The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I table the answer.

¶ 02 (a) (i) No such statement has been made. (ii) Yes.

¶ 03 (b) (i) Based on the nature of the COVID-19 virus variant, international practice, and WHO guidance, the Technical Committee on Management of Dead Bodies Infected with COVID-19 provided recommendations from time to time to protect public health.

¶ 04 (ii) Secretary, Ministry of Health.

¶ 05 (iii) Under Special Gazette Extraordinary No. 2170/8 dated 2020.04.11, amending the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance, powers were vested in the Presidential Task Force. The Committee functioned within that framework.

¶ 06 (iv) Membership changed on several occasions due to transfers. The names and designations of officials who served are given in the Annex.

¶ 07 Annex – Members of the Technical Committee on Management of Dead Bodies in the Context of COVID-19: 1. Dr. Channa Perera – Consultant JMO, NIID/IDH (Chairperson) 2. Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama – Consultant Physician, NIID/IDH (Member) 3. Dr. Rohan … – Consultant JMO, TH Karapitiya (Member) 4. Dr. P.B. Dassanayake – Consultant JMO, CSTH Kalubowila (Member) 5. Dr. Shirani Chandrasiri – Consultant Microbiologist, CSTH Kalubowila (Member) 6. Dr. Malika Karunarathne – Consultant Microbiologist, NIID/IDH (Member) 7. Dr. Dulimini Kumarasinghe – Consultant Virologist, MRI (Member) 8. Dr. Prabhath Senasinghe – Consultant JMO, TH Peradeniya (Member) 9. Dr. Sriyantha Amararatne – Consultant JMO, GH Kalutara (Member) 10. Prof. Meththika Vithanage – Professor, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (Member) 11. Dr. Hasitha Tissera – Consultant Epidemiologist (Member) 12. Dr. Sudath Samaraweera – Chief Epidemiologist (Member) 13. Dr. Ajith Tennakoon – Consultant JMO, Colombo (Member) 14. Dr. Samitha Ginige – Consultant Epidemiologist (Member) 15. Dr. Dilhani Samarasekara – Consultant Community Physician, Epidemiology Unit (Member) 16. Dr. Mahendra Arnold – Director, Epidemiology (Member) 17. Dr. Asela Mendis – Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Forensic Medicine, University of Colombo (Member) 18. Dr. Dhammika Vidanagama – Consultant Microbiologist, NHSL (Member) 19. Dr. Geethika Patambedige – Consultant Microbiologist, NHSL (Member)

¶ 08 (v) When the Secretary to the Ministry of Health participated, the Secretary chaired; otherwise, the relevant subject expert chaired as appropriate.

¶ 09 (vi) Meetings were held from time to time depending on urgency.

¶ 10 (vii) 02 February 2021.

¶ 11 (viii) More than 10 meetings approximately.

¶ 12 (ix) Ministry of Health premises.

¶ 13 (x) When the Secretary participated, the Secretary chaired; otherwise, an expert in the relevant field presided.

¶ 14 (c) Does not arise.