Sunday 15 November 2020 Latest Edition Vol: 09/52 Price : Rs 70.00

Inside Story Is Contracting COVID-19 a Crime? The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) conducted a Seminar on Thursday (12) focusing on ‘COVID-19, Dealing with life stressors’, at a time when the number of COVID-19 cases reported from the second wave topped... A4

Govt cautions stranded Lankans Majority of COVID-19 deaths Repatriation Only NCD patients By Dilanthi Jayamanne

The total COVID-19 related national death toll reached Through 53 with five more deaths being recorded. The five most recent deaths include four males and a female. Director of the Health Promotion Bureau, Dr. Palitha Karunapema said a majority of those who had succumbed Govt Institutions to COVID-19, during the second wave, were those who were patients whose chronic disease condition had been The Government on Friday announced the demand payments, fees or any form of financial heightened by the viral infection. resumption of repatriating Sri Lankans stranded charges to facilitate entry permission to Sri Lanka overseas from Monday (16). or any third country. Story Continued on page 2 However, the Foreign Ministry urged all The Ministry announced that no individual or prospective Sri Lankan travellers, both inbound entity is authorised by the Government to facilitate and outbound, to be cautious of individuals who the entry to or exit from Sri Lanka other than... Sajith sacks Diana Story Continued on page 2 Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader, Sajith Premadasa, has decided to immediately No proper law Chamal proposes Decision on expel SJB MP Diana Gamage who voted in favour of the 20th Amendment, from Delimitation burials after the SJB. to deal with Premadasa had been given the Committee Tech Committee power to take a decision in this public health regard during the SJB Executive State Minister of Committee meeting held on Internal Security, Home report 12 November. emergency Affairs and Disaster Minister of Health Accordingly, Management, Chamal Pavithra Premadasa has decided – Sumanthiran Rajapaksa, proposed to Wanniarachchi, on 13 to expel Gamage from the the Cabinet of Ministers to November said the final Party. By Gagani Weerakoon and set up a Delimitation decision on burying the Methmalie Dissanayake Committee that could remains of those who Story Continued on page 2 establish new Divisional die due to COVID-19 Tamil National Secretariats and gazette related complications, Alliance existing Divisional will be reached after Parliamentarian, M.A. Secretariats, and for establishment and receiving the report of Sumanthiran, on 13 reconstruction of Grama Niladhari (GN) the technical November claimed in Divisions. committee comprising health experts. Parliament, there is no The proposed Members to the Committee The committee was appointed on 11 proper law to deal with include the Secretary to the Ministry of Local November. the public health Government (LG) or one of its In a special statement, Wanniarachchi emergency that has representatives, the Registrar General or... said the Cabinet of Ministers did not... arisen following the COVID-19 outbreak Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 and that certain existing laws are outdated. Participating in the Adjournment Flouting COVID-19 orders Debate on the COVID-19 situation, Sumanthiran said: “We do not have a law to deal with public health emergencies. Bus permits will be cancelled We have outdated laws like the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases By Keerthi Mendis week time period to comply with Ordinance, among others. those instructions. Sources at the Ministry of Amunugama further said if the Story Continued on page 2 Transport said if buses were to drivers and conductors do not use transport passengers in violation gloves and facemasks, strict legal of the orders that have been steps will be taken by the Police Since AG has documents issued by the Ministry, to curb the and action will be taken against COVID-19 pandemic, steps will be all Sri Lanka Transport Board and taken to cancel their permits. private buses which are engaged Probe on State Minister of Transport in transportation against the Dilum Amunugama said bus health guidelines issued by the Bathiudeens owners have been given a one- Ministry. won’t be Story Continued on page 2 Easter Sunday PCoI hampered No Parliament Hizbullah By Keerthi Mendis sittings for submitted forged A CID source said since the documents jailed MPs documents regarding the By Buddhika Samaraweera investigation on MP Rishad Bathiudeen except to vote Former Governor of the Eastern and his brother, in By Gagani Weerakoon and Province, M.L.A M. Hizbullah has connection with the Methmalie Dissanayake submitted forged documents, in order to 21 April 2019 Easter obtain a 25-acre land for the construction Sunday terror attacks, have been The Parliamentary Business Committee, of the Batticaloa Campus, which is forwarded to the Attorney General, no decided not to allow MPs who are imprisoned believed to be the largest Shariah difficulty will occur concerning future at the Welikada Prison Complex, including University in South Asia. investigations, despite the transfer of the the Magazine Prison, to attend Parliament This was revealed when two officials of officers who were conducting the probes. sittings due to the COVID-19 outbreak. the Department of Social Services and...

Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 A2 sunday 15 november 2020 news

Continued from page 1 Hizbullah... Sajith sacks...... the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka Sources said, as the power to take a decision regarding the other testified before the Presidential seven MPs who voted in favour of the 20th Amendment has been Commission of Inquiry into the 21 April given to the Leaders of the Parties they represent, they should inform 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, on 13 the SJB Executive Committee in that regard. November. Director of Lands at the Mahaweli Authority, Asanka Udayakumara said Hizbullah had applied for the land through a social services organisation called the Hira Foundation, Bus permits... which is founded by Hizbullah. Attention has been drawn in disinfectants to the buses by the However, a Social Service officer of the this regard as the passengers Road Passenger Transport Social Services Department, Dhammika have informed the authorities Authority is not a practical Wasalabandara who previously testified regarding the difficulties they method and that the bus owners before the Commission, said Hizbullah have faced due to the use of face should buy them themselves. had used a false certificate stating that masks and gloves, the use of He further said special groups the Hira Foundation was registered with disinfectants and transporting will be deployed from next week the Department. Udayakumara also said passengers more than the at the District level to raid the that on 15 March 2012, Hizbullah had number of seats. buses which violate the requested the then subject Minister He emphasised that providing guidelines issued by the Nimal Siripala de Silva to obtain land for face masks, gloves and Ministry. the construction of a higher education centre in the Eastern Province with the assistance from Saudi Arabia. The request was written on a letterhead of the Minister of Child Development and Decision on... Women’s Affairs, he said. In the letter, ...take any decision on the burial of COVID-19 dead during the last Hizbullah made a request for a 25-acre Cabinet meetings. Repatriation only.. plot of land. “Several parties have requested us to allow them to bury the remains of COVID-19 dead. But, we have not taken any decision ...the Government institutions contactsrilanka.mfa.gov.lk/. regarding the matter yet. When that request was informed to the concerned. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Cabinet, they instructed me to take a decision after receiving the There were several accusations that Dinesh Gunawardena said the report of the technical experts committee,” she noted. private entities were involved in the Government has repatriated around Probe on... repatriation and quarantine of Sri 40,000 stranded Sri Lankans since Only three senior officers have been Lankan who wanted to return to Sri the outbreak of the COVID-19 appointed instead of the 19 CID officers Lanka during the pandemic period, pandemic. This includes 17,861 who have been transferred. were subjected to corruption and migrant workers stranded in the However, another CID source said No proper... malpractice. Middle East. among those officers there were Officers- Laws are insufficient to deal recommendations. In that The repatriation process which was In addition, there are over 9,800 in-Charge (OIC) of eight units of the CID. with the current crisis. I will letter, they have very clearly temporarily suspended due to the registered with the Foreign Ministry There were also four female Police officers. tell you one example of the stated, what is being imposed rising numbers of case loads, will be web portal to be repatriated. The The source added that these four female issue concerning this in the country and calling it resumed in the coming weeks with majority of them are from the Middle officers had worked hard on the quarantine curfew. curfew is not lawful. It needs priority offered to the most vulnerable East, Latin America, South Korea, investigations regarding the allegations “On 3 May, I wrote to the to be regularised. and deserving cases. Japan and Southern Europe. against Rishad Badiudeen and his brother. Human Rights Commission “Now many days have Those who reside overseas may Minister Gunawardena also said He emphasised that transferring such expressing the view that passed but no action has been contact the nearest Sri Lanka negotiations are underway with skilled officers is problematic. lockdowns and curfews are taken to address the issue. It Embassy, High Commission or countries such as Jordan and Qatar, He further said that though new officers necessary during times like is clear that there is no proper Consulate General for information or to find alternative employments for are appointed, they will take some time to this. law to deal with this public register concerns on the Contact Sri those who have lost their jobs due to fulfil their duties properly in the way that But, what is being done is health emergency. Even with Lanka web portal at https://www. the current situation. the former officers did. not lawful. On 8 June, the regard to the importation of Commission wrote to the the Rapid Antigen Test, and all Secretary to the President and of that, all these issues have sent me a copy of that letter arisen because there is no making certain proper law to deal with this.”

Chamal proposes ...... a representative, the Surveyor General or a representative, the Commissioner General of Prisons or a representative, the Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics or a representative, a senior Administrative officer as a Tamil representative, a senior Administrative officer as a Muslim representative, and a retired District Secretary who has sound knowledge on LG and GN Divisions. Rajapaksa said there is a dire need for the establishment of such a Committee.

Majority of... Addressing the Media at the should be informed to ensure Bureau, Dr. Karunapema said that they received the monthly 25 per cent of Sri Lankans pack of medicines from their suffered from high blood relevant dispensary. pressure (HBP) while another Dr. Wickramasinghe said 10 per cent were diabetic, and that those who suffer from any the rest suffered from heart form of illness due to their diseases and renal diseases. NCD condition and need He noted that those who had medical care, even if they are died from complications of in a house which is under COVID-19 itself were less in quarantine, should seek number and amounted to less immediate medical attention at than five persons. the nearest hospital. At least Dr. Karunapema urged the two beds have been made elderly and those suffering available for patients in from non-communicable quarantine in each hospital, diseases (NCDs) to take their she noted. medications regularly to Meanwhile, the Health control their disease condition. Ministry urged all those living “It is only then that the health in flats which were under service would be able to quarantine in the Colombo prevent the complications Municipal Council (CMC) area caused to their NCD by and suffered from NCDs such COVID-19.” diabetes, HBP, heart diseases, Dr. Karunapema said that epilepsy, wheezing, high blood even those who had cholesterol, kidney disease or polymerase chain reaction cancers to inform the relevant tests performed on them authorities at the flat regarding should not travel about but their condition. should remain at home till they The quarantined urban flats receive the test report. in the CMC area were the Deputy Director General Muwadora Uyana, Sirimuthu (DDG) of the Department of Uyana, Sirisanda Sevana, NCDs, of the Health Ministry, Randiya Uyana, Methsada Dr. Champika Wickramasinghe Sevana, Minijaya Sevana, said that those who have run Ranmith Sevana, Sathhiru short of medicines that had Sevana, and Maligawatta. been provided by clinics, could Those who develop obtain their quota from the symptoms such as fever, nearest hospital. cough, sore throat, body aches, Director General of Health difficulty in breathing or chest Services (DGHS), Dr. Asela pain, should call either the Gunawardana said that the officer in charge of the flat, the name, age, address and the Medical Officer of Health or the name of the dispensary or Public Health Inspector of the hospital from which the patient relevant area, received his or her medicines Dr. Gunawardana said.

No Parliament... The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal Leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress Leader Rishad Bathiudeen who are in remand custody and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Premalal Jayasekara who is serving a death sentence, will not be summoned to the Parliament. However, when a vote is taking place, these MPs will be brought to the House, following all the COVID-19 safety guidelines, Serjeant-at- Arms Narendra Fernando added. news sunday 15 november 2020 A3

President’s Deepavali message Wishing enlightenment for all SLHF Not Properly President Gotabaya the expectation of a consolation. Hindu Rajapaksa, in his dispelling the darkness of devotees would commit to Deepavali message, ignorance and seek solace during this stated, cultural festivals of illuminating wisdom. festive season. It would be Registered with DSS this nature provide a great I extend wishes of a blessing for our objective opportunity to build enlightenment and share to establish a righteous communal reconciliation greetings of love and society and a healthy and mutual compassion. At a time lifestyle. I wish all those, By Buddhika – Witness understanding among the when the world is facing who celebrate this festival, Samaraweera Wasalabandara said, the Ramadan season and the people and empower unprecedented difficulties enlightenment would document appeared to be a pilgrims’ quota for Mecca. ethnic and religious due to the COVID-19 attain the inner peace they The Sri Lanka Hira Foundation forgery. However, when Samil was harmony. pandemic, such an expect,” the statement (SLHF), founded by the former Meanwhile, Samil, whose working in the Muslim “Hindu devotees light up opportunity to observe further read. Deepavali is Governor of the Eastern name appears on the relevant Religious and Cultural Affairs lamps and engage in and celebrate one’s own celebrated on 14 Province M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, certificate, also testified before Department it has been under religious observances with religious beliefs is, indeed, November. has not been properly registered the Commission. the purview of the then Prime with the Department of Social He said, he had issued a letter Minister, D.M. Jayaratne and Services (DoSS) as a social stating that the Hira Foundation the Commission Chairman service organisation. had been registered with the then questioned the witness, This was revealed on 13 Department following a request on what basis he had PM’s Deepavali message November, when a Social made by the Foundation. A copy discussions with Hizbullah Services Officer from the Social of the letter issued on 20 July about matters such as the Services Department, Dhammika 2011 was also submitted to the registration of mosques. Wishing all a happy Deepavali Wasalabandara testified before Commission. In response, he said, not only Including Hindu devotees celebrating the Festival of Lights the Presidential Commission of According to a circular issued Hizbullah but almost all Inquiry into the 21 April 2019 in 1999, the Commission stated, Muslim politicians had Prime Minister Mahinda those including Hindu It is through unity that we Easter Sunday bombings. the authority of the Department discussed certain issues with Rajapaksa, in his devotees celebrating the can defeat ignorance and A State Counsel questioned to register non-Governmental him on various occasions. Deepavali message, Festival of Lights. Lighting ensure that compassion the witness as to whether the Organisations (NGOs) and social However, he added that he had stated, as we strive to a lamp on this joyous prevails in our hearts. Department possessed any services organisations had been never acted outside the overcome the challenges of occasion, symbolises the As a nation that defeated documents related to the revoked. According to the prescribed procedure. the COVID-19 pandemic spiritual victory of light the evils of ignorance and registration of the Foundation. circular, the registration of all Samil also said, he did not together, we must also over darkness, good over separation time and time In reply, Wasalabandara said, social services organisations and work in violation of the strive to uplift each other evil, and knowledge over again, may the radiance of the Department did not have any NGOs registered with the procedure and explained that and ensure that our ignorance. the lamps lit, continue to formally prepared relevant Department up to 1999 had even though several Muslim shared quest of a bright Deepavali is also a bring peace and unity to documents in this regard. been cancelled. Ministers and politicians made and peaceful future is reminder that we must our land,” the statement However, he said, the In such a context, a Member of requests regarding the realised. dedicate ourselves to further read. Department had a document the Commission queried the registration of Mosques, he, as “I would like to wish a overcome all challenges Deepavali is celebrated containing an entry made by an witness as to whether it was the Director of the Muslim happy Deepavali to all together as a community. on 14 November. official of the Department legal to issue a letter in 2011 Religious and Cultural Affairs mentioning the name of the stating that the Hira Foundation Department, always forwarded Foundation. was an institution registered those requests to the Board of The State Counsel pointed out with the Department. Trustee’s (Wakfs). I just took to the Commission, there was a In reply, Samil said, the steps to inform those who made discrepancy between the relevant letter was issued requests a decision was made Navy arrest six relevant note and the data because, at one time, the by the Board with regard to the mentioned in a document which institution was registered under registration of a mosque, he could be considered as the the Department. However, he added. certificate of registration acknowledged that the issuance When queried as to whether with 800kg dried turmeric submitted by the Foundation. of the letter was not appropriate. the permission of the Director The Navy arrested six was used to smuggle the turmeric, stuffed into 32 Wasalabandara also admitted The State Counsel questioned General of the Social Services suspects along with 800 consignment were handed gunny sacks. that. how long he had known Department was obtained kilos of smuggled dried over to the Customs Meanwhile, four A Member of the Commission Hizbullah and in response, the before issuing the relevant turmeric during a special Preventive Office, suspects had smuggled the then inquired as to whether an witness said, Hizbullah had letter to the Hira Foundation, search operation Katunayake. The North- consignment, while two Additional Director of the spoken to him about certain he said, such approval had not conducted at the Daluwa Western Naval Command other suspects were Department, who had signed the matters during his tenure as the been obtained. If approval had beach in Kalpitiya on 12 made this arrest after waiting on the beach to relevant certificate (Mohamed Director of the Department of been sought from him, it would November. searching two suspicious transport the stock by cab. Hanifa Mohamed Samil), had not Muslim Religious and Cultural not have been approved, he The apprehended dinghies that arrived at the The suspects of this racket served in that Department as of Affairs. He used to speak to me said. individuals along with the Daluwa beach. The were identified as the date mentioned in it and about matters such as the Hizbullah also appeared seized turmeric stock, two dinghies were loaded with 19-43-year-old residents of whether it appeared to be a registration of mosques, the before the Commission on 13 dinghies and the cab which over 800 kilos of dried Kalpitiya. (NV) forged document. In response, importation of dates for the November.

