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It dawned last Sunday when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, now entering the first year in office, chaired a meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 Prevention. This was in the wake of an uncontrollable spread of positive cases and the fast depleting capacity at medical institutions to hold them. Already cases for quarantine are being confined to the homes. Telephone numbers have been publicised so they could call hospitals for emergency attention if their cases turn positive or worsen. A visit by a doctor will determine the necessity of hospitalisation. That reflects the seriousness of the situation.

Sadly, in the country’s political spectrum there is hardly any debate over issues related to Covid-19 prevention. The only exception was the one in Parliament two weeks ago where the contributions did not help over ongoing issues. One is not sure whether countermeasures in other parts of the world were factored in when local steps were taken. It does not seem to be so. Another is the debate over the efficacy of PCR testing. A rapid antigen test is to be now carried out from next week. Supplies have been airlifted for this purpose in a special flight.

The task force for prevention of the deadly disease is now being carried out by the military together with the health authorities. It is solely under the charge of acting Chief of Defence Staff (and Army Commander) Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva. His men have been coordinating with the health authorities. They have been overseeing all matters related to the campaign to prevent the spread of the deadly disease and lockdowns in several areas. Since the first outbreak in March, they have fought a hard battle to keep those affected to levels below 3,500 and enforced tough quarantine procedures. The airport remains closed and thousands of Sri Lankans overseas are unable to return. Then, government officials lamented that the world had not taken cognisance of Sri Lanka’s success in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Sri Lanka Army deployed their eight-man Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) to enforce the curfew and lockdown in the City of Colombo. The teams, in both battle fatigues and camouflage uniforms sporadically took up positions on either side of the City roads. With no curfew passes issued, they grilled motorists on the purpose of their journeys. Pic by Indika Handuwala

Alas, the explosions at the Brandix garments factory in Minuwangoda, followed by the Peliyagoda fish market, are snowballing everywhere. Official accounts have stopped making references to Brandix and list victims only as cases from quarantine centres. The argument is that those linked to the garment factory at Minuwangoda have been moved to quarantine centres. It was earlier named officially as the “Brandix cluster.”  Yet, the reference to the “Peliyagoda cluster” continues. The only reference to Brandix this week was from Attorney General Dappula de Livera. He asked acting Police Chief Chandana Wickremeratne to let him know whether a new team has been constituted to probe Brandix. This was after reports that some Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) officers who were tasked to probe were afflicted by Covid-19. He had thereafter asked the acting Police chief to re-constitute the team.

In the Western Province, where the numbers are growing, the lockdown including the curfew is to be lifted tomorrow (Monday) on the directions of President Rajapaksa. This is on the basis that a ten-day lockdown had served as a quarantine measure. President Rajapaksa, who is now determined to take the country to a near normal situation, believes that Covid-19 has come to stay but the life of the community should not be disturbed while containment measures are under way.  Factored into this move, other sources said, was the devastating impact lockdowns and curfews are having on the country’s economy. This was particularly after the first 52-day lockdown and curfew. This is in marked contrast to other countries. In Britain, a month-long lockdown came into effect this week as the Covid-19 pandemic spread widely. The move meant British nationals will be confined to their homes with their movements restricted to visits to supermarkets, gymnasiums, and cases of emergency.

“Even if we lift the curfew, we will still restrict movements, isolate people in areas where the disease could spread,” warned Chief Epidemiologist Dr Sudath Samaraweera. He told the Sunday Times, “There have been public accusations over the handling of preventive measures. Some have died in their homes. It could continue to occur if there is a huge outbreak.”

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), the trade union representing state sector doctors, which has been supportive of the government, listed a number of deficiencies in the ongoing anti-Covid campaign. Among them, it said, was the failure in implementation of “border crossing governance.” It was spreading through food supply chains.

The GMOA pointed out “that a leading private hospital in Colombo managed to achieve a daily PCR capacity of 2000 tests, with only two functioning PCR machines, within a very short time.” However, it said “it is disappointing to note that the Ministry of Health with 20 allocated PCR testing centres, is yet to achieve the daily minimum PCR requirement, which is essential to manage the current outbreak in the country.”

