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Wildlife officers claim no measures to control Covid

29 Aug 2021

BY Buddhika Samaraweera The All Ceylon Wildlife Officers’ Association (ACWOA) has alleged that no action has been taken by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) so far to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic among the DWC employees, despite nearly 120 employees being infected with the virus. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (29), ACWOA President Shanuka Ranawakaarachchi said that there was a risk that the number of infections would continue to rise due to the lack of separate places for the associates of those who are infected with the virus to undergo quarantine. “For example, as of yesterday, all staff members of the Sinharaja DWC Office have been infected with Covid-19, so they are unable to carry out their duties in the area, and there is a risk of an increase in wildlife crimes too,” he said. Ranawakaarachchi added that the ACWOA had, on several occasions, informed the authorities, including the Director General of the DWC, to formulate a mechanism to prevent the spread of the virus within the Department. “We suggested that the buildings owned by the DWC be used to quarantine the associates of those infected. But so far no attention has been paid to it. Currently, when an employee becomes infected, they stay in hostels. Through that person, the virus spreads to others inside them,” he said. Speaking further, he said that they would inform the DWC Director General, the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, and the State Ministry of Wildlife Protection, Adoption of Safety Measures, including the Construction of Electrical Fences and Trenches, Reforestation, and Forest Resource Development in the next few days. If the issue is not solved as soon as possible, the ACWOA would discuss with other unions and eventually launch a trade union action. Meanwhile, when inquired if the DWC is working on a plan to control the spread of Covid-19 among its employees, DWC Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara told The Morning that employees of the Department are requested to follow proper health guidelines. He also said that a programme has been prepared regionally to assign officers to cover the duties of those infected. When asked about the request made by ACWOA to set up quarantine centres, Sooriyabandara said: “It is a matter within the Department. Nothing can be said at this moment.”  


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