A SAPPHIRE CLUSTER AMIDST POLITICO-GURU CLUSTERS & MINISTERS’ ‘OLYMPIC’ CLUSTER

I refer to the Daily Mirror -28th [online] photo report, captioned, ‘Protest dishonouring health guidelines’, “… several member groups attached to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today staged a protest opposite the Fort Railway Station without adhering to health guidelines and not maintaining social distancing …The protesters reacted angrily to journalists when asked to wear their masks properly and it was reported that several protesters were intoxicated.”

HIRED OVER A BOTTLE?

Is the Sports Minister’s presence really necessary at the Tokyo Olympics in midst of a Dollar crisis? Who are the other three State ministers who joined him in the trip with little or no regard for the sufferings of the masses, and who funded them? Isn’t it unethical especially under prevailing catastrophic health and economic conditions?.. are pertinent questions.

“If the Opposition brings 100 people we can bring 1,000 to the streets.” a ‘nato’ minister boasts. The showing of power and strength by leading people to the streets seems to be the priority of both the Trade Unionist and Politicians.

The pandemic has taken a turn for the worse. In the light of the day to day life of people in a sinking economy: those who are protesting on the streets to win payhikes and other demands, are denying the rights of “one-square meal-a-day” category. They are facilitating the spread of the dangerous Delta virus, which is disrupting every aspect of life. The deadly third wave rages on, the economy and children’s education ruined. The number of deaths is nearing the 5,000 mark, while over 25,000 active cases are filling the capacity in hospitals. The fourth wave of the dangerous Delta is haunting the whole nation. But this shouldn’t come as a shock.… Members of 30 teacher-principal trade unions are staging demonstrations island- wide ignoring health guidelines. School teachers and principals who are on strike after retreating from the online education, held a protest in Colombo Fort a week ago. This was followed by two massive demonstrations in Tangalle and Embilipitiya, both strong holds of JVP.

A CLUSTER OF A DIFFERENT NATURE

Remember the huge Cobra and the ‘sacred’ relics that appeared from the Naga world on a ‘mid-summer night’ back in November 2019? [on the eve of the Presidential election]. Some misled ‘Buddhists’ were delighted over this disclosure, but others strived to achieve shameful political mileage over the incident, where the head Yogi of the Kelaniya Naga Bhavana, Naga Devale believes, that he maintains a close contact with King Maniakkika from the Naga world!

Let’s move from mythology to the real gem world. The owner, a third generation gem trader said the stone cluster weighing 510 kilograms [2.5 million carats] was found while digging a well in his compound in the gem-rich area. According to experts who examined the pale blue precious stone named “Serendipity Sapphire” it is worth over $100--400 million as a collectors gem in the world market; certainly, a good-news for a cash strapped nation. Unconfirmed comments appearing in social media say, some of the 225 had a combined [government & opposition] pow-wow at an undisclosed location to discuss the possibility of allocating part of its sales proceeds to revive their plans to import ‘urgently needed’ V8s to facilitate visits to their constituents!

KDU BILL

Leaving the pros and cons aside, what is the urgency in presenting the Kotelawala Defence University Bill which is not a national priority, apart from the provocation of the ‘Antare’ and FUTA? The country needs to be reopened soon fully for achieving economic progress. What ethical rights do the protesting teachers who blatantly violate the quarantine laws have in doing so? The University system is a vitally essential part of a nation’s education structure. In recent history all governments endeavored to weaken the independence of non-fee levying higher education by introducing [private/state] parallel fee- levying institutions. The unbelievably high number of students applying for registration with foreign universities was revealed when the health authorities announced priority for them in the vaccination programme, purportedly with the universally accepted Pfizer product. It’s a gigantic burden on our critically low Dollar reserves. We are puzzled as to why these student unions and some academics are scared of private institutions, is it over losing their privileges? They are wasting their time and energy in spreading the Delta virus further, while adding large volumes of polythene to the environment. Granting foreign exchange to children of affluent parents may need to be curbed forthwith, and those funds diverted for setting up semi-fee levying local institutions instead.

COVID 19—DELTA TO LAMDA?

The number of detections, based on limited tests [15-15,000 a day] carried out recorded less than 1,500 in the recent past are escalating to an average of 2,400. Daily death toll is a more accurate assessment of the looming threat with the number rising over 60 a day during the past week. Commenting on the rise in covid cases, Dr. Hemantha Herath, Deputy Director-general of Health Services said this situation had to be taken seriously. Dr. G. Wijesuriya, Director Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, where an average of 5-6 kids are admitted a day, says, his ICU and COVID19 wards were almost full compelling him to transfer a few infected children to the Neville Fernando Hospital.

Dr Hemantha Herath believes the Delta variant was also contributing to the rise in cases. It is everyone’s responsibility to strictly follow health guidelines and practices which are now spelt out with one voice by them without each making contradictory statements as in the recent past. Our national vaccination drive has achieved considerable success with more doses being imported and the health administration, assisted by Army continuing to administer them swiftly. The programme may soon be accelerated further, to ensure beating spread of Delta variant. If the state authorities try to show it is under control, naturally people will tend to ease their day-to-day movements. They must tell the truth to people; it costs nothing. Health authorities on the other hand have been very much concerned with the fact that a section of people has stayed away from vaccine centres.

REOPENING AND REVIVING OF THE ECONOMY

COVID clusters are being created by the reckless protesters and the Ministers do not appear to be genuinely interested in making rational responses to their long overdue adjustments in salary anomalies. Repercussion of permitting cinemas, spas, increases in weddings limits, liquor outlets, pubs, musical shows [indoors] without proper supervision could all prove disastrous. Even those who have already received the two doses have to comply with the health practices; two prominent figures who belonged to this category, Mr Raja Mahendran, chairman of Maharajah group and Dr Jayaruwan Bandara, the former Health spokesman, [who was removed for telling people the truth?] were infected too, with the former passing away last week. The immunity booster that people have received from the jab would be of no use if they ignore guidelines.

The Government must re-open schools as a priority. As per latest research carried out, online learning has proved not only ineffective but risky and costly, especially with the 5 to 14 year age group. They must interact with their peers and engage in sports activities with their school mates and get over the psychological trauma that they have been forced to undergo for months and months. There’s a good side to online classes and a bad side too; it has become monotonous, which has led to a rise in hyperactivity and anxiety among children.

Dr Kannan Gireesh, psychiatrist/ psychotherapist says, “What they are missing is peer-to-peer education. Collective learning is not happening as they miss friends to talk to and make new friendships. Building friendships is vital especially in the lower school, which gives them protection and self-esteem that create a sense of belonging”

Sue Atkins, Uk-based globally recognised parenting expert thinks, “With the unexpected halt to in-person learning, many students desired to be out of the house, drove their parents crazy.” They are finding that many students miss out classes or playing games as an alternative to class-work. Dr. Samitha Ginige, Chief Epidemiologist says there is a lack of enthusiasm, especially by people above 60 to receive the jab due to various fears. Like in the US and Australia, the two leading countries among a few others, where the problem currently exist—it is actually a threat not only to local citizens but to the entire human race. They must consider as a priority, the introduction of new laws/regulations making vaccination compulsory for all above a specified age.