www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2020 For verified information on the Quarantine Unit COVID-19 TOTAL CASES ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any 0112 112 705 of the following authorities Epidemiology Unit CASES IN 0112 695 112 THE WORLD 54,498,270 Health Suwasariya Govt. coronavirus hotline PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 17,127 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS 0113071073 Bureau Service USA 11,233,826 251,276 1999 If showing symptoms COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1990 0117 966 366 1,320,789 INDIA 8,834,331 129,914 BRAZIL 5,848,959 165,677 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD 11,495 FRANCE 1,954,599 44,246 58 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 5,574 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] 38,006,124 RUSSIA 1,925,825 33,186 THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 8.40 P.M. ON 15 NOVEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU COLOMBO PORT COVID-19 TOTAL CASES Train services resume today The suspended train services are to resume today (16), skipping ahead railway stations in 13,628*Stats updated as at 6.10 p.m. on 15 November A slow return isolated areas except for Colombo Fort, the COVID-19 Railways Department said. Contd. on page 2 Over 200 arrested for CROWDING BUSES violating quarantine regulations Not our fault: About 221 people have been arrested to normalcy Bus owners for violating quarantine regulations z SLPA calls retired employees z Employees reporting to Private bus owners charge that they could not in isolated areas, Police Spokesman to resume operations work at very low levels: TUs be held accountable for any issues the public Deputy Inspector General of Police may face due to the Government allowing a (DIG) Ajith Rohana said yesterday (15). BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA high number of commuters in buses. Contd. on page 2 Operations at the Colombo Port are slowly returning Leave of all prison to normal, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said MANUFACTURING EXPORTS SECTOR employees cancelled yesterday (15), assuring a full recovery within the Leave of all prison employees week with the additional staff called on for work. Operating at 90% has been cancelled with immediate effect, noted Commissioner General SLPA Chairman Speaking to The Morning, employees, expecting to resume capacity: EDB of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya. General SLPA Chairman General (Retd.) operations within the next week The export manufacturing sector is operating (Retd.) Daya Daya Ratnayake said the SLPA at a normal pace. at about 90% capacity, The Morning learnt. Five more areas Ratnayake had already called the retired Contd. on page 2 Colombo Port Contd. on page 2 isolated in Colombo COVID-19 IN PRISONS More areas of the Colombo District will be under isolation orders from Gone but never forgotten today (16) onwards, according to Army Overcrowding Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva. Special op to arrest threatens fast bogus beggars A special operation has been launched spread of virus to arrest bogus beggars who obstruct vehicular movement at traffic lights, The country’s highly congested a total of 108 new cases from five especially due to Covid-19 concerns, prisons are facing a serious threat prisons including the Welikada, Police Spokesman Deputy Inspector of Covid-19 as the number of Bogambara, Boossa, Mahara, and General of Police (DIG) Ajith Rohana said. total cases increased to over 400 Kuruvita prisons. Over 50,000 families in yesterday (15) with the record of Contd. on page 2 isolated areas in Colombo PCR TESTING Over 50,000 families in Colombo live Govt. urged to do random tests in the areas that have been declared as With the increasing number of urged the Epidemiology Unit of the isolated areas, Mayoress of Colombo Covid-19-positive cases around the Ministry of Health to start conducting Rosy Senanayake said. country, the Government Medical random PCR tests within the society. Officers’ Association (GMOA) Contd. on page 2 Raids on buses PCR TESTING MACHINES The Remembrance Day and Poppy Ceremony organised by the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association was held yesterday (15) at the War Memorial at the Viharamahadevi Park, along with representatives of the tri-forces violating guidelines PHOTO SAMAN ABESIRIWARDANA Raids have been planned to be carried Another installed at out islandwide against buses operating without following the proper health safety BAN ON VEHICLE IMPORTS Mulleriyawa Hospital regulations, State Minister of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services BY LAHIRU POTHMULLA PCR machine stalls again and Train Compartments, and Motor Importers seek discussion Car Industry Dilum Amunugama said. Another PCR machine The PCR machine which is being installed at the malfunctioned at the Colombo East Mulleriyawa Hospital by the Base Hospital (Mulleriyawa Hospital) Helpline for persons with President team of Chinese technicians last (15) morning