„„ www.themorning.lk „„ Late City VOL 01 | NO 20 | Rs. 30.00 { FRIDAY } FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 BADGES, GUNS, AND SHATTERED EGOS?

SELECTOR APPOINTMENT TURNS OUT TO BE A FIASCO »SEE PAGE 16 SEA CUCUMBER REAPING WHAT FACTORY IN THEY SOW JAFFNA BY APRIL A CHALLENGE »SEE PAGE 11 »SEE PAGE 7 »SEE PAGE 5 Hejaaz Z-score and district remanded India to build quotas to change z UGC wants uni autonomy z FUTA, IUSF till 3 March in student selection critical of proposals BY ISHARA RATNAKARA petroleum BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah and the Speaking to The Morning on Principal of a Madrasa School, Mohammed The Z-score system that is key 17 February, University Grants Shakeel, were remanded till 3 March by the in determining the entrance of Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court yesterday students to state universities is Sampath Amaratunge said that the (18). being revisited as part of an effort Z-score is currently being revisited, The order was given after Attorney General to explore how the current university adding that an entrance policy that suits (AG) President’s Counsel (PC) Dappula hub in Trinco entrance system could be changed, the present times must be formulated. de Livera instructed the Inspector General The Morning learnt. Contd. on page 2 of Police (IGP) on 17 February to produce z 24 new tanks to be z Unions to submit Hizbullah to the relevant court. Hizbullah, who was arrested in April last constructed report to President year, was presented in court on charges filed BY PAMODI WARAVITA Palitha alleged that Minister of Female workers ‘assault’ under Section 2(1)(h) of the Prevention of The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), the Ports Energy was Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) Authority (SLPA), and the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC), will misleading the public by saying that and Section 3(1) of the International Covenant be partnering to develop a selected land area in Trincomalee as the Government will reacquire the 99 two estate managers on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act. a “South Asian Petroleum Hub” for petroleum and natural gas, oil storage tanks leased to the LIOC BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI Speaking to The Morning yesterday Meanwhile, Shakeel was arrested on 17 where 24 new oil storage tanks would be constructed. in Trincomalee, while simultaneously An estate manager and an assistant (18), Planters’ Association of Ceylon February by the Criminal Investigation CPC Chairman Sumith Wijesinghe the LIOC, as part of the proposed planning another new joint venture manager of the Alton Estate, Upcot (PA) Media Spokesperson Dr. Roshan Department (CID) under the PTA. told The Morning yesterday (18) that South Asian Petroleum Hub. between the CPC and the LIOC. in Maskeliya, Nuwara Eliya have Rajadurai claimed that the assault, led The CID has submitted a 1,200-page report the storage tank farm would be Speaking to The Morning, Palitha added that this venture would been hospitalised following an alleged by female workers and others in the regarding the suspects to the AG. developed at the East Trincomalee Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS) see the construction of 24 new tanks. assault by female estate workers and estate, was pre-planned. Contd. on page 2 Harbour, together with the SLPA and CPC Branch President Ananda Contd. on page 2 others on 17 February. Contd. on page 2 FINALLY IN COURT P’ment committee for women’s issues in March z To probe malpractices, z Requested by female injustices against women MPs from both sides BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE which is expected to be (SJB) MP Rohini Wijeratne The Women established on 9 March to said that they will put aside Parliamentarians Caucus has coincide with the International political differences and requested for a parliamentary Women’s Day celebrations on stand together to protect committee to investigate the 8 March, The Morning learnt. women against malpractices malpractices and injustices Speaking to The Morning, and injustices. against women in Sri Lanka, Contd. on page 2 Stop Mihintale Child Protection deforestation: Authority Chief Incumbent counters COPE BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE z Action plan on national Mihintale Raja Maha Viharaya Chief policy expected end-March Incumbent Ven. Walawahanguna Wawe BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE Dhammaratana Thera urged the Government The controversy surrounding the recent to stop alleged deforestation activities in findings by the Committee on Public Mihintale, The Morning learnt. Enterprises (COPE) that the National Speaking to The Morning, Dhammaratana Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has Thera alleged that representatives of the not implemented its own policy, has now Government in Mihintale are responsible for been countered by the NCPA, which has these deforestation activities. expressed a contrary view on the COPE’s “Deforestation is one of the most serious recommendations concerning its functions, Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah, who was arrested in April last year, was environmental issues in Mihintale which The Morning learnt. presented in court yesterday (18) negatively affects natural ecosystems, Contd. on page 2 PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE Contd. on page 2 COVID-19 CASES Two trial-at-bars for Bond scams ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES Chief Justice (CJ) Jayantha Jayasuriya AG State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne. Arjun Aloysius, who is linked to the PC has appointed two trial-at-bars at the Previously, the AG had requested Primary Dealer Perpetual Treasuries request of the Attorney General (AG) the CJ to appoint a trial-at-bar to try Ltd., and several others. 78,164 Dappula De Livera PC, to hear the cases the suspects of the CBSL Treasury The AG had then requested the CJ involving the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Bond scam of 2016. The suspects to appoint another trial-at-bar for the DEATHS RECOVERED (CBSL) Treasury Bond scams. are former Finance Minister and CBSL Treasury Bond scam that took 5,919 These cases concern two Bond incumbent MP Ravi Karunanayake, place during another Bond auction on 422 71,823 auctions that took place in March 2016, former CBSL Governor Arjuna 31 March 2016. THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 9.20 P.M. ON 18 FEBRUARY 2021 stated Co-ordinating Officer to the Mahendran, the latter’s son-in-law, Contd. on page 2 42 „„ www.themorning.lk { NEWS } Friday, February 19, 2021 Two Separate State Ex-UN officials and Ministries from Chamal’s portfolio Second dose to HR advocates urge The portfolio of the National Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management int’l action on SL State Ministry has been divided into two Citing alleged continued Rapporteur on extrajudicial, separate State Ministries, the President’s reluctance on the part of the summary, or arbitrary executions Media Division said. be given within Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) Philip Alston, former Special Accordingly, Minister of Irrigation Chamal to meaningfully uphold the Rapporteur on the promotion Rajapaksa was sworn in as the State Minister human rights of all, former top of truth, justice, reparation, and of National Security and Disaster Management United Nations (UN) officials and guarantees of non-recurrence and then as the State Minister of Home Affairs, those involved in human rights Pablo de Greiff, former Special separately. 10-12 weeks related work have called on the Rapporteur on the promotion He took his oaths before President Gotabaya The second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is planned to be given of the Consultative Committee on international community to take and protection of human rights Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat within 10-12 weeks, Deputy Director of Public Health Services Infectious Diseases, the consulting decisive and immediate steps and fundamental freedoms yesterday (18). Dr. Hemantha Herath said. staff on vaccination. After reviewing and action at the international while countering terrorism Ben He said that the manufacturer of the us that the second dose should be the matter through them, it was decided level towards ensuring justice and Emmerson, former Special vaccine had initially instructed that the given after four weeks. The World that it is important to take more than accountability to end Sri Lanka’s Rapporteur on extrajudicial, Vegetables at low second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine Health Organisation has published four weeks to give the second dose. periodic cycles of violence, and summary or arbitrary executions be administered in four weeks. its recommendations in this regard. Accordingly, it was finally decided mass human rights violations Christof Heyns, former Special prices at 75 WP “However, according to new Taking all this into consideration, I that a period of 10-12 weeks would and atrocities, and for sustained Rapporteur on the promotion evidence, experts have informed conveyed this message to the experts be more suitable,” he said. reconciliation and prevention of and protection of the right the recurrence of rights abuses to freedom of opinion and Sathosa outlets and conflict. expression David Kaye, former A programme for selling vegetables at The signatories include Special Rapporteur on the rights concessionary prices commenced at 75 Lanka No country can influence Nobel Peace Prize Laureate to freedom of peaceful assembly Sathosa outlets in the Western Province Juan Manuel Santos, former and of association Maina Kiai, yesterday (18). Deputy Secretary General of former Special Rapporteur on The Ministry of Finance said that the first Govt.’s decisions: Prasanna the UN Jan Eliasson, former minority issues Gay MacDougall, step in a programme to provide food items Special Adviser to the Secretary former Special Rapporteur on at concessionary prices to consumers would Neither India nor any other country that the Indian Bharatiya Janata Party who dealt with such a government General on the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman begin through the Lanka Sathosa outlets in has the right to influence Sri Lanka, (BJP) will form a political party in still think the same government is in Genocide Adama Dieng, former and Degrading Treatment or the Western Province. and the Government will not allow this country. power. We are a strong Government. UN Assistant Secretary- General Punishment Juan E. Mendez, It said that vegetables are being sold at any harm to be done to Sri Lanka’s Speaking further, Ranatunga said: “If a party wants to contest and former Head of the Secretary former Special Rapporteur on concessionary prices to consumers at 26 sovereignty or territorial integrity, “The United National Front (UNF)- elections, it has to be registered. General’s Internal Review Panel Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman locations in the Colombo District, 41 locations Minister of Tourism Prasanna led Government was created in 2015 Political parties cannot be formed on the UN’s Actions in Sri and Degrading Treatment or in the Gampaha District, and eight locations Ranatunga said on 17 February. with the support of some foreign here from India. These are statements Lanka Charles Petrie, former Punishment Manfred Nowak in the Kalutara District. He said this responding to questions countries. It is not a secret. After that, made for political gain. We will not UN HCHRs Mary Robinson, and the Secretary General’s Panel The Ministry said that it hopes to expand raised by the media regarding the the Government acted as a puppet of be alarmed by them but will officially Louise Arbour, Navanethem of Experts on Accountability in this programme in the near future. statement made by an Indian Minister some foreign countries. Some people respond to them.” Pillay, and Zeid Ra'ad Al Sri Lanka Marzuki Darusman, Hussein, the former Special Yasmin Sooka and Steven Ratner. Contd. from page 1

According to Ayagama, the NCPA disagrees of developing a system to minimise the time higher education or not, but it is required Dr. Rajadurai said that a police complaint India to... with COPE to a certain extent and has a different period affiliated to child abuse cases before now because of the limited higher education has been lodged in this regard. He said that a In a press conference held yesterday, answer for the recommendations made. children reach the phase of adulthood. opportunities available in state universities. All first attack took place in the Kandapola estate Gammanpila said that, following discussions “It is not that the NCPA did not try to Ayagama said that the NCPA hopes to create students who are eligible to enter university in the and a second attack took with the Indian Government, the management implement a national policy. In fact, we tried nine children’s courts in the nine provinces in should be given the opportunity to do so and place in Bandarawela in January. of the 99 oil tanks in Trincomalee, which on three occasions to obtain approval, but the future, and that actions have already been for that, universities have to increase their The PA claimed that the workers attempted was leased to the LIOC since 2003, would we couldn’t. The NCPA received the final taken towards this initiative. capacity. We urge the Government to at least to forcibly prevent a consignment of tea, ready be shared between the CPC, with a majority approval for the national policy in October double the capacity of universities by next year.” for dispatch and to be sold at the auction, from share, and a company owned by the LIOC, 2019,” Ayagama said. Jinarathana Thera claimed that the being transported out of the factory. When a with a minority share. However, he added that approving the Z-score... Government is currently attempting to introduce police complaint was lodged in this regard, the All attempts by The Morning to contact national policy is not enough, as an action “We are revisiting the Z-score system, but it financial wealth into the eligibility criteria to manager and assistant manager of the estate Gammanpila regarding the allegations proved plan is also needed. is a very delicate matter. However, it needs to access higher education. were allegedly attacked by the said workers futile. As per Ayagama, the NCPA is in discussions be changed. The formula has changed over the “The Government is following a trajectory demanding the withdrawal of the complaint. Meanwhile, the High Commission of India with 14 ministries and stakeholders to make the years and our present admission policy is what of privatising education, which is not fair. The reason for the workers’ alleged objection clarified in a statement yesterday that there has action plan and to identify the responsibilities. we have had since 1994. This must change, This will take away the opportunities of the to dispatching the consignment of tea is been no truth to media reports on Wednesday The action plan would be completed on 31 as it may not fit the present day. Universities economically underprivileged students.” unknown. However, the PA has claimed in (17) that claimed the understanding between March 2021. being given more autonomy to select their own When questioned about individual their statement that this alleged action by the the two governments on jointly developing and It was also brought to the COPE’s attention students is also being considered.” universities being given the autonomy to select workers preceded a strike action taken by operating the Upper Tank Farm at Trincomalee that the annual reports of the authority for the Referring to the district quota according their students, Jinarathana Thera claimed that the trade unions demanding the daily wage had been “scrapped”. The statement further years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 have not to which higher education opportunities are the UGC’s approach to autonomy is to cut back of Rs. 1,000. referred to Gammanpila’s press briefing been submitted to Parliament so far. Expressing allocated to districts, Prof. Amaratunge said on grants given to universities. This would When The Morning inquired from Ceylon yesterday, endorsing his clarification of the displeasure over the matter, COPE Chairman that districts have changed from what they then lead to universities having to raise their Workers’ Congress (CWC) Member and future plans. Prof. had instructed the were 25 years ago, and that this quota too needs own funds, which would inevitably lead to Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Palitha further said that a collective of trade Secretary to the Ministry of Education to to be reviewed. He said that higher education the commercialisation of state universities. (SLPP) MP Marudapandy Rameshwaran, he unions would be writing a letter and submitting immediately look into the matter and get the authorities are conducting a survey to determine The Z-score came in for discussion recently said yesterday that he was not aware of such a report to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in authority to submit the relevant annual reports the best ways to bring changes to the system. following a series of IUSF protests claiming an incident. this regard. to Parliament within two months. These comments came one day after President that the Z-score had unfairly denied university It was reported by The Morning that “The President is not from a political Ayagama admitted the deficiencies in the Gotabaya Rajapaksa, addressing the new entrance to students who had faced their General on 17 January, a trainee manager at the background, and as such, may not know about NCPA’s response to annual report submission graduates of the Kotelawala Defence University Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level Kandapola Park Estate in the Uva Province the history of this deal and our movements and hoped to submit it very soon. (KDU), said that the current university entrance (A/L) examination under both the old syllabus had been assaulted amidst a protest led by against foreign involvement at Trincomalee. “We don’t have enough staff in the section system must change. and the new syllabus, and had performed well MP Rameshwaran and that the protest was We have given the Hambantota Port to China that complies the annual reports,” he said. “Students should be able to pursue higher in their exams. alleged to have occurred following requests – we do not have the South anymore. Are Public institutions issue an annual report education without having their future determined by the estate workers to release land at the they going to make us lose the East as well?” to shareholders that spell out the financial purely by the Z-score they obtained. Individual plantation for their housing needs. questioned Palitha. condition and operations over a period of 12 institutions must be granted more autonomy P’ment committee... A spokesperson for the Kanija Thel Podu months. According to the annual report, the and governing bodies of universities should be “If the rights of women are infringed at their Sevaka Sangamaya told The Morning that the institution would assess their performance and able to select the students they feel are best to workplace or elsewhere, the committee would Stop Mihintale... trade unions have consistently been against ability to pay its debts as they become due and learn at their institution.” be able to make a request from the Speaker of the biodiversity, and the great history of the these joint ventures since 2003, and claimed determine whether it made a profit or loss in The President noted that talented students Parliament to start an investigation regarding Mihintale area.” that the initial lease agreement was illegal. its previous fiscal year. too should have the freedom to select their the matter. This committee will also discuss According to Dhammaratana Thera, the The Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm, now According to Ayagama, the review of the universities and that the competition among the relevant issue with the parties involved Mihintale Wildlife Sanctuary is in a rather consisting of 99 tanks, and divided into a upcoming year and future prospects was not universities will lead to significant overall and come to a decision,” she added. neglected state today. There are no proper borders Lower Tank Farm and an Upper Tank Farm, done for the last four years. improvement across the entire higher education With the approval of the Speaker, the demarcating the sanctuary and no measures have was leased to the LIOC in 2003 for 30 years, It was also revealed that Rs. 9 million had system. However, the President also said that establishment of this committee is expected been taken to protect its biodiversity, he claimed. which would expire in 2033. The LIOC initially been spent in 2016 and 2017 on a consultant the UGC must play a key role in ensuring the to be announced on 9 March in line with “I personally sent letters to President Gotabaya refurbished 15 tanks in the Lower Tank Farm. (who had recommended that the NCPA have a quality and standards of the universities. International Women’s Day, Wijeratne said. Rajapaksa requesting to look into these matters. Following the Memorandum of data system, an app, and investigation guideline) However, the university community has She pointed out the need for a parliamentary But I know that he cannot do everything. Why Understanding (MoU) on Co-operation on for the purpose of creating a database for the raised concerns regarding some of the suggested committee with full powers to investigate are government officers not doing anything?” Economic Projects by the United National authority, and that a grant of Rs. 1.2 million changes proposed to the current admission and various forms of violence, discrimination he queried. “The protection granted to these Front-led Government, a joint venture between had also been provided to the University of selection systems. against women, as well as the incidents areas today is not enough. There is not even a the LIOC and the CPC was set up. Accordingly, Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) in Speaking to The Morning yesterday (18), pertaining to women in their profession. single boundary for this area. Nobody has paid India agreed to refurbish and use the 84 giant order to develop a software for the NCPA, Federation of University Teachers’ Associations Although it is said that women are treated any attention to this for years. Encroachment on oil tanks in the Upper Tank Farm as a “joint which, though developed and provided to the (FUTA) President Prof. Shyama Banneheka equally, she pointed out that being a woman is reservations belonging to the Mahakanadarawa venture” NCPA, has not been put to use by the NCPA. said that while universities should be given discriminated against in various spheres of society Tank Reserve has already started, by law- When queried regarding the Rs. 9 million more autonomy in other matters, university and that this committee will therefore be able to enforcement authorities in Mihintale including Hejaaz... payment, Ayagama declined to comment. admission should take place centrally through a overcome the obstacles of progress on the basis the Divisional Secretariat, to plant aloe vera.” Ayagama said that the Rs. 1.2 million body such as the UGC, as is the current practice. of women’s skills, abilities, and qualifications. However, Mihintale Divisional Secretary Lawyers who represented Hizbullah had grant was provided by the United Nations “Allowing universities to make their own The specialty of this committee is that it will Sirimewan Dharmasena denied the allegations stated in court yesterday that since he was International Children’s Emergency Fund selections would give rise to unnecessary consist of both female and male members. regarding tree cutting at the Mahakanadarawa detained under the PTA, the court does not (UNICEF) and was paid directly to the UCSC competition between the universities and it When queried regarding the Speaker’s Tank Reserve and the Mihintale area. have any power to remand him. to make a data system. However, the new data would also pave the way to backdoor entry approval for the committee, she said that it is “If there is (encroachment), I would have “If there is a reason to remand Hizbullah, system made by the UCSC in 2017 was not to universities.” yet to be communicated. known, but I have not got any information then his detention order needs to be ended,” supporting the previous call system 1929 and, However, Prof. Banneheka agreed that the regarding this issue. But I will try to contact the lawyers had further stated. therefore, the NCPA wanted another software district quota should be revisited and said that Female workers... the officers and investigate,” he said. to link both the systems, he said. a transparent and reasonable system should be According to Dharmasena, the Divisional “When we informed the UCSC about this, introduced since the Z-score system is complex “A mob of women along with others have Secretariat is in the process of identifying forest Child Protection... the authorities refused to consider our request and not understood by the layperson. broken into the manager’s bungalow, pulled reserves. The COPE recently disclosed that although the saying that the UCSC batch who developed “A system that can be understood by everyone out the manager and the assistant manager, “We are identifying areas for forest reserves NCPA was established in 1998 with the objective this data system was not with the university should be introduced, but there should be a and mercilessly assaulted them. They were with the help of the Forest Conservation of formulating a national policy on the prevention anymore,” he said. thorough study done before the implementation hospitalised and are in fairly bad condition. Department. However, we had some land issues of child abuse and the protection of and for the Attempts to clarify this matter from the of any such changes.” Only women and others were there because where people have deforested some places, and purpose of treating children who are victims of UCSC proved futile. He said that such changes should be done if male workers were present, they could be we took legal action against it.” such abuse, the implementation of the national The system that cost Rs. 1.2 million was meticulously and that the FUTA would like to recognised. This was a planned attack and it Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lal policy has not been carried out accordingly, thus never used due to technical faults and the NCPA offer their expertise in this regard. has been happening for a while and we see a Seneviratne also denied the claims, saying paving the way for a delay of over two decades. is still attempting to solve the issue with the Rejecting the proposals to subject the Z-score pattern.” that, to his knowledge, no such incident had The Committee emphasised the importance of UCSC, according to Ayagama. system to changes, Inter University Students Releasing a statement to the press, the PA been reported. expediting the implementation of the national This was already informed to the UNICEF, Federation (IUSF) Convener Rathkarawwe condemned the alleged attack and requested policy, which has already been approved. he added. Jinarathana Thera said that all students who the intervention of Prime Minister Mahinda When The Morning attempted to contact The COPE also raised concerns over the are eligible to enter university should be given Rajapaksa to ensure the prevalence of law and Two... NCPA Chairman Prof. Muditha Vidanapathirana, difficulties faced by victims as a result of the opportunity. order inside upcountry tea estates. The statement The accused in this particular scam too are he directed us to NCPA Assistant Director of the time-consuming processes of child abuse “We agree that the Z-score is not a factor attributed this attack to “trade union-sponsored Karunanayake, Mahendran, Aloysius, and Law Enforcement Champika K. Ayagama. cases. Emphasis was placed on the importance to determine whether students should receive vandalism and arson”. others. 43 Friday, February 19, 2021 { NEWS } „„ www.themorning.lk TIGHTENING HEALTH SECURITY AGAINST COVID-19 Economic issues at 51 buses suspended for critical stage: Dr. Harsha violating guidelines z Covid-positive tourists to be sent z 3,800 tourists to visit; 5 new z U’grads receiving clinical to Koggala hospital airlines launch direct flights training to be vaccinated Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Dr.

