GLOBAL BACKLASH TNA SAYS PM’S MEETING CORONA AND TUESDAY BUILDS AGAINST CHINA NOT A SUBSTITUTE CURTAILED MAY 05, 2020 OVER CORONAVIRUS FOR RECONVENING HUMAN RIGHTS VOL: 4 - ISSUE 355 PARLIAMENT PAGE 02 HOT TOPICS GLOCAL PAGE 04 REALITY CHECK 30. PAGE 03

Registered in the Department of Posts of Sri Lanka under No: QD/146/News/2020 COVID-19 and curfew in Sri Lanka • Sri Lanka recorded its eighth COVID-19 death yester- day (4). The health ministry identified the deceased as a 72-year-old woman from the Polpithigama area in the Kurunegala District who had been receiving treatment at the Homagama hospital. The body was cremated at the Kotikawatta Crematorium following COVID-19 death pro- cedure. • Forteen people were confirmed as COVID-19 positive yesterday (4), taking Sri Lanka’s tally of the novel corona- virus infection to 732. 530 individuals are receiving treat- ment, 194 have been deemed completely recovered. • Police curfew in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kal- utara and Puttalam to continue until further notice. • Curfew relaxed from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in other dis- tricts to be re-imposed fully from 8:00 p.m. Wednesday (6) until 5:00 a.m. Monday (11). • Civilian life in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalu- tara and Puttalam to resume on Monday • The National Identity Card (NIC) numerical system, in- troduced for the public to be adhered whilst stepping out of the house for essential purpose, to effect from Monday. The system is to be applicable only for areas where the cur- few is in force. • Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said the govern- ment had not received any financial aid from foreign coun- tries for its COVID-19 campaign. • Dambulla police launch an investigation into the sudden death of a 23-year-old soldier from Pallepola at the Dam- bulla Bus Terminal. The soldier, attached to the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force at Kosgama, is purported to have been hospitalized and undergone treatment for epilepsy from April 16 to 30. • Those with suspected COVID-19 symptoms are urged to -FARSHAD USYAN / AFP call 1390 - emergency hotline- set up for free medical ad- vice and assistance, and to facilitate hospital admissions. Internally displaced families wait to receive the US government on February 29. The fight- Afghanistan, a country of 37 million people, has free aid during the Holy month of Ramadan in ing also defies an appeal from international aid recorded just 2,900 cases of COVID-19 and 90 a refugee camp on the outskirts of Mazar-i-Sha- agencies for a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds deaths but these low numbers are thought to be Coronavirus toll rif, Afghanistan yesterday (4). Clashes between to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. a reflection of low testing. Ongoing war, poverty, Taliban fighters and Afghan forces intensified in Health officials believe the contagious virus may poor healthcare and a large number of internal northern Balkh and southern Logar province as be circulating undetected in the country after a refugees all add up to make it one of the most ex- 247,503 deaths at warring sides fought to control checkpoints amid random sample of residents in the capital found posed countries to the virus on the planet. The an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in nearly a third were infected with the disease. The country has only 400-odd ventilators. Afghani- 1100 GMT yesterday Afghanistan. In recent weeks, the Taliban has at- prospect of widespread infection in a country stan has imposed bans on movement and gather- tacked several provinces, ignoring a pledge to re- where the health system has been shattered by ings to try to stop the spread of COVID-19, but PARIS - The novel coronavirus has killed at least 247,503 duce violence as part of a peace deal signed with war and low funding has alarmed health officials. the measures are being widely flouted people since the outbreak first emerged in China last De- cember, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT yesterday (4). More than 3,521,600 cases were registered in 195 coun- tries and territories. Of these, at least 1,073,568 are now World leaders urge cooperation in vaccine hunt, considered recovered. The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections. raise $8 billion Many countries are testing only the most serious cases. BRUSSELS - World leaders called powerful show of "global solidarity." much more would be needed, putting - fighting for re-election in Novem- The United States has the highest number of total deaths yesterday (4) for cooperation not Major European powers, along with the final sum required near 38 bil- ber - said Sunday (3) that the United with 67,682 out of 1,158,041 cases. At least 180,152 have competition in the quest for a coro- Japan and Canada, made the biggest lion euros. "These funds are a kind of States will have a coronavirus vac- been declared recovered. navirus vaccine, as they pledged 7.4 pledges from around 40 countries, down payment for the development cine ready by the end of the year. Italy has the second highest toll with 28,884 deaths out billion euros ($8.1 billion) at a fun- but there was no official US repre- of new tools at the speed needed," His prediction was met with scep- of 210,717 cases, followed by Britain with 28,446 deaths draising telethon snubbed by the sentation, weakening the event and Guterres told the conference. "But to ticism in some quarters, with Ger- from 186,599 cases, Spain 25,428 deaths and 218,011 cas- United States. raising the prospect of an uncoor- reach everyone everywhere we likely many's Health Minister Jens Spahn es and France with 24,895 deaths and 168,693 cases. COVID-19 has killed nearly a quar- dinated competition to develop and need five times that amount." warning it could take years for any- China - excluding Hong Kong and Macau - has to date ter of a million people around the produce a vaccine. In total around 40 countries, along one to develop a vaccine. declared 4,633 deaths and 82,880 cases. It has 77,766 re- world - 140,000 of them in Europe Some wealthy American individu- with UN and philanthropic bodies - While putting an upbeat gloss on covered cases. Europe has a total of 143,981 deaths from - and Ursula von der Leyen, head of als did take part, and pop star Ma- including the Bill and Melinda Gates the event in public, privately EU of- 1,562,776 cases, the United States and Canada have 71,456 the European Commission and the donna's million-dollar contribution Foundation - and research institutes ficials were disappointed the US did deaths and 1,217,515 cases, Latin America and the Car- host of the videoconference, said a was feted by EU officials. made donations. not take part. ibbean have 13,877 deaths and 257,988 cases, Asia has vaccine is the best chance of beating The conference narrowly missed But the initiative was undermined "The EU responded favourably to a 9,235 deaths and 244,381 cases, the Middle East has 7,025 the disease. its target of 7.5 billion euros - al- by the absence of the United States, call for global action, the US refused. deaths and 186,403 cases, Africa has 1,806 deaths from World Health Organization though a handful of contributors did with President Donald Trump in They are the ones who are isolating 44,391 cases, and Oceania 123 deaths from 8,153 cases. (WHO) chief TedrosAdhanom Ghe- not put a sum on their pledges - but open warfare with the WHO over its themselves," one official said. -AFP breyesus hailed the fundraising as a UN chief Antonio Guterres warned handling of the pandemic. Trump -AFP

We are on the eve of a genocide’ Outrage after India asks migrants Trump administration models predicts Brazil urged to save Amazon tribes from COVID-19 to pay for train journey Near doubling of daily death RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil’s leaders lands to stop them importing an illness NEW DELHI - The Indian government has been criticized for must take immediate action to save that has killed more than 240,000 peo- charging stranded migrants, travelling by special trains to their toll by June the country’s indigenous peoples from ple around the world, including 6,750 home states, for the journey. Millions of workers in the informal sector were rendered job- a COVID-19 “genocide,” a global coali- in Brazil. WASHINGTON - As Presi- The numbers underscore less after businesses across the country were closed following the tion of artists, celebrities, scientists and “We are on the eve of a genocide,” dent Donald Trump presses for a sobering reality: While the implementation of a nationwide lockdown on March 25 in an at- intellectuals has said. Salgado, who has spent nearly four dec- states to reopen their econo- United States has been hun- tempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. In an open letter to the Brazilian ades documenting the Amazon and its mies, his administration is kered down for the past seven The first batch of migrants left the southern city of Hyderabad president, Jair Bolsonaro, figures in- inhabitants, told the Guardian. privately projecting a steady weeks, not much has changed. on May 1 for the eastern state of Jharkhand after the government cluding Madonna, Oprah Winfrey, Brad Even before COVID-19, Brazil’s in- rise in the number of cases and And the reopening to the econ- last week allowed special interstate trains and buses to transport Pitt, David Hockney and Paul McCa- digenous peoples were locked in what deaths from the coronavirus omy will make matters worse. those who wanted to return to their villages in other states. rtney warned the pandemic meant in- activists call a historic struggle for sur- over the next several weeks, “There remains a large num- But it emerged that migrants were charged as much as 800 In- digenous communities in the Amazon vival. Critics accuse Bolsonaro, a far- reaching about 3,000 daily ber of counties whose burden dian rupees ($10.58) for the journey. A daily wage worker earns faced “an extreme threat to their very right populist in power since January deaths by June 1, according to continues to grow,” the CDC between 200 rupees and 400 rupees ($2.6-$5.3) a day. survival.” 