The military-led Covid-19 prevention task force had clamped down a curfew in the Western Province as numbers began to mount and are still rising. Its first effort from March to May, for a period of 52 days was a success. However, the second lockdown and curfew did not contain the increase. Besides helping health authorities to ensure preventive measures, the military also introduced tough security precautions. Yet, there has been complaints from the bureaucracy who spoke of some impediments.

Their campaign included the deployment of armed eight-man teams covered from head to toe in fatigue or camouflage, face covered with masks, suddenly taking up positions in City roads to check vehicles. “Even if they are not frightened about coronavirus, they will be shaken by our guys,” remarked a former Army Commander who wished to remain anonymous. He was commenting on the unusually heavy traffic on the roads despite the curfew. Yet, motorists had good reasons. There were food and medical deliveries. Those involved in essential services were moving around.

Of course, for the ‘have nots,’ it was hell. A three-wheeler scooter taxi driver lived with his wife and two children. Their family livelihood depended on his earnings. They had dropped to zero. One morning, his elderly mother died. Undertakers refused to accept the body for cremation without a death certificate. The bureaucratic process took hours. The body was released only after midnight. There may be many such hardships faced by those who cannot afford. They could not come by even a curfew pass to move around – a complaint that reflects badly on the government’s image that the dead could not be given their final rites.

Now, to the meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 prevention last Sunday. For the first time, President Rajapaksa invited a new group to take part in this meeting and placed them with significant responsibilities. They included Basil Rajapaksa, now head of the Economic Recovery Task Force, Minister Romesh Pathirana, State Minister Sarath Weerasekera, State Minister Sita Arambepola, and State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana. It is interesting to note that Jayasumana has been promoting Sudharshana, an Ayurvedic syrup, as a cure for Covid-19. Health Minister Pavithra Wanniaratchchi (a member of the Presidential Task Force) has been dropping clay pots with concoctions produced by Dr Eliyantha White, a spiritual healer who treats VIPs, over bridges into rivers.

Basil Rajapaksa has now been placed in charge of ensuring, among other matters, to ensure that the food supply chain functions efficiently. This task was earlier in the hands of the Covid-19 prevention task force. The very next day (Monday), he summoned a top-level conference at Temple Trees. Taking part were Governors of different provinces, District Secretaries, Western Province parliamentarians, Chairmpersons of Co-operative Societies, Chairpersons of District Development Committees and local councillors including their chairpersons among others. Also taking part were the military and health officials who form the covid-19 prevention presidential task force.

Basil Rajapaksa told them that it was the government’s top priority to ensure that food supply chain was not disrupted and those present had a role to play in this. For instance, he said, there would be an uninterrupted movement of vegetable supplies from the main centres, both in Dambulla and Nuwara Eliya. Talking to some ministers later, he dismissed as “misleading” a claim by former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in a newspaper that some 3,000 kilos of vegetables had gone spoilt in Dambulla. He pointed out that transport services were functioning and that was not possible.

The efforts are now to operate multiple runs and ensure outlets including supermarkets receive them. Thereafter, we want to make doubly sure they reach the consumer at home, he pointed out. Another area of priority was the functioning of pharmacies to cater to the needs of patients. He said he was impressed with one leading pharmacy which had served 2,000 prescriptions in just one day. Banks have also been advised to go easy on traders. This is besides the Central Bank extending by six months more concessionary loans to banks to cushion the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on them.

“We cannot be late. Timely action is needed to ensure that the Western Province, including the Gampaha district and other areas have an uninterrupted supply,” he pointed out. There were 600 factories operating in this district, parts of which have been under a lockdown. Asked to comment on his new role, Basil Rajapaksa told the Sunday Times, “We also have to look at other priority areas like fisheries and fertilizer for farmers. People have given President Rajapaksa a mandate and we have completed nearly a year.” He said it would be the overall responsibility of every MP to oversee the food distribution system in their own electorates and report shortcomings immediately. They would also have to keep in mind the need to follow health safety guidelines, he added. The payment of Rs 5,000 for those below the poverty line would also get under way besides a call to District Secretaries to open economic centres.

