SPECIAL PRICE Rs. 60.00 Maintain Distance, Stay Safe RS. 80.00 PAGES 48 / SECTIONS 5 VOL. 02 – NO. 36 SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk HEDGING www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk BETWEEN BANKING SECTOR ENICS: GOVT. AND RICE FORTUNE AND INTEREST RELIEF: CB WEIGHING THE MILL OWNERS COLD SURVIVAL YET TO RESPOND PROS AND CONS WAR CONTINUES »SEE PAGES 8 & 9 »SEE BUSINESS PAGE 1 »SEE PAGE 5 »SEE PAGE 4 With our readers’ health in mind a special antimicrobial ink has been used in the printing of our newspaper HANDWASHING FACILITIES FOR SCHOOLS Ministry short of over Rs. 300 m BY SARAH HANNAN in schools. At the moment, the the schools which are in rural areas associations and make a request, consistent water supply and would Ministry of Education is left with a that have no way of attracting Chithrananda added. have to seek assistance from these Earlier this week, the Secretary to the Ministry of Education balance of Rs. 100 million. We are sponsors/well-wishers/old pupils’ From the Government’s end, the state institutions to supply water stated that the Ministry was short of funds to allocate for all now considering options to raise associations to build such facilities. Ministry had requested the respective through bowsers. That water is then state schools to build the necessary handwashing facilities and the balance to make the necessary While the Minister on several local government institutions such to be stored in storage tanks that additional amenities. purchases of sinks, taps, water pipes, occasions said that parents will not as divisional secretariats, municipal are to be placed in schools. Even and water storage tanks and then be burdened or required to contribute councils, urban councils, and pradeshiya these storage tanks will need to Offering further insight to The Chithrananda stated: “Rs. 418 million fixing them.” financially to build these facilities, sabhas to facilitate the necessary water be purchased or built at schools,” Sunday Morning, Secretary to the is required to install the necessary When allocating funds for these schools will be allowed to reach supply facilities to schools. Chithrananda noted. Ministry of Education N.H.M. amenities to enable handwashing facilities, the Ministry is to prioritise out to well-wishers or old pupils’ “Some schools do not have a Contd. on page 2 PCR tests to At a crossroads? PHIs slam Health PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COVID-19 be doubled Ministry guidelines z Calls them ‘impractical, z Claims the PHIs BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA Health superficial, and divisive’ were not consulted For verified Promotion Suwasariya information on Ambulance Bureau Service the coronavirus 1999 Health authorities are in the midst of making The Public Health Inspectors’ of the country resuming public (Covid-19) 1990 contact any of Quarantine Unit 0112 112 705 arrangements to increase the number of daily PCR Union of Sri Lanka (PHIUSL) on activities during its gradual exit the following Epidemiology Unit 0112 695 112 authorities Govt. coronavirus hotline 0113071073 (polymerase chain reaction) tests being carried out Friday (29) stated that they do not from the existing restrictions for by at least twofold. approve of the impractical health Covid-19. PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES Contd. on page 2 guidelines that were issued in light Contd. on page 2 Telephone 0114354854, Fax 0112333066, 0114733600 0114354882 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] TOTAL CASES ACTIVE CASES GAFFOOR BUILDING 1540 FIND YOUR DAILY DEATHS RECOVERED Everybody tested 776 10 754 ESSENTIALS THROUGH THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 7.00 P.M. ON 29 MAY 2020 negative: MoH SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU All Navy officers and personnel who were COVID-19 residing at the Gaffoor Building have been tested CASES IN THE WORLD and confirmed to be negative for Covid-19. topads.lk Contd. on page 2 TOTAL CASES 5,951,004 VISIT DEATHS RECOVERD ORDER TO PRINT BALLOT PAPERS www.topads.lk 363,023 2,611,820 Hoole perplexed CASES DEATHS USA 1,772,578 103,441 Member of the Election Commission (EC) Prof. BRAZIL 438,812 26,764 UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and General Secretary Akila RUSSIA 387,623 4,374 Ratnajeevan Hoole said he was unaware as to Viraj Kariyawasam seen leaving Sirikotha following the unanimous SPAIN 284,986 27,119 why the Government Printer had been instructed decision by the UNP Working Committee on Friday (29) to suspend UK 269,127 37,837 to print ballot papers. 