is said to have been BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to inform and experts that arrived in the caused by the shortage of reagents, addicted to drugs him of the loss in foreign exchange as a country, Director General of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka The Vehicle Importers’ Association result of the vehicle import ban. Health Services Dr. Asela confirmed. and their contacts was awaiting an opportunity to meet with Contd. on page 2 Gunawardena said. Contd. on page 2 The National Dangerous Drugs Contd. on page 2 Control Board (NDDCB) on Friday (13) introduced a helpline, “1927”, for ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND COURTS SINHARAJA CONSERVATION AREA BODIES OF COVID-19 VICTIMS ISOLATED POLICE AREAS those who are addicted to drugs and their close contacts, so that they can Colombo District have access to treatment and counselling Proceedings Expands Govt. urged y Mattakkuliya y Barber Street y Angulana North y Modara y Maligawatte y Manning Market services during the Covid-19 pandemic. y Bloemendhal y Dematagoda y Maradana under strict over 35,000 to issue y Kotahena y Wellampitiya y Fort y Grandpass y Keselwatta y Pettah Free mobile clinics y Foreshore y Borella y Slave Island supervision hectares guidelines y Angulana South y Dam Street for quarantined areas y Apartment complexes: Methsanda Government institutions named as The long-awaited extraordinary gazette The Ministry of Health Sevana in Mattakkuliya, Mihijaya The Colombo Municipal Council essential services, judicial services, and notification approving the expansion of the should issue a series Sevana, Ranmuthu Sevana in (CMC) has decided to carry out free- factories in the areas in Colombo which Sinharaja conservation area was released of guidelines to health Modara, Muwadora Uyana in Grandpass, Sirisara Uyana in of-charge mobile clinics for people have been isolated this morning (16) yesterday (15). professionals on how to Dematagoda, and N.H.S. Flats in the under quarantine at urban flats within onwards will be allowed to operate under Contd. on page 2 deal with the bodies of Maligawatta area its limits. strict supervision, the National Operation Covid-19 victims who die at Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak home, said the Government Gampaha District GMOA y Wattala Over Rs. 68 m (NOCPCO) said. Editor Dr. Medical Officers’ y Peliyagoda Contd. on page 2 Haritha Association (GMOA). y Kadawatha spent on relief BUDGET 2021 Aluthge Contd. on page 2 y Ragama The Government has so far spent y Negombo y Ja-Ela Rs. 68,640 million to provide relief y Kelaniya to people affected by the spread of the Covid-19 virus, according Low-interest loans for youth to the Department of Government BY SARAH HANNAN low-interest business loans through state “During my recent visit to the Northern Information. banks to youth planning to start small Province, I came across youth groups The Ministry of Youth and Sports is enterprises. who informed me of the difficulties they SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 holding discussions with the Central Minister of Youth and Sports Namal face when applying for business loans.” Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to provide Rajapaksa, speaking to The Morning, said: Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS Monday, November 16, 2020 Contd. from page 1 that may arise as a result of this cases were detected at five prisons reagents that were made available. located within the Nivithigala, spread of the virus. A slow... failure by the Government,” All- in different parts of the country. A new order for reagents has Kahawatta, Godakawela, and “It has been revealed that many “We hope that the operations will Island Bus Owners’ Association Speaking to The Morning, been placed and will arrive in Kalawana Divisional Secretariats of the beggars are not genuine return back to normal by next week President Gemunu Wijeratne told Upuldeniya noted that daily PCR three to four days depending on of the Ratnapura District in the as they are collecting money as 60% of the employees were in The Morning. tests were being carried out at all international logistics,” the Chinese Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri on behalf of an employer as a operation for the past two or three He said that the Ministry of prisons around the country and Embassy in Sri Lanka stated. Lanka. business,” DIG Rohana said. days,” he added. Health guidelines that have been steps have already been taken to The diagnostics that were Accordingly, action has been He said that the identified genuine “We had a serious issue due gazetted were woefully inadequate avoid the spread of the virus within conducted at the laboratory at the taken to transfer Dellawa, beggars would be directed to to the coronavirus situation. The to protect against the spread of the the prison premises where patients Mulleriyawa Hospital came to a Thawalama, Morapitiya- rehabilitation centres with the Port is situated in the worst area coronavirus pertaining to transport have already been reported, as halt last morning.