monday 27 july 2020 Latest Edition Vol: 09/196 Price : Rs 30.00

In Sports Sangakkara backs Ganguly for ICC top post Sri Lanka cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara has backed Sourav Ganguly for the ICC Chairman’s post, saying the BCCI President’s ‘astute cricket brain’ and vast... A16

Only 42% have access to clean water Large-scale President Assures Drug Trafficking Safe Drinking Water for Entire Country President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he would make sure that each citizen in the country will be given access to clean drinking water facilities during his tenure. Ring Busted He said this while pointing out that only 42 per cent of the people in the country have access to clean drinking water. He said that measures will be taken to increase this percentage so that 100 per cent of the country’s populace Managed by a Rs 1,800 million Drugs distributed will have no issue in finding clean and safe drinking water. to various parts President Rajapaksa also noted prison inmate circulated within that he is determined to make sure the future generations will named I.D. Darshana the network of the country not have trouble in finding safe drinking water, a threat many other countries in the region By Ninduwara Abeysinghe drug traffickers involved in this arrested several suspects with 1.05 already face. (Boralesgamuwa) racket. kilogrammes of heroin worth over Just like it was made sure that Based on a tip-off received about Rs 11 million. The Police also every household in the country A large-scale drug trafficking a suspicious individual who was seized two three-wheelers, three and each area of the country have network involving the sale, seen near the Bellanwila Raja motorbikes, one WagonR motor access to electricity, this too will distribution and packaging of MahaViharaya, recently, the Police vehicle, over Rs 1 million earned be implemented to assure no drugs, has been busted by the apprehended and interrogated an through selling heroin, mobile citizen is left without having Nugegoda Anti-Corruption Unit. A individual. He had revealed to the phones, weighing scales and access to safe and clean sum of Rs 1,800 million had Police that his mother was packing special paper used to package drinking water. reportedly been circulated among drugs in Horana, and the Police heroin.

Story Continued on page 2 Pulasthini’s mother tells First paediatric Two arrested with Easter Attacks PCoI Clinical liver transplant drugs worth Rs 28M Zaharan's wife aware nightmare at By Thameenah Razeek a success Around 5,600 narcotic pills worth Rs of Pulasthini’s fate Negombo DGH 28 million were seized after two suspects By Buddhika Samaraweera Sri Lanka’s first paediatric liver Cadavers exposed as were arrested at a five-star hotel in transplant was successfully performed at Colombo, Police said yesterday. Rajaratnam Kavitha, the mother of Pulasthini the Colombo North Teaching Hospital, the mortuary goes out of order Suspects were arrested in two separate Mahendran alias Sarah Jasmine, requested the Ministry of Health said. operations, where the main suspect was Security Forces not to release National Thowheed The surgery was performed on14 July by By Leon Berenger taken into custody around 1:50 p.m. on Jama’ath (NTJ) leader Zaharan Hashim's wife, Abdul specialist surgeon Dr. Rohan Siriwardena 25 July with 5,500 pills and 2.4 grams of Cader Fatima Hadiya, who is currently in CID and a team of specialist surgeons from A major health risk has broken out at the heroin and after interrogating him,the custody, until exact information about what around the country. District General Hospital (DGH) in Negombo other suspect was arrested with 100 happened to Pulasthini after 21 April 2019 is This marked the first successful liver after officials have been forced to carry pills in his possession. revealed. transplant performed on a child in Sri post-mortems on human remains in open The suspects are residents of... Lanka. Also, with this transplant, the corridors as the mortuary is nearly non- Story Continued on page 2 NCTH liver transplant team has reached a functional, a senior-most medical official Story Continued on milestone of doing 50 liver transplants, disclosed on 24 July. page 2 where the rest were on adults. The Hospital’s mortuary is almost... Dumping toxic sludge into Ocean All assigned to EPZ factory caught Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 election duties should report – Deshapriya red-handed Street racers All-Party reps Failure to report will affect promotions By Ranmini Gunasekara on the mat meet EC today A garment factory, operating within the A group of 39 street racers were rounded To discuss matters pertaining to GE By J.T. De Silva Seethawaka Export Processing Zone (EPZ), has been up along with 27 motorcycles for caught attempting to dump 19 gully bowsers of toxic unauthorised racing along the Piliyandala- By W.K. Prasad Manju Election Commission Chairman sludge, which constitutes hazardous waste, into the Kesbewa bypass road on Saturday night, Mahinda Deshapriya said, public ocean through the Madampitiya Sewerage Pumping Police said yesterday. A special discussion between members of officials who do not show up for election Station, which can only handle non-toxic waste. The group was arrested following a the Election Commission and duties will be blacklisted. Failure to This was confirmed by Chairman of the Marine complaint received by Police emergency representatives of political parties will be report for duties will affect their Environment Protection Authority (MEPA),... hotline. held today (27) at the Election... promotions as well, he said.

Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 A2 monday 27 july 2020 news

Continued from page 1 Two arrested... Large-scale drug...... Angoda and Mabola, aged 29 and 20. disclosed that using courier agencies to The raid was conducted by the Colombo smuggle in narcotics is the latest trend. The Police Spokesman, SSP Jaliya Preliminary investigations have were involved in this heroin racket, Central Divisional Anti-Corruption Unit, stocks were meant to be distributed among Senaratne, said all transactions revealed the suspects had which was operated more like a under the supervision of SSP Nishantha de individuals and groups at nightclubs and related to this racket took place distributed small packets of drugs network, and that all trafficking Zoysa, based on a tip-off from a courier other parties held in hotels where Police through a local private bank.He to various parts of the island activities had been conducted by agency. Addressing the Media yesterday rarely visit. SSP Senaratne said trade value added the Police have found details including Boralesgamuwa, the main racketeer, who is currently (26), at Fort Police Station, Police Media per pill is around Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000 and of bank accounts, bank passbooks Moratuwa, Horana and in prison, using his mobile. Spokesman, SSP Jaliya Senaratne, said that investigations are underway to identify other and ATM cards. Minuwangoda, while staying in a The Police Spokesman added, a a drug peddler who is currently in prison has suspects and their system. Action will be He said the Police apprehended rented house in Bokundara, special Police team has commenced organised this and a foreigner was involved taken against these suspects and the drug five male suspects and one female Piliyandala. SSP Senaratne added investigations to identify other in the ring for the part of sending the pills peddler in the prison as well as the foreigner suspect in connection with this the arrested suspects were between suspects and the arrested suspects from a foreign country. SSP Senaratne who imported these pills through the courier racket, managed by a prison inmate the ages of 26 and 45. will be produced in Court to obtain stated that the Police have started to take agency. The operation was conducted by IP named I.D. Darshana, using his Further investigations have a 48-hour detention order for legal action against the foreigner and to Pathum Kumara and seven other Police mobile phone. revealed that several other suspects further questioning. identify his network with Sri Lankans. It was Constables.

All assigned... Zaharan's wife... He added that all public officials who She said Pulasthini had been with that, the Police Officers had told her federation and the Police who had said it was not needed to lodge a have applied for and have been Zaharan's wife, from February to 26 that Pulasthini was over 18 years old intervened and handed over my complaint and that he would look into assigned election duties should April 2019, and Fatima is, therefore and that she had the ability to make daughter back to Hastun,”she said. the matter,” Kavitha mentioned. certainly perform their duties. well aware of what happened to decisions as she wished. Members of the PCoI paid special She further stated that when she He noted, in the event a certain Pulasthini. Kavitha met Fatima at the She also said that when the attention to the fact that Hastun had went to the Human Rights official has not received an official CID when she went there to record a daughter was handed over to be kept lodged the complaint with the Commission Office in Kalmunai and letter informing of election duties, they statement. with her for 15 days, the Police Kattankudy Police despite Pulasthini informed about it, an officer there must visit the election office in their Kavitha was testifying before the Officers obtained a signature on a being a resident of the recorded the complaint, but she was respective area and obtain the letter. Presidential Commission of Inquiry three-page document. Responding to Kalawanchikudi Police Division and not informed of any action taken in The EC Chairman went on to say that (PCoI) probing the bombings on Easter a question from the ASG regarding the outsiders had come and intervened that regard. neglecting election duties will be Sunday, on 25 July. contents of it, she stated that she during the investigation of the Members of the PCoI further included in the code of ethics of the She also said, in 2015, her daughter could not understand the contents, as complaint. questioned Kavitha about the Commission as a punishable offence. Pulasthini went to Kalmunai to attend it had been written in Sinhala. The witness further stated that after recently -revealed information that More than 50 per cent of officials tuition classes and that on 29 "Razik's aim was to convert Hindus some time she came to know that Pulasthini was not killed in the performing election duties are school July2015, Kavitha's mother had to Islam. When I first went to the Zaharan's wife had taken her explosion that took place at the teachers and steps have been taken to informed her over the phone that Maligawatte Police Station, I explained daughter to a house in Narammala, house in Sainthamaruthu on 26 April send assignment letters to the Pulasthini was missing. At that time, the matter, but the Police did not pay adding the last time she spoke to 2019. In response, she said that residences of respective school Kavitha was working in Abu Dhabi. any attention to it and only listened to Pulasthini was on the phone on19 although she came to know about principals and officials, Deshapriya She then instructed her mother to Razik," she added. February 2019, at around 12:30 p.m. such a matter through the Media, she added. lodge a complaint with the Police and The witness further stated that "I heard a lot of people talking has not seen or talked to her He also requested that letters accordingly a complaint was lodged Pulasthini was later taken to her around her when she spoke that day, daughter since February 2019. She received by schools after 27 July be with the Kalawanchikudi Police. home in Mankadu and on 24 and she said she would give her phone also requested the security forces to handed over to relevant officials before On the same day, the General September 2015, Pulasthini had to be repaired, so she would not have take another sample of her DNA, to 31 July. Secretary of the Sri Lanka Thowheed been taken away again by Razik. “The to talk for about a week. She did not match it with the remains found at Jama'at (SLTJ), Abdul Razik, had next day, I went to Maligawatte with speak till now after she spoke that the scene. given a telephone call to Kavitha's my brother, aunt and son, where I day," the witness added. She also said the Police had shown brother, informing him that Pulasthini learned that Razik had got my Testifying further, Kavitha went on her photographs of the gold items was in their custody and that she daughter married to Hastun,” she to say, "I came to Sri Lanka and found in the house of would be sent back in about a week. added. lodged a complaint with the Sainthamaruthu after the explosion Clinical "Later, I came to Sri Lanka and went However, she said that they did not Narammala Police on 6 April 2019, as and that her daughter's jewellery was to Razik's office located in show her any evidence that the I had not received any information not there. nightmare... Maligawatte. At that time, Pulasthini marriage had taken place. about Pulasthini for two months. A When the Commission inquired was clothed like a Muslim woman. Maligawatte Police were informed of day later, that is, 7 April, a man whether she had seen Pulasthini on a ... non-functional with near zero There were three men including Razik this. But, they said there was nothing named Roshan came to my house and certain day in September 2019, she equipment needed to perform autopsies and another woman. When I was to do because both Pulasthini and said he was sent by Razik. He told me stated that she had not even spoken and this has led to a precarious talking to Pulasthini, Razik and the Hastun were over 18 years, she said that Pulasthini was with Zaharan's to her over the phone since February situation as the remains are exposed to other two men there were listening," and added she learned that her wife and gave me a contact number to 2019, and added that if she knew of the elements, warned Senior Judicial she added. daughter's name had been changed inform him in case Pulasthini called her whereabouts or any other Medical Officer (SJMO), E.K Responding to a question raised by to Sarah Jasmine after the marriage. me." information, she would definitely Wijewardene. the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) “After some time, Pulasthini was "Two days after that incident, I went have informed the security forces. “It is almost impossible to perform appearing for the Attorney General's brought to Abu Dhabi on 6 January to the Kalawanchikudi Police Station Meanwhile, she requested the PCoI high risk autopsies on those who may (AG's) Department as to what action 2016 and kept with me there for to lodge a complaint on Pulasthini's to take some steps regarding her have died of infectious diseases such as she took after talking to Pulasthini on about four months because she said disappearance, but they did not security, as she is the only one to give the prevailing COVID-19 disease and that day, she said, “Then I went to the she could not live with Hastun,” she accept the complaint. They told me to evidence about Pulasthini. Also, she therefore they are referred to the Maligawatte Police Station and lodged said. In response to a question from go to Kattankudy Police Station since requested the security forces to find Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) a complaint. When Abdul Razik came members of the PCoI as to whether Pulasthini was handed over to Hastun out if her daughter is alive and inform forcing the next of kin to face additional to the Police Station with Pulasthini, Pulasthini had been employed during there. Even though I went to her. “If my daughter has done issues such as delays and more the Police Officers told me to take her that time, Kavitha stated that she Kattankudy Police, they also did not something wrong, enforce the law. expenses. Furthermore, the mortuary home for 15 days. They said that I had worked as a cashier. accept the complaint," she explained. But if she is alive, give me a chance to lacks the basic equipment such as could keep her with me if she was “After about four months, Pulasthini Since both the Kalawanchikudi and see her at least once,” she said very proper lighting and freezing facilities going to follow the Hindu religion and told me that she wanted to resume her Kattankudy Police Stations had not emotionally. and in addition to that, it has just a if not she should be handed over to education and went back to Sri accepted complaints, Kavitha had Concluding that Kavitha's life is single minor employee to assist the Razik after that period. The Police Lanka. She promised me that she then gone to the Human Rights likely to be in danger due to medical officials,” he added. Officers also warned me, saying I would not go with Hastun again. Commission's regional office in testimonies that she gave before the He said that the prevailing situation would be arrested if I didn't act so,” Meanwhile, Hastun had lodged a Batticaloa. Commission, the PCoI ordered the had been notified to relevant authorities she said. complaint with the Kattankudy Police “I informed an officer there that I National Authority for the Protection at the decision making levels but that Members of the PCoI asked Kavitha Station, stating that we had kept his had found out that my daughter was of Victims of Crime and Witnesses to thus far there has been no response and if she had explained to the Police at wife forcibly. The complaint was with Zaharan. At that moment, he take measures regarding Kavitha's forcing the hospital to use a freezer the time that a mother had the right to investigated at the Kattankudy Police said he knew Zaharan and that there security and to submit a written container as a make-shift morgue to a child, regardless of religion. In Station with the participation of a was nothing to be scared of since report to the PCoI within a week on hold cadavers. response, she said that when she said group of members of a Muslim Zaharan was a normal person. He also the action taken in this regard. “There are many shortcomings at the morgue but it is still operating at a low level and the issue will be settled once the new facility which is currently under construction is completed. This will take some time but we are working towards EPZ factory... this end with urgency,” the Hospital’s ... Dharshani Lahandapura gully bowsers. They had plans to can not only impact our country but of the BOI to ensure that these Head, Dr. Nihal Weerasinghe said. He yesterday (24). send these gully bowsers in groups, other countries as well,” she companies are adhering to the further explained that the container was The Madampitiya Sewerage so, when they heard that the second explained. necessary environmental set up mainly to hold the remains of Pumping Station is used by the group of bowsers were apprehended Meanwhile, speaking to Ceylon regulations and protocols. But they those who had died from COVID-19 and Colombo Municipal Council to by us, the next batch didn’t come. Today, Convenor of the Rainforest continue to fail in this regard.” other infectious diseases. dump non-toxic sewage from We also learnt that this was not a Protectors, Jayantha Wijesinha said Several attempts made by Ceylon Meanwhile, a large number of wooden Colombo, two kilometres off, into recent occurrence and that this the BOI should take responsibility Today to contact the BOI’s boxes that were used for the the Ocean. However, Ceylon Today company has been doing this for for this issue. Seethawaka EPZ Director, Nihal transportation of human remains of learnt that this particular garment quite some time,” Lahandapura “The BOI has failed once again to Kumarapeli were to no avail. those who had died overseas have also factory has fraudulently and said. regulate its own companies. A Meanwhile, a BOI official who been left unattended outside the surreptitiously used this Pumping She added the apprehended gully classic example of their failure to spoke on the condition of mortuary and exposed to the elements Station to dump toxic and bowsers are now in the custody of regulate their own companies was anonymity, whilst claiming that this in violation of the COVID-19 health hazardous sludge into the ocean. the Grandpass Police Station, and the case of the imported garbage toxic sludge had been tested by the guidelines, Hospital officials said. The Five of these gully bowsers were the MEPA will be taking legal action containers from another private BOI and that it had been found to health guidelines state that such boxes apprehended by the coordinated against the company. company. This latest instance is yet not contain an excessive amount of should be incinerated along with the efforts of the MEPA, the Special “A case has been filed by the another failure and the BOI should hazardous waste and further that human remains immediately after the Task Force, the Environmental Grandpass Police in this regard with take full responsibility for this. They the waste in question had been post-mortem but this does not seem to Police, the Navy and the Coast the Colombo Magistrate’s Court and should at least take necessary diluted (the BOI claimed to also be be the case, the officials added. It has Guard on 11 July. it will be taken up on 4 August. This action to impose a penalty on this in possession of the relevant reports been found that funeral undertakers in “We got to know from reliable is a Board of Investments (BOI) company so that the penalty can be attesting to such), however the vicinity have refused to accept these sources that there was a plan to registered company, so, we will used for ocean restoration work.” acknowledged that they had boxes simply because they seek to sell dump 19 gully bowsers of toxic ensure that the maximum penalty Wijesinha added that besides the committed an error in not informing their own caskets at exorbitant prices sludge into the ocean. is served for this. If they are BOI, no other authority could the MEPA about the waste not being and relatives are left with no options but Unfortunately, when we went there, convicted, we can fine them from intervene in BOI EPZs like ‘that hazardous’. She added the agree to such in order to avoid further they had already dumped five Rs 4 million up to Rs 15 million. Seethawaka, Katunayaka and remaining waste in question would delays and other complications, officials bowsers into the ocean. However, Dumping toxic sludge into the Biyagama. be placed in a landfill to prevent explained. we managed to catch another five ocean is a criminal offence as this “Therefore, it is the responsibility leakage.

