Law of ‘Isolation’ and its legitimacy of practice in Sri Lanka: a Judicial Review
Introduction: Isolation of persons is a key strategy to prevent and control highly contagious diseases throughout the history worldwide and its importance had re-emerged due to COVID-19 pandemic. In Sri Lanka, like other countries, this isolation process is mainly governed by the law. The Quarantin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of the College of Community Physicians |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://account.jccpsl.sljol.info/index.php/sljo-j-jccpsl/article/view/8466 |
| _version_ | 1797360806718865408 |
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| author | C. A Hettiarachchi C. D. Attanayake S. S. Wijesinghe |
| author_facet | C. A Hettiarachchi C. D. Attanayake S. S. Wijesinghe |
| author_sort | C. A Hettiarachchi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction: Isolation of persons is a key strategy to prevent and control highly contagious diseases throughout the history worldwide and its importance had re-emerged due to COVID-19 pandemic. In Sri Lanka, like other countries, this isolation process is mainly governed by the law. The Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance is the main law in this regard where the powers are mainly vested with health authorities.
Objectives: To analyses the law of isolation and its legitimacy of practice in Sri Lanka
Methods: A desk review of laws associated with isolation and quarantine in Sri Lanka was conducted and compared with the actual practice of implementation of these laws during COVID-19 epidemic.
Results: Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance of Sri Lanka and its regulations contain strong provisions on isolation of persons which are incorporated in to legal scenarios of disease locality, infected house/place, self-quarantine and observational hospital/place and linked to face mask and social distancing rules. However, these legal provisions are misused and not legitimately implemented by authorities.
Conclusions and Recommendations: Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance of Sri Lanka and its regulations can be used to prevent and control COVID-19 effectively as adequate and powerful provisions are available, especially in relevant to isolation of persons. However, the relevant law is often wrongly interpreted and imposed by authorities as well as non-authorities. Authorities and Authorized Officers need to be empowered on their powers and limitations to implement the law legitimately in order to achieve the maximum control and prevention of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:44:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8be3f1056a53433781f4dca3af089bf8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1391-3174 2579-1451 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:44:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the College of Community Physicians |
| spelling | doaj.art-8be3f1056a53433781f4dca3af089bf82024-01-09T12:13:59ZengCollege of Community Physicians of Sri LankaJournal of the College of Community Physicians1391-31742579-14512022-05-0128110.4038/jccpsl.v28i1.8466Law of ‘Isolation’ and its legitimacy of practice in Sri Lanka: a Judicial ReviewC. A Hettiarachchi0C. D. Attanayake1S. S. Wijesinghe2Ministry of HealthSupreme CourtThe Open University of Sri Lanka Introduction: Isolation of persons is a key strategy to prevent and control highly contagious diseases throughout the history worldwide and its importance had re-emerged due to COVID-19 pandemic. In Sri Lanka, like other countries, this isolation process is mainly governed by the law. The Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance is the main law in this regard where the powers are mainly vested with health authorities. Objectives: To analyses the law of isolation and its legitimacy of practice in Sri Lanka Methods: A desk review of laws associated with isolation and quarantine in Sri Lanka was conducted and compared with the actual practice of implementation of these laws during COVID-19 epidemic. Results: Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance of Sri Lanka and its regulations contain strong provisions on isolation of persons which are incorporated in to legal scenarios of disease locality, infected house/place, self-quarantine and observational hospital/place and linked to face mask and social distancing rules. However, these legal provisions are misused and not legitimately implemented by authorities. Conclusions and Recommendations: Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance of Sri Lanka and its regulations can be used to prevent and control COVID-19 effectively as adequate and powerful provisions are available, especially in relevant to isolation of persons. However, the relevant law is often wrongly interpreted and imposed by authorities as well as non-authorities. Authorities and Authorized Officers need to be empowered on their powers and limitations to implement the law legitimately in order to achieve the maximum control and prevention of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. https://account.jccpsl.sljol.info/index.php/sljo-j-jccpsl/article/view/8466Quarantine lawIsolation lawCOVID-19Lockdown lawInfectious disease |
| spellingShingle | C. A Hettiarachchi C. D. Attanayake S. S. Wijesinghe Law of ‘Isolation’ and its legitimacy of practice in Sri Lanka: a Judicial Review Journal of the College of Community Physicians Quarantine law Isolation law COVID-19 Lockdown law Infectious disease |
| title | Law of ‘Isolation’ and its legitimacy of practice in Sri Lanka: a Judicial Review |
| title_full | Law of ‘Isolation’ and its legitimacy of practice in Sri Lanka: a Judicial Review |
| title_fullStr | Law of ‘Isolation’ and its legitimacy of practice in Sri Lanka: a Judicial Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Law of ‘Isolation’ and its legitimacy of practice in Sri Lanka: a Judicial Review |
| title_short | Law of ‘Isolation’ and its legitimacy of practice in Sri Lanka: a Judicial Review |
| title_sort | law of isolation and its legitimacy of practice in sri lanka a judicial review |
| topic | Quarantine law Isolation law COVID-19 Lockdown law Infectious disease |
| url | https://account.jccpsl.sljol.info/index.php/sljo-j-jccpsl/article/view/8466 |
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