Establishment of 10 campuses at regional level Cabinet approval sought to commence construction

A discussion on the Minister Professor G.L. Peiris. Districts. There was a establishment of 10 The main topic of discussion discussion on obtaining universities at the regional was the selection of 10 Cabinet of Ministers approval level in accordance with the Districts where higher for the proposal, starting the new Government’s education education institutions are not relevant construction as soon policy was held at the located at present and the as possible and opening it up Ministry of Education, establishment of the relevant to students. presided over by Education universities for those (TR)

Government should be proactive in helping farmers: ACFF

By Eunice Ruth spoiled, he claimed. vegetables, but after the He also claimed that closure of the markets neither The Government should get Government had failed to the farmer or the public get to involved in the process of implement a proper benefit from it due to the cultivation, harvesting, mechanism to regulate the middlemen taking control of purchasing, selling, vegetable supply during the the sale of vegetables quoting transporting and ensuring quarantine curfew days and high prices at grocery shops that vegetable farmers get a within the quarantine curfew and other markets,” said proper price for their produce, imposed areas, adding that Karunaratne. President of the All Ceylon this had led to the middlemen Due to the transport issues, Farmers’ Federation (ACFF), taking advantage of the the farmers failed to transport Namal Karunaratne stated. situation. vegetables to the wholesale He said after the Manning This ends up with the prices markets and sell their produce Market was closed, farmers of vegetables going up as to the customer and when were facing great difficulties although the farmer sells his there is a scarcity this allows and experiencing huge losses produce at reasonable prices nefarious persons to sell as they were unable to sell the middlemen involved in this vegetables at a high price, he their harvest. As the process made a profit by added. government was slow to find a selling it at a high cost to “The farmers started solution to their predicament grocery stores, he said. cultivating vegetables on their of not having a place to sell “The Dambulla Economic own as the Government did their produce these poor Centre and Manning Market not support them and now farmers were finding it hard to are the two major markets they do not have a plan to help survive as most of the produce which are involved in the them to sell their produce and had to be disposed of as it was pricing and distribution of make a decent living,” he said. A4 sunday 15 november 2020 focus

Is Contracting COVID-19 a Crime? By Dilanthi Jayamanne and 50% chance of meeting with an approved by them. suddenly extended the curfew I over a fake complaint she opened her Nabiya Vaffoor untimely death if a person was a Since there was no possibility for couldn’t stock up enough goods to shop during the curfew hours. smoker, people need not worry the Ayurvedic school of medicine to make food for my business,” she “My husband is sick and I’m old. The Sri Lanka Medical Association themselves irrationally as to what counteract any of the scientific added. We maintain this shop to look after (SLMA) conducted a Seminar on would happen if they too contacted explanations that were given on the Fifty-two-year-old, Surangika said ourselves without being a burden to Thursday (12) focusing on ‘COVID-19, the virus. occasion it would be best to withhold the government cannot be blamed for our children, but I didn’t open the Dealing with life stressors’, at a time Also, there is the fear that the further comment on the subject till the curfews and lockdowns because shop during curfew because we had when the number of COVID-19 cases disease would be transmitted to more information was sought. this was something faced by the whole goods that we needed and my son reported from the second wave topped another person – perhaps to the But, since the good doctors too world, no one can control it but protect gave us some money to manage our 12,000, the total number of cases patient’s mother or another loved one. agreed that it was a good idea to themselves. The Government is also expenses during the curfew. We also reached 15,723 by Friday (13) Therefore, the public should do its consume warm or hot drinks despite trying to protect the country and the had our medicine delivered too, but morning and the death toll rose to 48. best to refrain from contracting the the inability of destroying the virus as public by locking down the country unfortunately someone in the Needless to say the very figures viral infection. Another fear that a was explained during the seminar, it and imposing curfew in several areas. neighbourhood has complained that I being recorded in the second wave person has of contacting the infection also accepted that to practise these “My husband and I run a small opened the shop. Police arrested and and counting the number of COVID- is the loss of control of one’s life. The myths and misconceptions without business of selling meals three times a took me to the station at 10 in the 19 deaths alone is stressful to a fact that the person is unsure as to adhering to the basic gazetted health day to office staff in Union Place and night, without even lady constable. majority. which hospital or healthcare facility guidelines issued by the Health we also sell short eats, tea and coffee Afterwards my son came there and Whatever the medical professionals he or she would be taken, and what Ministry to stay free of contacting the too. During normal days I used to cook they released me. If it’s not because or any other authorities have to say, would happen to their family virus was foolhardy. 25 lunches. For breakfast and dinner of Covid-19 I would have never the situation that has been created is members and their pets if they were Colombo City and health it’s 15 packets. Many people aren’t experienced such uncomfortable and such that those who have been transferred to a far off facility for coming to work these days though the unpleasant moment in my life,” she infected are criminalised not only by treatment was worrisome to most. guidelines curfew was lifted. added. the medical professionals, the Police “Therefore, plan out what should be She further noted that they live in a “My husband collapsed at home and the armed forces but even by the done under such circumstances, so While the Health Ministry has rented house and for four month they two weeks ago and now he is people living in their own community. that the mind would be at ease. continuously called for maintaining of have not paid that rent. paralyzed. He was a low sugar patient The fear of having a notice pasted on Persons who are positive are given health safety guidelines from the “We have to save Rs 1,000 a day to and we didn’t have a way to get his the gate or parapet wall is enough to only a limited time to prepare country at large and the city dwellers pay our house rent. Since we didn’t medicines during the curfew I didn’t ensure the increase of mental stress. themselves to be transferred to a of Colombo, of whom a majority make any proper profit these days and have money either because the places Therefore, it is a great pity that treatment facility, “therefore, it’s best within the Colombo Municipal started spending what we saved, we that I work for didn’t want us there those who call for people to refrain to make sure that those being sent for Council (CMC) limits reside in the are unable to pay the rent,” she added because of the Covid-19 situation. from ostracising those with COVID-19 treatment especially in cases that are ‘watta’s’ or mostly impoverished while inviting us for a cup of tea. We requested medicines from are the very persons who stand a few asymptomatic or show only mild settlements, it is well worth finding Then we headed into a store that government hospital and got the metres away from even a patient who symptoms of the infection have in out how this section of the city sells various types of packeted dry- medicines two days after my husband has come into the emergency or their possession what they would managed during the quarantine food and met the 54-year-old owner, collapsed,” said 55-year-old, Fatima accident service with an injury and require for a period of 14 days which curfew that was imposed in the Fareed. who earns her daily expenses by don’t dare touch the injured person would include the medication for a several parts of the city. A majority of “We didn’t take any new stock during working as a maid in different places. and grills the relative or perhaps chronic disease if required. those who live in these areas are daily the curfew but when people came to “My children don’t look after for us those who brought in the patient as to Unfortunately, a majority of those wage earners. the shop we sold what we already had therefore, I and my husband earn our whether he or she has a runny nose, a who have been driven to quarantine The Ceylon Today walked down in the shop. Since our shop and our living working as servants in different cough or fever before daring to look at centres have been whisked off only Vauxhall Lane to emerge from Police house have the same entrance we places. When the COVID-19 second the injury. Private hospitals which with the clothes they had on Lane in an effort to ascertain as to couldn’t help but open it. Our wave started, owners of the places depend on the money they can fleece themselves like in the case of the how these people had serviced the neighbours are really understanding if informed us not to attend to work till from patients also have security Peliyagoda fish market when even long days of quarantine curfew they want something they just they inform and sent us some dry placed outside to ward off any those who visited the market to deprived of their livelihood and the maintain one metre distance from the rations as a help,” Fatima lamented. patients with fever conditions. purchase fish to cook for their families lack of space to maintain social shop entrance and ask for what they 43- year-old Zainab who lives It is in the midst of this that the were put through PCR tests and distancing. want without entering the shop down Dawson Street lamented that SLMA does its best to give a scientific driven off in buses to quarantine. So, Dharshani Sarangika – mother of therefore we didn’t have any problem,” they had received a water bill of Rs. explanation to COVID-19 and in therefore, it is a question as to two, who earns the family expenses by he said. 5,800 which had been calculated literal terms tell people how foolish whether one should keep a bag running her grocery shop in the Slave Fareed further noted that thought without reading the water meter they are to believe that consuming constantly packed like mother’s going island area, noted that though the government noted that they will during the days of the quarantine food or drink such as coriander tea or in for delivery to hospital. government ordered not to open their provide essential goods and Rs 5,000 curfew imposed in the Slave Island coffee when it is hot, inhaling steam Consultant Psychiatrist at the shops and sell goods, she couldn’t to manage during the curfew but they area. On other days the bill could keep away the novel corona National Institute of Mental Health, refrain from selling some essential started to provide the Rs. 5,000 after amounted to Rs 3,000 or a little virus. It is true that it is futile to Dr. Kapila Ranasingha, who spoke on items to her neighbours and being one week since the curfew was lifted. more. But this time they have given practise such methods for warding off ‘Old myths, new myths: challenging insensitive towards their situation. Then we spoke to 56-year-old Rizana an estimated the amount and issued COVID-19 without taking the basic the mythical traders,’ observed that She said that though the curfew who looks after a family of four with a bill. “How can we pay such health safety measures of wearing a with the current situation there were was imposed in October the the daily earning of her husband who amounts without a proper income?” mask in the politically correct method misconceptions and myths that were government started providing the works as a three-wheel-driver. she asked. of covering your nose, mouth, circulating in public through social Covid-19 allowance of Rs 5,000 on 11 “I don’t know what else we could do. During the First wave of COVID -19 maintaining hand hygiene by regular media and the web. The latest myth is November in that area. Since Covid-19 started my husband one of the biggest clusters, the CMC washing with soap and water or using that of controlling COVID-19 with Fifty-three-year-old, Sarafa who didn’t get enough hires per day. He and even the Health Ministry, a hand sanitizer and, maintaining a herbal remedies and steam lives with a family of 13 is one of the only earns Rs 500 maximum since the experienced emerged from one-metre distance. In Sinhala they inhalations. Some of the COVID-19 bread winners in her family. She Covid-19 started. Sometimes when Keselwatta, It spread like wild fire on say that a drowning man would even deaths which had taken place at noted that the shops in the there is curfew we have no income at that occasion. The Health Ministry cling to a dried blade of grass and home could be due to misconceptions. neighbourhood understands people’s all. I do my best to feed my family by and the now even the CMC is dealing thereby Sri Lankans too would look to “It would be difficult to control the situation during the curfew and cooking the things that remain in my with the sub clusters which issued ayurveda medicine if it helped avert pandemic in Sri Lanka if people sometimes even give things on credit, kitchen,” she added. from the Peliyagoda Fish Market. contacting SARS CoV-2. practised these mythical therefore, we didn’t have any problem 52-year-old Sirima Damayanti noted Successive governments have Senior Lecturer at the University of misconceptions. There are people who for food. that she usually closes her shop when carried out numerous development Colombo and Consultant Psychiatrist earn a living by encouraging people to “I have 13 people to look after; I, my there is curfew and only sells the programmes including the at the National Hospital Dr. Mahesh believe in myths,” he lamented. elder sister and her elder son are the remaining stock to her daily construction of flats for the Colombo Rajasuriya, speaking on how to Dr. Ranasingha said that a majority only three people who earn for this customers, since there is no other way city dwellers. However, neither the manage stressors said that people of myths surrounded the increasing of family. My sister’s son used to work of earning. “This shop was maintained CMC nor any of the governments in were mentally stressed with three immunity. Therefore, people use abroad but they returned to Sri Lanka by me and my husband as our main power have attempted to enhance the aspects with the emergence of the various medications, consume herbal with the rise of this pandemic after source of earning. My son is a living conditions for people living in second wave of COVID-19. One was teas, do steam inhalations and quarantine because they weren’t paid university student and my daughter these settlements. It is not merely a the fear of contacting COVID-19 and consume hot drinks to prevent or and had to manage just by having one works at Dialog. Because of COVID-19 provision of Rs 5,000 that would help what would happen to them mainly control COVID-19 from entering their meal per day. Therefore, we have lost my son’s education and my daughter’s them as while giving that amount on due to the possibilities of death and system. They believe that the hot that income as well. My elder sister work has also been stopped,” she one hand, the CMC or the complications of the disease. But liquid would kill the virus. But works as a cleaner at the CMC; I make added. government sends an electricity or since the mortality rate of COVID-19 Certain Ayurvedic institutions have breakfast and short eats and sell in Then we met 65-year-old Shriyani water bill that exceeds this amount. was only 0.24% whereas there was a stressed that these methods were not this area. Because of the government who was apprehended by the Police (Pix by Venura Chandramalitha) focus sunday 15 november 2020 A5

Crisis at Colombo Port Continues MSC warns of bypassing transshipments to Indian Ports By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan terminal and think differently. Also the time unfortunately it failed. Raising MSC Geneva suggested the SLPA concerns, the international liner As COVID-19 positive cases have announce when the East Container questioned the SLPA why they had not risen to 70 at the Port of Colombo (PoC) Terminal (ECT) is up and running with even tried to make an announcement Friday (13), the Port is also heading for proper yard planning system and full when the current situation has been major crisis, as the Mediterranean ship operations can be handled. At continuing for the last one month or Shipping Co. (MSC) liner informed the present, boxes discharged at ECT are so. Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) that not connecting with the vessels and Amidst such a chaotic situation due to ongoing congestion at the Jaya some boxes are still untraceable. Also, Minister of Ports Rohitha Container Terminal (JCT) with no MSC has already readjusted the Colombo International Container the MSC wanted to clear as soon as Abeygunawardana on Thursday noted workers to clear the consignments, they rotation of its existing Indus Express Terminals (LTD) CICT and the South possible the MSC Transshipment (TS) that he has implemented an operation have diverted over 20 ships in order to Service linking India, the Middle East, Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd volume long idling inside JCT yard centre for queries and complaints to assist PoC and the MSC decide to and USEC by cancelling a call it added (SAGT), the two private terminals, are without moving out as there is a huge streamline the Port operations. He also discharge boxes (consignments) in at Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port last month. functioning under the same conditions pressure building up from the Customs said a hotline will be made available various Indian Ports and in Singapore MSC is holding ships at the JCT but have streamlined their operations to move the boxes. They have requested while the Port is now made an as well. berths for over four to five days and smoothly. to take possible action to move these essential service The MSC line has been supporting Sri even the current US service, supposed The Liner had noted that their boxes stuck inside JCT. He also elaborated that the Port is Lanka with 20-25 ships per week and to have completed in four days at the Headquarters in Geneva appreciated However, the MSC has not guaranteed where economy is driven, hence all the it’s a cash cow, according to shippers. JCT, is not completed and the the support given by the SLPA by sending services back to Colombo from workers should take up the challenge But, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority productivity is lesser than 15mph, they providing berths and many other one of those ports where they are despite the uncertainty that prevails. (SLPA) says they are now streamlining have claimed. equipment to MSC ship during the diverting the cargoes. They said that the He told workers and the trade unions the process but the MSC is waiting for They have reiterated that the ongoing period since they have been explained MSC got seriously affected with current to report to work and take up the the final response. crisis has been for over one month now about the various challenges faced by situation as they fully depended on challenges. According to reliable sources, already and JCT which has about 14.5-ft deep SLPA having found COVID-19 positive Colombo in this region with 23 owned According to SLPA, about 1,000 PCR over 50 international liners have berth, is not streamlined to face the cases inside the port and the action ships per week calling at Colombo. MSC tests were conducted on Port workers bypassed PoC last week and that is COVID-19 situation. taken, but unfortunately this has not is seriously affected, more than any out of which 50 were tested positive continuing even now. The MSC said The shipping liner stated they brought the desired results. shipping line, owing to their high few days ago. However, on the 500 Colombo imports and some other understood the challenges faced by the The MSC noted that since the matter contribution to JCT. They also noted PCR tests that were conducted two consignments will be forced to be SLPA, having the virus spread and has been prolonging over a month, with when other lines shifted to the two days ago 20 new cases were confirmed rerouted to Colombo from those ports labour unions demand, but they also no immediate solution, the SLPA should private terminals at the PoC, MSC kept out of which 16 were workers at the and that would incur additional cost to pointed out how the CICT and the SAGT announce that they have decide to use all mother vessels less than 14.5 m draft JCT where the workers shortage is them. is running its operation smoothly when alternative TS port to divert TS volumes at JCT. they reminded the SLPA that the continuing. They also say the Port is a There is a massive shortage of the port is facing the same COVID-19 from Colombo to help the PoC to ease MSC only had been shifting deep draft place where more than 10,000 Port workers due to the virus spread. The challenges. the congestion. Hence they will divert mega ships to the 18mt deep berth at visitors come on daily basis and it’s SLPA earlier announced that most of the The MSC further stressed that while the volumes to Mudra Cochin and the CICT run by the Chinese. impossible to trace COVID-19 cases. workers hail from the Western Province they understand the challenges faced Enorre and that some of the JCT callers They said they had MSC never The SLPA staffer noted some from the mainly from the Gampaha District and by the SLPA with COVID0-19 and and feeders they will temporarily remove expected this situation in Colombo and welfare and some security guards and that has caused a severe shortage of labour unions demands mainly at the from Colombo so that there would be they know Colombo would find some members at the Mahapola Training workers. JCT but they have highlighted how lesser pressure on SLPA to rebuild the solution to run the terminal but this Centre were infected with the virus. A6 sunday 15 November 2020 focus

