SRI LANKA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER I SINCE 1918 SATURDAY JULY 24, 2021 I 20 PAGES I VOLUME - 103 - NO 174 I RS. 30.00 I REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER IN SRI LANKA I LATE CITY ★ IN WAKE OF CASES OF CHILD ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION Adequate AstraZeneca vaccine stocks available for second dose - DGHS Country to get 1.4 m doses of vaccine by month’s end Director General of Health Ser- vices (DGHS) Dr. Asela Guna- AMENDMENT TO PREVENT EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS wardena said that the AstraZeneca vaccine stocks which were in short NCPA, LABOUR DEPT. TO DRAFT RELEVANT AMENDMENT BILL supply for the second dose have already been found. CHAMEERA ELLADENIYA ing and exploiting children who Children Act of 1956 in a bid Amendment in Parliament within The Government earlier this He said that a stock of 1.4 mil- The Government has paid were employed as domestic work- to prevent employment of chil- two months. year increased the minimum age lion doses of the AstraZeneca vac- attention to introducing new laws ers. dren under 18 years, especially as The Chairman further said that of employment from 14 to 16 cine would be received in the coun- to increase the minimum age of National Child Protection domestic workers. it has been proposed to increase years by amending the same Act. try by the end of this month. employment from 16 years to 18 Authority (NCPA) Chairman He said the relevant Amend- the jobs coming under hazardous Under that Amendment, the defi- There is a shortage of approximately 600,000 doses years. Prof. Muditha Vidanapathirana ment Bill would be drafted by the category from 52 to 76 with the nition of a ‘young person’ was of the AstraZeneca vaccine for those who received its This decision has been taken said an Amendment would be NCPA together with the Labour aim of preventing children from amended to be a person who first dose. TO PAGE 02 considering the recent incidents brought to the Employment of Department. He added that the being employed in such risky has attained the age of 16, but is reported in the country of abus- Women, Young Persons, and Government hopes to present the jobs. under the age of 18. TO PAGE 02 Death of domestic: NMRA to track down Rishad’s wife, two unregistered medicines SUBHASHINI SENANAYAKE others arrested The National Medicines Regulatory Author- ity (NMRA) has commenced an extensive search for medicines available in the market which have not been registered in this country. The NMRA said that this step was taken since infor- mation was received that approximately seven types The wife of Samagi Jana Bal- of medicines which have not been registered with the awegaya (SJB) MP Rishad Bathiu- NMRA are being sold illegally in the market. TO PAGE 02 deen (46), his Father-in-Law (70), and another person (64) from Day- agama, were arrested by the Police yesterday in connection with the death of a 16-year old girl, who had been a domestic servant at the resi- Limited inter-provincial dence of the ex-Minister. They have been arrested for the offences of human trafficking and public transport services cruelty to children. The suspect from Dayagama had been the broker, who brought the from next month girl to the ex-Minister’s residence in A limited number of buses and trains will operate Colombo. across the provinces from next month, Vehicle Regu- The Borella Police Children and lation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compart- Women’s Bureau and the Colombo ments and Motor Car Industry State Minister Dilum South Divisional Crime Detective Amunugama said. Bureau are conducting further inves- He said limited inter-provincial public transport tigations into the case. The Police The 32nd Summer Olympics Games were declared open in Tokyo yesterday, amidst restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here services would commence next month irrespective of had recorded about 20 statements as performers at the opening ceremony gather around the five interlocking rings of the Olympics Movement to symbolise the spirit of unity whether travel restrictions would be further relaxed or and brotherhood at the Games. of yesterday. TO PAGE 02 remain unchanged. TO PAGE 02 Rishad’s Brother-in-Law arrested US eyes SL as economic base A Brother-in-Law of Samagi Jana Bal- 2019. She had told the Police that she was a awegaya (SJB) MP Rishad Bathiudeen was victim of rape at the residence of ex-Minister arrested by the Police yesterday the charge Bathiudeen.Accordingly, the Police have in broader Indo-Pacific Region of sexual abuse as per the provisions of the commenced a separate investigation on the Penal Code, Police Spokesman SDIG Ajith statement given by the 22-year old woman. DINESH PERERA lion last year and cumulatively stands ic growth in the world and noted that Rohana said. She is also from Dayagama and had been The United States has signalled its at US$ 274 million is low compared to more US investment could be located The suspect (44) is a resident of Medawach- brought to Colombo by the same broker, now willingness to assist Sri Lanka eco- international peers. in Sri Lanka, if there was a stronger chiya. The suspect was to be produced before arrested in connection with the death of a nomically with the hopes of capturing The Ambassador was speaking at the transparent rule-based framework for the Colombo Magistrate yesterday. 