COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s army on Sunday (18) denied alleged mistreatment of apparel workers quarantined in military-run facilities, saying it operates in full compliance with laid down strategic guidelines.

“Once a need to move any close contact of a positive affectee arises, troops, engaged in COVID-19 preventive tasks inform all of them by phone well in advance and request them to be ready ahead of such preventive evacuations,” Sri Lanka Army said in a statement quoting Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva. However, it added that in many instances the evacuees even after arrival of the troops, take more time for preparations before they board the buses, noting that such instances are politely tolerated and managed.

It also maintained that no tri-serviceman, as alleged by some quarters in Kalutara, would dare give the evacuees only ‘one second’ for such preparations, nor would the troops provide them with uncooked ‘raw fish’ as alleged by some of them, deeming such claims as being made to “suit different agendas of interested parties or those who act as forerunners of hidden plans of action”.

Last week, a collective of labour rights activists representing a number groups and organizations highlighted concerns regarding the situation faced by free trade zone (FTZ) workers in light of the ongoing public health crisis. The collective called into question the manner in which the government and the military have handled the quarantine process, alleging, the way the authorities have dealt with women workers in particular has been deeply problematic.

Lt. Gen. Silva, who also heads the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), refuted the allegations and said the military is tasked only with taking suspected cases who have had direct contact with a patient.

While understanding the predicament of the evacuees, he said they should realize the gravity of the situation as it could be transmitted easily to society, maintaining, nothing, “Despite heavy workloads, I personally inquired into those allegations, but found that they are completely false.”

Silva has also said that he personally studies photographs taken of the meals provided to the people being quarantined.

He noted the quarantine centres in question are run by tri-servicemen and the particular congestion took place only during the first few days when the army had to cope with some 800 odd evacuees. “People should note that we are trying to prevent the transmission into society and respective PHIs and Medical Officers are informed of our arrival to take away suspected cases. We are a group who gave away their mattresses and mosquito nets for the benefit of others and their dedicated services should not therefore be thus insulted or downgraded,” he said.

The army commander also said that the military treats garment workers, their contacts and family members in the “best possible way” as “our own Sri Lankan brothers and sisters”.

The statement highlighted praise said to be received by health authorities for the quarantine facilities provided and run by the military for some 52,000 people so far. Up to 10,000 people currently in quarantine in these military-run facilities, the statement said, continues to receive good care.

The statement quoting Silva “flatly denied” the allegations as “unfounded and fabricated”, and deemed them intentional fabrications that bear all the hallmarks of a precursor to a bigger future machination interested elements are now mapping out in order to tarnish or ridicule the role of the troops,

The army chief called on media personnel to conduct their own impartial investigations and find out for themselves how the military’s quarantine procedures are adopted and what is going on there without levelling unfounded accusations.

-economynext.com/ENCL