2019, of stimulating the invasion of in- an internal document obtained warned. Migrants were also asked to pay a surcharge of 50 rupees “Five centuries ago, these ethnic digenous reserves and dismantling the by The New York Times, nearly The projections confirm the ($0.66) as buses run by the Karnataka government charged hefty groups were decimated by diseases government agencies supposed to pro- double from the current level of primary fear of public health ticket prices, according to reports in local media. brought by European colonizers … Now, tect them. about 1,750. experts: that a reopening of the Yesterday (4), India's main opposition party Congress an- with this new scourge spreading rapidly “Indigenous communities have never The projections, based on economy will put the nation nounced it will pay the migrants' fare after Indians took to social across Brazil … [they] may disappear been so under attack … The government modelling by the Centres for right back where it was in mid- media criticizing the government's move, with hashtags #PM- completely since they have no means of has no respect at all for the indigenous Disease Control and Prevention March, when cases were rising CaresFund and #Railways becoming top Twitter trends. combating COVID-19,” they wrote. territories,” Salgado said, pointing to and pulled together in chart so rapidly in some parts of the "Our workers and labourers are the ambassadors of our nation's The organizer of the petition, the crippling budget cuts and the recent form by the Federal Emergency country that patients were dy- growth," said Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a statement. Brazilian photojournalist Sebastião Sal- sacking of several of top environmental Management Agency, forecast ing on gurneys in hospital hall- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has faced criticism for gado, said trespassers including wildcat officials who had targeted illegal pros- about 200,000 new cases each ways as the health care system creating a new coronavirus relief fund, PM CARES, when about gold miners and illegal loggers must be pectors and loggers. day by the end of the month, up grew overloaded. -The Guardian $500m was lying unspent in an older fund. -NYT expelled immediately from indigenous -Agencies/Al Jazeera from about 25,000 cases now.

Trending News Quote for Today The earth is the very quintessence of the human condition. China: The country’s state 24 hours to 6,277, as mosques are usual, indicating that the real UK: The British government rec- -Hannah Arendt broadcaster CCTV attacks US due to reopen in many cities. coronavirus death toll could be ommends a wide range of chang- Word for Today Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's USA: The Food and Drug Ad- far higher than the 29,000 re- es to show people how to organ- "insane and evasive remarks" ported. ize their working lives when the Jedi [jedahy] –noun –a person who has an unexplainable power ministration (FDA) tightens its over people or things, or who seems to enjoy unusual luck over the origins of the coronavi- oversight of coronavirus antibody Japan: Prime Minister Shinzo coronavirus lockdown is gradu- rus pandemic. tests after the market was flooded Abe says the government will ally loosened. Today in History -An internal report warns that with dubious tests. extend the state of emergency Somalia: A security official 1981 - After 66 days on hunger strike, 26yearold Provisional IRA Beijing faces a rising wave of hos- - The Senate returns to business due to the coronavirus pandemic says a plane carrying aid sup- member and British MP Bobby Sands dies in the Maze Prison. tility in the wake of the coronavi- with new coronavirus guidelines until May 31, as it is still seeing plies crashed in the southern Bay Nine more hunger strikers die in the next three months rus outbreak that could tip rela- in place, amid anxiety about a hundreds of new infection cases region, killing seven people on tions with the United States into pandemic that has killed more daily. board. Today is... confrontation. than 67,000 Americans and left Syria: President Bashar al-As- Bahrain: After turning a car International Midwives’ Day Iran: The health ministry says tens of millions out of work. sad warns the country could face park into an intensive care unit A day that reminds us the female body is perfectly capable the coronavirus death toll in one Italy: New official data show the a “real catastrophe” if coronavi- for coronavirus patients, the of giving birth and carrying a child to term without some of of the hardest hit countries in the country recorded almost 50% rus cases spike and overwhelm country sets up its second field the invasive methods employed by Obstetricians and other Middle East, rose by 74 in the past more fatalities in March than health services. hospital -- on a man-made island. practitioners 2 TUESDAY, MAY 05, 2020 DAILY EXPRESS HOT TOPICS

By Peter Baker By Hannah Beech, Alissa J. Rubin, In the United Sates Anatoly Kurmanaev and Ruth Maclean Trump foresees The COVID-19 riddle Why does the virus wallop virus death toll as some places and spare others? high as 100,000 The coronavirus has killed so many people in Iran that the country has resorted to mass burials, but WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump in neighbouring Iraq, the body count is fewer than predicted Sunday (3) night that the death toll 100. from the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the The Dominican Republic has reported nearly country may reach as high as 100,000 in the 7,600 cases of the virus. Just across the border, United States, far worse than he had forecast Haiti has recorded about 85. just weeks ago, even as he pressed states to reo- In Indonesia, thousands are believed to have pen the shuttered economy. died of the coronavirus. In nearby Malaysia, a Trump, who last month forecast that fatali- strict lockdown has kept fatalities to about 100. ties from the outbreak could be kept “substan- The coronavirus has touched almost every tially below the 100,000” mark and probably country on earth, but its impact has seemed ca- around 60,000, acknowledged that the virus pricious. Global metropolises like New York, Paris has proved more devastating than expected. But and London have been devastated, while teeming nonetheless, he said parks, beaches and some businesses should begin reopening now and cities like Bangkok, Baghdad, New Delhi and La- that schools should resume classes in person by -Gilles Sabrie/ The New York Times gos have, so far, largely been spared. this fall. “We’re going to lose anywhere from 75, Chinese President Xi Jinping appears on a video screen with army officers and other officials, Beijing, March 19, 2020. Across The question of why the virus has overwhelmed 80 to 100,000 people,” the president said in a the globe a backlash is building against China for its initial mishandling of the crisis that helped loose the coronavirus on the some places and left others relatively untouched virtual ‘town hall’ meeting at the Lincoln Me- world, creating a deeply polarizing battle of narratives and setting back China’s ambition to fill the leadership vacuum left by is a puzzle that has spawned numerous theories morial hosted by Fox News. “That’s a horrible the United States and speculations but no definitive answers. That knowledge could have profound implications for thing. We shouldn’t lose one person over this.” By Steven Erlanger But he credited himself with preventing the toll how countries respond to the virus, for determin- from being worse. “If we didn’t do it, the mini- ing who is at risk and for knowing when it’s safe to mum we would have lost was a million two, a go out again. There are already hundreds of stud- million four, a million five, that’s the minimum. Global backlash builds against China ies underway around the world looking into how We would have lost probably higher, its possible demographics, pre-existing conditions and genet- higher than 2.2” million. ics might affect the wide variation in impact. The death toll passed 67,000 Sunday, more over coronavirus Many developing nations with hot climates and than the total American deaths in the Vietnam BRUSSELS — Australia has called for Since the virus, the tone has only Rebellion,” said Theresa Fallon, direc- young populations have escaped the worst, sug- War and already higher than the president’s an inquiry into the origin of the corona- toughened, a measure of just how seri- tor of the Centre for Russia Europe Asia gesting that temperature and demographics could earlier prediction. More than 1,000 additional virus. Germany and Britain are hesitat- ous a danger China’s leaders consider Studies, referring to the anti-imperial- be factors. But countries like Peru, Indonesia and deaths have been announced every day since ing anew about inviting in Chinese tech the virus to their standing at home, ist, anti-Christian and ultranationalist Brazil, tropical countries in the throes of growing April 2 and while the rate appears to have giant Huawei. President Donald Trump where it has fuelled anger and