BY MIHI PERERA were reported from Katunayake. A total Samagi Jana Balawegaya held in Colombo, the MP said Steps have been taken to of 747 Covid-19 patients had recovered (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva that since crude oil prices in the temporarily suspend services of 51 and been discharged from hospitals, the said the Government’s economic world market steeply increased private buses plying in the Western Health Ministry stated on 17 February. issues are at a critical stage, in the past few days, by the end Province for violating Covid-19 This raised the total number of recoveries as the US dollar reserve in the of the month, the Government health instructions, the Provincial in Sri Lanka as of 17 February to 71,176. country has been decreasing will have to increase domestic Road Passenger Transport Another 13 Covid-19 deaths were gradually in the past few weeks. fuel prices or slash the levy Authority said. Regional Manager reported on 17 February, increasing Speaking at a media briefing imposed on fuel. Chanaka Lankananda said the the total number of Covid-19 deaths services of both the driver and in the country to 422, the Government 5 suspects nabbed in Kelaniya conductor of all these buses were Information Department said. also suspended at the same time. With regard to the ongoing vaccination Seven regional offices under the programme, Acting Minister of Health with revolver and grenade Authority have received complaints that Prof. said a The Kelaniya Divisional Crime excess passengers are being transported programme will be implemented over Detection Bureau has arrested in violation of the instructions given the weekend to vaccinate public and five suspects in possession by the health sector. Accordingly, on comments made by them when they Ranatunga said that some other airlines private sector employees who have not of a revolver and a grenade, the instructions of Authority Chairman depart for their respective countries. will also launch direct flights to Sri Lanka been vaccinated yet. Police Media Spokesman Prasanna Sanjeewa, road inspectors have Tourism industry representatives said in the near future, and that these flights He said that although the vaccination Deputy Inspector General of been deployed to inspect 1,078 private they will take all possible steps to achieve will be centred at the Katunayake and was started on 17 February for selected Police (DIG) Ajith Rohana said buses operating under the Colombo office. future goals under proper strategies, as Mattala airports. Grama Niladhari divisions, there was a yesterday (18). The buses that violated instructions the Government has already provided He also instructed the Sri Lanka Tourism lack of public participation in a few places. “The investigation that was DIG Ajith Rohana were from Pettah to Kottawa, Homagama, the necessary reliefs. Development Authority (SLTDA) to Therefore, the vaccine is still available conducted revealed that the Maharagama, Mattegoda, Avissawella, It was also revealed that the percentage immediately launch a global promotion to people between the ages of 30 and 60 revolver and grenade had been Further, the Eheliyagoda Kottawa-Piliyandala, Maharagama- of Covid-19-infected tourists who arrived programme to attract more tourists to the in Kolonnawa, Gothatuwa, Moratuwa, used in an incident that happened Divisional Crime Detection Piliyandala, Maharagama-Katuwawala, in the country during the outbreak is less country. The Minister further instructed Egoda Uyana, and Hanwella in the on 4 February in Ja-Ela, where Bureau has apprehended a Moragahahena-Kottawa, Kottawa- than 1%. that this promotion programme should Colombo District, and in Agalawatta, they were used in order to suspect with a revolver made Thalagala, Homagama, and Hanwella. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Authority be designed to highlight Sri Lanka not Bandaragama, Panadura, Horana, and plunder Rs. 350,000,” he said. in Italy. Elsewhere, a decision has been taken to Chairman Upul Dharmadasa said that only as an attractive tourist destination, Matugama in the Kalutara District. The shuttle Covid-19-positive tourists to the travel restrictions imposed on arrivals but also as a safe country. vaccination will be carried out in selected hospital in Koggala, managed by Lanka from the UK were lifted yesterday (18). Furthermore, another group of 762 Sri Grama Niladhari divisions in the areas CoA to hear Cardinal’s Hospitals (Pvt.) Ltd. and the Army, the He said that all tourists and returnees Lankan expatriates who were stranded of Gampaha, Attanagalla, Negombo, Government said. will be tested and quarantined after their abroad due to the Covid-19 outbreak Seeduwa, Mahara, Biyagama, Wattala, writ petition on 5 March This was decided at a discussion held arrival in the island. have arrived in the country, Airport Minuwangoda, Mirigama, Ragama, The Court of Appeal (CoA) has between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Moreover, since the reopening of the and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Ja-Ela, Kelaniya, Katana, Divulapitiya, decided to hear a writ petition and representatives of the tourism sector country on 21 January, a total of 3,820 said. The expatriates had arrived at the and Dompe. filed by Archbishop of Colombo on 17 February. tourists have arrived in the country, the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) In a similar vein, universities have taken His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal At the meeting, attention was paid to Government said. The majority of 1,374 of on 18 airlines within 24 hours of 8.30 steps to provide the Covid-19 vaccine Ranjith on 5 March, seeking an give priority in the ongoing Covid-19 them had arrived from Ukraine, 526 from a.m. yesterday. Meanwhile, another 647 to medical students receiving clinical order directing the security forces vaccination programme to personnel Kazakhstan, and 443 from India. This persons have left the country on 18 flights. training at hospitals, University Grants to conduct a formal inquiry into an Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith such as hotel employees, tour guides, was revealed during a meeting held at the In terms of the pandemic situation in the Commission (UGC) Chairman senior incident of importing some 6,000 and drivers. It was said that there is Ministry of Tourism under the patronage country, a total of 223 Covid-19 patients Prof. Sampath Amaratunge said. swords. notices to Inspector General of no requirement for quarantine service of Tourism Minister were reported from the Colombo District Speaking at a press conference, he said The formal inquiry is to Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne providers when tourists have not tested to review the progress of the process of and 160 from the Gampaha District on the decision had been taken as per the be launched into the alleged and other security chiefs named as positive. reopening the country for tourists. 17 February, out of the total of 722 instructions of the President. Accordingly, importation of around 6,000 swords respondents in the petition. Furthermore, the President had advised It was further revealed that five new patients reported islandwide for the day. the first batch of vaccinations will be by a group of persons during the The notice was issued by a bench the relevant officials to take necessary airlines – FlyDubai, Air Arabia, Salam In Colombo, 29 patients were reported in done for third and fourth-year students in period leading up to the Easter of judges comprising its President measures to improve the facilities for Air, Jazeera, and Gulf Air – are currently Dematagoda, 21 in Homagama, and 15 in universities, followed by first and second- Sunday terror attacks. Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere and tourists and to take into account the launching direct flights to Sri Lanka. Dalugama, while in Gampaha, 18 patients year students. On that day, the court is to issue Justice Mayadunne Corea. Women MPs’ Caucus to stand for DIG’s rights z She must be encouraged, not opposed: UNP disgusting for the male community to former UNP Provincial Councillor why there was organised opposition oppose the promotion for performing Shanthini Kongahage explained that to the appointment of the country’s The Women Parliamentarians’ noting that the Caucus considers her duties properly. “The harassment under the United National Front first female DIG. Caucus said that they will stand for the appointment as a contribution to of women in this manner is a major (UNF)-led Government, the 19th “Sri Lankans proudly promote the the rights and job security of Deputy gender equality. If Sri Lankan women obstacle to the progress of the country Amendment to the Constitution fact that we elected the world’s first Inspector General of Police (DIG) are recruited into the Police, they and action should be taken to stop enabled the National Police female Premier; however, since then Bimshani Jasin Arachchi, who has should have the right to receive their the physical or mental harassment of Commission (NPC) to operate free we have fallen behind in ensuring that been promoted to the post of the first promotions regularly, she added. women, especially in the workplace,” Deputy Inspector General of Police of political influence. equal opportunity and representation female DIG in Sri Lanka. Deputy Chairperson State she said. (DIG) Bimshani Jasin Arachchi “It was this Commission that is afforded to women. DIG Jasin Chairperson State Minister Dr. Minister Dr. , She pointed out that there are decided that Jasin Arachchi warranted Arachchi has achieved much and she Sudarshini Fernandopulle condemned whilst condemning the involvement many examples of women being and the appointment of Dr. Shirani a promotion to the post of DIG,” must be encouraged and not opposed,” the challenge to the appointment of certain groups in legal action appointed as national leaders, such Bandaranayake as the Chief Justice. she claimed. Kongahage expressed Kongahage said. of DIG Jasin Arachchi. DIG Jasin challenging the post of DIG Jasin as the appointment of Sirimavo Meanwhile, the United National her confidence that the DIG would She urged the Government to Arachchi is facing objections over Arachchi, urged all women, as well Bandaranaike as the world's Party (UNP) yesterday (18) expressed continue to carry out her duties to ensure that all women are afforded her promotion to the post of the DIG as parents who wish their daughters first female Prime Minister, its support for DIG Jasin Arachchi, the best of her ability. opportunities that are enjoyed by their of Police Welfare. success, to unite. the appointment of Chandrika and said that she must be encouraged She reiterated the UNP’s support male counterparts, which will result in a She said this at a media briefing Deputy Chairperson MP Rohini Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as the and not opposed. for equal opportunities to be afforded sizable increase in the representation of held in Parliament yesterday (18), Wijeratne Kavirathna said that it was world's first Executive President, Speaking to the media in Kandy, to women, while questioning as to women in decision-making positions. 4 „„ www.themorning.lk { EDITORIAL/VIEWS } Friday, February 19, 2021

companies. In a given geographical area, There is a plethora of literature providing more than 50 registered microfinance primary evidence against the alleged The need for BY AMALI WEDAGEDARA companies and finance companies are empowerment and entrepreneurial lending microfinance loans alone. The capacities of microfinance. Given ethical decision- amount of wealth extracted from villages the precarious nature of low-income and the localities of the urban poor in households, minor accidents in the family making Sri Lanka’s the form of debt collection explains the or a change in weather could push them substandard living conditions in low- below subsistence which inadvertently A common issue can not only bring people income households across Sri Lanka. affects debt repayments. What happens together, but can also divide them, depending Debt is a symptom when a loan becomes a bad debt? on how it is dealt with. household debt A sovereign state has several options By the looks of it, the Covid-19 pandemic Increasing household debt could to deal with unsustainable public is merely a disease that is arduous to contain. indicate failures in the provision of debt. A state could either opt for debt However, containing it requires something essential services and goods. For a restructuring, request debt relief, or more than technical solutions, as it is human and the pound country with free education and public choose to default on the debt. However, lives that are at stake. healthcare, private household costs on households are left with no alternative From the very first time Sri Lanka imposed education and healthcare are unusually but to increase borrowing, either from curfew on 20 March 2020 and until it began high in Sri Lanka. To illustrate this, the other microfinance companies, or from of flesh Household Income and Expenditure the informal money market. Unlike for the vaccination programme early this year, all Survey (HIES) in 2016 indicated that the states, for households, unsustainable debt decisions pertaining to managing the Covid- average monthly household expenditure has become punitive. 19 situation were taken by the Government; on education is Rs. 2,066 and that the According to a woman from public institutions, including but not limited average monthly medical expenditure Polonnaruwa, the pressure of meeting to the Health and Defence Ministries; and the per household in the same year totalled debt payments was so intense that they Government-appointed, Army Commander- Rs. 2,529. had to forego meals to be able to make led National Operation Centre for Prevention As one moves away from the the payment. In another case, a debt of Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO). Their metropolitan areas, disparities in the public collector demanded of a borrower that her decisions helped stifle the spread of Covid-19. education and healthcare system become child’s maintenance be given to cover the However, as the pandemic situation worsened visible. In a rural area in Polonnaruwa, a monthly debt repayment. Obligations to woman mentioned that schools collecting support unsustainable levels of debt have and turned out to be almost uncontrollable money for various purposes has become pushed people into more precarious forms with its second wave, Sri Lanka is now at a a recurrent phenomenon. As a single of borrowing such as daily payments. juncture where ending the pandemic is not mother supporting her child, she had to The latest effort by microfinance the only priority, as the pandemic hit not only somehow meet these expenses, as she did companies to recover the debt is to the state of being alive, but also the concept not want her child to feel uncomfortable criminalise borrowers through the of living. and excluded by the other children. judiciary. Microfinance companies are In this case, the adoption of mere technical The socialisation of increasing public effectively using the judiciary as debt and scientific solutions is unlikely to cut it, debt as a result of various austerity collecting agencies. Around 200 persons and healing people’s shattered souls requires policies pressured on governments by have died by suicide owing to various being conscious about the ethical aspects of multilateral lending agencies like the and persistent forms of harassment by the Covid-19 management efforts. International Monetary Fund (IMF), debt collectors. Using institutions of the World Bank (EB), and the Asian justice as a noose to coerce the debtors This concern came to light recently, when Development Bank (ADB) is in return is bound to create another socioeconomic the Ethics Committee of the Sri Lanka Medical met with increased individual borrowing and humanitarian catastrophe. Association (SLMA) requested government at the household level. A narrowed focus authorities to establish a national ethics on the morality of debt obscures problems Freedom from debt committee to provide ethical guidance to Sri in the big picture. Instead of evaluating Recognising that some debts cannot be Lanka’s Covid-19 response efforts. the public policy and state failure, paid is a part of prudent economic policy. The SLMA Ethics Committee also raised The complexity of the agrarian debt problem and the attractiveness of household debt relocates the complete Compelling debtors to repay by rendering concerns over the Government’s controversial the idea of debt abolition made the cancellation of microfinance debt a responsibility on the individual and often them homeless, landless, and pushing policy of allowing only cremation of the Covid- popular campaign slogan during the Sri Lankan presidential election in along gender and ethnic lines. National people to destitution overlooks how such 19 dead and matters pertaining to identifying November 2019. Women affected by these predatory loans have been statistics on household debt illustrate measures stifle the development potential the priority groups in the Covid-19 vaccination mobilising for debt cancellation for a few years now. One of the frequent how it is unevenly distributed among of the masses. For example, the massive questions raised, in Sri Lanka and elsewhere, is why such debt should be women and working-class people from amount of extraction of wealth from the programme, which the public have also raised cancelled. People raising such questions reason out: “One should pay their minority communities. villages in the name of debt collection is concerns about. debt!”, “debt cancellation is not practical! Demand something possible!”, As much as it signals a failure of evidence for usurious lending practices. The Government’s policy of cremating and “debt cancellation should not happen, as it could destroy banks and the public system, debt, particularly After meeting debt payments, farmers, those who died due to Covid-19, despite finance companies.” increasing debt among the low-income fisher folk, and small-scale producers at World Health Organisation (WHO)-issued What happens when debt cannot be money, no education; no education, no households, explains a stagnant economy. the grassroots level do not have anything guidelines recommending that safe burial is paid? Could the creditors take over all of jobs; no jobs, no money for education or The economy over the years has not been left to invest in their livelihoods. On the possible, caused months-long protests and the assets of the debtors? What happens the purchase of cultivable land.” productive for working-class people. As other hand, finance companies do not debates. What’s more, on top of the allegations when debt becomes a pound of flesh? Debt is parasitic wages continue to stagnate vis-à-vis the contribute to productive economic sectors concerning human rights levelled against Sri Debt is a structural issue cost of living, various debt instruments either. Their investments are primarily Lanka, this particular policy was also viewed As much as debt is a perennial problem, have come to sustain the subsistence in the finance, insurance, and real estate by some as an act of discrimination against the The traditional land tenure system what is alarming today is the return of of thousands of low-income and lower sectors. in Sri Lanka functioned on the basis of pre-capitalist forms of debt. Garbed in middle-income to middle-income Apart from throttling the productive country’s minority Muslim community who debt – it is an age-old economic relation modern terms such as microfinance, hire households. According to household capacities of the people, debt forecloses fought back as cremation is not approved in where peasants across generations were purchase, leasing, gold loans, mobile income and expenditure data in Sri Lanka, on people’s future. In other words, debt their religion. bound to the overlord or temple. Pressed loans, or online loans, these new forms the household income of the poorest 50% not only hinders a person’s development Even though Prime Minister Mahinda with tenurial obligations, peasants of debt instruments perform a similar has stagnated over the last decade. Debt capacities today, but tomorrow and in Rajapaksa last week stated in Parliament lived at a low subsistence level. In the function. As the financial sector expands, has bridged the gap between stagnating the years ahead as well, thereby closing that the Government is willing to allow the backdrop of the British land policies and it has become profitable to invest in income and rising expenditure. down all kinds of future possibilities in a cremation of the Covid-19 dead, which many the advent of the plantation economy, these markets rather than in productive Debt is not credit manner that is completely anti-democratic thought was the end of the Government’s social relations based on the land tenure sectors of the economy which generate and unjust. “cremation-only” policy, it appears to be a system underwent changes, transforming jobs, raise people’s income, and expand It is assumed that a loan will contribute Debt cancellation remains the only way hollow promise, as there is not even sign of the landlord-tenant relationship to one people’s welfare. to creating wealth. This is the rationale to restore the productive capacities of the Premier’s words turning into action. of landowner-tenant. While the living Apart from divesting from the advocated by ideologues of microcredit low-income households and to emancipate conditions of the peasants and the poor did productive economy, financial markets and microfinance like the Nobel them from the modern bondage of debt. Secondly, when carrying out the Covid-19 not change much, the commodification have been performing an extractive Peace Prize laureate who founded the Policies to do so must accompany a system vaccination programme, Sri Lanka, like all of land enhanced its exchangeability and role. For example, microfinance Grameen Bank, Muhammad Yunus, of regulation on the financial sector to other countries, had to make a hard decision, created a landed class. The transformation borrowers in Sri Lanka complain that and those who push entrepreneurship ensure that they function as facilitators of i.e. making a priority list, mainly due to the of the traditional society into a plantation- every rupee earned is spent on meeting as a model of poverty alleviation and productive elements rather than as rentiers. limited number of doses that were available based commercial economy benefited weekly or monthly debt repayments. A development. As stories of Sri Lankan On the other hand, governments should and the aggressive nature of Covid-19. the higher-ups in the social ladder, who debt collector working in Kilinochchi women caught in debt traps caused by wake up from the entrepreneurial dream; it Sparking hope among the general public, were often the traditional élite. Peasants employed by a local microfinance microfinance loans tell us, loans alone are must certainly be an appealing dream for the Government this week started the second were oppressed, and to them, debt was company states that he alone collects insufficient to nurture entrepreneurs. This governments wishing burdens of poverty phase of the vaccination programme which a perennial problem. The Kandyan about Rs. 2-3 million per month from has been the case in other South Asian alleviation and rural development away prioritised members of the general public Peasant Commission observes that being up to 500 customers in the area. On and South-East Asian countries where from their economic priorities. Privatising who were identified to be at a higher risk of economically disadvantaged had broad average, a microfinance borrower is microfinance has become the popular the costs of development would seem consequences – “no land, no money; no in debt to at least three microfinance means of financing rural development. like the most efficient and productive contracting Covid-19 than others, especially in the face of increasing public debt and due to high interactions with others, and this debt servicing obligations. However, the phase included Members of Parliament as multiple financial crises at the household well, even though they were not under the CARTOON OF THE DAY level that have manifested in the forms first phase. of suicides of farmers and women across The concept of “triage”, in medical use, South Asia prove that it is only an illusion. means identifying and giving priority to those Development statistics for Sri Lanka in the highest degree of need of medical recognise the vital role played by attention, and in the Covid-19 vaccination households and the non-profit sector programme, especially when identifying the serving households in making the highest priority groups, this was necessary. gross value addition to the national economy. In other words, despite attempts Decisions pertaining to health concerns, to industrialise smallholder farmers, it especially a pandemic that threatens the is fisher folk and producers who still existence of the human race, need to be taken create most of the wealth. Apart from the carefully and wisely, and most importantly, creation of wealth, the informal sector is with consideration of the fact that it involves also the biggest employer in the country. human lives. Emancipating these essential sectors and Returning to normalcy is not confined to the working people who sustain them people regaining their lost health and freedom, should be a policy priority of a government nor does it mean the country resuming all envisioning inclusive development. It is activities that came to a standstill due to the a fundamental need today, as we grapple pandemic. More than those, it means that with the new moment created by a global pandemic. Debt cancellation for the people’s sense of living and being has to return working people should be a cornerstone to normalcy. in such a policy orientation. (The author is a doctoral candidate at the University of Hawai’i, Manoa, No 91, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. US, and a member of the Liberation Fax - 011 2 673 441 Movement. Having completed a General - 011 5 200 900 Bachelor’s in Economics from the Sales & Marketing - 076 1 367 612 University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Circulation Manager - 011 5 978 987 / 076 1 367 620 and Master’s in International Politics E-mail - [email protected] from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Special Investigations Department - 077 7 714 078 New Delhi, she is exploring the Website - www.themorning.lk dynamics of private debt on people’s political agency in Sri Lanka for her PhD in Political Science) 45 Friday, February 19, 2021 { SPOTLIGHT } „„ www.themorning.lk from farmers, farmers only get around technologies alone cannot prevent 60% of the income they should receive, post-harvest losses because the effect as intermediaries/sellers reduce a of the pre-harvest factors such as crop certain amount, taking into account the management and field sanitation also aforesaid 40% wastage, even though contribute to crop losses. in most cases this wastage is less than The study also emphasised the 40%. Sellers charge this amount from importance of a national policy to consumers, but farmers do not get to minimise post-harvest losses of fruit profit from this,” he stressed. and vegetable produce as well as the government taking initiatives and Farmers need to be made allocating resources to improve post- aware: Agri. Dept. harvest handling conditions, which is Department of Agriculture Director expected to improve the socioeconomic General Dr. W.M.W. Weerakoon, status of those engaged in fruit and while acknowledging that farmers face vegetable supply chains. various practical issues when using The study further said that training plastic crates to transport their produce, said that proper packaging methods aimed at reducing produce wastage is POST-HARVEST CROP WASTAGE IN SRI LANKA necessary. He said that even though farmers Despite the advice of the opposed it after the introduction of this authorities, using unsuitable method, the Department as well as the methods to transport the Institute of Post Harvest Technology produce is still taking place. are continuing to raise awareness Reaping what among farmers and others involved To address the issues faced in the agricultural industry in a bid to by farmers, foldable plastic encourage them to adopt this method. crates have been introduced Dr. Weerakoon stressed that when buyers purchase produce from farmers, Dept. of Agriculture Director they cannot lie to the farmers about the General Dr. W.M.W. Weerakoon weight of the produce, as it is properly they sow a packaged. farmers on post-harvest handling and “In addition to post-harvest wastage, food safety, both for the domestic to address other pressing concerns market and international trade, is also such as the quality of the produce important. and the income received by farmers, the Department has implemented Post-harvest crop wastage in major challenge an awareness-raising programme,” the SAARC region Weerakoon said, adding that pre- Issues pertaining to post-harvest crop BY SUMUDU CHAMARA harvest factors such as the use of wastage are not limited to Sri Lanka. to transport produce. fertilisers and pesticides, forming Even though the nature and scale of Ancient writings claim that there was a time when Sri Lanka – during In 2011, the Ministry of techniques, and proper methods of wastage varies, studies conducted in this King Parakramabahu’s era, to be precise – was a leading paddy cultivator Co-operatives and Internal Trade harvesting agricultural crops are also regard show several common causes, and an exporter in the world, aptly known as the “Great Barn of the East”. made it mandatory to use plastic crates parts of this programme. with the main cause being improper While we take pride in this historical fact even today, those glory days are to transport vegetables and fruits, He added that the Department aims handling and the transportation of no more. claiming that this move could save the to raise awareness among at least 25% produce. Sri Lanka, however, still has an seasons, farmers produce more fruits country around Rs. 20 billion a year. of farmers in a bid to enhance the According to the United Nations agriculture-based culture and economy and vegetables than the country needs. However, farmers and others involved quality of the produce. Food and Agriculture Organisation that largely depend on crop exports. However, when considering the annual in the agricultural industry protested According to Dr. Weerakoon, there (UN-FAO), agricultural systems in the Agriculture and farmers are an or long-term requirement of vegetables against this move and continued the is a traditional way of farmers doing South Asian Association for Regional extremely important part of the country, and fruits, it is not a surplus produce; use of gunny bags and other methods, things, and certain such practices also Co-operation (SAARC) countries, so much so that uplifting the country’s it is just that the surplus produce is paving the way for food wastage. This affect the post-harvest food quality. including Sri Lanka, are dominated by agriculture sector has become one of not necessary for the country at that can be seen even today. He explained that in many cases, smallholder farmers. the primary election promises. particular time (during those seasons),” farmers obtain seeds, fertilisers, and The UN-FAO said that post-harvest However, this is not something Sri he explained. pesticides on credit from traders in losses in fruits and vegetables in these Lankans can be proud of, as this only “If it is not feasible to sell all this the agricultural industry, and in return, countries are high, ranging between highlights the fact that their issues produce or consume it before it is following harvesting, are bound to give 20% and 44%, adding that these high continue to remain unaddressed, inedible, what needs to be done is The use of plastic crates their harvest to them for sale. levels of losses are largely the result despite the change of governments and to introduce systematic, alternative reduces the amount of He also said that these traders, in of improper handling, transportation, countless promises. methods to process and store that produce that can be order to make profits, use improper and packaging; poor storage; and weak It is not an exaggeration to state surplus produce until such time it transported in a vehicle methods to transport produce to post-harvest-specific infrastructure, that Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector is becomes necessary to fulfill the economic centres, without any which result in seriously diminished now facing more issues than any other country’s requirement,” he added. by almost half. Farmers, consideration about the quality of the returns to producers while reducing sector in the country, and farmers This situation, Karunaratne said, therefore, have to use more produce. the net availability of these food complaining of the state of the sector affects the farmers’ economy as during vehicles than they used when “Despite the advice of the authorities, commodities for consumption. and pleading for a solution is not at all these seasons, even though the produce using unsuitable methods to transport An underlying cause of these losses  Farmers, a new phenomenon. (supply) increases, consumption using gunny bags the produce is still taking place. To in the SAARC region, according to the consumers In this backdrop, it is learnt that Sri (demand) does not, which in turn AIFF National Organiser address the issues faced by farmers, UN-FAO, is the limited awareness and Lanka’s first temperature and humidity- results in a decrease in prices. He said Namal Karunaratne foldable plastic crates have been knowledge base of stakeholders in the most affected controlled warehouse complex for that in such circumstances, due to the introduced.” traditional supply chains where these perishables is to be opened this year lack of methods to preserve the surplus losses occur. groups due to in Dambulla, giving a semblance of produce, farmers dispose of it and Sri Lanka’s situation “These high levels of losses also hope for the farmers struggling with sometimes economic centres give that According to a research conducted negatively impact food availability, crop wastage post-harvest crop management issues. produce for animal food, which has by the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian food security, and nutrition. In Even though this facility would only been taking place for a long time. This Research and Training Institute addition, the safety of fresh produce be available to farmers based in the wastage, in turn, affects the consumers, (HARTI), in 2018, post-harvest losses is also compromised by the lack  Dambulla District, this is still an as it is one of the reasons why the of fruits vary between 20% and 40%, of awareness of chemical and Around admirable start, as post-harvest crop prices go up. with the highest loss recorded for microbiological risks in horticultural 40% fruits, management issues have existed for Karunaratne added that this situation papaya, while for vegetables it was chains and mechanisms for mitigating decades. discourages farmers, especially those between 20% and 46%, with the these risks,” the UN-FAO added. vegetables farming during the seasons, sometimes highest loss recorded for okra. This had Post-harvest crop wastage is merely From farmers to consumers to the point where they stop or reduce been due to unsatisfactory packaging, one issue faced by the agriculture wasted post According to the All Island Farmers’ farming. This results in the amount According to Karunaratne, even lack of ventilation in the lorries, poor sector. It is also affected by a myriad harvesting Federation (AIFF), post-harvest of vegetable and food production though farmers have expressed facilities for handling produce in of other issues, such as irrigation- produce wastage is an issue that has declining every year. He also noted willingness to use plastic crates to the Colombo wholesale market, and related issues, microfinance debt trap, affected farmers of all areas in Sri that farmers who produce food during transport food, considering the less the extreme traffic congestion and deforestation, environmental pollution, Lanka and takes place at all economic off-seasons, which is less than those produce waste and the ability to protect inordinate delays before unloading. The and overall destitution, which in turn  Laws, centres as well as farms. The main farmed during the seasons, earn more the quality of their produce, several study said that the loss in supermarket have resulted in traditional farmers issue, as pointed out, is the lack of a profit, even though there is a scarcity practical issues have hindered the chains and export chains was reported leaving the profession and sometimes regulations proper system to manage vegetable and of food produce during that time due adoption of this method. as 2-6% and 5-10%, respectively. even committing suicide. fruit produce. to the lesser number of farmers, among “The use of plastic crates reduces However, when queried as Even though resolving farmers’ need to be Speaking to The Morning, AIFF other reasons. the amount of produce that can be to whether this is the case with issues has been discussed countless National Organiser Namal Karunaratne “However, due to the intermediaries transported in a vehicle by almost supermarkets that collect fresh produce times in the past decades, in reality, practical said that Sri Lanka does not have a who play a huge role in this process half. Farmers, therefore, have to use directly from farmers, Karunaratne their issues are being resolved, if at all, proper system in place to manage between the farmers and the more vehicles than they used when said that even though this system helps at a snail’s pace while new issues keep vegetable and fruit produce, and consumers, this profit does not reach using gunny bags. Also, farmers have farmers to prevent or reduce losses, emerging.  Govt. that the country is in dire need of the farmers to a considerable extent,” to bring back these plastic crates from it does not significantly contribute to Farmers’ issues do not remain just cold storage facilities and alternative Karunaratne said, also noting that both the market, which further increases reducing the losses suffered by the “farmers’ issues” – they are also says more methods such as canning and drying in farmers and consumers who have to their expenses. Purchasing and storing agriculture industry. consumers’ issues and the entire order to preserve and process vegetable pay higher prices suffer losses in this plastic crates also is an issue, as farmers The study said that improved country’s issues. awareness and fruit produce. process. have to spend for that as He said that alternative vegetable and He explained that the process of well,” he explained. is key fruit-based products are lacking in Sri selling produce comprises six stages: This, in turn, compels Lanka, adding that in a context where farmer, first intermediary, wholesalers, farmers, intermediaries, and almost all vegetables and fruits can be second intermediary, retailers, and sellers to raise the prices of used to manufacture canned, packaged, consumers. fruits and vegetables, which and dried alternative products, Sri again affects the consumers, Lanka should consider going for Transport: Another he noted. alternative products. He also said that major cause? “One may argue that due when there is adequate produce to Speaking of poor transport to the lack of wastage and the manufacture such products, not doing practices, another major reason that high quality of food, profits so only leads to massive wastage. contributes to food wastage and the would increase. But due Even though The Morning attempted increase in prices, Karunaratne said to the additional expenses to contact Food Commissioner J. that the way vegetables and fruits that the use of plastic crates Krishnamoorthy to inquire about the are transported leads to a huge waste entails, that is not always the authorities’ opinion about Sri Lanka compared to other factors. case.” lacking projects to preserve surplus He claimed that the lack of proper Karunaratne added that food, she was not reachable. transport methods, including the use the Government merely Meanwhile, Karunaratne added that of gunny bags to package fruit and introducing laws would not other than the mere consumption of vegetable produce, contributes to resolve the existing issues vegetables and fruits, Sri Lanka does food wastage, close to 40%. in the industry, and that a not have well-organised, industry- Adding that the use of gunny bags proper mechanism as well as centred year-round vegetable and fruit is an issue in this context, he also guidance to ensure the proper, farming and agricultural lands. pointed out that the continuation of smooth implementation of “There are seasons that provide this practice is caused by practical these laws is also necessary. ideal conditions to farm certain fruits issues that arise when using other “When intermediaries/ and vegetables, and during these methods such as using plastic crates sellers purchase produce 46 „„ www.themorning.lk { INTERVIEWS } Friday, February 19, 2021 BASL decisions The unity must be based of the Bar on rule of law Association is and judicial the foremost of independence: my concerns: Saliya Pieris Kuvera De Zoysa