First Street paediatric... All Party... The Liver Transplant racers...... Commission office to discuss may arise during the election, discussion. It is reported that Unit of the Colombo Initial matters pertaining to holding and how those issues can be certain political parties have North Teaching Hospital investigations have the General Election and addressed. prepared to put forward performed this surgery, revealed the race counting votes in accordance Keeping ballot boxes safely on suggestions at the discussion. which lasted over 12 had been organised with the health guidelines the night of 5 August and The discussion will be chaired hours, on a nine-year- through Facebook. issued to control COVID-19. starting to count votes on 6 by Election Commission old resident of Jaffna, The suspects The discussion will also focus August morning in accordance Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya who was suffering from were produced on how the health guidelines with the health guidelines, are and will be attended by General chronic cirrhosis, using before the Kesbewa affect the functioning of polling also among the matters that will Secretaries and representatives part of her mother’s Magistrate centres, practical concerns that be discussed during today’s of political parties. liver. yesterday. news monday 27 july 2020 A3

President directs to amend Senior SLAF official testifies Antiquities Ordinance before Easter Attack PCoI President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has Addressing the meeting, he said that antiquities was also discussed at the paid his attention on amending the no room would be left for anyone to meeting. SLAF notified SIS Antiquities Ordinance to strengthen damage the historical heritage or The attention of the President was the preservation of antiquities and archaeological value of any sacred also drawn to the request made by the historical national heritage. place and all such places would be Buddhist clergy to transfer the cases about Islamist He has also decided to appoint a considered as national heritage. The relating to the artefacts and historical committee comprising Buddhist clergy proposals made by Buddhist clergy in places in the Northern and Eastern and experts in the field to study how this regard will be forwarded to the Provinces, to Courts in Colombo. extremists from 2014 the amendments should be made and respective Presidential Task Force. During the meeting, the Buddhist the proposed amendment seeks to stop President Rajapaksa also said clergy pointed out that the artefacts the destructions caused to antiquities measures will be taken to increase taken away during the colonial period By Buddhika Samaraweera information given to the SIS on 25 to pass on the country’s heritage to the annual fund allocation to the were later found stored at the British July 2017, that Mohamed Kamil, a future generation, while resolving Department of Archaeology and to Museum and the National Museum of The Sri Lanka Air Force resident of Dewahuwa, Galewela, certain practical issues. address the shortage of employees. The Denmark in Copenhagen. They also intelligence officials have, since was an Islamic State (IS) ideologue This decision was taken by President possibility of obtaining the services of suggested the President to initiate a 2014, on several occasions, who ran a shop named 'Jayamini' Rajapaksa during the fourth meeting the Civil Defence Force in the programme to get the artefacts back to reported to the State Intelligence at the Dambulla Economic Centre, held with the Buddhist Advisory implementation of programme of the country following consultations Service (SIS) on Islamist the witness added. Council on 24 July. conserving archaeological sites and with UNESCO. (BGS) extremists and their activities, a He also said that in May 2017, senior SLAF official said. the Air Force intelligence officials He was testifying before the had taken steps to report to the Presidential Commission of SIS and the Terrorist Investigation Inquiry (PCoI) probing the Division (TID) information on bombings on Easter Sunday, on several Facebook accounts that Gold prices surge above US$ 1,900 after 8 years 24 July. were observed to be operating in a He further said that on 26 pro-IS manner. August 2014, information was Information about a person who Safe haven asset during times of uncertainty – Jannath provided to the SIS about a group was staying in Pasyala with the of Pakistani nationals who knowledge of the United Nations By Rajiesh Seetharam take longer than expected,” engaged in extremist activities in High Commissioner for Refugees he added. Kattankudy. It was found that this (UNHCR) and the conversion of a Spot gold prices ended on a Jannath pointed out that Pakistani group was directly traditional mosque in Godapitiya, high of US$ 1,901 per ounce investment strategists and involved with the Tawheed Jamaat Akuressa into a Tawheed Jama’at on Friday night, surging analysts are predicting that organisations in the area. mosque, were also given to the above US$ 1,900 levels for gold will reach US$ 2,000 One such instance was the SIS, he added. the first time in eight years. based on the current Gold prices reached a peak of sentiment and the trend in US$ 1,920 levels in action. However, the price September 2011, after which should breach above its a bear market for gold psychological barrier US$ Government schools resulted in price coming to a 1,920 to US$ 1,950 region to low of US$ 1,046 by reach its new levels. December 2015. Gold prices “There is an expectation economy as a consequence of Jannath further states that Grades 11, 12 and 13 rebounded from 2016 that inflation may rise due to COVID-19 impact will also in the short to mid term, onwards, however it has massive stimulus packages benefit gold with price volatility towards the risen by an enormous US$ offered by Central Banks appreciation,” he said. downside can be expected to reopen today 380 so far during this year. globally. This has caused IMF predicts a global GDP due to profit booking by Ceylon Today spoke to yields on government bonds contraction around 5 per speculative investors and Candor Equities Limited globally to decline and some cent. Jannath points out that liquidation of gold reserves By Thameenah Razeek Grades will resume on 10 August Assistant Manager Shadhir inflation adjusted yields have the availability of a vaccine by struggling governments after the General Elections. Online Jannath, who stated that slumped well below zero. for COVID-19 is a key factor to manage the current Grades 11, 12 and 13 in all classes for those students will high risk and uncertain Thus, investors are more for global economic recovery challenges faced due to Government schools will reopen continue until academic activities business environment due to bullish on gold to hedge and global investors are COVID-19. today (27) after the interim holiday resume. the COVID-19 pandemic, against long-term closely watching the “Post-global financial given on 13 July, considering the When asked whether Public rising trade tensions between inflationary effects and as a development of this factor to crises, global Central Banks pandemic situation that arose Health Inspectors (PHIs) are visiting the US and China, low preferred safe haven asset switch in between risk on were net buyers of gold from recently. schools to check on children, opportunity cost in terms of during times of global and off sentiments. 2010 onwards. Thus, Reopening days of schools and Chandrasekara said that Local government securities, uncertainties,” stated “Some reports from the liquidation of gold reserves examination dates were revised in Government Authorities will be at pressure on US dollar due to Jannath. medical field state that a by struggling governments response to new developments schools to coordinate sanitization economic challenges of USA, “Gold is generally priced in vaccination for COVID-19 can be expected and may regarding the spread of COVID-19. and to check the temperature of has attracted global investors US dollars and the will not be available until the put pressure on rising gold Students in Grades 11, 12 and 13 students. “No parents or students towards gold as a safe haven continuing pressure on the first half of year 2021 thus prices in the short to should attend school by 7:30 a.m. will check anyone’s temperature asset during times of stress US dollar due to the attracts gold investments, as medium term,” states and academic activities will and all students will be directed to store value. challenges on the US economic recovery would Jannath. conclude by 3:30 p.m. only for academic activities,” he Addressing the matter, Additional said. Secretary to the Education Ministry, “We cordially urge the students in Ranjith Chandrasekara, stated that the country to return to school as the ministry has advised the well as to the examination halls authorities and the management of with great confidence, challenging Gang damages Kalvayal Grama Niladhari Office schools to resume academic the disruption caused to education activities in accordance with the by the shock of the pandemic. Your An unidentified gang attacked the The gang forcibly entered the house motorcycle that had been parked in guidelines issued by the health esteemed teachers and principals Chavakachcheri, Kalvayal Grama of the Grama Niladhari with iron rods, the porch, Police said. authorities and the special will surely give you the courage and Niladhari’s office and his house early wooden rods and swords and carried Police suspect that the attack might instructions given by the Ministry of guidance you need,” he said, while morning yesterday (26) and escaped out this attack, Police said. They have been carried out based on a Education. requesting the students to return to before the neighbours and villagers caused damage to the household personal grudge and a person Academic activities for other school and not to miss lessons. arrived at the scene, according to items, doors and windows of the house suspected to be involved was arrested Chavakachcheri Police. and when they escaped damaged the in Kerudavil yesterday. (NJ)

Preschools to be brought under Ministry

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said Attending the meeting organised by that a preschool system will be brought candidate Manoj Sirisena at the car under the purview of a Ministry, so park near Uyanwatta Playground in that issues affecting it could be Matara, the President engaged in a resolved. cordial discussion with the people A release stated that President present at the venue. Rajapaksa emphasised on the People gathered at Kamburupitiya significance of planning early weekly fairground assured the childhood development, which is a President a historical win at the decisive stage in the lives of children in upcoming General Election to accordance with the accepted strengthen his Administration. standards and qualities. The highest percentage of votes at The President, who is currently electorate level was recorded from the touring the Matara District in support Kamburupitiya electorate during the of the candidates of the Sri Lanka last Presidential Election. The Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) contesting residents of the Kamburupitiya the forthcoming Parliamentary electorate said they would repeat it and Election made these remarks at a strengthen President Rajapaksa’s meeting organised by candidate Administration in the upcoming Nipuna Ranawaka at Beach Park in General Election. Matara today (25). The public gathering was organised The ‘2020 Election Manifesto’ of by Minister Dullas Alahapperuma. The Ranawaka was also launched on the President said he will take measures to occasion. fulfil the requests made by the public, The President commenced his tour in including paying compensation to Matara from the playground of those who were affected by the floods University of Ruhuna. Engaging in a during the Yala Season in 2019, discussion with the Vice Chancellor of construction of a wall surrounding the University, Prof. Sujeewa Karandeniya School’s playground and Amarasena, the President inquired assisting about academic activities of the cinnamon University. Prof. Amarasena informed production and its that the online teaching method is exportation. progressing well. The President At the meeting organised by SLPP was informed of candidate and former State Minister the irregularities Kanchana Wijesekara in front of of bus Devinuwara Dewalaya several issues transportation in in the area including the drinking Hakmana, water problem were presented to the problem of lands President. Responding to the request without deeds and from the public to resume the requirement of rehabilitation activities at Devinuwara a factory in the Dewalaya, which has come to a halt, area to address the President instructed relevant unemployment, by parties to immediately look into the the residents of matter. Hakmana. (TR) A4 Monday 27 JULY 2020 Column Ballots are Mightier Than Bullets By Lakshman I. Keerthisinghe persons under the leadership of Velupillai Prabakaran formed the Among free men there can be no LTTE in May 1976. successful appeal from the ballot to Prabakaran, a wanted man the bullet...ballots are the rightful and It was obvious that it was peaceful successors of bullets. impossible for the Tigers to advocate Abraham Lincoln - Message to peace and come into the democratic the Congress on 4 July 1861. process with a leader like Sri Lankans are looking forward to Prabakaran, as Interpol had use their constitutional power of designated this person a wanted franchise by casting their ballots on 5 man. An Indian Court had sentenced August 2020 at the forthcoming him to death for the assassination of Parliamentary Elections to elect a Rajiv Gandhi. The High Court of government of their choice. History Colombo in Sri Lanka had given a reveals that the democratic process of cumulative sentence of 200 years for electing a government acceptable to setting the Central Bank building all citizens is more stable and long- ablaze using explosives which killed lasting compared to dictatorial hundreds of persons. It was obvious regimes thrust upon the people by that many in this country and violent repression achieved through abroad, including Tamils, were for a the use of the bullet to suppress long time struck with fear to voice opposition. The regimes of dictators their anger and suffering under the such as Hitler, Pol Pot and Idi Amin brutal dictatorship and tyranny of met with ultimate disastrous the terrorist leader, who, made their miserable consequences to their lives miserable and held the Sri designers due to this fact. Lankan Nation to ransom by fear and It is also true that journalists tyranny wielding their pens are mightier than In conclusion, Sri Lanka has been terrorists using their bullets to saved from the clutches of the brutal change regimes in power. Edward LTTE and returned to the democratic Bulwer-Lytton (1839), an English process of governance. Sri Lankans author coined a metonymic adage are a free Nation, wherein the ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ sovereignty lies with the people, for his play Richelieu. The play was which should be preserved for a about Cardinal Richelieu and the line the writer wrote thus: “The time has Commander and attacking a shipload but one of its prominent leaders peaceful and prosperous future. in Act II Scene II was as follows: True- now come, when the Sri Lankan of 700 unarmed soldiers at sea Karuna realised its folly and joined Leaders with courage, wisdom and This!-/Beneath the rule of men Nation comprising of the Sri Lankan among other incidents, while feigning mainstream politics after laying down foresight should be elected to entirely great,/The pen is mightier people from all races and creeds and to talk peace, indicate the falsity of arms and assisting our war heroes in Parliament to achieve this goal. There than the sword. Behold/the arch- the international community should their intentions to pursue the peace defeating the LTTE. If he did not do is no dispute that the ballots are enchanters wand!-itself a nothing!-/ learn to call a spade, a spade. The initiative…The question then arises, so, he too would have perished by the preferable to bullets in this noble But taking sorcery from the master- LTTE led by its leader Velupillai are we to return to a full-scale armed bullet. Now, he is seeking the power endeavour. hand/To paralyse the Caesars and to Prabhakaran has subjected the Sri conflict or a fully-blown war to tame of the ballot to enter Parliament at *NB, The quote in the third strike/The loud earth breathless!- Lankan Nation which includes our the Tigers? In the writer’s personal the forthcoming Poll. Termination of paragraph above is from the writer’s Take away the sword –/States can be Tamil brethren to lies, terror, torment opinion and the majority of free men the brutal activities of the LTTE in the article ‘Pen is Mightier than the Gun,’ saved without it. As the gun has now and evil…The recent violent incidents in the world the answer would be a name of a purported liberation Lanka Standard Website (2006). replaced the sword in modern perpetrated by the LTTE such as resounding ‘no.’” As Abraham Lincoln struggle for the Tamil people occurred About the writer: warfare, the saying is that the pen is using child soldiers to gun down 12 once said, “Among free men there can then. It is a fact that all races in Sri The writer is an Attorney-at-Law mightier than the gun. unarmed civilians, sending a be no successful appeal from the Lanka have lived together in peace with LLB, LLM, MPhil. (Colombo). In the year 2006, at the height of brainwashed pregnant mother to be, ballot to the bullet.” Finally, it was and harmony as brethren for quite a Email: keerthisinghel@yahoo. the violent activities of the LTTE then, as a suicide bomber to kill the Army the bullet that vanquished the LTTE, long period of time until a band of co.uk Take a dose of music as medicine By R.S. Karunaratne of music that has a soothing quality and creates a romantic atmosphere Do not be surprised if a doctor has been described colloquially as prescribes “One dose of Amaradeva “mood music” – a music that is twice a day and one of Nanda Malini supposed to generate sexual desire. just before bed-time.” This may not As very little research is done in this happen in the near future, but it is area, we can only speculate about the likely to happen any day, any time. connection between certain types of Scientists are becoming aware of music and sexual responsiveness. music as a therapy in the developed West and the East. For instance, if you Sensual experiences are unable to sleep, you tend to take As with sight and smell, any sound sleeping pills or alcohol. Scientists or music that has been associated have discovered that sleeping pills and with positive sexual experience may alcohol can be replaced by music. The be capable of eliciting a sexual more you use music the better it works response. Apart from sensual without any side effects. experiences that have been directly The science behind “music associated with sexual arousal, medicine,” once scoffed at by sensual pleasure obtained through scientists, is now emerging as a potent music may enhance sexual response force in medical science. In some simply because it enhances our hospitals in the United States, general sense of well-being. For that classical music is played in the matter, to enjoy the sight and aroma operating theatres to help patients to of flowers, to enjoy the sights and relax before and after an operation. It sounds of walking through the woods has been found that music can lower or along the ocean, to enjoy the aroma blood pressure and heart rate and and taste of a delicious meal may all even accelerate the healing process. contribute to our joy by being alive. Certain parts of the brain respond to The effect of psychotherapy through different types of music. This has been music has been illustrated by Dr. proved by brain mapping technology Lateral D.V.J. Harischandra in his book (BMT) and magnetic resonance Psychiatric Aspects of Jataka Stories. imaging (MRI) scans. In times to come, thinking He refers to Asaneeghata, the doctors may prescribe music therapy gynaephobic prince in Sankappa to suit individual patients. Jatakaya. While the prince is relaxing Compact discs (CDs) available freely suggest that brain-music therapy to get a different perspective on thought and that of phenomena. It is in his bedroom, the first step in the with soporific melodies may not banish produces more benefits than listening politics. a glimmering medium between mind anxiety hierarchy is carried out by a your anxiety and insomnia. However, to conventional relaxing music and Back in the 1990s, American and matter, related to both and yet female veena player, singing and Dr. Elizabeth Scott has developed has proved especially effective in psychologist Frances Rauscher made differing from either, spiritual and yet playing the instrument from a distant “sleep sounds for grown-ups” with a relieving migraine, anxiety disorders, the extraordinary discovery that requiring rhythm, material, and yet site. On the second day, she sings and selection of tunes that would send a depression and insomnia. Although it listening to Mozart’s music improved independent of space.” plays the instrument from a site a baby to sleep almost instantly. She is not available outside the United people’s spatial skills and Long before scientists discovered little nearer, but still outside the says we have to understand how States, researchers at London mathematical reasoning. Even young the connection between music and palace. This is repeated until she brainwave patterns change as we go Metropolitan University are trying to children who received music lessons health benefits, music remained the sings and plays exactly Wolpole would from being wide awake to sound sleep. make brain music therapy available at improved their IQ scores markedly fourth great material want of man. have arranged, right inside the Dr. Scott’s method of matching music an affordable price. Researcher Adrian over contemporaries given drama or The first was food, then raiment, then prince’s bedroom. The girl ends up in to brainwaves has received a major Trevison, however, cautions that brain computer lessons. shelter, then music. In addition, the arms of the now non-gynaephobic boost from the scientific community. music therapy should be approached music is said to be the art of the prince. Now they have developed a brain- with caution. According to him, over- Beethoven prophet, the only art that can calm According to J. Wolpole’s reciprocal music therapy which is popular in the stimulating certain rhythms can make Music has been with us in one form the agitations of the soul. It is one of inhibition psychotherapy, “If a United States and Russia. The brain receptors go haywire, like taking or the other from time immemorial. the most magnificent and delightful response antagonistic to anxiety can technique relies heavily on advanced cocaine. The eminent musician Beethoven gifts nature has given to us. Even be made to occur in the presence of computer technology and We take medicine to maintain our said, “Music is the mediator between Luther agrees that music is a anxiety provoking stimuli so that it is electroencephalograph (EEG). Dr. good health. Another secret of the spiritual and the sensual life. discipline and a mistress of order and by a complete or partial suppression Galina Mindlin, Director of New York maintaining good health is to age-proof Although the spirit is not the master good manners. She makes the people of the anxiety responses, the bond Brain Music Therapy Centre says, our health. For this, we have to try of that which it creates through milder and gentler, more moral and between these stimuli and the anxiety most brain music sounds like classical something new all the time. The music, yet it is blessed in this creation more reasonable. responses will be weakened.” piano music, varying in tempo, pitch, celebrated physicist Albert Einstein which like every creation of art, is Annette G. Godow in “Human With the rapid development of rhythm and harmony. played the violin to help keep his mightier than the artist. There is Sexuality” says, “Much popular music medical science, music has been approach to scientific problems fresh. something marvellous in music. It in today is characterised by strong identified as a potent force to relieve BMT The war-time British Prime Minister itself is a marvel. Its position is rhythmic beating and is assumed to patients from certain maladies. Reports from the United States Winston Churchill painted landscapes somewhere between the region of have sexual significance. Another type [email protected] column MONDAY 27 jULY 2020 A5 Two-thirds Majority, 19A and New Political Order