de- uprising around 1899-1901 in China epidemics, throw cold water on that idea. peaked, it has not begun to fall in a significant, has blamed China for the contagion and stroyed economic growth, as well as that ended in defeat, with huge repa- Draconian social distancing and early lockdown sustained way. The model embraced by the is seeking to punish it. Some govern- abroad. In the past several weeks, at rations for eight nations over the next measures have clearly been effective, but Myan- White House a month ago had assumed the ments want to sue Beijing for damages least seven Chinese ambassadors — to decades. “The party’s cultivation of the mar and Cambodia did neither and have reported death rate would begin to fall substantially by and reparations. France, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Kenya, humiliation narrative makes it politi- few cases. mid-April. Despite that, Trump indicated again Across the globe a backlash is build- Uganda, Ghana and the African Union cally impossible for Xi to ever agree to One theory that is unproven but impossible to that he favoured lifting stay-at-home orders ing against China for its initial mishan- — have been summoned by their hosts pay any reparations.” refute: Maybe the virus just hasn’t gotten to those and other restrictions that have cratered the dling of the crisis that helped loose the to answer accusations ranging from Instead, it has been imperative for countries yet. Russia and Turkey appeared to be economy and put more than 30 million people coronavirus on the world, creating a spreading misinformation to the “rac- Xi to turn the narrative around, steer- fine until, suddenly, they were not. out of work, arguing that the government had deeply polarizing battle of narratives ist mistreatment” of Africans in Guang- ing it from a story of incompetence and “We are really early in this disease,” said Dr. armed itself enough against the virus to be pre- and setting back China’s ambition to zhou, China. failure — including the suppression of Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health pared to curb any additional outbreak even after fill the leadership vacuum left by the Just last week, China threatened to early warnings about the virus — into Research Institute. people begin emerging from their homes to re- United States. withhold medical aid from the Neth- one of victory over the illness, a victory Interviews with more than two dozen infectious enter workplaces and other public spaces. “At China, never receptive to outside crit- erlands for changing the name of its achieved through the unity of the party. disease experts, health officials, epidemiologists some point we have to open our country,” the icism and wary of damage to its domes- representative office in Taiwan to in- In the latest iteration of the new Chi- and academics around the globe suggest four president said. “And people are going to be safe. tic control and long economic reach, clude the word Taipei. And before that, nese narrative, the enemy — the virus main factors that could help explain where the We’ve learned a lot. We’ve learned about the has responded aggressively, combin- the Chinese Embassy in Berlin sparred — did not even come from China, but virus thrives and where it doesn’t: demographics, tremendous contagion. But we have no choice. ing medical aid to other countries with publicly with the German newspaper from the US military, an unsubstanti- culture, environment and the speed of govern- We can’t stay closed as a country. We’re not go- harsh nationalist rhetoric and mixing Bild after the tabloid demanded $160 ated accusation made by China’s com- ment responses. ing to have a country left.” demands for gratitude with economic billion in compensation from China for bative Foreign Ministry spokesman, Each possible explanation comes with consider- Trump asserted again that the virus would threats. damages to Germany from the virus. Zhao Lijian. able caveats and confounding counterevidence. If eventually fade. “This virus will pass,” he said. The result has only added momen- Trump said last week that his admin- Chinese diplomats are encouraged an ageing population is the most vulnerable, for “It will go. Will it come back? It might. It could. tum to the blowback and the growing istration was conducting “serious in- to be combative by Beijing, said Susan instance, Japan should be at the top of the list. It is Some people say yes. But it will pass.” While he mistrust of China in Europe and Africa, vestigations” into Beijing’s handling of Shirk, a China scholar and director of far from it. Nonetheless, these are the factors that has previously expressed doubt about a second undermining China’s desired image as the coronavirus outbreak. the 21st Century China Centre at the experts find the most persuasive. wave in the fall anticipated by public health ex- a generous global actor. He has pressed US intelligence agen- University of California, San Diego. The perts, he conceded that it could happen. “We Even before the virus, Beijing dis- cies to find the source of the virus, promotion of Zhao to spokesman and The power of youth may have to put out a fire,” he said. played a fierce approach to public rela- suggesting it might have emerged ac- his statement about the U.S. Army “sig- Many countries that have escaped mass epi- The president’s appearance on Fox, in which tions, an aggressive style called “Wolf cidentally from a Wuhan weapons lab, nals to everyone in China that this is the demics have relatively younger populations. he sat at a distance from the hosts at the foot of Warrior” diplomacy, named after two although most intelligence agencies official line, so you get this megaphone Young people are more likely to contract mild the Abraham Lincoln statue and took questions ultrapatriotic Chinese films featuring remain sceptical. And he has expressed effect,” she said, adding that it makes or asymptomatic cases that are less transmissible sent by video from around the country, came the evil plots and fiery demise of Amer- interest in trying to sue Beijing for dam- any negotiations more difficult. to others, said Robert Bollinger, a professor of in- in the middle of a furious debate in the United ican-led foreign mercenaries. ages, with the United States seeking But in the longer run, China is seed- fectious diseases at the Johns Hopkins School of States about how and when the states should be- With clear encouragement from $10 million for every American death. ing mistrust and damaging its own in- Medicine. And they are less likely to have certain gin restoring a semblance of everyday life. The President Xi Jinping and the powerful Republicans in the United States terests, said Shirk, who is working on health problems that can make COVID-19, the dis- program was titled ‘America Together: Return- propaganda department of the Chinese have moved to support Trump’s attacks a book called “Overreach,” about how ease caused by the coronavirus, particularly dead- ing to Work.’ As of Friday, more than a dozen Communist Party, a younger genera- on China. Missouri’s attorney general, China’s domestic politics have derailed ly, according to the World Health Organization. states had begun to reopen their economies and tion of Chinese diplomats have been Eric Schmitt, filed a lawsuit in federal its ambitions for a peaceful rise as a Africa — with about 45,000 reported cases, public life while many others had set plans to proving their loyalty with defiantly court seeking to hold Beijing responsi- global superpower. a tiny fraction of its 1.3 billion people — is the do so under certain conditions and with certain nationalist and sometimes threatening ble for the outbreak. “As China started getting control over world’s youngest continent, with more than 60% precautions, in some cases over the warnings of messages in the countries where they A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokes- the virus and started this health diplo- of its population under age 25. In Thailand and public health specialists who feared that moving are based. man, GengShuang, called the suit macy, it could have been the opportu- Najaf, Iraq, local health officials found that the 20- too quickly would reignite a wave of infections. “You have a new brand of Chinese “frivolous,” adding that it had “no fac- nity for China to emphasize its compas- to-29 age group had the highest rate of infection Trump predicted that a vaccine would be diplomats who seem to compete with tual and legal basis” and “only invites sionate side and rebuild trust and its but often showed few symptoms. developed by the end of 2020, which would be each other to be more radical and even- ridicule.” reputation as a responsible global pow- By contrast, the national median age in Italy, sooner than some public health experts antici- tually insulting to the country where The suit seems to aim less at securing er,” she said. “But that diplomatic effort one of the hardest-hit countries, is more than 45. pate and much faster than any other vaccine for they happen to be posted,” said Fran- victory in court, which is unlikely, than got hijacked by the propaganda depart- The average age of those who died of COVID-19 such a major virus. “We are very confident that çois Godement, a senior adviser for at prodding Congress to pass legislation ment of the party, with a much more there was around 80. we’re going to have a vaccine at the end of the Asia at the Paris-based Institut Mont- to make it easier for US citizens to sue assertive effort to leverage their assis- Cultural Distance year, by the end of the year,” he said. Even if it aigne. “They’ve gotten into fights with foreign states for damages. tance