Former BASL Deputy President Saliya Pieris PC has a career profession. As a professional body, these endeavours as I believe it is spanning over 28 years in the legal profession. He has served I believe the BASL must remain an integral part of the development as the Chairman of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) and a independent at all times from any of our legal system. Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka external pressure, be it political, (HRCSL). Bar international, or personal. What plans do you have in terms Following are excerpts of the and ensure that there is, as far as of support for young lawyers? interview. possible, a consensus. Whether In terms of the overall legal Do you think it should be made introducing a new constitution or framework, what are the major mandatory for them to serve in Your campaign through the past retaining the present constitution, shortcomings that are currently outstation areas akin to medical few months has inevitably taken what is important is that it be Association present in Sri Lanka, including in interns? you to the outer regions of the implemented keeping in mind the Constitution? Young lawyers are the future country. What issues were raised the need to respect important The Honorable Minister of of BASL. As Chairman of the at a regional level by members constitutional principles. Justice has established several Junior Bar Committee for three of the bar? What reforms or election committees headed by esteemed consecutive years, I have worked changes do you hope to bring Why don’t we see the Bar members of the Bar to look closely with young lawyers and about for the members of the advocating more strongly for into various shortcomings and as such, I am very sensitive to private and unofficial Bar if ethnic, sexual, religious, and possible legal reforms in the legal their issues and concerns. I have elected? cultural minorities? If elected, do framework of Sri Lanka. Under my set out several courses of action My “Programme of Action” you hope to make any changes in less than a leadership, the BASL will continue I will take when elected, some of outlines: this regard? to assist and extend its fullest which I have already begun, in a) A plan to strengthen the rights I think the Bar should advocate support to such reforms being made support of young lawyers. of Attorneys-at-Law in courts, for the rights of all citizens as in the interest of justice. I have set up a distress fund police stations, land registries, and enshrined in the Constitution. week away There are certain issues that have in support of junior lawyers other state institutions This includes the provisions in the become part of your identity as a adversely affected by the Covid- b) Strengthening the role of the Constitution protecting persons lawyer over the years. Through 19 pandemic. I have also set BASL in protecting the rule of law, from being discriminated against. BY PAMODI WARAVITA those issues, the public has also up the Junior Bar Centre at the independence of the judiciary, and built a perception about you as a BASL Colombo. I will set up fundamental rights What is the status of legal aid in The election of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka lawyer. If elected, how do you hope career guidance schemes as well c) Special attention to supporting Sri Lanka? Why isn’t the Bar (BASL), the professional body representing the to separate between your identity as a lawyers’ portal through junior members of the profession fostering more pro bono work? interests of lawyers, will be held on 25 February. and your responsibility to the Bar? which young lawyers will have and addressing unique issues faced The Legal Aid Commission has The Morning interviewed the two leading The BASL should be a united access to ample internship, by women lawyers many branches spread throughout front. The President of the BASL apprenticeship, and work d) Strengthening the welfare the country and plays a very candidates for the prestigious post of BASL must lead the Bar in the interest of opportunities. These are just a of the BASL members, including important role. In criminal cases President about their campaigns, vision for the all its members. To this end, I am few steps I have taken in support the establishment of the Lawyers’ in the high court, counsels are BASL, and their election campaigns, certain that under my leadership, of young lawyers. Trust – a fund for the benefit of the assigned. I have proposed in there will be no personal or Young lawyers who join the members of the profession my “Programme of Action” the yesterday (18). professional conflicts of interest State generally serve outstation I have travelled to all outstation fostering of a pro bono culture and that will hinder my responsibility for several years and receive bars and listened to the members. about strengthening the legal aid towards the Bar. that exposure. I do not think it Many outstation bars lack facilities system in Sri Lanka. professional as well as academic During his career that spans There is a process underway to is necessary to make outstation – some even basic facilities. education. I have proposed over two-and-a-half decades as draft a new constitution. In light of service mandatory as so many Different bars also have unique What is the status of legal that the BASL should make a legal practitioner, Kuvera de Sri Lanka’s post-war history and its talented juniors already work issues. It is important for outstation research in the country? How recommendations to the Council Zoysa PC has held numerous ethnic and communal tensions, do outstation. I do believe that bars to have greater access to the would you ensure the benefits of of Legal Education as well as positions including Chairman of you think it is best to form a new adequate resources must be made BASL and also many lawyers novel developments are derived, academic institutions such as the National Law Conference in constitution, and if so, what is the available to hone and develop in the outstation have expressed from information infrastructure universities and lobby such both 2014 and 2015, Chairman process that should be followed? this young talent across the a desire to have district-based developments such as artificial institutions to make changes in the of the National Law Week in I believe the views of all key country. continuing legal education intelligence (AI) to the latest respective curricular to enable law 2017, Chairman of the BASL stakeholders should be taken into programmes. thinking in the jurisprudence students to become competitive in Social and Welfare Committee, account in this regard. Furthermore, What are the issues of legal and the work of jurists? new disciplines. and Chairman of the Junior Bar I think it is vital that all members of education you see in the country Do you think the Bar should I think legal research must I also propose that the BASL Committee in 2018 and 2019. the Bar take an active role on such and how do you hope to address be an independent institution? be encouraged so that the should lobby the Council of Legal Following are excerpts of the issues of national importance. At them? And what do you mean by profession can benefit from new Education and the Sri Lanka interview. all times, the unity of the Bar is the I think it is vital that career independence in this context? developments elsewhere in the Law College to endeavour to foremost of my concerns. guidance centres are established Yes, it should be. Independence world. For this purpose, the Bar give students advocacy training, Your campaign through the past at legal education centres in the means that the Bar should be must work closely with academic negotiation skills, client relation few months has inevitably taken Why don’t we see the Bar country, and I have discussed this free of outside influences and institutions such as the universities. skills, applied legal research you to the outer regions of the advocating more strongly for issue with several stakeholders pressures, and be able to take The Sri Lanka Law College must skills, and critical analysis skills country. What issues were raised ethnic, sexual, religious, and already. It is vital that law students principled positions on issues also be encouraged to introduce a in collaboration with the Bar. at a regional level by members cultural minorities? If elected, do are made aware of the diverse facing the members and on research component to its teaching. of the Bar? What reforms or you hope to make any changes in career paths available to them. I important issues relating to the rule Does the post-20th Amendment changes do you hope to bring this regard? also believe that more opportunities of law and the Constitution. What plans do you have in terms environment bode well for the about for the members of the When it comes to being a need to be created in various fields of support for young lawyers? independence of the judiciary? private and unofficial Bar, if member of the Bar, race, religion, which are in turn made accessible to In terms of the overall legal Do you think it should be made Ultimately it is for the Bench elected? ethnicity, or gender is irrelevant. law students. As mentioned before, framework, what are the major mandatory for them to serve in and the Bar to preserve its Following the announcement Every member of the Bar is equal I will set up a lawyers’ portal where shortcomings that are currently outstation areas akin to medical independence in whatever of my candidacy for the post of and is entitled to be treated as such. even law students can get hands-on present in Sri Lanka, including interns? environment. An independent President, I visited 85 bars across I am here to unite the Bar. I do not experience and practical knowledge in the Constitution? I have proposed a mentorship and vibrant bar can help Sri Lanka and even visited smaller wish to cause any division along through internships, so that they will Many laws need to be programme for young lawyers in secure the independence of the regional court houses, covering 100 the lines of race, religion, ethnicity, be better prepared to face the day-to- modernised, and the courts system addition to a series of workshops judiciary. locations in all. I am so glad I took or gender. I believe the Bar should day demands of the legal profession and the administration of justice on court craft for juniors on the time to visit each bar personally, be united. As President, I will work upon taking oaths. must be made more efficient. The drafting and advocacy. In the absence of post-enactment as through this experience, I was tirelessly for the betterment of all legal profession too should be I have proposed to make the judicial review, how do you view exposed to the concerns and issues members of the Bar. Does the post-20th Amendment geared to meet new challenges. apprenticeship and practical the role of judicial activism or faced by the members of these environment bode well for the training experience more restraint? regional bars. What is the status of legal aid in independence of the judiciary? There are certain issues that meaningful, and for that purpose The role of the judiciary One of the main requests that Sri Lanka? Why isn’t the Bar There are always two schools of have become part of your to engage more Attorneys-at-Law is within the limits set out in I received, especially from the fostering more pro bono work? thought to any debate. My personal identity as a lawyer over the including those with a practice of the Constitution. Within those northern and eastern bars, was for In the year 2017, I carried out views in relation to any issue are years. Through those issues, the 10 years and above to be involved limits, the judiciary should play the sharing of knowledge. To this the most successful “National Law not what I hope to follow when public has also built a perception in practical training to ensure new a vibrant role, especially to end, I intend to expand upon a Week” during which time legal aid elected. I will work in a team and about you as a lawyer. If entrants are better prepared to advance the fundamental rights knowledge-sharing scheme by way clinics were carried out islandwide. stand by the views of the members elected, how do you hope to enter the Bar. of people as set out in Article of workshops, seminars, and career When elected, I will ensure that of the Bar. The BASL, under my separate your identity and your I have also proposed to restore the 4(d) of the Constitution. guidance forums held in regional such programmes are carried out leadership, will always advocate responsibility to the Bar? scholarship programme for junior bars. and will work towards improving for and work towards ensuring the The BASL is an independent lawyers to follow postgraduate In light of recent events with I have outlined 26 objectives in legal aid across the country. maintenance of the independence of institution. I believe the BASL studies and for the selection to be regard to the Presidential my “Vision and Work Plan” where the judiciary and the rule of law in must be able to take principled based on a competitive selection Commission of Inquiry I have addressed the many changes What is the status of legal any political climate. decisions based on principles process. I have also proposed that (PCoI) probing incidents of and improvements I hope to bring research in the country? How such as rule of law and the the BASL should negotiate and political victimisation, how about during my tenure. Under would you ensure the benefits of In the absence of post-enactment independence of the judiciary. It is secure overseas postgraduate study do you view the role of law- point number eight, I have outlined novel developments are derived, judicial review, how do you view not the individual identity which opportunities and scholarships enforcement agencies and their how I plan to expand facilities in from information infrastructure the role of judicial activism or matters, but rather the collective as well as short-term study and independence? divisional courts outside Colombo developments such as artificial restraint? views of the membership, which exchange programmes for juniors All state Institutions must be and increase representation of intelligence (AI) to the latest Both the first republican (1972) the President of the BASL would based on a competitive selection independent and this includes law- regional bar associations within the thinking in the jurisprudence and and second republican (1978) be able to harness. process. enforcement agencies. BASL. the work of jurists? constitutions make no provision The BASL will restore the The digitisation of records and for post-enactment judicial review. There is a process underway to Junior Bar Forum which was How would you address the Do you think the Bar should the court process and involvement However, our judiciary has not draft a new constitution. In light held to obtain the views of junior grievances of the judiciary? be an independent institution? of technology into the legal failed to uphold the sovereignty of of Sri Lanka’s post-war history members of the Bar. The Bar should assist the And what do you mean by framework has been given due the people. For example, during the and its ethnic and communal judiciary to be independent and independence in this context? attention by the Ministry of 13th and 19th Amendments to the tensions, do you think it is best What are the issues of legal vibrant. An independent bar One of the cornerstones of Justice under the leadership of Constitution, the Supreme Court to form a new constitution, and education you see in the country would be able to address these my campaign is maintaining the incumbent Minister. There struck down several provisions as if so, what is the process that and how do you hope to address issues. A healthy relationship the independence of the Bar. I are several committees appointed being unconstitutional. Under my should be followed? them? between the Bench and the Bar wholeheartedly believe that the to look into these matters. The leadership, the BASL will continue Whatever process that is Legal education needs to would help support the judiciary Bar should be independent. The BASL will actively take part and to safeguard and protect the followed must ensure adequate progress to reflect the needs of to address its grievances. BASL is the representative body contribute to this process. I extend sovereignty of the people. consultation with the people the modern day. This applies to Contd. on page 9 of a dignified and responsible my fullest support and assistance to Contd. on page 9 47 Friday, February 19, 2021 „„ www.themorning.lk businessSea cucumber factory in Jaffna by April BY KAREN HAPUARACHCHI of this species is decreasing, we have specially trained divers in the seabed The sea cucumber factory which was approved by the Board of signed an agreement, an MoU, with the and is then processed to the required Investment (BOI) last year is expected to be set up in Jaffna by early April. Ministry of Fisheries last Sunday (14). dried stage in the state-of-the-art factory Speaking to The Morning Business, Suganth Seafood Managing Director We are funding this project as well,” that is to be established in the Jaffna Suganthaseelan Aravinthan stated that the project is in progress and Aravinthan stated. Peninsula, the BOI said. under construction at the moment. The Sea Cucumber Farming project Furthermore, no special gear or net He added that the construction began conscious methodologies, transparent would be initiated in the areas of the is used to catch sea cucumbers. The a month ago, in January, after being business practices, and on-time . Iranative Island, Sri Lanka. sea cucumbers are mainly harvested delayed by the rainy season. The company intends to expand the Moreover, this project involves an by hand, through scuba diving or skin Textile manufacturing “The work is in progress, we might business gradually, thus providing investment of Rs. 60 million and was diving. Scuba diving is carried out complete construction somewhere more job opportunities to the local said to be initiated in the month of at all major landing sites. Fibreglass- towards the end of March or early April,” communities and enhancing their March, after all discussions take place. reinforced plastic boats with 15-25 hp plants to be Aravinthan commented. livelihood.” “We are going to help 83 families in outboard motors are the main craft used The agreement for this project was Aravinthan also highlighted that there the Iranative island. This is an island for this fishery. constructed in Eravur signed by BOI Chairman Susantha has been a gradual decrease of the sea in Sri Lanka; the people in this area Suganth Seafood is known as a leader Ratnayake and Suganth Seafood cucumber species due to harvesting. will get benefits. This funding involves in the export of sea cucumber in Sri BY ZAHIDA RIZVI replace part of their imported Managing Director Suganthaseelan As a measure taken to avoid the about Rs. 60 million. We are going to Lanka, and is said to have the largest The Government has given fabrics with fabric sourced locally. Aravinthan to increase sea cucumber exploitation of undersized specimens, help them build the farm, and each farm operational network with over 500 divers the green light to commence By the end of 2020, Sri Lanka production for the export market. as well as to avoid the population will be provided an acre and nets will be around Sri Lanka. the construction of textile imported fabric to the tune of Rs. The project has also had an initial depletion, Suganth Seafood was reported provided as well. This is a project and The expert divers aim to harvest the manufacturing plants in 2021 with 40,029.368 million for export- investment of $ 1.2 million. to be working in collaboration with the the strategy we evaluated to save the sea best quality of nontraditional marine a view to cut down the expenditure oriented apparel manufacturers. Aravinthan stated prior to the initiation Government and Ministry of Fisheries cucumber species,” Aravinthan added. aquatic species in the most scientific on apparel raw material imports, The import bill for fabric to be of the project: “We focus on strict for a sea cucumber farming project. Sea cucumber is harvested mainly manner to cater to the sophisticated The Morning Business learns. used for consumption in the local adherence to government norms, eco- “Due to the fact that the population in the northern and eastern sea belt by international markets. “Discussions are underway with market came to $ 2.2 billion. the Government to construct 10 to Export earnings from apparel 12 textile manufacturing plants in and textiles in October declined by ComBank’s Eravur, with an investment from 18.93 % to $ 356.52 million and by Environmental Ministry signs the private sector. It would entail 21% to $ 3.6 billion, respectively, infrastructure cost of around Rs. 5 in the first 10 months of 2020 ePassbook billion. We can project an increase from a year earlier. Despite the MoU with Biodiversity Sri Lanka in procurement from Sri Lanka decline in the sector, earnings surpasses 1 m to approximately $ 1 billion,” from exports of other textiles BY ZAHIDA RIZVI implemented a few years back by our Joint Apparel Association Forum increased by 43.92% in October The Ministry of Environment ministry in collaboration with the (JAAF) Secretary General Tuli 2020 in comparison to October has signed a Memorandum of UNDP looked into the importance registrations Cooray told us. 2019. Understanding (MoU) with of private sector participation and New app downloads of Commercial Bank “Fabric worth approximately In an attempt to promote the Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) to market-based instruments to mobilise of Ceylon’s ePassbook have increased by $ 2 million is being imported domestic textile industry, Sri collaborate with them in order to national actions since the private 150,000 in just six months after self-registration from various sources including Lanka is going to limit imports of enhance private sector engagement sector is identified as the engine of was permitted via a recent upgrade, the bank China, Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, textiles and readymade garments in biodiversity conservation, The growth. They are the catalysts for reported. and Hong Kong since cotton and and increase garment import Morning Business learnt. green growth,” Dr. Jasinghe added. The first digital passbook in Sri Lanka’s and synthetic fibre are mainly import taxes. Sales from these seven Speaking at the “Innovative Climate Dr. Jasinghe further said they are South Asia’s banking industry, the ComBank dependent,” he added. fabric mills to BOI (Board of Finance Mechanism for Financial ready to facilitate the private sector to ePassbook has users in more than 100 countries The JAAF Secretary General Investment)-registered apparel institutions Sri Lanka” hosted by the assess concessionary green finances, who now log in at the rate of 20 per second, pointed out that due to the exporting companies amounted International Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Ministry Secretary from green climate funds to investing averaging more than 1,000 active users per Covid-19 pandemic, the industry $ 499 million last year. Environmental Ministry Secretary Dr. Dr. Anil Jasinghe on projects to enhance the climate minute, and has over 1 million customer encountered problems and the Additionally, the Ministry of Anil Jasinghe said: “Two flagships change resilience of vulnerable registrations, the bank said. supply chain got disrupted. Batik, Handloom, and Local will commence programmes in while upgrading their green image,” communities The app was upgraded recently with In the 2021 Budget, under Apparel is targeting value addition 2021, the Surakima ganga national he added. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, features including self-registration for personal “Strategic Development”, the of $ 54 million per annum to the environment program to conserve all The Environmental Ministry International Union for Conservation accounts, real-time transaction notifications, Government announced tax current $ 5.9 billion in apparel 103-river basins in the country, and the stated that a sustainable utilisation of Nature (IUCN), and Dilma and a biometric login feature that enables concessions up to a maximum exports in 2021, and also the plastic management programme set and environmental conservation conservation have joined forces to account holders to use the app via face ID and of 10 years for over $ 10 million creation of a “National Fabric to introduce economic instruments to will be rational based on the form a platform which acts as a base fingerprint, all of which significantly improved investments for setting up fabric Fund” by increasing the fabric overcome the existing plastic menace grounds of financial feasibility for businesses to share experiences and accessibility, versatility, and security, enhancing plants. import cess by $ 1, and is set in Sri Lanka.” and economic profitability and best practices related to biodiversity user autonomy and convenience. Sri Lanka last year earned $ to establish nine fabric parks According to him the private and integrating environmental concerns conservation. The newly introduced self-registration 5.3 billion from apparel exports. which can facilitate the necessary corporate sector is one primarily into the national economy’s green The system of environment option, which is the main catalyst for the Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, requirements. important partner for collaboration development initiatives will enable accounting means developing a spike in downloads of the app, is especially the industry originally expected a Raw materials worth $ 2.8 amongst the ministry’s multi it to implement the programs. methodology for incorporating advantageous as it eliminates the need for 6% increase in exports for 2020. billion and finished goods worth stakeholder engagements since it Ministry of Environment in ecosystem service values to national account holders to visit their respective branches The JAAF anticipates the $ 276 million are imported to Sri offers great potential as partners for collaboration with the UN projects income accounts. As an overarching to activate the app. Another simultaneous construction of the textile Lanka annually. By investing in resource mobilisation in order to and conventions on biological diversity policy tool it will reflect the upgrade made it possible for users to self-add, manufacturing plants in Eravur the local market, the Ministry support biodiversity conservation. identified green financing as a necessary correlation of ecosystem services remove, or group current accounts, savings would lead to the reduction in anticipates to reduce net imports “Private sector partners can condition for biodiversity conservation: based with economic growth, or open accounts, and credit cards in their ComBank imports of fabric, as apparel by $ 38 million through the contribute to greening the country “The biodiversity financing project opportunities for green financing. ePassbook mobile application. manufacturers would be able to production of raw materials. Future enhancements to the app will include the possibility of viewing unlimited transaction history, including unrealised cheques, account holds, and the total overdraft limit for current Aitken Spence: Growth from non-tourism sectors accounts. The facility to view details of fixed The leading blue-chip This project will provide a sustainable Aitken Spence was the only Group deposit accounts and loans online, to keep conglomerate, Aitken Spence PLC solution to the Colombo city’s waste that had two companies – Aitken track of details and operate the app in all three non-tourism multi-industry sectors management problem whilst adding Spence PLC and Aitken Spence Hotel vernacular languages are also in the pipeline, reported a Profit-Before-Tax (PBT) renewable energy to the country’s Holdings PLC, in the top 10 ranking the bank said. of Rs. 1.3 billion in 3Q, a growth energy profile. in LMD’s Most Awarded. Aitken The ComBank ePassbook mobile application of 44% compared to the previous Outstanding performance was Spence PLC was recognised among was introduced in 2016 as a pioneering product year in the midst of challenging seen from the strategic investments the 10 Best Integrated Reports at of Commercial Bank, revolutionising the economic conditions. These sectors sector that recorded a profit before the CMA Excellence in Integrated concept of the “passbook”. It is provided also reported an Earnings Before tax growth of 248%. The Group’s Awards 2020. free of charge and gives instant access to the Interest Expense, Tax, Depreciation plantations segment recorded an “Amidst the challenges faced this customer’s accounts through a smartphone, and Amortisation (EBITDA) of Rs. excellent performance during the year and especially during the third dispensing with the requirement of holding 1.7 billion compared to Rs. 1.4 billion quarter with a substantial profit quarter of 2020-2021, the innovative a physical passbook or obtaining any paid of EBITDA recorded during the third growth. During the quarter Elpitiya and pragmatic thinking that we had banking facility such as online banking or quarter of previous year. Plantations PLC clinched the introduced during the initial months mobile banking for inquiry purposes. The overall contribution from the award for Best Integrated Report Aitken Spence PLC Deputy Chairman of the pandemic came to fruition The app provides access to details of non-tourism sectors was notable - Plantations sector at the CMA Aitken Spence PLC Chairman and Managing Director whilst seeing a remarkable growth in savings, current, NRFC (non-resident foreign during the second lockdown period Excellence in Integrated Reporting Deshamanya D.H.S. Jayawardena Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake the non-tourism sections. We expect a currency), RFC (resident foreign currency) of the country. Companies in the Awards 2020. The company was also stronger resilience in the next quarter accounts, and credit cards on Android with maritime and freight logistics, presented with a certificate of Merit. hotels segment is gradually recovering an arrangement that will continue until and financial year,” noted Aitken Google Play and iOS-powered mobile devices power, money transfer, elevator The printing and packaging segment alongside the local tourists handled April and which is expected to generate Spence PLC Deputy Chairman and and acts as a single repository for multiple agency, printing and packaging, recorded a significant improvement by the Sri Lankan tourism sector. significant foreign exchange earnings Managing Director Dr. Parakrama accounts enrolled by an account holder, with and plantation sectors performed in its performance generating healthy Amidst many challenges, Aitken to the country. Dissanayake. the capability to view each account separately. exceptionally well compared to last profits during the quarter compared to Spence Hotels were awarded at the The Group recorded a loss from Listed in the Colombo Stock Users of the app may also label different year with an increase in PBT for the the negative returns generated in the prestigious Luxury Lifestyle Awards operations of Rs. 0.2 billion for the Exchange since 1983, Aitken Spence accounts with preferred names or codes such quarter while maintaining positive third quarter of the previous financial - Heritance Aarah (Maldives) named third quarter compared to the profit is a blue-chip conglomerate anchored as salary, petty cash, savings, entertainment, performance during the nine months year. Furthermore, the maritime and the winner in the category of the Best from operations of Rs. 1.8 billion to a heritage of excellence spanning and such, for easy reference. ending on 31 December 2020. freight logistics sector also performed All-Inclusive Resort in Asia and recorded in the same quarter of the over 150 years. Driven by over 13,000 At present, the app enables account holders The Group’s latest iconic venture, remarkably to record a 10% increase Desert Nights Camp (Oman) winner previous year. The PBT for the third employees and has a strong regional to track account balances and transactions Sri Lanka’s first waste-to-energy in PBT for the period. of the Best Luxury Hotel in Oman. quarter was a loss of Rs. 0.5 billion presence across nine countries, in of the past 30 days in real time on their project with an investment of The Group’s tourism sector The destination management arm compared to a profit of Rs. 1.2 billion hotels, travels, maritime, freight mobile phones or tabs from anywhere. approximately Rs. 15 billion, will EBITDA for 3Q was a loss of Rs. of the Group Aitken Spence Travels in the previous year, which was due and logistics solutions, plantations, The ComBank ePassbook app updates be formally launched this month by 447.2 million. However, subsequent recently facilitated the first of many to the pandemic weighing on the power generation, insurance, printing, automatically whenever the user is online, Prime Minister . to the reopening of Maldives, the weekly charter flights from Kazakhstan, tourism sector. apparel and other services. the bank said. 48 business „„ www.themorning.lk { CORPORATE } Friday, February 19, 2021 Emirates SkyCargo, UNICEF to work on vaccine distribution Emirates SkyCargo has signed an agreement “Every single day counts in the fight against of Covid-19 vaccines. With over 15,000 with UNICEF to prioritise the transport of Covid-19 and the sooner that communities can square metres of storage space available for Covid-19 vaccines, essential medicines, medical have access to Covid-19 vaccines, the sooner they vaccines, Emirates SkyCargo is able to store devices, and other critical supplies to help fight can curb the spread of the virus and get back on large quantities of the Covid-19 vaccine in the Covid-19 pandemic. The announcement is their feet. As a global player flying to more than Dubai, and fly in smaller quantities regularly to the latest in a series of measures undertaken by 130 destinations, Emirates SkyCargo has been markets with limited cold chain infrastructure, the freight division of Emirates to support global committed to the fight against the pandemic from reducing the need for large scale storage communities in recovering from the devastating the very early stages and we have rolled out a solutions. impact of Covid-19. number of initiatives to expedite the distribution In January 2021, under the directives of The Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative of Covid-19 vaccines through Dubai, starting Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE spearheaded by UNICEF brings together a number with our GDP certified dedicated airside hub. Emirates SkyCargo joins hands with UNICEF for Covid-19 vaccine transport and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed of partners collectively capable of distributing Through our partnership with UNICEF, we will be bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Emirates SkyCargo essential supplies to more than 100 markets in taking yet another step to prioritise and facilitate industry leader in the air cargo sector for infrastructure at its hub in Dubai for the secure joined hands with three other Dubai-based support of the COVAX facility, the global effort the rapid and secure movement of Covid-19 the transport of temperature sensitive transport of pharmaceuticals and vaccines. entities; DP World, International Humanitarian aimed at access to Covid-19 vaccines. UNICEF’s vaccines particularly to communities hard pharmaceuticals including vaccines. The cargo In October 2020, Emirates SkyCargo City, and Dubai Airports, to form a Covid- Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative will also act hit by the disease,” said Emirates SkyCargo carrier features a global network spanning announced that it was setting up the world’s 19 vaccine alliance for rapid transport of as a blueprint for collective global partnership in Divisional Senior Vice President Nabil Sultan. six continents, a modern fleet of only aircraft largest EU GDP certified airside distribution Covid-19 vaccines to the developing world the face of future health and humanitarian crises. Emirates SkyCargo is known to be an as well as state of the art EU GDP certified hub dedicated for the storage and distribution through Dubai. Aitken Spence launches The virtual launch event of Sony’s new entertainment systems Western Power Company Singer launches z Sri Lanka’s first waste-to-energy power plant Sony’s innovative What is claimed to be Sri Lanka’s first waste-to-energy power plant was officially launched in Kerawalapitiya on 17 February 2021 in the entertainment solutions presence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa together with Minister of Power , Western Province Governor Sri Lanka In a virtual launch, Singer Sri Weeraman (BnS) who are Air Force (SLAF) Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, Mayor of Colombo Lanka PLC recently unveiled an also the Brand Ambassadors Rosy Senanayake, Aitken Spence PLC Chairman Deshamanya D.H.S. all new entertainment product for Sony. BnS entertained the Jayawardena, and other dignitaries. portfolio from Sony including a audience to a music filled 4K UHD Android television series, evening. Sri Lanka’s trending The growing problem of waste disposal city of Colombo has been going on for new range of Sony Audio systems, YouTube artists Blok and Dino was addressed by the Colombo Municipal a long time, facing various challenges. Active Noise Cancellation powered also attended the event and Council (CMC), which invited bids for The Kerawalapitiya waste-to-energy headphones and a range of Sony entertained the audience with the implementation of an environmentally project, which was launched as a result Sound Bars. a special skit, which was highly acceptable and sustainable mechanism of continuous efforts to solve that problem, The launch event involved Singer embraced by the audience. for the disposal of municipal solid waste. is unique. It is a milestone in the solid waste featuring a massive audience and Singer Sri Lanka’s Marketing Western Power Company (Pvt.) Ltd., management process not only in the city it was streamed live via several Director Shanil Perera said: a subsidiary of Aitken Spence PLC, was of Colombo, but in Sri Lanka. I extend my platforms including Social media “This virtual event is not just a selected through this competitive bidding congratulations to the Colombo Municipal channels of Singer, Sony, Chanux product launch, we wanted to process and was the only company to Council for giving pioneering support to this Bro and many other community and entertain our viewers tonight and complete the project amongst few others. project, and the Aitken Spence Group for celebrity pages, providing access for bring happiness to those who are Aitken Spence has since led the giving financial support and implementing the general public to get to know sort of distracted by the Covid implementation of the project, and its the project, the Ministry of Power, and the of the new products while being situation without being able to operation is the culmination of years of Ceylon Electricity Board.” entertained at the same time. attend any kind of entertainment careful planning and an investment of Aitken Spence PLC Chairman Aitken Spence PLC Chairman Deshamanya D.H.S. Jayawardena speaking at the launch event Aiming to offer a new experience events. We are living in a ‘new approximately Rs. 15 billion. Jayawardena commented: “As a diversified for the viewers, the event was normal’ and virtual events are Furthermore, Western Power Company conglomerate, we have always taken a Province, where over 3,500 metric tonnes special catalytic treatment to remove all hosted by Sri Lankan popular tech the norm of the day. We were (WPC) entered into a Waste Supply progressive approach to investment. of household waste is produced daily. In harmful particles before being released YouTuber Chanux Bro who has able to make this event a huge Agreement (WSA) with the CMC and a This venture is guided by the principles the absence of a waste-to-energy power via a 60 m tall smokestack. a subscriber base over 1 million success while adhering to strict Standardised Power Purchase Agreement of sustainability, responsible corporate plant, municipal solid waste will collect These stack emissions will be tested on YouTube. With hands-on health guidelines. Singer has a (SPPA) with the Ceylon Electricity stewardship, and progress through landfills, polluting both the groundwater regularly to ensure compliance with the experience in tech reviews, Chanux life-long partnership with Sony, Board (CEB), for a tenure of 20 years in innovation and development. It gives me and the environment. stipulations of the Central Environmental Bro treated the viewers with a a world’s leading entertainment 2017. WPC also entered into a contract great pleasure to see years of meticulous The waste-to-energy power plant will Authority (CEA). The company conducted wealth of knowledge on the new solutions provider. These newly with a Chinese engineering company planning and hard work finally come to incinerate this waste, supplied by the CMC. environmental and social impact Sony products, their advantages, launched products are certain to to design, build, and transfer a modern fruition. This power plant will give Sri 600-800 MT of waste will be processed assessments at multiple stages before and and why they are best suited for fulfil the entertainment needs of waste incineration plant. Renowned Lankans access to clean, reliable energy, every day and the power supplied to the during the construction of the power plant modern living. our valued consumers and we invite engineering consultancy firm Ramboll AG, help with beautification of the city, and national grid. with the inspections carried out by external, The launch event was them to experience the difference headquartered in Denmark, was appointed hopefully set a trend for clean, renewable The residue ash (bottom ash) leftover independent parties. The power plant will illuminated by the participation for themselves with Sony’s as the owner’s engineer. sources of energy.” from the incineration of waste is reused to also be monitored along a stringent social of the music sensations Bathiya innovative technology powered Prime Minister Rajapaksa stated: “The Waste disposal has become a severe produce cinder blocks for the construction and environmental management system in Jayakody and Santhush products.” solid waste management process in the problem, especially in the Western industry, while the flue gas undergoes its operations, the company said. ComBank receives ICCSL-CIMA Fonterra enables access to ‘10 Most Admired Companies’ award minerals mix packs The Commercial Bank of Ceylon was recently z Smallholder dairy farmers to benefit presented the award for being one of the “10 Most Admired Companies in Sri Lanka” in 2019-20 by In a move to help its smallholder dairy Access to the right quality cattle feed remains a the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka farmers improve dairy cattle health and critical challenge felt by dairy farmers. (ICCSL) in collaboration with the Chartered Institute increase milk yield, Fonterra Brands Mineral supplementation plays a significant of Management Accountants (CIMA). Lanka has enabled sustained market access role in livestock development programmes The award was accepted on behalf of the bank by to high-nutrition minerals mix packs. as it improves general health and the growth Commercial Bank Managing Director S.Renganathan Fonterra Brands Lanka and Indian Subcontinent rate, increases the efficiency of feed utilisation at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Managing Director Vidya Sivaraja said: “We on-farm, and improves immune response, which Conference Hall (BMICH). are pleased to make these locally produced, gives cows more resistance against infectious This is the third time the bank was honoured with high-nutrition minerals mix packs accessible for diseases. this accolade. the first time to our farmer base, spanning our Fonterra Brands Lanka’s smallholder dairy The award was presented to the bank for being North Western, Western, and Central Province farmer network supplies milk for its Anchor and a cut above the rest in terms of the value it creates dairy communities. Anchor Newdale brands, including set yoghurt, for its shareholders, customers, employees, and the Commercial Bank Managing Director S.Renganathan (left) receiving the award This solution is in line with national imperatives stirred yoghurt, drinking yoghurt, fresh milk, wider community in general. called out by the Presidential Task Force for UHT milk, and flavoured milk, manufactured at Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication.” its local dairy processing facility in Biyagama. Kantar to offer media monitoring service with Nielsen Kantar recently announced that Kantar Sri Lanka CEO control procedures. it would start providing media Himalee Madurasinghe stated: AdIntel/MediaWatch would be providing monitoring services in Sri Lanka. “With the addition of media competitive advertising information and alerts The announcement comes as monitoring services, clients will on new opportunities based investment of ad Kantar has agreed to acquire have a comprehensive market spends, whereas PRintel-Regular would be Nielsen’s local media monitoring intelligence for their media and tracking PR articles/News stories in Print/ business. Historically, Kantar communication planning. We TV/Radio and digital media. has provided TV audience believe this will add significant Madurasinghe further added: “Kantar is measurement in Sri Lanka, and value in crafting efficient the global leader in the media intelligence the addition of media monitoring marketing plans. Kantar will and reputation tracking space. We partner positions Kantar as a key partner not only provide them a detailed with leading brands to help them understand to Sri Lanka’s media industry. understanding of the audiences their share of voice, shape their campaigns, Media expenditure is a critical and their behaviour, but also offer optimise planning, and drive sales. Leading part of any brand’s marketing marketers an understanding of agencies, advertisers, and media owners investment. It has been clearly strategies being implemented all use our data to create more effective established that effective Kantar Sri Lanka CEO by various brands. We expect plans, to enhance campaign performance utilisation of this investment Himalee Madurasinghe Kantar’s International expertise and for alerts about what competitors are results in a positive outcome. will bring more value to the doing. Through our reputation monitoring To ensure cost efficient and successful media monitoring services in Sri Lanka.” service, we provide clients a clear picture campaigns, brand marketers have evolved Under Kantar, the monitoring services will of how their brand is seen through the eyes planning and buying systems which use data continue providing clients assurance that their of the media and digital media. This helps from independent research agencies. With media spends will continue to be tracked businesses make more informed decisions increasing focus on assessing the return on for efficiency. The service uses advanced and plan more effectively. We are excited marketing investments, efficiency of media Automatic Spot Recognition technology about bringing some of our global offers to spends is now a key performance indicator which results in higher accuracy with little Sri Lanka which will be a significant value for most corporates and brands. manual intervention and superior quality add for the industry.” business 49 Friday, February 19, 2021 { CORPORATE } „„ www.themorning.lk RN Health launches clinic in Barnes Place Announcing its entry to team of passionate, highly Microsoft Solutions and Services at John Keells IT Chief Operating Sri Lanka’s competitive skilled consultants and nurses Officer Nishan Thevathason (left) and John Keells Holdings PLC Executive healthcare space, premium aided by advanced medical Vice President and John Keells IT Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ramesh health and wellness centre technology. During these Shanmuganathan (right) RN Health recently opened unprecedented times, access to its doors to the public. exceptional clinical care in a Located in the neighbourhood safe and private environment John Keells IT of Barnes Place, Colombo 7, that prioritises patient-centric the medical centre offers delivery and affordability is personalised diagnostic and critical and it is what sets RN receives SAP on Azure wellness solutions to clientele Health apart from current market in a setting that places a high offerings. As we grow, we will Advanced Certification value on comfort, convenience continue to adjust and enhance John Keells IT stated it enables organisations to adopt and privacy. our practices to better serve the has achieved “SAP on Azure technologies that drive digital RN Health is well equipped fast evolving patient requirements Advanced Certification” transformation. John Keells IT to handle the evolving and as essentially, a one stop shop demonstrating its commitment has established the first two demanding health needs of for high quality healthcare,” to technology partners SAP and phases out of a four-phase Sri Lankans, right from initial RN Health Directors Ravindu Microsoft. approach (i.e. John Keells IT diagnosis, through to treatment Thilakawardhana and Nessanka “We are very pleased to attain – Transact, Transform, Engage, and aftercare supportive services. May stated jointly. the SAP on Azure Advanced and Innovate) to realise the “We are delighted to open our The new medical centre offers Specialisation Partner status as establishment of core systems doors to deliver a comprehensive clinical and laboratory services it proves that John Keells IT leveraging strong ERP practices. portfolio of holistic health and along with access to a pharmacy met the high standards it sets In the second phase, “John Keells wellness solutions to patients and wellness store of international and attests to the company’s IT – Transform” establishes the in Sri Lanka. We take great standards. Patients are able to capabilities of supporting agility and scalability of the pride in our ability to operate a book lab and diagnostic services, customers in their digital cloud. world-class integrated healthcare which operate in affiliation with disruption journey. We have The four-phased approach delivery system, enabled by a Lanka Hospitals. The RN Health Centre located at Barnes Place, Colombo 7 the knowledge and experience aims to ensure modernisation necessary to understand a client’s of the businesses from a legacy individual needs, no matter the approach. SAP is a market- SLIM signs MoU with size or complexity,” stated dominant ERP solutions Ceylon Green Produce Microsoft Solutions and Services organisation and before cloud Sabaragamuwa University at John Keells IT COO Nishan technologies saw mainstream Thevathason. adoption, tended to be mostly presents ECO Tablets John Keells IT currently deployed as on-premise solutions.