16-year old girl. the future growth in the Indo-Pacific 5th AGM of the Sri Lanka-US Business operating. Teplitz also signalled US The arrest was based on a statement by a The Police said that a statement was region through the island. Outgoing Council held at the Royal Colombo Golf willingness through the International 22-year old woman, who served as a domes- recorded from another female (32) from Day- US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina Club on July 22. Monetary Fund (IMF) to step in to help tic servant at the residence of ex-Minister agama, who previously served as a domestic B. Teplitz noted that US investment Ambassador Teplitz characterized Sri Lanka with its current foreign cur- Bathiudeen during the period from 2015- servant at the ex-Minister’s residence. into Sri Lanka which was US$ 13 mil- the Indo-Pacific as the heart of econom- rency shortfall. TO PAGE 02 Don’t delay probe into 16-year-old Violators of wedding Govt. should make stance clear health guidelines to be on KDU issue- Dr. Nalinda girl’s death - Imitiaz The Government should clearly sity, former JVP Parliamentarian state whether it plans to continue Dr.Nalinda Jayatissa said. The authorities must not allow He was addressing a press con- prosecuted - Rohana the Defence University status of He was addressing a press confer- any delays in the investigations ference at the SJB Headquarters Legal action will be instituted the Kotelawala National Defence ence at the JVP Headquarters in into the death of the 16-year-old in Ethul Kotte. against those who violate health University (KDU) or whether it Battaramulla. He pointed out that the girl, who worked at ex-Minister He pointed out that those guidelines during wedding cer- will be converted to a civil univer- Government has decided TO PAGE 02 Rishad Bathiudeen’s residence, who committed offences in emonies, Public Health Inspec- due to political reasons, Samagi this case must be expeditiously tors’ Union President Upul Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Imi- investigated and revealed to the Rohana said. tiaz Bakeer Markar said. public. TO PAGE 02 He said the PHIs started strictly monitoring wedding cer- emonies from yesterday. He said court cases would be filed at the Magistrates’ Courts against the organisers of wedding ceremo- nies and the owners of the venues, if they were Dehiwela Zoo to reopen from Monday found to be violating health guidelines. TO PAGE 02 ANANDA KANNANGARA vent the spread of COVID-19 State Minister Dissanay- The National Zoologi- will be opened while adher- ake, after inquiring about cal Garden, Dehiwala will ing to all COVID-19 health the health conditions of reopen to the public from guidelines. these animals, directed the July 26 (Monday), Wildlife According to the Zoologi- authorities to open the Zoo Two arrested with Protection, Adoption of cal Department, the Zoo was on July 26 for the public. Safety Measures Including to be opened for the public The 11-year old Lion the Construction of Elec- last week, but had to be ‘Thor’, which was brought trical Fences and Trenches delayed after two Chimpan- to Sri Lanka from the Seoul heroin and ‘ICE’ and Reforestation and For- zees and two Orang-utans Zoo in South Korea in 2013, UPALI KARUNARATNE and RAKSHANA SRIYANTHA est Resource Development were taken ill. The infected was the first animal at the The Special Task Force (STF) arrested two State Minister Wimalaweera Chimpanzees and Orang- Dehiwala Zoological Gar- suspects with 1 kilogramme and 235 grams of Dissanayaka said. utans were immediately dens to test positive for Heroin and the ‘ICE’ drug in their possession The Zoo which was closed isolated from other animals COVID-19 and was thereaf- at Attidiya and Ratmalana on Thursday, Police The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) manufactured “Agri Shredder PP1” machine which could be for nearly two months to pre- following several PCR tests. ter treated. TO PAGE 02 Media Spokesman Senior DIG Ajith Rohana said. used to pulverize tree leaves and branches to produce organic fertilizer was launched The street value of the drugs is said to be more recently. The Army said the machine was invented by troops of 4 Sri Lanka Army Electrical than Rs.12,350,000.