www.themorning.lk LATE CITY VOL 01 | NO 04 | Rs. 30.00 { THURSDAY } THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 ASHANTHA RESIGNS, DRASTIC MEASURES TAKEN BY MINISTER CELEBRATING TRAILBLAZING WOMEN LEADERS KOREAN AMBASSADOR ‘NO POINT CHANGING IN SRI LANKA ESPOUSES INVESTMENT OFFICIALS WITHOUT OPPORTUNITIES IN SL CHANGING SYSTEM’ »SEE PAGE 11 »SEE PAGE 7 »SEE PAGE 4 »SEE PAGE 16 EAST CONTAINER TERMINAL ISSUE Big step in national Work-to-rule by Ports TUs tomorrow oil company plan BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE to embark on large-scale Co-Convener Sanjeewa Trade unions (TUs) attached trade union action with a Kumara Weligama to The z Necessary act gets z Act to be approved z CEYPETCO to to the Colombo Port are due collective of 237 civil society Morning yesterday (27). to start a work-to-rule protest organisations. Weligama added that they Cabinet nod by mid-2021 be affected? campaign tomorrow (29), “We are starting this trade hope to be called in for a BY PAMODI WARAVITA investments. “The new act would serve two which would continue through union action since the relevant discussion with the Prime A new act which would allow for the establishment of a national oil and gas purposes. The current Petroleum Resources to the weekend, in opposition Cabinet Sub-Committee would Minister tomorrow, as they company is to be drafted and approved by the middle of this year, after the Development Secretariat (PRDS) would be to the granting of a 49% stake meet tomorrow to discuss have already sent a letter to his Cabinet’s approval was granted for the drafting on 25 January. evolved into an authority, under which the new in the East Container Terminal this issue, and a response office informing him of their national oil and gas company would be set up,” (ECT) to India. to this can be expected by decision of initiating stronger The new act would render the existing Resources Development Authority (PRDA), PRDS Director General Surath Ovitigama told Based on the authorities’ 1 February,” stated Trade trade union action. Petroleum Resources Act, No. 23 of 2006 as under which the new company would be The Morning yesterday (27). response, they would proceed Unions to Protect the ECT Contd. on page 2 amended, invalidated, and set up a Petroleum established to attract oil and gas-related Contd. on page 2 RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR MALE QUAZIS ‘POLITICAL VICTIMISATION’ PCOI REPORT RED NOTICE ISSUED Gender activists to go to HRCSL HC cases at risk of z Govt. reneging on female Quazi promise BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY as Quazis, namely, judges there is no requirement for the being withdrawn: JVP under the Muslim Marriage recruitment of male Quazis. Women’s rights activists and Divorce Act (MMDA), Women’s Action Network BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE the report of the Presidential have announced that they No. 13 of 1956 as amended. Co-Founder Shreen Abdul The Janatha Vimukthi Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) will lodge a complaint The activists charge that at a Saroor, speaking to The Peramuna (JVP)-led Jathika appointed to look into alleged with the Human Rights time when the Government has Morning, queried as to Jana Balawegaya is to build incidents of political victimisation Commission of Sri Lanka announced that reforms would whether the Government was public opinion against the during the tenure of the United (HRCSL) over the call for be introduced to the Muslim attempting to, through this recommendations made in Contd. on page 2 applications made during customary, matrimonial, massive recruitment drive, this month by the Judicial personal law in the form of block or reverse the proposed Service Commission (JSC) to amendments to the MMDA affirmative action. recruit eligible Muslim males to include female Quazis, Contd. on page 2 HANDOVER OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS SL standard for ‘Grace period sign language has diminished proposed underworld’ z NCPA writes to state, govt., BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE pvt. stakeholders There has been a notable decline in underworld activities after the announcement z A disability studies degree of the grace period to hand over illegal also mooted weapons to the Government in December BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY 2020, Minister of Public Security Rear Admiral (Retd.) Dr. Sarath Weerasekera Proposals to develop a Sri Lankan standard claimed. for sign language, to offer a disability studies Contd. on page 2 degree and to provide the Police with the training required to identify persons with certain disabilities which are largely invisible COVID-19 CASES to the untrained eye, have been put forward in writing by the National Child Protection The Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union yesterday (27) marched from Pelawatte ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES Authority (NCPA). to Battaramulla in protest against the handing over of shares in the East The proposals have been put forward Container Terminal of the Colombo Port to