HIGHLIGHTS MONDAY India and China: 16 AUGUST 2021 Vocational LATEST EDITION Education in VOL: 10/176 PRICE : Rs 30.00 Comparison In Sports PAGE A6 FSL on lookout for Veteran Banker a new head coach K.E.D. Sumanasiri Football Sri Lanka (FSL) is on the lookout for a foreign head coach to appointed replace current men’s head coach Amir Alagic, FSL President BoC GM Jaswar Umar confirmed. A16 PAGE B10 COVID positive cases and deaths Drastic Taliban Enter Afghan increase within fortnight Capital Kabul – Prof. Jayasumana Situation in the country is serious Interior Ministry official and there is nothing to hide says President Ghani BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE State Minister of Production, has left for Tajikistan Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals (PSRP), Prof. Channa Jayasumana warned that American diplomats there would be a drastic increase in the number of COVID positive cases and deaths within the next two evacuated from their weeks, when the virus completes its incubation period. embassy by chopper Story Continued on PAGE 2 Taliban insurgents entered Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on Sunday and an official said President Ashraf Ghani had left the city for Tajikistan, capping the militants’ lightning push for power. No weddings, A senior Afghan Interior Ministry official said Ghani had left for Tajikistan. Asked for comment, the President’s Office said, it “cannot say anything about Ashraf Ghani’s receptions until movement for security reasons.” A representative of the Taliban said the group was checking on Ghani’s whereabouts. further notice American diplomats were evacuated from their embassy by chopper after a swift advance Weddings and receptions will not be permitted by the Taliban, who were poised to run until further notice from midnight tomorrow (17), Taliban forces patrol a street Afghanistan again 20 years after they were Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention in Herat (Reuters) toppled by US-led forces following the 11 of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Gen. Shavendra September attacks on the United States. Silva said. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Loss of COVID Vaccination Card Nearly 600 attempting Quarantine curfew to cross provincial Obtain certificate borders sent back from 10pm to 4am from area PHI BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK starting tonight – State Minister Nearly 600 people and 333 vehicles travelling to BY W. K. PRASAD MANJU the Western Province, in breach of travel restrictions, were turned back by the Police at COVID death toll exceeds State Minister of Primary Health Care, checkpoints set up at entry and exit points. Epidemics and COVID Disease Control Consultant 6000 mark Dr. Sudharshani Fernandopulle told Ceylon Today Story Continued on PAGE 2 Quarantine curfew will be imposed islandwide from 10 p.m. if a person who has had both doses of the COVID today (16) till 4 a.m. tomorrow (17). The curfew will continue to vaccine but has misplaced the card issued to them, be imposed every day during this time period until further they have to get a certificate from the Public Health notice, Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention Inspector of the area certifying that both of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Gen. Shavendra Silva vaccinations had been obtained. announced. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Request to permit Pvt labs Govt should conduct Rapid PCR at airports JVP urges heed advice of CMLS writes Govt planning to public to go for specialist self-lockdown to President vaccinate children doctors – Vajira BY NABIYA VAFFOOR seeking probe over 12 – PM JVP Leader Anura BY NABIYA VAFFOOR Kumara Dissanayake BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK Priority for those with special needs urged the public to go for UNP Chairman Vajira BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK a self-lockdown for their Abeywardana said the The College of Medical Laboratory Science own safety, saying it was Government should pay (CMLS) Sri Lanka, has requested President Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announced absurd to appeal to the heed to the advice of Gotabaya Rajapaksa to look into the suggestion yesterday (15) the Government intends to administer Government to impose a specialist doctors due made to permit private sector laboratories to the COVID-19 vaccine, step-by-step, to children over lockdown as it was not to the failure of the undertake Rapid PCR tests at airports, while the age of 12 years, with priority being given to heeding expert opinion. COVID-19 Suppression resources were available at the Ministry of children with special needs. He said COVID-19 deaths should be Task Force to take Health. considered as a ‘massacre’ for which the control of the spread of Story Continued on Government should take the the disease. Story Continued on PAGE 2 PAGE 2 responsibility. “The number of COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths is increasing day by day... Only a quarter of Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Blood Bank Lankans immune CTU admits strike running low on to coronavirus reserves – Scientists caused O/L results delay BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK Only around a quarter of Sri Lanka’s population is BY NABIYA VAFFOOR after initiating an online petition by the completely immune to the coronavirus, according to joint alliance, formed by teacher-principal The blood reserves at the National scientists. The World Health Organisation (WHO) The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has trade unions, yesterday (14), urging the Blood Transfusion Service appear to supports achieving ‘herd immunity’ through acknowledged that the trade union action Government to resolve the salary have depleted as a result of the vaccination rather than allowing a disease to spread taken by teachers was the main reason for disparities in their respective services. COVID-19 pandemic, according to through any segment of the population, according to the delay in releasing Ordinary Level exam “It is a critical issue that this Director of the National Blood Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, Director of the results. Government doesn’t take this as a serious Centre (NBC) Dr. Lakshman Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin issue. If the Government drags this issue it Edirisinghe, who also said that 950 at the Sri Jayewardenepura University. said this, addressing a Media briefing, wouldn’t affect us, but it is just delaying... to 1,000 units of blood are required daily. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 MONDAY 16 AUGUST 2021 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Govt should... Taliban Enter Afghan... Kidney donor wanted ...and the country is heading towards a catastrophe. To save the country from such a Taliban fighters were reaching the capital “from Just last week, a US intelligence estimate said A 57-year-old widowed mother situation, the Government should now heed the all sides,” a senior Afghan Interior Ministry official Kabul could hold out for at least three months. seeks a kidney from a donor having advice of specialist doctors and set up a committee told Reuters. Before news that Ghani had left Kabul, a palace any one of the following blood affiliated to the WHO to take immediate action,” he But there were no reports of fighting and the official said he was in emergency talks with US added. group’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said they peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and officials from groups: B+, B-, O+, or O- (Ideally Abeywardana said it has been about eight were waiting on the outskirts and were in talks the NATO transatlantic alliance. B+) and should be between 30 and months since countries passed Ordinances. But with the Western-backed government for a Power would be handed over to a transitional 60 years of age. Medical and related Sri Lanka has not passed a single Bill in this peaceful surrender. administration, the Government’s Acting Interior expenses will be taken care of. connection. “Taliban fighters are to be on standby on all Minister, Abdul Sattar Mirzakawal, tweeted on the Donors could contact: “The vaccine was not delivered on time. entrances of Kabul until a peaceful and Tolo news channel. “There won’t be an attack on Vaccination does not provide immediate satisfactory transfer of power is agreed,” he said. the city, it is agreed that there will be a peaceful 0771631937/0773333433. protection. We, politicians do not know, experts Representatives from the two sides were due to handover,” he said without elaborating. say that it will begin protection only a month after meet in Qatar on Sunday, Fawzi Koofi, a member A tweet from the Afghan Presidential Palace taking it. We mentioned in our 2020 election of the Kabul negotiating team, told Reuters. A account said firing had been heard at a number of manifesto about COVID-19. Today, what we stated source familiar with the matter said they would points around Kabul but that Security Forces, in has proved correct but was rejected by the public. discuss a transition of power and US officials coordination with international partners, had The public chose other things. In our policy would also be involved. control of the city. Quarantine statement we stated how to suppress COVID-19,” Known during their past rule for keeping girls Many of Kabul’s streets were choked by cars and he added. out of school and hardline Islamic punishments people either trying to rush home or reach the Abeywardana was speaking yesterday (15) at a such as amputation, stoning and hanging, the airport, residents said. curfew... Media briefing. Taliban appeared to be trying to project a more “Some people have left their keys in the car and Permission to travel during modern face. have started walking to the airport,” one resident quarantine curfew hours would be Another spokesman Suhail Shaheen said the told Reuters by phone.