PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COVID-19 ACTIVE CASES MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020 TOTAL CASES CBSL DIRECTS JKH, GILL AND SIRAJ: 41,048 CF TO REDUCE ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE DEATHS RECOVERED SHAREHOLDING AT NTB INDO CRICKET STORY 8,160 THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP 191 32,701 »SEE PAGE 5 »SEE PAGE 3 »SEE PAGE 7 UNTIL 9.15 P.M. ON 27 NOVEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU COVID-19 COVID-19 MUTATIONS FALL ARMYWORM INFESTATION Deaths increase to 191 22,608 acres damaged Four more Covid-19 deaths were reported yesterday (27) increasing the Covid-19 death toll in the country to 191, the Government Authorities in Ampara alone Information Department said. BY SARAH HANNAN the Ampara District was as of 22 December, had to cultivate maize in 4,853 recorded a maize cultivation Cases in Colombo Contrary to the Department hectares (12,132.5 acres), the in an extent of 32,358 acres, of Agriculture crop forecast Ampara District Department it is learnt. reduced to one-third on alert report which indicated that of Agrarian Development, Contd. on page 2 The number of new Covid-19 BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA cases reported daily from Colombo The health authorities yesterday (27) said that Sri Lanka has been reduced to one-third of President inspects damaged fields the average count, according to is closely monitoring the possibilities of the new strain President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Colombo Chief Medical Officer Dr. of the Covid-19 virus entering the country, and visited Pahalagama, Elapattu in Ruwan Wijayamuni. taking all necessary precautions to control the Anuradhapura on Saturday (26) to situation. inspect the maize fields damaged by ‘Comply with health Speaking to The Morning, Secretary to the State Ministry the fall armyworm, or sena dalambuwa. of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and Covid Disease The farmers have been severely Control Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva assured that the affected by the fall armyworm guidelines in isolated areas’ necessary technology to identify the new strain is infestation for the past two years, the The Police on Saturday (26) available in the country, and the authorities are handling President’s Media Division (PMD) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited Pahalagama, urged people in newly isolated the situation. Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva said. Elapattu in Anuradhapura on Saturday (26) to inspect areas to comply with health Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 the maize fields damaged by the fall armyworm guidelines, after it was revealed that some people in isolated areas RADIOACTIVE PHARMACEUTICALS AIRPORT OPERATIONS disregard guidelines. OPEN UNIVERSITY Govt. looks at local No reopening, Two GN divisions in Intake to expand by 5,000 only pilot project manufacturing BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI Infrastructure for this Colombo isolated The Government is making plans to locally project will be funded The grama niladhari (GN) manufacture radioactive drugs that are needed The Open University by the University Grants from today divisions of Aluthkade West and in treating cancer patients, the Government of Sri Lanka (OUSL) will Commission (UGC), as well The recommencement of operations at the Aluthkade East in the Keselwatta Information Department said last week, quoting be admitting 5,000 new as through a portion of a airports from today (28) until 19 January police area would be isolated from 5 State Minister Duminda Dissanayake. students to its Bachelor’s of Rs. 300 million World Bank 2021 will be a pilot project to serve as a a.m. today (28). A discussion in this regard was held recently Information Technology (IT) grant under its “Accelerating precursor to the total reopening of airports between State Minister of Solar Power, programme for the upcoming Morning that the programme Higher Education and in the future, Covid-19 Task Force Head Wind, and Hydro Power Generation Projects academic year, The Morning will call for applications in Development” (AHEAD) and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Isolation lifted in several Development Duminda Dissanayake and State learnt. January, and the academic programme, said the Vice Silva said. Minister of Production, Supply, and Regulation OUSL Vice Chancellor year will commence between Chancellor. He told The Morning that authorities have areas in Colombo of Pharmaceuticals Dr. Channa Jayasumana. Prof. S.A. Ariadurai told The March and April 2021. Contd. on page 2 not yet decided to fully reopen airports. The isolation imposed in three Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 police areas and several other grama niladhari (GN) Divisions in TARIFF SLASH FOR TEA Colombo would be lifted from 5 DIVERSIFYING TO SURVIVE a.m. today (28). South Africa 100 inmates to get amnesty: Prisons Dept. willing to The Department of Prisons, in view of the Christmas holidays consider and to reduce the congestion of SETTING UP DAIRY FARMS the prisons due to Covid-19, is to South Africa is release inmates under