India to a number of state, governmental, and PHOTO LALITH PERERA 60,233 private sector authorities, in an effort to address the myriad issues faced by disabled MANNAR POET IN TID CUSTODY DEATHS RECOVERED persons. These disabilities include, among others, the impairment of vision and hearing; Youth’s defence counsel 7,379 288 52,566 physical, psychological/mental, also including SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU intellectual disorders, and a combination of THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 9.50 P.M. ON 27 JANUARY 2021 any of these. complain of lack of access Contd. on page 2 BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY Act (PTA) for allegedly promoting Legal counsel appearing on Islamist extremism and terrorism. behalf of Mannar-based poet This complaint was made Mannaramudhu Ahnaf Jazeem, when the case (B 13101/19) was Importers create chain of who is presently detained by the taken up at the Colombo Fort Terrorism Investigation Division Magistrate’s Court yesterday corruption: Customs DG (TID), have complained of being (27) in connection with the denied access to their client, despite case of Attorney-at-Law (AAL) BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI following President Gotabaya all the tricks they have up multiple written and verbal queries Hejaaz Hizbullah who is also Profit-oriented importers Rajapaksa’s recent criticism their sleeves. One of the made from the TID including its detained at present in connection create a chain of corruption of corruption at Sri Lanka main things importers do is Director, The Morning learnt. with the investigations into the which Customs officials also Customs. undervaluation, where they The 25-year-old is being Easter Sunday bombings on 21 partake in, charged Customs “The aim of trade is to undervalue the price of the detained under the Prevention of April 2019. Director General Maj. Gen. make higher profits. So, to goods that are to be imported. Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Contd. on page 2 (Retd.) Vijitha Ravipriya, do that, the importers use Contd. on page 2 42 www.themorning.lk { NEWS } Thursday, January 28, 2021 Antigen Tests at 11 WP exit points today BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE Speaking to The Morning yesterday (27), the Police Media Mirigama, Pasyala, Hanwella, Ingiriya, Welipenna, the restrict the movement of people in the Western Province. Persons leaving the Western Province over the Spokesman Deputy Inspector General of Police Ajith Rohana Bentota Bridge, and all other exit points of the Western He further said that the support of the public is essential long weekend will be subjected to Rapid Antigen said that these tests will be carried out at 11 exit points Province.” for the successful implementation of this step aimed at the Tests (RAT) starting from today (28) till 2 February, covering all roads that lead out of the Western Province. Rohana pointed out that these measures are being taken prevention of the further spread of Covid-19 outside of the The Morning learnt. “The testing will be carried out in locations including to reduce the spread of Covid-19 to other Provinces and to Western Province. Contd. from page 1 he is appointed is a legal requirement. Police. Big step... Section 12 (1) of the MMDA states that the According to Weerasekera, those involved The company would handle the State’s “JSC may appoint any male of good character in underworld activities who are now willing CARTOON OF THE DAY commercial interests and it would be the and position and of suitable attainments” to to give away their weapons were those who Ministry’s purview to consider whether the be a Quazi, while Section 12 (7) of the same previously enjoyed political protection but are new company would function with the Ceylon holds that he shall, unless he resigns earlier or now coming forward to surrender their weapons Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) or be a his appointment is cancelled by the JSC, hold as they don’t wish to face consequences now. separate entity. office for such period as may be specified in If those involved in underworld activities The time frame for the establishment of the the notification relating to his appointment. are not willing to come forward, they have an company cannot be decided yet, Ovitigama said. According to Ministry of Justice Additional option to hand over their weapons through a According to him, the existing act was set up Secretary (Legal) Piyumanthi Peiris who third party, he added. to be a one-stop shop, whereas the PRDS was previously spoke to The Sunday Morning in He said that the Government is determined to expected to both regulate and attract potential this regard, it has also been proposed to amend put an end to all forms of organised crimes and investors. In addition to the conflict of interest the MMDA to include female Quazis, stipulate crimes of a serious nature such as premeditated that this created, Ovitigama said that the current the minimum required educational qualifications murder, rape, abduction and kidnapping, functions of the Secretariat occur too slowly.