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Appeal against Read Ceylon Today Gateway Int’l School judgment thrown out and Win! Plaintiff/Appellant asked to pay Court costs Ceylon Today readers will soon get the chance of spending a holiday at a luxury hotel. School had not violated terms of contract All you have to do is grab the coupon published in Ceylon Today Sunday and Daily editions, starting from A10 6 September, fill it and WhatsApp to us. The winners will win vouchers for a one-night stay on full-board basis at a hotel belonging to one of the leading luxury hotel chains in the country. More information, including the phone number to Environmental disaster feared WhatsApp entries will be published in both Sunday and Daily Ceylon Today Newspapers, starting from 6 20th Amendment September. Reserve your copy early! Oil Spill Looms Gazetted Soliciting bribe 287,000 MT of crude, Navy, Air Force in President can President Parliament dissolve Parliament enjoys immunity diesel on burning vessel gigantic rescue effort one year after GE while in office canteen officer caught red handed Russian warships, Indian CG rush to scene Dual citizenship Minimum age for By Leon Berenger and Nabiya Vaffoor no bar to Presidential candidate By Kumudu Upul Shantha The authorities were, yesterday, bracing for a major marine environmental being an MP reduced to 30 The goods receiving officer at the Parliament canteen disaster, after crude oil began to spew from a burning foreign-owned vessel off was arrested by officials of the Commission to the country’s Eastern Coast. Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption By Faadhila Thassim (CIABOC) while soliciting a bribe of Rs 60,000 from a supplier. The 20th Amendment to the Constitution was gazetted The arrest was made in close proximity to the yesterday (3), vesting in the President the power to Kaduwela bus stand, when the 25-year-old suspect dissolve Parliament upon the expiration of one year was taking the bribe from a fruit supplier. The suspect following the date of the General Election, as opposed to had solicited a bribe of Rs 30,000 per month from a the 19th Amendment where the President could only -based businessman not to reject his supplies dissolve Parliament after four-and-a-half years following and ensure he would continuously get the order, the date of the General Election. CIABOC Director WSSP Padmini Weerasooriya said. Under the 20th Amendment, the President has immunity while in office as President, as no proceedings Story Continued on page 2 shall be instituted or continued against him in any Court or tribunal in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by him in either his official or private capacity. Further, an individual with dual citizenship cannot be a Nine-member Parliamentarian under the 19th Amendment whereas the 20th Amendment permits an individual with dual citizenship to be an MP. Committee to draft The Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition cannot new Constitution be changed until the reigning Parliament is dissolved... Story Continued on By Dilanthi Jayamanne page 2 Story Continued on page 2

The Cabinet has approved the appointment of a nine-member Expert Committee to prepare 48 radical groups 500g heroin found Adjournment preliminary drafts for a new Constitution. The Committee is headed by Romesh De Silva PC. working against inside coconuts debate on 8 Sept The Cabinet took this decision after taking into Five arrested consideration the proposal made by Minister of traditional By J.T. de Silva Justice, M.U.M. Ali Sabry PC on 19 August at the Five persons were arrested yesterday (3) Cabinet meeting, to appoint an Expert Committee to Muslims in SL while transporting 500 grams of heroin When Parliament prepare preliminary drafts for the new Constitution. concealed inside several coconuts. convenes next, on 8 The Committee also includes President’s Counsels By Buddhika Samaraweera The suspects were taken into custody by September, an Gamini Marapana, Manohara de Silva, Sanjeewa officers of the Moragahahena Police at the adjournment debate Jayawardena, and Samantha Rathwatte. Legal There are about 72 extremist Muslim Pinnaduwa Exit of the Southern is set to take place in academics include Professors Nazeema Kamardeen, groups operating around the world Expressway. (NV) the House