www.themorning.lk Late City VOL 01 | NO 12 | Rs. 30.00 { TUESDAY } TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021 JVP OPPOSED CICT FIGHT, SAYS RANJAN DEAL BUT MADUGALLE NO ONE LISTENED THE PACKET: IMPORT DUTY AN UNPLANNED TO HIKE CREATIVE JOURNEY CERAMIC PRICES »SEE PAGE 4 »SEE PAGE 11 »SEE PAGE 7 »SEE PAGE 15 ESTATE WORKERS’ RS. 1,000 WAGE JAFFNA IDPS IN WELFARE CENTRES RPCs to oppose All to be resettled before end-2021 wage decision z No solution for over 3,000 IDP families z Claims Collective z Unions claim wages living with friends, relatives Agreements now nullified agreement stands BY PAMODI WARAVITA Development and Housing, is to resettle all of them within this BY PAMODI WARAVITA Planters’ Association (PA) Board, any party is allowed All internally displaced persons aiming to resettle all IDPs presently year,” Jaffna District Secretary The Wages Board approval of Rs. 1,000 as a daily Media Spokesperson Dr. to express their objections (IDPs) currently living in welfare accommodated in welfare centres in Kanapathipillai Mahesan told The wage for plantation workers will be opposed by Roshan Rajadurai told The during a two-week time centres within the district of Jaffna are the Jaffna district within the course Morning yesterday (8). the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) within Morning yesterday (8). period, after which the scheduled to be resettled before the of this year. Mahesan further said that the issue the next two weeks, The Morning learnt. According to Dr. Minister would consider end of the year, The Morning learnt. “There are currently 409 families of procuring land for the families is “We intend to oppose the daily wage within the next Rajadurai, once the Labour the objections and gazette The Jaffna District Secretariat, living in approximately 23 welfare the biggest barrier to resettlement. Wages Board decision of two weeks in writing to Minister publicises the the decision accordingly. together with the Ministry of Urban centres in the district. We hope Contd. on page 2 granting Rs. 1,000 as the the Minister of Labour,” decision of the Wages Contd. on page 2 NATIONAL VACCINATION DRIVE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS COVID-19 CASES TOTAL CASES No clarity on pvt. ACTIVE CASES health workers 69,862 z Contradictory claims about list BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI Health claiming that it is awaiting a DEATHS RECOVERED There appears to be a lack of clarity list from the private institutions and 6,365 surrounding the status of the request the private institutions claiming that 356 64,141 by private healthcare workers to be a list was provided to the Ministry SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU included in the Covid-19 vaccine two weeks ago. THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 10.20 P.M. ON 08 FEBRUARY 2021 priority list, with the Ministry of Contd. on page 2 Sumanthiran’s security removed due to protest? z Security was given only due to LTTE threat: Police sources BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE President Gotabaya Rajapaksa inspecting the model stalls exhibit at Galle Face Green yesterday (8) alongside Minister The Special Task Force (STF) security provided of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne (right) to Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Member of Parliament and President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran may have been withdrawn due to the protest march Staff shortage may conducted by Tamil political parties and civil society Two RWs ‘enthusiastic’ organisations recently, The Morning learnt. disrupt train service According to highly placed reliable sources within the about SJB alliance: Harin Police who spoke to The Morning on the condition of z Report to be sent to Minister BY MIHI PERERA all Opposition parties will anonymity, the STF security provided for Tamil National BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE Samagi Jana Balawegaya unite towards common Alliance Spokesman Sumanthiran had been provided to (SJB) Parliamentarian Harin goals. I have already talked him due to the threat posed to him by the remnants of The public transportation service rendered Fernando yesterday (8) said with UNP Leader Ranil the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). by the Railways Department is expected to that discussions between the Wickremesinghe and UNP “However, Sumanthiran was attending the protest face a precarious situation in terms of the party and the United National Deputy Leader Ruwan march conducted by Tamil political parties and civil continuity of its operations and commuter Party (UNP) are already Wijewardene on this society activists from Pottuvil in Ampara to Polikandy safety in the immediate future due to three underway in order to create a matter, and they have been in Jaffna.” pressing problems, The Morning learnt. broad alliance to work towards