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. 2023 Jun:144:110-123.
doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2023.03.008. Epub 2023 Mar 14.

Policy responses to COVID-19 in Sri Lanka and the consideration of Indigenous Peoples

Eranga K Galappaththi  1 , Chrishma D Perera  1   2 , Indunil P Dharmasiri  1 , James D Ford  3 , Sarath S Kodithuwakku  4 , Victoria Chicmana-Zapata  5 , Carol Zavaleta-Cortijo  5 , Kerrie Pickering  6 , Bianca van Bavel  3 , Keith Hyams  7 , Ingrid Arotoma-Rojas  3 , Francis Awaafo Akugre  8 , Jonathan Nkalubo  9 , Didacus Bambaiha Namanya  10 , Adelina Mensah  8 , Martha M Hangula  11
Affiliations

Policy responses to COVID-19 in Sri Lanka and the consideration of Indigenous Peoples

Eranga K Galappaththi et al. Environ Sci Policy. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

COVID-19 has had uneven impacts on health and well-being, with Indigenous communities in the Global South facing some of the highest risks. Focusing on the experience of Sri Lanka, this study identifies key policy responses to COVID-19, documents how they evolved over two years of the pandemic, and examines if and how government responses have addressed issues pertaining to Indigenous Peoples. Drawing upon an analysis of policy documents (n = 110) and interviews with policymakers (n = 20), we characterize seven key policy responses implemented by the Sri Lankan government: i) testing for and identifying COVID-19; ii) quarantine procedures; iii) provisional clinical treatments; iv) handling other diseases during COVID-19; v) movement; vi) guidelines to be adhered to by the general public; and vii) health and vaccination. The nature of these responses changed as the pandemic progressed. There is no evidence that policy development or implementation incorporated the voices and needs of Indigenous Peoples.

Keywords: Justice; Pandemic; Prioritizing policy; Public health; South Asia; Vedda.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram to illustrate data collection methods and analysis. (FGD: Focus Group Discussions).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Structure of the key institutions related to COVID-19 policy responses in Sri Lanka.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
How policy responses progressed over different COVID-19 waves in Sri Lanka.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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