Ceylon Green Produce claims to boost octane value Tablets” as Brand Ambassador (Pvt.) Ltd. announced its from five to 10 in petrol, while to promote the concept of launch of “ECO Tablets”, an ECO Diesel is said to increase “environmentally protected Airtel expands organic product mixed with cetane value of diesel from Sri Lanka”. nanotechnology to improve two to five. A large number of senior the quality of the fuel used Furthermore, using “ECO mechanical engineers have customer service in vehicles. Tablets” regularly is said to recommended “ECO Tablets” Airtel Lanka announced Available in two versions, improve fuel combustion, as a fuel booster with multiple an expansion to its existing namely, “ECO Racing”, for efficiency and engine benefits to the users, the customer service network across petrol vehicles and “ECO performance. It also claims company stated. the island. The expansion takes Diesel”, for diesel vehicles, to reduce the emission of “ECO Tablets”, a product place as part of Airtel’s drive this fuel booster is said to carbon monoxide (CO) by known internationally for towards customer experience enhance engine performance 100% and Sulphur Dioxide its quality and effectiveness optimisation in view of the

and efficiency. (SO2) up to 99%. over a decade, can be used launch of Airtel 4G. “ECO Tablets” claims to “ECO Tablets” has been in all vehicles including With the expansion, Airtel double the engine’s lifespan certified as an eco-friendly motorbikes, generators and The MoU being exchanged between the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing has 5,000 service points and 70 (SLIM) and the Faculty of Management Studies of the Sabaragamuwa while cleansing spark plugs, product by the Central heavy machinery. “ECO University of Sri Lanka Bell stores as service partner combustion chambers, and Environment Authority. Tablets” are one of the many outlets islandwide. Accordingly, the fuel tank. It saves fuel Dilantha Malagamuwa has eco projects of Ceylon Green customers can walk into any from 20-50%. ECO Racing joined hands with “ECO Produce (Pvt.) Ltd. The Sri Lanka Institute of the Marketing degree programme of these places and avail Marketing (SLIM) recently and who satisfy the prevalent entry services such as obtaining a signed a Memorandum of criteria, to enroll directly in Level new connection, reloads, bill Understanding (MoU) with the 3 of the Postgraduate Diploma payments, SIM upgrades, and Faculty of Management Studies in the Marketing Management many more. Microsoft recognises of the Sabaragamuwa University Programme with concessionary “We have been consistently of Sri Lanka to offer a gold medal rates where applicable at the enhancing our network offering, and a scholarship for the best discretion of SLIM. and pairing these improvements student from the BSc in Marketing Further, SLIM will facilitate with an unbeatable customer Sri Lankan educators Management degree. staff members and students of experience. Through this robust Microsoft stated it is spotlighting the 365, OneNote, Skype and more to enable The MoU was signed by SLIM FMS, SUSL to participate in approach, we want to ensure resilience and leadership of teachers worldwide mobile learning for students. President Roshan Fernando and workshops, seminars and trainings a smooth transition towards who continue to provide remote learning, “In these historic and challenging times, SLIM Faculty of Management organised by SLIM, so as to the rollout of our world class Airtel Lanka Managing Director support vulnerable populations, and close gaps MIE Experts are true exemplars of innovative Studies Dean Professor Athula benefit from eminent personalities 4G network. We hope that our and Chief Executive Officer in education throughout the Covid-19 crisis. teachers who inspire with their student-centered Gnanapala. in business and marketing at a extended investment within Ashish Chandra Last year, Microsoft welcomed 4,366 approach, making a meaningful difference in the The MoU is valid for a period concessionary rate. the island is a reflection of our Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts (MIEE) lives of their students,” said Microsoft Country of five years from the date of SLIM President Roshan lifelong commitment to our Google’s Business Messages onboard its Microsoft Innovative Educator Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Hasitha execution. SLIM will offer a Fernando stated: “As the National existing and future customers feature. This new feature (MIE) programme from the Asia region – a Abeywardena. gold medal and a scholarship Body for Marketing in Sri Lanka, and we will continue to enables a message button on twofold increase from the previous year, and “These teachers constantly seek new and for the Postgraduate Diploma SLIM has the credentials and prioritise customer experience Google Maps and Google the largest representation from the region to innovative ways to incorporate 21st century in Marketing Management for capacity to conduct pioneering as a competitive advantage on Search, for anyone looking date. In Sri Lanka, 113 experts joined the ranks learning into their classrooms, including an outstanding performance educational programmes for its own right,” noted Airtel for support or information on of MIE experts in the region. remote learning, which they made possible in of the best student of BSc. in the marketing fraternity of Sri Lanka Managing Director and Airtel. Alongside the 2020-2021 class of MIE spite of Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions. Marketing Specialisation at the Lanka. SLIM is providing this CEO Ashish Chandra. Furthermore, Airtel users Experts are 86 new Microsoft Showcase They are helping students build future-ready Faculty of Management Studies, exceptional opportunity to expand Notably, as part of the can also interact with the Schools across Asia. Gateway College was skills that will enable them to succeed in the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri and elevate the knowledge of company’s drive towards telecommunication’s dedicated the only Microsoft Showcase School from Sri new normal.” Lanka. the graduates of the faculty of customer experience service advisors via all key Lanka. These schools are recognised leaders Microsoft continues to support this thriving In addition, SLIM will enable Management Studies at the optimisation, Airtel customer digital entry points – in personalised learning amplified by devices community of passionate educators who are students of FMS, SUSL, who University of Sabaragamuwa and recently became the only Facebook Messenger, Telegram, for each student – they integrate a variety of constantly learning, growing and working have successfully graduated with contribute to develop and promote telecommunications company Twitter, Viber, WhatsApp, and Microsoft solutions such as Windows, Office together to change lives and build a better world. Bachelor of Science (Honours) in future marketers in the country.” in the country to integrate the Airtel website.