Though he focused on economic recovery efforts, this is the first time Basil Rajapaksa has joined President Rajapaksa in his anti-Covid-19 drive. That his new role comes after the passage of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution is known. There is also a more important difference – President Rajapaksa has thus turned to a wider civilian initiative to guarantee the working of the food supply chain and the goods reach people with the help of the government’s bureaucratic machinery. That will ease the load on the military and the health authorities to focus on prevention work.

Two notable absentees at Basil Rajapaksa’s meeting last Monday were Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila. The duo together with Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara opposed 20A provisions that allowed those holding dual citizenship from contesting elections. This provision was passed by Parliament with a two-thirds majority vote. That included the trio voting in favour.

However, in the days that followed, both Basil Rajapaksa and Wimal Weerawansa are learnt to have met at the residence of a businessman and ironed out their differences. The Sunday Times learnt that Weerawansa had been piqued by the belief that Basil Rajapaksa had secretly opposed his candidature in the Colombo district that compelled him to come second – a charge which Basil dismissed as ‘completely untrue.’ He in turn had raised issue over some of Weerawansa’s public remarks. At the end of their discussion, they had found that their positions were prompted by perceptions than facts. Nevertheless, Weerawansa has continued to argue that his opposition to the constitutional clause over dual citizenship was a matter of principle by his own party.

That also signifies Basil Rajapaksa’s return to active governance to help brother Gotabaya even before becoming an MP or a Cabinet minister. One source familiar with the developments said President Rajapaksa had sought his early if not urgent return but Basil Rajapaksa declined comment when asked by the Sunday Times. “It is not for me to comment on such matters,” he said. Though speculation was rife that he would take his oaths as an MP on November 12, it is highly unlikely. He is likely to get more time to prepare himself, said one sources.

That he undertook to play a bigger role with President Rajapaksa to address urgent and immediate needs is still significant. Besides Basil Rajapaksa, who will come in as an SLPP National List MP in place of Jayantha Ketagoda, becoming a minister to be in charge of economic development, is not in doubt. President Rajapaksa is also mulling over a number of other ministerial changes. However, ministers now have a bigger responsibility to perform since 20A empowers the President to remove them from office.

One who is sure to be elevated to Minister rank is Sarath Weerasekera, now State Minister for Provincial Councils and Local Government Affairs. His portfolio is still not decided upon. However, it centres around either Public Administration or Law and Order. At present, Minister Janaka Bandara is in charge of the public administration portfolio. He may receive another portfolio. In the latter, the proposal is for him to be placed in charge of the Department of Civil Security and the Police Department. Both these institutions now come under the Ministry of Defence.

Weerasekera, a staunch backer of Viyath Maga , a movement led by President Rajapaksa, is to be elevated to recognise his election with the largest number of preferential votes in the Colombo district. He has also been a staunch backer of the President. Weerasekera retired as a Rear Admiral in the Sri Lanka Navy and has served key positions including Director (Operations) during the separatist war. Weerasekera has vehemently opposed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and has stressed on the need to remove it from a new constitution. He has thus disapproved the functioning of Provincial Councils.

There has been a debate within government circles over the working of the Police department and the need to place it in the hands of a Minister. Police personnel have also borne the brunt in the drive to contain the Covid-19 spread. With 20A now part of the Constitution, President Rajapaksa is likely to confirm acting Police Chief Chandana Wickremeratne in his post. This is amidst many others jockeying for that position. This is to enable the Police Chief to work closely with the new minister under a new ministry. There are also the prospects of less than a handful of other seniors in the government being made ministers but the number is to be restricted. There will also be a vacancy for a State Minister with the elevation of Weerasekera.