By Sugeeswara Senadhira Political parties and candidates rely more on the mobile phone to reach The voter focus in the final week out to voters. Although normal prior to the General Elections 2020 political activity and the value of seems to be shifting from the direct human interface can never be economic issues such as cost of substituted, this election has set a living and unemployment and major new trend in political COVID-19 pandemic-related health outreach and political hazards to the imperative need for a communication. stable government to tackle the Although the election monitors impending major challenges. Today, had stated that over one thousand the intelligent voter is convinced complaints have been lodged with that far-reaching reforms are regard to the violations of election required to take the country regulations, only a handful of them forward. could be listed as violent incidents There is a very serious issue of or violations of election regulations. public apathy due to the instability Most of the incidents were actually created by the constitutional crisis violations of health regulations. and it is of pivotal importance to There were no fatalities and most restore public confidence in the clashes were minor scuffles between system. There is unanimous different party supporters. agreement that the biggest failure of the Yahapalana Government was the Public apathy inability to take forward its crusade Apart from the COVID-19 against bribery, fraud and pandemic fears, another reason for a corruption, due to the lack of possible decline in voter turnout is consensus in the two power centres, the public apathy about the Executive President and Prime politicians in general and Minister, created by the 19th parliamentarians in particular. The Amendment to the Constitution. As political parties and candidates have a result, the then government failed by removing the system of two power Low turnout at Polls a major role in convincing the people to take legal actions against culprits centres. It promises to foster a While it is a foregone conclusion about the health safety and the need responsible for the biggest scam balance of power in the Parliament that the SLPP would emerge to exercise their voting right. It is faced by the country, the Central by being a self-reflective party that The crisis created by victorious, there is an apprehension also the responsibility of election Bank Bonds Fraud and several other would work with the Opposition to 19A demonstrated that it would not be able to achieve monitors, various NGOs and INGOs issues of bribery and corruption. improve accountability through the its objective of two-thirds majority if professing their desire to strengthen The 19A was widely felt to be vibrant function of parliamentary both the weaknesses there is a low turnout at the Polls. democracy, to educate the voters crucial to the resilience of bodies such as the Committee on and the strengths of There is a possibility of a marked about the importance of franchise constitutional democracy in Sri Public Enterprises (COPE), SLPP decline in polling percentage, despite right and persuade them to vote at Lanka. The inadequacy of 19A is Chairman, Prof. Gamini Lakshman Sri Lanka’s the assurance given by the Director the General Elections on 5 August. mainly due to the fact that it was Peiris said. He added that necessary General of Health and the Election The crisis created by 19A drafted hurriedly without proper measures to protect democratic constitutional Commission Chairman that the demonstrated both the weaknesses study of possible repercussions. The objectives through strengthening democracy. Hence, it is COVID-19 outbreak in the society is and the strengths of Sri Lanka’s attempt to devolve some Executive Parliamentary Committee systems under control and the cases detected constitutional democracy. Hence, it Powers to the Parliament through such as COPE and creating a culture of paramount currently are limited to those in is of paramount importance to enact the 19th Amendment in 2015, of self-criticism within the importance to enact hospitals and quarantine centres. constitutional reforms. However, it resulted in many ambiguities. The Government were warranted. However, it remains to be seen how is equally – if not more – important people had very negative The 19th Amendment was constitutional reforms. many of the registered voters would to have a prolonged national experiences, in a situation where the approved by all the MPs present, However, it is equally – overcome their fear of a COVID-19 dialogue on constitutional reforms Executive President and the with the sole exception of Sarath infection and venture out of their after a serious study is conducted Parliament headed by the Prime Weerasekara. Though well if not more – homes to exercise their franchise. and create awareness among the Minister were pulling in different intentioned, the faults of 19A There is a danger that some public, especially the intellectual directions. As a result of the became apparent over the years. The important to have a overenthusiastic political party community. ferocious conflict between the two inability for the President to hold prolonged national activists may ignore some of the There should be a discussion component elements of the Defence portfolio, instability due to health guidelines. They should be between the Government, Government, nothing substantial policy differences between the dialogue on enlightened by the leaders not to Opposition parties, intellectuals and could be accomplished. Eventually, President and Prime Minister, lack constitutional reforms violate regulations, because the others on Presidential powers, it was the public that paid the price of powers to dissolve Parliament public would be very watchful and balancing with the Legislature and of dissension, disagreements and until the lapse of four and a half after a serious study is any acts contrary to health Judiciary, the vulnerability of internal tensions in the Yahapalana years of its five-year term, undue conducted and create guidelines would be Sri Lanka’s political system, Government. delays in top-level appointments due counterproductive to the candidates institutional characteristics of that The frontrunner, Sri Lanka to differences between the Executive, awareness among the concerned. system, and then consider the Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is Constitutional Council and As large political rallies have been relationship between the Executive seeking two-thirds majority at the Independent Commissions are some public, especially prohibited, political parties have and the Legislature to determine the upcoming Parliamentary Election, to of the issues that need rectifying to the intellectual turned to technology. Large rallies type of political regime model that is facilitate its campaign promise to ensure smooth governance. have given way to virtual gatherings applicable to the system of Executive provide stability in the Government, community and very limited small meetings. Presidency.

Colombo International Financial City SL should create necessary environment for prospective investors By Maya Majueran efficient financial process the ease of relocating specialist through a new approach, while expatriates, such as bankers, Colombo International working closely with South lawyers and accountants into a Financial City (CIFC) is to set Asian, the Bay of Bengal, CIFC. Besides, location also up an offshore financial centre Middle Eastern and European remains important, as on the reclaimed land, namely countries in particular. arranging complex transactions Port City Colombo, adjoining In addition, the proposed typically involve face-to-face Galle Face Green. Port City CIFC should work in contact, because of that there is Colombo is a brand new city collaboration with a need for connectivity with rest development built as an internationally recognised of the world. Fortunately, extension of the Central leading banks and financial Colombo has got very good air Business District of Sri Lanka's institutions and experts in both transport connectivity with vibrant commercial capital, local and foreign financial India and other South Asian Colombo. As Sri Lanka is sectors when raising the and Bay of Bengal cities. located strategically in an Financial City. If the proposed CIFC worked appropriate time zone and as planned and all bottlenecks midway between the major Relaxing market can be removed with China financial markets: New York, entry restrictions Harbour Engineering Company London, Frankfurt and Dubai investments, the CIFC can fill to the West and Tokyo, Hong Relaxing market entry the vacuum between Singapore Kong, Singapore and Sydney to restrictions, providing a and Dubai and will provides the East, it has the potential to competitive tax environment significant benefits for Sri serve as a financial centre to target the growth engine that is sufficient scale, which could with all the necessary support and relaxed exchange controls Lanka’s economic growth by home a cluster of nationally or India which lies just 20 miles accommodate the modern-day services also mandatory. for foreign companies are of becoming a major income internationally significant away. requirements of a global In addition, the Government paramount importance to earner and a higher-paying financial services providers However, to develop Colombo financial centre. Another key must draw up its new attract investors such as service sector employment such as banks, bond markets, as a financial centre, Sri Lanka factor is the insufficiency of regulations covering banking headquarters of domestic provider for Sri Lanka. Also, stock market, insurance should invest on infrastructure digital infrastructure to ensure and financial transactions and banks, regional headquarters, Sri Lanka can become an companies and reinsurers. facilities, both hard and soft high-speed voice and data judicial system for resolution of branches and subsidiaries of attractive location for other The CIFC’s primary objective and ensure what they build telecommunication networks commercial disputes in line foreign banks, regional HQs of related businesses looking to is to become a prominent will provide facilities for and data centre services, which with financial centre regulatory multinational companies and set up a branch or subsidiary financial hub in the region by creating the necessary is fundamental to be accepted requirements to solve conflicts. domestic and foreign listed from which to distribute connecting with South Asian environment for prospective as a financial hub. These also The Government is planning a companies at the stock products and services to clients and Bay of Bengal countries. investors to conduct cross- include country-wide fibre separate law for the Port City, exchange. Cost of office space across the region. There is no established border financial business with optic connectivity, non- but it will be based on the and infrastructure needs to be About the writer: international financial centre counterparties around the monopolised gateway (to British law, with amendments very attractive to bring in global The writer is a Ph.D. in Indian day time; therefore, world with ease and utmost submarine cables) to to suit the country. operations of large institutions. candidate at the State the CIFC can capitalize on that efficiency. In this regard, international communication. Therefore, the success of this The CIFC also needs to focus University of Kelaniya, to develop as a regional Colombo still lacks ultra- And power supply, local proposed CIFC depends on on the skills availability of a researching the BRI, and financial hub, specifically to modern office space in transport and accommodation how Sri Lanka engages in an qualified local workforce and Director of BRISL. A6 monday 27 july 2020 editorial

Ceylon Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. No: 101, Rosmead Place, Colombo 07. Editorial Tel: 0117566522, 0117566526, 0117566527 Fax: 0117566545 Marketing Manager: 0117566550, 0117566551 Circulation Manager: 0117566580, 0117566581 E-mail : [email protected] Shocking Revelation! An extensive investigation has been initiated following the shocking revelation of fifty records containing the details of crimes committed by a notorious underworld gangster called Samsunge Sampath Chamara alias Army Sampath going missing from the Grandpass Police Station in Colombo. According to Police sources, the records which had gone missing, mysteriously, contained detailed of the crimes such as drug peddling, murders and extortions committed by the deadly underworld gangster. When the country was devastated by the separatist war ten years ago, underworld activities also remained a big challenge with regard to maintaining law and order in the How a Military Regiment Shaped country. Several of the underworld gangsters were deserters from the Armed Forces and with Life of Sri Lankan Malays their experience in handling different types of By P.K. Balachandran firearms were trigger happy throwing a big shillings and 6 pence in a challenge to law and order. month to spend on his family,” The underworld gangsters, such as Army The tiny Malay community Hussainmiya points out. Sampath who is presently remaining behind in Sri Lanka, officially However, there was a Malay the bars, were in the pay of the big time drug numbering about 43,000 Boys’ Regiment composed of peddlers as well as some of the unscrupulous (according to the 2012 census) the sons of soldiers. These politicians in the country. and unofficially about 80,000 soldier-boys were paid half the However, it is shocking to understand that (according to community salary of an adult soldier per the details recorded by the Police sleuths on leaders), had a very significant day. Most importantly, the the criminal activities committed by the role in the political history of soldiers were entitled to a notorious gangster who is known as Army the island from the pension after 20 years of Sampath who is wanted in connection with establishment of Dutch power service. A private got 7 several nerve-wracking crimes had gone in the 17th century to the shillings 6 pence per month missing mysteriously from one of the premier second half of the 19th century while a Sergeant got 15 Police Stations in the island’s capital when the British were ruling. shillings 6 pence. If a soldier Colombo. Their role was almost quit earlier, he would get less It was a month ago Attorney General exclusively tied to their martial (4 shillings and 6 pence for a Dappula De Livera had visited the premier prowess and the need of the Private and 9 shillings for a prison in Welikada, Colombo and lambasted Dutch and British to use them Sergeant). the prison officials of their negligence and as soldiers in their campaigns In Lankan Malay society, the ignorance of the reckless behaviour of the against each other as well as Subadars (Captains) and prisoners within the prison houses not only in the locals. They also Ceylon Rifle Regiment Headquarters, now Defence Services College, Jamidars (Lieutenants) Welikada Prison but even in other prisons in dominated the Police Colombo 2 enjoyed high status. They were the country. Department in the early most rigorous orders.” Like the the British forts. The oldest the elite, who presided over The revelation of Police records of not just a stages. Gurkhas of Nepal, once they Malay settlement was in Slave community functions and criminal but a notorious underworld gangster Malay military units played a took out their knives called Island, Colombo called meetings. According to disappearing from the record room dominant role in shaping the Kris, they would not put it Kampung Kertel. It was the Hussainmiya, regimental mysteriously has clearly shown that the life, economy and culture of back without blood on its headquarters of the almost all- Malays continued to feel presence of `black sheep’ could be even found the Malays in Lanka for over blade. Rifleman in the CRR Malay Ceylon Rifle Regiment. superior to the Free Malays within the law enforcement institutions. three centuries. The uni-ethnic carried a Kris knife also as Malay troops were so attuned even after the CRR was The preliminary investigation has not only Malay Regiment and the they were experts in personal to European ways that they disbanded in 1873. indicated that around fifty Police records almost fully Malay Ceylon Rifle combat. ceased to be barefooted and Furthermore, from 1833 containing facts about the alleged involvement Regiment (CRR) set the tone When the Malays were started wearing heavy military onwards the soldiers had of notorious underworld gangster Samsunge for the entire Malay incensed, they would go boots as early as 1815. In the begun to join the newly Sampath Chamara alias Army Sampath had community in the island in around killing people crying second half of the 19th century established Police Department gone missing, the probe has even revealed every way. Even after the amok amok. This cry got into they had taken to English which paid more than the that important pages containing certain vital demobilisation of the CRR in the English language as sports like cricket and CRR. The Lankan Police was, information on the gangster from twenty such 1873, ex-servicemen lorded “running amok.” The Dutch billiards. Governor Edward for decades, a preserve of the record books have also been found to be over the non-military Malays tackled the problem of running Gregory described them as Malays. removed. called “Free Malays’. amok by severe punishments “excellent cricketers.” The Culture and Literature The probe launched so far into the Police The Malays came to Lanka characterised by “excruciating Malays had the advantage of records which mysteriously went missing either as independent torments.” But the British getting an English education The CRR was also a preserve detailing the involvement of Army Sampath’s conquerors or as soldier- found that the Malays were in schools run by the CRR, of Malay literature in Lanka in various types of criminal activities had appendages of European running amok primarily which proved to be very useful the 19th century. It had a remained at the Grandpass Police Station for conquerors. According to because of manifest injustice when they went for Malay library, for which books nearly two decades to be produced for Court M.M.M. Mahroof (The Malays meted out to them by the employment in the civil and manuscripts were cases pending against the notorious gangster. of Sri Lanka), the 10th century Dutch and brought in a more administration in 1833, and collected by soldiers who might Therefore, the mysterious disappearance of Sinhala King Mahinda V, had just system. The British also more so after the CRR was have been posted in the Malay those fifty Police records as well as the Malay levies in his army. let the Malays to be disciplined disbanded in 1873. Peninsula and Singapore for removal of certain vital pages from some of the However, it was in the 13th primarily by their own Malay Downside short periods. The books were missing records has clearly shown a high century that Malay soldiery unit commanders, who were mostly on Islam and handed manipulation involving in the made a huge impact with the often from the respected Malay However, the Malays were traditional Malay practices. mysterious disappearance of the record coming of Chandrabhanu, a Princely families. forced to live in miserable Some soldiers meticulously books. Buddhist King of East Asia. He The Malays proved to be conditions. According to copied books if they could not The timely action taken by the newly held sway over North Lanka. better and more reliable than Percival, their quarters were buy them. appointed Officer-in-Charge of the Grandpass It was the Dutch, then based the Sinhalese, South Indian 12 ft by 12 ft and were mud It was an ex-soldier Baba Police station paying his attention to the in Java (in present-day Sepoys and African Kaffirs. walled and thatch-roofed. The Onus Saldin who started a missing Police records, ahead of assuming Indonesia) who brought They took part in all the huts lacked ventilation. Their Malay newspaper in Lanka duties and bringing to the notice of his seniors Javanese or Malays to Lanka. battles waged by the Dutch settlement in Slave Island was called Alamat Langkapuri in the entire issue, is praiseworthy. They were soldiers of the against the Portuguese and next to a stagnant gutter. 1869. In 1895, he launched The Police record books which had gone Dutch East India Company helped take Colombo, Galle, Fever and sickness, was his second paper containing missing from Grandpass Police Station had (Vereenigde Oostindische Trincomalee, Batticaloa and common. In 1860, the 80% foreign news which even not only contained details of Army Sampath’s Compagnie or VOC) which had Jaffna. When the British regimental surgeon H.L. catered to readers in East Asia. involvement in various criminal activities, the a Royal charter to trade, rule challenged the Dutch in 1795- Cowen wrote: “I knew about According to Hussainmiya, records also had the details of his and fight wars overseas. The 96 in Lanka, they found that black troops in Jamaica but I when Saldin died in 1906, accomplices, according to the preliminary Malays formed the bulk of the only the Malay troops were do not recollect that they were “Malay language and literature investigations carried out so far. VOC’s forces, says B.A. resisting them. The British worse housed or worse fed (in Sri Lanka) were buried with On the directive of Senior Deputy Inspector Hussainmiya author of ORANG decided to recruit them when than the Malay soldiers of the him.” General of Police (Western Province) REJIMEN: The Malays of the they took over the Maritime day.” With the community of Deshabandu Tennakoon an extensive Ceylon Rifle Regiment. Provinces.The Malays proved According to Hussainmiya, Malay soldiers getting investigation has been launched by a special The Malays were recruited very useful in the wars against married quarters did not have scattered after 1873 due to the team of Police personnel headed by Senior because they were Kandy because they were able separate kitchens. Food was need to secure employment in Inspector of Police P.H. Marapana to go deep exceptionally warlike. to fight the Kandyan guerillas cooked communally for all, the Police and other civilian into the affair. Hussainmiya quotes a 1805 with their own skills in jungle including bachelors, to cut sectors, the community lost Therefore, the entire investigation should be manuscript of British observer warfare in close combat. When down cost. The soldiers were physical and cultural carried out with regard to the mysterious Robert Percival which the British in Madras had to hard up as the average pay cohesion. Miscegenation with disappearance of the Police records containing describes the Malay as follows: fight the Polygar rebels, Malay was only 8 pence a day (in the Lankan and Indian Moors, the details of a deadly gangster in a manner “They are all bold and warlike troops were sent to subdue 1820). Fifty years later it had added to the dilution of the leaving no stone unturned to ensure the and prepared for the most them. risen only by 3 pence.The Malay identity. Malay began to dignity and the credibility of the law desperate enterprises; they Closeness to Europeans British were so stingy that they be spoken by fewer and fewer enforcement institutions in the country. hear the commands of their asked the soldiers to make people, with the hoi polloi superiors with the most Because of soldiering, the their own uniforms. “After taking to Sinhala or Tamil and profound reverence, and yield bulk of the Malays lived meeting all the expenses, a the well to do adopting English implicit obedience to their around the Dutch and later soldier was left with only 2 as their home language. column monday 27 july 2020 A7