to get praise for China as a coun- Cultural factors, like the social distancing that is developed that soon, though, he did not say every northern European country with “From Beijing’s point of view, this try and a system and its performance in is built into certain societies, may give some coun- whether it could be approved and produced in whom they should have an interest, and contemporary call is a historic echo of stopping the spread of the virus.” tries more protection, epidemiologists said. sufficient quantities for widespread use by then. they’ve alienated every one of them.” the reparations paid after the Boxer -New York Times In Thailand and India, where virus numbers The president confirmed that he was warned are relatively low, people greet each other at a dis- about the virus, which originated in China, in tance, with palms joined together as in prayer. In an intelligence briefing in January, but asserted that it was characterized as if “it was not a big By Anatoly Kurmanaev Japan and South Korea, people bow, and long be- deal.” He said intelligence agencies would re- Former Pope Benedict fore the coronavirus arrived, they tended to wear lease information about his briefings as early as face masks when feeling unwell. yesterday (4). ‘Operation Gedeon’ In much of the developing world, the custom of -New York Times complains of attempts to caring for the elderly at home leads to fewer nurs- ing homes, which have been tinder for tragic out- ‘silence' him foiled breaks in the West. However, there are notable exceptions to the Netanyahu's future BERLIN - Traditionalist former Pope Benedict XVI accuses op- Venezuelan officials claim they cultural-distancing theory. In many parts of the ponents of wanting to "silence" him while attacking gay marriage in stopped an armed invasion Middle East, such as Iraq and the Persian Gulf at stake vehement terms in a new authorised biography published in Ger- countries, men often embrace or shake hands on many yesterday (4). CARACAS — The Venezuelan government said se- meeting, yet most are not getting sick. As top court debates Israel The 93-year-old, whose original name is Joseph Ratzinger, claims curity forces foiled an armed incursion Sunday (3) Heat and Light in ‘Benedict XVI - A Life’ that he has fallen victim to a "malignant morning near the capital, Caracas, killing eight men distortion of reality" in reactions to his interventions in theologi- The geography of the outbreak — which spread coalition deal and capturing the remaining two. rapidly during the winter in temperate-zone coun- cal debates, according to passages published by German media and NéstorReverol, the interior minister, said the TEL AVIV - Israel's top court resumed de- news agency DPA. tries like Italy and the United States and was vir- bate yesterday (4) about controversial clauses group of “mercenary terrorists” had come from Co- tually unseen in warmer countries such as Chad "The spectacle of reactions coming from German theology is so lombia by speedboat, intending to invade Venezue- in the coalition deal struck late last month misguided and ill-willed that I would prefer not to speak of it," he or Guyana — seemed to suggest that the virus did between caretaker right-wing Prime Minister la and overthrow the government, but that it was not take well to heat. But researchers say the idea says. stopped at the port of La Guaira, near Caracas. Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, cen- "I would rather not analyse the actual reasons why people want to that hot weather alone can repel the virus is wish- trist leader Benny Gantz. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by a re- ful thinking. Some of the worst outbreaks in the silence my voice," Benedict added. tired American Green Beret, Jordan Goudreau, and On Sunday (3), 11 Supreme Court judges The German branch of the Catholic Church has for years been led developing world have been in places like the Am- debated whether indicted lawmakers may a retired Venezuelan army captain, Javier Nieto. In a azonas region of Brazil, as tropical a place as any. by clergy more disposed to reform than the stringent traditionalism video posted on social media, the two men said that form a government, as Netanyahu seeks to associated with Ratzinger. The virus that causes COVID-19 appears to be hold on to the office of prime minister despite ‘Operation Gedeon’ had been successfully launched so contagious as to mitigate any beneficial effect of In office from 2005-13, he has frequently been criticized for his “deep into the heart of Caracas” and that other armed criminal charges against him. attitudes to Islam or to social questions, and is accused of attempt- heat and humidity, said Dr. Raul Rabadan, a com- The panel heard petitions by anti-corrup- cells had been activated throughout the country. ing to undermine the modernization drive of his successor Pope “It is obvious that the electoral measures, the putational biologist at Columbia University. tion groups and opposition politicians, who Francis. But other aspects of warm climates, like people want the court to strike down the April 22 democratic and political ones of all kinds, have been Ratzinger attempts to counter such claims in the biography, say- exhausted,” Nieto said in the video, defending the spending more time outside, could help. emergency unity government deal, under ing his "personal friendship with Pope Francis has not only en- “People living indoors within enclosed environ- which Netanyahu would serve as prime min- decision to try to topple the Venezuelan government dured, but grown." with arms. ments may promote virus recirculation, increas- ister for the first 18 months, followed by Gantz In February, Benedict XVI was drawn into a Vatican intrigue ing the chance of contracting the disease,” said Car for another 18 months. There was no evidence of fighting in Caracas or when his private secretary was removed from Francis' entourage. elsewhere in the country, but Venezuela’s Defence of Nanyang Technological University. Under the rotation agreement, Gantz is to Some observers had accused the former pope of back-seat driving serve as vice prime minister during the 18 Minister, Vladimir PadrinoLópez, announced a Early and strict lockdowns when a book defending the hot topic of priestly celibacy appeared, sweep operation in the capital shortly after authori- Countries that locked down early, like Vietnam months that Netanyahu is prime minister, af- bearing his name alongside that of arch-conservative Guinean car- ter which they would switch roles for a further ties said they repulsed the raid. and Greece, have been able to avoid out-of-control dinal Robert Sarah. President Nicolás Maduro and his officials have contagions, evidence of the power of strict social 18 months. After 48 hours of controversy, Benedict XVI asked that his name Israeli law and jurisdiction mention only denounced dozens of what they said were coup and distancing and quarantines to contain the virus. be removed from the book's cover, introduction and jointly signed assassination attempts in recent years as the econ- In Africa, countries with bitter experience with that ministers are banned from serving un- conclusion. der indictments, as they are not elected by the omy has sunk deeper into crisis. Some of the asser- killers like HIV, drug-resistant tuberculosis and But he has not given up intervening in social debates, offering a tions proved to be true, while others were never in- Ebola knew the drill and reacted quickly. people. Netanyahu's lawyers have argued it fresh blast against gay marriage in the new biography. would be undemocratic for judges to inter- dependently verified. Roll of the dice "A century ago, anyone would have thought it absurd to talk The uprisings denounced by the government often vene in the people's choice of prime minister. about homosexual marriage. Today those who oppose it are excom- Finally, most experts agree that there may be no The question is also whether the new position have their roots in real discontent among Venezue- single reason for some countries to be hit and oth- municated from society," Benedict XVI says. lan officials and military officers but are almost al- of vice, or "alternative" prime minister" as de- "It's the same thing with abortion and creating human life in the ers missed. The answer is likely to be some com- fined in the April 22 coalition agreement, is ways exaggerated to create a siege mentality among bination of the above factors as well as one other laboratory," he believes, adding that it's "only natural" for people to government supporters and to garner international exempt from the ban against ministers with "fear the spiritual power of the Antichrist." mentioned by researchers: sheer luck. indictments. sympathy, analysts say. -dpa -Agence France-Presse -New York Times -New York Time DAILY EXPRESS TUESDAY, MAY 05, 2020 3 GLOCAL

