SUNDAY 4 JULY 2021 LATEST EDITION VOL: 10/30 PRICE : RS 70.00 Inside story Sri Lanka’s Relentless Sand Mining Mafia Not curbing unregulated sand mining and monitoring sand miners in Sri Lanka has paved way for a massive Illegal sand mining mafia to rise mainly during the coronavirus pandemic which has See on devastated eco-systems and natural water PAGE A16 resources in the Districts of Puttalam,... A4 Demands made by nurses President provides immediate solutions to five demands President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took steps to provide immediate solutions to five out of seven demands made by the Public Services United Nurses Union. The President assured he would provide solutions to the other two demands in the next Budget. The President held discussions with Public Services United Nurses Union representatives at... Story Continued on PAGE 2 GMOA Warns of Govt to ban import of luxury items The Government has decided to drastically curtail the import of several luxury items, as well as other goods that Wave of TU Actions are deemed non-essential, informed sources revealed. These sources stated that among the items that the Government plans to halt importing are electronic items such as mobile phones, televisions, refrigerators, several Says Cabinet Paper will arbitrarily electrical appliances, perfumes and similar items. restructure entire public service Story Continued on PAGE 2 BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE AND J.T. DE SILVA grade promotions and staff grade recognition, doctors warned that a Cabinet Paper to be While nurses of three major trade unions have submitted by the Health Ministry to resolve the boycotted work for the second day on Friday (2), issues will only trigger a spate of strikes across the highlighting several demands including timely entire Government service. Story Continued on PAGE 2 No-Faith against Gammanpila CMC members Serious faults demand justice in motion for fellow D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case – Prof. Mahanamahewa councillor BY W.K. PRASAD MANJU BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK All six accused Legal experts have In a rare coming together, a group said there are some of Colombo Municipal Councillors serious faults in the from both the ruling party and the acquitted No-Confidence Opposition has urged the IGP to take BY HANSI NANAYAKKARA Motion, submitted by stern action against the local the Samagi Jana politician who assaulted Councillor The three-Judge Bench of the Colombo High Court Balavegaya, against W. Sumithralatha of the Pivithuru on 2 July acquitted and released from the case six Minister of Energy Hela Urumaya (PHU), while she was accused, including ex-Chairman of the Sri Lanka Udaya Gammanpila. on duty, in early June. Land Development Corporation (SLLDC), Prasad They have pointed out that since Sumithralatha was allegedly Harshan de Silva, who were charged with the alleged the decision to increase the prices... assaulted by the local politician and... misappropriation of a sum of Rs 33.9 million over the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial Museum Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 at Medamulana, Hambantota. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Municipal Councillor makes Sajith meets bombshell allegation A group including Claims he has evidence Karu J doctors selling vaccines to prove allegations A special meeting had taken place between BY BANDULA ALAHAKONE – for money. Pathirana said a large Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and ex-Speaker COLOMBO campaign had been carried out in Karu Jayasuriya last Wednesday, informed sources five districts on this vaccinations said. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna issue. He has pointed out that some This meeting had taken place at Jayasuriya’s Municipal Councillor Sunanda doctors have got together and residence situated at Amarasekara Avenue, Havelock Pathirana alleges that certain charged sums ranging from Rs 5,000 Town. It is said the duo had been involved in a lengthy persons had been vaccinated within to Rs 25,000 and provided vaccines discussion. the Colombo Municipal Council area to outsiders. Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 SUNDAY 4 JULY 2021 NEWS Dehiattakandiya vaccination drive controversy Health Authorities Left in the Dark? BY METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE Although it is commendable that the Army gives Dehiattakandiya Hospital sources said. MOH, Provincial Health Director, and the the support for the battle to curb the COVID-19 Moreover, those who have fever should not be Epidemiologist in the relevant area should be A controversy has arisen, after nearly 100 pandemic in Sri Lanka, several questions were given the vaccine according to the guidelines. But notified. Leave alone these officials, even the PHI in employees at a garment factory in Dehiattakandiya raised regarding this particular vaccination drive in here, that too had been overlooked. We got to know Dehiattakandiya was not informed about this were hospitalised, when they started showing severe Dehiattakandiya MOH area. that