Besides these, President Rajapaksa has also taken steps to increase the strength of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, as exclusively revealed in the Sunday Times last week. He is also set to confer with Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa over the November 17 budget, a difficult task in the light of the worst impact on the economy by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This week, figures of those found positive for Covid-19 shows a rapidly rising trend. Here are the figures for this week.  Monday: the total confirmed -275. (From Peliyagoda fish market, associates, and fisheries harbours 232. From quarantine centers 43). One suicide victim was named as a COVID-19 related death, but later removed from the list. Significant incidents:

• The Department of Wildlife Conservation temporarily closed all tourist lodges and camping site which operate under it. The temporary closure would remain until further notice.
• The Ministry of Education postponed the opening of the schools for another two weeks. The schools were scheduled to be reopened on November 9.
• Hemmathagama, Mawanaella, Bulathkohupitiya Police areas and Galigamuwa Pradeshiya Sabaha area were isolated due to Covid -19 pandemic.
• Giriulla Police area in Kurunegala District too was isolated.

Tuesday: positive cases were 409. (From Peliyagoda fish market, associates, and fisheries harbours 401, from quarantine centers 08). Two deaths reported.

The deceased are from Colombo.

Significant incidents:

• Education Ministry (Isurupaya) building temporarily closed for disinfection until further notice, after an employee was found with Covid-19.

Wednesday: Total numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases were 443. (From Peliyagoda fish market, associates, and fisheries harbours 418, from quarantine centers 25). One death reported

Thursday: The total numbers confirmed positive were 383. (From Peliyagoda fish market, associates, and fisheries harbours 383) Five deaths reported from Colombo 02, 12, 14, 15 and Wellampitiya. Except for one, the deaths occurred at homes)

Significant incidents:

• The Central Mail Exchange in Colombo was closed until further notice as two employees tested positive.

• Isolation status in Bulathkohupitiya police area and Galigamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha ended.

Friday: The total numbers of positive cases were 400 (From Peliyagoda fish market, associates, and fisheries harbours 400, from quarantine centres.

One death reported from Colombo 5.

Significant incidents:

• Isolation of Badugama Nawa Janapadaya in Kalutara District lifted.
• 23 inmates of Welikada Prission tested positive.
• Total deaths so far are 30; Nine deaths took place during this week.
• The Total number of Covid -19 positive persons confirmed so far is 12,970, Of them 9492 are from the Minuwangoda and the Peliyagoda clusters.
• The total numbers of recoveries 7,186. The total number hospitalised currently is 5,754. • The total number of PCR tests – 568,183.

After last Sunday’s meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 Prevention, the President’s media office, declared in a statement: “President Gotabya Rajapaksa has made several concrete decisions to curb the COVID spread without disrupting public life and the economy.”

It said, “The measures taken by the Government to self-quarantine the infected at their homes instead of taking them to quarantine centres have produced results as expected. In order to make it more effective the process should be continuously monitored by the Medical Officer of Health, the Public Health Inspector, the Police and the Army,” the statement said.

PCR tests on people under home quarantine should be conducted on the 10th day. President instructed to bring back those non-infected to normal life after 14 days.

The focus of President Rajapaksa will now shift to the economic front. That no doubt brings the focus on the US presidential elections where Democratic Party candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden is on the road to victory. Mending fences, despite claims to the contrary by Foreign Ministry officials, becomes a challenging task. Like arresting the widely spreading Covid-19, it would be imperative for him to find middle ground with Washington. The new US President will be in office for the next four years, the same period of tenure for President Rajapaksa. Unlike the Covid-19 spread, where somebody failed somewhere, he cannot afford any more strain on Colombo-Washington relations.