extremely supportive and Contd. on page 2 These problems are; a shortage of signal common goals, and the UNP enthusiastic,” he told The operators, the non-payment of salaries to retired hierarchy is “enthusiastic” Morning yesterday. signalmen recalled for duties, and the dearth about this alliance. He further said that while of junior staff including announcers, sanitation “This is similar to what the SJB and the UNP will GoSL to discuss workers, and non-permanent workers. we are doing with the Grand function as two parties, Contd. on page 2 Opposition Alliance, where Contd. on page 2 Indian fishermen VACCINATING ALL TEACHERS BY EARLY MARCH issue with HC BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE ‘Prioritise O/L exam duty Sri Lankan authorities are looking to initiate a dialogue with the Indian High Commissioner regarding the Indo- Sri Lanka fisheries-related conflict, The Morning learnt. and primary teachers’ Speaking to The Morning, Ministry of Fisheries Secretary R.M.I. Rathnayake said that the discussion with the Indian BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI trade unions have requested The Ceylon Teachers’ Union High Commissioner will be held over the coming weeks. Following Minister of that teachers on duty at the (CTU) requested that teachers “The three-member committee appointed by Fisheries Education Prof. G.L. Pieris’s forthcoming General Certificate on GCE O/L exam duty be Minister Douglas Devananda to make recommendations announcement that all school of Education Ordinary Level vaccinated by the last week of on the issue of the Indian fishermen trespassing in local teachers would be vaccinated (GCE O/L) exam, along with February as the Minister’s plan waters would give recommendations as context for this against Covid-19 by the first primary school teachers, be to discussion,” said Rathnayake. week of March, teachers given priority in this process. Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 42 www.themorning.lk { NEWS } Tuesday, February 9, 2021 Parliament set to convene Chinese vaccine expected from today for four days this week: State Minister The Committee on Parliament during the A total of 300,000 doses of the Sinopharm anti-Covid-19 vaccine are “Arrangements are being made Parliamentary Business next four days, starting expected to be given to Sri Lanka by the Chinese Government this to import the relevant consignment which met yesterday (8) from today (9). week, said the State Minister of the Production, Supply and Regulation of vaccines to Sri Lanka before 12 under the Chairmanship The Committee has of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana. February, which is considered to be of the Speaker of the also decided to limit The import will be done after the At the request of President Gotabaya the dawn of the Chinese New Year. Parliament Mahinda the oral questions of approval of the National Medicines Rajapaksa, China has promised to send Discussions were also held yesterday Yapa Abeywardena, has Parliamentarians to 10 Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is given, 300,000 doses of vaccines this week, (8) to ascertain the date of arrival,” Prof. Channa Jayasumana decided to convene the per day. he further said. he added. he said. Communication key to unity, reconciliation: Sabry Minister of Justice President’s Counsel “An environment should be created Alwis PC, its Director, General (DG) former (PC) M.U.M. Ali Sabry claimed that the where through discussions and consensus, District Secretary Sunil Kannangara, its main reason for the problematic situations any problem that arises among various Additional DG is Attorney-at-Law (AAL) that have arisen at present among various communities in the exchange of ideas Thushari Sooriyaarachchi, and Members are communities is the lack of understanding can be solved. The Office must create Prof. A.L. Susirith Mendis, Prof. Rizwi Hassan, and weaknesses in communication in an environment where there is mutual Prof. M.M.A.D.S.J. Niriella, Samantha connection with the exchanging of ideas. respect and trust. It is futile to dwell on past Ratwatte PC, AALs Janaka Ranatunga, He expressed these sentiments after incidents. Disparities between communities Suganthi Wijayasuriya Kadirgamar, Gayanthi handing over the letters of appointment to must be done away with in order to realise Geethanjali Sumithraarachchi Dissanayake, Minister of Justice President’s Counsel (PC) M.U.M. Ali Sabry (centre) with new members of the Office of National Unity the new members of the Office of National everyone’s aspirations,” he added. Mano Sekaram, Afzal Marikkar and Senthil and Reconciliation Unity and Reconciliation on 5 February. The Chairman of the Office is Kushan de Thondaman. Contd. from page 1 workshops under the Railways Department school teachers, it should be given to primary he is hopeful that the issue would be resolved heroes too, and stand the risk of exposure to the RPCs to..