Eress esaers ey Pvt. td., 185, Grandpass Road, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Confusion over latest Telephone: 0117 322 705 (Editorial) 0117 322 731 (Advertising) 0117 322 789 (Circulation) COVID-19 curfew update Email – [email protected]/[email protected] COLOMBO – There appears to be some Epaper - http://epaper.newsexpress.lk confusion regarding the COVID-19 curfew Facebook –News Express Sri Lanka in Colombo and other districts, as an unex- pectedly high turnout of foot and vehicular traffic was observed yesterday (4) morning in many areas still considered high risk. TNA says PM’s meeting not a substitute for reconvening A last-minute announcement from the president’s office Sunday (3) night sought to clarify the previously announced stag- Parliament gered relaxation of lockdown measures us- COLOMBO – The Tamil National Alli- the gathering which was attended by the liament to be reconvened and up to now a constitutional assembly and amend the ing National Identity Card (NIC) numbers. ance (TNA) has stated that although it has constituent parties of the alliance led by the response has been negative. Constitution. “All political parties were It said the last digit of the NIC as a curfew attended the meeting called by Prime Min- the ruling Sri Lanka NidahasPodujana- It was in this background that the prime represented in the several committees pass only applies to areas where curfew is ister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (4), Peramuna (SLNPP). minister invited all Members of the dis- established, there was substantial consen- in effect and not where curfew has been re- the meeting is not and cannot be a substi- Independent former MPs such as solved Parliament to a meeting at Temple sus, reports of the committees were filed in laxed. tute for the convening of Parliament. AthureliyeRathanaThera and a number of Trees yesterday. the Constitutional Assembly, the process Travel to and from villages and towns A statement signed by TNA leader R former MPs who are currently out of ac- The TNA pointed out that the country reached its final stages, when it stalled un- under strict lockdown due to high inci- Sampanthan said the party is of “the firm tive politics were also present. and the people were facing a “grave crisis” til the dissolution of Parliament,” he said. dence of infection remains banned, the view that the Parliament must be con- Among the attendees was former presi- because of the escalating COVID -19 pan- “We have decided that we need to attend statement said. vened as stated in our joint statement to dent Maithripala Sirisena, now an alliance demic. “There is a legitimate fear amongst the meeting with the prime minister, be- Previously it was announced curfew deal with several constitutional and legal partner of the SLNPP. the people that it could further escalate cause all these issues outlined above need would be relaxed starting yesterday with issues that have arisen, which Parliament Sampanthan, who come under fire for with grave consequences, and the Coun- to be addressed and to clearly indicate that movement under NIC system would come alone can deal with.” being the only major opposition party to try’s united efforts are needed in this re- we are prepared to extend our co-opera- into effect. This decision was then changed The TNA was the only opposition party attend a meeting, in his letter presented gard,” the TNA said. tion to the resolution of these issues in a with curfew relaxation to begin next Mon- present in the meeting at Temple Trees to the prime minister at the meeting and Sampanthan recalled that over the past reasonable and acceptable manner in the day (11). yesterday, as the JanathaVimukthiPera- released to the media said an appeal was 25 years the people in successive elec- interests of the country and all its people,” According to the latest update, people muna (JVP) and the two factions of the made to the president by the TNA and tions have rejected the 1978 Constitution Sampanthan said. whose NIC numbers end in digits 1 or 2 United National Party (UNP) boycotted other opposition political parties for Par- and in 2015, Parliament resolved to form -economynext.com/ENCL were permitted leave their homes only to purchase essential items and medicine from stores and pharmacies located within walking distance. However, residents of Colombo said 8th COVID-19 death reported in many vehicles and people could be seen freely roaming about with no police pres- ence visible in their local areas. On Twitter, Sri Lanka too, Sri Lankans were commenting on the sudden and unexpected vehicle movement Gunesinghepura men died of other causes in the city. Spokespersons for the president’s office COLOMBO – The Ministry of Health centre which is managed by the Sri were unavailable for comment. yesterday (4) announced the eighth Lanka Air Force. The deceased were Meanwhile, adding to the confusion, the COVID-19 death in Sri Lanka, iden- among a group of homeless men who Police Media Division said that curfew will tifying the deceased as a 72-year-old were moved to quarantine after they continue till May 11 all over the island ex- woman from Polpithigama in Kurune- were found around the central bus cept during the hours it will be temporar- gala, who had been receiving treat- stand in Pettah some weeks ago. The ily lifted in districts other than Colombo, ment at the government hospital in entire area went into lockdown after Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam. The NIC Homagama. a COVID-19 cluster was discovered in system, police said, is no longer applicable The last COVID-19 death was re- the BandaranayakeMawatha area in once curfew is lifted. ported in Sri Lanka nearly a month Kotehena. -economynext.com ago on April 7. The destitute people in the area Meanwhile, Air Force Spokesman were given fresh clothing, food and Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe shelter by the police in the area. -Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP said the two men who died at the Mul- Thereafter they were taken to the Returnees check-in Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa gestures as he presides over a meeting of former laitivu quarantine centre last week quarantine centre as they were sus- legislators at his official residence in Colombo yesterday (4). The country's main opposition had died of other causes and not COV- pected to have been exposed to COV- at luxury quarantine boycotted the meeting called by Prime Minister Rajapaksa to discuss the coronavirus ID-19. ID-19 positive cases in the area. pandemic after rejecting their calls to reinstate the national Parliament that was dissolved in Captain Wijesinghe said it was A total of 72 people in the Kotehena, centres March by Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. found that one of them had died due Keselwatte and Gunasinghepura areas COLOMBO – A group of Sri Lankans who to ischemic heart disease and the were infected from members of a fam- returned to the country yesterday (4) got other due to epilepsy and aspiration ily that had returned from a pilgrim- themselves checked-in at luxury quaran- pneumonia. The two individuals aged age to India in March. tine centres across the country paying a Rupee extend gains against of 81 and 83 were hospitalized after ENCL/economynext.com budget rate of Rs 7500 day, inclusive of falling ill at the Mullaitivu quarantine food. greenbacks in one week forwards Several including upmarket Jetwing group have started providing premium COLOMBO– Sri Lanka’s rupee strength- Sri Lanka’s central bank is targeting a ened to 188.25/188.75 to the greenback in call money rate at 6.45%. quarantine services at budget rates as for- AG advises EC to follow existing laws eign returnees are decreed quarantine and one week forwards yesterday (4), helped Since targeting-call-money-rate-with- COLOMBO - The Attorney Gen- gard to elections, yesterday (4). Par- by some bank and exporter selling, dealers excess-liquidity began the monetary au- centres run by the military are filling up eral (AG) has advised the National liamentary polls were scheduled to be with domestic contacts of infected persons. said. thority has lost control of the reserve mon- Election Commission to follow the held on April 25, but were put on hold There was no spot trading but there is ey, analysts point out, leading to monetary Jetwing Blue, a hotel near the main inter- procedure established by law for the due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Sri national airport in Katunayake has already hardly any premium for forwards in the instability. conduct of the 2020 parliamentary Lanka and were later scheduled for market with low rupee rates and tight dol- Combined with the one sided ‘DCM’ been turned into a quarantine centre. elections. June 20 amid strong opposition from The hotel was given over to quarantine lar liquidity pushing interbank rate up, rule where no intervention is made when AG’s directive to the Election Com- several political parties, including the the implied spot rate was also around the the rupee falls, but heavy interventions at the request of the military and the group mission comes in the wake of advice former opposition. was ready to offer more hotels if required same levels, dealers said. The rupee closed are made when it appreciates, the excess sought by the Commission with re- -ENCL around 190.50/191.00 in the one week for- liquidity leads to collapses of the exchange Chairman HiranCooray said. ward market on Thursday (April 30). Fri- peg even when private credit is weak ana- The hotel is also providing food. day (May 1) was a market holiday. lysts have said. Citrus hotel has also been offered for Sri Lanka’s imports have reduced with On Thursday at least one bank borrowed quarantine work. most shops closed and private credit is also at 7.0% from the overnight window. Another group of Pakistanis Army Commander Lt. General Shaven- generally weak. Yesterday, short banks borrowed Rs dra Silva said the Sri Lanka Army’s own fa- Any pressure on the currency would 17.73 billion from the window at 7.0% repatriated from Sri Lanka cilities were full with large number of new come from money printed to pay state sec- while plus banks deposited Rs 163 billion contacts being taken in. tor salaries and spending analysts say. in excess cash at the central bank. Colombo’s Mt Lavinia hotel has also The rupee fell steeply partly due to a so- Amid uncertainty in money markets, been offered for quarantine, he said. called one sided ‘DCM’ rule amid money money printing and downgrades, inter- Sri Lanka saw a surge in infections after printing. bank lending has reduced with counter- a navy base had a high number of infec- When large volumes of money are print- party risk perceptions rising. tions because Sri Lanka was not testing ed, the rupee’s peg to the US dollar will Liquidity in the overnight money market high risk groups. Military personnel were break unless it is defended with reserve was Rs 137.56 billion yesterday. given leave to travel between districts at a sales. Banks deposited Rs163.29 billion in time when ordinary citizens were banned Last Friday excess liquidity in money Central bank’s excess liquidity window. from going out of their houses in a strict markets dropped to Rs 137 billion from Rs In the secondary bond market yields curfew. 