MANNAR WIND POWER PROJECT STILL BLOWING IN THE WIND RS. 70.00 PAGES 64 / SECTIONS 6 VOL. 02 – NO. 48 SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 GR GETS “WHY NOT?” NEW CENTRAL REFORMS BALL IN CONVERSATION BANK ACT ROLLING WITH IRAJ ABANDONED »SEE PAGES 8 & 9 »SEE BRUNCH PAGE 4 »SEE BUSINESS PAGE 1 »SEE PAGE 5 For verified information on the GENERAL PREVENTIVE GUIDELINES COVID-19 LOCAL CASES COVID-19 CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any of the IN THE WORLD following authorities ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES 1999 TOTAL CASES Health Promotion Bureau 2,927 Suwasariya Quarantine Unit 0112 112 705 22,922,330 Ambulance Service Epidemiology Unit 0112 695 112 DEATHS RECOVERED Govt. coronavirus hotline 0113071073 Wash hands with soap Wear a commercially Maintain a minimum Use gloves when shopping, Use traditional Sri Lankan Always wear a mask, avoid DEATHS RECOVERD 1990 for 40-60 seconds, or rub available mask/cloth mask distance of 1 metre using public transport, etc. greeting at all times crowded vehicles, maintain 2,789 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES hands with alcohol-based or a surgical mask if showing from others, especially in and discard into a lidded instead of handshaking, distance, and wash hands 11 798,182 15,570,088 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 handrub for 20-30 seconds respiratory symptoms public places bin lined with a bag hugging, and/or kissing before and after travelling 127 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 9.00 P.M. ON 21 AUGUST 2020 MORE YAHAPALANA BUNGLING UNCOVERED UDA targets casino land BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA approve any further development local partner of the abandoned casino The Rs. 330 million had been waived Entertainment Holdings Ltd. and on the land, UDA Director General project of Australian billionaire James off by former UDA Chairman Jagath subsequently got the name changed The Urban Development Authority (UDA) has directed Rank N.P.K. Ranaweera told The Sunday Packer’s casino group Crown Resorts, Munasinghe in 2017 when signing to Rank Car Park Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. Holdings to settle a total of Rs. 330 million it owes the UDA Morning. with the land in question earmarked the agreement with Lake Leisure Munasinghe had signed a 50-year as accumulated interest payments for a land which was “The company will definitely have to be the venue for the planned casino Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd. to lease out the lease agreement for a mixed famously earmarked for a failed casino development project. to pay the Rs. 330 million waived and resort. land adjoining D.R. Wijewardena development project, giving the off by the previous Government,” The project was abandoned several Mawatha and Sir Chittampalam A. concession of Rs. 330 million to The UDA has already notified should be settled as soon as possible, he reiterated. years ago amidst stiff opposition from Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 2. Lake the lessee. the company that the due amount failing which the UDA would not Rank Holdings was set to be the various quarters. Leisure was earlier known as Rank Contd. on page 2 AIRPORT REOPENING AG’S LETTER TO MCC EMISSION TESTING CORRUPTION Delayed by repatriation MCC confirms authenticity Dilum to clear the air The Government’s plan to General (Retd.) G.A. Chandarasiri The Government is looking Automotive Industries Dilum reopen Bandaranaike International told The Sunday Morning on BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA Jayasuriya’s letter in 2018, do not want to speak further on to streamline the vehicle license Amunugama said: “Several Airport (BIA) early next month Friday (21) that the most recent which resurfaced recently this to the press,” Edelman told issuance process to end the complaints have been forwarded has been postponed in order to discussion with stakeholders The Millennium Challenge causing fresh controversy. The Sunday Morning on Friday corruption within the process. regarding corruption during the conclude the repatriation process. resulted in a decision to give Corporation’s (MCC) Sri MCC Country Director (21). The letter by the then State Minister of Vehicle issuance of vehicle emission Airport and Aviation Services priority to the repatriation process. Lankan office confirmed Jenner Edleman affirmed that AG appeared to be in favour Regulation, Bus Transport testing (VET) reports every year.” (Sri Lanka) Chairman Major Contd. on page 2 to The Sunday Morning the such a letter was received by of the MCC Compact being Services, Carriages, and Contd. on page 2 authenticity of then Attorney the MCC. implemented in Sri Lanka. CAPITAL HEIGHTS General (AG) Jayantha “The letter is legitimate but I Contd. on page 2 RS. 34 MILLION CAPITAL HEIGHTS POWER CUTS UPWARDSRS. 34 MILLION VoA delayed UPWARDS by a week CAPITAL HEIGHTSThe tabling of the Vote on Account (VOA), Electrical which was scheduled to be tabled in Parliament RS. 34 MILLIONon Friday (21), has been delayed by one week VISIT OUR and is to be taken up for debate this Thursday operator UPWARDSWEBSITE (27), The Sunday Morning learnt. CAPITALVISIT HEIGHTS+94 OUR 763112233 The VOA, while not being included in Friday’s RS.35SHOW APARTMENT MILLIONWEBSITE UPWARDSRS. 