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan, rooms, sometimes having elderly and S. Sathiskumar infants in the family, it’s dangerous to (Bogawanthalawa corr), self-quarantine a COVID-19 patient. K. Pushparaj (Nuwara Eliya There are no separate toilets for others Corr) who are not infected and it ultimately leads to everybody in the house While the Tea Traders Association contracting the virus. (TTA) confirms that this year there In Hatton, the seriousness of COVID- would be a drop of 32 million kg of tea 19 is ignored despite people being compared to last year (300 million kg aware of the danger. They flock into in 2019 and the TTA says they will not shops to buy new clothes for the festive cross the margin of 270 million kg) due season. Many were crowded with to various conditions such as acute shoppers getting ready for Deepavali dry weather, lack of fertiliser and with despite orders not to do so from the less or no replanting of tea. However, it Chairman of the Lindulla Municipal would be double jeopardy if COVID-19 Council L. Bharathidasan who is not prevented from spreading organised a COVID-19 committee further into the plantations. including persons from the District For the first time in the history of Sri Health Authorities to curtail the spread Lanka, Deepavali is being celebrated in of the virus. fear and confusion, with half of the Having seen the rush of shoppers, members in most Hindu families being the Norwood Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) unable to return home, especially in decided to shut down the town before the plantations. the festival to contain the spread of the Already, many towns and estates are virus. The decision was taken with the under quarantine curfew with several Dull Deepavali Under permission of the traders association in estates been barred to visitors. At a the Norwood PS area. time of the Deepavali festival, this may Chairman of Norwood PS, Ravi be the saddest thing that happened to Kulanthai informed that the town will them as they try to adjust to the not open to the public up until 16 so-called ‘new normal’. As usual, the ‘New Normal’ November. plantation workers have received their This decision was taken after six Rs 10,000 festival advance and a people were identified with COVID-19 minimum monthly wage of Rs 7,000 to in Bogawanthalawa and Kotiyagala be used for celebrations, but that too areas. The complete shutdown was under the new normal. in the Plantations issued on 5 November, by the Central Despite various measures being Province Governor Lalith Ugamage. By taken to contain the spread of the 6 November many plantation workers virus in the estates, there are more were given salaries with a festival than one road that leads to any nearby COVID-19 detection rather than advance of Rs. 10,000. People were towns that are not supervised and urged to purchase their groceries many people take shortcuts to enter before the quarantine curfew. these towns to purchase goods. prevention, causing danger Ceylon Today’s Bogawathalawa According to reliable sources, more correspondent said that from 12 than 40 tea estates have persons with November, people entering Hatton were COVID-19. The entry of the virus tested positive. Likewise, we traced all checked for body temperature. Most Dull Deepavali into plantations the contacts and quarantined more workers working outside the than 25 families,” he noted. He believed plantations were returning to the Those who are celebrating Deepavali COVID-19 saw its way into the quarantining the entire family when plantations for the festive season and will not be able to observe festival plantation sector when fish mongers one is found infected was the only the Government took the precautions rituals in the temples, visit families from the estates visited the fish market alternative. But it has its demerits too. of checking their health before entering and friends nor get blessings from last month from which the second “If one person is infected, we know the Hatton. Passengers, drivers and their parents on the festival day wave emerged. Those estate residents entire family has to be quarantined,” traders are currently being checked at morning if they live elsewhere. who returned had been even selling the he added that self-quarantine facilities Dikkoya. The new normal has hit everyone’s fish unaware that they had contracted are not very much practised due to the Prevention is budget big time. Hindus, especially the the virus. It came to light after 49 PCR living condition of the families in the ones in the plantations, prepare for tests revealed that the persons at the line rooms. He also noted that they are better than cure Deepavali over a month in advance fish market had tested positive for the still getting adjusted to the new and are generally looking forward for virus and the authorities were running normal, but they need to be reminded. While all these measures are in place the festivities. This time, the helter-skelter trying to trace the rest of While some were transferred to camps to stop spreading the contagious virus, celebrations also would not be the their contacts but by then the virus in Kahagolla most of them are treated there are no preventive methods to same because many of the plantation had ‘settled’ well in some houses. in homes. It was revealed that there handle it as it’s a most difficult task youth work in Colombo and other In Haputale and Diyatalawa alone was only one treatment centre for the due to human movements. cities, so all in all, it’s a dull Deepavali. there are over 50 families self- entire Haputale MoH area. “COVID-19 is under control, but can The plantation sector does not mean quarantined and several officials have it be when some people ignore the everybody works in the tea industry. been visiting these people with Danger of self-quarantine seriousness resulting in the current Ganeshan (40) who works at a private essential items. There are many more in line rooms situation,” said the Uva Province firm says his wife who is a Montessori families who are self-quarantined in Director of Health Ministry. teacher had been laid off since COVID- several tea estates and small villages in Ceylon Today’s Agarapathana There were no top officials from the 19 hit Sri Lanka. “She lost her job and and around in Nuwara Eliya, Kandy correspondent notes that plantation ministerial level who had the oversight with my salary I am taking care of my and Bandarawela and Badulla workers are psychologically affected as regarding the plantation workers then two children and my parents and this Districts and there is no proper records they live by helping each other in their and now. Estate management are also time I will have Rs 5,000 to celebrate so far to tell how many in total are communities but are unable to do so doing their best, but not to prevent the Deepavali with my family,” he infected, how many are in the due to COVID-19. virus spreading and it has crept to lamented. But, his is not taking any quarantine centres, how many are Despite an improvement in living many estates. chances of spreading the infection to asymptomatic and how it is spreading conditions where some of the line How was it possible? Still, there are his family so he aptly decided not to further. What is going is that the PHIs rooms are renovated with toilet many relapses and shortcomings visit the senior members in his family are visiting homes only after someone facilities with some built by Non- coming from the Local Government and choose not to go home till the alerts them, not otherwise. Governmental Organisations, there are officials, PS and PHI and MoH who spread of the virus decreases in They are also tracing their immediate hundreds of line rooms of just eight have failed to propose a plan to prevent Hatton. contacts often with the information square feet that remain as they were the spread. Although the Peliyagoda Thanks to a culture of Indian origin provided by friends and kith and kin. built some 200 years ago by the fish market was sealed on 21 October, continuing to be upheld in the However, many back down since they British. Most of these line rooms have the fish market in many towns in the plantations, people don’t shake hands didn’t want to expose themselves and public toilets for four people at a time plantations were not closed down and spend time in groups outside their get into more trouble like having to for 10 to 15 families. They have been it’s known that these traders homes. Each tea plucker working on leave their family, or are in fear of According to him, there are over 20 also living under poor sanitary facilities purchased fish from Peliyagoda. the mountains distance themselves death. families in self-quarantine in the and lack clean drinking water. We were The Local Governments were not from each other and breathe fresh air. The preventive measures are not up Diyatalawa Medical Officer of Health unable to get information whether alert when Peliyagoda incident came to They also walk for miles like those in to standard, given the fact those (MoH) area. “Those families were there are people in the line rooms light. It would have been easy to remote villages and are good at families live under untold hardships quarantined and welfare officers, the infected with COVID-19. quarantine those who visited the fish climbing mountains, rocks and hills. lacking basic facilities especially in line Grama Sevaka Office, the Development Currently, over 5,000 persons have market than to chase those who were Due to their economic circumstances; rooms, which houses more than 10 officer and the Police, etc. are watching been self-quarantined in the Nuwara in contact with them in the estates. they drink plenty of hot water and persons in most cases. The Army those families closely. He also noted Eliya District after undergoing PCR There were 49 persons infected at the plain tea is drunk most of the time spokesman said he was unable to give that in each Police station an officer tests. The PHIs have closely monitored fish market but until 23 October all the with a little dab of sugar to taste. They details separately on the plantations has been appointed to visit those in them too. Some of them have been fish markets in the upcountry were don’t eat meat regularly; their protein but mentioned that do keep records of quarantined daily and to make a transported to various quarantine open. Today, the authorities are intake comes from soya meat or dhal. Districts and Provinces. progress report.” He also briefed that camps with routine PCR tests carried chasing after those fish traders’ They have better immunities than Several government authorities have many of those families are getting their on them but the flipside tells a different families and friends to gather records, people who sit in offices and have all given priority to plantation workers but dry rations and they are strictly urged story. but it has led to a dangerous situation the modern amenities. It’s good certainly, they cannot do much. to follow the COVID-19 guidelines; one A family in the Nuwara Eliya District because due to poverty and enough to have a naturally honed According to a Public Health Inspector being that they cannot come out. said the first thing the PHI does is seal stigmatisation, many of those who had immunity, but people here cannot (PHI) in Haputale, who did not want to Quoting an incident, he said; “when the house with a notice informing not direct contacts with the fish traders are maintain health guidelines because be named, there are only three PHIs for a person returned from the fish market to get out of the house. They don’t refusing to be identified for obvious they live in line rooms where a single over 12 estates and over eight villages, in Peliyagoda we came to know of him check the number of persons in the reasons. Hatton, Dikkoya, family could be more than eight but are are doing their best patrolling only two days later. By then he had family and whether they have space to Bogawanthalawa, Kotagala and other members. with their motorbikes to assure that visited many people. We did a PCR on self-quarantine the person infected nearby estates are highly the virus spread is under control. him and quarantined. But when a PCR with the virus. Some of the issues are inconvenienced due to the virus test was done on his mother she was serious as it seems. Living in clusters spread, and they don’t have a clear also found to be infected. in line answer why it is so. Later his father also ([email protected]) focus sunday 15 november 2020 A7 Making Bus Travel Safer Transport policy only increases bus fares but does not ensure passenger safety – LPBOA