164 billion, or about 13% of the monetary were flat in moderate trading, dealers said But public health inspectors and military base, with all banks chocked to the gills with liquidity centered on 2024 maturities. intelligence swiftly rounded up most con- with excess liquidity. -economynext.com tacts of infected military personnel and all leave was cancelled. Several thousand con- tacts have been found. General Silva said hotel quarantine at a fee was provided in line with requests from In Brief Sri Lankan citizens abroad who had said Positive doesn’t mean infected Sri Lankans repatriated from UK they were willing to pay for quarantine. Director General, Health Services, Dr. Anil Another group of 208 Sri Lankan students, The hotels were charging rates which are Jasinghe commenting on the COVID-19 pa- stranded in the UK following the COVID-19 a quarter or less of their normal rates, he tient from Ja-Ela who was tested positive for outbreak, arrived at the Bandaranaike Inter- said. the second time after being discharged from national Airport in Katunayake yesterday (4). The rooms are charged Rs 7,500 per per- hospital, said it could be inferred that the The students were brought back on a special son double sharing or about US$ 38 a day virus could be living inside one’s body with flight chartered by the national carrier, SriLan- with food. minimal activity and wouldn’t show symp- kan Airlines. The Ministry of Foreign Relations The prices are in line with Vietnam, COLOMBO- A second group of 40 present on behalf of the High Com- probably the world’s most successful coun- toms, but that doesn’t mean the carriers of said it was bringing down Sri Lankans stranded stranded Pakistani nationals were missioner to see off the departing the virus are infected or could be spreading overseas based on requests to be repatriated. try in battling coronavirus, which started repatriated to Pakistan via Sri Lan- Pakistanis at Bandaranaike Inter- premium quarantine in March for anyone the virus. Rs 5,000 allowance for May kan Airlines flight UL-1185 yesterday national Airport (BIA), Colombo, Naval officer recovers President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed who did not want free accommodation and (4). The repatriation was facilitated yesterday. The Pakistan High Com- food at military run centres. A Navy officer, who was tested COVID-19 those affected by the novel coronavirus outbreak by the Pakistani High Commission in mission in Colombo, in a statement positive after seeking treatment at the govern- be paid a Rs 5,000 allowance for the month of Colombo, in co-ordination with Sri yesterday, said the returning Paki- -ENCL/economynext.com ment hospital in Ratanpura on April 25, and May as well. In a Facebook post he said the pay- Lankan authorities and Government stanis acknowledged the efforts of was later transferred to the National Institute ment of the allowance started yesterday (4) and of Pakistan. High Commission for the support of Infectious Diseases, Angoda, is reported to will be paid before the Vesak Full Moon Poya The first group of 50 stranded and assistance rendered to them have recovered yesterday (4) becoming the Day. The payment of government pension for the Pakistani nationals was repatriated during their stay in Sri Lanka in this first naval officer to recover from the novel month of May was also set to commence yester- on April 28. Second Secretary (Po- difficult time. coronavirus. day and be completed before the Vesak Poya Day. litical), Ayesha Abubakar Fahad was -ENCL Brandix plants in Sri Lanka, India making PPE in COVID-19 battle COLOMBO– Sri Lanka’s Brandix, an ap- In India where Brandix has over weft knit plant which is now running at have to be spaced out, and much less than parel group with operations in India and 20,000 workers, the group has started almost full steam. the usual staff can work. Bangladesh is turning its factories into making protective clothing for domestic “It is almost fully loaded,” Premaratne Premaratne said space that was earlier making personal protective equipment needs. Material for hazmat style suits is said. allocated to other activities such as sort- (PPE) in the battle against the novel coro- produced in India itself. India has banned Brandix has also taken orders for PPE ing rooms is being re-jigged as factory navirus, as orders for regular clothes dry the export of most PPEs. In a knee jerk and is making arrangements to farm out space. up, an official said. reaction Sri Lanka’s National Medical production to Sri Lanka’s small and me- RanelPathirana, Director of Sri Lan- In Sri Lanka its factories are making Regulatory Authority banned exports of dium apparel exporters who are unable to ka’s Hirdramani group, which also has cotton masks for an international brand. masks and also slammed on price con- pay salaries of workers and are about to overseas operations said many factories About 9,000 out of over 30,000 work- trols, triggering shortages island-wide collapse. around the world are now turning to PPEs ers in its factories in Sri Lanka are al- and blocking domestic manufacturers “We want to help the entire industry as and margins will rapidly decline. ready involved in making PPE and will be from producing masks. much as possible,” he said. The masks are Sri Lanka’s US$ 5000 billion apparel ramped up to around 16,000 shortly, Ha- The controls, which make any crisis made to comply with US and European export business is expecting to lose US$ sithaPremaratne, Group Finance Director worse, have since been lifted. regulations. 1.5 billion of business in the March to of Brandix who also heads India opera- In Sri Lanka Brandix is making masks At Brandix and other factories new June quarter. tions of the group said. out of material made at its Teejay Lanka health regulations mean that workers -economynext.com 4 TUESDAY, MAY 05, 2020 DAILY EXPRESS REALITY CHECK

By Rai Krishna The will to right the wrongs Pakistan doesn’t lack human rights legislation, but implementation is poor Security personnel Touched to the quick by a critical report by the check the body Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) temperature of a on the rights situation in the country in 2019, the motor cyclist during Pakistan Ministry of Human Rights (MOHR) has a government- accused the HRCP of “overlooking several major imposed nationwide milestones towards securing and safeguarding the lockdown as a rights of vulnerable groups that were reached in preventive measure the past year in Pakistan.” against the COVID-19 The MOHR said in its statement last week that coronavirus, in “although the process of changing mind-sets, laws Colombo on April 23 and institutions is one that is long and slow, it is critical to keep sight and track of all the steps and progress along the way.” In other words, it would not do to simply deny progress, given the challenges facing Pakistan to- day as a result of decades of neglect, the MOHR argued. “While the report accurately cites an alarmingly high number of cases of violence against women and children, it does not account for the important institutional as well as legislative measures that have been taken in the last year to safeguard and

– J Sujeewakumar/ENCL promote their rights,” it said, noting that with re- gard to the right to freedom of press and curbs on By Ruki ernando political dissent, a very important new legislation on the Protection of Journalists and Media Profes- sionals had been discussed with journalists and media professionals in 2019 and approved in prin- Corona and curtailed Human Rights ciple by the Cabinet in early 2020. The bill is now in the process of being finalized As fears and concerns persist about the spread of friends and relatives, which had been crucial for their ed as the head of the National Operations Centre on through the relevant process before being tabled COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, there are rising fears and survival. Amidst widespread stigmatization of Sri Lan- COVID-19. The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, in the National Assembly, MOHR said, elaborat- concerns about declining democracy and rising threats kan Muslims, refugees also fear being perceived as be- a retired senior army officer, features prominently ing that the bill features several unprecedented to rule of law and rights violations. Rights are being re- ing Muslims and being targeted, similar to the way they and regularly on national media on matters relating to protections for journalists and media professional stricted, powers of the executive, police, military, and faced physical attacks and evictions after the Easter COVID-19 than any other ministry secretary. A Presi- in Pakistan – and could play an important role in government officials are increasing and checks and Sunday bombings. And in