www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 For verified information on the Quarantine Unit COVID-19 TOTAL CASES TOTAL CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any 0112 112 705 ACTIVE CASES of the following authorities CASES IN Epidemiology Unit Health THE WORLD 20,309,019 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 2,875 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 5,253,766 166,274 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 740,194 BRAZIL 3,057,470 101,857 INDIA 2,287,511 45,550 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 897,599 15,131 11 2,622 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 13,228,557 S. AFRICA 563,598 10,621 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS242 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 4.30 P.M. ON 11 AUGUST 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU ALLEGED DEATH OF UNDERWORLD LEADER A FRESH START DNA samples to India BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA the identity of notorious underworld z Probe continues kingpin Lasantha Perera alias “Angoda to identify DNA samples have been collected Lokka”, who is alleged to have died and will be sent to India this week in India, The Morning learnt. Angoda Lokka by the Sri Lanka Police to confirm Contd. on page 2 DEATH ROW MP ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT Court approval required to attend sessions BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA must first make a request He went on to say that it would from Parliament as well as the be up to the court on how the Convicted Parliamentarian Premalal Jayasekara judiciary. Parliamentarian is allowed to attend. could attend parliamentary sessions only upon court “He must first make a request “Whether he’s given bail or approval, The Morning reliably learnt. from us as well as from the otherwise will depend on the courts. Upon approval, he will be court, which will in turn decide if Parliament Deputy Secretary Neil Iddawela said that the allowed to attend parliamentary he is escorted by an armed guard General and Chief of Staff incarcerated Parliamentarian sittings.” as done with those in prison.” NATIONAL LIST Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duties as the 13 Prime Minister of Sri Lanka yesterday (11) at Temple trees in the presence of family, party members, the clergy, and well-wishers UNP still undecided PHOTO LALITH PERERA The final decision of the United National hopeful of taking a decision within the Party (UNP) National List member is to next few days. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES DECLARATION be taken either today (12) or on Friday Earlier, it was speculated that UNP ADVERSE WEATHER (14), UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Legal Secretary Nissanka Nanayakkara Elected MPs given Kariyawasam said yesterday (11). will be appointed to Parliament through Over 10,000 He told The Morning that a decision the solitary National List allocation. 20 Aug. deadline had not been made as yet and he was Contd. on page 2 All newly elected parliamentarians had till the first sitting of the new Parliament to declare people affected NPP proposes their assets. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Three parties Elections Commissioner General Saman states that 10,359 people belonging to 2,716 Dr. Harini Sri Ratnayake told The Morning that it was a families in 11 districts have been affected Prof. Dhammika gazetted prerequisite to entering Parliament. by adverse weather-related disasters “They have to declare their assets by the first since 4 August due to the activation of The Election Commission (EC) has Amarasuriya sitting of Parliament, according to the law.” the southwest monsoon. Ganganath published the extraordinary gazette The National People's Contd. on page 2 Disasters have been reported from the notification containing the names of 19 Power (NPP) is yet to finalise Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Colombo, Kalutara, no more Members of Parliament (MPs), who were the Member of Parliament Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Ratnapura, Former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan selected for National List seats at the 2020 they will appoint from the Kegalle, Kurunegala, and Puttalam Districts. Prof. Dammika Ganganath Dissanayake general election. single national seat that Contd. on page 2 passed away yesterday (11) while receiving Contd. on page 2 is allotted to them, The treatment at Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama. Morning reliably learnt. DEMOLITION OF KING’S COURT Contd. on page 2 EC withholds Contd. on page 2 Kurunegala Mayor Malaka Silva OPPP nominee TNA dispute The Election Commission challenges arrest warrant (EC) has decided not to gazette resolved Mayor of Kurunegala Thushara on the Kurunegala Mayor, the arrested a name from the Our People's The disputed National List seat of the Sanjeewa Witharana has filed a Municipal Commissioner, Engineer, Former MP Mervin Silva's son Malaka Power Party (OPPP) until a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was finally writ application before the Court of and two others in the case Silva was arrested yesterday (11), The thorough study is being resolved with the name of T. Kalai Arasan Appeal requesting the suspension filed over demolishing Buwaneka Morning learnt. done to evaluate the from the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi of the arrest warrant issued on Hotel, a building of He was arrested by the Thalangama legality of the current (ITAK) being gazetted by the Election him by the Kurunegala Magistrate’s historical value in Police for demanding cash and threatening situation. Commission (EC). Court. Kurunegala. another person with death, the Police Media Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 The Kurunegala Magistrate on Contd. on Mahinda Deshapriya Division stated. 