Sri Lanka’s Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) today (18) have decided to withdraw from all disease control activities including COVID-19, the Chairman of the Public Health Inspector’s Union of Sri Lanka Upul Rohana said.

The decision was taken due to a statement made by the Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi undermining their service, the Chairman said.

The PHI’s Union yesterday announced that all its officers will withdraw from all activities related to the control of the COVID-19 epidemic from 12:30 pm on Friday based on the Minister’s statement that the PHI’s will not be vested with powers to implement the health guidelines issued by the Ministry for COVID-19 control during the election campaign.

The Ministry issued a gazette on Friday outlining several health guidelines that must be adhered with regard to the parliamentary election. However, PHI Union said the gazette has not given them any powers to monitor the implementation of these guidelines.

The Sri Lanka Public Health Inspectors Union points out that its officers have no legal protection when performing their duties if they are not vested with the authority to implement the health guidelines

“We cannot implement the law without being vested with powers,” Upul Rohana, the Chairman of the PHI union said.

The Chairman of the PHI union said the Ministry of Health is now claiming that the Minister did not make such a statement, and if so he challenges the Ministry to correct the media reports.

“We hope to continue our trade union action until the media reports are corrected and the Public Health Inspectors are given proper official powers,” the Chairman of the PHI union Upul Rohana said.

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