amnesty, it is willing to consider Land allocation learnt. slashing tariffs for Sri Lankan tea expedited exports to give Could mutate in SL: some relief to Sri The Presidential Task Force on Economic Lanka, according Revival and Poverty Eradication has Chief Epidemiologist to outgoing South instructed the relevant authorities to expedite Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath African High the allocation of lands to set up dairy farms Samaraweera said on Saturday (26) Commissioner in in the first three months of 2021. that it is of paramount importance Colombo Robina The Board of Investment (BOI) has to end the spread of Covid-19 in the P. Marks. South African High selected investors to establish new dairy country as the virus could mutate in A three-wheeler driver selling facemasks from his parked three-wheeler at the Wellawatte Junction Contd. on Commissioner in Colombo farms to produce milk locally. Sri Lanka as well. yesterday (27) page 2 Robina P. Marks Contd. on page 2 PHOTO SAMAN ABESIRIWARDANA CURRENCY NOTES Missing patient ADVERSE WEATHER found in Makola Annual Police warn of fake notes The 22-year-old Covid-19 patient Red alert issued Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Investigation Department (CID) that was reported missing while in Rohana warned people to be aware arrested a suspect in Anuradhapura self-quarantine in Sapugaskanda on zEastern Province worst affected transfers of counterfeit currency notes that on Saturday (26) on charges of Saturday (26) was found in a house are currently being circulated. printing fake currency notes. at Makola North, Police Spokesman The Department of Meteorology He said the Criminal Contd. on page 2 DIG Ajith Rohana said. has issued a red alert regarding the low-level atmospheric on hold disturbances in Sri Lanka’s vicinity. Annual transfers of the Cinemas to reopen It warned that the showery weather Police Department have been conditions which settled in since postponed by two months, from January last (27) evening and enhanced stated Police Spokesman Prime Minister Mahinda over the Northern, Eastern, North Showers or thundershowers will DIG Ajith Rohana. Rajapaksa, in his capacity as Central, Central, and North Western occur at several places elsewhere, Transfers were scheduled Minister of Buddhasasana, Provinces, and in the Badulla particularly in the evening or night. to take place from 15 Religious, and Cultural Affairs, has District, are expected to turn into Fairly heavy showers above 75 mm January, but have now been permitted the reopening of cinema heavy showers above 150 mm can be expected at some places. postponed until 15 March. halls, in line with health guidelines, towards early evening today (28). Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 DIG Ajith Rohana from 1 January. CORRUPT OFFICIALS Several more GN divisions isolated GSMB denies allegations Several grama niladhari (GN) The Geological Survey and Mines GSMB Acting Director General an Environment Ministry official Divisions in the Eheliyagoda and Bureau (GSMB) denied allegations Eng. Sajjana de Silva told The clarified the issue over the Minister’s Godakawela Divisional Secretariat levelled by Minister of Environment Morning that no such complaints statement, which was reported in a Divisions in Ratnapura have been Mahinda Amaraweera that the Bureau had been received. He further said daily Sinhala newspaper, saying that declared as isolated areas with has received written and verbal that such news had been reported the Minister had not made such a immediate effect, Army Commander complaints accusing certain officials last week, quoting the Minister, but statement during the meetings held Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva said. of taking financial and sexual bribes stated that this had no validity. so far. SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 in the issuance of mineral licences. Meanwhile, when contacted, – Maheesha Mudugamuwa 2 the morning NEWS Monday, December 28, 2020 Contd. from page 1 the spread of the FAW infestation and be awarded by the OUSL’s Department High Commissioner underscored the Colombo North, Colombo Central, and Authorities... from an economical perspective, the of Computer Science under its Faculty need to recalibrate its trade strategy in Wellawatte areas,” Dr. Wijayamuni When asked whether the virus could crop damage is significantly low and of Natural Sciences, together with the Sri Lanka, and the desire for a more said. similarly undergo mutation in Sri Lanka, would not threaten the food security of Department of Electrical and Computer balanced trade relationship between the Dr. de Silva explained that viruses of the country. The field reports on FAW Engineering under its Faculty of two countries. this kind can mutate at any time. infestations have indicated that only Engineering. “Even though national interest is It is reported that cases of the more 4-7% of the total crop extent has been important to all countries, we do want a Isolation lifted... contagious variant of Covid-19, damaged, although if you take it district- more balanced trade between Sri Lanka National Operations Centre for first identified in the UK, have been wise, the extent of crop damage could President..