By Thameenah Razeek told you before this was the best solution we could take. The Government recently This solution is a win-win introduced a transport policy situation to both the parties, whereby the minimum fare the passengers and the bus was increased from Rs 12 to owners,” he said adding that Rs 14. However, Lanka only 10 per cent of the total Private Bus Association fleet of Inter-Provincial buses President Gemunu Wijeratne, are operating at present and claimed the policy was mainly all buses were prepared for aimed at increasing bus fares operation, however, only 10% but does not ensure was added to service due to passenger safety. low passenger numbers. Wijeratne highlighted three Since both Miranda and main points to criticise the Wijeratne were concerned transport policy. The first one about the passengers, we was the policy only contacted a commuter who concentrated on increasing uses public transport on a the minimum amount in daily basis. She expressed order to shut the voices of the that she is not using the bus owners. The second point public transport anymore is that according to the since she fears that a COVID- established policy passengers 19 patient could easily be can be transported according seated next to her. “We never to the seating capacity know who could be sitting without adhering to the one- next to us. Moreover metre distance rule which is immediately next to us. Even the basic must to do in order though they are wearing a to prevent COVID-19 being face mask, it does not mean transmitted. transmitting of the virus The third and last point could not happen,” she noted. Wijeratne brought into When asked whether she account and slammed the was ready to take public Government is of practising transport if the Government double standards in enacting introduces a system to sit a in health rules and regulation. a zig-zag manner in buses Amongst the set of while increasing the bus fare condemnations, these three by 50 per cent, she replied were the main ones that the that she would take the bus bus owners, drivers and under this system. not taking the matter right now. He said that if they passengers and then the or train at that point since conductors were worried Now, based on this, what seriously. People are allowed are taking the passengers in a private bus owners too. Both she was assured at least that about. really matters is whether Sri to use public transport amidst 50 per cent capacity, they will need protection,” he said. an infected passenger was not Highlighting the first issue, Lanka is actually passing a this pandemic. We are not need to increase the bus fares When asked whether the seated directly next to her. Wijeratne emphasised that pseudo-warning of the asking to lockdown the by 50 per cent. This is not current COVID-19 situation As a responsible increasing the minimum bus COVID-19 threat. According country but introduce a humane. “So, we did what we in the country is not a threat government, they should fare and allowing passenger to Amunugama there is no robust policy to maintain can do right now. Bringing a to transport passengers in a know what is good for both transport according to the need of keeping one-metre these health guidelines in a method to make the public service sitting next to parties in such a situation number of seats are not distance in public transport. proper way,” he said. passengers sit in a zig-zag each other, Miranda noted and listen to the people before solutions to prevent the But Health officials are Pointing out that since they way is not always easy nor that according to the health trying to take a decision that spread of COVID-19. claiming the death rate of have not done any PCR tests practicable as others narrate. authorities we are good to does not benefit anyone but He also pointed out that he COVID-19 in Sri Lanka is so far, the authorities have no We have to think about the travel in that manner. “As I themselves. had requested for an increase, 0.28 per cent at present. idea whether bus drivers or of the minimum bus fare, by It is evident that the current conductors have contracted 15 per cent and transport policy only increases the bus COVID-19. He claimed, the passengers according to 50 fares which contributes to drivers and conductors per cent of the seating strangulating people to the cannot do the PCR tests on capacity. But the Transport death by negating the ‘safe their own due to the cost Ministry has allowed to distance’ requirement. being high. transport passengers Wijeratne said, “The current Amunugama noted under according to the seating COVID-19 Transport Policy is Alert Level 3, passengers will capacity, thereby ignoring the not ‘commuter friendly’ and is only be allowed at 50% health regulation the issue one of the revolting seating capacity in order to number two occurs which is decisions.” permit social distancing in that failing to maintain a one- With the explanation of the buses in high risk areas. He metre distance. transport policy created only added that system fares will Explaining the deadlock, to show off, Wijeratne be increased by 50% for Wijeratne expressed his described how the transport normal buses, 20% for semi- disappointment at the policy has violated the health luxury and luxury buses and inability of the Government’s regulation gazette. The special 10% for super luxury buses. reasoning to even formulate a gazette notification on the Speaking further he also transport policy that would implementation of COVID-19 noted that buses will operate assist to decrease the spread precautions, including under the amended fares of COVID-19 without wearing face masks, while the National Transport aggravating it. maintaining social distance Commission (NTC) is There was a huge uproar and hand hygiene issued in amending fares based on the that bus owners were mid-October, this clearly relevant ratios. He also requesting an increase in the mentions the one-metre acknowledged several minimum bus fare because distance requirement and it complaints were lodged over they are facing huge losses in being an offence that Police having to write personal the face of deadly COVID-19. can arrest persons for, if not details on a log in buses. He But the drivers and adhering to these said as a solution a QR code conductors along with bus precautions. will be attached to the back of owners did not ask for an What Wijeratne pointed out the seat for passengers to increase in the bus fare was according to the gazette scan and register details with without stipulating the there is no way of keeping the a smartphone. transport of passengers be one-metre distance which The State Minister added if subject to 50 per cent of leads to the third issue the passenger has no actual seating capacity. pointed out earlier that the smartphone, a text can be COVID-19 - Three Government is having double sent to the number mentioned standards. “The Police are on the QR code to register as alert levels arresting people who are not a passenger. He noted if a maintaining the one-metre passenger does not own a The bus fare revisions, social distance while the phone, they can obtain a form according to the Government health authorities are available in the bus, fill in the introduced COVID-19 allowing the passengers to be details with their own pen and transport policy, came into seated next to one another. drop the completed form into effect on 12 November. As a We, the bus owners and bus a retainer. result, the minimum bus fare drivers will not take any “All main bus halts will be of Rs 12 has now been responsibility if any bus disinfected at least once a increased to Rs 14. The transports an infected day. The policy also states Government decided to passenger,” he noted. that a distance of one metre is amend the bus fares Need for maintained between according to the three alert passengers at bus halts and levels due to the prevailing robust policy terminals and that COVID-19 situation. temperature checks are Alert Level One is not While insisting, the second conducted on passengers implemented at present wave of COVID-19 in the prior to entering luxury buses following directives issued by country had gone out of and at random in bus the health officials, while control, Wijeratne said that terminals,” he said. passengers should only be initially the Health Ministry allowed according to the instructed bus drivers to Height of current maximum seating transport passengers on a ludicrousness capacity under the Alert Level 100 per cent seating capacity Two. State Minister of and then recently wanted a According to the State Transport Dilum Amunugama sticker to be pasted on buses Minister a one-metre distance said that buses will operate pointing to maintain the one- should be maintained at bus under the COVID-19 Alert metre distance. halts, but in the bus, Level Two at present. He said He pointed out, travelling everyone can be seated that accordingly when passengers according to the together side by side. On passengers are allowed to seat number has a huge topic, Ceylon Today contacted board a bus, based on the possibility of spreading the the Director-General of the current seating capacity, virus even though the NTC, Commander Rtd. Nilan fares will be increased by 20% passengers wear masks. “It is Miranda and he said that for normal buses. He said that clear the lives of people are implementing a method that fares for luxury and semi- under a huge threat. The takes passengers at a 50 per luxury buses will not change issue is, the Government is cent capacity is not practical A8 sunday 15 november 2020 Editorial Editorial sunday 15 november 2020 A9 Opposition Questions Legality Ceylon Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. No: 101, Rosmead Place, Colombo 07. Editorial Tel: 0117566522, 0117566526, 0117566527 Fax: 0117566545 Marketing Manager: 0117566550, 0117566551 Circulation Manager: 0117566580, 0117566581 E-mail : [email protected] of Appropriation Bill 2020 Hope Imprisoned MPs Over 300 guest list Press gallery likely to be out of bounds at Last to be kept away for Budget 2021 on Budget Day, for the first time The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced last Party Leaders’ met on 21 November while the vote on week that it will provide COVID-19 vaccines to 20 per Wednesday (11), chaired by it will be taken at 5 p.m. on 21 cent of Sri Lanka’s population, finally bringing hope that Speaker Mahinda Yapa November. The debate at the a safe and effective vaccine is on the verge of being Abeywardena, decided that Committee stage will introduced to the world. arrangements will be made and commence on 23 November The devastating coronavirus pandemic started facilities provided for both and conclude on 10 December spreading across the world at the beginning of the year. ruling and Opposition Party with the vote being held at 5 So, far it has affected more than 53 million people and members to watch the 2021 p.m. on 10 December. killed over 1.3 million. In Sri Lanka, as at Friday, the Budget debate, which will Sittings will be held daily It is something number of cases stood at nearly 16,000 with 48 deaths. commence on 18 November on after tabling the Appropriation that can only be It has affected almost all the countries in the world, television, from the verandah Bill on 17 November, from 9:30 apart from a handful of small nations. The virus affected due to health reasons. a.m. to 5:30 p.m. done legally. If rich and poor, the most powerful people in the world and Accordingly, only The time allotted for the most vulnerable. However, apart from managing the parliamentarians who will questions for oral answers will something is done symptoms, there were no absolutely fool-proof speak and participate in the be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. legally, then you preventative measures. Budget debate and relevant from 18 to 20 November Bill 2020 to the House In Sri Lanka, strict health guidelines have been put in Ministers, in charge of the whereas the time duration for proposed to increase the can ratify and place, making it mandatory to wear face masks in public, subjects, will be allowed inside questions for oral answers from borrowing limit by Rs 180 maintaining social distancing, encouraging hand the House. 25 November to 10 December billion while amending the grant covering washing and sanitising. Many State and private Based on this decision, the will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10 guarantee limit to 15 per cent approval for it. But institutions have introduced work from home for its staff. majority of MPs, from both the a.m. as stated in the Fiscal However, these measures have only temporarily halted ruling and Opposition Parties, The Committee Meeting held Management (Responsibility) illegal acts cannot the rapid spread of the virus. will have seating arranged for yesterday was chaired by the Prime Minister Act. have that. The fact There is no medicine to cure the disease or prevent the them on the verandah on the Speaker Mahinda Yapa He said the Government aims spread of this virus. The only way to make sure that you second floor of the Abeywardena while Leader of Mahinda to reduce the income- that the don’t contract this virus disease is by creating anti-bodies Parliamentary Complex. the House Dinesh Rajapaksa on expenditure gap to 4 per cent of against the virus in the body. And, the only way to do this Seats will be allocated to Gunawardena, Opposition the Gross Domestic Product Government has is by a vaccine. ruling Party MPs on ruling Leader Sajith Premadasa, Chief Thursday (12), (GDP) by 2025 which now presented an As soon as it was realised that coronavirus was turning Party parliamentarians’ Government Whip Johnston stands at nearly 10 per cent into a pandemic affecting millions across the world, many verandah while MPs from the Fernando, Chief Opposition presenting the and to reduce the overall debt Appropriation Bill countries started developing vaccines. According to the Opposition will have seats in Whip Lakshman Kiriella, to GDP to 75 per cent of the 2020 proves that WHO, at the moment 170 medical laboratories are racing the Opposition members’ Ministers Prasanna Appropriation GDP within the next four years. to develop an effective vaccine, which is safe for the verandah. Ranatunga, Nimal Siripala de Bill 2020 to the “It has become a national the Government public. Only during voting on the Silva, Professor G.L. Peiris, need to change our mind set to concedes that According to WHO data, there are 155 vaccines in pre- Budget will all MPs be allowed Dullas Alahapperuma, House proposed have faith in a production clinical stage, which means they have not yet started to return to their seats in the Vasudeva Nanayakkara, economy that supports exports there is an trials on humans. There are 39 vaccines in phase two House for a short time. President’s Counsel (PC) to increase the and domestic production where clinical trials have already begun and 18 are in Meanwhile, it was learnt that M.U.M. Ali Sabry and Mahinda capabilities with minimal illegality that expanded safety trials. There are 18 vaccines in the preparations are underway to Samarasinghe, borrowing limit imports. A market economy efficacy trials. But, none of the vaccines have been entertain 350 guests on the Parliamentarians Ranjith that is dependent only on tea needs to be approved for general use. Budget Day. However, for the Maddumabandara, Rauff by Rs 180 billion and apparels, with imports covered up Vaccines normally requires years of testing and go first time in history, lobby Hakeem, Gayantha that is twice that of the exports poverty,” he said. foreign experts to present these Article 153, the President could only through periods of long clinical trials before being correspondents are likely to be Karunatilleka, Anura Kumara while amending without value additions to local Rajapaksa said that the statistics?” he queried. authorise spending for public services introduced to humans. However, the world has not been kept away when the Budget is Dissanayake, M.A. resources and raw materials, Government has already spent Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Jaffna until the expiry of three months from faced with a health emergency of this scale in a century. presented. Sumanthiran PC, Dilan Perera the guarantee will not facilitate sustainable around Rs 70,000 million for the District MP M.A. Sumanthiran the date on which the new Parliament from the Welikada Prison. Therefore, the urgency is more. And, the longer wait 21 days to debate and Mano Ganesan, the limit to 15 per development. Development identification of COVID-19 patients, meanwhile, questioned the legality of was summoned to meet. At this stage Speaker Abeywardene means more deaths. Especially as the Northern Secretary General of aspirations of the people could quarantining activities, random the Appropriation Bill for 2020 “Originally the new Parliament was had insisted that Bathiudeen could be hemisphere is now on the brink of winter, the possibility It has been decided to Parliament Dhammika cent as stated in not be met by depending only testing and related welfare activities. presented to Parliament, alleging that summoned to meet in May 2020. allowed in the House only during of the number of cases increasing exponentially is quite allocate 21 days to debate the Dasanayake and the Deputy on import-led consumption “The hospital capacity for COVID-19 What is this joke? it was a Bill intended to cover up Thereafter, after the Election times of voting and not otherwise due high. Appropriation Bill 2021, which Secretary General of the Fiscal and industrialisation without prevention, which was limited to various illegalities that had been Commission postponed the elections; to the prevalent situation. Therefore, a safe and effective vaccine is urgently is scheduled to be tabled on 17 Parliament and the Chief of focus on food security and agro Colombo, has now been increased to The Government has perpetrated in this country. it was put off until 20 August. However, the Opposition MPs had needed to arrest the number of cases and to stop the November. Staff Neil Iddawala were also Management industrialisation and allied 17 hospitals in less than a year, to present true and “The Bill that is before us is not only Nevertheless, the authority that a strongly objected to this move by the deaths. Healthcare systems around the world have Speaker Abeywardena present at the meeting. (Responsibility) services based on agriculture, covering almost all parts of the accurate statistics a strange Bill, but it is an act to cover Constitution gives a President is Speaker saying that the latter has to already been overwhelmed by the number of cases. This clarified this following news MR blames fisheries and livestock country. The number of special care up various illegalities that have been during a period of dissolution is very always uphold and ensure the is the same in Sri Lanka too. The sudden emergence of reports that at the Committee Act development. We have to, not beds for COVID-19 patients have been on the matter. When perpetrated in this country,” limited; he can only authorise privileges and rights of MPs. the Brandix cluster in early October set the progresses on Parliamentary Business it Yahapalana policies only convert a negative increased to around 600. The daily Sumanthiran said while taking part in expenditure for public services and Finally a decision had not been made over the previous months back by a massive was announced that 19 days economy to a positive high polymerase chain reaction (PCR) the Government the Second Reading debate on the nothing else,” he said. The TNA MP reached at this meeting concerning margin. The number of cases shot up and unlike have been allocated. Prime Minister Mahinda economic growth rate of 6 per testing capacity for the diagnosis of fails to do that, our Bill. pointed out that the President could whether to allow the ACMC leader to previously, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 related The Second Reading of the Rajapaksa on Thursday (12), cent, but such growth should the Disease has been increased to an He said that an Appropriation Bill only authorise expenditure for public attend House sessions or not. conditions increased alarmingly. A vaccine will be able to Bill will be debated from 18 to presenting the Appropriation result in the eradication of average of 7,500-10,000 tests per day debt rating rank must be debated and approved prior services and nothing else, but Nevertheless, the Speaker give us all a much-needed respite. with each test costing around Rs goes down. It is not to the financial year for which it according to the Bill before the House, announced in Parliament on Friday In general, it was expected that a viable vaccine would 6,000, with the daily expenditure applies and it was only then the all kinds of developmental activities (13) that taking into consideration of be available by mid 2021. However, one of the world’s exceeding almost Rs 50 million. The good for the country Executive obtained the approval of were also specified. “It is bad enough current COVID-19 pandemic more reputed and biggest biopharmaceutical companies, Government also spends a sizable at all. Countries like Parliament to draw from the that this is coming in the month of imprisoned MPs including Premalal Pfizer, has said the vaccine developed by them is 90 per amount for the food and welfare of Consolidated Fund, borrow and November for this financial year; it is Jayasekara, Rishad Bathiudeen and cent effective in preventing transmission of the virus on a those undergoing the 14-day India, Thailand, generally administer the finances of blatantly revealing to us that what Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan global scale. quarantine. In the meantime, an Malaysia, the the country. has been expended is far beyond the alias Pilleyan will not be allowed to The trials had exceeded the expectations of the experts. allowance of Rs 5,000 is granted to ”Article 148 of the Constitution very authority that the Constitution gives attend Parliament sessions. Philippines and They had first hoped for 50 per cent and are now thrilled low income families that are adversely clearly says that the Parliament will the President,” he added. No-faith in Pavithra by the much better success rate. The next step would be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Indonesia in the have full control over public finance. Sumanthiran said the Appropriation to seek an emergency licence to make it available in the Apart from that, the Government is No tax rate or any other levy will be Bill 2020 before the House was Chief Government Whip and global market. also bearing expenditures related to Asia Pacific region imposed by any local authority or any neither a covering approval nor a Minister of Highways Johnston The company hopes to make the vaccine available from the payment of the allowances of have also recorded other public authority except by or ratification. Fernando said if the Samagi Jana the first week of December. They hope to manufacture public servants who are engaged in under the authority of law passed by “It is something that can only be Balawegaya-led Opposition were to and distribute over 50 million doses of the vaccine within those services, and other related negative economic Parliament or of any existing law. So done legally. If something is done submit a No-Confidence Motion this year alone. expenditure.” growth this year but there is no law until now passed for legally, then you can ratify and grant against Minister of Health Pavithra This gives much hope and respite to the scores of From 2020 onwards, annually, the financial year 2020 that the covering approval for it. But illegal Wanniarachchi, the Sri Lanka healthcare professionals and workers around the world foreign debt servicing amounts to they have not asked Parliament has approved. What was acts cannot have that. The fact that Podujana Peramuna-led Government and the Military and Police force in Sri Lanka, who have approximately USD 4,200 million and approved, were certain resolutions the Government has presented an will defeat it with a sizable majority in been at the forefront of the battle against the coronavirus. Gazette I am happy to report to this House for consultancy under A.150 sub A.2. Those Appropriation Bill 2020 proves that Parliament. As of now, a number of doctors and other healthcare that we have settled all debt from foreign resolutions do not permit levying of the Government concedes that there He said at a time when the present workers have already contracted the virus, after working obligations including the foreign taxes or borrowing by the is an illegality that needs to be Government was striving hard to save in close proximity to the patients. Hundreds of Police currency debt dues for 2020, he experts Government,” the TNA MP said. covered up,” he added. lives and protect the people from personnel are in quarantine. Many numbers of cases are added. He said that there had been a severe Question about falling victim to the scourge of COVID- being reported every day, along with a few deaths. The Premier said that he will need to make payments, to spend, to 19, the Opposition was doing its The only solution to control this raging virus is a safe present the proposals to create a those statistics? The Government make grants to the general public who imprisoned MPs utmost to scupper those efforts. and effective vaccine. modern economy through ‘Vistas of failed to present them on time.” were affected in several areas, such as Fernando remarked that though the The Government has already announced that they had Prosperity’ via the Budget 2021 He claimed, now the Department of the giving of Rs 5,000 to families in Meanwhile, allowing imprisoned All Opposition had claimed that they already appointed a technical team to identify groups speech on 17 November 2020. Census and Statistics says they are the month of April and May. Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) MP would back any effort made by the that need to be prioritised when providing this vaccine. Opposition questions unable to present the economic “None of those were public services. Rishad Bathiudeen to attend Government to control the spread of Let us hope that those who fight against this virus on the growth statistics for the second and But all those expenditures were done, Parliament sessions had led to fresh the pandemic, in reality that was not frontlines; doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers, legality third quarters of 2020 without expenses were met, developmental complications due to the on-going the case. Military and Police personnel and others who are consulting foreign economic experts. activities were carried out. All this is impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He then charged that the ulterior predisposed to succumb to the debilitating effects of the Joining the Second Reading of the “What is this joke? The Government in violation of the very strict limitation This detail had come to light during motive of the SJB was to destabilise virus – such as those who are suffering from non- Appropriation Bill 2020, Opposition has to present true and accurate imposed by the provision of the the Party Leaders meeting at the the measures that were being communicable diseases – will be prioritised when Leader Sajith Premadasa alleged in statistics on the matter. When the Constitution that says for specific Parliament Complex under the aegis launched by the Government to curb providing this vaccine. Parliament the Government is Government fails to do that, our debt public service only. So, there is a of Speaker Mahinda Yapa the spread of the fatal disease. The Government should also look into making the attempting to hide statistics about the rating rank goes down. It is not good blatant violation of the Constitution Abeywardene. He alleged that the SJB-led vaccine available for a cost for those who can afford to get economic growth in 2020. for the country at all. Countries like by this Government and what is worse It is said that the Prisons Opposition has proved itself to be it. And, most importantly, as there is a race among Premadasa said: “In normal India, Thailand, Malaysia, the for the period 1 May to 31 August Department had informed the nothing but a bankrupt political pharmaceutical companies to issue the vaccine to the practice, the Government presents the Philippines and Indonesia in the Asia there was no resolution under A152,” Speaker, through the Serjeant-at- alliance and warned that any No Faith world market, we must ensure that the vaccine that will statistics about the economic growth Pacific region have also recorded he said. Arms, that allowing the MP concerned Motion that is tabled in the House by be given to our people should be a well-tested, safe, after 75 days of each quarter. So, negative economic growth this year Sumanthiran said the Minister of to attend coming sessions of the the Opposition against any clinically-proven and effective vaccine. statistics for the second quarter of but they have not asked for Finance had said twice the President House would be an issue due to the Government Minister, State Minister 2020 should have been presented by consultancy from foreign experts. was acting under A 150 (3) authorised increase in the number of inmates or Parliamentarian, would be defeated 15 September. But, what happened to Why does our Government need expenses, and argued that under who had tested positive to COVID-19 with an overwhelming majority vote. A10 Sunday 15 november 2020 interview Online Falsehoods Should be Criminalised Eighteenth-century Irish author requests to take down these sites were and satirist Jonathan Swift quite not taken seriously. Facebook took eloquently penned these words: down Zaharan’s site only after Easter – Prof Rohan Gunaratna “Falsehood flies, and truth comes Sunday attack. This should have It seems that attempts are limping after it, so that when men never happened. now being made to build up come to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest is over, and the tale hath had Do you also agree that a different and dangerous its effect.” Centuries later, their preventing fake news is in narrative regarding the meaning is even more resonant with the interest of all citizens attacks that took place on the times that we live in – the age of of a country, as it can Easter Sunday 2019, and the fake news. lead to misunderstanding events leading up to them. Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, Honorary between communities, incite Such conspiracy theories can Professor at the Sir John Kotalawala divert the attention away It is in the long- Defence University and Senior Advisor communal disharmony to its Department of Defence and and further fragment the from the very real threat of term national Strategic Studies, who has society? Islamist fundamentalism interest of the interviewed both the LTTE and A: What is happening in the online rising in some parts of the Islamic State leaders and members, space spills over to the offline space. country. Your comment. security of Sri elaborates why Sri Lanka should Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims A: The Easter Sunday attacks had Lanka that we invest in a campaign to formally and enjoyed harmonious communal been investigated and inquired into informally educate Sri Lankans on the relations in the past. After war and thoroughly by the domestic and foreign address such fake detrimental impact of fake news, Easter attacks, the cordial relations law enforcement authorities and news from being while building a robust and an up-to- were disrupted. intelligence agencies. In addition to the date legal and policy framework to In Sri Lanka, fake news is Criminal Investigations Department, disseminated both counter online falsehoods. responsible largely for igniting the lead agency in Sri Lanka, several legally and Following are excerpts of an suspicion, prejudice, resentment, foreign counterparts from INTERPOL interview: anger and hatred between the to Australian Federal Police, New operationally. If communities. Fake news radicalises Scotland Yard and the Federal Bureau we do not, the By Vindya Amaranayake and polarises communities especially of Investigations played a frontline the youth. We need to address this, role. In Sri Lanka itself, the SIS, MI, next generation Why is the growing both at the legal and ground level. Special Branch and the TID will believe in To build that one Sri Lanka, we investigated and inquired into the phenomenon of fake news need to develop a hate-reporting Easter attack. Three commissions terrorist detrimental to national networking. If we do not act, our have also reported their findings. propaganda that security and national communities will get further However, there are troublemakers who interest? radicalised. To restore relations want to tell a different story. there was between the Sinhalese and Tamils at Government has to ensure that the ‘genocide’ in Sri A: Fake news compromises public the end of war and to build trust truth is not distorted. Such distortion safety, peace and good order. Fake between Muslims-Sinhalese and will prevent the issue of Muslim Lanka. Already, a news is an impediment to any Muslims-Tamils, we should foster an radicalisation from being addressed. government building a socially environment of friendship. As long as Although the imminent threat has tiny segment of harmonious, politically stable and an we have no brain and muscle to act been neutralised through executive the international economically-prosperous nation. against fake news, we can never have action, the radicalisation pipeline that During the Aluthgama, Digana and social harmony. produced Zahran and his followers community Minuwangoda riots, fake news set Sri remains intact. The Government needs believes in the Lankans against Sri Lankans. Online Does Sri Lanka have laws to work with three interlinked domains falsehoods drove marauding mobs to to prevent or counter fake to mitigate the threat – the religious, terrorist message! attack innocent Sri Lankans. news at present? educational and cyber domains. Similarly, during the elections, both A: No, we do not have the laws. We in 2015 and 2019, fake news distorted need dedicated laws to address this As an expert on terrorism, Considering the long-term threat and unduly influenced the voters. apex challenge. The threat is relatively who has encountered and facing the world from Muslim There was foreign interference in the recent with the advent of social media interviewed a number radicalisation and violence, Sri Lanka 2015 election. As we are now and it has not been addressed. As the of terrorist leaders and should build eight capabilities. First, emerging as a key geopolitical and pace of technology is constantly associates, what is your raise a generation of specialists in strategic hub, Sri Lanka should changing, we should also update the assessment of the role played Muslim threat groups, especially address this lacuna in our security law. Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and landscape. It is in public interest that we move by Abdul Cader Fathima likeminded groups. Second, build the Unless online falsehoods and forward both to secure the extant and Hadiya in the Easter Sunday cyber capabilities within military, law manipulation is addressed with an emerging generation from fake news. attacks? enforcement and intelligence to iron fist, the gaps and loopholes will The damage done to Sri Lanka both at Government has to A: As the wife of Zaharan, Hadiya monitor and hunt terrorists and be exploited by interested parties to home and abroad by turning a blind ensure that the was compliant to her husband. Hadiya supporters. Third, build the damage Sri Lanka. eye to fake news is humongous. For knew that Zaharan was the leader of de-radicalisation capacity to instance, the terrorist supporters said truth is not the Islamic State of Sri Lanka and was rehabilitate terrorists and counter How important it is there was a ‘genocide’ in Sri Lanka. distorted. Such planning to commit mass murder. A radicalisation capacity to engage to introduce laws / The Sri Lankan Government week after the Easter attacks, Hadiya extremists. Fourth, regulate the mechanisms to counter the reintegrated both the displaced Sri distortion will did not join the Islamic State members mosques, madrasah and Muslim spread of fake news where Lankan Tamils and rehabilitated the prevent the issue and their families in conducting the institutions and ensure that the sacred digital and social media LTTE cadres. The international of Muslim mass suicide in Sainthamarudu. As spaces are used to promote harmony can disseminate unverified community witnessed this process she went to a secular school, she and not hatred. Fifth, all clerics should and there is supportive radicalisation rejected the invitation to die with the be certified before they teach or preach news in an instant, with no documentation that there was no rest to go to ‘paradise.’ After Hadiya religion. Sixth, make national accountability? systematic termination of a from being and their daughter were rescued by education mandatory – no separate A: Online falsehoods and community. However, if one googles addressed. the military and treated by the doctors, Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim schools. manipulation should be criminalised. ‘Sri Lanka,’ the online sites refers to a she has cooperated with the Seventh, all sects should be proscribed It is not only those who deliberately ‘genocide’ by the Sri Lankan military. Although the Government. She has been debriefed and foreign ideologies supplanting Sri manufacture fake news but those who The reality is that the Sri Lankan imminent threat extensively and she has cooperated Lankan Muslim heritage should be knowingly disseminate fake news security forces specially the military fully with the investigators and contained. should be investigated, and if found rescued the Tamil civilians taken has been intelligence officers. Eight, develop and implement a guilty, prosecuted. The executives of hostage and used as a human shield neutralised The Military, Police and iIntelligence Maintenance of Religious and Ethnic Media organisations that wilfully host by the LTTE. officers have treated Hadiya humanely. harmony Act. fake news should also be held It is in the long-term national through executive Hadiya’s testimony is vital to accountable. interest of the security of Sri Lanka action, the successfully prosecute those who A British newspaper claimed Sri Lanka should also invest in a that we address such fake news from directly and indirectly engaged in recently that dozens of campaign to formally and informally being disseminated both legally and radicalisation terrorism and extremism. Hadiya’s depraved ISIS ‘soldiers’ educate Sri Lankans on the operationally. If we do not, the next pipeline that message of regret, remorse and returned to Sri Lanka detrimental impact of fake news. We generation will believe in terrorist repentance is paramount to prevent following the collapse of should raise a generation with a ‘no propaganda that there was ‘genocide’ produced Zahran future Muslims from joining their so-called caliphate. harm’ policy and addressing this in Sri Lanka. Already, a tiny segment and his followers exclusivist, extremist and terrorist challenge is paramount. of the international community entities. If appropriately rehabilitated, What is your assessment of In addition to building a robust and believes in the terrorist message! To remains intact. she will be a powerful voice to mitigate the threat posed by these an up-to-date legal and policy secure public tranquillity and future the threat of religious exclusivism and ‘soldiers’ to Sri Lanka’s framework, Sri Lanka needs to engage relations between communities, it is The Government extremism in the world, the region and national security? Do you and empower both government vital that Sri Lanka address such needs to work with Sri Lanka. think Sri Lanka’s intelligence officers and concerned citizens on misinformation and disinformation. three interlinked How should Sri Lanka apparatus has taken managing the threat of fake news. To ensure that Sri Lanka maintains sufficient steps to monitor cordial relations with other countries domains to strengthen its national Fake news stand in the way and Sri Lankan communities living security apparatus to prevent their movements? of fundamental freedoms overseas, we should build far reaching mitigate the threat another attack similar to the A: Sri Lankan security and such as right to free measures including legislation to take – the religious, Easter Sunday bombings? intelligence community has been expression and right to action against the purveyors of online educational and revamped. Both the State Intelligence information. Do you agree? falsehoods and manipulation. A: Sri Lanka should restructure the Service and the Directorate of Military cyber domains existing security architecture to meet Intelligence have been revamped and A: There is no democracy without Can you give examples of current and emerging threats. For are led by competent leaders. A discipline. There is no absolute mechanisms adopted by instance, there is no DIG for national visionary, collective and a decisive freedom. People can express their other countries to prevent / security. There is no Intelligence Act. leader, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa views with responsibility. counter fake news? Within the Military forces there is no has given the highest priority to We should never permit actors cyber command. There is no National national security. He has appointed his seeking to harm society hide behind A: Singapore has designed a law to Security Secretariat. best and ablest men and women to staff laws and principles. As governments allow authorities to respond to fake Sri Lanka should develop a security and intelligence portfolios. have not been vigilant and alert, the news or false information through a fact in Singapore and to enable milestone course in national security General Kamal Gunaratna, the worldwide web is harnessed by graduated process of enforcing links measures to be taken to counteract for all security forces personnel. No Secretary of Defence, General Jagath terrorist and criminal groups. We to fact-checking statements, the effects of such communication; to officer should be promoted beyond the Alwis, the Chief of National Intelligence should never permit threat actors to censorship of website or assets on suppress the financing, promotion rank of a Major or an ASG without a and General Suresh Sally, Director, operate either in the physical or cyber social media platforms, and criminal and other support of online locations certificate in national security. All State Intelligence Service are goal- space. Permitting threat actors to charges. Known as the Protection that repeatedly communicate false political office holders should follow a oriented leaders. They are highly radicalise and mobilise youth is not from Online Falsehoods and statements of fact in Singapore; to mandatory course in national security. trained, competent, and proven war freedom. It is neglect and ignorance. Manipulation Act, the Fake News Law enable measures to be taken to detect, All civil servants both foreign service fighters. They will never neglect The Easter Sunday architect is a statute of the Parliament of control and safeguard against officers and defence officers, should national security. No foreign terrorist Zaharan Hashim ran multiple Singapore that enables authorities to coordinated inauthentic behaviour follow the certificate course in national fighter will ever return to Sri Lanka and websites and Facebook sites. Through tackle the spread of fake news or false and other misuses of online accounts security. remain undetected as long as these sites Zaharan recruited youth to information. and bots; and to enable measures to The preeminent threat facing the Government security and intelligence join and support the ideals of the The purpose of the Act, as outlined be taken to enhance disclosure of world and the region is from terrorism personnel are alert and vigilant. As a Islamic State, a lethal terrorist in section 5 is to ‘to prevent the information concerning paid content perpetrated by Muslims radicalised by mark of respect for those innocent lives organisation. The government’s communication of false statements of directed towards a political end.’ religious fanatics like Zaharan. lost, we should keep it that way. focus sunday 15 november 2020 A11 Development vs Environment: Debate Rages On