34 MILLION Order Paper, had been included in the Order READY FOR INSPECTION UPWARDS Book after sittings had concluded. blamed Contd. on page 2 Last Monday’s (17) massive blackout, PROJECT NEARING+94 763112233 COMPLETION VISIT OUR caused by a technical fault at the SHOW APARTMENT WEBSITE Kerawalapitiya Grid Substation and which VISIT OUR later crippled the entire Norochcholai +94 763112233WEBSITE No decision Coal Power Plant by forcing the country READY FOR INSPECTION SHOW APARTMENT www.capitalheights.lk SHOW APARTMENT +94 763112233 to go for intermittent power cuts, was READY FORREADY INSPECTION FOR INSPECTION said to have been caused by a human PROJECT NEARING COMPLETION on PC polls error, according to the Ceylon Electricity PROJECT NEARINGPROJECT NEARING COMPLETION COMPLETION The Government is yet to make a decision Board (CEB). on holding the long-delayed provincial council CEB Chairman Eng. Vijitha Herath told (PC) elections, The Sunday Morning learnt. The Sunday Morning that the blackout Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Keheliya was experienced due to a mistake by an Rambukwella said the Government has not yet electrical operator during maintenance discussed the PC elections, adding that there work at the Kerawalapitiya Grid are certain legislations that have to be brought Substation. in before holding the elections. Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 Booze goes green z 300 million bottles, 160 million cans BY SARAH HANNAN “The retailers will be environmental activists,” encouraged to buy back Deputy Excise Commissioner The Excise Department is empty bottles and cans and and Departmental Spokesman to collaborate with the Central prompt consumers to return Kapila Kumarasinghe said. Environmental Authority them for a higher deposit The CEA observed that about (CEA), distilleries and instead of tossing them 300 million empty bottles of brewery companies, and local with their garbage. The various sizes and 160 million retailers to introduce a recycling mechanism to collect and metal cans are discarded into project to collect discarded recycle empty bottles was the environment annually, bottles and cans that are causing considered following the without a proper dumping severe environmental pollution many complaints directed mechanism. every year. at us from the public and Contd. on page 2 WITH OUR READERS’ HEALTH IN MIND A SPECIAL ANTIMICROBIAL INK HAS BEEN USED IN THE PRINTING OF OUR NEWSPAPER 2 the sunday morning PICTORIAL/NEWS Sunday, August 23, 2020 Chamal Rajapaksa engaged in pirith on the day of assuming duties as Udaya Gammanpila seeking blessings from Buddhist leaders as he Namal Rajapaksa joined a seth pirith on the day of assuming Ali Sabry PC assuming duties as Minister of State Minister of Defence assumed duties as Minister of Energy duties as Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Justice at the Ministry premises Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage A group of individuals staged a protest in front congratulating Duminda Dissanayake on his state of the US Embassy, demanding the US to stop Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith ministerial appointment interfering with the freedom of speech Premadasa thanking his supporters in Borella Government Spokesperson Keheliya State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara congratulating The construction of the New Mutwal Tunnel, one of the two main underground tunnels, was Rambukwella and Co-Cabinet Spokesperson newly appointed Minister of Industries Wimal completed last Friday (21) Udaya Gammanpila at the Cabinet media briefing Weerawansa Minister of Plantations Dr. Ramesh Pathirana congratulating Arundika Fernando as he assumes duties as a state minister MP Madura Vithanage arriving at the Parliament Complex for the The first 50 days of the Sinhala film The Newspaper, directed by Sarath Kothalawala and Kumara Thirimadura, was celebrated with much fanfare with the participation of its directors, production team, film industry veterans, and key political figures A snake charmer entertaining the crowd at Galle inaugural session of the Ninth Parliament via a different mode of Face Green transport PHOTOS LALITH PERERA, PRADEEP DAMBARAGE, SAMAN ABESIRIWARDANA, KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM, ESHAN DASANAYAKA Contd. from page 1 emissions testing system, as instances pass the vehicle and policemen get bribes not error, Kerawalapitiya went off and it then UDA... of corruption are continuously reported, to search for those polluting vehicles. VoA delayed... affected Norochcholai. In a letter written to former Minister including at the testing centres operated by – Sarah Hannan Parliamentary sources said that “When Norochcholai shut down, it took a of Megapolis and Western Development three main companies. subsequently the VOA will be sent to all few days to restart,” Herath added. Patali Champika Ranawaka by Ministry The State Minister said many complaints MPs to scrutinise before it is tabled and He also noted that the system has now Consultant (Investigation) M.A.R.D.