‘Government’s effective approach helped defeat COVID 19’
“The Government of Sri Lanka has been successful in containing the spread of COVID-19 through a balanced, networked and multi-sectoral approach which resulted in swift measures, effective contact tracing mechanism and a healthcare system that was geared to ensure zero-transmission of the virus in the country.”
At the 44th session of the Human Rights Council at the Interactive dialogue on the annual report of the High Commissioner, the government said that swift preventative measures at a national level, which was well networked, strengthened the country's defenses to combat and contain the virus.
“With only 11 deaths, the last being on June 1, the COVID-19 fatality rate in Sri Lanka stands at 0.54 per cent, which is significantly lower than the global fatality rate of 4.85 per cent, while the recovery rate in Sri Lanka stands at 83.59 per cent, higher than the global recovery rate of 54.77 per cent.”
The government noted that the approach adopted by Sri Lanka in containing the pandemic, was also commended by the World Health Organization (WHO), for being inclusive, non-discriminatory and holistic, providing foremost importance to safeguarding the health and safety of not only its people but foreign nationals in its territory.
These steps taken by the government to curb the spread negated the need to pursue emergency measures that would have required derogations from the exercise of fundamental freedoms. “But were strictly limited to minimum temporary restrictions on movement in the interest of public health, in accordance with the due process of law, with the aim of protecting right across the country all sections of society during this pandemic, which too were fully lifted on June 28.”
These public health measures the government said were accompanied by a series of policies aimed at advancing the economic and social rights of particularly the vulnerable segments in society, such as support for low income families, older persons, the differently-abled, day income earners, farmers and industries, with a view to building their resilience to the effects of the pandemic.
In reference to the views expressed on (June 30) by the core group on Resolution 30/1 on Sri Lanka (UK, Canada, Germany, North Macedonia and Montenegro), the government maintained that its decision to withdraw from the co-sponsorship of Resolution 30/1 however it remains committed to achieve reconciliation, accountability and human rights within the framework of the Sri Lankan Constitution, through a domestically designed and executed process in line with the Government’s policy framework.
“We urge all parties once again to recognise the realities on the ground, and appreciate this approach of focusing on deliverable measures of reconciliation - which is backed by a people’s mandate and is in the interest of Sri Lanka and its people, instead of opting to continue with a framework driven externally that has failed to deliver genuine reconciliation for over four and half years.”
source http://www.dailynews.lk/2020/07/03/local/222212/%E2%80%98government%E2%80%99s-effective-approach-helped-defeat-covid-19%E2%80%99
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