BY Faadhila Thassim Ordinance. The CEJ claimed the the earth balance, earthsystems and circular permits releasing Forest land ecosystems. Illegal clearing of forests has been a for non-forest purposes subject to Forests are also used to maintain much debated environmental issue in selected, ad-hoc guidelines. natural cycles including carbon New circular the recent past following a circular Any forest other than nature reserves cycles, nutrient cycle, food systems, MWFC/1/2020 issued by the Ministry and conservation forests are dealt climate control, land slide control etc. of Wildlife and Forest Conservation with under the jurisdiction of the By using these lands for economic which was severely criticised for the Forest Ordinance No. 65/2009 and development there could be contravenes national alleged ignorance it showed of the although the Secretary has the power irreversible climate chaos created. environmental impact and a total of to cancel previous circulars, the new The CEJ added that Government over 700,000 hectares of forest land Law does not provide provisions to Agencies such as the Ministry of laws - Withanage that could be at stake. release ‘other forests’ for intended Wildlife and Forest Conservation This circular transfers the direct purposes, the CEJ said. It added the manages forests as a trustee and have By Risidra Mendis already governed under the Forest control of land considered as State type of forests that the Secretary to no right to utilise such land without a Ordinance and utilisation of lands forests from the Forest Department to the Minister of Forest and Wildlife clear scientific approach and public Executive Director, Centre for located within one mile of National District Secretariats and Divisional Conservation is attempting to dispose consent. Environmental Justice (CEJ) reserves declared under the Fauna Secretariats mainly for economic and of should only be done after an WIjesingha added that the overall Hemantha Withanage said the new and Flora Protection Ordinance development purposes. Environmental Impact Assessment negative impact of this circular and forest circular goes against existing (FFPO) are required to follow the EIA Secretary to the Ministry, Bandula (EIA) is done under the National the activity that is intended to be national laws. “The CEJ is process. We believe the said circular Harischandra stated that this circular Environmental Act No. 56 of 1998 as carried out under this circular will disconcerted to see Circular No. will result in thousands of land plots has been issued after discussions amended. only be noticeable in the long run and MWFC/1/2020 Issued by the been converted to Non-Forest use or with the authorities, but the two main Therefore, the release of forest lands thus irreversible decisions that are of Secretary to the Ministry of Wildlife will be subject to forest clearance and concerns, environmental and legal, are already governed under the Forest huge environmental concern should and Forest Conservation rescinding they are all required to follow the EIA still remain. Ordinance and utilisation of land not be arrived at lightly. Circular No. 05/98 dated procedure,” Withanage said. Background of the located within a mile of national Do District Secretariats 1998/07/01 limiting the size of the He added that circular No. reserves declared under the Fauna forest lands managed by the MWFC/1/2020 will allow the circular and Flora Protection Ordinance and Divisional Secretari- Divisional Secretaries and subsequent releasing of forest lands for Non- requires one to the follow the EIA circulars 05/2001 dated 2001/08/10 Forest use subject to selected ad-hoc This circular repeals circular 05/98 process. ats have the capacity? which gives the management of all guidelines and in our understanding issued in 1998 limiting the size of Environmental Harischandra noted that Divisional other forest lands to the Conservator the Guidelines have been made forest land managed by the Divisional and District Secretariats have sound General of Forests and 02/2006 dated without a full understanding of the Secretariats and subsequent circulars Impact knowledge of the subjects under their 2006/05/17 which allows the purpose of Forest ecosystems, but 05/2001 which authorises the control and therefore they would Conservator General of Forests to cover a list of sensitive habitats with management of all other forest land to Convenor of Rainforest Protectors of know to make best use of such lands release lands for non-forest understanding of the Ministry the Conservator General of forests Sri Lanka, Jayantha Wijesingha and would determine what economic purposes,” Withanage explained. personnel and by the Forest and Circular 02/2006 which allows stated that this circular covers a large use the specific land could be put He says we state that this circular Department who may or may not have the Conservator General of forests to forest area amounting to 500,000 to into. has been issued without an idea about how the Forest release land for non-forest related 700,000 hectares of forest cover and Wijesingha in response stated that understanding the available laws, the ecosystems provide carbon and non- purposes. there is so much wildlife thriving in District Secretariats and Divisional amendments, definitions and the carbon benefits or ecosystem services Harischandra stated that while all these ecosystems. Secretariats lack technical knowledge mandate of the issuing officer. As to the nation. three of the circulars issued in 1998, He added that one could not simply to deal with these matters in terms of mentioned in section 1 and 2 in the “Even if the intention of the circular 2001 and 2006 are repealed by state that there is a shortage of land the good and the bad effects to the circular MWFC/1/2020 issued by is to release some heavily degraded circular MWFC/1/2020, certain for development or economic purposes environment by the decisions that Secretary, Ministry of Wildlife and forest lands or encroached many important provisions still remain. as there is over 62 per cent of they would make adding that there is Forest Conservation Bandula years ago it still requires a multi- Legal concerns agricultural land in Sri Lanka with no need for environmental authorities Harischandra, the subject matter, stakeholder approach and expert almost half of it underutilised and if all these powers can be vested in which refers to Residual Forest, does knowledge of the researchers and Environmental Lawyer, Jagath unproductive. District and Divisional Secretariats. not exist in Sri Lanka under the environmentalists among others. Gunawardana stated that there are Secretary Harischandra clarifying Gunawardana added that although Forest Ordinance or any other We state that Forests are a common several legal concerns with regard to matters stated that a list of over 10 the circular implies that the District Ordinance. We state that that the good that should be protected for the circular issued by the Ministry. environmentally sensitive areas, and Divisional Secretariats could do term used here is misleading. balancing the fragile ecosystems for The circular specifies such land as including catchment areas, areas with anything they may deem fit with the However, the amended Forest the millions of known and unknown those that does not fall within the historic or archaeological value or land, they can only act within the Ordinance 65/2009 mentions some species/life forms, considering the purview of any Government Elephant Corridors will be excluded lawful powers vested in them. forest areas as “any other forest” or earth balance, earth systems, Department, Institution or Ministry to from this circular considering the Wijesingha added that the District “forest other than a Conservation ecosystems services for humans and which Gunawardana said that it is negative impact that it would have on Secretariat of Wanathawilluwa for Forest, Reserved Forest or Village other species, maintaining natural unclear as to what land is covered the environment. example has given agricultural Forest,” Withanage said. cycles including carbon cycle, under this circular as such Wijesingha in response to this stated permits for forest land that should not He says the new circular will allow nutrient cycle, food systems, climate specifications are not provided for that the preceding Circular issued by be more than two acres for lands that releasing forest lands for Non-Forest control and resilience, flood control, under the Forest Ordinance. the Ministry did not specify how are way above this in extent, which is uses subject to selected ad-hoc land slide control and many other Gunawardana stated that there is environmental authority approval will not in their powers to do. guidelines. “As we understand the known and unknown reasons,” he land declared and controlled by the be obtained or the manner in which Other concerns “any other forest” which are other said. Forest Department and land that is the environment impact will be than Nature reserves and According to Withanage managing controlled by the Department of assessed, making it evident that Two other points mentioned under conservation forests are at present this natural good should be done Wildlife Conservation while there is environmentally sensitive areas will the circular are that any problem has under the jurisdiction of the Forest carefully and not for just political also land declared under the National not be looked into prior to disposing to be sorted out by referring them to Ordinance Amendment No. 65/2009. reasons or just to provide lands for so Environment Act which is controlled land. the Attorney General and that this Although the Secretary has the power called development and very by the Central Environmental He added that the purpose behind circular has no bearing on ongoing to cancel the previous circulars, the destructive type agriculture such as Authority and that when land is so the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Court cases. Gunawardana stated new law does not provide provisions to Chena cultivation. “Government separated, there is no land that could Conservation including that that on the face of it, the public will release the “other forests” for the agencies such as the Ministry of possibly fall under the definition of environmentally sensitive areas will assume that as the Attorney General intended purposes. Wildlife and Forest Conservation land mentioned by this circular. be looked into is to sugar-coat the is involved the whole procedure is According to the circular, the manage these areas for the public He added that land which is not negative impact that the circular as a taking place within the legal secretary states that the forest lands good as a trustee and have no right to declared by a Regulation or gazette whole has on the environment. framework and that this circular will be used for economic or other utilise their powers unwisely without order is controlled automatically by Environmentalist, Sethil would not meddle with ongoing cases. productive uses. We believe this that a clear scientific approach and public the Forest Department. Muhandiran stated that it is unclear Gunawardana added that looking at means converting forest area for Non- consensus. Gunawardana added that placing as to how they are going to assess how it from a legal perspective Government Forest use. Therefore, we state that The fundamental question is the control of any undeclared land a specific area will be considered servants are obliged or mandated to the type of forests which Secretary is whether this kind of action affecting under the District or Divisional environmentally sensitive as a clear seek legal advice from the Attorney willing to dispose under its circular the right to dispose of public land can Secretariat is illegal as according to procedure has not been mentioned in General. According to the No. MWFC/1/2020 require an EIA be handled by the executive branch of provisions of the Forest Conservation the circular in this regard. Establishment Code, Chapter 33, under the National Environmental Act the Government through circulars,” Ordinance, the Forest Department is The CEJ noted that the guidelines which is devoted to seeking advice No. 56 of 1988 as amended,” Withanage explained. vested with the duty and obligation to have been given without fully from the Attorney General and the Withanage explained. He says it is very sad to see protect all plants and animals and understanding the purpose of forest Criminal Procedure Code empowers He says according to the list of Ministers directing government that power cannot be taken away by a eco-systems but cover a list of the Attorney General to give legal prescribed project 772/22 18 June, officers to de-regulate forests which circular. sensitive habitats with the advice to all Government 1993, under part I Extraction of are public property, which will result The Centre for Environmental understanding of the Ministry Departments, Corporations and timber covering land area exceeding in mass land grabbing and will also Justice (CEJ) stated the circular has personnel and by the Forest Authorities thereby there is nothing five hectares, Conversion of forests result in environmental destruction been issued without understanding Department, who may or may not new in these provisions of the circular. covering an area exceeding one and disasters. “We vehemently oppose the available laws, amendments and have an idea on how the forest Therefore, while economic hectare into non-forest uses, clearing this undemocratic move and demand the mandate of the issuing officer. ecosystem provides carbon and non- development is important for the of land areas exceeding 50 hectares the cancellation of the new circular Section 1 and 2 of the circular refers carbon benefits or how the eco-system country, the environmental concerns and number of other prescribed and ask the Government to respect to the types of land covered under this works or that forests are there for the could not be ignored as several projects required to follow the EIA the available Forest Act (as amended) circular as ‘residual forests’ adding common good and should be environmental organisations have process. and the National Environmental Act that the use of such a term is protected for balancing the fragile raised concerns about this circular, “The release of forest lands is (as amended). misleading as there is nothing about ecosystems for the millions of known making the hazards that such an act residual forests in the Forest and unknown species, considering would bring about very clear. A12 sunday 15 November 2020 Focus

