Govt. keeps fingers crossed till April 20

If one looks at the curve of the corona situation during the past two weeks, he or she will find it flattened (AFP)

Nearly a month has lapsed after the identification of the first Sri Lankan national infected with COVID- 19. The first case was reported on March 11. Since then the number spiked to 185 cases by Tuesday leaving six patients dead. Beside, 42 people had recovered fully and were discharged from hospitals. If one looks at the curve of the corona situation during the past two weeks, he or she will find it flattened. That is because only 41 cases were reported during each of the past couple of weeks respectively. 

Medical experts engaged in fighting the spread of the virus have briefed government leaders about the latest trend of the disease. Still, the infected patients belong largely to an identifiable group meaning that the health authorities can contact or trace the source of their infection. Some of them have contracted the disease while on overseas travel, and others from those already infected with the disease. Here, there is reason to be contended with. One is that the police and the military, involved in tracking people who contacted with the infected persons, can perform their task quite conveniently in isolating them for quarantine measures.  

That there is no surge in the number of cases suggests that there is no community level transmission of the disease. According to the briefings made to the government leaders by the health authorities,  steps regarding the gradual opening up of the country for routine life can be taken only after that. If a downward trend is reported, the country would be opened for normal life on a case by case basis. Restrictions would be eased first in the least affected districts. In that sense, Colombo will be the last to be done away with  curtailment of public movements. 

Also, the government believes the opposition wants parliamentary sessions for its political ends

All will depend on indication of the pattern of the spread of the disease by April 20. People can keep their fingers crossed in this respect, and should adhere to instructions and guidelines issued by the health authorities for the prevention of the community spread until normalcy returns. Curfew will continue further according to information available at the moment and stringent quarantine measures remain in place.

The ruling side is not ready to heed a call for reconvening Parliament.
The government has focused its attention fully on the containment of the disease. The opposition parties- the United National Party(UNP), the Samagi Jana Balawegaya(SJB), the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) and the Tamil National Alliance(TNA)- are not harsh on the measures being adopted by the government in fighting COVID-19.

However, the SJB, backed by its allies, is trying to mount pressure on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to reconvene the now dissolved Parliament.  SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa inquired about it when he, along with his party’s General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara , called on a government delegation led by the President last Monday. The government leaders responded with a categorical ‘no’ to the request for reconvening the House. 

Police and the military, involved in tracking people who came in contact with the infected persons, can perform their tasks quite conveniently (AFP)

Nevertheless, the opposition has not given up on it. Former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, a key architect of the political dispensation led by Premadasa, issued a statement yesterday stressing the need for the House to meet to approve expenses needing in responding to the current crisis.  His argument is premised on the fact that the House should pass a resolution to increase the burrowing limit to get much needed  money.
Likewise, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, a key ally of the SJB, is also building an argument based on the constitutional provisions to  convene Parliament. 

If a downward trend is reported, the country would be opened for normal life on a case by case basis

However, the government is unlikely to yield to pressure from the opposition at this hour. First, the government believes the President can reconvene the dissolved Parliament only if he wishes to. So , he is not under obligation to do it. At the same time, the government is of the opinion that there is no need to reconvene Parliament since the President has the discretion to authorise expenses from the Consolidated  Fund during an emergency situation like this.  Also, the government believes the opposition wants parliamentary sessions for its political ends; that is to use it as a forum for its members to speak at a time when media attention is not focused on them. Media space is mostly occupied by information, events and analyses related to the coronavirus. The opposition does not even get a chance to have a press conference. Parliament will provide them with the platform to take on the government and to make their presence felt by the country through the media.   Accordingly, the government has firmed up its position that the House should not be reconvened no matter what.