the long term, they fear that dential Task Force in charge of Economic Revival and improving the freedom of press and information in balances and possibilities of legal remedies for victims their already delayed resettlement to a third countries Poverty Eradication is also packed with military offic- the country. are decreasing. such as the USA and Canada may be further delayed. ers. The military has been involved in running a large While acknowledging that violence against reli- gious minorities continues to run rampant in the Governments, some media, and others with vested 4. Right to food, emergency assistance number of quarantine centres and in the heavily milita- interests are seeking to propagate that these must be rized war-ravaged north, the military is also involved in country, MOHR pointed out several measures tak- and workers en by the State in 2019 have the potential to lead tolerated at the time of crisis. In any crisis, the politi- With the imposition of island-wide curfew over one curfew pass issuing activities. cally, economically and socially vulnerable and margin- This militarization is in context of the military person- to a shift in societal attitudes and mind-sets in the month, food has become a major concern, particular- long run. alized become even more vulnerable and marginalized. ly for the poorer sections of society. The government nel in Sri Lanka having been convicted and still stand- It highlighted the opening of the Kartarpur Cor- In Sri Lanka, they include COVID-19 patients and their announced a relief package of Rs 5000 per family, ing accused in pending cases for massacres, killings and ridor (between Pakistan and India to enable Indian families, families of those who died, survivors and fam- focusing on daily wage owners and other low-income abductions by Sri Lankan courts and facing allegations Sikhs to visit a historic shrine in Pakistan); laying ilies of past victims of past rights violations, ethnic and earners, but there have been widespread allegations of of war crimes and crimes against humanity from the the foundation for Pakistan’s first Sikh university; religious minorities, those with disabilities, women, officials charging money for applications, long lines of UN and international human rights groups, with the and the reopening and renovation of Hindu tem- children, elderly, refugees, prisoners, farmers, fisher people to collect the Rs 5,000, allegations of being left present Army Commander having been banned from ples as some of the measures, and also noted that folk, factory workers, estate workers and workers in the out unfairly and tensions between beneficiaries and of- entering the United States of America earlier this year. the government has taken steps to address educa- informal sector. Below are some significant rights con- ficials. The assistance scheme is said to also favour gov- On one occasion, soldiers had removed a family from tional material with discriminatory content against cerns amidst the fight against COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. ernment supporters. Many migrant workers from far a village facing a high risk of COVID-19 without the religious minorities and was in the process of bring- 1. Stigmatizing and degrading treatment away districts had been stranded, without income or knowledge of the health authorities. ing 30,000 madrasahs under government control People in the North protested in fear about schools in to the deceased, patients and the poor food, but had not received any government assistance. to mainstream them in the field of education. It Calls to designated numbers and meetings with local the North being used for quarantining military person- also noted that the acquittal of several high profile The first Sri Lankan COVID-19 infected person was nel, and later, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence identified on March 11. Since then some TV stations officials and police had not brought any relief. blasphemy cases such as Aasia Bibi and Wajih-ul- said schools will be used to accommodate soldiers and Hassan, had established an important precedent. and social media had publicized false information In the North and East, there were allegations that the Governors (representative of the president) were not as quarantine centres. Surveillance of activists and MOHR claims notwithstanding, Dr. Mehdi about the patients, suspected patients, and even the journalists by intelligence agents, which was common Hasan, Chairperson of the HRCP, in his remarks dead. They had invaded the privacy of patients and sus- not approving the use of emergency funds by local government officials and local government officials in Sri Lanka during and after the war, may expand dur- in the report pointed out that a basic flaw in the pected patients, those being quarantined, often in the ing and post COVID-19 operations by the military, with Pakistani human rights protection system is not so presence police and military, and with their tacit sup- had sought the help of civil society groups to provide humanitarian assistance to people in need. There have the Secretary to Ministry of Defence claiming that he much absence of legislation but the non-implemen- port. It was only after around six weeks of this drama has details of all COVID-19 victims in his mobile phone. tation of legislation and the crippling of existing in- that the Secretary to the Ministry of defence appealed been several reports of those distributing humanitar- ian assistance being obstructed, facing intimidation, 7. Rule of Law and political crisis stitutions. to stop this violation of privacy after about 250 mili- Despite the apparent willingness of provincial tary personnel were confirmed as having contracted the threats from politicians, police, and military, and some While accepting the need for curfew, at least one sen- being arrested. Some workers had not received wages ior lawyer and others have pointed out the lack of legal governments to enact legislation that upholds the novel coronavirus. On April 17, police lined up over 300 fundamental rights of citizens. “None of them has beggars in Colombo and compelled them to have a bath for work done before the sudden imposition of curfew basis for the curfew the government had announced since March 20. More than 42,000 people have been demonstrated any understanding of how to put in the open air without any privacy, with media being and some employees are demanding amendment of la- such legislation into practice,” Hasan said. allowed to film and take photographs, resulting in this bour laws that provide protection to workers from arbi- arrested and more than 10,000 vehicles were taken into custody, and legality of this is also not clear. In Co- The National Commission of Human Rights being splashed on national TV stations newspapers and trary termination. (NCHR) has been non-functional since June 2019 social media. Photos and videos indicated some men 5. Repression of free expression and lombo and Jaffna, there have been allegations of people simply because it is waiting for the appointment of having been beaten up by police and the army for being having collective showers, without maintaining physi- impunity for hate speech, false and a new chairperson and six of its seven members. cal distance. Disinfecting of both men and women was on the street. The neglect could be because the NCHR had been also done in public, in front of cameras. Some media misleading news The Coast Conservation Department has been criti- looking into the National Accountability Bureau’s used the term ‘watte’to describe an area in Colombo One of the biggest blows to free expression was when cized for lack of environmental and social considera- (NAB) alleged misuse of powers. The post of chair- where large numbers of COVID-19 infected patients online activist RamzyRazeek was arrested on April 9 tions in its Mount Lavinia beach development project person of the National Commission on the Status of were found. This term implies low-income areas with for a Facebook post calling for an ideological struggle and un-democratic, not-transparent action while the Women has been vacant since February 2018. small and basic houses close to each other with basic using a pen and keyboard and media. He has been a country was under lockdown due to COVID-19. Harris Khalique, HRCP Secretary General, in his facilities, such as shared toilets. The lady who was be- consistent advocate of ethnic harmony and challenged There has also been widespread condemnation about remarks has Pakistan continued to bear a dismal lieved to be the first patient from this community was extremism within the Muslim community and against the lack of due process in the arrest of prominent law- human rights record in terms of complying with the particularly targeted, being referred to as the ‘Corona Muslims. He has been remanded till May 14 and the yer HejaazHizbullah on April 14. He had very limited constitutional guarantees to its own citizens and the lady,’ thereby setting the area on ‘COVID fire.’ police have implied intentions to charge him under the access to family and lawyers, the specific reasons for his international obligations to which it is a State party. ICCPR Act. Ramzy had received death threats online arrest are not clear and the Attorney General and the 2. Hostility towards Muslims and “There were no significant developments during the and had complained to the police about these before his police failed to turn up in courts when a habeas cor- year in the administration of justice, maintaining Christians arrest, but no one has been arrested for death threats pus application by his family was taken up in courts on law and