire Covid-19 fighting process in jeopardy with those responsible taking contradictory stands on the vaccination drive.
In spite of a decision taken with the participation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to release sufficient stocks of Covid-19 vaccines to the health sector, the military continued to receive ample supplies whereas hospitals and other centres managed by civilian staff were in jeopardy. The situation was so bad that civilian managed vaccination could cause quite a serious spread of the disease, Dr. de Zoysa said, pointing out the crisis caused by an ill-informed decision to ask the public to get the first dose from any vaccination centre.
The GMOA urged newly appointed health minister Keheliya Rambukwella to follow the strategy they agreed on. Rambukwella recently succeeded Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi who publicly lamented what she called her unceremonious exit from the health ministry.
Dr. De Zoysa urged the government to take a realistic view of the developing situation and implement a scientifically sound strategy meant to bring down the daily deaths under control by Oct-Nov this year.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry in a statement issued following a meeting Minister Rambukwella had with a health sector delegation led by Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda on Sept 2, stated that the vaccination of 18-30 year category got underway at district basis on Sept 2.
The former Media Minister Rambukwella said that the inoculation of those 30 and above could be completed within two – three weeks and 20 –30 category vaccinated before end of October. According to lawmaker Rambukwella, 20-30 category comprised about 3.7 mn persons.
The minister explained that in line with the government decision to inoculate frontline health workers, those engaged in essential services as well as those in the garment trade, a substantial number who came within 20-30 category had been inoculated.
The health ministry statement, however, didn’t refer to the launch of the vaccination programme in the Hambantota district. Subsequently, the health ministry, in another statement, revised the vaccinated category from 18-30 to 20-30.
Well informed sources said that the government should have vaccinated those in the 18-30 category as planned and then inoculate the 15-18 group. Sources pointed out that the vaccination of those in Advance Level classes as well as students sitting the 2021 AL examination had been denied the protection they deserved.
Sources said that the creation of 20-30 category should be examined against the earlier declaration made by President Rajapaksa that the health administration should recommend whether to give a third dose to those who had been vaccinated or vaccinate the category under 30. The President dealt with the issue at a recent meeting of the Covid Prevention Task Force at the Presidential Secretariat.
Sources at Export Processing Zones (EPZs) said that the government took tangible measures to have those working in manufacturing plants within the zones and outside inoculated. Sources said that the intervention made by Minister Namal Rajapaksa in that regard was quite helpful.
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