the vaccine had been administered to workers particular programme, he added. reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine following an The first concern regarding this programme is who were running a fever, they claimed. Furthermore, he said after a vaccination drive, the immunisation programme carried out by a ‘third why didn’t anyone inform the Dehiattakandiya Epidemiology Unit should be notified if there were party’ on 27 June. MOH, Provincial and District Health Directors or Response from the authorities any after-effects of the vaccine and there should be Ceylon Today learns that this controversial any other responsible health official that there However, when Ceylon Today contacted Deputy a follow up. But this step has been skipped here as vaccination programme had been organised without would be a vaccination drive at the particular Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha well. As a result, local health officials had to do that, the knowledge of the local MOH. When Ceylon factory? Herath on 29 May, he said they had not been Dr. Liyanage said. Today contacted Dehiattakandiya MOH Dr. Chanith According to the sources at Dehiattakandiya informed about such an incident so far. State On 30 May, Dr. Hemantha Herath said they have Peduruarachchi, he confirmed that neither he nor Hospital, they had not been placed on standby if Minister of COVID Disease Control, Dr. Sudarshani been notified about the incident. his office were aware of this vaccination drive that there was any emergency during the vaccination Fernandopulle also said she had not received any “Regional health authorities are carrying out an had taken place and that they were not involved in drive as well. information regarding the matter, when we inquiry in this connection. When we receive that it, in any way. A person, who wished to remain anonymous, told contacted her on the same day. report, we will be able to reveal more details about Dr. Peduruarachchi said nearly 90 persons who Ceylon Today that the Dehiattakandiya MOH Office Speaking regarding the controversy, Executive that,” Dr. Herath said. had been vaccinated were hospitalised on Monday had requested for vaccines to carry out the Committee Member of the Government Medical However, the Army denied that they did not (28) while several others were hospitalised on immunisation programme at the factory from the Officers’ Association (GMOA), Dr. Prasad inform the health officials of the area about the Tuesday (29). health authorities several times. However, they did Colombage, said according to standard procedure, a vaccination drive at the factory. He further said the Health Ministry was informed not receive a favourable response. He further said vaccination drive cannot be carried out without “The President requested us to support the immediately about the incident and there would be when this controversy arose, the Dehiattakandiya informing the MOH. process of vaccinating factory workers in the an inquiry as to how a large number of persons MOH had not received the vaccines for 16 days. Dr. Colombage added, “We assume that the country. Even the BOI requested us to carry out started to show some complications following the It is also reported that pregnant workers at the reason behind hospitalising such a huge number such vaccination drives islandwide. Following these controversial vaccination programme. factory had been vaccinated without following the could be a malpractice in the vaccine handling requests, we conducted several programmes in health guidelines and a pregnant mother had been process.” GMOA Eastern Province Coordinator, Dr. different areas. This is the first time we faced such a Who carried out the hospitalised following the vaccination. Niroshana Liyanage, said after getting to know situation,” the Army Spokesperson told Ceylon vaccination drive? “According to the health guidelines in Sri Lanka, about this vaccination drive, Dehiattakandiya Today. pregnant mothers should sign the consent form to health officials informed the Ministry right away. “We always contact health officials before When Ceylon Today looked into the matter, it was receive the vaccine after a VOG checks their health “Then we got to know that a number of vaccines conducting a vaccination drive. We informed the revealed that the vaccination programme at this condition. A scan should be performed on the had been given by the Epidemiology Unit to the Regional Director of Health, Dr. Serasinghe particular factory was carried out by the Army. mother to determine whether the foetus is 12 weeks Army and they carried out vaccination drives using regarding the vaccination programme at the The factory on 28 May had displayed a banner or above. Then the mother could be vaccinated if those vaccines.” factory,” he said. extending gratitude to the President and the Army she consents. But this process had not been Dr. Liyanage pointed out that if there is a The Spokesperson said the Army will publish a Commander for providing vaccines to its workers. followed in the vaccination drive in this factory,” the vaccination drive in any part of the country, the clarification regarding the matter soon.