Sunday Times 2
Noncompliance with government directives hampers war against coronavirus
Considering the rate the new coronavirus is spreading in Sri Lanka, non-cooperation by the people with government directives has made things extremely difficult for the medical authorities, police and the military forces to tackle the spread of this pandemic virus.
A glaring case of noncompliance involves heads of two leading schools. The principals of Royal College and S. Thomas’ College, who should have known better, have acted irresponsibly in not paying heed to the direction of the Head of State, not to have the ‘Big-Match’ during this period of calamity. The danger as it has now come to pass, is not only to the players, spectators and the ground staff, but to the whole country and the rest of the world as amply announced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the virus is pandemic. This case is different to the players braving to play the ‘Big Match’ during a conventional war, where the risk is only to themselves. Risking the whole world to this virus, for the enjoyment of a few who got their priorities mixed up, is certainly not cricket.
At the Royal-Thomian Big Match, many old boys are members of many tents, and they visit all tents to meet old friends. The one case reported has surely exposed to this virus all present at the venue of the match as well as those they came in contact with them whilst dispersing.
Another factor that makes the job of the medical authorities, the police and the military more difficult is the noncompliance of those known to have been exposed to the virus, to undergo curative or preventive measures adopted by the government. Each person is only thinking of each one’s immediate convenience resulting in stringent measures having to be taken by the government. But how much can be done that way?
As I write this, the Election Commission, in its wisdom, has just announced that the General Election that was due to be held on 25th April is postponed.
All efforts can now be concentrated on fighting the Corona virus.
(The writer is a retired Senior Superintendent of Police. He can be contacted on seneviratnetz@gmail.com)