Contd. from page 6

outstations. For that support, I am grateful. an election is declared. This is important recommendations can be challenged. you leading up to the election? BASL decisions... or otherwise in the future, senior members I must say it has been a very successful as There have been allegations of targeted of the Bar will decide not to contest the How would you address the grievances of well as insightful campaign that has taken How do you hope to address any legal mudslinging, especially on social media. election. the judiciary? me all across the country to each and every challenges that Sri Lanka may face at the Do you condone such tactics at a BASL The BASL will always stand with the bar, and allowed me to meet and engage upcoming United Nations Human Rights election? judiciary in ensuring the maintenance of with many members of the profession, for Council (UNHRC) session, where it has I denounce any type of mudslinging, Unity of... judicial independence and integrity. which I am very grateful. been proposed that universal jurisdiction either on social or mainstream media. be implemented by Member States? I have been the target of a concerted In light of recent events with regard to How do you hope to address any legal There have been allegations of targeted The decisions of the BASL are taken campaign commencing from June 2020. the Presidential Commission of Inquiry challenges that Sri Lanka may face at the mudslinging, especially on social media. by the Bar Council and the Executive Despite that, my campaign team and I (PCoI) probing incidents of political upcoming United Nations Human Rights Do you condone such tactics in a BASL Committee of the BASL. These are matters have acted with much restraint because victimisation, how do you view the role Council (UNHRC) session, where it has election? which will have to be considered by the we do not want the BASL to slide down. I of law-enforcement agencies and their been proposed that universal jurisdiction I vehemently condemn such tactics. Bar Council and decided upon taking into believe the membership will judge on the independence? be implemented by Member States? These tactics, which have been seen before account the provisions of the Constitution record of candidates and their policies and PCoIs are only fact-finding missions I believe that the sovereignty of our in mainstream political elections, have no and that of the BASL. programmes, rather than relying on such and the role of these commissions is to country and its people must, at all times, be place in this esteemed profession, and they campaigns. report on facts gathered during these protected. To this end, the BASL will ensure pose a threat to the dignity and integrity Has this been a successful campaign for inquiries and, if required, to make that such sovereignty is not compromised. of this profession. No one should resort to you leading up to this election? Would you implement guidelines to recommendations. There is no compulsion In any event, if the BASL is to take a stand, these tactics either to promote themselves or The success of a campaign depends on prevent such campaigns in the future if for these reports to be followed and, if I will consult the Executive Committee and to gain sympathy. the results of the election. However, I am elected? they are followed, they are subject to writ the Bar Council before taking a decision. overwhelmed by the goodwill and support Yes. I would propose that there be a code jurisdiction. Thus, it does not put any I vehemently believe that the Bar must Would you implement guidelines to from a vast number of lawyers, both senior of conduct, not only in respect of conduct undue pressure on any law-enforcement always be a united front. prevent such campaigns in the future if and junior, who have offered their support on media and social media, but also placing agency. If any party feels that their elected as President? in so many ways, both in Colombo and the limits on the conduct of candidates once rights are infringed by the PCoI, the Has this been a successful campaign for I will definitely do so. 104 business „„ www.themorning.lk { MARKET } Friday, February 19, 2021 Unit trust prices­ at 17 Feb. 2021 18 Feb. 2021 Fund name Unit selling price...... Unit buying price CSE Price List SE­CUR­I­TY V.W.A. V.W.A. CHANGE SE­CUR­I­TY V.W.A. V.W.A. CHANGE Astrue Active Income Fund 100.6953...... 100.6953 VOLUME PREVIOUS OPEN HIGH LOW TODAY’S (RS.) VOLUME PREVIOUS OPEN HIGH LOW TODAY’S (RS.) Astrue Alpha Fund 15.9302...... 14.9965 A.SPEN.HOT.HOLD...... 2,803...... 30.7...... 32...... 32...... 30.5...... 31.7...... 1 SEYLAN BANK [SEYB.X0000]...... 261,999...... 40.9...... 40...... 41.8...... 40...... 41.6...... 0.7 Assetline Income Fund 16.8491...... 16.8491 ABANS...... 50,319...... 169...... 176...... 180...... 168.5...... 175...... 6 SEYLAN DEVTS...... 34,945...... 15.8...... 15.8...... 16.2...... 15.6...... 16...... 0.2 Assetline Income Plus Growth Fund 17.4073...... 16.9266 ACCESS ENG SL...... 435,421...... 24.5...... 24.5...... 25.6...... 24.5...... 25.2...... 0.7 SIERRA CABL...... 328,084...... 6.7...... 6.8...... 7.1...... 6.8...... 7...... 0.3 Senfin Dyanmic Income Fund 10.0066...... 10.0066 ACL...... 416,503...... 84.6...... 85.5...... 85.5...... 82...... 82.3...... -2.3 SINGER FINANCE...... 16,419...... 14...... 14.2...... 14.4...... 14...... 14.2...... 0.2 Senfin Growth Fund 9.4000...... 9.0700 ACL PLASTICS...... 9,159...... 285...... 277...... 289.75...... 275...... 278.75...... -6.25 SLT...... 37,285...... 36.6...... 36.8...... 36.8...... 35.5...... 35.7...... -0.9 Senfin Money Market Fund 15.0939...... 15.0939 ACME...... 1,021...... 5.8...... 6.1...... 6.1...... 5.7...... 5.9...... 0.1 SUNSHINE HOLDING...... 55,347...... 80...... 81.9...... 81.9...... 79.9...... 80...... 0 Senfin Shariah Balanced Fund 12.0800...... 11.7400 AGALAWATTE...... 737...... 26...... 27.3...... 27.9...... 27.2...... 27.3...... 1.3 SWISSTEK...... 33,230...... 123...... 125...... 127.75...... 122...... 125...... 2 Senfin Shariah Income Fund 12.4353...... 12.4353 AHOT PROPERTIES...... 405...... 38...... 38...... 38...... 38...... 38...... 0 TALAWAKELLE...... 30,075...... 42.6...... 43...... 43.1...... 42...... 42.4...... -0.2 Ceybank Century Growth 77.5600...... 74.1600 AITKEN SPENCE...... 248,988...... 63.3...... 63.2...... 64.5...... 60.5...... 63.2...... -0.1 TEA SMALLHOLDER...... 55...... 39.9...... 40...... 40...... 38.6...... 39.9...... 0 Ceybank Gilt Edge Fund (A Series) 14.5023...... 14.5023 ALLIANCE...... 2,348...... 51.3...... 52.4...... 53...... 52.4...... 52.5...... 1.2 TEEJAY LANKA...... 975,416...... 40...... 41...... 42.4...... 40.8...... 42...... 2 Ceybank Gilt Edged Fund (B Series) 11.0675...... 11.0675 AMANA BANK...... 592,828...... 3.4...... 3.5...... 3.6...... 3.4...... 3.5...... 0.1 THREE ACRE FARMS...... 35,328...... 229.5...... 230...... 244...... 225...... 229.75...... 0.25 Ceybank High Yield Fund 13.8428...... 13.8428 AMAYA LEISURE...... 30,104...... 19.1...... 19...... 20.6...... 18.8...... 19.3...... 0.2 TOKYO CEMENT...... 154,380...... 71.6...... 72...... 73.9...... 71.3...... 73...... 1.4 Ceybank Surakum Fund 12.3845...... 12.3845 ASIA ASSET...... 11,752...... 6.9...... 7...... 7...... 6.9...... 7...... 0.1 TOKYO CEMENT [TKYO.X0000]...... 773,266...... 64.9...... 65.8...... 66.9...... 64.5...... 66.3...... 1.4 Ceybank Unit Trust 26.5600...... 24.9300 ASIRI...... 51...... 25.9...... 26.7...... 27...... 26.7...... 25.9...... 0 UNION BANK...... 102,296...... 11.6...... 12...... 12...... 11.5...... 11.7...... 0.1 Ceylon Dollar Bond Fund (in $) 0.6857...... 0.6823 ASIRI SURG...... 9,585...... 14.1...... 14.6...... 14.8...... 14.6...... 14.7...... 0.6 UNISYST...... 2,462...... 15...... 15.2...... 15.9...... 15...... 15.3...... 0.3 Ceylon Financial Sector Fund 7.1800...... 6.8800 BAIRAHA FARMS...... 109,286...... 138.75...... 140...... 145...... 140...... 141...... 2.25 UNITED MOTORS...... 4,681...... 68.8...... 68.7...... 70...... 65...... 69.7...... 0.9 Ceylon Income Fund 22.2773...... 22.2773 BALANGODA...... 1,822...... 13...... 13.5...... 14.8...... 13.5...... 14.4...... 1.4 VALLIBEL...... 756,155...... 7.6...... 7.7...... 7.7...... 7.5...... 7.7...... 0.1 CEYLON Index Fund 54.5000...... 52.3400 BUKIT DARAH...... 1...... 322.75...... 347...... 347...... 347...... 322.75...... 0 VALLIBEL FINANCE...... 43,196...... 127.75...... 130...... 130...... 125...... 125.5...... -2.25 Ceylon IPO Fund 3.5700...... 3.4400 C M HOLDINGS...... 506...... 90...... 95...... 99.5...... 94...... 96.9...... 6.9 VIDULLANKA...... 50,450...... 5.3...... 5.4...... 5.4...... 5.2...... 5.3...... 0 Ceylon Money Market Fund 17.3678...... 17.3678 C T HOLDINGS...... 49,416...... 174.75...... 170...... 173.25...... 170...... 170...... -4.75 WATAWALA...... 5,191...... 55.2...... 55.3...... 56.3...... 55.1...... 55.5...... 0.3 Ceylon Tourism Fund 3.5700...... 3.4400 CARGILLS...... 7,714...... 234.25...... 232...... 235.25...... 232...... 235...... 0.75 YORKARCADE...... 12...... 171...... 184...... 184...... 169...... 171...... 0 Ceylon Treasury Income Fund 6.1600...... 6.1600 CARGO BOAT...... 310...... 65...... 65...... 68...... 65...... 67.9...... 2.9 SECOND BOARD Comtrust ADL Mudarabah Fund 11.7021...... 11.7021 CARSONS...... 3,997...... 300...... 300...... 300...... 299...... 299...... -1 AMBEON CAPITAL...... 14,010...... 5.8...... 5.8...... 6...... 5.7...... 6...... 0.2 Comtrust Equity Fund 19.2900...... 18.3900 CDB...... 48,044...... 115...... 120...... 124...... 119...... 123.25...... 8.25 ARPICO...... 1...... 170...... 168.75...... 168.75...... 168.75...... 170...... 0 Comtrust Gilt Edged Fund 10.4561...... 10.4561 CDB [CDB.X0000]...... 27,895...... 75.7...... 78.9...... 79...... 75.1...... 78.8...... 3.1 ASIA CAPITAL...... 23,331...... 5.9...... 6.4...... 6.4...... 5.9...... 6...... 0.1 Comtrust Money Market Fund 11.8940...... 11.8940 CENTRAL FINANCE...... 19,506...... 96.8...... 98...... 100...... 96...... 97.6...... 0.8 BROWNS BEACH...... 24,675...... 11.2...... 11.9...... 12.4...... 11.6...... 12...... 0.8 First Capital Equity Fund (FCEF) 1,370.0400...... 1,301.5400 CENTRAL IND...... 44,667...... 125...... 126...... 126.75...... 124.25...... 125.25...... 0.25 COMM LEASE & FIN...... 107,790...... 6.2...... 6.2...... 6.7...... 6.1...... 6.7...... 0.5 First Capital Fixed income Fund 1,856.9800...... 1,856.9300 CEYLINCO INS...... 30...... 1878...... 1,878.25...... 1,880.25...... 1,878.00...... 1,878.00...... 0 DIALOG FINANCE...... 81...... 53...... 53.1...... 53.1...... 53...... 53...... 0 First Capital Gilt Edged Fund 1,496.4500...... 1,496.4500 CEYLINCO INS. [CINS.X0000]...... 20...... 1099.75...... 1,100.00...... 1,100.00...... 1,100.00...... 1,099.75...... 0 DISTILLERIES...... 34,774...... 20...... 21...... 21...... 20...... 20.5...... 0.5 First Capital Money Market Fund 1,916.1300...... 1,916.1300 CEYLON GUARDIAN...... 303...... 125...... 126...... 126...... 125.75...... 126...... 1 FIRST CAPITAL...... 11,046...... 53.3...... 54.9...... 55...... 53.2...... 54.7...... 1.4 First Capital Wealth Fund 1,133.1300...... 1,133.1000 CEYLON INV...... 63,715...... 70.9...... 68.6...... 72...... 68.5...... 70.8...... -0.1 GOOD HOPE...... 3...... 1121.9...... 1,079.25...... 1,079.25...... 1,079.25...... 1,121.90...... 0 JB Vantage Money Market Fund 27.7108...... 27.7108 CEYLON TOBACCO...... 3,126...... 1099.75...... 1,100.00...... 1,100.00...... 1,031.00...... 1,084.25...... -15.5 KELSEY...... 500...... 39...... 40.8...... 40.8...... 40.8...... 40.8...... 1.8 JB Vantage Short Term Gilt Fund 14.9250...... 14.9250 CHEMANEX...... 1,683...... 83.4...... 83.4...... 87.5...... 82...... 87.2...... 3.8 LANKA REALTY...... 325...... 34.5...... 34.4...... 34.5...... 33.9...... 34.2...... -0.3 JB Vantage Value Equity Fund 24.8700...... 23.3800 CHEVRON...... 45,919...... 102.25...... 102.75...... 104...... 102.5...... 103.25...... 1 LOLC DEV FINANCE...... 411...... 84.1...... 81...... 82...... 78...... 79.7...... -4.4 NAMAL Bank Fund 9.3302...... 8.9644 CIC...... 831,533...... 57.5...... 58.5...... 60...... 58...... 59.8...... 2.3 LOLC FINANCE...... 1,543,261...... 6.8...... 6.9...... 7.4...... 6.7...... 7.2...... 0.4 NAMAL Growth Fund 144.0189...... 134.4224 CIC [CIC.X0000]...... 1,151,303...... 45.6...... 47...... 48.7...... 47...... 48.4...... 2.8 MADULSIMA...... 2,030...... 8.5...... 9...... 9.4...... 8.7...... 8.9...... 0.4 NAMAL High Yield Fund 24.8213...... 24.8213 CITRUS LEISURE...... 8,460...... 9...... 8.5...... 9.5...... 8.5...... 8.7...... -0.3 ODEL PLC...... 1,113...... 18.6...... 21...... 21...... 19.9...... 19.9...... 1.3 NAMAL Income Fund 14.1937...... 14.1937 COLD STORES...... 481...... 663.75...... 664...... 665...... 660...... 662.5...... -1.25 PEOPLE’S MERCH...... 6,163...... 8.7...... 8.7...... 8.9...... 8.7...... 8.7...... 0 National Equity Fund 35.1592...... 32.8997 COLOMBO CITY...... 152...... 913.25...... 926...... 926...... 912...... 915...... 1.75 SERENDIB LAND...... 4...... 3000...... 2,999.00...... 3,100.00...... 2,999.00...... 3,000.00...... 0 NDB Wealth Gilt Edged Fund 18.7451...... 18.7451 COLOMBO LAND...... 33,280...... 26.3...... 26.5...... 27...... 26.4...... 27...... 0.7 SINGER SRI LANKA...... 6,986...... 54.9...... 56.8...... 57.9...... 54...... 55.8...... 0.9 NDB Wealth Growth & Income Fund 46.7800...... 45.2800 COMMERCIAL BANK...... 266,980...... 88.2...... 88.9...... 89...... 87.5...... 88.2...... 0 DIRI SAVI BOARD NDB Wealth Growth Fund 10.7800...... 10.3400 COMMERCIAL BANK [COMB.X0000]...162,821...... 76.3...... 76.9...... 77...... 75...... 76.9...... 0.6 AGSTAR PLC...... 106,791...... 7.4...... 7.3...... 7.5...... 7.3...... 7.5...... 0.1 NDB Wealth Income Fund 16.0770...... 16.0770 CONVENIENCE FOOD...... 48...... 1296.25...... 1,350.00...... 1,350.00...... 1,300.00...... 1,296.25...... 0 ALUMEX PLC...... 227,570...... 22...... 22...... 23.4...... 21.9...... 23...... 1 NDB Wealth Income Plus Fund 17.1479...... 17.1479 DANKOTUWA PORCEL...... 58,433...... 12.4...... 12.6...... 12.9...... 12.4...... 12.8...... 0.4 AMANA LIFE...... 1,280...... 9.7...... 9.5...... 9.5...... 9.5...... 9.5...... -0.2 NDB Wealth Islamic Money Plus Fund 16.3570...... 16.3570 DFCC BANK PLC...... 107,500...... 63.1...... 65...... 66...... 64...... 64.7...... 1.6 AMANA TAKAFUL...... 47,938...... 8.5...... 9.1...... 9.4...... 7.3...... 8...... -0.5 NDB Wealth Money Fund 20.6907...... 20.6907 DIALOG...... 247,719...... 12.4...... 12.5...... 12.6...... 12.4...... 12.4...... 0 AMBEON HOLDINGS...... 65,041...... 19.6...... 19.50...... 20.00...... 19.50...... 20.00...... 0.4 NDB Wealth Money Plus Fund 23.6377...... 23.6377 DIMO...... 357...... 531.25...... 540...... 550...... 540...... 540...... 8.75 ASIA SIYAKA...... 29,078...... 2.6...... 2.8...... 2.8...... 2.7...... 2.7...... 0.1 Premier Growth Fund 7.0200...... 6.6700 DIPPED PRODUCTS...... 2,448,936...... 61.2...... 63...... 64...... 61.3...... 62.9...... 1.7 BANSEI RESORTS...... 32,821...... 8...... 8.1...... 8.1...... 7.9...... 7.9...... -0.1 Premier Money Market Fund 18.7229...... 18.7229 DOCKYARD...... 14,515...... 76...... 79.9...... 80...... 75...... 79.9...... 3.9 BERUWALA RESORTS...... 4,128...... 0.9...... 0.8...... 0.9...... 0.8...... 0.9...... 0 Unit holders can contact relevant Fund Managers to obtain Unit Prices for redemptions within DURDANS...... 120...... 102.5...... 102.5...... 102.5...... 102...... 102.25...... -0.25 BOGALA GRAPHITE...... 172...... 23.3...... 23.50...... 23.90...... 21.10...... 23.90...... 0.6 short duration from the date of investment where exit fee is applicable DURDANS [CHL.X0000]...... 2,711...... 95...... 95...... 95...... 95...... 95...... 0 BOGAWANTALAWA...... 1,605...... 13.2...... 13...... 13...... 12.9...... 13...... -0.2 E B CREASY...... 46,665...... 39.5...... 41.8...... 42.4...... 38...... 40...... 0.5 BPPL HOLDINGS...... 21,082...... 13.3...... 14...... 14.2...... 13.9...... 14...... 0.7 Ex­change Rates 18 Feb. 2021 EAST WEST...... 12,611...... 11.7...... 11.7...... 12.1...... 11.7...... 11.9...... 0.2 BROWNS...... 180,285...... 178.75...... 170...... 199.75...... 170...... 199...... 20.25 (1) The average rates of the following (2) The approximate exchange rates EASTERN MERCHANT...... 20,747...... 5.7...... 5.9...... 6...... 5.6...... 5.9...... 0.2 BROWNS INVSTMNTS...... 49,291,590...... 5...... 5.1...... 5.8...... 5...... 5.5...... 0.5 currencies quoted by commercial banks of GULF currencies based on previous in Colombo for Telegraphic Transfers day’s market weighted average rate for EXPOLANKA...... 2,959,596...... 47...... 49...... 49.5...... 47...... 47.9...... 0.9 C T LAND...... 301...... 27.6...... 27.9...... 28.9...... 27.9...... 28.3...... 0.7 (TT) at 9.30 a.m. are as follows. the US$ are as follows. FORT LAND...... 24,960...... 14...... 14.5...... 15...... 14.3...... 14.4...... 0.4 C.W.MACKIE...... 223...... 46...... 46...... 46...... 45.2...... 45.9...... -0.1 CURRENCY BUYING RATE...... SELLING RATE COUNTRY CURRENCY...... INDICATIVE RATE GESTETNER...... 100...... 96...... 108...... 108...... 108...... 108...... 12 CEYLON BEVERAGE...... 2...... 779.75...... 774...... 774...... 774...... 779.75...... 0 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 149.4383...... 154.7914 Bahrain Bahrain Dinar...... 516.8435 GRAIN ELEVATORS...... 82,922...... 139.75...... 141...... 141.75...... 133...... 136.25...... -3.5 CEYLON TEA BRKRS...... 8,528...... 3.3...... 3.4...... 3.5...... 3.4...... 3.5...... 0.2 CANADIAN DOLLAR 151.6725...... 157.1616 Kuwait Kuwait Dinar...... 643.7492 CHINESE YUAN (RENMINBI) 29.1010...... 30.9403 Oman Oman Rial...... 506.1170 HAYCARB...... 2,556,203...... 111.25...... 121.25...... 125...... 116.5...... 119...... 7.75 CFI...... 1,254...... 86.3...... 90.9...... 93.3...... 90.9...... 91.4...... 5.1 EURO 231.8116...... 239.3950 Qatar Qatar Riyal...... 53.5155 HAYLEYS...... 1,955,138...... 68.8...... 72.1...... 74.8...... 70.5...... 73.1...... 4.3 CIT...... 1...... 142.25...... 142...... 142...... 142...... 142.25...... 0 JAPANESE YEN 1.8266...... 1.8816 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian Riyal...... 51.9448 HAYLEYS FABRIC...... 2,298,244...... 15.1...... 15.7...... 15.7...... 14.7...... 15...... -0.1 CITRUS HIKKADUWA...... 10,890...... 5.4...... 5.4...... 5.4...... 5.1...... 5.2...... -0.2 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 145.3250...... 150.1106 UAE UAE Dirham...... 53.0471 STERLING POUND 268.1347...... 275.5865 HAYLEYS FIBRE...... 47,956...... 55.2...... 57.7...... 60.5...... 57.7...... 59.4...... 4.2 CITRUS WASKADUWA...... 63,508...... 3.5...... 3.5...... 3.6...... 3.4...... 3.6...... 0.1 SWISS FRANC 213.8269...... 221.7685 HDFC...... 13,437...... 39.7...... 39.9...... 41.5...... 39.8...... 39.8...... 0.1 COM.CREDIT...... 9,333...... 23.2...... 23.4...... 24.5...... 23...... 23...... -0.2 US DOLLAR 193.3913...... 198.3847 HEMAS HOLDINGS...... 523,238...... 85.5...... 86...... 88...... 84.9...... 85.3...... -0.2 COMMERCIAL DEV...... 3,973...... 124.5...... 128...... 128...... 120...... 126.5...... 2 HNB...... 380,922...... 136.5...... 136.00...... 137.00...... 135.00...... 136.00...... -0.5 DILMAH CEYLON...... 29...... 675...... 676...... 676...... 651...... 675...... 0 Market Indicators 18 Feb. 2021 HNB ASSURANCE...... 184,888...... 59.9...... 59.2...... 59.9...... 58.1...... 59...... -0.9 E - CHANNELLING...... 14,608...... 6.2...... 6.1...... 6.2...... 6...... 6.2...... 0 HNB [HNB.X0000]...... 116,933...... 103...... 105.75...... 106...... 103.5...... 105...... 2 EDEN HOTEL LANKA...... 112,318...... 11...... 11.00...... 11.30...... 11.00...... 11.20...... 0.2 CSE ALL SHARE PRICE INDEX 7,736.36...... 7,588.34 HORANA...... 1,839...... 21...... 21.1...... 21.1...... 21...... 21...... 0 ELPITIYA...... 23,317...... 44.7...... 45...... 45...... 44.2...... 44.8...... 0.1 S&P SL20 3,086.04...... 3,027.66 HOTELS CORP...... 5,012...... 11.7...... 12...... 12...... 12...... 12...... 0.3 FORTRESS RESORTS...... 266,912...... 10.1...... 10.70...... 11.60...... 10.70...... 11.60...... 1.5 HUNTERS...... 29...... 686.75...... 650...... 679.75...... 650...... 686.75...... 0 GALADARI...... 2,530...... 8.4...... 8.5...... 8.7...... 8.5...... 8.7...... 0.3 TRI ON ALL SHARE (ASTRI) 10,369.32...... 10,170.92 INDUSTRIAL ASPH...... 12,893,032...... 0.4...... 0.5...... 0.6...... 0.4...... 0.5...... 0.1 GUARDIAN CAPITAL...... 1,258...... 32...... 30.3...... 32...... 30.3...... 31.9...... -0.1 TRI ON S&P SL20 5,070.61...... 4,974.68 JANASHAKTHI INS...... 20,665...... 29...... 29.00...... 29.80...... 28.50...... 29.20...... 0.2 HAPUGASTENNE...... 130...... 15.3...... 17.2...... 17.2...... 17.2...... 17.2...... 1.9 VALUE OF TURNOVER(Rs.) 3,349,484,800.00...... 3,311,369,730.00 JKH...... 1,382,839...... 156.25...... 160...... 160.5...... 158...... 160...... 3.75 HARISCHANDRA...... 1...... 3504.75...... 3,100.00...... 3,100.00...... 3,100.00...... 3,504.75...... 0 DOMESTIC PURCHASES 3,268,753,660.00...... 3,270,160,380.00 KANDY HOTELS...... 1,191...... 5.1...... 5.2...... 5.2...... 5...... 5...... -0.1 HATTON...... 36,326...... 8.9...... 8.9...... 9.2...... 8.1...... 8.3...... -0.6 KEGALLE...... 4,146...... 122.75...... 122.5...... 126...... 122.25...... 125...... 2.25 HNB FINANCE...... 9,918...... 8.7...... 8.8...... 8.8...... 8.6...... 8.7...... 0 DOMESTIC SALES 3,145,670,910.00...... 3,110,235,390.00 KELANI CABLES...... 3,182...... 117.5...... 122.5...... 129.25...... 122.5...... 127.25...... 9.75 HNB FINANCE [HNBF-X-0000]...... 3,000...... 7.1...... 7.1...... 7.2...... 6.9...... 7.2...... 0.1 FOREIGN PURCHASES 80,731,184.00...... 41,209,380.00 KELANI TYRES...... 81,270...... 79.4...... 80...... 83.9...... 80...... 83.6...... 4.2 HVA FOODS...... 37,452...... 5.5...... 5.8...... 5.8...... 5.6...... 5.7...... 0.2 FOREIGN SALES 203,813,872.00...... 201,134,192.00 KELANI VALLEY...... 12,218...... 41.4...... 40.5...... 42...... 40.1...... 42...... 0.6 JETWING SYMPHONY...... 1,096...... 9.3...... 9.8...... 9.8...... 9...... 9.1...... -0.2 VOLUME OF TURNOVER(NO.) 123,526,768.00...... 113,714,208.00 KINGSBURY...... 26,245...... 11.5...... 11.5...... 11.9...... 11...... 11.7...... 0.2 JOHN KEELLS...... 24,331...... 72.8...... 75.5...... 79.8...... 75...... 79.4...... 6.6 KOTAGALA...... 13,369...... 6.2...... 6.4...... 6.6...... 6.2...... 6.3...... 0.1 KAHAWATTE...... 500...... 31.6...... 28.8...... 31.4...... 28.8...... 31.3...... -0.3 DOMESTIC 121,834,504.00...... 111,720,360.00 L O L C HOLDINGS...... 1,580,704...... 342...... 359.75...... 412...... 340...... 387.75...... 45.75 KEELLS FOOD...... 3,201...... 144.5...... 138...... 151.25...... 136.5...... 151...... 6.5 FOREIGN 1,692,267.00...... 1,993,851.00 LANKA ALUMINIUM...... 90,527...... 19.1...... 20...... 20...... 18.8...... 19.4...... 0.3 KEELLS HOTELS...... 639,745...... 10.3...... 10.6...... 11...... 10.3...... 10.6...... 0.3 TRADES(NO.) 24,772...... 27,458 LANKA ASHOK...... 15...... 839.25...... 764.5...... 765...... 764.5...... 839.25...... 0 LANKA CERAMIC...... 2,591...... 136.5...... 136...... 138.5...... 134...... 134.25...... -2.25 DOMESTIC 24,389...... 26,976 LANKA HOSPITALS...... 13,916...... 46.5...... 43.2...... 46.5...... 42...... 44.4...... -2.1 LANKEM CEYLON...... 704...... 30...... 28.5...... 31.9...... 28.5...... 30.5...... 0.5 LANKA IOC...... 630,600...... 20.3...... 22...... 23...... 20.5...... 22.6...... 2.3 LAUGFS POWER...... 34,843...... 9.8...... 10.3...... 10.3...... 9.6...... 9.6...... -0.2 FOREIGN 383...... 482 LANKA TILES...... 58,911...... 233.5...... 236...... 240...... 232...... 233.75...... 0.25 LAUGFS POWER [LPL-X-0000]...... 11,006...... 7.1...... 7.1...... 7.1...... 6.7...... 7...... -0.1 CORPORATE DEBT 0...... 16433550 LANKA VENTURES...... 26,845...... 49...... 49...... 50...... 48.1...... 48.7...... -0.3 LOTUS HYDRO...... 4,091...... 9.7...... 9.8...... 9.8...... 9.3...... 9.6...... -0.1 GOVERNMENT DEBT 0...... 0 LANKA WALLTILE...... 72,426...... 237.25...... 238...... 240...... 235...... 237...... -0.25 MAHAWELI REACH...... 2,210...... 14.1...... 13.1...... 13.9...... 13.1...... 13.9...... -0.2 LISTED COMPANIES (NO.) 283...... 283 LAUGFS GAS...... 8,924...... 23.9...... 25...... 25...... 24.1...... 25...... 1.1 MARAWILA RESORTS...... 241,810...... 1.9...... 1.9...... 1.9...... 1.8...... 1.9...... 0 LAUGFS GAS [LGL.X0000]...... 16,748...... 18.9...... 19.8...... 20.5...... 19.6...... 19.9...... 1 MASKELIYA...... 3,820...... 11.1...... 11.1...... 11.6...... 11.1...... 11.2...... 0.1 TRADED COMPANIES (NO.) 258...... 259 LAXAPANA...... XR 101,062...... 14.1...... 14.3...... 14.4...... 14.3...... 14.3...... 0.2 MILLENNIUM HOUSE...... 1,171...... 6...... 6.1...... 6.1...... 6.1...... 6.1...... 0.1 MARKET PRICE EARNINGS RATIO(PER) 13.6...... 13.4 LB FINANCE...... 21,056...... 218.5...... 229.5...... 229.5...... 216...... 220...... 1.5 ON’ALLY...... 277...... 32.8...... 33.1...... 33.1...... 33.1...... 33.1...... 0.3 MARKET PRICE TO BOOK VALUE (PBV) 1.3...... 1.2 LEE HEDGES...... 4...... 77.4...... 75...... 75...... 75...... 77.4...... 0 ORIENT FINANCE...... 3,253...... 13.4...... 14.9...... 14.9...... 14.5...... 14.5...... 1.1 MARKET DIVIDEND YIELD (DY) 2.3...... 2.3 LION BREWERY...... 1,232...... 570.5...... 575...... 575...... 565.25...... 570...... -0.5 PALM GARDEN HOTL...... 213...... 30.9...... 31.6...... 31.6...... 28.1...... 30.7...... -0.2 PEGASUS HOTELS...... 479...... 31...... 32.3...... 32.8...... 31...... 31.1...... 0.1 MARKET CAPITALIZATION (Rs.) 3,382,567,449,998.00...... 3,317,850,545,802.00 LMF...... 81,319...... 166.75...... 170...... 170...... 165.5...... 167.5...... 0.75 LVL ENERGY...... 182,268...... 9.6...... 9.6...... 9.9...... 9.5...... 9.5...... -0.1 RAIGAM SALTERNS...... 48,341...... 5.5...... 5.7...... 6...... 5.6...... 5.8...... 0.3 RENUKA CAPITAL...... 186,738...... 7.6...... 7.6...... 8.1...... 7.5...... 8...... 0.4 1. Overnight Money Market Transactions MALWATTE...... 60,400...... 13...... 13.5...... 13.9...... 13...... 13.6...... 0.6 MALWATTE [MAL.X0000]...... 84,290...... 8.9...... 8.2...... 8.9...... 8.2...... 8.7...... -0.2 RICH PIERIS EXP...... 972...... 358.5...... 351.25...... 374...... 351.25...... 370...... 11.5 Call Money Market...... Repo Market MELSTACORP...... 320,158...... 49.8...... 50...... 51.7...... 49.9...... 50.9...... 1.1 SATHOSA MOTORS...... 60...... 230.5...... 239.75...... 239.75...... 239.75...... 230.5...... 0 Weighted Average Rate (%) 4.54 4.56 MERCHANT BANK...... 8,255...... 7.2...... 7.1...... 7.5...... 7...... 7.5...... 0.3 SERENDIB ENG.GRP...... 103...... 6.6...... 6.9...... 6.9...... 6.3...... 6.9...... 0.3 Minimum Rate (%) 4.53 4.55 MULLERS...... 88,963...... 1...... 1.1...... 1.2...... 1...... 1.1...... 0.1 SERENDIB HOTELS...... 1,610...... 15.5...... 15.7...... 15.7...... 15.2...... 15.6...... 0.1 Maximum Rate (%) 4.55 4.60 NAMUNUKULA...... 397...... 180...... 179...... 180.5...... 179...... 180...... 0 SERENDIB HOTELS [SHOT.X0000]...... 600...... 9.7...... 9.3...... 9.4...... 9.3...... 9.4...... -0.3 Total Gross amount (Rs. million) 16,850 7,761 SINGER IND...... 101...... 90.4...... 98.8...... 98.8...... 98.7...... 98.7...... 8.3 NAT. DEV. BANK...... 217,281...... 88.6...... 90...... 90...... 86.5...... 89...... 0.4 Total Net amount (Rs. million) 16,850 7,700 SINGHE HOSPITALS...... 597,622...... 2.1...... 2.1...... 2.2...... 2...... 2.2...... 0.1 NATIONS TRUST...... 21,862...... 59...... 59.9...... 59.9...... 58.8...... 58.9...... -0.1 2. Use of the CBSL Standing Facility SINHAPUTHRA FIN [SFL.P0000]...... 7,810...... 4.8...... 4.3...... 4.7...... 4.3...... 4.3...... -0.5 NAWALOKA...... 684,013...... 5.5...... 5.5...... 5.5...... 5.2...... 5.4...... -0.1 SOFTLOGIC...... 323,121...... 13.3...... 13.5...... 13.6...... 13.3...... 13.5...... 0.2 Standing Deposit Facility (Rs. million) 153,671 NESTLE...... 29...... 1180...... 1,199.75...... 1,199.75...... 1,170.00...... 1,180.00...... 0 Standing Lending Facility (Rs. million) - SOFTLOGIC CAP...... 1,386,631...... 3.8...... 3.9...... 4.2...... 3.8...... 4.1...... 0.3 OVERSEAS REALTY...... 221,441...... 16...... 16.1...... 16.1...... 15.7...... 16...... 0 SOFTLOGIC FIN...... 19,545...... 10.6...... 10.5...... 10.6...... 10.2...... 10.4...... -0.2 3. CBSL Treasury Bill/Bonds Holdings PAN ASIA...... 354,273...... 17.4...... 17.80...... 18.20...... 17.40...... 17.80...... 0.4 SWADESHI...... 1...... 18324.8...... 16,500.00...... 16,500.00...... 16,500.00...... 18,324.80...... 0 Face Value (Rs. million) ...... 769,848.88 PANASIAN POWER...... 948,262...... 3.5...... 3.6...... 3.6...... 3.5...... 3.5...... 0 SOFTLOGIC LIFE...... 108,705...... 32...... 32.5...... 32.7...... 31.7...... 32.7...... 0.7 Book Value (Rs. million) ...... 755,436.95 PEOPLE’S INS...... 23,592...... 31.8...... 31.2...... 32...... 31.2...... 31.8...... 0 TAL LANKA...... 33,260...... 13.2...... 13.7...... 13.7...... 11.7...... 12.5...... -0.7 PEOPLES LEASING...... 739,138...... 12.5...... 12.5...... 12.6...... 12.2...... 12.2...... -0.3 TRANS ASIA...... 9...... 58...... 59.5...... 59.5...... 59.5...... 58...... 0 TOP 10 GAINERS PIRAMAL GLASS...... 3,354,688...... 9.8...... 9.9...... 10.2...... 9.8...... 10...... 0.2 UDAPUSSELLAWA...... 1,372...... 21.4...... 22.5...... 22.6...... 22.2...... 22.5...... 1.1 Company VWA VWA Change Change PRINTCARE PLC...... 3,102...... 29.5...... 29.1...... 30.5...... 29...... 29.1...... -0.4 UNION ASSURANCE...... 1,337...... 314...... 309.25...... 320...... 306...... 313...... -1 Prev. Close Days Close (Rs.) % R I L PROPERTY...... 259,347...... 7...... 7...... 7.3...... 6.8...... 6.9...... -0.1 VALLIBELONE...... 1,838,993...... 64...... 66.5...... 67.9...... 63.1...... 63.9...... -0.1 BLUE DIAMONDS 0.3 0.4...... 0.1...... 33.33 INDUSTRIAL ASPH. 0.4 0.5...... 0.1...... 25 REGNIS...... 5,566...... 100.25...... 102...... 105...... 101...... 103...... 2.75 WATCH LIST BLUE DIAMONDS 0.5 0.6...... 0.1...... 20 RENUKA AGRI...... 884,071...... 3.9...... 3.9...... 4...... 3.8...... 3.9...... 0 ANILANA HOTELS...... 16,085...... 1...... 1.2...... 1.3...... 1.2...... 1.3...... 0.1 FORTRESS RESORTS 10.1 11.6...... 1.5...... 14.85 RENUKA CITY HOT...... 734...... 242...... 240...... 240...... 225...... 229...... -13 BIMPUTH FINANCE...... 121...... 7.7...... 8.3...... 8.3...... 8.3...... 8.3...... 0.6 L O L C HOLDINGS 342 387.75...... 45.75...... 13.38 BLUE DIAMONDS...... 116,067...... 0.5...... 0.5...... 0.6...... 0.5...... 0.6...... 0.1 GESTETNER 96 108...... 12...... 12.5 RENUKA FOODS...... 12,973...... 14.3...... 15...... 15.1...... 14.2...... 15...... 0.7 HAPUGASTENNE 15.3 17.2...... 1.9...... 12.42 RENUKA FOODS [COCO.X0000]...... 10,251...... 12.7...... 12.6...... 12.6...... 12.5...... 12.5...... -0.2 BLUE DIAMONDS [BLUE.X0000]...... 726,668...... 0.3...... 0.3...... 0.4...... 0.2...... 0.4...... 0.1 MACKWOODS ENERGY 2.5 2.8...... 0.3...... 12 RENUKA HOLDINGS...... 293,975...... 16.5...... 17...... 17...... 16.2...... 16.4...... -0.1 HUNAS FALLS...... 48...... 144...... 149...... 149...... 149...... 144...... 0 LANKA IOC 20.3 22.6...... 2.3...... 11.33 LANKEM DEV...... 74,351...... 3.7...... 3.8...... 3.9...... 3.8...... 3.8...... 0.1 BROWNS 178.75 199...... 20.25...... 11.33 RENUKA HOLDINGS [RHL.X0000]...... 62,692...... 12.6...... 12.2...... 13...... 12.2...... 12.7...... 0.1 MACKWOODS ENERGY...... 62,197...... 2.5...... 2.6...... 2.8...... 2.6...... 2.8...... 0.3 RESUS ENERGY...... 9,330...... 25.5...... 25...... 25...... 25...... 25...... -0.5 TOP 10 LOSERS MULTI FINANCE...... 1...... 7.3...... 7.3...... 7.3...... 7.3...... 7.3...... 0 RICHARD PIERIS...... 11,858,686...... 17...... 17.5...... 18.4...... 17.3...... 18...... 1 NATION LANKA...... 65,112...... 0.8...... 0.8...... 0.9...... 0.8...... 0.8...... 0 Company VWA VWA...... Change...... Change ROYAL CERAMIC...... 361,588...... 328...... 330...... 340...... 325...... 329.75...... 1.75 S M B LEASING 0.7 0.6...... -0.1...... -14.29 OFFICE EQUIPMENT...... 1...... 71.2...... 73...... 73...... 73...... 71.2...... 0 SINHAPUTHRA FIN 4.8 4.3...... -0.5...... -10.42 S M B LEASING...... 1,826,067...... 0.7...... 0.7...... 0.7...... 0.5...... 0.6...... -0.1 HATTON 8.9 8.3...... -0.6...... -6.74 PARAGON...... 596...... 55...... 57.9...... 57.9...... 54...... 54...... -1 RADIANT GEMS 29.8 27.9...... -1.9...... -6.38 S M B LEASING [SEMB.X0000]...... 222,648...... 0.3...... 0.4...... 0.4...... 0.3...... 0.3...... 0 RADIANT GEMS...... 102...... 29.8...... 27.9...... 28...... 27.9...... 27.9...... -1.9 AMANA TAKAFUL 8.5 8...... -0.5...... -5.88 SAMPATH...... 1,052,014...... 160...... 163...... 164...... 158...... 160...... 0 SINHAPUTHRA FIN...... 52,550...... 7.4...... 7.4...... 7.9...... 7.1...... 7.5...... 0.1 RENUKA CITY HOT. 242 229...... -13...... -5.37 TAL LANKA 13.2 12.5...... -0.7...... -5.3 SAMSON INTERNAT...... 230...... 150...... 153.5...... 154...... 153.5...... 153.75...... 3.75 STANDARD CAPITAL...... 71...... 73...... 73...... 73...... 73...... 73...... 0 LOLC DEV FINANCE 84.1 79.7...... -4.4...... -5.23 SANASA DEV. BANK...... 42,608...... 60.4...... 60...... 60...... 58.1...... 60...... -0.4 TESS AGRO...... 568,341...... 0.6...... 0.6...... 0.7...... 0.6...... 0.6...... 0 LANKA HOSPITALS 46.5 44.4...... -2.1...... -4.52 CITRUS HIKKADUWA 5.4 5.2...... -0.2...... -3.7 SEYLAN BANK...... 7,916...... 52.9...... 53...... 53...... 51.1...... 51.7...... -1.2 TESS AGRO [TESS.X0000]...... 47,890...... 0.5...... 0.5...... 0.5...... 0.5...... 0.5...... 0 114 Friday, February 19, 2021 „„ www.themorning.lk