related to Wasantha Senevirathne, Dr. A. Sarveswaran and working against traditional Muslims, of the 2019 Task Force Prof. G.L. Peiris. which, about 48 are active in , a Report of the Ministry Sufi Moulavi informed the PCoI probing of Finance as well as into the bombings on 21 April 2019 Easter the mid-year financial Story Continued on page 2 Sunday. report. He was testifying before the PCoI, on 2 Fish to be sold After the House September, and the Media were requested convenes at 1 p.m. on to not reveal his identity for security at subsidised the day, the debate is expected to AG files 2,000 reasons. continue till 6.30 p.m. and the times for He received his higher education in India the debate had been decided during the and Egypt, and is now working as a prices – Bandula Party Leaders’ Meeting held at the indictments in Moulavi, preaching on how traditional Parliament Complex which was chaired Muslims should behave. He said, for more By W.K. Prasad Manju by the Speaker Mahinda Yapa than 30 years, he has delivered religious Abeywardena yesterday (3). sermons in mosques in various parts of Sri Minister of Trade, Dr. A number of 34 Gazette papers are 15 months Lanka. Bandula Gunawardana, due to be tabled in Parliament on 9 By Hansi Nanayakkara When queried by PCoI Members if there said the attention of the September while 19 of those are slated were any other ideological groups in Sri Cost of Living (CoL) Sub- to be debated the following day and they During the past 15 months, the Lanka other than the traditional Muslims, Committee has been pertain to Production Tax. unit in the Attorney General’s the witness said several groups, such as drawn to supply fish at Department, which deals with the Tabligh, the Thowheed, the Jamaat-e- subsidised prices to Story Continued on page 2 cases pertaining to illegal drugs, Islami, the Shabab, and the Salafi were consumers, through had submitted 2,000 indictments bearing extremist ideologies and working economic centres. to various High Courts, under the against traditional Muslims. He said this new Director Ashroff tells supervision of Attorney General A Member of the PCoI then questioned measure would be put Dappula de Livera, in connection him if he had any idea when such groups into effect as part of a Easter Attacks PCoI with big-time drug cases. had spread in Sri Lanka. He responded programme formulated The AG’s Coordinating Officer, these groups had spread in Sri Lanka... by the Cost of Living... State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne Muslim Affairs said that work on 2,480 illegal... Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 Dept highly Story Continued on page 2 politicised Muslim Affairs Dept Committee to report Director tells PCoI By Buddhika Samaraweera on congestion in prisons The Department of Muslim Religious 951 mosques operated and Cultural Affairs was a highly A Committee has been politicised institution due to certain without registering formed by Minister of Justice, officials' attitude that Muslims are a M.U.M. Ali Sabry PC to resolve minority and that all their demands congestion within prisons due must be met, said Director Adam Bawa By Buddhika Samaraweera to the increasing number of Mohamed Ashroff. inmates incarcerated over He also said, as a result, most of the As of 21 April 2019, more than 951 mosques had drug-related offences. work that needed to be done by the been identified as operating without being registered The Committee headed by Department had been done without with the Department of Muslim Religious and Additional Secretary (Legal) of following due procedure. Cultural Affairs, said the Department’s Director, the Ministry of Justice, Ashroff has been serving as the Adam Bawa Mohamed Ashroff. Piyumanthi Peiris, consists of Director since January this year and He was testifying before the Presidential officials from the Government testified before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the bombings Analyst’s (GA) Department, the Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing on 21 April 2019, Easter Sunday, yesterday (3) and Attorney General’s the bombings on 21 April 2019, Easter the PCoI questioned him on a number of matters Department, the Police Sunday, yesterday (3). pertaining to mosques as the registration of... Department,... He further said as the Department...

Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 A2 friday 4 september 2020 news Continued from page 1 20th Amendment... Parliament canteen...... and a new Attorney General, the The suspect who is a resident of Kaduwela has Parliament is summoned. Auditor General and Oil Spill... taken Rs 30,000 previously from the businessman Under the 19th Commanders of the Tri- The Panama-flagged, Greek-owned, vessels for the rescue effort, he said. who lodged the complaint with CIABOC. He had Amendment, while the Forces. New Diamond, with a cargo of 270,000 Another 18 seafarers were brought asked the businessman to come to the Kaduwela Constitutional Council is According to the 20th metric tonnes of crude oil and an ashore by another merchant ship, MV bus stand with the arrears for March and June. replaced with the Amendment, the additional 1,700 tonnes of diesel Helen, that had joined in the rescue Parliamentary Council minimum age limit for a became crippled, after a major fire efforts, de Silva added. consisting of the Prime Presidential candidate broke out inside the engine room of He further said the SLAF had also Minister, the Speaker, has been reduced from 35 the vessel around 7:45 a.m. yesterday, deployed a Beech King Air B200 Leader of the Opposition, to 30. officials said. aircraft, deployed on surveillance from a nominee of the Premier While seven out of the They said the vessel began to spew the Number 3 Maritime Squadron of AG files... and a nominee of the nine Independent oil by late afternoon yesterday and the SLAF China Bay. ... drug related cases had been concluded by the Opposition Leader, Commissions established fire had spread close to the upper Meanwhile, two Russian warships, AG’s Department and that currently 235 such whereas under the 20th under the 19th deck, raising fears that the ship would the Admiral ‘Tribuc’ and Admiral cases with the said unit were being perused by de Amendment , the Amendment including the gradually take in water and sink, ‘Vinogradov’ were also dispatched Livera. She mentioned that the work pertaining to President is also vested Right to Information leading to an environmental towards the burning tanker from the those 235 cases will also be completed by the AG’s with the power to appoint Commission have been nightmare. Hambantota Port, Capt. de Silva said. Department, tomorrow 5 and 6 September. the Chief Justice, the retained, the National “The vessel is dangerously close to He said the two Russian warships, President of the Court of Procurement Commission the country’s East Coast and would along with a maritime tanker ‘Boris Appeal, Judges of the and the Audit Service take some eight hours to drift towards Butoma,’ arrived at the Port of Supreme Court and the Commission have been the shore line, helped by strong Hambantota on Monday for Court of Appeal, the abolished. currents moving in the same replenishment and crew rest, and was direction,” General Manager of the due to leave yesterday Fish to... Marine Environment Protection In addition to that, India also rushed ... Sub-Committee, He said during the Authority (MEPA), Dr. Terney Pradeep three coast guard vessels and a shortly. visit, the Ministers had Kumara, said. Dornier aircraft to engage in the He said to monitor also held talks with He added that all possible preventive rescue efforts, Capt. de Silva said. the constant fluctua- unions of fish trade 951 mosques... measures had been taken, along with The Greek-owned 20-year-old vessel tions of fish prices as a stall owners and ... mosques and the Jama’at, the Thowheed the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy had been chartered by the State- first step in this exer- explained the owners appointment of their Jama’at and the Jama’at- and the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), owned Indian Oil Company (IOC) and cise, he, along with had expressed their trustees is one of the e-Islami were registered adding that foreign assistance would was sailing from the Kuwaiti Port of State Ministers Nimal willingness to sell fish activities performed separately. In response, be sought, should the need arise. Mina Al Ahmadi to the Indian Port of Lanza and Lasantha at retail and wholesale through the Department. Ashroff said there were no He said the ship’s owner had already Paradip Garh, Ranjan Perera with the Alagiyawanna had vis- prices through the eco- He said as the separate registrations. dispatched several experts from International Transport Workers’ ited Negombo and nomic centres. preliminary stage of the However, he said the Greece and they are scheduled to land Federation (ITF) said. Pitipana at 4:00 a.m. Gunawardana point- registration of a mosque, Department has identified at the Mattala International Airport He said the crew was a mixed bag of yesterday (3). He added ed out that through an application should be about 15 Thowheed early today, to join the ongoing efforts foreigners, that included Indians and during the visit, they this system, the con- submitted to the Jamaat mosques to contain the oil spill. Philippine nationals, adding that there monitored firsthand sumers would be able Department within six according to the names of