99 UNP members Contd. on page 2 PHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM STEPS Search for the product AMIDST FOCUS ON HOMAGAMA CUSTOMS SURCHARGE you need on topads.lk No change Polonnaruwa stadium Contact the mobile in fuel prices further delayed number mentioned Minister of Petroleum Mahinda below the product Amaraweera assured that the BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA imposition of a customs surcharge on fuel prices would not have any The construction of the National effect on local fuel prices. Cricket Stadium in Hingurakgoda, Get it delivered to your He told The Sunday Morning Polonnaruwa, which began in that the fuel prices would not be February last year after facing delays home through the seller changed under any circumstance, for several years since the project was as the Government did not announced, is yet to be completed reduce the prices during the last by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). two months when the global fuel SLC member Sujeewa prices had come down. Weraliyadda told The Sunday As explained by the Minister, Morning that the opening of the the price fluctuation would be ground had been delayed due to the controlled by the Petroleum coronavirus situation in the country Stabilisation Fund. and it would open within the next #stayhome #staysafe #groceryitem #vegetables Contd. on page 2 three months. #fruit #deliveredtoyourdoorsteps Contd. on page 2 2 the sunday morning PICTORIAL/NEWS Sunday, May 31, 2020 WITH OUR READERS’ HEALTH IN MIND A SPECIAL ANTIMICROBIAL INK HAS BEEN USED IN THE PRINTING OF OUR NEWSPAPER Soon after curfew in the Colombo and Gampaha Districts were relaxed, people rushed to the Kottawa-Makumbura Former MPs Patali Champika Ranawaka, Sarath Fonseka, and Harin Fernando pictured outside the Colombo Crimes Division this week Multi-Modal Transport Hub to get on with their lives Feeble souls: Despite the repercussions of the pandemic, there is no such thing as “returning to normalcy” for some An interesting shot of a Buddhist monk eagerly Police officials distributed essentials and Police officials were spotted handing out facemasks in selecting books at a bookshop in Darley Road amenities to residents around Town Hall Pettah The much- talked- about Gafoor Building in Colombo Fort, which was quarantined after a Navy officer tested Avant-Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi positive for Beating the heat: A police officer was making an exit from BMICH after providing evidence Covid-19 spotted at Galle Face enjoying an ice Former UNP MPs Ruwan Wijewardene and Prof. Ashu before the Presidential Committee on Inquiry probing cream under the scorching sun Marasinghe speaking at a press conference at Sirikotha political victimisation PHOTOS LALITH PERERA, PRADEEP DAMBARAGE, SAMAN ABESIRIWARDANA, KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM, AND ESHAN DASANAYAKA GUIDELINES WHEN ACCOMMODATING SHIP CREWS Navy to monitor operations BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA As learnt by The Sunday conditions in the safe houses, around 8-10 people have been “What the Navy does is Sooriyabandara noted. Morning, the Ministry of Health which is a direct violation of social crammed into normal two- make sure that nobody enters/ When inquired about a particular Allegations have been has given authority to the Sri distancing, well-informed sources person rooms, violating all health leaves the premises without any incident reported, the Sri Lanka levelled against “safe houses” Lanka Navy to monitor the crew told The Sunday Morning. guidelines issued by the Ministry of authority. However, it is up to the Navy said it would look into the operated by ships’ agents, transferring programme and the Accordingly, a complaint has Health, the sources alleged. respective ships’ agent to handle matter. under the responsibility of CASA has come forward voluntarily been made by one sea marshal When The Sunday Morning the accommodation. There are When contacted, the respective the Ceylon Association of to help the Sri Lanka Navy. company where it was alleged that contacted Sri Lanka Navy people who were sent for isolation shipping company which had Shipping Agents (CASA) for The safe houses operated by the condition of the hotels were Spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Isuru and some for quarantine, which directed the complaint to CASA, these ships’ agents under the not up to the standard level, as sea Sooriyabandara, he noted that the are two different programmes. refused to provide information to violating Covid-19-related responsibility of the CASA were not marshals were said to be crammed Navy was supervising the crew For quarantine, there are certain media. health guidelines while following the health guidelines, as into a few hotels. transferring programme which is health guidelines that need to be However, attempts made by The providing accommodation to at least one sea marshal company The incident has been reported operated by individual ships’ agents followed and for isolation it was a Sunday Morning to contact CASA crew members of ships. complained about cramped up from Galle and it was said that under the CASA. different mechanism,” Lt. Cmdr. were futile. Contd. from page 1 divide between the general public and the that the customs surcharge imposed by Ministry short... PHIs (public health inspectors), as it seriously PCR tests... Hoole... the Government was similar to the CESS Should any of the private sector tarnishes the trust that was built between the Ministry of Health (MoH) Health “Since there was no clear date set for the tax imposed by the Mahinda Rajapaksa institutions volunteer to build such facilities public and the health authorities.