Gwyneth Paltrow reveals THOUGHT FOR THE DAY she had Covid ‘early on’ Wellness guru and actress Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed she “If you hire people was diagnosed with Covid-19 last year, and has been using a just because they can bevy of diet and supplement strategies to fight long-term do a job, they’ll work side effects. In a product round-up for her lifestyle brand for your money. But Goop on 16 February, Paltrow detailed her “healing if you hire people detox”, mentioning for the first time that she who believe what you contracted the novel coronavirus “early on” in believe, they’ll work the pandemic. It’s not clear when she was for you with blood diagnosed, but Paltrow said she continued and sweat and to suffer symptoms experienced by many tears.” “Covid long haulers”, including ongoing – Simon Sinek fatigue, brain fog, and inflammation. brunch Surreal artwork speaking BADGES, GUNS, AND of deeper themes of life Loka Art Gallery BY DIMITHRI WIJESINGHE SHATTERED EGOS? Well into the second year BY VENESSA ANTHONY has done for women and to enhance the status of women is of Covid-19, more and more children in her capacity explicitly permitted in Sri Lanka’s creatives are coming out of the On 21 September has been enormous, and Constitution. But I think we can all woodworks, with most of them 2020, the National the changes she has agree that having one police officer, having lost their steady corporate gigs due to the pandemic. Police Commission made within the Police one senior DIG, among several male Department as well on DIGs, is not really even positive This week, The Morning (NPC) granted victim complaints and discrimination in favour of women – it Brunch reached out to Randeepa approval to promote sensitisation of the Police is still discrimination against women.” Ranasinghe, who not too long Randeepa Ranasinghe working on a a female police towards women’s issues He also noted that if anything, ago was a kitchen artist in Dubai. pencil drawing officer to the rank taking place.” there should be a direction given to the For nearly eight years, Randeepa the ones that require a couple of Deputy Inspector DIG Bimshani has made Police that they need to increase the worked as an artist creating party of viewings to truly grasp its General of Police (DIG), a huge contribution and it is opportunity for women to be holding decorations, be it for Christmas, meaning. He said that nearly DIG Bimshani important for us to have women big positions, which should adequately Halloween, bar mitzvahs, or which should have, in an Jasin Aarachchi all his artwork embodies ideal world, been a cause in these positions, because, as de reflect the number of women in the New Year’s Eve events – you deeper meanings, which he has for celebration. Unfortunately, Alwis noted, one of the biggest population. name it, he has done it. As a embedded in the lines. He said this was not the case. problems for 52% of the Sri Lankan kitchen artist, he was responsible he hopes they inspire others as population is domestic violence. “We It is an institutional issue: for a variety of work such as food much as they have inspired and The appointment made Bimshani really need our own representation to Dr. sculptures, chocolate carvings, enriched his life. Jasin Aarachchi the first female DIG in empathise with it and help Sri Lanka “It is completely unacceptable in and ice sculptures. However, he When asked if he is for or Sri Lanka, and the resulting incidents progress in those areas.” this day and age that the regulations, as said the job description was not against explaining the artist’s shed light on the problematic police She concluded saying that there the petitions claim, do not allow for a limited to food-related sculptures thinking behind art pieces, regulations where it allegedly states needs to be no challenge posed to woman to be appointed as DIG,” stated and that they would expand Randeepa said he doesn’t fall that a women cannot become a DIG, as women who are deserving and qualified rights activist, senior university lecturer, and contribute with whatever into either camp, adding that if brought to discussion with the petition to reach the upper ranks. and MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, also background one needed in order the customer or viewer requires raised by 32 male police officers who felt noting that it is utterly to round up the aesthetic of an an explanation, he isn’t against their rights were being infringed. Constitution allows discrimination ridiculous that in event. sharing his thoughts. However, Five months after her appointment, 2021, women Despite being steadily it is preferred that the person the Supreme Court (SC) set dates to against women: are still having employed in what he thought who is experiencing the art hear the petition signed by 32 Senior Aritha Wickramasinghe to fight to get a was his life’s calling, as the does so by relating to their life’s Superintendents of Police (SSPs) “I think the petition is pathetic promotion to a height of the pandemic hit, his experiences, making that piece challenging the appointment of DIG and is a perfect example of toxic higher grade. company was forced to let go theirs. Bimshani. masculinity,” stated iProbono Equality She noted of their employees, resulting in The Loka Art Gallery We at The Morning Brunch spoke Director Attorney-at-Law Aritha that on the other hand, their creative hires scurrying is situated in Pasyala, and to a few individuals who have expressed Wickramasinghe, adding that it has taken the Police is supposed to interact with back to their home countries Randeepa said he must express their stance on this issue, standing with the one and only woman in the history the public and its major responsibility with no real opportunities left. his gratitude to his good friend DIG Bimshani. of 154 years of the Sri Lanka Police to is to serve the public, of whom 52% Not one to let life’s Chathuranga, who is currently trigger these male police officers. unfortunate circumstances bring NPC needs to work fast and hard: are women. “The Police in the senior residing in Japan and who lent Wickramasinghe believes that this ranks are unable to represent more him down, Randeepa decided to him the shop space to house his Shanuki de Alwis is very unfortunate and embarrassing, than half the population, which is also put his artistic skills to use and gallery, allowing him to create Advocate, brand purpose consultant, adding that he wished the Supreme Court very problematic. We know that there explore the possibility of using and display his work in the and talk show host Shanuki de Alwis appoints an all-female have long been problems with regard his passions and hobbies to name of friendship. He said he pointed out that the issue here was the panel for the hearing to insensitivity of the Police in dealing generate a revenue stream. And has been fortunate to have the fact that regulations actually allow this to give these with issues of domestic violence, sexual so came along his brand-new support of those around him to kind of discrimination to occur. “If there officers peace of harassment, and rape. Most women are art gallery, “Loka Art Gallery”, get back on his feet. is no allocation for a female officer, mind. extremely uncomfortable in dealing featuring surrealist artwork The artist said he is did these police officers have the right When asked with the Police even though the Police speaking of the deeper themes somewhat grateful for the to petition it?” questioned de Alwis. if he thought are there to help them out.” of life; impermanence, being circumstances that led him to “The question is, if they were allowed these officers were She said that if this is the attitude present – all stories told through this juncture in life, as he feels to petition it, why is there only a police coming from a legal within the environment of the police incredibly detailed graphite that even if the pandemic clears force for males?” standpoint, he commented: “Of course force, then it’s very clear why women pencil drawings. out and he is once again faced She stated that the NPC needs to pull they don’t have a legal standpoint; of this country have no trust or faith The artist shared that as with the opportunity to return their socks up and make these changes they have said that the media has said in the police system to help them. She someone who has never received to his past occupation, he will now, and start increasing the quota that granting women big positions also highlighted that this is a very any formal training in art, he not return but will continue and promotion of female violates their right to equality and problematic issue and should not be wished to really throw himself down this new path he paved officers because “it’s 2021, equal opportunity, which has caused something they are confronting in this into his work and improve as for himself. He said he hopes and it is high time these irreparable harm to their career day and age, but should have been dealt rapidly as possible to be able to to expand his gallery and soon changes are implemented”. prospects.” with much earlier. put to paper what’s in his mind. include some sculpting as well, De Alwis believes that Wickramasinghe commented that Dr. Amarasuriya believes that Three months ago, Randeepa stating also that he doesn’t only DIG Bimshani shouldn’t he doesn’t understand how giving one it is an institutional problem, rather had not even attempted graphite do his own originals, but will have to fight fundamental woman an opportunity violates these than being one within the individuals pencil artwork, but now he take orders and create works rights cases to be able to get grounds, adding that the basis of these themselves. “I think it’s more primarily draws stunningly based on what one wants to what she deserves, nor should any police officers is that the Police’s complicated than these 32 individuals. beautiful artwork that looks depict, as well as portraits. other female officer, for that matter. “I internal rules don’t have a position for Clearly, the institution has failed them, absolutely unreal. really think that rather than focusing on a woman. “That is frankly what I would as well as DIG Bimshani,” she said, “I started off as most artists 0776 078 423 the men who are petitioning, we should call nonsense. At the end of the day, adding that these police officers must do; I started by using liquid be focusing on changing the regulation, the Constitution of this country, which feel deprived in some way and feel that paints and worked my way up [email protected] and the National Police Commission guarantees equal opportunities and they’ve been treated badly. to doing complete works of art with pencil because I felt I needs to work very hard and very fast on prohibits discrimination based on data, “I don’t hold the 32 individuals @loka.art.gallery making those changes.” is superior to any internal rule book of responsible; I hold the institution have to expand my skills and also present something slightly She further commented that we as the Police or any organisation.” responsible for creating such a Loka Art Gallery a society should push for these reforms He also observed that Sri Lanka’s cringeworthy situation which we should different,” he said. as well as demand that we have more Constitution expressly also allowed all be ashamed of, where the 32 men are Randeepa shared that www.lokaartgallery.com/ female representation in seniority in discrimination in favour of women. claiming that a woman’s promotion is some of his favourite pieces are law enforcement. “What DIG Bimshani “Positive discrimination in order affecting their rights.” A critical look at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage as it celebrates 46 years BY DIMITHRI WIJESINGHE effective programme, producing one of the Director Rukshan Jayawardene stating that largest numbers of baby elephants. the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage has long The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, However, he said that there is a since perverted its original mandate, adding which initially started off as a centre to challenge they are facing, as they do not that it was never meant to be a holding rehabilitate misplaced or abandoned baby know what to do with these elephants facility and as a result, there was a need for elephants who would otherwise struggle to when they grow into adults, as they cannot the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe, survive in the wild, has since grown into integrate into the wild, having been brought simply because Pinnawala was not doing an institution that caters not only for the up in captivity. He said that there have been what it was meant to. He added that beyond attempts to give them away. However, that, there are many concerns with the way abandoned babies but also for those injured PHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM EFL Director Rukshan BECT Managing Trustee and maimed within the jungle. Jayawardene Jayantha Jayewardene politicians have obstructed this, wanting the establishment is run, stating that it is The orphanage, in its mandate, has that additionally, they also launched a new these animals for themselves, not for the love increasingly mismanaged, adopting awfully existed for over four decades and celebrated display of an elephant head skull, which he We spoke to a number of wildlife of the animal but rather for the prestige of archaic methods in looking after their wards its 46th anniversary on 16 February 2021. shared would be a new attraction. activists with regard to the role of the having an elephant in one’s garden. and many acts of cruelty like chaining the We reached out to Pinnawala Elephant As for the challenges faced by the staff elephant orphanage and its role in the sphere It is no secret that the elephant elephants to the river bed, are also seen. Orphanage Assistant Director Mihiran when it comes to Covid-19 restrictions, he of conservation and protection of wildlife. orphanage has been a controversial topic “It is not a progressive institution, and is Medawala for a brief comment on how they said that they have put their staff of 199 ‎Biodiversity and Elephant Conservation of division, with the majority of wildlife absolutely not keeping with the times,” he marked their anniversary, and how they persons on a roster working with a backup, Trust (BECT) Managing Trustee Jayantha activists taking a position against raising said, adding that it is “unethical, and tourists have fared considering the pandemic and its to ensure that no one who contracts the virus, Jayewardene shared that the Pinnawala elephants in captivity. However, there were who have had greater exposure would know effects on both their staff and the elephants. if at all, would have the chance of spreading Elephant Orphanage has been an exemplary some who wished them well and shared that immediately not to visit such a place”. Medawala said that unlike in the past, it to the entirety of the staff. Beyond that, institution for having one of the better hopefully, the establishment would some He further said that in his lifetime, it is they did not make a big occasion of the he said they only allow foreigners in on elephant breeding programmes, which day return to its originally mandated purpose his hope to witness a time where elephants milestone and simply gathered the staff Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and they actually came upon by happenstance. of rehabilitation and eventual release of the no longer live in captivity, and while he and had their usual pirith and milk rice the remaining days are dedicated to locals, Jayawardene said that while the first female animals into the wild. understands it would take some time, he almsgiving, which they traditionally do and that is how they have been operating for elephant just happened to get pregnant, Nevertheless, not all were so forgiving, hopes we’ll realise that places like Pinnawala to mark anniversary celebrations. He said some time now. since then, the orphanage has developed an with Environmental Foundation Ltd. (EFL) do not look good on us as a nation. 124 brunch „„ www.themorning.lk { TRAVEL } Friday, February 19, 2021 ‘Sri Lanka is an iconic destination’ Ceylon Travel Consultancy on their partnership with India and more Inside Cheeky Monkey surf shop BY VENESSA ANTHONY retail business. “The reason I promote Sri Lanka as Ceylon Travel Consultancy a travel destination is purely because The Cheeky is said to be Sri Lanka’s first when you look at it as a country, you sales and marketing hotel have everything; you have the beach, representation company. registered for this niche. “I have my you have the mountains, you have Monkey – Midigama Established this year, they team who works with me in Dubai, the water activities – it’s a beautiful Ready to catch the new wave of offer various strategic business who are currently working for me island, an iconic destination.” He with our Indian partnership. I do all solutions for hotels, resorts, added that usually, when a foreigner surf tourism the contracting and put a strategy in visits, it’s to shop or to hike, but and villas located in the place in order to drive business from Sri Lanka can offer many more On the southern coastal country. Currently, their target India to Sri Lanka.” With this venture, adventures like surfing, walking tip of Sri Lanka, in a town source market is India, which he aims to open up job opportunities through tea plantations, and hiking, called Midigama, young they achieved by implementing in the travel trade and offer something thus making it the ideal tourism business leader “Baba” strategic and engaging new for our people in Sri Lanka. hotspot. Pasindu Delgodage is the campaigns. Speaking about the challenges catalyst of a changing town. behind obtaining this partnership, Goals He’s the owner of Cheeky The Managing Director Shanith Jayalath added that hotel representation Jayalath commented that this is Monkey – a guest house, Jayalath has over 10 years of Ceylon Travel Consultancy Managing Director is a new concept for the majority of their first big project: “We are trying restaurant, and one-stop, international hospitality experience Shanith Jayalath the hotel industry, so it is not very to tie up with the Sri Lanka Tourism full-service surf shop. in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Destination Venture plays a vital role well known. “We have to do a lot of department, and we want to bring top Like most kids in the area, He has experience managing different in executing all trade, marketing, and groundwork to explain and understand travel agents to Sri Lanka as soon as Pasindu taught himself roles within hotels, such as operations, communication activities undertaken how we work as a company itself. the travel bubble has been signed up to surf at the age of 12 event management, and business by Ceylon Travel Consultancy. There’s a lot of phone conversations for. We are already in discussions with and he’s been riding the development, which has propelled that we could not do in person, which them on how we are going to take it waves ever since. A him to take the reins of Ceylon Travel Sri Lanka-India partnership limits our ability to pitch our market further.” little older and a lot more Cheeky Monkey Owner Consultancy. Jayalath’s most recent Speaking to Jayalath on this value.” Their primary target for 2021 seasoned, he worked as a Pasindu Delgodage role was managing nine beach and venture, he commented: “We mainly will be to promote Sri Lanka to a surf instructor to the few guesthouse in town, city hotel clusters for Jumeirah Group specialise in bridging the Indian Economical value major-scale market in India: “If you tourists that ambled their Cheeky Monkey is a pillar by developing India and subcontinent travel market to Sri Lanka, because Jayalath stated: “We bring a look at India, they are one of the top way into Midigama for of Midigama’s surf tourism markets for FIT (free independent India is the number one travel market completely new prospect view in source markets for Dubai, Thailand, an undisturbed surf. He and Pasindu himself has traveller), MICE (meetings, incentives, because of the short distance, and it terms of strategising to the market, and Singapore.” He observed that in loved what he did, but he empowered and uplifted conferences, and exhibitions), and is a neighbouring country.” He stated and we believe, with all the support countries like the Maldives, there are had bigger dreams and he the livelihoods of many in destination weddings. He has played that they see potential in India, so they that we can get from the Sri Lanka limited options other than the beach, saw bigger potential for his the area – especially of the a key role planning and strategising promote the Indian market and bring Tourism and from the hoteliers, we and in countries like Dubai, it’s aimed town. youth; choosing to sponsor, in order to drive substantial revenue new clients and partners from India to will be able to open to a niche market towards shopping and buildings. “Sri Back in 2009, Midigama train, and employee local to all the properties, while developing Sri Lanka. of philanthropists.” He observed Lanka, aside from our adventures, also was hardly known, kids who are keen to learn the brand in the Indian market. His “We bring exclusivity by taking that in the future, beautiful five-star, has a very rich history and cultural often overlooked for its surfing. experience alone brings over 15 years their brand and putting it on the map,” upscale resorts will come up in Sri sites to visit. So, our main objective is more popular surfing While Sri Lanka’s of comprehensive sales experience to he said, adding that they write press Lanka, and noted that we already to promote the country as the ultimate neighbourhoods, Weligama tourism industry remains the company. releases, do the marketing from their have wildlife, and five-star properties travel destination and get as many and Ahangama. Only the multifaceted, surf tourism Ceylon Travel Consultancy social media platforms, and most surrounding wildlife parks, beaches, travellers as possible to visit us.” most unpretentious mix of in particular has been a recently tied up with Singh importantly, use the sales funnel mountains, and many aspects travellers and locals found popular form of tourism for Consultancy and Destination Venture to generate leads and get business that can cater to any traveller. its way there to chase the past couple of years, to gauge and facilitate the market in activities like destination weddings “This venture is going to help the perfect waves up and attracting surfers from India, especially Mumbai and Delhi. and travel. with growth, not only in terms of down the rugged coastline around the world who Commencing this month, February Jayalath noted that there is no travel, but for global companies, around it. At that time, stay for months on end to 2021, Singh Consultancy and company in Sri Lanka which is transport companies, and also the all Midigama had to offer enjoy Sri Lanka’s all-year were three guesthouses, a round surfing seasons. few ramshackle surf shops, The east coast, enjoying and a handful of restaurants the season from May to overlooking the waves. September, has hosted a In late 2009, Pasindu variety of international opened Cheeky Monkey surfing championships for Cinnamon Bentota Beach gains LEED Platinum certification – a small guest house with competitive surfers on the Cinnamon Bentota Beach, a Dinushka Kalutota stated: “This just three rooms, a tiny beaches of Arugambay property of Cinnamon Hotels & Sri Lanka’s achievement stands as a testament surf shop, and a restaurant. while the southern coast Resorts, stated that it became the to our commitment to sustainability He still had bigger dreams opens up for its season first hotel of its scale in Sri Lanka first large- throughout the entire lifecycle of for it, but this was a start. from November to April to be Leadership in Energy and the project. Strategic and technical What would follow is a for beginners and non- Environmental Design (LEED) scale hotel to decisions pertaining to the design 10-year journey of sheer competitive surfers. Platinum-certified by the US Green and construction of the project grit and perseverance as Midigama too has been Building Council, under the “LEED be accredited were heavily influenced by LEED Cheeky Monkey gradually benefiting from the New Construction Version 3 2009” certification guidelines, along with expanded into becoming the increasing surf tourism as rating system. unique integrated utility solutions to biggest one-stop surf camp many find their way into The LEED certification identified ensure that this state-of-the-art hotel in the South rivalling those this town to enjoy the reef Cinnamon Bentota Beach as an performs at optimum efficiencies, of its neighbouring coasts. breaks and the quality example of sustainability that resulting in a reduced carbon footprint The Cheeky Monkey, waves it has to offer. But demonstrates the property’s leadership and an environmentally friendly the largest surf shop in Covid-19 and the year- prowess in transforming the building operation.” the area, retails premier long pause on tourism has industry. Cinnamon Bentota Beach received international surf brands affected the business badly. The US Green Building Council Hotels & Resorts), Virgin Hotels, and and cost-effective buildings, and we the LEED Platinum certification based such as Quiksilver, During the season, is an organisation committed to a Hyatt Hotels Corporation. are committed to the common goal of on utilising cost-effective renewable Billabong, and Ripcurl Pasindu and his team sustainable, prosperous future through Cinnamon Bentota Beach General building a healthier, more sustainable energy, limiting the effects of climate while the Surf School offers would work around the LEED, the leading programme for Manager Donald Wingell stated: “It future for all our stakeholders – change, protecting natural habitats, guided surfing lessons clock, barely having time green buildings and communities is an honour to accept this award whether guests, staff, or the greater soil erosion and sedimentation control, by professionally trained for food, but the pandemic worldwide. With the recent LEED on behalf of Cinnamon Bentota community.” upcycling construction material, surfers. Now a 10-roomed has presented itself as a certification, Cinnamon Bentota Beach Beach. The LEED certification is Commenting on the recent implementing natural lighting accommodation, Cheeky tough challenge. Though joins the ranks of other international a prestigious, globally recognised LEED Platinum certification, architecture, better air quality, and Monkey has its own gym, the last couple of months hotels such as Element Hotels (the symbol of sustainability for highly Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Vice greenery, as well as meeting the an open-air restaurant, and has seen an increase in eco-conscious brand of Marriott efficient, environmentally friendly, President – Engineering and Projects ASHRAE 62.1-2007 standard. café, and offers a number of local guests in the South, curated events and activities it is simply not enough to such as yoga, surf and safari keep the business afloat. tours, classes, and parties “It’s been a tough year for for guests to enjoy. us. But with the country “I love what I do. For me, it open for tourism again, we is both work and a holiday,” are hopeful for a change. I Jetwing Yala welcomes its first sea turtles for expressed Pasindu. “When think it will be interesting 2021 I first started the Cheeky to explore the new ways nest conservation area maintained record 250 million years ago and Monkey, Midigama was we can improve hospitality. at the hotel in collaboration with the outlasting the age of the dinosaurs. still a developing town. We are ready for a different Department of Wildlife Conservation The beaches of Sri Lanka are home Now, the town is becoming spin in tourism and we (DWC). to five of seven extant species of sea more popular and is known are excited to welcome all Last year, over 11 such nests were turtles, including the largest living as a surfing spot.” surfers to our coast again,” conserved by the associates at Jetwing turtle on Earth – the leatherback As the oldest surf shared Pasindu. Yala, providing over a thousand sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). hatchlings with much-needed All seven species are considered protection during their vulnerable threatened globally, their populations first hours of life. The safety afforded plummeting as a result of poaching at Jetwing ensures that the cycle of for both eggs and meat, disturbance nesting continues along the beaches of nesting beaches, being caught as of Yala, as turtles are known to return bycatch in commercial fisheries, and to their beach of hatching year after changes to global climatic conditions year. The efforts of the hotel were which affect their nesting habits. recognised by the DWC, which in In line with the Jetwing Hotels’ 2019 decided to construct a turtle Sustainable Strategy, sustainable egg conservatory adjoining the hotel and responsible practices across Jetwing Yala welcomed its first beachfront were protected in situ to premises where eggs can be protected all properties are given precedence batch of turtle nests for the season prevent disturbance by feral animals. from unscrupulous poachers and feral with resource efficiency, community early last week. Keeping with the A third nest, partially disturbed, was animals. upliftment and education, and longstanding conservation efforts at discovered further along the beach Turtles are ancient reptiles, their awareness being some of their key the hotel, two nests at Jetwing Yala’s and was relocated to a fenced turtle ancestors appearing in the fossil focus areas. Cheeky Monkey surf camp brunch 134 Friday, February 19, 2021 { COLUMNS/EVENTS } „„ www.themorning.lk Snakes in Suits White-collar Visualising the psychopathy intangible. This does not in any way imply that the psychological, physical, social, and/or financial strain caused by them is any less significant. However, it rarely Whenever someone is being over the warrants the attention of policymakers top, it is customary for us to say: “ihsfld or the public, unless gross injustice has flaia tlla nx!” (S/he is a psycho case, taken place. dude!) Right? This terminology could either A recent example in Sri Lanka be derived from the words “psychosis” during the initial lockdown period was BY FRED FERNANDO or “psychopathy”. when a reputed e-commerce frames company overly priced Psychosis as a diagnosis The last few weeks, we spoke of storyboarding and concept artwork. is a state of mind (i.e., essential food items And we mentioned, in passing, a process called shot-listing. What is this shot-list? Why is having lost touch with listed on their website. it important? Can you do without one? reality – false beliefs, As a result of public seeing, hearing, feeling, outcry, the respective Every piece of art or craft has a unit of and/or smelling things authorities intervened. measurement. In music, it’s a note. In film, it is a that do not exist), Yet, investigations and frame; a compilation of frames formulates a shot, which is often referred subsequent penalties and a series of shots make up a scene. And multiple to by non-medical are slow for white-collar scenes stitched together in a coherent sequence professionals as “msiaiq” psychopaths, as the extent creates a film. Whereas capturing a single frame (crazy). Psychopathy, and nature of their actions would pretty much be photography, in filmmaking, a as conceptualised by are not considered to be of single shot is what filmmakers focus on as a singular Dr. Robert D. Hare, consists of grave and direct harm unit each time they shoot. personality traits and behaviours such (the scenario of the missing Therefore a shot-list is a document that contains as superficial charm (commonly known as smoking gun). a comprehensive list of every single shot that the yeg y;r udhï), narcissism (wêudkh), If you are to take a moment to reflect on crew needs to cover within the duration of a shoot. lack of empathy (iylïmkh) and/or the actions (e.g. sweatshops) of your beloved Here’s why we compile shot-lists. remorse (miq;eùu), reluctance to accept and celebrated big-shot entrepreneurs and responsibility for one’s actions, restricted CEOs, you would find eerie similarities Never miss a shot scene. Decide how the story is progressing in each expression of emotions, pathological lying between their conduct and some of the most Having a list of to-dos in a day serves as a scene and what emotions are being conveyed. Since (õhdêckl f,i fndre lSu), calculating evil serial killers in the world. reminder on what to get done in a day’s time. each scene is made up of shots, visualise the scene manipulativeness (lmálu), impulsivity Likewise, a shot-list keeps a filmmaker in schedule playing out in your head. (wdfõ.YS,S;ajh), etc. with the number of shots he or she has to get in on a It is undebatable that aforesaid given day. In case you forget a few shots, reshooting Serial killers do, on a small scale, what Visualisation is key characteristics can often be witnessed in a scene can be expensive, so we believe it pays to If you wrote the script, chances are that you governments do on a large one. perpetrators who have committed very have a shot-list in hand. have already seen the movie in your head. When They are products of our times, and serious crimes. Psychopathy is frequently shot-listing, pay closer attention to the visuals in your these are bloodthirsty times discussed related to crimes such as grave Serves as an editing guide head. Is there camera movement? What happens in Richard Ramirez (“The Night Stalker”), sexual abuse, serial killing, torture, etc. But On more complex shoots, a shot-list can serve as the shot? What sort of framing is used? is that only when you have witnessed or a US serial killer, serial rapist, kidnapper, a guide to the editor, who sometimes scans through Closing your eyes and seeing all the finer details experienced these personality traits and/ paedophile, and burglar the list to assemble a scene. Most of the time, editors helps you break the visual down into the components, or behaviours in people? As reiterated by are not physically present during production, and which will help construct it on set later. Dr. Hare himself in his co-authored book, a shot-list provides them with the order in which a Including more shots than less is advisable solely due Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to As much as professionals advocate sequence plays out. to the fact that it can be better to Work, psychopathic traits and behaviours are to normalise discussing and supporting have a shot and not need it later in brazenly displayed in the working context of mental health difficulties of oneself and Technicalities and post-production, rather than need it modern-day corporate organisations. others, this should not be misinterpreted as and not have it! other info In contrast to the criminal justice system, an encouragement to diagnose yourself. It is not the “new cool” or an accessory (with A shot-list not only contains Collaborate psychopathy in the business community every shot needed, but also the is not only more widely accepted, but the exception of cosplay), period. Simply finer specifics of a shot, such as: Usually a shot-list is made by because you have certain personality traits the director, cinematographer, first rather even encouraged and rewarded. Which lens needs to be used? It is considered a “necessary evil” to described under the term “psychopathy” does Who is in the shot? What sort assistant director, and maybe the not mean that you are now a psychopath, writer. Gathering your essential achieve unrealistic demands in a highly of camera movement will be competitive, fast-moving, tech-driven unless otherwise determined by a qualified employed? crew members together and and trained professional that you have breaking down the screenplay world. If anything, certain well-reputed As most of our guests on companies seek candidates with apparent satisfied requirements to be presented with a Junkyard Theory have reiterated, into shots helps you to determine diagnosis. the feasibility of pulling off each psychopathic traits as their “best fit”. a film is made in pre-production. This of course comes with an Most importantly, and as emphasised And the more you plan each shot out and put them in shot on set. In case you have the earlier, psychopathic traits are not necessarily storyboards prepared already, those can additionally underlined disclaimer exclusively for men that list, the smoother your shoot is guaranteed to go – to state, in colloquial terms, a driven and negative. With appropriate guidance and on the creative side. Additionally, a shot-list can also serve as inspiration for the shot-list too. support, an individual can truly succeed in That being said, not all filmmakers opt to shot- passionate man is “boss material”, whilst contain the emotion or story beats being conveyed. a go-getter woman is considered to be an one’s professional and personal life whilst These notes serve as guidelines and reminders of list their films in advance. Some prefer to improvise ensuring civil liberties of others. on set and capture what they believe is essential. “uptight b*tch” (a topic for another preplanned creative decisions. day, hey?!). (The writer is a forensic psychologist Certain others prefer to work with storyboards alone. based in Sri Lanka who currently leads Whichever way you choose to go, there is no How come and since when did Helps determine scheduling psychopathy become a “necessary evil”? a QR-GCRF-funded research project A shot-list can help filmmakers determine right or wrong in a creative field, but the existence of As much as the following statement may regarding post-crisis disaster management how much time is needed to complete shooting a shot-list does tend to make life on a film set easier. falsely glorify psychopathy, organisations of armed forces. She has research and any particular scene. Time and money are both In 2015, filmmaking collective High School view it as the “survival of the fittest”, clinical experience across a maximum- the scarcest commodities during a production, and Junkies started creating short films out of passion especially in managerial positions where security prison, military hospital, and deciding how to schedule your shoot also affects your and soon gained momentum as a film production one is expected to prioritise organisational high-security hospital. Her research budget. Therefore, a well-planned shot-list can serve house that championed frugal filmmaking. Their development over employee personal interests include trauma and recovery, for a more efficient shoot. second short, EIDETIC, became the first-ever welfare. bullying, callous and unemotional traits, But how do you actually create a shot-list? Sri Lankan film to be screened at the San Diego psychopathy, and serial homicide) Comic-Con, and has subsequently been screened all In comparison to individuals with elevated psychopathic traits in the criminal The views and opinions expressed in this Break down the screenplay over the world. They host guests from Hollywood column are those of the author, Once you have your script, break down each on their webinar, Junkyard Theory. justice system, the disruptive conduct of individuals with elevated psychopathic and do not necessarily reflect those traits in the corporate sector is subtle and of this publication.