Sri Lanka to strengthen defence cooperation with US, but will remain neutral President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Sri Lanka and the United States have agreed to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation. The deal reached between Gotabaya Rajapaksa and US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, when he visited Colombo, will include supply of ordinance for tri-forces, military and police, military training, countering terrorism, violent extremism, combatting narcotics and drug trafficking. Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, who  also held talks with Mr Pompeo, official sources said, would brief the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (tomorrow) on the highlights of Pompeo visit. From Colombo he left for the Maldives, Indonesia, and Vietnam before returning to Washington DC. In the light of President Trump facing defeat at last Tuesday’s election, Pompeo will not remain Secretary of State. Leading the delayed count, still under way, is former Vice President Joe Biden. Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena Foreign Secretary Admiral (retd.) Jayanath Colombage told a television interviewer that foreign policy would not change in the likelihood of a change of President in the US. His comments notwithstanding, there is ever likelihood that details of such foreign policy could change remarkably. This is because their approach to Sri Lanka could vary. Secretary Pompeo was the highest-level US dignitary to visit Sri Lanka during the tenure of the US President, Donald Trump. Despite defence cooperation, President Rajapaksa has stood firm during talks on some major issues. Here are key elements of the talks that will be articulated by Minister Gunawardena to his ministerial colleagues, according to  Foreign Ministry sources. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa articulated with Secretary Pompeo Sri Lanka’s neutral foreign policy position including maritime domain and to maintain peace in the Indian Ocean. In other words, Sri Lanka has veered away from a US move towards a military axis whose sole objective would be to isolate China in the Indian Ocean. The President stressed that under his leadership the Independence, Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of the country will not be compromised. Furthermore, he indicated that Sri Lanka does not wish to be caught up in the “power game” taking place in the Indian Ocean. Here again the move is to keep away from a military axis. The “power game” is an allusion to tensions between the US and China in the Indian Ocean. President Rajapaksa has noted that China assisted in the development of the country’s infrastructure since the end of the conflict and re-iterated that Sri Lanka is not saddled with an alleged “debt trap.” The United states has also assured assistance to modernise agriculture through scientific research. Foreign Ministry officials said Minister Gunawardena also would give the highlights of his own talks. Among them, they said, were the following: Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo Thanked the US for: banning the LTTE even prior to 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US and for the continuance of the ban; US assistance to Sri Lanka in times of need, i.e. Tsunami of 2004 and Easter Sunday terrorist attacks of April 2019. Work closely to achieve high level of economic development with particular emphasis on trade, investment, and tourism. Assistance for building capacity of Sri Lankan business. Enhancing bilateral cooperation in fields such as ICT, Cyber Security, science, technology, and innovation. Attracting major private US investments to Sri Lanka. Among the investments issues discussed were in the power (LNG) sector, energy sector and railway sector (locomotives) Undertake initiatives for greater access to the US market including through the expansion of US-GSP List. Note: Sri Lanka has forwarded a list of new items. Briefed the progress on reconciliation particularly following Sri Lanka’s withdrawal from co-sponsorship of the Resolution at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva 2020 and our announcement to establish a Special Commission of Inquiry headed by a Supreme Court Judge to assess the outcomes of the past Commissions and pursue the UN Sustainable Development Goals Thanked the United States for COVID-19 related assistance amounting to around US$6 million including the 200 ventilators donated to the Ministry of Health following H.E. the President’s discussions with the National Security Advisor of the United States on 6 May 2020. While the United States was keen to advance the US initiative of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” which was expressed at the closed meetings as well as in public statements, Sri Lanka articulated a clear policy position in relation to the country’s positioning in the Indian Ocean on maritime matters, as follows: “As a Sovereign, Free, Independent nation, Sri Lanka’s foreign policy will remain neutral, non-Aligned and friendly. Conscious of the opportunities and responsibilities that come with our strategic location, we see the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in our seas and air space also protecting sea lines of communication and undersea cables.  We believe all countries should adhere to and respect international law, including UN Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS]. We share views on the potential multifaceted Maritime cooperation which Sri Lanka is keen to progress.”  Secretary Pompeo also suggested that Sri Lanka work with International financial institutions such as IMF to address debt-related relief measures. In order to further invigorate the bilateral engagement to enhance cooperation in Economic, Defence & Security spheres, the two countries intend to convene the already established bilateral dialogues, i.e. US- Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue, Joint Council of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement at an early, mutually convenient time frame. Appealed and explained once again for US authorities to rescind the travel restriction imposed on Actg.  Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army. Other matters of a sensitive diplomatic nature were also raised. Note: Foreign Ministry officials declined comment on what these issues were. Secretary of State Pompeo also visited the St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo 13 and laid a floral wreath in remembrance of those who perished in the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks on 21st April 2019. Five Americans had also died in the attacks.