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RS. 70.00 PAGES 72 / SECTIONS 6 VOL. 03 – NO. 13 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020 NO RESPITE FOR ENDING A YEAR COCONUT OIL STOP UNWANTED FARMERS AND CONFUSION OVER IMPORTS: PPE OF POLITICAL CONSUMERS TAX CONCESSIONS IMPORTERS POTPOURRI »SEE PAGE 4 »SEE PAGE 5 »SEE PAGE 13 »SEE PAGE 8 & 9 GENERAL PREVENTIVE GUIDELINES For verified information on the coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any of the following authorities Suwasariya Ambulance Service 1999 Health Promotion Bureau Quarantine Unit 0112 112 705 1990 Epidemiology Unit 0112 695 112 Govt. coronavirus hotline 0113071073 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Wash hands with soap for 40-60 Wear a commercially available mask/ Maintain a minimum distance Use gloves when shopping, using Use traditional Sri Lankan greeting Always wear a mask, avoid crowded Hotline 0113456200-4 seconds, or rub hands with alcohol- cloth mask or a surgical mask at all of 1 metre from others, especially public transport, etc. and discard into at all times instead of handshaking, vehicles, maintain distance, and wash Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 based handrub for 20-30 seconds times in public places in public places a lidded bin lined with a bag hugging, and/or kissing hands before and after travelling Email [email protected] Exploring ilmenite illegally? local company which had signed a zAustralian company not licensed to operate in SL zNo local partner confirmed MoU with TSL. BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA The investigations have revealed in mineral activities have informed with a local component which owns “If a local company is going that the company was neither offered the bureau in writing that they have more than 50% of the shares in the to explore minerals jointly with The controversial Australian company Titanium Sands Ltd. a license to engage in mineral not entered any agreement with TSL, joint venture. a foreign company, that has to (TSL), which was reported to be exploring Sri Lanka’s ilmenite exploration activities in Sri Lanka, it is learnt. GSMB Director (Minerals) Hema be communicated to the GSMB reserves, is operating in the island illegally according to nor had it entered a joint venture with a According to GSMB, foreign Liyanarachchi told The Sunday when applying for licenses,” she investigations conducted by the Geological Surveys and Mines local license. The local companies that companies are not allowed to explore Morning that the bureau had not explained. Bureau (GSMB), The Sunday Morning learnt. have been issued licenses to engage minerals in Sri Lanka alone but jointly granted a license to TSL or any other Contd. on page 2 NO AUDIT SINCE 2016 A quiet Christmas ESTATE WORKER WAGES Plantation companies Focus on fishy unlikely to budge zMoot productivity model instead deals at CFC Plantation companies a final decision on increasing the z Evidence gathered z Complaint to be are unlikely to abide by the minimum daily wage of estate instructions given by Labour workers to Rs. 1,000, The Sunday on allegations lodged with CID Minister Nimal Siripala de Morning learnt. BY LAHIRU POTHMULLA has commenced a full audit for the Silva last week to come up with Contd. on page 2 The Ceylon Fisheries years from 2016, State Minister Corporation (CFC), which has Kanchana Wijesekera said. not conducted auditing since 2016, Contd. on page 2 CLAIMING EPF BASED ON RETIREMENT AGE Special provision to Parliament in 2021 Christian and Catholic worshippers took part in a Christmas Mass at the All Saints’ Church in Borella on A special provision on the to Parliament when sittings Christmas Eve. Security was also beefed up in churches across the island and worshippers were urged age of retirement and claiming commence in 2021, Ministry to wear facemasks and maintain social distance the Employees Provident of Labour stated. PHOTO LALITH PERERA Fund (EPF) is to be presented Contd. on page 2 COVID-19 TREATMENT Power purchasing to PERMITTING COVID-19 VACCINES Ayurvedic meds Registered under review depend on Covid vaccines allowed A total of 37 ayurvedic supplementary medicines are recommended for research BY PAMODI WARAVITA year will depend on the prevailing after which they would be issued for clinical The renewal of power Covid-19 situation, The Sunday by early 2021 trials before they are recommended to the purchasing agreements to make up Morning learnt. The Covid-19 vaccines, which would general public, State Minister for Indigenous for a 300 MW power shortfall next Contd. on page 2 be registered with the National Medicines Medicine Promotion, Rural and Ayurvedic Regulatory Authority (NMRA), would be Hospitals Development, and Community CAPITAL HEIGHTS permitted into the country by early next Health informed. year, according to State Minister of Primary Contd. on page 2 CAPITALRS. 