Meanwhile, at least one seafarer was were no Sri Lankans on board the the constant change in to purchase fish at rea- months from the date of its the Mosques that have feared dead and some 10 others vessel. fish prices in the mar- sonable prices, rather establishment. When the been registered and added injured in the incident, the Navy said. He further said the vessel was ket. Gunawardana than having to fork out Senior State Counsel (SSC) there could be more One critically injured seafarer was sailing under a ‘flag of convenience’ observed consumers high prices at fish trade queried if it was not unregistered Mosques later rushed to the Kalmunai Hospital (FOC), to dodge high taxes in the purchase a kilogramme stalls. This programme necessary to obtain the belonging to these sects. in critical condition, after he was country of origin. of fish at Rs 200-300 at is set to be initiated approval of the "There is no possibility of plucked out from the burning vessel The FOCs belonging to poor the fish trading stalls, through the economic Department before taking legal action against by Navy rescuers, Navy Spokesman, countries are lent to rich overseas while intermediaries centres in Colombo, constructing a mosque, he these Mosques. According Captain Indika de Silva, said. shipping magnates for a stipulated fee. tend to make a killing Gampaha and said such approval was to the provisions of the The captain and a second seafarer, The ITF is an international maritime in the process. Kalutara. not required. However, he Wakf Act, under which described as the chief mate of the trade union that monitors the welfare said if there were any matters pertaining to vessel, were brought ashore by the and well-being of seafarers throughout objections to the Mosques are operating, the Navy, that had dispatched three the globe. registration of a mosque, Department should the time taken to register, intervene and take action it would vary. to register such Nine-member... The Chairman of the unregistered mosques. Meanwhile, Cabinet Co-Spokesman, Attorney-at- PCoI inquired from the Also, about 200 Law , briefing the Media yester- witness as to whether the unregistered mosques day (3) on decisions taken by the Cabinet, claimed necessary steps were being have by now submitted that since there was an issue in the 19th taken through the applications," he added. Amendment to the Constitution as to who was the Department to make the PCoI members also Head of Government, this had prompted the Cabinet public aware that there is questioned the witness as on 19 August to advice the Legal Draftsman to draft an opportunity for such to whether the Department the 20th Amendment to the Constitution as a objections, to which had the power to reject an temporary measure to avoid the shortcomings faced Ashroff said such a application in case an by previous UNF programme has not been extremist individual or -led Government appointed in 2015 to be effective implemented thus far. group submits an until a new Constitution is promulgated. While the When questioned as to application to register a Bill for the 20th Amendment was presented to what the criteria taken into mosque. In response, Cabinet by the Minister of Justice, Gammanpila account for registering a Ashroff said the noted that the Cabinet had also paid attention to the mosque were, he said only Department would have to Attorney General’s opinion; “The Bill was compatible the nature of the building register any mosque if the with the 13th Amendment and that it could be where the mosque will be relevant criteria were met passed by not less than two-thirds of Parliament in run and the approval of and added that there were 48 radical... terms of Article 82(5) of the Constitution.” the Local Government no legal provisions to ... after 1945 due to extremist groups occasion he was abducted in the He said the Cabinet had approved the publishing Authorities are considered determine whether any migrating to Sri Lanka from various Kohuwela area, he came to know of the Bill in the Government Gazette and for the as criteria. The PCoI individual or group was countries such as India and Pakistan. through a high ranking officer who was Justice Minister to subsequently table it in Chairman then questioned extremist. He added although these groups working in an Intelligence agency at the Parliament after a lapse of two weeks from the date the witness as to whether When queried as to operate under different names, all are time that it was a plan of a Tabligh of gazetting. Subsequent to this, during the ensuing he was aware of a circular whether the Department based on Wahhabism. “At one time, 52 ideological group. He also secretly one week, the first reading would take place and through which it was has the authority to countries were under Turkish rule. The presented the name of the relevant any citizen may challenge the Bill before the made mandatory to obtain regulate mosques being British Empire chose a former leader, Intelligence official to the PCoI. Supreme Court (SC). Once the SC gives its special a recommendation from built with foreign aid, he of the then Hijaz which is now called When queried as to whether a determination on