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Virus battered people look to pick up life’s pieces
Getting back to some kind of normalcy: Hambantota (above) and Matale (right). Pix by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi and Amila Gamage
Sri Lanka is a long way from getting back to normalcy and freeing itself from the coronavirus nightmare that burst forth in early March when the first local became infected.
Some restrictions imposed to contain the highly infectious coronavirus have been lifted, but life has changed drastically for the worse within weeks — big and small businesses and factories are shuttered, schools remain closed, millions have lost their daily jobs, millions are waiting for the Rs 5,000 cash handout, and public services are bare bones.
Those who have been called to work, complained there are not enough public buses operated by the SLTB. Buses have been ordered to board half their capacity and commuters are forced to wait hours for another bus.
Grocery stores are swamped and often there is nothing left to buy even after an exhausting wait in a lengthy queue. Not everyone can order online, nor does everyone has a credit card, or a charge card.
Collecting the Rs 5,000 cash handout is a struggle in itself with officialdom. Apart from dealing in some instances with a crush of angry people hounding the Grama Sevaka, there is also the uncertainty of being a recipient.
A sales rep of a private company, Asela Bandara, 29, said that although the curfew has been lifted, his work is not deemed essential.
He said that his wife had also not been called to work at a private company, a vehicle importer. Such imports are banned for three months to halt the outward drain of foreign exchange the country desperately needs.
A teacher in Galle, I.S. de Silva, 35, said that she had to stop tuition classes during curfew and even though the curfew is lifted she is unable to carry on. Yet, she has to make a living.
“My father is unwell and I have to earn money to buy his medicine. Even though I went to nearby pharmacies and telephoned Osusala I was unable to get the medicine. There is a shortage,’’ she said.
A farmer in Diddenipotha area in Matara, C Mohotti is pleased with the fertiliser aid. Even though the quantity of fertiliser is less than before, he is happy that it is free.
Shops are opening with skeleton staff. Even state institutions are offering essential services as only 50% of employees can be called to work.
Divisional Secretary, Manmunei North, Batticaloa, Vanniyasingham Vasudevan, said the workload is being managed. “Our staff work two shifts as only half of the staff can be present at one time.’’
Only matters such as birth certificates and spot traffic fines are being dealt with. Only people who need essential services are being served.
“Licence renewal has been stopped until the end of the month as it is not a priority,’’ he said.
Eastern Province Senior DIG Jayawardene, said people are on the streets as in ordinary days and behaving more responsibly complying with advice of health officials.
Police were seen in Batticaloa District taking action against people not wearing face masks and instructing people on social distancing.
Meanwhile Anuradhapura District Secretary, R.M Wanninayake, told the Sunday Times that they were advised to keep all government institutions open during non-curfew hours. He said that all public institutions including the district secretariat are functioning with only 50% of the staff. Only essential services are provided.
“There were no Covid-19 cases reported in our district. So our goal is to keep it that way. We have only allowed travel across the district to other districts for essential duties,’’ he said.
The curfew was lifted in the south and people are venturing out.
Senior Deputy Inspector General, Southern Province, Rohan Silva, said people are resuming daily activities, while being aware of health and security directives.
“We are being cautious about the people who come from other districts where people are infected. Sometimes people residing in curfew imposed districts tend to come to our district violating regulations as shops open when the curfew is lifted,” he said.
Meanwhile, hospitals are strictly monitoring their staff and treating patients, while taking measures to reduce the spread of the viral disease. After imposing strict measures, some hospitals have started to open clinics
The director of Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Dr. Sampath Ranaweera, said PCR tests are being done to check for the coronavirus involving susceptible individuals and those in quarantine.
“So far, 15 have tested positive for COVID-19 from the tests conducted here. There are only three suspected cases from the Southern Province,” he said.
He said only a few people attend clinics now because patients are being given their medicines from the nearest Medical Officer of Health or the Divisional Secretariat office, once they produce their clinic records
Matara District Secretary, Pradeep Ratnayake, said government institutes are operating with half of the staff.
Even the District Secretariat has separated the staff to two groups and told them to work two shifts.
In the Northern Province, state activities are taking place at a slow pace.
The Post Master General of the Northern Province, Madumadani Wasanthakumar, said services resumed on Monday. Inter-district deliveries have begun and the backlog is being cleared with the limited staff available.
Long distance mail deliveries has stopped.
“We also operated during the curfew period to deliver medicine, and telephone cards,’’ Ms Wasanthakumar said.
Addiional reporting by Jayani Madawala and Amila Gamage
| Regulating crowds | |
| Religious sites in the Anuradhapura District remain closed to stop gatherings, District Secretary R.M Wanninayake said. He said a special team including the civil security force, police, public health officers and health sector officials, would be deployed to educate and regulate the number of people gathering at shops, pharmacies, and supermarkets. |