Yahapalana Govt Excelled in Mismanagement Pandering to Sri Lanka’s Detriment

By Shivanthi Ranasinghe In the name of good governance, some of the acts and bills the The Yahapalana Government Sajith Yahapalana Government tried to flunked in their management of implement included reparations for international affairs. Mangala Premadasa, the terrorists and their families, Samaraweera simply made Sri Yahapalana persecution and incarceration of Lanka a co-signatory instead of security forces, dismantling challenging the UNHRC Resolution Government’s intelligence networks and attempts to 30/1. By doing this, the Yahapalana replace the Prevention of Terrorism Government overcame the Presidential Act with one that conceded more confrontation that was brewing Candidate at a rights to the suspected terrorists between the U.S. and Sri Lanka. than given to even common criminals However, Sri Lanka becoming a recent Election and laws against enforced co-signatory did not make the rally speculated disappearances that are only effective Resolution any less hostile! to security forces. Some Western the reason their countries even tied up economic Negotiations gone awry relations such as GSP+ with these Likewise, they blotched the free people lost conditions. trade agreement signed with confidence in Singapore. Initially they kicked the Chinese out of the Port City Project; them might be Where the 19th afterwards they begged them to Amendment went wrong return and were forced to pay a inconsistencies penalty. How about leasing the in decision The 19th Amendment was Hambantota Port for 99 years to the structured to make the President Ranil and Sajith blithely proffering solutions to manage the economic crisis had they making. He said less favourable bid? These were all been in power listen to the recommendations of his terrible negotiations. Signing a that Cabinet premier in making crucial military agreement with the US that Ignored notifications appointments. However, the does not serve Sri Lanka was bad on the other hand retorts how was decisions taken Amendment did not support a enough. The fact the agreement did It soon came to light the he responsible for something he did provision to use when these not consist of an exit clause or that Yahapalana Government had not know? Four days after the on Monday were appointments needed to be reversed. only five out of 88 pages were shown received nearly hundred repeated attack, then Finance Minister changed by This is how the IGP continued to to the then President Maithripala intelligence notifications of Mangala Samaraweera blithely remain as the IGP despite failing in Sirisena adds to the contention. impending attacks with almost announced the likely collapse of the Wednesday his duty. Yet, the Yahapalana Yet, Sajith Premadasa, the pinpoint accuracy. This information tourism industry. Government was hailed for Yahapalana Government’s collaborated with certain incidents However, after pronouncing the strengthening democracy in the Presidential Candidate at a recent in Sri Lanka. The destruction of the tourism industry’s doom after the expectations of Sri Lanka seemed to country. Election rally speculated the reason Gautama Buddha statues in Easter Sunday massacres, neither be strongly influenced by an Obviously, none of these were their people lost confidence in them Mawanella and the discovery of Ranil Wickremesinghe nor Sajith extremist group, the Tamil Diaspora agreeable to the people. Yet, the might be inconsistencies in decision explosives indicated strongly that Premadasa offered solutions or what who holds the entire Tamil proponents of good governance making. He said that Cabinet extremists were once again active in measures their Government would expatriate community in an iron continued to applaud the Yahapalana decisions taken on Monday were the Island. However, top ranking take to cushion the fall. Instead grip. Government and claimed democracy changed by Wednesday. officials did not give the received Samaraweera announced that he Thus, the Yahapalana Government was established. To add insult to information its due importance. had some good news on the ignored the UPFA - the largest injury, the Yahapalana Government MCC Compact – Inauspi- The ongoing Presidential economic front. That’s how Sri opposition political alliance with failed miserably on the economic cious announcement Commission to investigate the Lankans got to know about the representation in eight provinces and front as well. The failures seemed Easter Sunday massacres found out Compact. 56 seats in Parliament. The UPFA almost deliberate. Nearly, half a The reason for him not to attribute Military Intelligence had passed the Now as the incumbent Opposition, continued to suffer step-motherly million people lost their livelihoods. their failure to the Yahapalana intelligence to the relevant Police it’s entertaining to watch both Ranil treatment at the Parliament. They Government’s foreign policies maybe authorities. Yet, at the very highest Wickremesinghe and Sajith were even denied adequate time to Removing one’s foot due to the Millennium Challenge level, the police had refused to act Premadasa tripping over each other address the Parliament. without detonating it Corporation (MCC) Compact on it. DIG Ajith Rohana explained with solutions to manage the Instead the TNA, the one time awarded to Sri Lanka. This is the that it is easier to criticise the Police economic crisis had they been in political proxy of the LTTE and an Today, both Ranil Wickremesinghe largest grant ever offered to for inaction on hindsight. However, power. alliance composed of exclusive Tamil and Sajith Premadasa are jeering the Sri Lanka. had the police acted and disrupted politicians representing two Gotabaya Rajapaksa Administration It was the Yahapalana an important religious ceremony as MCC a hangman’s noose provinces with only 16 seats in for not tearing up the Compact Government’s initiative that made the Easter Sunday and it turned out As information about the MCC and Parliament, was appointed as the immediately. Instead, the reviewing the MCC, which lost interest in Sri to be a false alarm, it would have the Compact began to trickle Opposition. It is most unfortunate of the Compact was passed from Lanka during the Mahinda been misconstrued as an act against through patriots got alarmed and that they did not use their powerful expert committee to Cabinet. Rajapaksa Administration, agree to reconciliation. The collective opinion pointed out that though these were a status to bring forth any development However, one must understand the reconsider Sri Lanka for a grant and of the security establishment was grant, the strings attached were akin or economic relief to at least their Compact is only a carrot. thereafter offer this Compact. that the then Government’s focus to a hangman’s noose. MCC insists constituents. Discrediting the political leadership Therefore, it’s natural for that was on reconciliation than national that the recipient country must to lead to regime change and passing Government to pat their back on security. always adhere to ‘Good Governance’ Mangala co-sponsored the UNHRC Resolution 30/1 to attracting MCC to offer USD 480 if to commence and continue with Resolution 30/1 without persecute the Military whilst creating million for a two-pronged project to Who was responsible? the Compact. Professor Lalithasiri divisions between Sinhalese and better manage Sri Lanka’s traffic While the country reeled with Gunaruwan, who headed the review Cabinet approval Tamils were all foundations of the and State land. shock, the Yahapalana Government committee on the Compact, when Mangala Samaraweera as the Compact. To tear the Compact without The announcement of MCC’s acted in a state of excitable frivolity. presenting their findings observed Minister for Foreign Relations in understanding the objective expected decision to award the Compact could They were neither shocked nor the MCC had paused their grants 2015 co-sponsored the UNHRC from it would be foolish - because after not have been worse timed. It was repentant and no one was willing to halfway in other countries. Resolution 30/1 without either the carrot comes the stick. made four days after the Easter accept responsibility. Then both Sri Lankans’ own experience after Cabinet approval, or a debate in As far as the U.S. or any other Sunday massacres, the President Maithripala Sirisena and nearly five years of Yahapalana ‘good Parliament or a mandate from the international body is concerned, it is simultaneous attack on churches Prime Minister Ranil governance’ is that ‘good governance’ people. The conditions set forth in Sri Lanka that requested a grant from and hotels took Sri Lankans by Wickremesinghe were estranged. is an extremely subjective term. this Resolution decidedly treated the the MCC. It certainly is not their complete surprise. Wickremesinghe claims he was not Democracy, accountability, Sri Lankan Military as war criminals problem that it was ‘that’ Government Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith urged aware about the intelligence reconciliation and corrupt free and the LTTE terrorists as victims. and not ‘this’ Government. By inviting communities to remain calm and notifications as he was not invited to governance were the promised The free trade agreement with the MCC we had metaphorically shared his deep suspicions that this the Security Council meetings. He components. Instead, the Singapore was another international stepped on a landmine. The trick is attack could be the work of however fails to explain his reasons Yahapalana Government contract signed with equal secrecy now to remove the foot without geopolitical forces. for not being able to address this compulsively obsessed over the and equally detrimental to the detonating it. serious lapse in Parliament. Sirisena opinion of the West, whose country’s economic security. [email protected]

The Way It Was General Elections – Then and Now So, we citizens of this land disgraceful night? They Sri Lanka by a long shot. We The ‘pot and lamp’ Election good schools, where we count bravery! like no other (that can be ordered dinner from the were shocked beyond words is still derided when JRJ, a Government Madya Maha I’ve been called up having to complimentary or damning!) canteen and had it and now the shock wanting, as he said to Vidyalaya or Maha Vidyalaya a walk up to a platform to cast my will be using our vote to elect accompanied by that which compounded as most of those complete some major good school if students were vote and being very pregnant. our representatives to the cheers. ‘fighters’ have been given development projects, one disciplined and made to be civic OK, but the presiding officer legislature. There has been Towards the end of 2018, nominations. being the Mahaweli Diversion minded. shouted out my maiden name quite a loud cry to elect people Parliament was again turned Scheme, postponed general Earliest remembered,but prefacing it with a loud ‘Miss’! with education and good into a battle ground with Previous years Parliamentary election when faintly, is George E de Silva Recently in Colombo I was breeding and decency, because weapons in the form of bound We also remember in 2005 they were due and decreed the coming house to house, very called out as Mahathya. I look we have seen how the wrong volumes of the Holy Bible and how LTTE Supremo forbade holding of a referendum. I was, humbly, to ask for votes. very much a woman but had to ones in the stately House by the Constitution, and chairs those in the Vanni and areas at that time, naïve enough to Advertisements were on either walk up to the presiding officer, the Diyawanna, more than and microphones and chilli in his strangle-hold to vote at believe it was not illegal. side of parading bullock carts! mercifully not to have to prove once, turned it into brawling powder. I well remember the Presidential Elections. Then came T.B. Illangaratne, a my gender but to wait till he grounds of the lowest kind. We present Cabinet Ministers like Then came the temporary Long ago Kandy Kachcheri clerk who won altered the register. had within two regimes ago, I Pavithra Wanniarachi and disappearance of the Election What a huge contrast to how a seat and went on to become This time around, many are think, MPs staying overnight Johnston Fernando and many Commissioner and his Elections were held in the an important member of the asking the question: to vote or in Parliament, making the others, brawling disgracefully. appearance, quite agitated just 1950s and 60s. True, there SLFP and a Minister many not to vote? To run the risk of Assembly Hall where they need UNP members sat in their at the last moment - sort of - to were some minor malpractices times over. There appeared a getting infected by COVID-19 to sit with dignity and argue seats, though some were read the results. We don’t but peace reigned and straight standing ex-Brit Army or stay safely at home. I matters with decorum, turned provoked to retaliate but suppose anyone can abduct or electioneering was very much soldier who had fought in Libya suppose we should use our into a carousing, picnicking forbidden by their leader, and detain the present reduced. Candidates spent under Field Marshal right and try to vote in the place and some even sleeping Mahinda Rajapaksa sat Commissioner. Thank their own money on wooing the Montgomery in WWII who educated and decent and cut overnight therein. Do you, watching the fun perhaps; but goodness for a strong official in public and they were, in the contested a Kandy seat and lost out the ruffians. Reader, remember this not fun for us the citizens of that all important position. majority, well off and from his deposit! So much for Kumari A8 monday 27 july 2020 focus South Assures President Historical Win at General Election Call to free the country and A number of roads Opportunities for the people from the to be developed Kitul and several underworld and drug menace immediately other products

The people of Galle assured President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that the South is more than prepared to strengthen his administration to combat the ongoing health and economic crises by giving him an unprecedented mandate at the upcoming General Election. They added that the governance in the last 5 years made them realise the deterioration that occurred in the country and claimed they are well aware of their duty for the sake of Meeting at Samaraweera Ground, Karandeniya Meeting at Wathugedara future generations. These promises were made by the public during President Rajapaksa’s campaign tour in support of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidates in Galle on Thursday (23). The President commenced his Meeting at Piyasena Ground Ambalangoda campaign tour from Hiniduma and participated in a public gathering at Neluwa Public Playground organised by the SLPP candidate Sampath Athukorala. Rathgama meeting Meeting at Karapitiya President Rajapaksa visited the Neluwa National College and inquired about the state of facilities and requirements of the school. Farmers engaged in small scale export crops assured the President that they are capable of achieving President’s targets if they are given access to cultivate abandoned lands. The President stated that he would pave the way to revive the Kitul industry which had deteriorated due to raids by the Excise Department. The need to implement a proper procedure to contain floods in the area was also discussed. Following a Meeting at Weekly Fair at Imaduwa number of issues posed by pre-school added that it should be mandatory for President Rajapaksa emphasised that teachers in the area, the President said Dhamma school teachers to qualify in the citizens of the country should be that the idea of paying a monthly Dharmacharya Examination. motivated to cast their votes now more allowance for them is now under President Rajapaksa stated that a than ever. He said this at a public rally consideration. Special Task Force has been appointed at Elpitiya Gonagala Weekly Fair During this tour, a 9-year-old child to eradicate underworld gangs and premises, organised by the SLPP Meeting at Habaraduwa contributed to the ITUKAMA COVID-19 drug menace. The President highlighted candidate Geetha Kumarasinghe. with the public gathered at venues. former State Minister Mohan P. Silva at fund by presenting his till to the that if the locals are keen to President paid his attention towards At the meeting organised by the Public Ground in Rathgama, candidate President. anonymously tip the Task Force difficulties faced by residents of 40 candidate Shan Wijelal Piyasena Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thera at SLPP candidate Isuru Dodangoda regarding drugs and other illegal households in Induruwa due to Ground in Ambalangoda people Urban Council Ground in Galle and apprised the President Rajapaksa activities, it would be convenient for shortage of drinking water in the requested the President to remove the Minister Ramesh Pathirana near about the issues faced by tea growers at them to execute their duties effectively. region. SLPP candidate Sampath unwanted burden on children by Karapitiya Hospital. the public meeting organised at the The President promised to improve Athukorala was also present at the amending the existing education President was apprised of the issues Wanduramba Public Playground. the Operation Theatre and the Intensive event. system in the country. related to schools, hospitals and the The Maha Sangha present at the Care Unit of the Udugama Base Attending meetings organised by President in response said upon road network in the district by the location suggested to the President to Hospital and develop all the roads in candidate Saliya Mendis at Provincial receiving recommendations of the public present at the venue. incorporate certain contents from the the Galle District under the 100,000 Council Ground in Wathugedara and Presidential Task Force appointed to People warmly welcomed the Dhamma school syllabus into the km road development project. candidate Gamini Amarawansha at T. formulate a national education policy President at meetings organised by the school curricular so that the younger Candidate Ven. Baddegama Samitha D. Samaraweera Gound in Karandeniya they will be presented to the people. candidate Chandima Weerakkody in generation could be persuaded towards Thera and Minister Ramesh Pathirana despite heavy rains in the area, President also participated in Habaraduwa and candidate Iranga Dhamma schools with ease. Theras were present at the public meetings. President engaged in cordial discussion meetings organised by candidate Dilshan Widanagamage in Imaduwa.