order, criminalizing enforced disappear- Muslims have been blamed for being responsible for made against him. April 30. The curfew had also restricted people’s access ances, improving the status of women, transgender COVID-19 and were the target of hate speech. Much On April 1, the police announced that those criticiz- to courts to seek remedies for violations and imminent persons and sexual minorities, ending child abuse, of this was based on false news. On two occasions, po- ing and pointing out shortcomings of government of- violations, particularly for those from poorer sections ceasing the shabby treatment of citizens from mi- lice had arrested some persons, but most seemed to ficials would be arrested and have legal actions taken of society, for whom access to lawyers and legal reme- nority faiths, or addressing the dire socioeconomic get away with hate speech and false news. The World against them. Several people who had criticized the dies have always been limited, even prior to COVID-19. problems faced by labourers, miners, farmers, san- Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines pertaining to government were reported to have been arrested, faced Due to the limited number of court staff, it had become itation workers, media persons, nurses, teachers, the disposal of bodies of those who die of COVID-19 pro- intimidation and discrediting online. The media re- difficult for lawyers to obtain court proceedings and and fisher folk,” he has noted, stating that 2019 vide for both cremation and burial, which was reflected ported that Police were seeking to arrest 40 persons for confer with detained clients, both of which can affect will be remembered for the systematic curbing of in Sri Lankan Health Ministry guidelines of March 27. spreading false information and there had been other the preparation for court hearings. political dissent by various means, constraints to But officials hurriedly cremated the first Muslim in Sri reports that 17 had been arrested by April 17. In the early stages of curfew, the president granted a the freedom of the mainstream media, digital sur- Lanka who died of COVID-19, being indifferent to the However, the process of such arrests appears to be pardon to a soldier convicted of the massacre of eight veillance, and the over-regulation of social media wishes of the family and the Muslim community and its discriminatory targeting individuals who seem to be Tamil civilians, including children. There has also been spaces. He has also charged that several thousand leaders and then amended the guidelines to allow only critical of the government with small outreach, whereas a report that the soldier had been paid back wages for journalists, photographers and other categories of cremations, without any explanation for the changes. persons and media institutions supporting the govern- the time he had been imprisoned and that the army had media persons had lost their jobs, and a number of On one occasion, constant reference by many media, ment with massive outreach such as some TV stations accompanied him back home from prison. newspapers and magazines had ceased to publish especially Tamil media, to religion and occupation of and newspapers, seem to enjoy impunity for publishing On March 2, the president dissolved Parliament ad- because government advertisements were blocked one infected person as a ‘Pastor’ created an environ- false and misleading information. vancing parliamentary elections six months ahead of and dues to media houses remained unpaid. ment where there could be hate and hostility towards The Sunday Observer, a State-owned and controlled the schedule. However, the Election Commission post- The HRCP report points out that allegations the Christian community of that person or to Christians newspaper reported the Health Minister saying that poned the elections and subsequently rescheduled it for of indulging in ‘anti-state’ activities are levelled more broadly. “by April 19 all possible COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka June 20. This will mean Sri Lanka will be without a Par- against civil society and the media, and arrests will disappear and the people who had it without any liament for more than the constitutionally allowed pe- on such grounds are commonplace. “No differen- 3. Prisoners and refugees tiation is made between legitimate expressions of Even before COVID-19 deaths in Sri Lanka, two pris- symptoms or with mild symptoms will completely re- riod of three months. This has led to some lawyers and cover.” Another leading newspaper, Lankadeepa, pub- politicians stating that the dissolution of Parliament is opinion or factual reporting and actual incitement oners died of shooting, in COVID-19 related tensions in to hate and violence,” it said. a prison. Sri Lankan prisons have a capacity to accom- lished headlines on its front page quoting the Director- invalid and the old Parliament has sprung back to life, General of Health Services as saying the risk of corona as the presidential power to dissolve Parliament early The report draws attention to the “shockingly modate 10,000 people but are overcrowded, with about high acquittal rates in cases of gender-based vio- 26,000 inmates at present, making them high-risk was over. This was corrected and an apology offered are subject to a condition of the House re-convening two days later, but with less prominence than the false within three months. Opposition politicians have also lence, which point to poor implementation of legis- places for the spread of the novel coronavirus, with no lation and lack of effective prosecution.” possibility for social distancing and hygienic practices. headline. The media group Ada Derana published a claimed the Parliament needs to approve expenditure hugely misleading graph about numbers of COVID-19 from May 1 onwards, but the government has insisted It also points out that the National Account- The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) ability Bureau (NAB) is seen as being selective and and civil society groups have been demanding the re- patients in Sri Lanka. In early April, the Sri Lanka Tea the president has constitutional powers to draw from Board reported that they had devised a plan to pro- high handed in dealing with cases pursued against lease of prisoners. The government had released about the consolidated fund. members of the political opposition, and requests 3000 by early April, and the Attorney General had ad- mote Ceylon black tea as a drink that could prevent Conclusion for country visits from UN Special Rapporteurs on vised the police on schemes of releasing more prison- COVID-19, but the Director of the Sri Lanka Medical The number of COVID-19 infected persons and extrajudicial executions; the situation of human ers. However, some inmates, such as those detained Research Institute was reported to have confirmed that deaths has been relatively less in Sri Lanka than many rights defenders; the promotion and protection of for long periods under the Prevention of Terrorism Act there is no research on the benefits of drinking tea for other countries, including in Asia. But the numbers of human rights while countering terrorism; freedom (PTA), without having been charged and trials being COVID-19 patient and that it cannot be touted as a pre- patients are rising, and so are fears, uncertainties, and of religion or belief; and torture and other cruel , completed are not included in these schemes. Detain- ventive measure or a treatment in the case of COVID-19. economic woes, including food security, livelihoods, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment ees who were released last month had reported of beat- On March 21, the former Governor of Western Province and unemployment. Reducing militarization and po- are pending. ings, severe overcrowding, and unhygienic conditions, and National List candidate for upcoming Parliament liticization and respect for rule of law, human rights, The report also notes that ‘honour’ killings con- and lack of adequate medical facilities in detention fa- elections from the president’s Sri Lanka PodujanaPera- especially freedom of expression, rights of minorities, tinued unabated, with Punjab accounting for the cilities. As visits by families and well-wishers have been muna, Dr. Seetha Arambepola, was quoted as having workers, and environmental justice will be crucial in highest proportion reported overall, that inves- stopped, detainees are unable to get even their basic said that the State Pharmaceutical Corporation had determining Sri Lanka’s post COVID-19 progress. Re- tigations had revealed that 629 women had been needs from outside. ample stocks of a secret medication for Corona, and viving long term struggles for justice, such as by com- trafficked as brides to China between 2018 and Refugees and asylum seekers living in Sri Lanka tem- that it could be used after approval from specialist doc- munities whose lands were occupied by the military early 2019, and most significantly Pakistan is yet porarily are not included in assistance schemes by the tors. and families of those who disappeared will also pose a to criminalize enforced disappearances even after a government and various UN agencies. In the context of 6. Militarization challenge. commitment to this effect made by the incumbent curfews in the country and lockdowns across the world, The response to COVI-19 in Sri Lanka is excessively -This article was originally featured on government on several occasions. they also find it difficult to receive money from their militarized, with the Army Commander being appoint- commonviews.org -ENCL PULISED Y EXPRESS ESPAPERS EY PT, LTD 2, RAA MAATA, EALA A ELA