By Buddhika Samaraweera According to the proposal presented by the SLSMU, it is proposed to Following the Minuwangoda and facilitate seat reservations through a Peliyagoda COVID-19 clusters, a website and a mobile phone large number of patients were being application. They also propose to set reported from all over the country up a call centre for reserving seats within a short period of time. At a Sluggish over the phone and among the time when the number of reported proposals is also to facilitate manual infected cases and COVID-19 deaths, reservations at the railway station. keep increasing by the day, it is clear The use of credit card, debit card or to anyone that the time has come to other suitable electronic methods for take more rigorous measures than payment is highly encouraged previously taken to prevent the first through the SLSMU proposal and it wave of COVID-19 virus in the also states that in making the country. Attitude reservations, information such as the However, in such a situation, it has name of the passenger, National become a serious issue whether the Identity Card number, workplace, measures taken by the public mobile phone number, address, from transport services to ensure the where to where, and Season ticket health of the passengers and their number (if in possession) should be employees are adequate. In obtained and stored in a proper particular, it is observed that manner. measures taken by the Department of Speaking further, Chamara said Railways, Sri Lanka’s leading and Endangers that through such a systematic only rail transport provider, to ensure storage of information, if at any time the health of passengers and its staff a patient infected with the COVID-19 are not at all adequate. virus was reported to have travelled The Railway Department employs by train, they would be able to find all close to 12,000 individuals and is the information such as the station serving nearly 500,000 commuters where they boarded the train, the daily. Despite this, the Sri Lanka compartment in which they travelled, Station Masters’ Union (SLSMU) Train the destination and take necessary recently stated that the railway action in a very short time. But these authorities have not been able to days, even if the passengers are ensure the health of train passengers instructed to write details in a piece nor their staff. of paper, it is questionable whether It is unfortunate that the Railway all the information is recorded Department has so far failed to correctly by the passengers, he said. implement at least the measures He said that about 100 to 200 taken when the first wave of COVID passengers board the train a day 19 virus spread with a small number Commuters from the station where is the Station of infected people last March, despite Master these days, however, only a more than 16,000 of patients being small number of ten or twenty reported at present. passengers are recording their At the time of the spread of the first information daily. wave of COVID-19, the necessary Chamara added that although the facilities had been provided for number of passengers on the train is issuing a token instead of train slightly lower these days, it will face tickets on a weekly basis. Through it, many problems in the future as the information of the passengers was number of passengers will increase in stored to some extent and it was, the coming weeks. Therefore, a therefore, possible to ascertain formal, effective programme must be passenger information like the station put in place to issue tickets and where a passenger started their collect passenger information before journey, the compartment in which the number of passengers increase, they were travelling and the station he said. where they got off the train. Although it was not 100 per cent Increased risk successful, the programme was able Meanwhile, Rukshan, a passenger to assist many of the steps needed to who travels on the Kelani Valley prevent the spread of the COVID-19 railway line daily said that the steps virus. When issuing those tokens, taken to ensure the health of they were issued only for a small passengers at railway stations are not number of passengers in the train at all satisfactory. He added that compartment and this enabled President of the union, Sumedha certain whether they maintain social issue tickets online. One company although passengers have been told passengers to maintain a social Somaratne, said that steps taken distancing of one metre. If this has agreed to implement it free of to record their details, there is no way distance of one metre. Also, the thus far to ensure the health of the system is not changed and safe charge considering the current at the railway stations to monitor if Railway Department had taken steps train passengers are not at all methods introduced and followed in situation. But there has been no they were doing so. to mark a place for each passenger to sufficient. He said passengers would the coming days, all passengers on satisfactory feedback to that so far,” “Some passengers record sit in the train seats. only put a scrap of paper with their the train will have to be quarantined he said. information accurately and leave it at The train service, which was almost name, address, telephone number in case a single infected patient is In the plan, the SLSMU suggests the railway station. But most people halted due to the quarantine curfew and national identity card number in reported as having travelled in the that tickets be issued online for three do not. If the Railway authorities imposed on various areas and certain a box at the railway station, buy train,” Somaratne added. categories of passengers. They are, think that everyone will fulfil their areas being designated as isolated tickets from the counter and board employees of Government responsibilities in the current areas, was resumed on 9 November. the train which is wholly an unsafe Primitive mentality institutions, employees of private situation, it is not plausible. They However, no special ticketing arrangement. He further said the efforts of the institutions that are providing need to launch a systematic system had been implemented this He also said “sanitation should be President, the Security Forces and essential services and those who do programme to collect passenger time. Instead, as usual, train provided at railway stations and the health sector to prevent the not belong to the above sectors, but information. Also, issuing tickets as passengers have to pay at the counter passenger information must be spread of the COVID- 19 virus would are engaged in other essential usual increases the risk,” at each railway station to buy tickets. collected accurately. The Government be in vain if the authorities did not services such as cleaning activities. Speaking further, he went on to say It is not needed to say that buying has announced in a gazette follow the online ticketing system They also propose that the relevant “implementing things like issuing tickets usually increases the cash notification that less than 75 per cent introduced by the Station Masters. programme be implemented in three tickets online will not be an easy flow, which puts both the passenger of the passengers should travel in a Commenting on this, General phases. Accordingly, it is planned to task. But in the current situation it and the employees of the railway train compartment. However, it is not Secretary of the SLSMU, Kasun operate the first stage in a way that must be done. I hope it will also make department at risk. possible to count the number of Chamara, said that it was 75 per cent of the total passenger it possible for the Railway passengers according to the present unfortunate that higher officials of capacity of a compartment can be Department, which has been a loss- Creation of another arrangements of the Railway the Railway Department was acting transported. In the second phase, it making department for a long time, to COVID-19 cluster Department. There is no way to get with such a primitive mentality that is planned to accommodate the total become a profitable institution the exact information of the they thought it was a systematic plan passenger capacity of a compartment. again,” Affirming the Railway Department’s passengers,” to direct the passengers to write their It is also proposed to issue tickets in When contacted, General Manager failure to implement a satisfactory The SLSMU members also said that details on a scrap of paper and to put the third phase to enable a limited of Railways, Dilantha Fernando, said programme to ensure the health of the system of issuing train tickets it in a box instead of adapting to number of passengers to stand in the that the issuance of tickets as usual passengers and employees, Sri Lanka through the internet, which was systems based on the latest compartment too. was not risky. He said that the Station Masters’ Union (SLSMU) implemented at the time of the first technology. However, Chamara said that given officers involved in it were wearing recently pointed out that the wave of COVID -19 virus, was no He added that since January 2020, the current situation caused by the protective clothing and that there was transport of train passengers longer in operation. They also pointed the SLSMU has on a number of COVID-19 virus, the second and still no need for an online ticketing contrary to the instructions given by out that through that system, occasions raised awareness and come third phases could not be system as instructed by the health the Health and Security authorities passenger information was up with plans on how to operate train implemented until the end of the authorities. In that sense, how will lead to the creation of another systematically stored. services in a way that can prevent the virus spread and that the dangerous are the bus conductors? COVID-19 cluster. “However, under the current spread of the COVID-19 virus, but implementation of first phase was He queried. Speaking at a press conference at programme, the passengers will travel senior officials of the Railway very timely in the current scenario. SLSMU office in Colombo 10, on the train as they wish. It is not Department have not paid sufficient possible to be attention to such proposals. “As a solution to this, the SLSMU came up with a proposal to focus sunday 15 november 2020 A13 Former RAW Chief Vikram Sood’s latest book ‘The Ultimate Goal’ Narratives on How the Real World