President in Matara Kamburupitiya Assures High Percentage of Votes at Electorate Level President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says construction of a wall surrounding that pre-school system will be brought Karandeniya School’s playground and under the purview of a Ministry so that assisting cinnamon production and its issues affecting it could be resolved. exportation. During the President’s recent visits to The President was informed of the several areas, problems faced by pre- irregularities of bus transportation in school teachers were bought to his Hakmana, problem of lands without attention. Last Thursday (23) in Galle deeds and the requirement of a factory too nursery teachers discussed their in the area to address unemployment, difficulties with the President. In by the residents of Hakmana. These response, President said measures are requests were made at a public meeting afoot to pay a monthly allowance to at the Hakmana City Hall premises pre-school teachers. organised by candidate Lakshman President Rajapaksa emphasised the Yapa Abeywardana. significance of planning early At Devinuwara Devalaya At Devinuwara Devalaya During a public gathering at childhood development, which is a Mulatiyana organised by the SLPP decisive stage in the lives of children in candidate Niroshan Premarathna accordance with the accepted residents in the area praised the standards and qualities. President’s recent decision to permit The President who was in the Matara Kitul industry to continue its District in support of the Sri Lanka productions. President Rajapaksa also Podujana Peramuna candidates (SLPP) participated in public rallies organised contesting the 5 August Parliamentary by the candidates Sarath De Alwis and Election made these remarks at a Weerasumana Weerasinghe at meeting organised by candidate Urubokka Public Playground and New Nipuna Ranawaka at Beach Park in fair premises, Deniyaya respectively. Matara on Saturday (25). People requested the President to The ‘2020 Election Manifesto’ of expedite the ongoing construction work Ranawaka was also launched on the of the hospital in Deniyaya. occasion. The President commenced In addition, the President attended At Uyanwatte Ground At Beach Road, Matara his tour in Matara from the playground the public gatherings organised by of the Ruhunu University. Engaging in the area including drinking water park near Uyanwatta Playground in last Presidential Election. The residents candidate Karunadasa Kodithuwakku a discussion with the Vice Chancellor problems were presented to the Matara President engaged in a cordial of the Kamburupitiya electorate said in Akuressa and stated measures will of the University Prof. Sujeewa President. Responding to the request discussion with the people present at they would repeat it and strengthen be taken after the Election to Amarasena, the President inquired from the public to resume the venue. President Rajapaksa’s administration re-cultivate abandoned paddy lands about academic activities of the rehabilitation activities at Dewinuwara People gathered at the in the upcoming General Election. and to implement new town plan of University. The Vice Chancellor Dewalaya which is currently on halt, Kamburupitiya Weekly Fair ground The public gathering was organised Akuressa as well as the flood mitigation informed him the online teaching President instructed relevant parties to assured the President of a historical by Minister Dullas Alahapperuma. programme. At the rally organised in methods are progressing well. immediately look into the matter. win at the upcoming General Election President said he will take measures to the beach area in close vicinity of the At the meeting organised by SLPP Minister Dullas Alahapperuma was to strengthen his administration. fulfil the requests made by the public Weligama Bus Stand by former candidate and former State Minister also present on the occasion. The highest percentage of votes at including paying compensation to Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardhana Kanchana Wijesekara in front of Attending the meeting organised by electorate level was recorded from the those who were affected by the floods President Rajapaksa conversed with Devinuwara Dewalaya several issues in candidate Manoj Sirisena at the car Kamburupitiya electorate during the during the Yala Season in 2019, the crowd. asia monday 27 july 2020 A9

Pyongyang, North Korea Manila, Philippines First suspected COVID-19 case Amid COVID-19 risks Thousands of N. Korea declares Filipinos crammed emergency in into baseball stadium border town North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un declared an emergency and a lockdown in a border town after a person suspected of being infected with the Covid-19 returned from South Korea after illegally crossing the border, State Media said on Sunday. If confirmed, it would be the first Filipinos stranded due to the COVID-19 restrictions cram inside a baseball case officially acknowledged by North stadium for a government transportation programme that will transport them back to their provinces, in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila, Korean authorities. Philippines (Reuters) Kim convened an emergency politburo meeting in response to what Thousands of Filipinos were "Because of the overflowing he called a "critical situation in which crammed into a baseball stadium number of people, we can no the vicious virus could be said to have in Manila on Saturday, breaking longer control (the situation) and entered the country," the North's KCNA social distancing rules despite the relevance of social distancing State news reported. coronavirus risks, after people had been diminished," Assistant A person who defected to South wanting to return to their home Secretary Joseph Encabo, who is Korea three years ago returned across provinces flooded a government overseeing the Government's the fortified border that divides the two transportation programme. transportation assistance Koreas to the town of Kaesong this Officials had reserved the program, told Reuters by phone. month with symptoms of COVID-19, stadium as a place to test people Police were deployed to urge North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (Reuters) the disease caused by the virus, KCNA before transporting them back to social distancing, but people, reported. result was made from several medical suspected Covid-19 case, but also their home provinces under a including the elderly, children and "An emergency event happened in check-ups of the secretion of that because it suggested it was appealing programme to help people who pregnant women, were seen in Kaesong City where a runaway who person's upper respiratory organ and for help. had lost their jobs in the capital close contact with each other. went to the south three years ago, a blood," prompting officials to "It's an ice-breaking moment for return to their families elsewhere. Some were not wearing masks. person who is suspected to have been quarantine the person and investigate North Korea to admit a case," said Officials had planned for 7,500 Many of those at the stadium infected with the vicious virus returned anyone he may have been in contact Choo Jae-woo, a professor at Kyung people to arrive at the stadium had got stuck in the capital when on 19 July after illegally crossing the with. Hee University. from Friday, but were caught out it imposed one of the strictest and demarcation line," KCNA said. One analyst said the announcement "It could be reaching out to the world when another 2,000 people who longest lockdowns in mid-March KCNA did not say if the person had was important, not only because North for help. Perhaps for humanitarian were not yet scheduled to travel in response to the coronavirus been tested, but said an "uncertain Korea was for the first time reporting a assistance." (Reuters) headed there anyway. pandemic. (Reuters)

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia New Delhi, India Kabul, Afghanistan As Najib’s first 1MDB verdict looms Former employee's complaint U.S. sends envoy to Alibaba, Jack Ma press for peace talks Malaysia faces in Afghanistan crucial graft test summoned by Washington has dispatched a special envoy for Afghanistan Malaysian former Prime to press for peace talks between the Government and Taliban Minister Najib Razak, Indian Court fighters, with the diplomat scheduled to visit Kabul on a trip fighting dozens of charges with stops in five Nations, the US State Department said on over a multi-billion-dollar An Indian Court has Saturday. graft scandal at State fund summoned Alibaba and its US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad 1MDB, faces his first verdict founder Jack Ma in a case in departed on Friday to travel to Doha, Kabul, Islamabad, Oslo on Tuesday in a landmark which a former employee in and Sofia, the department said in a statement. case that tests the country's India says he was wrongfully The United States is drawing down its troops in Afghanistan efforts to stamp out fired after objecting to what under an agreement struck in February with the Taliban. corruption and could have he saw as censorship and The agreement aimed to pave the way for formal peace talks big political implications. fake news on company apps, between the insurgents and the Afghan Government, and Najib was voted out in a documents seen by Reuters Khalilzad's task is to try and bring both sides to the table. historic 2018 election amid showed. Khalilzad plans to press for a deal on prisoner exchanges public anger over allegations The case comes weeks and a reduction in violence, two issues that have hampered that US$ 4.5 billion was after India cited security progress toward starting peace talks. stolen in a globe-spanning concerns in banning "Although significant progress has been made on prisoner scheme from 1Malaysia Malaysia’s former Prime Alibaba's UC News, UC exchanges, the issue requires additional effort to fully resolve," Development Berhad Minister Najib Razak speaks Browser and 57 other the State Department said in its statement. (1MDB), a fund he during an interview with Chinese apps after a clash On Wednesday, Khalilzad condemned an attack by Afghan co-founded. Prosecutors Reuters in Kuala Lumpur, between the two countries' Malaysia (Reuters) government forces that killed 45 people, including civilians, in allege more than US$ 1 forces on their border. airstrikes against Taliban fighters in a western province billion made its way into his a partial vindication. It also Following the ban, which Jack Ma, founder of Chinese bordering Iran. (Reuters) personal accounts. comes just four days after China has criticised, India e-commerce giant Alibaba, His party returned to the announcement of a US$ sought written answers from speaks during the launch of Alibaba’s office in Kuala power this year in an 3.9 billion settlement with all affected companies, Lumpur, Malaysia (Reuters) alliance led by Prime Goldman Sachs in return for including whether they Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Malaysia dropping criminal censored content or acted district Court in Gurugram, prompting some to question charges against the for any foreign government. a satellite city of India's how whether the return investment bank over its role In Court filings dated 20 capital, New Delhi, has would affect several in helping 1MDB sell US$ July and previously not issued summons for corruption cases against 6.5 billion in bonds. reported, the former Alibaba, Jack Ma and about Najib and his allies. Najib will first hear the employee of Alibaba's UC a dozen individuals or For Najib, the verdict in verdict on seven charges he Web, Pushpandra Singh company units, asking them the years-long saga, which faces over receiving 42 Parmar, alleges the company to appear in court or has seen a spectacular fall million ringgit (US$ 9.9 used to censor content seen through a lawyer on 29 July, from extreme opulence and a million) from former 1MDB as unfavourable to China Court documents showed. dominant position in unit SRC International in and its apps UC Browser The Judge has also sought Malaysian politics, marks a 2014. He has pleaded not and UC News showcased written responses from the An Afghan wearing a protective face mask walks past a wall painted with photo of Zalmay Khalilzad, US envoy for peace in Afghanistan, reckoning for the urbane, guilty to criminal breach of false news ‘to cause social company and its executives and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the leader of the Taliban delega- British-educated politician - trust, money laundering and and political turmoil.’ Civil within 30 days, according to tion, in Kabul, Afghanistan (Reuters) potentially decades in jail or abuse of power. (Reuters) Judge Sonia Sheokand of a the summons. (Reuters)

Singapore City Bangkok, Thailand Singapore PM unveils Cabinet Anti-government rally Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong named a Thai LGBT activists raise pride flag largely-unchanged Cabinet on Saturday following an election win this month, and flagged a possible delay, due to Hundreds of Thai LGBT activists and allies raised rainbow the novel coronavirus pandemic, of his plan to step down. flags on Saturday evening as they called for democracy and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Lee's expected equal rights, the latest in a series of youth protests calling for successor, was kept in post helming the Finance Ministry, the Government to step down. as were senior ministers Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Several youth-led demonstrations have sprung up across the Teo Chee Hean. country since last week, when thousands of Thai activists defied "We are in a crisis of a generation ... therefore I have kept a coronavirus ban on gatherings and staged one of the largest on many of my older colleagues who are all participating in street rallies since a 2014 military coup. this fight against COVID-19," Lee, whose People's Action The activists on Saturday danced and sang and performed Party (PAP) has ruled Singapore since its independence in stand-up comedy sketches making jabs at the Government of 1965. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former Army Chief who Lee, 68, said he may have to delay his plans to handover ousted an elected government six years ago. Pride flags were Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee to a successor by the time he is 70 because of the Hsien Loong arrives at a waved against the backdrop of Bangkok's Democracy pandemic. Monument. "We're here today mainly to call for democracy. People’s Action Party branch Thai Police Officers stand among demonstra- "A lot will depend on how events unfold and all I can say is office, as ballots are counted Once we achieve democracy, equal rights will follow," said a tors during a protest demanding the resigna- I will see this through," said the scion of Singapore's during the General Election, in 21-year-old activist who went by a made-up name, Viktorious tion of Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth modern day founder, Lee Kuan Yew. (Reuters) Singapore (Reuters) Nighttime. (Reuters) Chan-o-cha, in Bangkok, Thailand (Reuters) A10 monday 27 july 2020 world

Washington, United States Warsaw, Poland Poland to quit treaty on Seattle BLM clashes violence against women spark 45 arrests Dozens were arrested and many Police injured in clashes around Seattle's biggest Black Lives Matter protest in weeks on Saturday, Police said, with a renewed energy sparked by violent clashes between activists and federal agents in nearby Portland, Oregon. Police said officers used non-lethal weapons in attempts to disperse the thousands of marchers in the late afternoon after some protesters set fire to the construction site for a King Zbigniew Ziobro signs documents after being designated as Minister of Justice, at County juvenile detention facility and the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland (Reuters) courthouse. By 10:00 p.m. (0500 GMT), Police Poland will take steps next week to mostly women, protested in Warsaw had "made 45 arrests in connection withdraw from a European treaty on and other cities against proposals to with today’s riot in the East Precinct," violence against women, which the reject the treaty. the Seattle Police wrote in a Twitter right-wing cabinet says violates "The aim is to legalise domestic post. parents' rights by requiring schools violence," Marta Lempart, one of the It said "21 officers sustained injuries to teach children about gender, the protest organisers said on Friday at a after being struck by bricks, rocks Federal law enforcement officers are seen at a protest in Portland (Reuters) Justice Minister said on Saturday. march in Warsaw. Some protesters mortars/other explosives. Most Zbigniew Ziobro told a news carried banners saying "PiS is the officers were able to return to duty. deployment of federal police to Seattle, dressed in yellow, formed a human conference his ministry would women's hell." One was treated at a hospital for a enraging local officials and igniting wall between protesters and law submit a request to the labour and PiS has long complained about the knee injury." anger among protesters. enforcement. families ministry on Monday to begin Istanbul Convention, which Poland Earlier the Police had said they were "We saw what was happening in The tactics of federal officers in the process of withdrawing from the ratified under a previous centrist working to secure access for the city's Portland and we wanted to make sure Portland have drawn the ire of local treaty, known as the Istanbul government in 2015. The government fire department to the blaze, which it in our city we were standing in leaders and Democrats in Congress, Convention. says the treaty is disrespectful said was started by about a dozen solidarity with other moms," said who say those officers are using "It contains elements of an towards religion and requires people who were part of a large group Lhorna Murray, who attended on excessive force and complain of ideological nature, which we consider teaching liberal social policies in of demonstrators. behalf of the newly formed Wall of overreach by the Trump harmful," Ziobro said. schools, although in the past it has President Donald Trump said on Moms Seattle, replicating a tactic from Administration. Poland's ruling Law and Justice stopped short of a decision to quit. Thursday that he expanded the the Portland protests where mothers, (Reuters) (PiS) party and its coalition partners Ziobro, the justice minister, closely align themselves with the represents a smaller right-wing party Catholic Church and promote a within the ruling coalition. A conservative social agenda. Hostility government spokesman was not to gay rights was one of the main available on Saturday for comment Melbourne, Australia London, United Kingdom issues promoted by President Andrej on whether Ziobro's announcement Duda during a successful re-election of plans to quit the treaty represented campaign this month. a collective cabinet decision. Australia reports Britain defends Spanish On Friday, thousands of people, (Reuters) highest daily toll of quarantine move COVID-19 deaths Paris, France France expands free COVID-19 testing

A woman stands at the EasyJet check-in desk at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, amid the spread of Cyclists wear face masks at St Kilda beach in Melbourne, COVID-19, in Barcelona, Spain (Reuters) Australia (Reuters) Australia reached a grim healthcare facilities, big British Foreign Minister Johnson's government for its milestone on Sunday, distribution centres, Dominic Raab on Sunday "frankly shambolic" handling French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with officials as he casts his ballot at a polling station during the second round of French municipal elections, that was recording its highest ever slaughterhouses, cold- stood by his government's of the measure, which has delayed due to the spread of COVID-19, in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France daily tally of deaths from storage facilities and abrupt decision to impose a scuppered the plans of many (Reuters) the novel coronavirus, as warehouses, Andrews two-week coronavirus would-be holidaymakers. authorities in Victoria state said. quarantine on travellers The move will also hit hard French health authorities are decline for 13 weeks," Health Minister battled scores of clusters of "What that tells you is returning from Spain, which at the Spanish tourism sector making COVID-19 tests available free Olivier Veran said in an interview infection and intensified that some people ... are has provoked anger and just as it is starting to recover of charge without prescription as they published in Le Parisien's Sunday efforts to trace their feeling sick, they have confusion among tourists. from months of coronavirus closely monitor an uptick in infections edition. contacts. Victoria's leader, symptoms and they are The move to take Spain off a lockdowns and travel after the lifting of lockdown measures. France has recorded 30,192 deaths Daniel Andrews, told a still going to work," he said. safe-travel list was announced restrictions. PCR nasal swab tests, which detect attributed to the coronavirus, among Media briefing the state "If that continues, then late on Saturday and took At Madrid's Barajas Airport COVID-19 infections caused by the a total of 180,528 cases of the disease, had reported 10 COVID-19 we will just continue to see effect from midnight (2300 Emily Harrison, who was novel coronavirus, will be freely according to statistics published on deaths in the past 24 more and more cases." GMT on Saturday), leaving taking a flight to London and available on demand under Friday. hours, Australia's highest The new case tallies travellers with no time to faced the prospect of having government orders published on The number of new daily infections ever daily toll. came on the day that dodge it or plan ahead. to self-isolate for two weeks. Saturday. rose above 1,000 for a second day Victoria also recorded Victoria carried out the Raab defended the "It's really bad because it's "We wouldn't describe this as a running - around their daily level 459 new cases of the most ever coronavirus imposition of the quarantine just come all of a sudden, it's second wave, but what's clear is that when lockdown measures were eased coronavirus, its second tests, at more than 45,000. as a "real-time response" to a not given very much time to for several days now we have seen a in May, following two months of highest tally ever, he said, Australia has avoided jump in Spanish coronavirus prepare so everyone is now noticeable increase in the number of confinement. falling short only of the 483 the sort of severe cases reported on Friday, the panicking," said Harrison, confirmed cases, which had been in (Reuters) last Wednesday, and up coronavirus outbreaks latest in a month-long from Essex. from 357 on Saturday, as seen in some other resurgence in infections. "We had a wedding to go to infections remained countries, with more than "We can't make apologies... and we had plans to visit persistent despite a two- 14,400 cases recorded and we must be able to take swift, friends and family who we week lockdown of its 155 deaths. decisive action," he said on haven't seen in a very long Oslo, Norway biggest city, Melbourne. But authorities are Sky News. time and now we are going to The state's second wave struggling to contain more The opposition Labour have to cancel all those Temperatures at Norway's Arctic is being driven by than 100 clusters in Party's health policy chief, plans, so it's really quite workplace infections at Victoria. Jonathan Ashworth, slammed upsetting." archipelago hit record high places like aged-care and (Reuters) Prime Minister Boris (Reuters)

