Prof. Hoole need not go under quarantine: EC Chairman

22 May 2020 11:34 am - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Election Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told the Daily Mirror that EC member Prof. Rathnajeewan Hoole does not have to undergo quarantine and that he could come to the election office from Jaffna at any time he wants.

Mr. Deshapriya denied earlier media reports that Prof. Hoole and his daughter were asked to leave the commission premises on Tuesday, (19) after the staff protested against their presence claiming that Prof. Hoole’s daughter who had returned from Britain had not undergone quarantine.

The Chairman said that nothing happened relating to Prof. Hoole and his daughter when they came to the Election Commission office on Tuesday. “There was a discussion whether the daughter had undergone quarantine or not but Prof. showed the certificate she had received from the quarantine centre. The PCR test too has cleared her but he (Prof. Hoole) did not know that a further 14-day quarantine process was required,” Mr. Deshapriya said.

Meanwhile responding to certain media reports that Prof. Hoole has misused commission’s vehicle Chairman Deshapriya stated that Prof. Hoole had used vehicles of Jaffna or Kilinochchi election offices with permission and advise from the Commission. “The commission has instructed Prof. Hoole to use commission vehicles to travel from Jaffna to Colombo,” Mr. Deshapriya stated.

Describing what happened on Tuesday Prof. Hoole said he went to the Election Commission with his daughter who returned from Cambridge on May 4 and underwent quarantine at a hotel in Negombo paying around Rs. 175,000. “She was with a certificate signed by Army Commander Shavendra Silva and Dr. Anil Jasinghe and they never told her to undergo self-quarantine,” Prof Hoole said.

He said that when he went out for lunch he was informed by the Chairman’s personal assistant that the scheduled meeting that day was cancelled and he and his driver had to be quarantined for two weeks. “However later the chairman said this was not necessary” Prof. said.

Prof. Hoole said he immediately returned to Jaffna with his daughter and on Wednesday morning Jaffna HQI visited his house and demanded that he, his daughter and the driver undergo quarantine. However Jaffna MOH intervened and informed the police that it was only his daughter had to undergo self-quarantine at home. But police had taken Prof. Hoole’s driver. It was revealed that EC Chairman Deshapriya had later reprimanded the Jaffna DIG on this incident and ordered that the driver be sent back to Prof. Hoole’s residence.(Susitha Fernando)

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Comments - 15

Jude Friday, 22 May 2020 11:42 AM

HOWEVER, there WON'T be any elections this YEAR !! PERIOD!!

Hans perlee Friday, 22 May 2020 12:11 PM

Will there ever be elections???

Torana Friday, 22 May 2020 11:59 AM

Well, well, what a lot of viruses worse than covid 19!!!?

Dharma Friday, 22 May 2020 12:03 PM

Independent commission -very unprofessionalism

Dilum Friday, 22 May 2020 12:53 PM

Election commissioner is a joke, he is misusing his power now that his beloved masters are in power. Srilanka will always remain the same or now will get worse with more debts. None of these current politicians are capable or live our motherland. Professionalism never existed in Srilanka, these power hungry selfish self serving idiots are destroying the beautiful country, and it’s unity. Social fabric has been ripped apart by one single self loathing family.

sanjeeva Friday, 22 May 2020 01:01 PM

prof hoole could have easily settled in USA. he need not even come to SL. but he still loves his land of birth. he and his bvarother (Rajan Hoole) were constantly under the threats from LTTE for speaking against their atrocities. if i remember right, they had to flee SL

aka Friday, 22 May 2020 01:13 PM

People who get quarantined for 14 days need to self-quarantine for another 2 weeks (I think this has been so before april). Seems both Deshapriya and Hoole does not know of this fact.

Leel Gall Friday, 22 May 2020 01:39 PM

A psychologist must help the EC chairman (Maco) !

Upali Athukorala Saturday, 23 May 2020 08:24 AM

Is Chairman of Election Commission medical personnel. How can he decide that Hoole should not have to undergo quarantine?

Chux Saturday, 23 May 2020 11:40 AM

People talk about quarantine politicians sons and daughters have come in to the country without any quarantine

Kingsley Wijesinhe Saturday, 23 May 2020 12:12 PM

All this confusion is because quarantine instructions are not clear. If a further 14 days of self-quarantine are required after initial clearance, the quarantine certificate must clearly state that it is valid only after 14 further days of self quarantine.

Sen Saturday, 23 May 2020 01:00 PM

Hoole's daughter is not competed her self quarantine period, so. how Hoole is accompanying her to EC office and expose other offcials there to grave risk of virus, and how Desahapria gives a guarantee ,it won't a problem, when he is not a medical expet on virology

citizen Saturday, 23 May 2020 01:20 PM

This is not about Hoole, but about his daughter, the writer should seems to be cover Hoole Citizen

Sinna Saturday, 23 May 2020 03:05 PM

If she has quitely gone to Jaffna and spend her next few days of self quarantine there, we consider she has done her part as a educated responsible, law abiding good citizen, but Hoole, name sake professor, brought her to Election office exposing all office sta to corona virus, thick headed fool

V Kethiswaran, Jaffna Saturday, 23 May 2020 01:23 PM

Daily Mirror trying to protect Hoole, we have noticed last few weeks, dont take sides please we have some respect to your paper. How can EC give an assurance that Hoole;s health situation. her daughter clearly going against the law, Daily Mirror taking sides mean, putting people in danger by justifying Hoole's action Kethiswaran

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Prof. Hoole need not go under quarantine: EC Chairman

Comments - 15

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