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www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk 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 12,001,334 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 2,084 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 3,099,095 134,030 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 547,817 BRAZIL 1,674,655 66,868 INDIA 753,354 20,803 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 700,792 10,667 11 1,967 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 6,946,344 PERU 309,278 10,952 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS114 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 8.20 P.M. ON 8 JULY 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO DECIDE HIGH ELECTRICITY BILLS Health Govt. to bear portion of bills: Minister guidelines for The Government would bear a portion of the public’s bills for the months of It will be done in groups,” he said. into the matter and come up with some of the electricity bills in order to provide March and April will be reduced. He noted that consumers with low bills recommendations. Now, we have to look relief to the consumers, said Minister of “As a measure to provide relief, we could see their bills for March and April at the finer details and how to implement Parliament Power and Energy Mahinda Amaraweera. have decided to reduce a percentage of the being reduced by around 25%. this,” the Minister said. A special team of health experts headed Amaraweera said a certain percentage total electricity bills for the two months. “I appointed a committee to look Contd. on page 2 by Dr. Lakshman Gamlath representing the Ministry of Health is currently formulating special Covid-19-related health guidelines to 2020 GENERAL ELECTION PCR TESTING be followed by Members of Parliament after the general election, The Morning learnt. Contd. on page 2 Slight errors UNP lodges possible: No foreign Authorities complaint z Very limited cases, says against SJB Chief Epidemiologist There is a slight possibility of the PCR The United National Party (UNP) has lodged tests being conducted to identify Covid- a complaint at the Election Commission (EC) poll monitors 19-positive individuals giving inaccurate with regard to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya results, The Morning learnt. (SJB) using the colour green for their election z z Ministry of Health Chief Epidemiologist campaign. No invites for foreign Covid-19 pandemic Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said that a very Contd. on page 2 small number of results could be inaccurate election monitors conditions still severe due to various reasons, such as false BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA “The Covid-19 pandemic (ANFREL) would be arriving of positives. conditions are still too severe to their own accord. “For example, if there is a (Covid-19-) HEALTH GUIDELINES The Election Commission (EC) will not be inviting have any international monitors “Some election observers from negative patient with a positive test result, international monitors for the forthcoming general brought down.” independent groups will be arriving we know it’s a false positive.” election, The Morning learnt. However, he said that and we will be co-ordinating with However, Dr. Samaraweera said that such Schools urged independent international election them, but we have not invited them false positives or inaccurate test results were EC Deputy Commissioner S.A. it had been decided not to bring watchdog groups such as the and we will bear no costs on their very rare when compared with the number to adopt fitting Achchudan told The Morning that down foreign monitors. Asia Network for Free Elections behalf,” Achchudan said. of tests carried out. Contd. on page 2 guidelines TERROR THREAT IN INDIA Teachers’ trade Bring them back! unions are still dissatisfied with the guidelines that were issued prior to SL security commencing school last Monday (6). Ceylon Teachers’ Union General CTU Secretary on alert Joseph Stalin Secretary Joseph BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA Stalin last week raised concerns over the directives that have been In the wake of the terror threats in India, Sri Lankan issued by the Ministry of Education law enforcement authorities assured that the country on work hours for teachers and the is on high alert since last year’s Easter Sunday terror extended hours of education for attacks and that all necessary security students in Grades 11 and 13. measures have already been put in place countrywide to prevent any similar Police Spokesman attack in the future. No visitors SSP Jaliya Senaratne Contd. on page 2 permitted Japanese grant for to prisons medical equipment A decision has been taken The Government of Japan has MRI scanner, CT scanner, bedside to prohibit visitors to prisons agreed to provide Japanese Yen X-ray systems, central monitors, islandwide after an inmate at the 800 million (approximately Rs. bedside monitors, defibrillators, Welikada Prison tested positive for 1,360 million) in grant aid for and other equipment to Sri Lanka, Members of the Free Women’s Movement protesting outside the Labour Ministry in Narahenpita yesterday (8), holding placards Covid-19 on Tuesday (7). the procurement of necessary the Ministry of Finance stated. demanding the Government bring back all the Sri Lankan workers from the Middle East Visitors were banned from entering medical equipment such as the Contd. on page 2 PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE the Welikada Prison on Tuesday after the patient was discovered. The Prisons Department was GOVT. MOVE TO REVISE PENSIONS 2020 GENERAL ELECTION on lockdown from 17 March and 12 PNB officers last week, it announced that the Countrywide protest campaign Poll propaganda Department had granted permission remanded to allow prison inmates to have one Twelve police officers attached to the A countrywide protest against the Government’s Government seems to be blind visitor per week. Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), who were campaign was launched decision pertaining to to the continuous protests banned in arrested over drug dealing charges, have been yesterday (8) by the National the revision of pensions. and awareness campaigns SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 remanded until 21 July. Organisation of the Rights NORP Convener Mahinda conducted countrywide. public offices Contd. on page 2 of Pensioners (NORP) Jayasinghe alleged that the Contd. on page 2 Canvassing, distributing handbills, and carrying out any other activities in any public REMOVAL OF GENERAL ELECTION PROPAGANDA MATERIAL or provincial council office, government schools, and local government offices or institutions belonging to any state corporation or statutory boards for election candidates have been prohibited, the Election Commission (EC) said. The EC has further stated that conducting meetings in support of the candidates Police to bear Rs. 58 m contesting the parliamentary election BY SARAH HANNAN candidates and parties has amounted of removing unlawful propaganda “1,354 persons have been recruited headquarters will have four labourers at public offices has also been banned. to Rs. 58 million, the Police Media material as well as posters put up to carry out the tasks in 494 police assigned and the rest will be assigned Issuing a media release, the EC has called on The budgetary allocation to remove Unit said. islandwide. stations across the country and according to the workload,” Police politicians, political activists, and trade union illegal propaganda material such The Police have assigned over Each of the individuals taken for each labourer is to be paid a daily Media Spokesperson SSP Jaliya activists to abstain from such activities. as posters and cutouts of political 1,000 individuals to carry out the task the task is to be paid a daily wage. wage of Rs. 1,058.33. Each district Senaratne told The Morning. Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS Thursday, July 9, 2020 SL eliminates measles and rubella ahead of 2023 target The Maldives and Sri Lanka have been identified by the World surveillance activities and plug refine the strategic, operational, Health Organisation (WHO) as the first two countries in the gaps that have arisen due to the and policy guidelines that will WHO Southeast Asia region to achieve measles and rubella Covid-19 pandemic. facilitate progress towards our elimination ahead of the 2023 target. In recent years, all countries goal. in the region introduced two “Now more than ever, we must “Protecting all children against measles and rubella viruses for doses of measles-containing pull together to realise our vision of these killer and debilitating over three years in the presence vaccine and at least one dose of a region in which no child suffers diseases is an important step in of a well-performing surveillance rubella-containing vaccine in their or dies from disease as easily our endeavour to achieve healthier system. routine immunisation programme. prevented as measles, no pregnant population and health for all,” The Maldives had reported the First-dose coverage of measles- woman loses her unborn baby due WHO Southeast Asia Regional last endemic case of measles in containing vaccines is now 88% to a virus as avoidable as rubella; Director Dr. Poonam Khetrapal 2009 and rubella in October 2015, and the second-dose coverage and no neonate is born with a heart Singh said, congratulating the while Sri Lanka had reported the 76%. Since 2017, nearly 500 ailment or loss of hearing owing Maldives and Sri Lanka on their last endemic case of measles in million additional children have to a tragedy as needless as in-utero achievement.

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