Moscow, Russia Tens of thousands protest against Putin

Tens of thousands marched in the opposition activists said upwards of Russian far east on Saturday, the 50,000 had attended and that it was the third such weekend protest in a row, biggest protest of its kind so far. to express their anger over what they "Give us our Furgal back," said a local A sign warns of the danger from polar bears in the town of Longyearbyen in Svalbard, Norway (Reuters) say is President Vladimir Putin's businesswoman called Viktoria. "This is mishandling of a local political crisis. our choice." Temperatures at Norway's Celsius, 0.4 degrees above the Residents of Khabarovsk, around The protests have highlighted anger Svalbard archipelago, about midway previous record from 1979, it added. 3,800 miles (6,110 km) and seven time among some over what they see as between the mainland and the North Home to more than 2,000 people, zones east of Moscow, are unhappy policies emanating from detached Pole, hit a record high of 21.7 Longyearbyen, the main settlement about the detention this month of the Moscow-based authorities. degrees Celsius on Friday, Norway's in Svalbard, is about 1,300 wider region's popular governor, Supporters of Furgal, a member of the Meteorological Institute said. The kilometres (800 miles) from the Sergei Furgal, who was arrested on nationalist LDPR party, feel he is being Arctic islands are warming faster North Pole. murder charges he denies. People take part in a rally in support of than almost anywhere on Earth, The Norwegian Centre for Climate arrested governor Sergei Furgal in belatedly punished for defeating a His arrest, which his supporters say Khabarovsk (Reuters) candidate from the ruling pro-Putin highlighting risks in other parts of Studies said last February average was politically motivated, triggered the United Russia party in 2018. The the Arctic from Alaska to Siberia, a temperatures in Svalbard had leapt protests and created a headache for they want Furgal, who they think has Kremlin says Furgal has serious Norwegian report said last year. between three and five degrees the Kremlin which is trying to been set up, to be flown back from charges to answer. "A 41-year-old record has been Celsius (5.4-9.0 Fahrenheit) since troubleshoot a COVID-19-induced Moscow and put on trial in Khabarovsk. Such sustained demonstrations are broken in Longyearbyen," the the early 1970s and could rise by a drop in real incomes and keep a lid on City authorities estimated around unusual for Russia's regions, as is the Meteorological Institute said on total of 10C (18F) by 2100, if world unrest. 6,500 people had taken part. One local fact that the authorities have not yet Twitter. Between 1700 and 1800 greenhouse gas emissions keep Protesters chanted "Putin resign!" and media outlet put the number at up to moved to break them up. CET (1500-1600 GMT), the climbing. "Putin is a thief!". Demonstrators say 20,000, while other outlets and (Reuters) temperature measured 21.7 degrees (Reuters) monDAY 27 july 2020 b11 India extends $400M currency swap facility to SL By Rajiesh Seetharam debt repayments were positive and cordial, and next level of discussions Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed would be held soon,” noted an earlier documents for a $400 million currency statement from Indian HC. swap facility to Sri Lanka with a two-year Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa tenure until November 2022, noted a post asked for a moratorium on debt from the official Twitter handle of the repayments from Indian government on Indian High Commission (HC) in Colombo. his visit to New Delhi on February 2020. “This development is another example of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had India’s strong commitment to work with requested US$ 1.1 billion through a Sri Lanka in its post-COVID economic special swap facility to top-up the US$ recovery,” noted a post from the Indian 400 million obtained under the SAARC HC. facility during a telephone conversation The latest developments follow a recent with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra discussion between top-level officials from Modi on 23 May. both countries via video conference on A currency swap is a transaction in rescheduling debt repayments. which two parties exchange principal and “The discussions between top level interest in different currencies, to get officials on 22 July regarding rescheduling more favourable loan rates. Friday Markets Shares gain despite foreign exits June remittances By Mario Andree improve amid COVID-19 The Colombo Stock Exchange closed the week on SL earns US$ 572.5 million Friday (24) on a bullish note, as the benchmark index gained for the second consecutive session to a By Mario Andree remittances, down 13.9 per cent from US$ two-week high on a modest turnover despite contin- 571 million a year ago. ued foreign exits from the Bourse. Sri Lanka’s largest source of foreign In February this year, the country saw The benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) gained exchange, worker remittances, which has worker remittances increase 5.4 per cent to 0.48 per cent (24.42 points) to close at 5,065.30 come under serious threat due to the US$ 527.3 million from US$ 500.5 million Dinesh Gunawardena Ranil Jayawardena points, its highest since 9 July, while the more liquid COVID-19 pandemic affecting the global a year ago. S&P SL20 representing the top 20 shares gained economy, has shown a growth in June this The country started this year on a 0.10 per cent (2.26 points) to close at 2,161.89 Foreign Minister year for the first time since the country positive note, with worker remittances points. The daily turnover at the Colombo Stock went into lockdown in March. increasing 6.5 per cent to US$ 581 million Exchange stood at Rs 871.9 million on Friday (24), According to data released by the Central in January, compared to US$ 545.3 million higher than Rs 631 million recorded during the pre- in talks with UK Bank of Sri Lanka, worker remittances a year earlier. vious market day. Nearly 62 million shares changed increased 6.7 per cent during June this With migrant workers returning to Sri hands on Friday (24) during 13,638 trades taking International year to US$ 572.5 million compared to US$ Lanka due to fear of the pandemic, and place. Shares of 243 companies were actively traded, 536.6 million last year. some as a result of losing employment, the of which 126 emerged as winners, comfortably ahead However, cumulative earnings from future of remittances seems to be of 34 losers. Foreigners were net sellers on Friday Trade Minister worker remittances during the first six uncertain. (24) for the ninth consecutive session. Net foreign Foreign Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena held a months of this year declined 8.9 per cent to Worker remittances have been Sri outflow during the day amounted to Rs 78 million, as teleconference with the UK’s International Trade US$ 2.98 billion, compared to US$ 3.27 Lanka’s largest foreign exchange earner foreigners sold shares worth Rs 108 million as Minister, Ranil Jayawardena, in which the two billion a year ago. and the country’s balance of payments has against purchases worth Rs 31 million. discussed stepping up bilateral trade and In May this year, worker remittances been highly dependent on the income Top gainers during the day were Blue Diamonds investment ties and expanding cooperation. declined 23.2 per cent to US$ 431.8 generated by migrant workers. (non-voting), SMB Leasing (non-voting), Amana Life, The call, which took place last Thursday (23), million, compared to US$ 562.1 million The sector is also one of the largest Fort Land, Kelani Cables, Autodrome, Singhe was the first official interaction between the two earned a year earlier. employment providers to address the Hospitals, Softlogic Finance, Renuka Capital and CM Ministers. In April this year, worker remittances unemployment and poverty issues Holdings. Top losers during the day were Blue Both Ministers welcomed further consolidating amounted to US$ 375 million, down 32.3 prevailing in the country; however, Sri Diamonds, Tess Agro (non-voting), Equity Two, the long-standing bilateral engagement through per cent from US$ 553.7 million a year Lanka has been witnessing a declining Jetwing Symphony, Kahawatte, East West, Pegasus increased trade, security, research and training, earlier. In March this year, the country trend in the number of departures for Hotels, Cold Stores, Melstacorp and Asia Assets. in science and technology, including people-to- earned US$ 492.1 million from worker foreign employment over the last few years. people contacts. They particularly agreed on the need for close cooperation to address the challenges facing bilateral trade and investment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both identified the importance of moving the ‘Spot’ falls deeper on supply chains, opening travel and tourism Financial markets suffer sectors and pressing economic issues. NFOs; MPBCs Opportunities for new export products to the UK By Paneetha Ameresekere market from Sri Lanka were also discussed. Recalling the shared values and interests NFO of Rs 4.24B The benchmark ‘spot’ marginally weakened by between the UK and Sri Lanka as members of By Paneetha Ameresekere comprised Rs 114,837.54 million. The split between seven and three cents in two-way quotes to the Commonwealth, Minister Gunawardena comprised a record Rs 91,197.36 million trade at Rs 185.77/83 to the US dollar in two-way reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to continue The country’s financial markets suffered from the GSM and Rs 23,640.18 million quotes as at 4pm on Friday (24) due to continued net its active participation in the organisation. a cumulative net foreign outflow (NFO) of from the CSE, respectively. foreign outflows (NFOs) from the financial markets Minister Gunawardena also invited Minister Rs 4,242.13 million (Rs 4.24 billion) from Further, foreign investments in the GSM because of uncertainty, sources told Ceylon FT. Jayawardena to visit Sri Lanka at the earliest the period 16-24 July, as observed by fell to an all-time low of Rs 12,822.96 In the calendar year to Friday, the ‘spot’ has weak- opportunity after the General Elections. combining data released by the Central million on Wednesday, since the ened by between 2.47 per cent and 2.44 per cent Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and the Colombo Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) opened (between Rs 4.47 and Rs 4.43) in two-way quotes, Stock Exchange (CSE), which was caused this market for foreign investments 14 thereby causing cost-push inflationary pressure as by uncertainty, market sources told this years ago in 2006, i.e., after war broke out Sri Lanka is an import-dependent economy. reporter. again between the GoSL and the LTTE. Meanwhile, continued uncertainty also caused The split comprised an NFO of Prior to the record lows suffered by the Government of Sri Lanka’s (GoSL’s) money printing Rs 3,448.61 million from the Government GSM this year, the previous record low it borrowing costs (MPBCs) to further decrease on Securities Market (GSM); comprising suffered took place 12 years ago in 2008, Friday, this time by 5.37 per cent (Rs 45.12 million) foreign disinvestments from risk free where such foreign investments fell to and to go deeper into negative territory, i.e. minus (-) Treasury (T) Bills and T Bonds in the week Rs 23,005 million, from Rs 49,647 million Rs 885.01 million at the end of Friday’s trading, ended Wednesday (22), and an NFO of in 2007, CBSL records showed. because of continuous demand for safe-haven Rs 793.52 million from the CSE in the The year 2008 saw the height of GoSL’s Treasury (T) Bills and T Bonds in secondary market week ended Friday (24), respectively. war with the LTTE. It was also the year of trading. In other developments, GoSL retired matur- In the calendar year to Wednesday and the Global Financial Crisis and the Great ing face value money printing (FVMP) debt worth Rs Friday, such NFOs, on a cumulative basis, Recession. 2,000 million on Friday, thereby on the whole reduc- ing its FVMP debt by 0.68 per cent to Rs 290,127.45 million by the weekend (24). This action also helped to reduce GoSL’s MPBCs as well as to mitigate Private Sector demand-pull inflationary pressure. Consequently, net excess liquidity fell by 2.24 per SL-Swiss business circle bids farewell cent (Rs 2,963 million) to Rs 129,558 million at the Credit Growth end of Friday’s trading. to Ambassador Meanwhile, GoSL’s foreign debt servicing commit- ments saw the country’s foreign reserves being poor- hits six-month er by US$ 5.18 million (Rs 963 million) at the end of Friday’s trading. Conversions are based on the mid- dle rate of the ‘spot’ as at 4pm on Wednesday, which low in June was Rs 185.75 to the US dollar. ‘Spot’ trades are set- tled after two market days from the date of transac- Decelerates for second tion. CBSL, the steward of GoSL debt and also of its consecutive month foreign reserves deals in ‘spot’. GoSL’s FVMP debt is equal to the FV of CBSL’sT Bills and T Bond hold- By Paneetha Ameresekere ings. MP is CBSL’s sole and mandated authority. MP is exercised to meet GoSL’s monetary commitments Private sector credit growth, from borrowings in the absence of adequate revenue and increased made from the country’s commercial banking GoSL expenditure. sector, dropped to a six-month low in June, However, if MP ends up at the hands of GoSL only, according to Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) without ‘once more’ being passed on to CBSL, for official records released on Friday (24), due to instance as settlement to buy the required dollars to uncertainty, market sources told this reporter. meet GoSL’s foreign debt servicing commitments Further, due to this uncertainty, June also from the former, it causes demand-pull inflationary saw private sector credit growth decelerating pressure. The market is avoided to meet GoSL’s for- for the second consecutive month, records eign debt servicing commitments for fear that that showed. would weaken the rupee, thereby causing cost-push Private sector credit grew by 4.3 per cent inflationary pressure as Sri Lanka is an import- year-on-year (YoY) last month, equal to a dependent economy. MPBCs are prorated to the similar sluggish growth witnessed in December weighted average yields fetched in secondary market 2019. In the interim period, private sector From left: Anselm Perera, Thomas Daetwyler, Hanspeter Mock and Cubby Wijetunge trading of T Bills and T Bonds. Investments in T Bills credit grew by 4.5 per cent YoY in January and T Bonds are considered risk-free, because if 2020, 4.8 per cent in February, 6.5 per cent in Swiss Business Circle Sri Lanka President, Cubby Wijetunge, together with founding GoSL is unable to meet such commitments, CBSL is March, 7.6 per cent in April, before members, Anselm Perera and Thomas Daetwyler, visited the outgoing Ambassador of mandated to print demand-pull inflationary MP to decelerating to 6.4 per cent in May, whilst Switzerland, Hanspeter Mock and handed over a specially-crafted tea set made by Mlesna. pay off such creditors. further decelerating to 4.3 per cent last month, The Swiss Business Circle was founded in 2004 and is an association of Swiss companies records further showed. The private sector is in Sri Lanka and companies that do business with Switzerland, which aims to further the regarded as the engine of economic growth. ties between the two countries and create employment. B12 Ceylon FT Monday 27 JULY 2020 Economy Road safety also aids economic growth