comes not fromWorks the barrel of a gun but about white male supremacy at its best. from those who control the narrative. The writer gives a great description of The author points out the case of China good-looking, clean cowboy who kept and that the coronavirus that is widely away the wild and unruly Native believed and accepted to have Americans from their ancestral lands originated in China and that has its and The Ultimate Goal also projects the own narrative. On the other hand well British Empire was served by Viscount publicised military exhibition of China Greystoke, a.k.a. Tarzan, who swung preparedness and intentions across its from tree to tree in ‘dark’ Africa, borders aiming mainly India comes at a emancipating and protecting the locals time when the U.S. is in domestic strife and saving his king’s realm from cousin Vikram Sood and these acts also reveal the true Kaiser Wilhelm. nature of a rising power that is Interestingly, the books brings about irresponsible, egregious and a bully. the wealth and might of the Rockefeller By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan Right and followed by: God’s Own interests of colonial powers, like the Vikram argues that when national Phenomenon and the ‘Rockefeller Country; The Hollywood Narrative British, with plausible deniability of any interest is camouflaged as principles, family bank’ and U.S.–China relations A career Indian intelligence officer for Factory; Intelligence, Media and the Government intervention. The which are then transformed into during this period and the American 31 years, Vikram Sood, who retired in Narrative; Profits of War in the Name of mercenary was the corporate executive narratives, it is a matter of time before power structure that created its own March 2003 after heading the Research Peace; Reluctant Imperialist or Empire with a gun. The monopoly of States on the two come into conflict. He goes on narratives that had a global reach. and Analysis Wing (RAW) of India, pens by Design; Empires, Immigration, violence was given up in favour of to say that China is not a mysterious There are 6,000 individuals in the his latest book The Ultimate Goal with Nationalism and Islam ; The Perils of outsourcing it, as it was a subtler and power; it is dictatorial in the extreme. It U.S. who are members of the descriptions on the big game of the Political Correctness; The Russian Way more effective channel for the pursuit of is avaricious, ambitious and ruthless, superclass and who can influence the nations as a means to assert and ; Through China’s Looking Glass; foreign policy without upsetting existing ruled by megalomaniacs and it is the lives of millions of people globally. This maintain superiority over the other. The Corporate Dream and lastly The India arrangements. West and the rest of the world that has super 6,000 includes Heads of State, book talks about complexity of building Story. The book then slates how the British glamourized a dictatorship and created CEOs of the largest companies, Media and sustaining narratives as the The introduction of the book notes came to Sri Lanka in the 1980s as a new ecosystem around it to fill its bosses, billionaires who are actually underpowered too can strive to create a that the facts are not always what they mercenaries from a British company, coffers and obtain benefits of various involved in their investments, narrative. Besides that, he projects that appear to be but are often what they are Keenie Meenie Services, made up of kinds, he underlines. technology giants, oil potentates, hedge narratives do not have to be based on perceived to be. Thus, the truth is not former SAS (Special Air Services The author further reveals that the fund managers, private equity the truth but on perceptions created. supreme in affairs of State, and is often regiment) and SIS (Secret Intelligence unravelling China’s mysteries became managers, top military commanders, The Ultimate Goal assures that the hidden within a bundle of lies, half- Service) personnel. They were allowed an intellectual challenge at universities and even renowned authors, scientists, book is a factual account, and is not a truths and innuendo. Instead, by the British Government to train and and think tanks, even as activists religious leaders and artists. Many of critique of global systems and perceptions built on narratives become equip the Sri Lankan Armed Forces for flagged human rights violations in the these 6,000 are also in the Council of narratives. The author says it’s an the accepted truth. operations against Tamil insurgents. country. Eventually, it was a big game Foreign Relations (CFR), Trilateral explanation of the storylines that are The first chapter is about defining The author says these mercenaries destined to go awry, as we can see Commission, the Davos Group, the created by States to rule or dominate narratives in the geopolitical context were brought in so as not to upset today when previously held narratives Bilderbergers and the Bohemian Grove, others and exercise control. Narratives and the next chapter, ‘God’s Own India, where Britain had substantial have become skewed. with some names common to all four or evolve over time; they cannot be made Country’, is about the powerful commercial and defence sales interests Narrative of racial five. available at the flick of a button. institutes of influence in the U.S. that far outweighed anything Sri Lanka Also, the book reveals the Hollywood Narratives have to be nurtured over where the rich and powerful from both could offer. As the war raged on, the superiority narrative spreading the good word years, sustained and fed all the time sides of the Atlantic mostly congregate company began to play a much more about the American values of freedom. from multiple sources and agencies. to decide the future of the world. The active role in it, and in the training of The author brings out a truth that The film Zero Dark Thirty-the Hunt for Narratives are about the superiority of Christian church also has a role to Sri Lankan Security Forces in jungle was accepted as a norm based on the Osama bin Laden In 2012, the CIA got one’s own country, civilization, culture play in this and he says none of the warfare, based on their experience in racial narrative at that time. The five a major propaganda boost with the and, in every possible aspect, by narratives – of conveying impressions the SAS. million Indian soldiers from the release of the film but in 2015 by the implication, innuendo or, if required, and influencing the common citizen – Keenie Meenie got its name from the colonies of the British and French well-known American investigative quite brazenly, about the inferiority of can work without the help of the Swahili term for ‘the movement of a empires fought for the Allies in the journalist, Seymour Hersh claimed that the other. celluloid world, along with the snake in the grass’. The company had Second World War where Indian troops the hunt for Osama bin Laden as an all- In the past, in the days of empires, intelligence community which is earlier been involved in Oman, were shoulder to shoulder with the American affair was false, and senior conquest or victory in war featured in the following chapter. Nicaragua, in the well-known Iran- British forces at Dunkirk, but when the generals of the Pakistan army and the automatically bestowed superiority to Tinsel town and its many arms, in the Contra scandal, as well as in time came to participate in victory Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were the victor and, as a corollary, inferiority media, internet and television, is Afghanistan. There were other similar parades, not a single black or brown involved. on the conquered. In the present age, where many of the dreams are private companies in Britain like trooper was represented, nor did the Telling India’s story superiority is sustained and exhibited imagined for those who can be Control Risks, which specialised in 2017 film Dunkirk show a single Indian through other means. Narratives are influenced. The role of the media with protecting VIPs from kidnappers. After face. But the last chapter, ‘The India also constructed to justify a course of quiet assistance from intelligence an initial burst of creative destruction U.S. President Kennedy was Story’, touches the brief history of the action, to give it a rationale – be it a agencies, where the two anticipate, in Sri Lanka, it seems Keenie Meenie assassinated in 22 November 1963 Chinese Admiral Zheng who sailed out threat to peace, violation of treaties or create or prevent influences and scaled down its methods of operation and Lee Harvey Oswald was identified from Nanjing for Sri Lanka in 1405 CE, humanitarian considerations. The real biases, is detailed in Chapter Four and left this role to companies like as the sole person responsible for the he led a fleet of 300 vessels, which reasons could easily lie elsewhere. ‘Intelligence, Media and the Narrative’. Sandline International and Executive murder but the case was not closed. included tankers carrying drinking The book invariably notes the The fifth chapter ‘Profits of War in the Outcomes in the 1990s, to be replaced There were many narratives on his water, vessels with advanced rudders, unsolved assassination of John F Name of Peace’ deals with the narrative by Blackwater and G4S in the 2000s, assassination dismissing that Oswald watertight compartments – Kennedy(JFK), the story of Donald of the hugely powerful and profitable and the Spear Operations Group that was not the one who killed him. Later, presumably to carry back treasures – Trump and the Russian leadership that military–industry complex and its has also been operating in Yemen. a filmmaker who came with a movie and elaborate signalling devices. The was not concerned about individuals, increasingly widening ambit. The sixth To explain how narratives do not have line on JFK was accused of every Chinese emperors, however, were not but about defeating the U.S. at large. chapter: ‘Reluctant Imperialist or to be based on the truth but on possible misdemeanour and of having too impressed by such seafaring He also speaks in length on the capture Empire by Design’ is about America’s perceptions created, the author war neurosis in the movie; the New adventures, unlike their European of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and role as the reluctant imperialist, while narrates many of the true stories that York Times devoted twenty-seven counterparts. They banned oceanic who should take credit for it. Another the next one is about imperialism, had been the talk of the town for columns to criticising the film. There voyages in the 1430s and this ended impressive story about James Chao, nationalism and Islam. Chapter Eight, decades. The story of Rudolf Ivanovich were many conspiracy theories about China’s age of exploration. In contrast, who became an all-American ‘The Perils of Political Correctness’ is Abel whose real name Vilyam plots to assassinate the President and about sixty years later, in 1492, philanthropist, is also documented. A about storylines built around political Genrikhovich Fisher, is one such. other theories to contradict this that Christopher Columbus, the Italian lot more on the rise of China has been correctness and their perils, followed by He was a Soviet intelligence officer have still not gone away. The lone explorer, set sail from Cádiz in Spain penned too. chapters on how the Russians and then and on a spying mission had adopted gunman theory was suspect and the to “discover” India, with just ninety The author convinces that Colonies the Chinese have tried to create their codenames such as Andrew bullet that killed the President men aboard three ships. He changed had no voice during the age of narratives, mostly with the help of their Yurgesovich Kayotis and Emil Robert probably came from the front. This was the course of history when he landed imperialism and no abilities either as powerful intelligence agencies. The Goldfus. He was arrested on charges of the evidence recorded on the camera of in the Americas instead. independent nations. corporate world has its dreams to conspiracy by the FBI in 1957. Fisher a bystander, Abraham Zapruder. The book goes on to describe India The book hints that the references to manufacture and sell, and this is was trained as a spy for entry into the White supremacy and the and how the rulers saw India with India are from sources within the detailed in the next chapter and the last United States. different perceptions. It describes the nation, because that is where the chapter is about India – about how the In the epilogue to this story, Goldfus Rockefeller phenomenon shortcomings and the wars that were genuine Indian narrative lies; especially narrative of the country was created by was betrayed by his deputy and fought within the Indian sphere and the the young, who constitute the majority the West, from the time it ruled the arrested in New York in 1957. The This chapter tells how a superpower areas of negligence even today in and to whom the future belongs. The world. It also deals with how India now American Press went ballistic when also shapes the narratives with rectifying them. author says he relied extensively on tries to answer the question: who are Goldfus declared that his name was immense interests around the world. In telling his own story, the author Western sources, as global narratives in we, and what is an India for all, without Col. Rudolf Ivanovich Abel. In reality, Its forces spread all over the globe like nails that in India, the game of creating the past 150 years have emerged favours? The last chapter describes there was no Colonel Abel; it was a its investments, resources and new narratives that are significantly mostly from there. The Russians and how the British Raj divided Hindus and name the Soviets had given him as a markets, and assured routes for different from what was handed down the Chinese have not been able to Muslims and ruled. He points the Brits cover. Goldfus used it to convey to his accessibility– has great need for in the past, and counter narratives that spread their stories, hampered as they had in fact, favoured the Muslims. masters that it was really him that the narratives that are global, positive and consider what is needed at home and are by their systems of governance and He talks about the colonial powers Americans had arrested and that he permanent. Both the U.S. and the abroad, has only just begun. “We need their languages. that lost their colonies in the twentieth had not revealed his actual identity. Soviet Union (now Russia) use their to take a second look at our recent He goes on to say that it is important century, they felt the need to reassert Fisher was the son of Russian émigré intelligence agencies to help build such history too, to fill in the omissions and to understand them and project their themselves – in some cases, by parents, and was born in England in narratives, or change others’ narratives. correct perspectives,” notes Vikram. points of view if India is to build its own reverting to their old practices of pulling 1903. It is a gigantic, collective effort with The Ultimate Goal: pages 349; narrative. It is to them that this book down recalcitrant local rulers by China and Media narratives corporates and the Government acting Copyright: HarperCollins; India attempts to explain how the real world conspiring against them and in concert. This was a common practice First published in hardback in India works, without being judgmental. threatening them, or occasionally The book also talks about the battle during colonialism and the days of in 2020; P-ISBN: 978-93-5357-844-2 The book ’Ultimate Goal’ has 12 nursing them back to health. Since this of narratives has never been so grim as Empire; the Chinese have been the E-ISBN; Published by Penguin chapters and an acknowledgment. The could not be done by a State Army, they it is today like the war between China, latest to adopt these practices. Random House India Pvt. Ltd first chapter is about Getting the Story turned to mercenaries to preserve the the U.S. and India because real power Another narrative in the book is [email protected] A14 sunday 15 November 2020 focus Why Duminda Silva Should Be Released? By Buddhisiri Dharmapriya their signatures below it. But, in this Shani – Good evening Sir. case that never happened. Ranjan – Good evening. How is What has been published below is not President of the three-Judge Bench everything? My hero. something that has been taken from a Justice Shiran Gunaratne had stated Shani – Don’t say that Sir. I am only a drama script of Tennyson Cooray. It is a in his verdict that Duminda Silva is not State officer who is doing my job conversation that had taken place guilty of the murder of Premachandra. efficiently. between a High Court Judge, the The other Judge who was on that Ranjan – Even among State officers President of the country and a Bench, Chamath there are rotten apples. Even among politician. The Judge was Padmini Moraes, though he had claimed that Judges there are similar fellows. Ranawaka. The President was Silva is guilty of the murder he had not Shani – Now the assault is on Maithripala Sirisena. The politician was explained his decision. However, Judge Solangaarachchi’s wife and the pointing then State Minister Ranjan Padmini Ranawaka had stated that of a firearm to the Ramanayake. Their conversations had Silva was guilty of the crime and she stomach of an STF officer was been recorded and it came to light had also explained the reasons for it. unexpected. through the audio tapes scandal Hence, Silva was condemned to the Ranjan – When LTTE weapons were involving Ramanayake. The case was gallows as two of the Judges of the found, 14 of them had arrived here. the Bharatha Lakshman Bench found the defendant guilty. How can he acquit a person who had Premachandra murder trial and its Justice Ranawaka had said that Silva murdered four? Who is this bastard? main defendant was R. Duminda Silva. was being convicted as per He would have earned millions. Isn’t his The Judge was one of those who provisions contained in Section 283 name Guneratne. comprised the three-Judge High Court of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Shani – Yes. Bench that heard it. Usually, in Open Court, the Ranjan – We will continue to criticise Date - 2017, 09, 12 Time – 2.56 p.m.: Judges are required to explain him. We will not leave him alone. The conversation is as follows – why they reached verdicts in Shani – Try not to promote him from Ranjan – Madam cases over which they had his present place. Judge Padmini – Yes presided. However, this Bench Ranjan – Yes. But, our Madam gave Ranjan – The President is here, had not adhered to this the works. explain your story to him. principle. They also need to Shani – She was terrific. But, though Judge Padmini – Yes make written notes before you are not aware you did a great job. Ranjan – (slowly) Padmini M. signing. This too had not been Ranjan – What is it? Ranawaka followed. Therefore, it is evident Shani – The call that you gave to President Maithri – Hello that these Judges had not followed Madam. Judge Padmini – Mr. President, the judicial protocol that is practised Ranjan – Don’t say that, I will be in President Maithri – Yes here. prison. (laughing) Judge Padmini – Forgive me for Hence, the question that has to be Shani – That is why she was so ice troubling you asked is whether a person could be cool. President Maithri – No issue convicted in a trial that has not been Ranjan – If they know it, they will Judge Padmini – If you can, try to give conducted in keeping with the accepted attack me. Even Madam was a bit me a position in the Court of Appeal. I judicial procedures of this country. It is rattled, wasn’t she? have given over 100.000 judgments. also clear that Shani – I only did what was best for Also I have worked very candidly on the verdict of this case had been has reached a climax for us. What you us. behalf of this country. Hence, I request reached beforehand following a drama told me also could Ranjan – I think my call to Madam you to consider this plea off mine only if played out behind the scenes. It has get blown up but, I will try to balance it. had an impact. possible. I can also work for a few more also been proved that in the murder Had the audio Ranjan – Yes. Shani – I too think so. years. case it was Silva who had been shot at tapes been Shani – Try to keep silent. Do not tell It is clear that at the time the President Maithri – Ok, Ok first. In fact, he had suffered grievous anyone what you know. Supreme Court perused the divided Judge Padmini – I have never before injuries. The Bench also seems to have discovered when Ranjan – Is the issue ok? verdict issued against Duminda Silva, made such requests to anyone. ignored the fact that a person who was Shani – Yes the issue is ok. Try not to by the High Court, had the audio tapes President Maithri – Ok down on the ground suffering grievous the Supreme give calls to Ranawaka Madam. If so we been in wide circulation the Supreme Judge Padmini – Despite whatever injuries had attempted to take another Court was all will be in big trouble. Court would have acquitted Silva threats that are made to me, I always person’s life. Ranjan – I called her and said that this without a doubt. This murder trial has try to do the right thing. I had in fact Judge Ranawaka in her verdict had perusing the is a verdict that the entire country is proved to all and sundry that justice done my duty in this manner for the said that it was not material whether waiting to hear. At that moment she and its norms had been conveniently past 27 years. I also gave the verdict in Silva had been fired at first or not. But, High Court said someone had come and hung up kicked out of the window by those very the Duminda case. The other Judges now it is clear that fact had been the phone. same people who had been tasked with were afraid to preside over the overlooked by those who had convicted verdict, Shani – Is that the only thing that meting out justice to those charged Chandrika bomb case. Silva as it was part of the conspiracy. Duminda Silva was discussed with her? with committing an act of crime. In fact President Maithri – Yes, Yes. Before the verdict was given in this Ranjan – There was nothing more to it. this, had not been the only occasion Judge Padmini – It consisted of large case, another conversation that took could have been If you happen to talk to her again then where miscarriage of justice has taken files. Then I agreed to hear it. place between Ramanayake and former she too might join the other Judge and place in the world. A clear case in point President Maithri – Ok CID Director Shani Abeysekara also served justice create havoc in the verdict. had been the case heard in the UK Judge Padmini – I did so to mete out came to light through the audio tapes. Anyone listing to these conversations Lazarus Estate Limited versus Beasley justice. I had never exerted pressure. I It is as follows: could see it for themselves as to how (56QB702). Lord Denning had stated am only making a request. Try to Date -8 September 2016 them to convict Silva. It was also low this country’s judiciary has that if any verdict issued by a Court is consider it if only you can. I wish you Ranjan – Good evening, will we get revealed to Court that 22 phone stooped. In fact, a High Court Judge later proved to have been reached more strength. bad news tomorrow? conversations had taken place between stooping to this low level to seek through illegal means or any other President Maithri – Ok Thank you. Shani – No there will certainly be the trio. promotion to a higher Court is unlawful act, then such verdicts would Ranjan – I will try to give you a call good news. Aren’t you coming to Court The conversations had taken place from unfathomable. have to be deemed as null and void. In later madam. Sir? 14 July 2016 to 11 September last year. Three-wheeler driver Venura the United Kingdom cases of the Judge Padmini – Ok Ranjan – Try to not change it. Don’t Ranjan-Shani 21 minutes, 27 Kushantha had handed over these Buckingham 6 and the Guildford 4 it The Bharatha Lakshman try to dash our hopes. seconds on 10 May 2016 at 12.46 audio tapes to the Western Province was later disclosed after a lapse of 13 Premachandra case, as the aforesaid Shani – No it will not change. But, it p.m. Southern Division Crimes Unit on 2 years that the verdict had been reached events show, has now turned out to be will be written to free the middle one. Ranjan – Shani is it you? January this year. Later, the CCD through unlawful means. The Court a miscarriage of justice. This was Ranjan – Who is this middle one? Shani – Yes. produced the audio tapes as Court later deemed that the verdict was null evident after the audio tapes possessed Shani – Chairman. But, that is no Ranjan – I am one Ranjan productions before the Nugegoda Chief and void and ordered the defendants to by then UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake issue we have the other two. Ramanayake. Magistrate’s Court on 14 January be acquitted from the charged files came into the spotlight. It was also the Ranjan – Padmini is ok isn’t it? Shani – Sir, good afternoon. concerning a probe being conducted against them and released them from first time in this country’s history that Shani – Yes. Ranjan – How are you? I called you to into charges of intimidating High Court the case. politicians, officers of the CID and Ranjan – Will it go to the Supreme convey my wishes. So you haven’t Judges. The behind the scenes It is clear, beyond a reasonable Judges had plotted and conspired from Court? recorded my number. conversations only doubt, from this evidence that an behind the scene towards a miscarriage Shani – In any case it is sent to the Shani – No. I have saved your number. came to the fore afterwards. innocent person has been sent to the of justice concerning a high profile SC. Aren’t you coming to Court? Ranjan – Have you honestly saved it? The appeal submitted to the Supreme gallows. A few people have misused the murder trial and ultimately it was R. Ranjan – Will it be good for me to Shani – You only gave it to me Sir. Court by Silva against his conviction by country’s criminal justice system to Duminda Silva who was forced to pay come? Will it show that we are involved Ranjan – I forgot. Are you now a SSP the High Court also ended in a similar wrongfully convict a person who had for the sins of these people by being in this affair? or a SP? manner. The Supreme Court too not even intended to murder another convicted and sent to the death row for Shani – If you are coming to all other Shani – Only a SP. upheld the verdict of the High Court. person. Should the society stand back a crime that he had not committed. corruption cases what is wrong in Ranjan – That is good news. Tell me But, the question that has to be posed and continue to watch and allow All persons are equal before the law coming to this one? whether you are in a place where I can is if the audio tapes had been in public Duminda Silva to languish in prison for as per Article 12 (1), 13 (3), 13 (4) of the Ranjan – Will it come to light that I talk to you openly. domain before the Supreme Court had any longer? Constitution and those who are had given a call? Shani – Go ahead. considered Silva’s appeal petition, He should be released to reinstate the accused should be convicted only after Shani – No, it will not be revealed. Try Ranjan – Nothing untoward would the Apex Court have agreed with integrity and independence of the a detailed and thorough hearing. But, to come. After giving the front place to happened and the case is over isn’t it. the verdict issued by the High Court. judiciary. And, in doing so, it can the question here is whether justice Harin why are Shani – No there is nothing wrong. Ranjan-Padmini 1 minute, 20 restore public faith in the judiciary of was meted out to Silva. When a verdict you going behind the scene? Nine will go Sir. seconds on 14 July 2016 at 9.33 the country. This grave wrong must be is issued in a murder trial each Judge Ranjan – You are sure? Ranjan – I was elated with what you p.m. righted. is known to submit their observations Shani – Yes I am sure. told me the other day. Judge Padmini – Hello Given all these evidence, there is no separately. They are also known to Ranjan – I need not say it again. Shani – Yes Sir, now the evidence is Ranjan – Madam sorry, for troubling impediment to releasing Duminda Silva explain in detail as to why they had Shani – No need we’ll see after it is all over and only the submissions. The oral you at this Godforsaken hour. from prison, according to the terms of reached such a verdict and then place over. and written submissions are ready if Judge Padmini – Yes. Article 34 of the Constitution. Ranjan – Thank you. Can’t you get the Judges were to seek it. They will Ranjan – I am Ranjan Ramanayake. the middle one to our side? give a date. It will be taken after the Judge Padmini – Yes Mr. Shani – No need as there are two 24th. Ramanayake. Wait a moment, someone others. We have the majority. Ranjan – So there is nothing for us to is coming. Should we turn Ranjan – Ok then try not to be afraid of the verdict. Ranjan – I am at home. I am talking Judge Ranawaka disappoint us tomorrow morning. Shani – No there is nothing to you with much respect. In fact, I saw a blind eye when Shani – The disappointment has now whatsoever to be afraid of. today’s paper and decided to talk to stated in her turned into good news. Ranjan-Shani (28 minutes, 39 you. The country is waiting for your a group of Ranjan – Ok. God Bless. seconds) 25 July 2016 Time – 12.12 verdict. It is also good news to hear you judgment that people twisted Shani – Try to be there Sir, if not no p.m. being one of the Judges on the Bench. Duminda being use. Shani – Sir. Judge Padmini – Yes. the laws, in What we need to ask here is, has Ranjan – How are you? Ranjan – We are waiting for the first person such a controversial conversation ever Shani – Sir. something positive to happen. order to label a taken place between a politician and a Ranjan – Yes. Padmini – Yes. to be shot had top CID officer investigating a murder Shani – Sir, this is urgent can I talk to Ranjan – I rang to wish you God’s man who had no case. This takes the biscuit. It is due to you? speed and God bless you. no relevance to intention of these reasons that we claim that a Ranjan – Yes. Ranjan-Shani 13 minutes, 6 the case. But, gross injustice has been meted out to Shani – I beg you Sir try not to talk to seconds on 12 September 2016 Time killing another Duminda Silva in this so-called murder anyone regarding that case or it will 10.41 p.m. can such a man trial and hence he should be granted a become an issue. Worker – Good day Sir. person, as a Presidential pardon at least. Also, the Ranjan – Is it true? Shani – Good evening Sir. commit a murderer? pressure that has been exerted by this Shani – Yes Sir, I beg you not to. Worker – I am from the office. Try to murder? politician on a High Court Judge and a Ranjan – Yes. be on the line. top officer of the CID is massive to force Shani – Try to keep mum as the case Ranjan – Hello. Sports Sunday 15 November 2020 A15 Laggard Administrators Leave Athletes in Quandary Stubborn Director point blank refuses Sports Medical Unit not consulted Athletes unable to train for entry for athletes to use hostel when making decision weeks due to lack of facilities

By Anjana Kaluarachchi December. Athletes were keen to take part in face these problems, which they could sort out the Nationals, but then ran into fresh problems – and which they should – since authorities Track and field athletes are in a dilemma due with the Western Province lockdown on 29th. have given the go ahead for the Nationals. to the authorities moving at snail’s pace, which Initially Bloemendhal lockdown was imposed Meanwhile, senior coaches state that if the has resulted in a number of top athletes being only for three days, and then Army Commander National Championship is actually going to be denied hostel facilities and without a place to Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva (who is also Chairman held in December, it is the responsibility of the train for a couple of weeks. of the National Selection Committee), promised authorities to allow adequate training time and Lockdown was first confined to Minuwagoda that Western Province lockdown will only be in venues for those who compete, as if not, it will and Divulapitiya on 4 October with the second effect over four days and will be lifted on 2 not be fair by the athlete, especially if SLA wave of COVID-19, which was soon followed by November. wishes to make changes to the National teams quarantine curfew for Gampaha District, which But with the lockdown continuing beyond 2 based on results of the National Championship. is where most of the top National athletes live. November, several athletes - including South Also with Bloemendal Police Division still under This resulted in a large number of athletes Asian Games Gold medallists - inquired about curfew, Sugathadasa Stadium, which has the being under lockdown in the District with no hostel facilities from the Director of Sports at country’s only useable synthetic track, will be way of training. the Department of Sports Development I.P. out of bounds. Some elite athletes stayed in Colombo for Wijerathne, who point blank refused entry for “They (Administrators) have to take decisions days without returning to their homes or usual any athlete to the hostel. and act on it rather than wondering around training venues, as Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) However, Director General of the Institute of about what’s going to happen. The world moves was keen on conducting a Performance Test for Sports Medicine (ISU), Dr. Lal Ekanayaka, was forward with sports despite having much bigger National and Elite athletes on 24 and 25 puzzled about the whole incident, as he claimed COVID problems than us. We are now left October. But with quarantine curfew imposed they could have provide facilities for athletes in behind,” said a coach. in several areas of Colombo, including a separate area - either in the old hostel or any Apart from a handful of athletes who are Bloemendhal Police Division, (Sugathadasa other area-to stay and train for a while (ideally occupying the sports hostel at the moment, Stadium comes under their jurisdiction), SLA two weeks), and then permit them to enter the others have missed at least 20 days of training had no other option but to cancel the main hostel following that period, and if needed, by now, while those who live in the Gampaha Performance Test. after a negative PCR report. District have missed out on six weeks training. With cancelation of the National trials and “None of those requests were directed at us. I “Probably we could give an excuse to athletes uncertainty that any competitions will be held have already informed Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) who live in the Gampaha District as they this year, athletes headed home for a break well in advance to provide me with a list of missed out from training for a longer period of following the relaxation of curfew on 22nd, athletes who will be competing at the National time. But athletics of the country too should before commencing off-season training Championship so we could get them hostel and adopt to the ‘New Normal’ and we have to targeting the National Athletics Championship. training facilities,” said Dr. Ekanayake. continue, hence, we will have to update SLA then decided to postpone the National He stated many athletes who live outstation National teams based on National Athletics Championship from its original dates are training without a problem, and it is only Championship results,” said a senior SLA of first week of December towards end of those who train in the Western Province who official replying to a query from Ceylon Today.