#BIGGIRLSCAN most girls simply give up on sports. This is the message National Women’s Team and Red Bull athlete Chamari Athapaththu wants to bring out to break stereotypical Trailblazer thinking. She wants to inspire the strength and power young girls have and to challenge conservative thinking that prevails in our society about women Chamari and their lives through her “Big Girls Can” movement. She truly believes in breaking stereotypical Athapaththu thinking and looks to inspire millions of girls around the world who want to follow their dreams and especially pursue a career in sports. In fact, leads the way she certainly does show and epitomise the fact that #BIGGIRLSCAN! Chamari hails from Kurunegala, a region, For centuries, one societal issue has tormented like most others, where these societal pressures all girls of Sri Lanka. When a girl reaches puberty, and barriers are especially prevalent. However, her or becomes a “big girl” in Sri Lankan slang, society parents recognised both her dream and her talent demands they behave by a certain set of rules and and gave her the chance and the encouragement she goes on to impose many restrictions on them. needed to become a world-renowned name in cricket. Girls are warned not to associate with men The ultimate goal is to gather inspiring who are not from their family, that it is not a girl’s characters, opinion leaders, and parents to support place to play sports, that any wounds or scratches are this movement, and also to build awareness to guide unseemly, and even that it is not good for girls to ride young girls to move forward continuously and drive a bicycle. With all these barriers, and many more, them to become world champions, proving that big faced by girls around the country, it is no surprise that girls indeed can. 144 sports „„ www.themorning.lk { SPORTS } Friday, February 19, 2021 1 BIGGEST

UPSETSin the Australian Open z Five stunning moments in men’s singles history Denis Istomin celebrates five-set thriller It read as the ultimate David and Goliath Grand Slam semi-final on paper – 2017 eight-time champion and top seed Novak Djokovic against a 114th-ranked qualifier on debut, Aslan Karatsev, who played each other in the 2021 Denis Istomin beat Australian Open men’s singles semi-finals yesterday (18).

Novak Djokovic (2) However, since the Australian Open Dan Imhoff of ausopen.com. made the switch from Kooyong’s grass to These are five of the biggest upsets of SECOND 7-6 (8-6) | 5-7 | 2-6 | 7-7 ( 7-5) | 6-4 the hard courts of Melbourne Park in 1988, the top two men’s seeds at Melbourne Park. ROUND a slew of top-two seeds have been shown (In parentheses are the world rankings of The odds may be heavily stacked against the completely the door in momentous boilovers, recalled the player at the time of the match) unheralded Russian Karatsev on Thursday night, but 2 Djokovic would be forgiven for an uneasy sense of déjà vu heading into the showdown. Philippoussis, 19, after sending home the World No. 1 In 2017, as the second seed and six-time champion, Djokovic had easily seen off Fernando Verdasco before 1996 facing World No. 117 Denis Istomin, ranked only three spots below Karatsev’s current mark. 2008 Mark Philippoussis beat The 30-year-old from Uzbekistan had won the Asian wild card play-off and was a former top 40 player, but Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Rafael Nadal (2) Pete Sampras (1) had fallen in straight sets the two times he had faced THIRD Djokovic before. SEMI- Tsonga, in the 2008 semi-finals. the Frenchman at the US Open ROUND 6-4 | 7-6 (9-7) | 7-6 (7-3) In a near five-hour battle, Istomin snapped the Serb’s FINAL 6-2 | 6-3 | 6-2 Despite falling in the first four months earlier. 15-match winning streak to hand him his earliest exit round of his lead-up event, World But he simply had no answers Blessed with talent to burn, big-hitting 19-year-old from a major since Wimbledon 2008. The Spaniard was already a No. 38 Tsonga had beaten seeds to the Frenchman’s powerful Mark Philippoussis was being touted as Australia’s next “I feel sorry for Novak, because I was playing so three-time Grand Slam champion, Andy Murray, Richard Gasquet, shot-making from all corners. great hope when he set a third-round twilight showdown good today,” Istomin said. “It is unreal. To beat Novak and had sat comfortably as the and Mikhail Youzhny, en route to Tsonga thus reached his first and with World No. 1 and then-seven-time Grand Slam in five sets, it’s a great win. I’m still feeling a little bit World No. 2 for more than two his first major semi-final. only Grand Slam final. champion Pete Sampras. tired. I didn’t expect to be doing what I’m doing now years, when he came up against Nadal was closing in on “It’s ridiculous for sure. In only his third main-draw appearance, the world No. and what I did on the court.” one of the most hyped French Roger Federer’s World No. 1 Everything was perfect,” Tsonga 39 out-blasted Pistol Pete off both wings and on serve. talents, 22-year-old Jo-Wilfried ranking and had easily beaten said. The Scud never faced a break point and thumped 29 aces. When Philippoussis sealed the upset on his third match point, the crowd nearly lifted the closed roof on Rod Laver Arena. The win came 20 years to the day 3 since Australia’s last men’s singles champion, but the comedown from the euphoria of the biggest win in his career proved too much in the next round, as countryman Mark Woodforde ended his run 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. “Tonight was like nothing I’ve felt before,” Philippoussis said. “I felt so confident on the serve. I felt like I could just toss it up and hit an ace how I wanted to. It was an unbelievable feeling.” 5