6 August issued arrest warrants page 2 REPATRIATION OF SRI LANKAN MIGRANT WORKERS ONLINE REGISTRATION OF MPS 20 MPs including 50,000 more PM register Roughly 20 parliamentarians have registered via the newly set up online portal expected to return for registration, The Morning learnt. Parliament Deputy Secretary General BY SARAH HANNAN for Foreign Relations Additional many countries have projected, forcing and Chief of Staff Neil Iddawela said that Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage many of these migrant workers out of as at 4.30 p.m. last evening (11), over 20 A total of 19,000 Sri Lankan migrant noted: “As of today (yesterday), we their work.” MPs had registered. workers have already been repatriated, have repatriated Sri Lankan migrant The repatriation process was “More than 20 new MPs have registered and another 50,000 more are expected workers from 93 countries, with over temporarily halted with the country by 4.30 this (last) evening including Prime to return to Sri Lanka under the 50,000 more registered to return to preparing for the general election on 30 Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa,” Iddawela said. repatriation programme carried out the country given the present global July and recommenced after a week’s registering via the newly set up portal Contd. on page 2 by the Government of Sri Lanka. health emergency caused by Covid-19 lapse on 8 August. Speaking to The Morning, President and the looming financial crisis that Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS Wednesday, August 12, 2020 Contd. from page 1 US assists disaster confirm the death have already been sent to (PLOTE) said that neither Kalai Arasan 50,000 more... India’s Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation nor Senathirajah had been consulted on Admiral Colombage, when inquired Department (CB-CID) though the Indian the proposal. whether there were any restrictions for High Commission in Colombo. TELO Leader Selvam Adaikalanathan management specific countries in repatriating Sri Lankans He told The Morning that necessary steps said that TNA Leader R. Sampanthan had who were stranded due to the loss of their are being taken on a diplomatic level through not held any discussions regarding which The US Government, through the US Agency for authorities in developing jobs, refuted the speculations, noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confirm member would be appointed through the International Development (USAID), awarded $ national-level contingency the Government of Sri Lanka will continue the death, and that all the related information National List. 1.5 million to the Sarvodaya Shramadana plans, leading disaster to operate flights and make necessary that can be provided from Sri Lanka has Meanwhile, PLOTE Leader Dharmalingam Movement to support local community response simulations, and arrangements to bring back all who are already been provided through the Indian Siddharthan said that the three main parties leaders in developing emergency response improving communications, registered to return. High Commission. of the TNA should come together and discuss and mitigation strategies in disaster-prone co-ordination, and However, the exact completion date of the According to him, so far no official such an important decision. areas across Sri Lanka. The new funding will information management. repatriation process has not been decided confirmation has been received that Lasantha PLOTE was of the view that Senathirajah strengthen community resilience and improve In June 2020, the US due to logistical issues faced by Sri Lanka Perera alias should be the National List MP. co-ordination between local stakeholders and Government also provided as well as the countries looking to send the Angoda Lokka had died in India. – Sarah Hannan international relief agencies over two years. 160 rolls of plastic sheeting Sri Lankan workers back to Sri Lanka According to the Coimbatore Police, the and 2,400 water containers to individual alleged to be Angoda Lokka had “For more than three activities under the grant to the Sarvodaya Shramadana died under suspicious circumstances on 20 MPs... decades, the US Government the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement to enable Kurunegala... 3 July and three persons were arrested in As an upgrade to the overall system, and and the American people Movement will focus on emergency response ahead of The Attorney General (AG) had directed connection with his death.