By Paneetha Ameresekere

This article dwells on the economic benefits that may be derived by ensuring road safety, as elaborated in a recent World Bank (WB) report that noted how improving road safety in Sri Lanka would be vital to Speed national health, wellbeing and economic growth. management “As evidenced in analytical work undertaken by the World Bank is a vital road Group (WBG) with funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, sharply safety priority reducing the number of crash fatalities and injuries over time in Sri Lanka would enable countries like Sri Lanka to achieve substantial that increases in economic growth and national income, while permeates all simultaneously achieving large population welfare gains,” it said. policy This also underscores the economic losses associated with inaction, the considerations WB emphasised. addressing Sri Lanka has experienced sustained economic growth and infrastructure, made progress in reducing poverty and boosting prosperity over the past vehicle, and decade. However, these positive trends are being undermined by high road user fatality and injury rates on its roads, the report stressed. by businesses and enterprises of all seeking to minimise the number of safety issues Nevertheless, investments in sizes, enhanced vehicle safety, safer road crashes, crashes must be effective road crash fatality and transport for children, more stringent anticipated, planned for and injury prevention will contribute to safety requirements for vehicles and accommodated to ensure that their the accumulation of human capital transport services procurement, safe level of violence does not threaten life in Sri Lanka, which in turn will speed management in cities, or long-term health, the WB said. contribute to sustainable and Infrastructure safety and potential It further said that the National inclusive economic growth and safety gains by adopting new Council for Road Safety (NCRS) was overall country wealth, the report Good practice technologies, the WB said. constituted under the Motor Traffic further said. road safety Economic losses associated with (Amendment) Act of 1998 with a This is in the context that WB inaction are amplified by the vision of ‘safe roads for everyone.’ considered under the proposed research indicates that human programmes in aforementioned co-benefits lost if The WB said that the NCRS National Transport Safety capital accounts for around two- safety investment is curtailed, the comprises 17 members who are Commission Act would ensure that thirds of a country’s total wealth, far high-income WB warned. Scaled-up road safety representatives from Government all penalties collected from traffic more than natural capital and countries over investment in Sri Lanka will also and non-government agencies; its violations also accrue to the RSF, to produced capital, it said. the past five contribute to the achievement of functions, as laid down under be allocated to road safety activities. Climate change mitiga- other sustainable mobility goals Section 213A of the Motor Traffic Act There is an ongoing effort by the decades have (aforementioned) concerning are as follows: Pay compensation to Police to build a road crash database tion improved transport productivity, victims of hit-and-run accidents, through the Moratuwa University, convincingly universal accessibility, climate formulate and implement projects on supported by the World Health Accident prevention will also change mitigation and adaptation road safety, coordinate road safety- Organisation (WHO), the WB report contribute to the achievement of demonstrated and reduced local air and noise related activities in Government and further said. other sustainable mobility goals that road crash pollution, it said. non-government organisations Data from four suburbs of the concerning improved transport Securing these network (NGOs), solicit financial and other Western Province is being used in productivity, universal accessibility, fatalities and productivities, accessibility, support for road safety activities, this pilot project. Around 90 Police climate change mitigation and decarbonisation and public health advise the Government on road stations are participating, using adaptation, and reduced local air and injuries can be co-benefits of road safety investment safety-related policies and projects, tablets to collect the data and use the noise pollution, the WB report prevented and is high on the agenda for cities and coordinate with similar international database software. Nevertheless, opined. their national transport corridors and for institutions and share experience, from an operational and functional Economic gains the achievement of regional and collect data on related subjects and perspective, this pilot project needs devastating global trade facilitation and conduct research and field further support in terms of Therefore, the estimated economic connectivity objectives, the WB said. inspections, maintain a database hardware/software at Police stations gains from achieving a 50 per cent burden These sustainable mobility goals pertaining to road safety and and training for Police personnel fatality reduction target in countries are inextricably linked with each maintain a library consisting of before it can be rolled out to the other assessed in a study, ranged between substantially other and well-targeted safety books related to the subject of road eight provinces in Sri Lanka. a 7-22 per cent increase in GDP over avoided investment must negotiate a complex safety. ‘Access Denied’ the analysis time frame of 24 years, strategic space that delivers on all of The NCRS is now in the process of the WB said. Meanwhile, the them within an integrated policy being established as the aforesaid “‘There is first a need for broad estimated population welfare gains framework, it said. National Transport Safety agreements and understanding from achieving a 50 per cent fatality Good Practices Commission (NTSC) based on a among the Police and other reduction in the countries assessed recommendation made by a stakeholder departments on access were equivalent to 6–32 per cent of Good practice road safety Parliamentary committee appointed to the road crash database. These GDP over this period, the study December, the report said. Seventy programmes in high-income to study the reasons behind the other stakeholders have reportedly further said. percent of road crashes involve low- countries over the past five decades increase in traffic crashes in 2009. not been provided access to this But for this to happen, Sri Lanka income commuters and motorists, it have convincingly demonstrated that In 2011, a draft National Road database. This has resulted in road- will require an additional investment added. road crash fatalities and injuries can Safety Action Plan was drawn up related technical data not being of almost US$ 2 billion to achieve a “Discussions with stakeholders be prevented and their devastating with aspirations, outcomes, roles, entered into the system, causing it to 50 per cent reduction in national indicate that about 10 per cent of burden substantially avoided, the and responsibilities for various be incomplete. Quality assurance road crash fatalities, it further said. fatalities could be at railroad level WB said. There is considerable stakeholder departments for the processes must also be improved to And it will take long-term crossings,” the report added. potential for Sri Lanka to improve its period 2011–20. The plan was ensure that the quality of data commitment and sustained vision Infrastructure safety design skills road safety performance over the formulated under the UN five-pillar improves and crash sites can be from the Government of Sri Lanka and tools will require strengthening coming decade, it added. These are approach to road safety, i.e., road recorded better,” the WB report said. (GoSL) for this investment, if made, to ensure the protection of all road compelling reasons to act on this safety management, safer Meanwhile, a proposed Asia-Pacific to be effective and bring road safety users. urgent and achievable sustainable infrastructure, safer vehicles, safer Road Safety Observatory will provide performance under control on a More effective, efficient and scaled- development priority, the report users and post-crash care. expert assistance to countries in Asia sustainable basis, the WB said. up initiatives are required to emulate further said. and the Pacific by facilitating shared The detrimental impacts of poor the performance trajectories of high- Scientific evidence on the Little progress crash data collection and analysis road safety performance on income countries that define good relationship between vehicle speeds Strategies, actions, outputs, and practices and promoting the design development must be addressed. road safety practice and provide a and crash risks is robust. This link key performance indicators have of effective fatality and injury Crash fatality risk rankings (number blueprint for action, the WB said. was confirmed by a recent review of been set for each department – reduction measures. The WHO, the of motor vehicle crash deaths per Meanwhile, the National Transport speed limit changes and the wide- transport, health and Police – and Global Road Safety Facility, the 100,000 population) highlight the Safety Commission (NTSC) bill seeks scale deployment of automated speed the Road Development Authority Federation Internationale de hazards faced by pedestrians and car to formulate a national policy in Sri enforcement in case study of 10 (RDA) among others. Thus far, l’Automobile (FIA) Foundation, UK and light passenger vehicles, the Lanka to ensure safety of countries, it said. however, there has been little and the Government of Japan are report said. transportation by avoiding damage to In the countries studied, increases progress on implementing the plan. providing financial support for this An increased number of vehicles, lives and property from traffic in mean speeds resulted in a higher Some of the reasons for this lack of initiative. A high-level regional poor maintenance of the road accidents; formulate policies for number of crashes and fatalities and progress could be the non-statuary workshop was held in Singapore in network, improper expansion of transport management that minimise injuries. This evidence applies nature of the NCRS and related March 2019 to launch this initiative. roads, less scrutiny while issuing traffic congestion; establish a equally well to roads throughout Sri resource and capacity constraints WBG, FIA, the Asian Development driver’s licences, ineffectiveness of national commission for national Lanka, but it is not necessarily the that may have hampered its Bank (ADB), the International the authorities in penalising road transport safety and determine case that increased speeds will coordination and monitoring of all Transport Forum and Government traffic offences and inefficiency of the powers and functions of the said always result in safety losses, it said. road safety activities under the Road officials from 15 countries in the public transport system are some of NTSC, the WB said. On the contrary, adherence to safe Safety Action Plan (RSAP). region, including Sri Lanka, the factors identified behind the This Bill also seeks to establish a road network design principles in Sri In 2011, a Road Safety Fund (RSF) participated in this workshop. A increased incidence of road traffic fund for transport safety and repeal Lanka can both improve safety was established as per Section 213B second workshop was held in injuries (RTIs) and higher fatalities in sections related to the National outcomes and contribute to the of the Motor Traffic Act. Around 1% Bangkok in December 2019 to seek the country, the WB said. Council for Road Safety and the Road achievement of other important of all the third-party insurance and continued country support and Meanwhile, GoSL initiatives, if Safety Fund established under sustainable mobility goals related to other grants accrue to it. The RSF endorsements for the proposal. This implemented to reduce road Sections 213A and 213B of the Motor vehicle productivity and funds the NCRS. The NCRS makes initiative has the potential to assist accidents, must be systematic, at Traffic (Amendment) Act No.5 of environmental performance, the WB payments from the RSF to victims of the development of crash data scale (at the required size to solve the 1998, the WB said. said. Howbeit, good practice speed hit-and-run crashes. Penalties recording and management systems problem) and properly sequenced, management is central to delivering collected through traffic violations go in Sri Lanka through regional and with institutional capacity being Safer transport modes effectively and efficiently on this to a Police Welfare Fund (40%), global knowledge sharing and strengthened, to ensure successful Nonetheless, recommended wider ambition, the report said. Postal Department (10%) and the transfer of good practice procedures delivery so that the full power of priorities for improved road safety Speed management is a vital road Consolidated Fund of the and technologies, the WB said. safety compliance regimes can be over the coming decade will include: safety priority in Sri Lanka that Government (50%). These funds This is the second and last exercised, the WB said. Promoting shifts to more sustainable permeates all policy considerations however are not spent on road safety instalment on ‘road safety and Most of these crashes occur during and safer transport modes, improved addressing infrastructure, vehicle, improvements. economic benefits’ based on a the festive months of April and reporting on sustainability outcomes and road user safety issues. Besides Nonetheless, an amendment being recent World Bank (WB) report. wellness/news monday 27 july 2020 ceylon ft b13 Capitalising on Sri Lanka’s opportunities for wellness tourism For tourism we can use both By Anjali Caldera Ministry of Health. Hospitals have theories. opened up. Medical tourism is Sri Lanka’s wellness tourism “We have the plans to develop hela important. Tourists may come for industry is not on the level of places wedakama by seeking expert views on both traditional and modern like Thailand or Kerala, which see this and getting industry stakeholders treatments. Medical tourists from the high demand from wellness travellers to join us. The private sector is good Seychelles have already arrived in the in the world. Our promotions are zero, at delivering, but we haven’t given country during recent times. and the staff is not trained properly, them regulations yet. We need to do a University of Colombo Institute of though we have sufficient resources; proper branding and Sri Lanka Indigenous Medicine Senior Lecturer, but the positive factor is that we can tourism is ready to do what is to be Dr. Namal Jayawardene revealed that start from the beginning, stated an done,” stated Fernando. a committee has been formed industry expert. As per Jetwing Symphony PLC consisting of personnel from Ayurveda Sri Lanka Tourism Development Chairman Hiran Cooray, hela Health Ministry, Indigenous Medicine Authority (SLTDA) Chairman, Kirmali wedakama is also being studied now, sector, University of Colombo and Fernando, speaking at a webinar with Western Europe, Germany and University of Kelaniya, which is titled ‘Wellness: the new paradigm for Japan being the most important planning to prepare protocols for Sri Lanka Tourism’, noted there is a existing markets, but we also need to prevention and cure. lot to be done by the Government to cater to Eastern countries as well. Meanwhile, Cooray insisted that as promote wellness tourism in Sri Cooray also highlighted the long as there are restrictions for Lanka. possibility of arranging ayurvedic travelers, there won’t be many visitors “It has become one of our top tours in Sri Lanka, which they have to Sri Lanka. Once regulations are priorities. At present, we even see a been practicing for some time with lifted, wellness-seeking tourists will clear opportunity for this sector with their own hotels across the island, come in large numbers, especially in the COVID-19 outbreak. Thus, we She further insisted that private Lanka and Maldives. Another idea of starting with a few nights in Negombo, the winter months in Europe. Then need assistance from the Health ayurvedic resorts that have already the whole study is to get the continuing to Sigiriya, and ending in promoting longer stays, immunity- Ministry, Export Development Board been established in the country, such professional view from outside.” Galle. boosting methods and the local (EDB) and private sector as Siddalepa, Barbarian, Jetwing, Possible source markets will be Capitalising on opportunities from climate is perfect for that. stakeholders, to get the youngsters Tree of life, Santani, etc., are an asset Central and Northern Europe, The world is not aware about the involved in this and spread awareness to the sector. including Austria, Germany, COVID-19 wellness side of Sri Lanka. It has been among them,” she said. There are also the right people to Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, With COVID-19, people are more marketed as a leisure destination. She added that presently, there is a develop the wellness sector in Sri Belgium, Sweden, which comprise concerned on immunity-enhancing, Thus, there should be a proper four-year programme that provides a Lanka. “We have good therapists, around 150 million people, all of healing retreats and spiritual marketing strategy that uses wellness Diploma in Ayurveda, where industry natural resources, and professional whom can afford a wellness vacation getaways that relieve anxiety and agents to promote Sri Lanka. stakeholders could follow to obtain yoga instructors; but as a service and are ready to travel. depression. Thus, wellness has As per the panelists, the demand is the required knowledge in the field. industry, we are not catering to the Linsa further indicated that they become prioritised. less now, but the opportunity will Sri Lanka has the potential high-end markets. This area needs to find certain products that Sri Lanka The younger audience is looking for arise in winter, as there is tendency be structured professionally. The real wellness stakeholders can offer their some sort of mindfulness meditation. that leisure travellers will shift to According to Well Intelligence factor is how to connect with customers and also to conduct a There is a linkage here, where Sri wellness travelers. Co-Founder and Chief Executive, travellers, breaking the language marketing strategy. Lanka can position itself well. Thus, How could wellness tourism be Anni Hood, the value of wellness barrier, connecting with secret Promoting ‘hela wedakama’ Sri Lanka will be a good destination tourism in the world is over US$ 640 treatments, getting the relevant for travellers who seek these sorts of beneficial to Sri Lanka? billion and this is expected to go to people, getting monks to meditate Sri Lankan traditional medicine has comforts for the next few months. As most wellness travellers are trillion by 2022. with groups, etc.,” stated Ayurva been handed down through The travel agencies and tour high-spenders, there will be a massive At present, people are looking for Traveler Founder/MD, Nilusha generations from the time of ancient operators in the country have a vital currency flow to the country, causing something different from the usual Kodituwakku. kings and is still practiced as an role to play here. travellers trust tour considerable economic development. holiday, much more than being “Inquiries we got five years ago were identical segment in Sri Lanka. operators at present. Thus, as per San Additionally, investment in entertained. People go for a change in for things like spa pampering and There is sufficient evidence in our Wellness Sanctuary Founder, Sam infrastructure would be beneficial for their lifestyle now more than ever with luxurious stays, with a bit of yoga or ancient ruins, especially during the Kankanamge, they should give a clear tourists as well as for local the outbreak of COVID-19 and also meditation. But the requirement has Anuradhapura kingdom era; message on the safety protocols in the communities. being overworked, overstressed, drastically changed during the past Mihinthale Hospital was identified as country. With the expansion of wellness overweight, etc. Sri Lanka has a huge few years. Today’s travellers look for the first hospital in the world, while in With the growing trend for practices and the selection of ideal opportunity for wellness tourism with more meaningful travel, and their Polonnaruwa, we have ruins of small Ayurveda, mindfulness and locations to promote wellness, a range the inborn compassion of its people, purpose of travel has shifted to deep dispensaries and medicinal meditation, of course wellness of job opportunities will be opened to its knowledge on traditional medical connections. Sri Lanka has these equipment. tourism is a billion-dollar industry for locals in rural areas, as they will do a practices, culture, and religious higher energy points. Ayurvedic medicine came to Sri Sri Lanka. What is important is to better service with their cultural diversity resources, etc., stated Linser Hospitality MD, Dr. Franz Lanka from the North Indian area market this to the right people. practices with proper training. Wellbeing Escapes, UK Founder/MD, Linser revealed that a detailed with the arrival of King Vijaya. Are we ready? Further, when concerned about the Stella Photi. assessment had been carried out of At present, we are practicing a interests of wellness travellers, it Sri Lanka has its competitors, but Sri Lanka’s wellness tourism, saying, combination of hela wedakama and To reopen the ayurvedic centres for would definitely lead to responsible they are not as strong in the “We’ve been working with EDB, and Ayurveda. It is possible to use the domestic tourists, they have to get the tourism, as they value the nature, mentioned areas. This will be a pull we got the right funding partners from theories in hela wedakama, while approval from local PHIs. To cater to heritage and culture of Sri Lanka and factor for Sri Lanka’s wellness Australia and support from the analysing the disorder using international tourists, it will be would protect the country from an tourism. European Union delegate for Sri Ayurveda. necessary to get certification from the over-tourism scenario.

Fintrex Finance appoints Jayathilake Industrial Bandara as new CEO power Fintrex Finance Limited up the bank’s hierarchy to reach diploma in Financial Management announced that it recently the position of Deputy General from Wigan and Leigh College, UK, consumption appointed renowned banker, Manager of SME Banking. and is an Associate Member of the Jayathilake Bandara, as its new Upon leaving NTB, he was Senior Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka as CEO. Executive Vice President of well as a life member of Association reduces for Bandara is a respected Commercial Banking, a member of of Professional Bankers in Sri professional in the Banking and the Corporate Management, and Lanka. He is also an alumnus of second month Financial industry with over 31 several other management and Frankfurt School of Business, years’ of experience in Banking, Board committees. Germany and an Associate Member By Paneetha Ameresekere including SME banking, Factoring, Over his career, Bandara has of Sri Lanka Institute of Directors. Leasing, Hire Purchase and other spearheaded and implemented a Fintrex was formerly known as Electricity sales to industries, a areas. diversity of business and Melsta Regal Finance Ltd and was key gauge of a country’s economic Beginning his banking career at marketing strategies in creating a fully owned subsidiary of growth, contracted for the second Seylan Bank PLC in 1989, he later sustainable value to all Melstacorp PLC. The ownership consecutive month in April 2020, joined Emirates Bank International stakeholders. Bandara contributed moved from a trusted Sri Lankan Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) PJSC, Dubai, UAE in 1998. On his significantly to the development conglomerate to another data released on Friday (24) return to Sri Lanka, Bandara and growth of NTB, particularly in international financial powerhouse showed. joined Nations Trust Bank (NTB) as the last decade. giving Fintrex the continued Electricity sales to industries, Manager of the Kurunegala He holds an MBA from American strength to forge ahead and pursue which is a measure of industrial Branch, where he worked his way City University, Wyoming, USA, a its corporate goals. Jayathilake Bandara power consumption, sharply contracted by 42.9 per cent year on year (YoY) to 171 gigawatt-hours (gWh) in April, after contracting by 26.9 per cent YoY to 278 gWh in By Paneetha Ameresekere March, CBSL data showed. However, electricity sales to Domestic container handling, Domestic container handling industries grew by 2.8 per cent and which complements Sri Lanka’s 5.1 per cent to 375 gWh and 367 import-export trade, contracted for gWh in the months of January and the fourth consecutive month in contracts for fourth month February, respectively, though June, Central Bank of Sri Lanka overall, cumulative electricity sales (CBSL) data released on Friday Colombo Port’s container to industries in the first four (24) showed. transshipment traffic also months of the year contracted by Domestic container handling contracted for the fourth 14.6 per cent YoY to 1,191 gWh. contracted by 28 per cent to consecutive month in June. In other retrogressive 73,329 Twenty-foot Equivalent Transshipment traffic contracted developments, cement imports and Units of containers (TEUs) year- by 5.9 per cent YoY to 452,131 local production contracted for the on-year (YoY) last month, after TEUs last month, after contracting third consecutive month in May, contracting by 35.4 per cent to by 15.8 per cent to 407,139 TEUs CBSL’s Friday’s data showed. 70,796 TEUs, 22.3 per cent to in May, 22.3 per cent to 375,241 Cement imports and local 62,357 TEUs, and by 17.1 per cent TEUs in April, and by 2 per cent to production contracted by 63.2 per to 94,566 TEUs, in the months of 501,478 TEUs in March. cent YoY to 349,000 metric tons May, April and March, Consequently, Colombo Port’s (mts) in May, after contracting by respectively. container transshipment traffic as 55.9 per cent to 201,000 mts and Consequently, domestic a whole contracted by 6.7 per cent by 42.1 per cent to 598,000 mts in container handling as a whole YoY to 2,694,285 TEUs in the first the months of April and May, contracted by 17.3 per cent YoY to half of the year. respectively. Consequently, cement 517,795 TEUs in the first half of The export of sea freight services, imports and local production in the the year. The movement of led by the export of Colombo Port’s first five months of the year domestic container handling is a container transshipment traffic, contracted by 36.6 per cent, YoY to gauge of the health of Sri Lanka’s was Sri Lanka’s sixth-largest 2,283,000 mts. economy. foreign exchange earner last year, In related developments, according to CBSL. B14 Ceylon FT monday 27 july 2020 advertorial

Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards Mahajana Sampatha marks Heritance Hotels and 50 years Resorts gains recognition

Aitken Spence Hotels stated array of international its brand, Heritance Hotels accolades and awards. and Resorts, was recognised Heritance Aarah, was at the Condé Nast Traveller ranked among the world’s best Readers’ Choice Awards in Favourite Spa Hotel To celebrate the 50th anniversary of ‘Mahajana Sampatha’ Middle East 2020 with (International) and Favourite tomorrow, the National Lotteries Board has decided to issue a Heritance Kandalama, Sri Beach Hotel (International) special ‘Mahajana Sampatha’ ticket with extra prizes on offer on Lanka, and Heritance Aarah, categories. The latest in the the same day. Maldives winning readers’ Heritance portfolio, Heritance From left: General Manager Dharsana Wijesiriwardana, Diractor preference. Aarah, is a premium 150-villa Dilip de Silva, Chairman Lalith Piyum Perera, Working Director Heritance Hotels and resort in the Maldives. Just a Kalum Priyankara and Director D D Jayasiri (Pic by J. Weerasekara) Resorts was the only Sri year since inception, the Lankan hotel chain to be resort offers a medi-spa and a recognised in this travel and dine-around with 11 hospitality awards programme restaurants and bars and has based on unbiased readers’ become renowned for its votes. Heritance Hotels and culinary experience and eco- SDB bank holds first first- Resorts stated it has curated a distinct for its location which Favourite Hotel for Design friendly design. unique hotel experience with a plays a key role in shaping the (International) among hotels The 2020 Readers’ Choice ever hybrid online AGM crafted mélange of locality, experience of the bespoke and resorts around the world. Awards Middle East honours tradition, service and world- holidays it offers. The resort has garnered praise hotels, resorts and class comfort. Heritance Kandalama, not only for its architecture, restaurants that have created The Heritance brand of designed by renowned but also for its eco-aesthetic. lasting memories for guests. hotels comprises five resorts architect Deshamanya Conceptualised 26 years ago, The programme also gives in Sri Lanka and one in the Geoffrey Bawa, was ranked Heritance Kandalama has insights on the expectations of Maldives. Each hotel is number-one as the most been the recipient of a wide regional travellers.