Return to Rugby: Has to be safe but robust The Covid-19 pandemic has heavily impacted Sri players who will form the depth of the club pool. Lanka’s 2020 Rugby Season. After three weeks, the Marija said that Kandy was practising for the disruption of school rugby dashed hopes for the sevens when it had to be completely stopped. He was players who were in their last year. Club Rugby was a of the view that SLR should organise a structured non-starter despite getting set for a circuit 7’s. tournament for club second or ‘B’ Division teams. If Stakeholders were put on the mark, but not given the each club can field a second team, there will be at signal to go, as authorities locked down with a wave least 35 players in each club. Eight clubs will have an of the pandemic. aggregate of 280 players. This will help develop the Young people are affected by social and physical depth of players. At present, the club finds new distancing, and without sport, many are losing the players to strengthen the ‘A’ Division team, but a ‘B’ support system that such participation provided. The division team will see young players who will join and need to return to sports is more important than promote players to join clubs. before, and rugby has a role in this environment. Martis – while not moaning on the transfer of Rugby players – young and old – are eagerly players – looked at it from an angle of how many anticipating Sri Lanka Rugby to roll out a ‘Return to players a club can take based on affordability and Play’ outlined under different hygiene and safety facilities. He said it would be around 40 for each club. SLADA marks seventh protocols. Waiting and thinking when things are The number of school rugby players being more than going to restart, and then it is more frustrating when forty allows the clubs to recruit and develop players. everything shuts down again. Lewke said that CRs return to rugby did not take A UN policy brief on the impact of COVID-19 says the off in comparison to other clubs, as there was an anniversary today pandemic has spread to almost all countries. Social and exodus of players. The priority at the moment is to get physical distancing measures and lockdowns have a squad. They are convinced they can face the season The Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency become commonplace to curtail the spread of the by recruiting new players. He does not see a problem, (SLADA), one of the foremost institutions disease. They have disrupted many regular aspects of as the emphasis is to set in place a long-term plan. that functions to prevent doping from sports life, including sport and physical activity. The four coaches were of the view that they would and create awareness on banned In the light of concern by relevant UN agencies, the need at least six to eight weeks training and given substances in Sri Lanka, marks its seventh podcast organised by Sri Lanka Rugby is opportune. adequate notice before a tournament is to commence. anniversary today, 15 November 2020. Last week on the SLR podcast, the Minister of The coaches thought the return to rugby in the Functioning as a Statutory Board under Sports outlined his thinking, emphasising on more pandemic context requires a different approach – not the Ministry of Rural Infrastructure and Sevens Rugby to be included. This week the SLR expecting much from players who should have a School Sports Improvement, SLADA was podcast featured coaches of clubs, some of whom are personal development plan? The course requires established through an Act of Parliament as also coaching schools – Dushan Lewke (CR and FC commitment and discipline – responsibility to train indicated in No. 33, Section 3 of the and Royal), Rohitha Rajapaksa (CH and FC), Sanath while attaining the goals needed without somebody Convention against Doping in 2013. Martis (Havelock’s and St. Peter’s) and Fazil Marija behind monitoring your progress. Discipline is key, and The prime objective of SLADA is to (Kandy Sports Club). to follow the requirements of the COVID-19 guidelines. eradicate the use of prohibited substances There was much concern about the plight of The thoughts of the discussion are in agreement by athletes and the promotion of clean schoolboys who had been hard at training but denied with the thinking of the UN and its related agencies. sports. SLADA also works in collaboration an opportunity to compete in the school’s rugby What comes from the horse’s mouth requires logistics with International Anti-doping tournament due to the lockdown. The coaches agreed and governing support to get rugby to start. organisations that function to prevent that SLR should work out more Sevens and The closure of educational institutions due to doping in the international sporting arena. emphasised on under-21 and 23 matches. Martis, a COVID-19 has impacted the sports/education sector. SLADA is now independently housed at a veteran coach, also said that school players who were WHO recommends 150 minutes of moderate- four storied building with state of the art investigation. expecting a re-start of rugby were very disappointed. intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical facilities at 363/12 Sugathadasa National Another major achievement of SLADA is They are worried about what the future holds for activity per week, as lack of access to exercise and Sports Complex, Block D, Stadium Parking the setting up of a Research Unit in 2017 to them as rugby players. physical activity can also have mental health Road, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha, international standards. The research Unit All four coaches explained – in different words impacts, which can compound stress or anxiety that Colombo 14. This has enabled the is equipped with a laboratory containing the though – that if eight clubs play under-21 Sevens, many will experience in the face of isolation from Institution to expand and serve more most modern facilities and works in there may be at least 25 players at practice to select a everyday social life. effectively. collaboration with the National Dangerous squad of 15, and it will be an opportunity for around Governments, the United Nations and the sporting One of the main targets of SLADA is to Drugs Control Board, National Ayurveda 120 school leavers to be involved. community, including the sporting education establish an intelligence and investigation Medicine Unit and also the major Nurture these 120 players every year, and you will community, should disseminate WHO and other unit by working in collaboration with conventional Universities in Sri Lanka. have more than enough numbers to fit into the boots guidance on individual and collective measures to Government Departments such as the The Research Unit is equipped with the of club rugby. This will be a robust return to rugby. counter the pandemic. Steps must be taken to reach Customs, Immigration, Departments, latest Liquid Chomatography Tandem The proposal will require new thought and communities that have limited access to Internet and Border Forces, Police Narcotics Bureau and Spectrometer for the detection of prohibited cooperation of the clubs. social media. They are reached through cascading National Medicines Regulatory Authority, drugs in Sports. The Unit mainly focuses on The young CH coach Rajapaksa, a relative the sports education pyramid from the national/ which will assist to prevent illicit drugs from banned substances that are contained in newcomer to coaching, believes that COVID has ministerial level down to the provincial level, to the entering this country. natural products and conducts research produced a new norm. The approach will evolve in the teacher, from the national sports federation down to Another target is to include a study on related to anti-doping, focusing mainly on same manner as more knowledge is shared. While the clubs. In turn, escalating the pyramid provides anti-doping into the school curriculum. traditional herbal preparations, to avoid there is talk about the creation of a rugby bubble, for important feedback to identify needs and share This is with a view to create an effective unintentional doping of athletes. there are issues as well, as all players are not specific solutions. Athletes, while deeply affected by dope free sports environment by educating The Research Unit has also a few involved full-time in rugby. They may have day jobs, the pandemic, remain vital influencers to ensure that schoolchildren on ill-effects of banned publications on its research work. and the approach has to consider this. Rajapaksa – mostly young – audiences understand risks and substances. Discussions in this connection Speaking to the Press, Dr. Seevali was of the view that addressing the mental aspects in respect guidance. are underway with the National Institute of Jayawickreme, Director General of SLADA the present situation is essential to make players In Summary, the thinking of global agencies is in Education to achieve this. said: “Within a period of seven years SLADA ‘Rugby Tough.’ We have to be aware of the unity with the thoughts of the Minister of Sports and SLADA has signed a MoU (Memorandum has made a major contribution to the country background and the financial stability of a player Coaches. of Understanding) with the Australian anti- by providing a very successful service to returning to rugby. Sport promotes positive social attitudes and doping Agency and is working in support the sports sector in the combating of Fazil Marija urged the need for SLR to get clubs to behaviour. Sport education is a powerful means to collaboration with them and getting their doping in sports in Sri Lanka, and is firm in play a second division tournament. He believed clubs foster physical fitness and mental well-being while assistance and know-how in sectors like its commitment to creating a dope free have enough players for another team. A minimum of populations are locked down. Rugby SL is on track Dope Control Testing, Intelligence and environment in sports in the country.” 30 players from each club will have another 240 with these discussions. A16 sunday 15 november 2020 SPORTS SL gearing up for 2026 Commonwealth Games bid No Governement support NOCSL keen to go ahead subject for Hamilton 2026 bid to Government green light

By Anjana Kaluarachchi Games, which NOCSL will present to the expenditure for the Games. Government to get their blessings. Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, National Olympic Committee Sri “Capital expenditure will be an which was the most extravagant CWG Lanka (NOCSL) is bracing themselves to investment for the country’s sports, to date,cost Australian dollars 1.286 bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth especially when we look at the billion, but the extensive analytical Games, as Hamilton (Canada)the city Birmingham 2022 plans of building a post-Games report shows that overall which was on run, set to back out, fully-fledged international sports boost to the Queensland economy as a leaving no confirmed host for the game university with all facilities for the direct result of the Games was which is six years away. Games, which will help in hosting events awhopping A$2.5 billion. This is apart Sri Lanka was keen to host the 2018 as well accommodation of athletes and from benefits which local athletes will Commonwealth Games (CWG), but their officials,” said the NOCSL official. get over the years from new bid was beaten by Gold Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa has infrastructure built for the Games, Coast(Australia),shattering Sri Lanka’s already shared his views about the need which also helped their successful bid to hopes and also plans for infrastructure fora modern day international sports host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games. development in Hambanthota back university to uplift sports in the country, “Several Asian countries have then. as well as building a billion dollar sports already hosted mega multisport Birmingham (England) had already economy, which are tallying with events. Indonesia, who hosted the Sri Lanka’s bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games did not go according to plan clinched the 2022 Games and Hamilton hosting international games such as 2018 Asian Games, is now in the the 2026 Games, with India looking at Government will support Hamilton’s bid expenditure, and if we receive the green CWG, which gives a Government means runningto host the 2032 Olympics 2030. Sri Lanka did not have a window but not in 2026,giving any other light we will go ahead with the bid,”said to build modern infrastructure and Games. India too is keen on bidding for for a bid throughout the next decade. interested City the best chance to grab a senior NOC official replying to a query uplift sporting talent of the country with 2032 Olympic Games and 2030 Asian But with Hamilton facing problems the hosting rights. by Ceylon Today. a proper plan. Games. These Games help a lot to over the bid, Commonwealth Games “We are keen and capable of handling A rough estimation based on previous Meanwhile, Sri Lanka can also get develop a country’s sports and to build Federation (CGF) were on the lookout for the bid process and hosting if Games indicates about USD 650 million guidance from the last commonwealth a sports loving society in the country, a new host. Ontario Province’s Minister Government permits. We have a rough operation cost for running the Games, Games(2018), where post-Games which cannot be financially valued,” of Heritage and Sport Lisa MacLeod has estimation and we are seeking and a further USD 300 million reports clearly show that overall benefit said a senior sports official who is publicly announced that the Government guidance about minimum infrastructure cost for the from the Games exceeded the supporting a possible bid .

Bubble to bubble – SL team Jaffna Stallions kick off ready to follow new world order full-blown training session Test training, LPL, SA tour, England No quarantine in SA as SL team Jaffna Stallions becomes the tournament, as it allows home series all within bio bubbles leaves day after LPL finals the first franchise cricket team the team members to get to in the 2020 Lanka Premier know each other’s strengths. By Anjana Kaluarachchi League (LPL) to hold a full- “It is always important to blown training session. Under train together so we can Playing inside bio secure the impeccable guidance and draw up a sound plan. bubble and moving from one leadership of Head Coach These sessions are bubble to another to play Thilina Kandamby and important to physically and cricket has been the talking Captain Thisara Perera, the mentally prepare ourselves point among cricketers these squad participated in a three- for the tournament,” said a past few weeks, with several of day residential cricket camp confident Kandamby. them expressing their concerns in Pallekele (from 13 to 15 The Skipper also agreed and mental challenges November). The franchise is that early training will give regarding the ‘new world order’ owned by a consortium of 12 them a competitive edge Captain Thisara Perera consequent to the COVID-19 Sri Lankans living in UK, over other teams. “It is very pandemic. Canada and Australia . namely, Kapilraj, Dinoshan important that we start our The Sri Lankan team too All local players - Thisara and Viyaskanth to the 2020 training early. This will help started their own bio secure Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, LPL. The coaching staff us to uplift team spirit and bubble yesterday, with their Avishka Fernando, consists of ThilinaKandamby face the fierce competition of practices targeting the Dhananjaya de Silva, Suranga (Head Coach), the LPL. I’m also happy to forthcoming South African Lakmal, Binura Fernando, HemangBadani(Consultant), see three young and Test/ODI tour in December. A Minod Bhanuka, Chaturanga Mario Villavarayan(Trainer talented Jaffna-based squad of 22 commenced As per SLC, since it’s bubble 14th followed by the second on de Silva, Mahesh Theekshana, Cum Fast Bowling Coach), cricketers joining the training at Pallekele yesterday, to bubble there is no need to go 23rd, both to played at Galle Charith Asalanka, Nuvinidu Sachith Pathirana (Spin training session. All the which will go on till 23rd before through quarantine period. The Stadium. Fernando, Kanagaratnam Bowling Coach) and Vimukthi senior players are keen to they join the LPL bubble, where Sri Lankans will play a three- England are expected to be Kapilraj, Theivendiram Deshapriya (Fielding & Throw assist them,” added Perera. Sri Lanka’s franchise-based T20 day warm-up match against a here in Sri Lanka on 3 January, Dinoshan and Yiyakanth Downs Coach). The most striking feature tournament will go on from 26 South Africa Invitation XI from 11 days prior to the first Test. Yiyaskanth - will be part of the Jaffna Stallions is one of the of the training session is November to 16 December. Five 22 to 24 December, before They will undergo quarantine of training camp. most balanced teams in the that the entire coaching and teams will play 23 matches in walking in to their first Test in 14 days in England and will The team has a total of 20 tournament because of the support staff participates in the tournament – all in nine months on Boxing Day (26 depart after negative tests. They cricketers with 14 Sri strength of its all-rounders the training. The sessions Hambanthota. December). will not play any warm-up Lankans and six international who happen to be experienced will, therefore, allow the Following the LPL, the Test The second Test will start on matches against local teams, players. local and international team to test their potential squad will immediately depart 3 January and the team is but will play practice matches Adding a new flair to the players. to the maximum level. for South Africa on 17th on a expected to return to another among themselves. game, the team introduces The Head Coach Upon completion of chartered flight, where they will bubble in Galle to play England. All four Tests will be part of three talented young commented that he is happy training, the team will set join another bubble there. The first Test will start on the ICC World Test Championship. cricketers from Jaffna, to start training well-ahead of out to Hambantota.

Gibbs removed from LPL commentary panel Panadura Cricketers yet to be paid Several cricketers from Panadura Sports dues are settled. However, they haven’t had Takes to social media to direct his displeasure Club confirmed to Ceylon Today the club any positive response from the club yet. had not paid 50% of their fees for the Meanwhile, the coach too had to face a pay Former South Africa high profile commentators They shouldn’t have concluded premier season. Panadura SC cut during the past few months. cricket legend Hershelle joining the LPL, which advertised it in the first plays in the ‘B’ Division of SLC Major In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Gibbs has been excluded Gibbs himself shared on place. There you go,” said League, and does not have in its ranks any had paid the annual grant to clubs in full for from the revised panel of social media. Gibbs in reply to a tweet. high earning international cricketers. last season, and had also paid an advance commentators announced But when the updated list Updated commentary Almost all of them depend on their contract of the grant for next season. In addition, for the Lanka Premier released yesterday did not panel for LPL fees and match fees to earn their living, and SLC had also financially supported clubs League Cricket tournament included Gibbs name, he Mike Haysman this has put their lives in misery during during the COVID-19 lockdown, where club scheduled for November. wasn’t pleased at all. Darren Ganga this pandemic time. income only increased during last season. Sri Lanka Cricket last “They kept me waiting Russel Arnold As a result, some dozen players have left Numerous attempts to contact the week said that Hershelle 3-weeks only to tell me this Aamer Sohail the club already, vowing not to play for President of Panadura SC in this regard Gibbs will be among the six morn it’s not gonna happen. Roshan Abeysinghe them in the upcoming season until their failed.

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