34 MILLION HEIGHTS Health Care, Epidemics, and Covid Disease RS. 34 MILLION Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle. UPWARDS She told The Sunday Morning that a final Chinese pipeline UPWARDS decision has not been taken as to which vaccines would be brought down. still in limbo “Discussions are still going on. We are No decision has been taken regarding the CAPITAL HEIGHTSstudying the vaccines that are available at controversial and expensive Chinese oil RS. 34 MILLION present,” she added. pipeline renovation project submitted and VISITUPWARDS OUR Contd. on page 2 approved by the previous Cabinet last year, WEBSITE which is still under evaluation. CAPITALVISIT HEIGHTS+94 OUR 763112233 Contd. on page 2 RS.35SHOW APARTMENT MILLIONWEBSITE UPWARDSRS. 34 MILLION KELANI RIVER POLLUTERS READY FOR INSPECTION UPWARDS PROJECT NEARING+94 763112233 COMPLETION VISIT OURReport to COPE in February SHOW APARTMENT WEBSITEBY SARAH HANNAN the end of February, it is learnt. action is to be taken. VISIT OUR The committee that was Given the extent of the Speaking to The Sunday +94 763112233WEBSITE to look into preparing a pollution of the river, the Morning, Ministry of READY FOR INSPECTION SHOW APARTMENT www.capitalheights.lk SHOW APARTMENT +94 763112233 mechanism to reduce the Ministry of Environment is Environment Secretary Dr. READY FOR INSPECTION pollution in the Kelani River, said to have taken the lead on Anil Jasinghe stated: “We are PROJECT NEARING COMPLETIONREADY FOR INSPECTION is to present a detailed study the investigations, as there are looking into the matter at a PROJECT NEARINGPROJECT NEARING COMPLETION COMPLETION report to the Committee on several factors that are to be macro level now. Public Enterprises (COPE) by taken into consideration before Contd. on page 2 2 the sunday morning PICTORIAL/NEWS Sunday, December 27, 2020 Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs and Muslim groups staged a protest in front of the Borella General Cemetery against the Government’s decision to cremate bodies of all victims An individual racing through the heavy showers in Colombo who die of Covid-19 Contd. from page 1 Allowing them to retire at 55, claim the EPF, ultimately wholly-owned subsidiaries of He also told the employers that the to cover all the major rivers in Sri Lanka, we Focus on... and then offering them work on contract TSL, and all activities are properly reported Government is ready to maintain the estates have included all stakeholders from various The last audit of the CFC had been basis for the next five years, is a decision that to the GSMB under the requirements of each or hand over the management to another ministries and government institutions and completed in 2015 and it was revealed that no the employer will have to make,” De Silva exploration licence. company. appointed committees on a national level, audit has been done since 2016. elaborated. Further, it was reported that the company “Most companies are not available, as they district level, and divisional secretariat level State Minister of Ornamental Fish, Therefore, the age of retirement and the is not mining on Mannar island and does not go on vacation, and therefore, they would to conduct studies on river water pollution.” Freshwater Fish and Shrimp Farming EPF claims will have to be decided on a have the equipment or regulatory approvals meet the Minister after the discussion is held According to Dr. Jasinghe, in the case Development, Multi-day Fishing and Fish combination of personal preference and the to do so. Activities are currently limited to on 4 January,” Bulumulla said. of the Kelani River, the committee that is Export Wijesekera told The Sunday Morning employer’s agreement, De Silva noted. exploration. When asked about the warnings given by appointed to look into the perpetrators and that the newly appointed Deputy General – Sarah Hannan Meanwhile, when contacted by The the Minister that the plantations would be take action, had discussed the feasibility Manager (DGM) – Finance will look into the Sunday Morning, Environment Ministry acquired by the Government, he stressed of imposing penalties to these industries matter. Power... Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe stressed that he that all companies would be taking the same and illegal residents as well for releasing “No audit has been done at the CFC for Ministry of Power Director of would look into the matter and see who has decision and therefore, if the Government is pollutants. 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. We are auditing Development Sulakshana Jayawardena said issued the license. going to acquire the plantations, it will have “We need to also look at giving these it now. Apart from that, we are preparing that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) “I will conduct an inquiry into the alleged to acquire them all. people a solution to the problem as well. documents to lodge complaints with the has predicted a power shortfall of 300 MW illegal mining conducted by this Australian However, there is no hindrance for For instance, the people that live in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for next year, of which 170 MW will be company,” he said.

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