51st-ranked Ramesh Krishnan beats legendary Swede Mats Wilander 1989 Ramesh Krishnan beat Mats Wilander (1) SECOND ROUND 6-3 | 6-2 | 7-6 Tsonga and Nadal after the match Unheralded Indian Ramesh Krishnan had arrived in Australia with form on his side, having won a title in Auckland leading in. As the World No. 51, however, he was a huge outsider against World No. 1 Mats Wilander 2002 in round two of only the second Australian Open to be staged at Melbourne Park. Alberto Martin beat Lleyton Hewitt (1) The Swede had won three of the four majors the year prior, and was a three-time Australian Open champion. FIRST Hewitt later questioned the timing of the medical The top seed and defending champion had beaten ROUND 1-6 | 6-1 | 6-4 | 7-6 (7-4) timeout after he finished the match with back-to-back Krishnan comfortably in the 1987 Davis Cup final. errors upon the resumption of play, which sealed his Wilander saved match points at 5-3 and 5-4 in the Hewitt arrived at his first tournament as the new fate after three-and-a-half hours. third set; however the Indian closed it out with a winning World No. 1 and started a strong favourite, having It marked the first time the No.1 seed had lost in volley. He proved unable to back up the win, as he fell won 22 of his past 23 matches on hard courts, the first round at a Grand Slam since 1990, and ended in the next round to Mexican Leonardo Lavalle. including the 2001 US Open. up as the first major where the top four seeds were “It’s my biggest win so far, there’s no question about After blitzing the 39th-ranked Spaniard in the bundled out in the opening two rounds. that,” Krishnan said. “He hasn’t played well recently opening set, Hewitt – still recovering from a bout “What was I supposed to do? I was cramping in and he’s definitely not in good form.” of chickenpox – began to struggle. both legs,” Martin said. “I asked the umpire if I It was the beginning of a sharp decline for Wilander, Trailing two sets to love, the Australian forced a could call for the trainer, I didn’t think I did anything 4 who never reached another major final, citing the pressure tiebreak before Martin called for the trainer to treat against the rules. If I continued, I would have been of holding the No. 1 rank as being an enormous burden. cramps with the score poised at 5-4 in his favour. on the floor.” Alberto Martin, pumped up during his giant-killer act in 2002

cars, and other vehicles all crammed with A MOMENT TO REMEMBER fans carrying flags and flares yy The ground was filled to its 25,000 capacity, while around 10,000 more were 1995 SAARC Gold Cup win reportedly locked out, causing problems for the security staff One of the finest moments in Sri Lanka’s Maldives withdrew Sirisena Manjula, M.M.T. Gamage, football history was on 2 April 1995. Sri from the tournament Prabath Ferdinand, R. Imtiyaz, Ajith yy After a goalless first-half, there was rain Lanka beat India 1-0 in extra time of the final in the last hour, and Prasana, M. Rafi, Isuru Perera, M. Riza, and lightning. Yet play began soon in a that day, to win the Bristol SAARC (South the game became Ranjith Hettiarachchi, Priyantha Liyanage, waterlogged stadium Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) the only Group B D. Sugath, David Sarath, S.M. Riswan, yy There were no goals until 90 minutes; no Gold Cup at Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo. encounter. Well- Lavendran, and C. Stainwall known Bhaichung sudden-death winners in the first period yy yy On 29 March, Bhutia headed two goals Sri Lanka’s first recorded victory in an Bhutia featured in the Mohamed Amanulla of extra time too. Amanulla had run out for India to take the lead. Then entered international football match came in Indian team Mohideen of ammunition and Roshan Perera was a 1952, when they beat Burma 2-1 in the Amanulla, who scored in the 62nd and marked man third Asian Quadrangular Tournament in yy Manilal Fernando headed the local 87th minutes (a penalty) of the match to Calcutta soccer administration, then, flanked by equalise. It was two-all yy Cometh the moment of substitute W.L. stalwarts such as J.N.S. Anandaraja, David Sarath, a 25-year-old Corporal in yy The 1995 SAARC Gold Cup began at yy It was the first time Sri Lanka had not been Chrysantha Perera, Hafiz Marikar, and the Sri Lanka Army who came in at the the Sugathadasa Stadium on Saturday, beaten by India since 1952, when the two T. Wanigarathne. There were names 68th minute, only to gain his first senior 25 March 1995, on an extremely hot and countries drew 1-1 in Calcutta like George Ferreira, Harold Anthony cap humid day. Pakistan beat Bangladesh 1-0 (Manager), and Rustam Akramon (the yy In the semi-finals, Sri Lanka beat Nepal in Group A in the curtain raiser yy “In the 108th minute, about 12 minutes Uzbek Coach) too in the forefront 2-1, with goals coming from Amanulla and to 11 in the night, Perera broke down yy India were the defending champions. They his Ratnam SC playmate Roshan Perera. yy Members of the Lankan squad included the left and his low-cross was met by had won the previous SAARC Gold Cup Deepak Amatya scored for Nepal Sampath Perera (Captain), Rohan Perera, Sarath, whose diving header flew into in Lahore in July 1993. Sri Lanka were the Mohamed Amanulla Mohideen, M. yy Sunday, 2 April, the evening of the final the far corner. Match over. Sri Lanka runners-up then Sri Lanka Captain Sampath Perera lifts the Bristol Kabeer, Lalith Weerasinghe (goalie), against India turned out to be a remarkable champions. Rarely can a victory be SAARC Gold Cup after beating India in the final on 2 April 1995 at Sugathadasa Stadium yy Sri Lanka played their first match on 29 T.S. Gajanayake, J. Hasheemdeen, Jagath one in the country’s soccer history. The celebrated so extravagantly,” wrote March in a Group B game against India. Rohana, Antony Wambeck, L.P. Perera, Sugathadasa was surrounded by tuk-tuks, Leslie Fernando of Daily News sports 154 Friday, February 19, 2021 { SPORTS } „„ www.themorning.lk DHAMMIKA PRASAD FULL NAME: Kariyawasam Tirana Gamage I couldn’t fulfil my Dhammika Prasad BORN: 30 May 1983 in Ragama AGE: 37 SCHOOL: De Mazenod College, Kandana CLUB: (SSC) daughter’s dream: PLAYING ROLE: Fast bowler STYLE: Right-arm fast-medium BATTING STYLE: Right-handed YOUNGER BROTHER: First-class Dhammika Prasad cricketer Nipuna Kariyawasam the afternoon. Bad luck must have crossed CAREER HIGHLIGHTS • Until 17 years, Prasad played for his school chiefly as a z Speedster retires with SSC record his way.” top-order batsman Prasad’s club mate, former ace spinner • He started bowling fast as there had been no one to take and many sweaty memories said: “The two of us played the new ball then for a longer time in the A-side than in the • When he was around 20, he started playing for SSC BY CHATHURA RANASINGHE national side together. I can still remember he • He fared well in the U-19 World Cup 2002 and earned a “My only worry was that I couldn’t fulfil my daughter’s dream. Nothing else,” had an argument with Indian bowler Ishant six-month scholarship to play in England said former Sri Lanka fast bowler Dhammika Prasad yesterday (18). He said this Sharma in a Test in India. We really thought • In his ODI debut in 2006, Prasad took two in while announcing his retirement from international cricket at the Singhalese the issue will have long repercussions. But two balls in his first over, against Bangladesh Sports Club (SSC) clubhouse in Colombo. Prasad was seen having a coffee with Sharma • His career was cut short by a back injury which kept the same evening. He is such a humble him out of action for six months “I expected a call for the national side after family, all my coaches and my physios, and person.” • Consistent performances on the domestic I recovered from my shoulder injury. In fact all the members and patrons of my club Prasad has taken 75 Test and 32 ODI tournaments earned him his first Test cap against India I promised my daughter that I would play (SSC),” he noted. wickets in a career spanning almost nine in August 2008 again for Sri Lanka after healing from the Also addressing the gathering, former Sri years since 2006. When retiring, he is the • He took five wickets in the match, including the injury. Not being able to do that is a worry,” Lanka Captain opined: highest wicket taker (351 scalps) for SSC. of India’s best batsman , in both innings Prasad told the media. “Prasad is a fast bowler who can bowl equally He plans to play for some more time, for the A high point in career: Dhammika Prasad took five wickets in Leeds in June 2014 when England chased 350 to win. His figures of 5/50 helped “I first thank God, then my parents, my well at 10 in the morning as well as at five in Sri Lanka Navy cricket team. Sri Lanka win by 100 runs and clinch the two-match series 1-0. Here he celebrates his fifth wicket, that of Matt Prior

FOREIGN ON THIS DAY SPORTS IN BRIEF 1937 – Birth of Norman O’Neill, the 1982 – Sharie 19 FEBRUARY  Osaka saddens Serena, ready great Australian batsman of the 1960s Langford of for Brady in final California, US set Japan’s Naomi Osaka yesterday (18) claimed an impressive victory over Serena Williams to reach the Australian Open final 1962 – Birth of Hana Mandlikova, the women’s bowling and end American’s latest quest for a record-equalling 24th legendary Czechoslovakian female series record of 853 Grand Slam title. Three-time tennis player Slam champion Osaka 1983 – Vladimir Salnikov of former withstood early pressure 1970 – Birth of Ruwan Kalpage, former Soviet Russia set 400-metre freestyle from Williams to win 6/3, swimming world record 6/4. Osaka is on a 20-match Sri Lanka off-spinner unbeaten streak and has never lost a Slam final. The 1972 – New Zealand batsman Glenn 1988 – Helga Arendt, Silke-Beate Japanese will face Jennifer Turner carried his bat for 223 versus Knoll, Mechthild Kluth, and Gisela Brady in Saturday’s (20) final West Indies at Kingston Kinzel after the American beat walked the indoor female world Karolina Muchova. Brady came past the Czech 6/4, 3/6, 6/4 to seal a spot in her first Grand Slam final. It will be a rematch of 1977 – Aus cricket legend Doug Walters record the 2020 US Open semi-final, which Osaka came through in scored 250 versus New Zealand, 4 x 200 m (1:32.55) three sets. building a 217-run stand for seventh wicket with Gary Gilmour 1995 – Linford Christie ran the world  Djokovic ousts ‘qualifier’ record 200 m indoor (20.25 seconds) Karatsev 1980 – England’s Ian Botham hit a Top seed Novak Djokovic overcame stern resistance from Ruwan Kalpage century and took 13 wickets in the 1998 – US hockey team destroyed their Aslan Karatsev to reach the Aus Open men’s final and end the Jubilee Test in Mumbai, then Bombay rooms at Olympics village in Japan Russian qualifier’s remarkable run. Despite the world No. 114 causing moments of tension, Djokovic had enough quality to win 6/3, 6/4, 6/2. The 33-year-old Serb won the final four games to finally shrug off Karatsev. Football in Sri Lanka: A historical note Djokovic is going for a record-extending ninth Kandy the origins of football in countries that The origins of football in Sri men’s title in Melbourne. now play world-class soccer reveals Lanka go through nearly 100 He is bidding for an 18th Musings the English influence on the expansion years. Interestingly, most of it has FFSL FACTS Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) Grand Slam to close the of football globally. been in the form of unorganised gap on Roger Federer and BY HAFIZ MARIKAR recreational sports. We Sri The FFSL is the governing body of football Rafael Nadal. Djokovic will At Echelon Square service in Sri Lanka and the organisers of the local face Daniil Medvedev or Lankans can take immense pride Premier League. It manages the Sri Lanka Stefanos Tsitsipas in the To know and appreciate the growth barracks in being able to organise, conduct, national teams. final on Sunday. Russian fourth seed Medvedev meets Greek and development of football in Sri It is the British who introduced and promote the sport for well Founded: 1939 (82 years ago) fifth seed Tsitsipas in the other semi today (Friday, 19), with both Lanka, it is necessary that one should the game to the Americas, Europe, over 80 years, which in itself is men trying to reach their first Aus Open final. Headquarters: Independence Avenue, know the history of the game. A few and Asia, through their battalions, an achievement. Colombo 7 countries have claim to the origins regiments, and brigades. It is not Sri Lankans taking World body FIFA affiliation: 1952 of the game, namely China, Greece, possible to say exactly when football Asian Football Confederation Italy, and England. was introduced to Sri Lanka, named to the game (AFC) affiliation: 1954 In the very early days, the Chinese Ceylon until the 1970s. Here again, Football, like all other British Present FFSL President: Anura de Silva have played a game with a leather ball, the origins are lost, literally, in the games and pastimes, is intrinsically using both feet, mostly aiming to keep mists of time. linked up with the romance of that ball in the control of “the player”. However, there is evidence of the colonial exploitation. From early The Greeks enjoyed a similar sport game being played in the sprawling days of British buccaneers down which was called Episkyres while the sandy stretches of the Galle Face FFSL President Anura de Silva the modern power block, football Romans used an improved ball in a Green, by bare-chested British has followed the flag, so to say.  Serena cries, avoids media, game called Harpastum. servicemen stationed in and around After all, football is the easiest 100 years ago in Ceylon and says ‘I’m done’ British colonisation Colombo in the 1890s. and cheapest game to introduce – Serena Williams left her Australian Open news conference in The service barrack grounds at The British administrative a football, two sets of goal posts, tears after her semi-final defeat by Naomi Osaka. She gave the However, it is Medieval England Echelon Square (where Galadari service and the British planting and a patched vacant ground are crowd inside Rod Laver Arena a long wave goodbye with her that gave the sport a methodical and Hotel is now) and Army Grounds, community took the sport to the what is needed. Sri Lanka instantly hand over her heart, leading to questions over the 39-year-old’s future. She responded: “I don’t know. If I ever say farewell, I meaningful outlook. They, though, earlier known as the Sports Club southern, central, and upcountry took to the game, like they did, but wouldn’t tell anyone.” Williams became tearful when asked a used the inflated bladder of an ox as Grounds (presently the Taj Samudra regions with equal zest and fervour. to a lesser extent indeed, to their further question about her unforced errors against Osaka. “I the outer layer of the ball. Association Hotel), were the popular football By the early 1900s, football was unofficial national game – cricket. don’t know. I’m done,” she said, before leaving the room. Football, as it is now called, had its fields here in the game’s formative popular amongst the local youths A member of the Asian beginnings in England. years. British Service units such as as a competitive sport. Football Confederation (AFC), FFSL official logo  Man City will win title: Everton With the naval superiority and the the Royal Air Force, Navy, Engineers, Though playing barefoot, our the Sri Lanka team has yet to boss English domination of the seven seas, Artillery, and the Royal Garrison lads had mastered the skills, and, in make their first appearance in the have been South Asian champions Carlo Ancelotti believes Manchester City are hurtling towards a third Premier League title in four seasons after his Everton side the British sailors carried the game of Command were the pioneers who fact, donned the service jerseys as FIFA (International Federation of once, in 1995 (please refer to were beaten by the Premier League leaders City. The Everton football to the lands they conquered, promoted competitive football in replacements or reserves in many Football Associations) World Cup our page 14 story “A moment to boss said it was “almost impossible” to compete against Pep with some national fervour. A look at this country. exclusively white-dominated teams. or AFC Asian Cup Finals. They remember”). Guardiola’s side, who extended their lead at the top to 10 points with 14 matches remaining. “I think so, it is really difficult to say another name,” said the Italian when asked if Everton had lost to the team that will become champions. By beating Everton, City has also become the first team in English top-flight history to win their opening 10 matches in a calendar year.  Woman comes in after ‘women talk too much’ comment Japanese female politician Seiko Hashimoto has been appointed the next Tokyo 2020 President, BBC reported yesterday. Hashimoto’s predecessor and former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori quit recently over sexist comments he made. Former Olympics Minister Hashimoto is a seven-time Olympian herself, having competed as a cyclist and a speed skater. Former Chief Mori resigned following a backlash after he was quoted as saying “women talk too much”. Another Seiko Hashimoto octogenarian male leader was initially billed to replace him, but this was also met with protests. The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) Board currently has 24 members, five of whom are women. Chalana Chamara (left) of the Sri Lanka national team in action at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 qualifying match against Lebanon in Colombo in October 2019 „„ www.themorning.lk Friday, February 19, 2021 Pucovski out for Renown six months soccer team Australian Test batsman Will isolated Pucovski’s domestic season One player and the is over, and he is set to be coach of football club sidelined for up to six months Renown, participating to undergo reconstructive in the ongoing surgery on his injured right Super League at the shoulder. Pucovski, 23, suffered Sugathadasa Stadium the injury on his Test debut Colombo, tested positive against India in Sydney when yesterday (18) for diving for a ball in the field. He Covid-19. Their match dislocated his right shoulder, yesterday was called his throwing arm, and was off and the entire team ruled out of the fourth Test at was sent into six days of the Gabba. isolation, sources said. sportsSelector appointment turns out to be a fiasco z Are players selecting selectors, and not the other way around?

BY REVATHA S. SILVA Local sports authorities are yet to officially announce the names of the new three-member national men’s cricket selection panel, even as the Sri Lanka team is to David Sekar start their tour of West Indies on Tuesday (23), less than four days from now.

Sekar left SLC “I don’t think you can ever expect this type of pathetic situation in any other country,” said an inside source, who is weeks ago without in the know of the ongoing proceedings related to the appointment of national informing! selectors. Too many committees Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officially informing the Cricket Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa (left) with his National Sports Selection Committee members (from left) Gen. Shavendra Silva, yesterday (18) announced that Board. Sekar joined the SLC in Pramodya Wickramasinghe, Romesh Arjun Fernando, and Mohamed Hafeez Marso David Sekar, the national fast- December 2019. He is tipped to Kaluwitharana, and Hemantha bowling coach, has “announced join an English county on a new Wickramaratne were tipped to be named jeopardise their chances of influencing Silva. and Kumar impression that if some selectors are to be his resignation from his position, contract, the source revealed. as the next national selection panel, but at selections. Sangakkara are members of the NSC. appointed, their playing in the side could with immediate effect”. Shekar Former Sri Lanka fast-bowler least three camps are reportedly competing The NSSC comprises other members be tough. It’s a situation where players has cited personal reasons for his is to be appointed to influence the authorities, insisting not About seven names such as Sri Lanka Olympic Committee are selecting their selectors,” he quipped. decision, the SLC communiqué as Sri Lanka's to appoint some of those names, while in the fray (SLOC) President Suresh Subramaniam, It was reported that some leading added. Coach, on an ad-hoc basis, for pushing new names, allegedly of their By yesterday (18), names of former SLOC Secretary General Maxwell de players, including former Captains, were But sources said the fast-bowling their forthcoming West Indies tour proxies. national players Amal Silva, Brendon Silva, tennis legend Arjun Fernando, enrolled in an official capacity in the Sri coach had allegedly left the SLC which is starting on Tuesday, 23 “There are various types of committees Kuruppu, and Kapila Wijegunawardene and Mohamed Hafeez Marso, who has Lanka Army recently. some weeks ago, even without February. appointed by the Sports Minister (Namal had also been entered into the fray, further a rugby background. “The system has become so fragile that Rajapaksa). The selection process has causing the deadlock. Silva’s name in there can’t be any appointment on merit,” become more complicated and difficult. particular had strong support from some A Cricket Committee too he explained, adding: “If the decision- Too many committees have messed up parties, it was said yesterday. “There is also a Cricket Committee, makers are prone to succumb to pressure LOCAL NEWS IN BRIEF the whole process,” he added. Some names have allegedly been which has been vested with strong powers. so much, how can we expect the country suggested from outside the Cricket Board. And there could be influences on the to win?” Unpopular names! Previously, it was reported that Sri Lanka Sports Minister too, from various outside The previous National Cricket Cricket (SLC) had nominated seven names parties. Obviously the process has become Sri Lanka begins series Selection Committee was dissolved in all, including that of Waruna Waragoda. more complicated. The influences could on 3 March after its Chairman Ashantha de Mel be so many. Why, otherwise, is there so The source further explained: “If Sri resigned on 27 January. That was two Difficult selection much of a delay?” asked the above source. Lanka are to do badly in the West Indies, days after Sri Lanka lost to England 2-0 “The Cricket Board has given some The Cricket Committee comprises then the whole blame will come to the in a two-match Test series in Galle. The names to the Sports Ministry. Now there is Aravinda de Silva, as its Head, and Board and the Minister. other two members of the committee a National Sports Council (NSC). Further, Sangakkara, Roshan Mahanama, and “All other influencers will wash their at the time were Wickramasinghe and there is the National Sports Selection Muttiah Muralitharan. hands of it. This is a pathetic situation in Chaminda Mendis. Committee (NSSC). Then there is a newly- our cricket,” he further added. There are speculations that outside appointed Cricket Committee,” the source The players’ influence Sri Lanka are to begin a month-long channels are worried about some explained. “There are players too, at the moment, series across all three formats, in the of the nominees – particularly Both the NSC and NSSC are headed who use their political clout to put their Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda Wickramasinghe – fearing they would by Army Commander Gen. Shavendra people in the panel. They seem to have the from 3 March.

IPL AUCTION 2021

 Jayabandu clinches Colombo C’ship U-12 title Morris, Jamieson most expensive buys The girls U-14 singles title was won by Ruvi Lewkebandara (pictured) while the boys U-12 title went to Lithum Jayabandu in the junior segment of the Colombo Championship tennis It was quite a day at Grand Chola in Chennai yesterday 25. M Sidharth: 20L BP: Sold for 20 L to DC. tournament, now being held at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) Playing Section clay courts in Colombo. Vision Care Opticians is the main sponsor of the event. (18) as CSK*, MI, DC, RCB, RR, PBKS (previously 26. Jagadeesha Suchith: 20L BP: Sold for 30 L to SRH. KXIP), SRH, and KKR engaged in a bidding war 27. KC Cariappa: 20L BP: Sold for 20 L to RR. Results: right from the start in the (IPL) 28. Cheteshwar Pujara: 50L BP: Sold for 50 L to CSK. 2021 Auction. 29. : 75L BP: Sold for 1500 L to RCB. zzGirls U-18 singles semi-finals: Saneshi Willorarachchi vs. Vishmi Serasinghe, and Oneli Perera vs. Hasali Gajaba Chris Morris shattered the IPL auction record after 30. Tom Curran: 150L BP: Sold for 525 L to DC. zzGirls U-16 singles semi-final: an intense bidding war between MI, RR, and PBKS. 31. Moises Henriques: 100L BP: Sold for 420 L to Hasali Gajaba beat Vishmi Serasinghe 6/3, 6/4 In the end, RR roped the South African bowler for PBKS. zzGirls U-14 singles final: a whopping Rs. 16.25 crore (Indian Rs. 1 crore is 32. : 30L: Sold for 30 L to PBKS. Ruvi Lewkebandara beat Dinara de Silva 6/2, 6/1 approximately Sri Lankan Rs. 26.9 million). Australian 33. : 20L: Sold for 20 L to PBKS. zzBoys U-18 singles semi-finals: Thehan Wijemanne vs. Kavisha Ratnayake, and Chathurya Nilaweera vs. Kiran dasher also got a hike in salary as RCB 34. Vaibhab Arora: 20L: Sold for 20 L to KKR. Vairavanathan bought him for Rs. 14.25 crore. The much-anticipated 35. : 75L: Sold for 75 L to PBKS. zzBoys U-14 singles final: Arjun Tendulkar also finally got an IPL contract after 36. Daniel Christian: 75L: Sold for 480 L to RCB. Sandaru Guruge vs. Lisal Goonathilake MI roped him for Rs. 20 lakh. 37. Liam Livingstone: 75L: Sold for 75 L to RR. zzBoys U-14 doubles final: Ransath Peiris and Sandaru Guruge beat Sandas Usgodaarachchi and Tharuk Marasinghe Here’s a full list of players who got picked in the 38. Suyash Prabhudeshai: 20L: Sold for 20 L to RCB. 6/1, 7/6 (7/3) IPL 2021 auction on Thursday: 39. Srikar Bharat: 20 L: Sold for 20 L to RCB. zzBoys U-12 singles final: 40. Harishankar Reddy: 20L: Sold for 20 L to CSK. Lithum Jayabandu beat Methika Wickramasinghe 2/6, 6/2, 10/6 1. Steve Smith: 200L BP: Sold for 220L to DC. 41. Kuldip Yadav: 20L: Sold for 20 L to RR. 2. Glenn Maxwell: 200L BP: Sold for 1425L to RCB. 42. James Neesham: 50L: Sold for 50 L to MI.  3. Shakib Al Hassan: 200L BP: Sold for 320L to KKR. 43. Yudhvir Singh: 20L: Sold for 20 L to MI. Top shuttlers into pre-quarters at Nationals 4. Moeen Ali: 200L BP: Sold for 700L to CSK. 44. Bhagath Verma: 20L: Sold for 20 L to CSK. Leading contenders Niluka Karunaratne, Dinuka Karunaratne, and Lochana de Silva were among those who advanced to the pre-quarter finals of men’s singles as the 68th National 5. Shivam Dube: 50L BP: Sold for 440L to RR. 45. Marco Jansen: 20L: Sold for 20 L to MI. Badminton Championships continued at three venues in Colombo yesterday (18). 6. Chris Morris: 75L BP: Sold for 1625L to RR. 46. Saurabh Kumar: 20L: Sold for 20 L to PBKS. Top-seed De Silva beat Banisha Perera in the fourth round, and will meet Chamika 7. : 150L BP: Sold for 150 L to PBKS. 47. Karun Nair: 50L: Sold for 50 L to KKR. Karunaratne in his pre-quarter final clash which will take place at the Mercantile Badminton 8. Adam Milne: 50L BP: Sold for 320 L to MI. 48. Kedar Jadhav: 200L: Sold for 200 L to SRH. courts today. Olympian Niluka (seed 4) made it to the last-16 with a dominant win over N. 9. Mustafizur Rahman: 100L BP: Sold for 100 L to RR. 49. Sam Billings: 200L: Sold for 200 L to DC. Naveenraj (21/11, 21/12) yesterday. 10. : 150L BP: Sold for 1400 L to PBKS. 50. Mujeeb – Ur Rahman: 150L: Sold for 150 L to SRH. SSC Open tennis 11. Nathan Coulter – Nile: 150 BP: Sold for 500 L to MI. 51.Harbhajan Singh: 200L: Sold for 200 L to KKR. First Capital Holdings PLC will be the principal sponsor of the SSC Open Tennis 12. Umesh Yadav: 100L BP: Sold for 100 L to DC. 52. Hari Nishanth: 20L: Sold for 20 L to CSK. Championships 2021. The tournament is to be conducted from today (19) to Sunday, 7 13. Piyush Chawla: 50L BP: Sold for 240 L to MI. 53. Ben Cutting: 75L: Sold for 75 L to KKR. March 2021 at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) tennis courts. In the picture here are Neshan Gunasekera, Vasantha Wijesekera, Dilshan Wirasekara, Nilanka Peiris, Nisansala Munasinghe, 14. : 20L BP: Sold for 20 L to RCB. 54. Venkatesh Iyer: 20L: Sold for 20 L to KKR. and Chandana De Silva who represent the SSC and the sponsors. 15. : 20L BP: Sold for 20 L to RCB. 55. Pawan Negi: 50L: Sold for 50 L to KKR. 16. Ripal Patel: 20L BP: Sold for 20 L to DC. 56. Akash Singh: 20L: Sold for 20 L to RR. 17. Shahrukh Khan: 20L BP: Sold for 525 L to PBKS. 57. Arjun Tendulkar: 20L: Sold for 20 L to MI 18. Krishnappa Gowtham: 20L BP: Sold for 925 L to CSK. * CSK = Chennai Super Kings, DC = Delhi 19. : 20L BP: Sold for 20 L to DC. Capitals, KKR = Kolkata Knight Riders, MI = 20. Sheldon Jackson: 20L BP: Sold for 20 L to KKR. Mumbai Indian, PBKS = (previously 21. : 20L BP: Sold for 20 KXIP or Kings XI Punjab), RR = Rajasthan Royals, L to RCB. RCB = Royal Challengers Bangalore, SH = Sunrisers 22. Lukman Meriwala: 20L BP: Sold for 20 L to DC. Hyderabad 23. Chetan Sakaria: 20L BP: Sold for 120 L to RR. L = Lakhs 24. : 40L BP: Sold for 800 L to PBKS. BP = Base Price Chris Morris

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