sections: patient-centred Nawaloka Hospital accredited by JCI care and healthcare Nawaloka Hospital evaluating the hospitals it hosts the largest in-patient organisation In furthering SDB bank’s the proceedings, while announced that it has earned commitment to a variety of bed capacity in Sri Lanka management. JCI’s hospital continuous digital evolution, following established social the Joint Commission areas, including and features an assortment standards are developed in the bank hosted its 23rd distancing, sanitisation and International’s (JCI) gold seal International Patient Safety advanced healthcare facilities consultation with worldwide Annual General Meeting via a protective hygiene norms. of approval for Hospital Goals, patient assessment such as modular channeled healthcare experts and hybrid, virtual-physical The meeting was streamed Accreditation. The and care, anesthesia and consultation chambers, a providers, measurement model on 15 July 2020. live to a number of SDB accreditation certifies the surgical care, medication 24-hour pharmacy, experts and patients. The While adhering to national bank’s shareholders through hospital’s compliance with management, patient and laboratory, radiology services standards are informed by regulations in ensuring the the Zoom platform, allowing internationally-recognised family education and rights, and dedicated areas for scientific literature and health and safety of all for their full involvement. standards and is a symbol of quality improvement, wellness centres, diabetes, expert consensus to help participants, the bank The events of SDB bank’s quality that reflects an infection prevention and and renal care. organisations measure, adopted a hybrid meeting 23rd AGM unfolded smoothly organisation’s commitment control, governance, Its network of labs claim to assess and improve framework to successfully from start to finish, with the to providing safe and effective direction and leadership, serves more than 3,000 performance. The conduct its first virtual AGM. use of live video patient care. facility management and doctors on a national scale. achievement of Nawaloka The traditional component communications technology The JCI Gold seal was safety, staff qualifications JCI standards define Hospital demonstrates the of the meeting took place at promoting the engagement of bestowed after a rigorous and education, and performance expectations, excellent quality and the ‘Lavender Hall’ at the all shareholders in activities on-site survey with a team of information management. structures, and functions, healthcare outcomes for the BMICH, where a portion of ranging from voting to Joint Commission surveyors Nawaloka Hospital boasted and are divided into two main patient. the shareholders partook in passing resolutions. sports monday 27 july 2020 A15 Prabuddha passes 1000 runs milestone 17-year-old Prabuddha runs in 11 matches (Avg. Prabuddha Premalal Premalal, right hand Fared this Season 71.50) with a double Profile batsman of Ibbagamuwa century, two centuries and Central College passed the St. Xavier’s Maravila 74 & 26* seven half centuries and Player: Prabuddha Premalal 1000 runs milestone in the Sir John Kotalawala Kurunegala 30 & 94 helped his school advance College: Ibbagamuwa ‘Singer Trophy’ Under-19 Azhar Central Akurana 204* & 84 to the quarter-finals. Central College Division III Inter Schools Jaffna Central 12 & 00 Prabuddha scored an Shanghai Date of birth: 2003.02.21 Cricket (2 day) Tournament. Nugawela Central 10 & 138 unbeaten 204 runs against Batting Style: RHB Prabuddha commenced Ibbagamuwa Model School 30 Azhar Central College Matches: 11 his cricket career for Royal Polonnaruwa 00 & 56 Akurana, and centuries Diamond Innings: 19 Ibbagamuwa in the under- Skandavarodaya MV Jaffna 21 against C.W.W. Not Outs: 03 13 category and ‘B’ team in Maliyadeva Model Kurunegala 00 & 17 Kannangara Central College Runs: 1,144 2014. He graduated to the C.W.W. Kannangara CC Matugama 151 Matugama and Nugawela League Avg: 71.50 ‘A’ team in 2015 and 2016. Methodist High School Moratuwa 96 & 51* Central College. Highest Score: 204* Azhar He scored 575 runs with He conveys his thanks to Central College, Akurana double century and a principal Nirodha event 100’s: 2 (151 C.W.W. century during the 2016 province tournaments the the first XI team and scored Abeywickrame, Suranga Kannangara Central College season. same year. He scored 379 278 runs in a few matches. Ranatunge (Master-in- Matugama, 138 Nugawela He was deputy skipper of runs in 10 matches in He graduated to the first XI charge), staff of college, cancelled Central College) the under-15 team in 2017. 2018. team during the 2018/19 both coaches Dilip 50’s: 7 (56 Vidyaloka Galle, He scored over 200 runs in He was deputy skipper of season and scored only 337 Chandrasekara and World Athletics has 58 Kegalu Vidyalaya, 70 & six matches with two half the under-17 team in 2019. runs. Prasanna Karunawansha, confirmed the Shanghai 59 Tissa Kalutara, 55 tons. He represented He scored only 210 runs It was during the OBA, past cricketers, team Diamond League event has Bandaranayake Gampaha, Kurunegala and North with a century. 2019/2020 season mates, their parents and been cancelled after the 58 St. John’s Panadura) Western under-15 teams in During the 2017/2018 Prabuddha blossomed as a family members. Chinese Government’s the inter district and inter seasons he also represented batsman. He scored 1,144 (IR) decision to suspend all international sporting events this year. China’s General Hurricanes Administration of Sports made WADA launches new online course the announcement on 9 July, end Crusaders’ with only Beijing 2022 test For athletes and coaches events permitted. four-year The Chinese Government A new interactive education course Games is also detailed in the course. protect athletes. claimed that ‘science and unbeaten streak for athletes and coaches who are set WADA said completion of the "We therefore encourage Anti- order’ was behind the decision, to attend the postponed Tokyo 2020 programme is recommended but not Doping Organisations to utilise this amid the ongoing coronavirus Wes Goosen scored two tries to Olympic Games next year has been mandatory. new interactive e-learning course as outbreak. help the Wellington Hurricanes to a launched by the World Anti-Doping The global watchdog also well as our additional course World Athletics has become 34-32 win over the Canterbury Agency (WADA). encouraged all National Olympic specifically for medical professionals the latest governing body to Crusaders, ending the home side's The ‘ADeL for Tokyo 2020 Olympics’ Committees "to work in close to educate those heading to Tokyo." confirm one of its major events four-year unbeaten streak in course has been developed by WADA collaboration with their National or IOC Medical and Scientific Director in China has been cancelled. Christchurch and breathing life into alongside the International Olympic Regional Anti-Doping Organisation Richard Budgett said the course “Following the decision the final few weeks of Super Rugby Committee (IOC) and the and their National Federations to builds on the success of the “ADeL for taken by China's National Aotearoa. International Testing Agency. ensure that athletes and coaches are ‘Medical Professionals at Major Administration of Sports to Fullback Jordie Barrett added 19 According to WADA, the programme properly educated in advance of the Games' course and will be an suspend all international points with the boot as the will allow athletes and coaches to gain Games". important part of the preparation for sporting events until next Hurricanes moved into second place an understanding of the Tokyo 2020 "'ADeL for Tokyo 2020 Olympics’ the Games for athletes and their year, we are sorry to announce on the table with 16 points, three anti-doping rules, including how to enables Anti-Doping Organisations to support staff". that the 2020 Shanghai behind the Crusaders, who also provide whereabouts information and help prepare their national team "It complements the pre-Games Diamond League will not go suffered their first loss of the applying for a Therapeutic Use athletes and coaches on all things testing programme and reflects the ahead as planned on 19 domestic competition. Exemption. anti-doping at the Games," said importance of education for the September,” a World Athletics Crusaders flyhalf Richie Mo'unga Important dates that they need to WADA Director of Education Amanda protection of clean athletes," Budgett statement read. was instrumental in keeping his side be aware of and which organisation Hudson. added. “Due to the ongoing global in the hunt with flashes of individual has jurisdiction over them during the "We all want a clean Games and to (Agencies) health situation and ever- brilliance, but he missed a sideline changing regulations, the conversion of Sevu Reece's try with 2020 Wanda Diamond League three minutes remaining that would calendar remains provisional have locked the scores up. and subject to further The Hurricanes had won their changes.” three previous matches in Super World Athletics added that Rugby Aotearoa and used a video Blues defence sends Chiefs this year’s Diamond League presentation of their 2016 victory - will not be a structured series the last loss the Crusaders had of events leading to a final, as sustained in Christchurch - as is usually the case. motivation. to seventh successive defeat As a result, athletes will not It worked, with both sides playing earn Diamond League points controlled and aggressive rugby at The Auckland Blues got back on the during the season. near-test match intensity and the winning path as they sent the Waikato World Athletics said this also score swinging back and forth as Chiefs crashing to an unwanted record means there will not be a both teams seized on their few with a 21-17 victory in a defensively single, 24-discipline final in opportunities to score. focussed Super Rugby Aotearoa clash Zurich as originally planned. Mo'unga and George Bridge scored at Eden Park on Sunday. Shanghai becomes the sixth tries in the first half for the home The Blues produced a massive Diamond League event to be side, while Goosen crossed for both defensive effort on their goal line in the cancelled this season, with his tries and Barrett gave the final five minutes to preserve a win that events in Eugene, London, Hurricanes a 21-17 halftime lead moved them to 17 competition points, Paris, Rabat and Gateshead with his third penalty. two behind the table-topping having also been impacted by The Crusaders upped the intensity Canterbury Crusaders, who have a the coronavirus pandemic. in the second half and had the game in hand. Oslo and Zurich meetings Hurricanes under constant pressure Both the Blues and Chiefs were were replaced by the but were only able to add to their desperate heading into the match to ‘Impossible Games’ exhibition score when Mo'unga slotted his arrest their respective slides with the events, with another planned second penalty. Auckland side having lost their last two in Lausanne on 2 September. The Hurricanes then advanced to games after winning the first three. Monaco and Stockholm are a 31-20 lead when Barrett added his The Chiefs were in even more dire scheduled to host Diamond fourth penalty before Peter Umaga- straits, having lost their last six games League events on 14 and Jensen crossed. across both Super Rugby and the The Chiefs, however, helped by a Cruden and Anton Lienert-Brown 23August respectively. Mo'unga then took control of the domestic competition and Sunday's succession of penalties against the combined beautifully for an attack Brussels is then due to host game to set up an attacking scrum defeat was a team-record seventh in Blues, gradually began to build down the blind side early in the second. a competition on 4 September that led to lock Quinten Strange's succession. sustained pressure but were held out Damian McKenzie gave the Chiefs the before events in Rome and try before the flyhalf ghosted The home side, with Beauden Barrett by a staunch defence and only had a lead for the first time when he slotted a Naples on 17 September. through a gap and provided a in his preferred position of flyhalf, try to Lachlan Boshier to show for all of penalty three minutes later before Qatar’s capital Doha is massive pass to Reece to cross in the looked the most dangerous as they their first-half endeavour. Blues scrumhalf Finlay Christie scheduled to stage a corner with three minutes raced out to a 14-0 lead courtesy of Solomon Alaimalo tied the game up grabbed the advantage back with the competition on 9 October. remaining. converted tries to Matt Duffie and after he finished off a sweeping home side's third try. (Agencies) (Reuters) captain Patrick Tuipulotu. movement in which Brad Weber, Aaron (Reuters)

Major League Baseball Debut sets TV ratings records on ESPN The opening night of Major League It was the biggest opening-night which has had few major events to noise was piped over loudspeakers. Baseball season continues on Friday Baseball's virus-shortened 2020 audience on record, at more than broadcast since mid-March. The The Yankees won 4-1 in a game with games airing on ESPN, the Fox season set TV viewership records for triple the number of people who network scrambled to fill time with shortened by a thunderstorm. broadcast channel and the MLB Walt Disney Co's ESPN sports tuned in for the first game of the classic games and fringe sports A second game featuring the San Network. channel, the network said on Friday. 2019 season, ESPN said in a such as stone-skipping Francisco Giants battling the Los Major League Baseball teams will Four million people, on average, statement. Overall, it was the competitions, and its ratings Angeles Dodgers drew nearly 2.8 play 60 regular-season games this year watched the New York Yankees beat highest-rated Major League plummeted. million viewers on average, a record for rather than the typical 162. defending champions the Washington Baseball game on any network since In Washington on Thursday, an a regular-season late-night game, The National Basketball Association, Nationals on Thursday in the first 2011. unusual scene unfolded as players ESPN said. At Dodger Stadium, rows of meanwhile, has started exhibition game of a season delayed by four The return of America's national competed in a stadium devoid of seats were filled with cardboard competitions and is scheduled to months due to the coronavirus pastime marked a key moment for fans, one of many precautions cutouts of fans. The Dodgers prevailed resume regular games on Thursday. pandemic. sports-starved fans and for ESPN, against COVID-19. Artificial crowd 8-1. (Reuters) A16 monday 27 july 2020 sports Non-contact sports to restart soon Only Tennis Association requested to restart the sport – Chandrasekara

By Asanka Gammanpila “The respective Schools proper plan, but we haven’t received December. He further said he Associations should come with their any request so far from the SLSRFA.” doesn't think full league Ranjith Chandrasekara, Secretary ideas and send a request, which we “First they must request from us tournaments can be played, and the to the State Ministry of Education and will then consider,” said and then the Education Ministry can Schools Association should shorten who’s in charge of sports, believes Chandrasekara. take advice from the Director-General it. non-contact sports like Badminton, Meanwhile, rugby is the sport of Health Services Dr Anil Jasinghe,” He also confirmed the Education Table Tennis, Tennis and others, are having a large public interest and said Chandrasekara Ministry has given the green light to in line to restart soon. everybody is waiting to see the boys in Earlier the league and knock out start individual physical training According to Chandrasekera, only action again, but due to the lack of tournaments were scheduled to be (even for rugby), where the players the Schools Tennis Association came proper administration in the Sri completed before the ‘A’ level can follow the national guideline up with a request to restart the game, Lanka School Rugby Football examination, but now the new dates issued by the Ministry to engage in while none of the other Associations Association (SLSRFA), they have failed are fixed after the exam, which will sports. made any request. even to send a request to the be a great relief to last year’s players According to the Schools Islandwide all sports came to halt in Education Ministry to restart the who can focus more on the game. Association, school representatives mid-March due to Covid-19, and game. SLSRFA has prepared a schedule will meet with the sponsors Dialog Chandrasekera believes the situation Former President of the (SLSRFA) to commence the League from 15 this week to have a discussion to in the country would stabilise soon, Ranjith Chandrasekera said: October which will go on till 30 finalise their new schedule before as the Education Ministry has decided “Especially a contact game like rugby November. The Knock-out stage is forwarding it to the Education to restart schools from 10 August. the request should come with a Ranjith Chandrasekara scheduled to kick off from 15 to 31 Ministry.

Sangakkara backs Broad shines again as England Ganguly for ICC top post bowl out West Indies for 197 Stuart Broad continued his Sri Lanka cricket legend fine form in the third and final Kumar Sangakkara has test by grabbing four quick backed Sourav Ganguly for wickets on Sunday to dismiss the ICC Chairman's post, the West Indies for 197 in reply saying the BCCI President's to England’s first-innings tally ‘astute cricket brain’ and of 369. vast experience as an England extended their lead administrator makes him a to 182 runs at lunch on the ‘very suitable’ candidate for third day as openers Rory the role. Burns and Dom Sibley took the Admitting that he is a big hosts to 10-0 at the start of fan of Ganguly, Sangakkara their second innings at Old said the former India Trafford. captain has an international Broad ended with 6-31 in 14 mindset which is necessary overs, mopping up the tail to to remain unbiased in an give England a healthy lead, Stuart Broad important position. and the fast bowler is now just “I think Sourav definitely Kumar Sangakkara Sourav Ganguly three away from his 500th test being asked to bat again. trapped lbw by Broad for 10 can make that change. wicket. Captain Jason Holder led the and Kemar Roach followed Quite a big fan of Dada not “Most importantly, the period for cricket. Smith’s The 34-year-old, fightback as he scored an three balls later as he got a just because of his stature foundation of this game is comments were backed by controversially left out at the important 46 runs to help his healthy edge and England as a cricketer but I think he children, fans, and CSA CEO Jacques Faul, start of the series, was the key side avoid the follow-on. He and skipper Joe Root took a sharp has a very astute cricket spectators around the who also said that South man with both bat and ball on Shane Dowrich added 41 runs low catch at first slip. brain. He has the best world. I think Sourav can do Africa won’t have any Saturday as he scored a 33-ball before the Windies skipper was Dowrich (37) was the last to interests of the game at that very, very well. I have objection to an Indian again half century - the third fastest trapped lbw by Broad. fall as he hit a wild slash heart and that should not seen his work even before heading the ICC. by an English test batsmen - Holder had been superbly straight up into the air which change just because you are he took over as the BCCI “From our perspective, it and took two wickets when the caught by Ollie Pope at mid- Woakes caught to give Broad the BCCI President or the President, even before would be great to see a West Indies began their reply. wicket when on 38 but was his sixth wicket. ECB or SLC or any other administration and cricket man like Sourav But it took a frustrating 50 called back to the crease after The series is level at 1-1 after Cricket Board when you are coaching, and how he has Ganguly maybe getting into minutes for England to make a television reviews showed Chris West Indies won by four wickets at the ICC. built relationships with the President’s role of the breakthrough on Sunday after Woakes’ delivery was a no ball. at Southampton before England “Your mindset should be players around the world, ICC,” Smith told reporters. the West Indies had resumed on Rakheem Cornwall looked to secured a 113-run victory at truly international and not his standing in the MCC “I think that will be good 137-6 facing the possibility of throw the bat but was also Old Trafford. (Reuters) just constrained by Cricket Committee. I have for the game; I think it will partisanship in terms of no doubt that Sourav will be be good for the modern where I come from - am I a very, very suitable game as well. He Indian, Sri Lankan or candidate to do just that,” understands it; he has Australia or English, but Kumar Sangakkara played it at the highest really understand ‘yes I am asserted. level; he is respected; and a cricketer and what I am Cricket South Africa (CSA) his leadership will be key to Quartararo wins doing is what is best for all Director of Cricket Graeme us going forward,” Smith, cricketing countries,’” Smith also wants Sourav the former Proteas skipper Kumar Sangakkara told Ganguly to take over ICC said. India Today. chairmanship in this tough (Agencies) Andalusian Grand Prix Fabio Quartararo of Petronas Yamaha led from start to finish to win the Andalusian Grand Prix on Sunday and take a big lead in the world championship standings. Mounting speculation about Test place Frenchman Quartararo, who also won the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix last weekend, cruised to victory while the factory Yamaha duo of former champion Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales battled Buttler admits feeling the pressure it out for second. It was Spaniard Vinales who clinched runners-up spot after an England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler said on overtake on the penultimate lap while 41-year-old Italian Rossi Saturday he had been stressing about his lack of finished third to return to the podium for the first time since the Test runs and feeling the pressure of mounting Grand Prix of the Americas more than a year ago. speculation about his place in the team. Rossi, who started fourth on the grid, made a good start and Buttler has a reputation as a swashbuckling quickly moved up to second ahead of Vinales with the two Pramac batsman in the limited over games, but had Ducatis of Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia looking to reel them in. averaged only 18 runs in his last seven Tests Bagnaia, who had never finished on the podium, capitalised on since replacing Jonny Bairstow as wicketkeeper mistakes from Miller and Vinales to move up to third and he eased in New Zealand last November. past Rossi whose tyres were struggling for grip in the heat before However, a half century on the opening day of Miller slid off at turn nine. the third and final Test against West Indies on Petronas Yamaha's Franco Morbidelli looked set to challenge for a Friday lifted some of the stress, he said before podium place before technical problems forced him to retire. resuming at the crease. Asked if he had been Bagnaia was cruelly denied a podium when his bike began trailing fretting about his place, the 29-year-old Buttler smoke and the visibly upset Italian had to retire from the race. told Sky Sports: “Yes, naturally but I think time in Defending champion Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda did not take the middle gives you confidence and obviously I part as he continues to recover from surgery on a broken arm hadn’t been doing that. (Reuters) Jos Buttler sustained in the season-opening race last weekend. (Reuters) Fabio Quartararo

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