While the country is gripped by Covid-19 third wave, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Ashley De Silva has surprisingly instructed board employees to report to work even on Sunday, Cricket Age reliably learns.
For many weeks, the number of daily COVID-19 infections in the island nation of Sri Lanka stood below 200. But last week, the figure suddenly surged and reached 1,466 on Thursday, the highest amount in a single day since the start of the pandemic.
Government and health officials say the rising numbers are party driven by celebrations and shopping surrounding the traditional New Year’s festival that fell on April 14 — and they warn the worst is yet to come. The country, with a population of nearly 22 million, has recorded 104,953 coronavirus infections and 655 deaths. The government reacted by imposing restrictions, including suspending schools and state functions and banning private meetings and parties. The majority of areas in Colombo are under lockdown. However, Ashley seems to live on another planet!
“On the Instruction of CEO, all employees are to report to work on Sunday, 2nd May (normal working hours) in order to clear the back log of the work, since the full strength of the staff have not been at work from 27th April due to the partial closure of SLC brought on by the current pandemic situation” SLC controversial HR Manager Tanesh Dias wrote in an email to staff, on the instructions of Ashley.
Notably, last week also Ashley was accused of forcing a female employee to continue with her duty, even when she was sick. Eventually, she tested Covid positive, but not before visiting the Pallekele Stadium where the first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was held.
“It’s CEO Ashley de Silva’s fault. He forced female employee to come to the work, even though she was sick for some time now” an Insider at SLC had told Cricket Age.