the Bill and the Speaker in the Divisional Secretariat said there is no such Saudi Arabia, named Muhammad I ibn complaint had been lodged with the Parliament reads it, the debate in Parliament can and the Police Station for capability. The PCoI paid Saud ibn Muhammad ibn Muqrin Police regarding the incident, he said commence and conclude with a vote. Amendments the construction of any attention on the possibility Al-Maridi alias Ibn Saud to overthrow no complaint was lodged as extremist to the Constitution are good as even the American place of worship. In reply, of maintaining a Mosque the State, and told him to take up Muslims had more power in the and Indian Constitutions have been amended on he said the PCoI could be at the expense of foreign arms. There, the British Empire country at the time. He also went on to several occasions, Gammanpila said. Fielding ques- informed in that regard countries. When advised him to create non- Islamic add that on another occasion he was tions regarding the many amendments to the after referring to the questioned by Members of Muslims, as a result of which preaching at a Mosque in Akkaraipattu Constitution which had been made over the years documents available at the the PCoI as to whether Wahhabism emerged,” he explained. when he was shot by a person. and the pending 20th Amendment, which was to be Department. there was any regulation In response to a question from Members of the PCoI questioned him introduced, Gammanpila added that the The SSC also questioned on the use of the Quran Members of the PCoI on the differences about the Jamia Nalimia Islamic Constitution was the reflection of the aspirations of the witness as to whether and its translations in between traditional Muslims and such Institute located in Beruwala. He said the people, and noted that since people change, the mosques belonging to mosques through the extremist groups, he said groups that Wahhabism was taught in that school therefore there should be measures to make the different sects of Islam, Department, he said they misinterpret parts of Islam such as the and added an Egyptian and notorious necessary changes to the Constitution accordingly. such as the Tabligh were not regulated. Qur'an, the Hadith, the Ijima and the extremist, Yusuf al-Kardawi had also Qiyas in an extremist manner are visited the school. I also learnt that called extremists. National Thowheed Jamaath Leader He also added he had been brutally Zaharan Hashim had visited that tortured by a group of Sri Lankan non- school on three occasions. traditional Muslims during a pilgrimage In response to a question from a Committee to... Muslim Affairs... to Mecca in 1991 for speaking out Member of the PCoI on Muslim ... the Prisons having looked into the ... is currently under the Jamiyyathul Ulama against groups that continue to work women's clothing, he said Islam does Department, and the legal status of inmates Ministry of Buddha (ACJU), the witness said against traditional Muslims. At the not say anything about the specific Bar Association of Sri who have no recourse Sasana, Religious and although the ACJU had time of the incident, the late politician clothing to be worn by women. “Islam Lanka. The legal advi- for bail after being Cultural Affairs, it has a been registered under the Alavi Maulana, was also on a just encourages women to dress in a sors of the Ministry are remanded due to drug tendency to operate Department, it was not pilgrimage to Mecca. Later, on his way that protects their dignity. scheduled to function offences. In this regard, according to the prescribed involved in its administra- instructions, I went to a Police station Nowhere is it mentioned that they need as advisors to this he had also ordered procedures. Responding to tion. When queried as to in the area to lodge a complaint but to wear black or face-covering clothes,” Committee. them to submit their a query by a Member of the how much money is allo- they refused to accept the complaint, he added. Ali Sabry, PC has recommendations as PCoI as to whether the cated for the work done saying there were reports that I was He further added only traditional decided to form the well. Ali Sabry has also Department was in any through the Department, working against them in Sri Lanka. Muslims can be considered true Committee following informed the way involved in the admin- he said around Rs 200 mil- Later, I came to know that the All Muslims and it is only by taking talks held at his Committee to furnish istration of the All Ceylon lion is allocated annually. Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) had necessary steps in that regard, an Ministry to formulate him a complete report complained about me, the witness environment could be created in Sri ways and means within a 90-day period added. Lanka where all nationalities can live in towards reducing the concerning legal The witness further said on another harmony and coexist. number of suspects amendments that being remanded in would need to be intro- prisons due to drug duced. He has also related offences. ordered the Prisons One of the main pri- Department to submit orities at the discussion a report regarding the Adjournment debate ... had been on the obtain- ways to reduce conges- A number of 10 Ordinance are scheduled to ing of Court Orders tion within the prisons. communiqués connected to be taken up for debate on 10 towards the rehabilita- The Minister has also the Excise Ordinance would September. tion of drug addicts and advised the officers be debated in the House on The Party Leaders have those who are being from the GA’s 20 September. also decided to conduct a imprisoned on such Department to look into Furthermore, six Gazettes daylong session on 11 charges. ways of expediting the linked to orders concerning September to convey the The Minister had process of submitting the Port and Aviation Parliamentarians’ advised the Committee the necessary reports Development Ordinance and condolences on the late to submit to him an compiled with regard to nine Gazette papers Minister Arumugam interim report within a suspects remanded on connected to the Customs Thondaman. 21-day period after drug related charges. news friday 4 september 2020 A3 Security guard held for sex abuse Two Colombo A security guard was arrested for suspect was picked up following an tipped-off by a Zonal Education sexually abusing three minor girls investigation carried out by the Director had also recorded at a school in Nikaweratiya, Police National Child Protection Authority statements from the three Grade said yesterday (3). (NPCA). Five students in question. Hotels isolated to They said, the 39-year-old The NCPA which had been (LB and NV) quarantine expats Cabinet GMOA seeks perfume, Arrivals to spend mandatory period there approves policy By Thameenah Razeek have been decided by the health cosmetic regulation authorities and the Army along with on natural gas Steps are being taken to isolate two other relevant authorities. The Cabinet of Ministers The Government Medical was a time lapse in registering leading hotels in Colombo to provide “The isolation process is over and we approved the drafting of a Officers Association (GMOA) pharmaceuticals which resulted facilities to expatriates arriving in the look to providing the required national policy on natural urged the State Minister for the in pharmaceutical companies country, to spend their mandatory facilities to those coming in,” he said. gases. Supply and Regulation of having to wait for lengthy periods quarantine period. Additional Secretary to the A decision was taken on 12 Pharmaceuticals, Professor to register their drugs which Chief Medical Officer at the Colombo President for Foreign Relations, February to appoint a to introduce inadvertently resulted in delaying Municipal Council, Dr. Ruwan Admiral Professor Jayanath committee comprising regulations on perfumes and drugs reaching patients, they Wijayamuni yesterday (3) claimed that Colombage said, over 20,000 Sri intellectuals to inspect and cosmetics which were freely claimed. it can appreciate in future since the Lankans from 94 countries have now table the required available in the market and were Prof. Jayasumana also numbers of such persons coming in returned and the focus now is to amendments to the draft. also used in salons. requested the Union to intervene are increasing day by day. bring down the Sri Lankans stranded The amended policy The Executive Committee of the in providing a methodical system The Cinnamon Red Hotel and Best in the Middle Eastern countries and prepared by a committee, GMOA paid a courtesy call on through which the drug shortages Western Elyon Hotel in Colombo will the Maldives. More than 50,000 comprising 17 intellectuals, Jayasumana, lamented that reported in hospitals could be be isolated for quarantine centres. people are expected to return to their was submitted by the Minister cosmetics were used unrestricted. addressed. He said, isolation of these hotels homeland. of Energy. They also pointed out that there (DJ)

Rakna Lanka, Avant Garde bribery case Criminal Law BASL to launch Certificate Course HC defers trial following injunction The Bar Association of Sri De Alwis PC, Senior Additional Lanka (BASL) will launch a new Solicitor General Sarath By Hansi Nanayakkara floating armoury off the Southern Appeal has already issued summons Certificate Course in Criminal Jayamanne PC, Shanaka seas for his firm. The Commission to respondents to be present in Court Law on 11 September. Ranasinghe PC, U.R. De Silva Colombo High Court Judge Champa has also charged Fernando with regarding the revision application This Course conducted online PC, Nalin Ladduwahetty PC, Rajaratna, yesterday (3) decided to receiving the bribe from filed by the defence. He added that through the Zoom Digital Saliya Pieris PC, Mohan temporarily defer the ongoing trial, Senadhipathi. the case will again be taken up on 7 Platform, will be conducted Weerakoon PC, Additional filed against former Chairman of the The initial objection filed by the October at the Court of Appeal, to every Friday over a period of 12 Solicitor General Ayesha Rakna Lanka Company, Retired Army defence had been dismissed by the facilitate the filing of re-objections weeks. Jinasena PC, Neville Abeyratne Major General Palitha Fernando and High Court and the defendants filed a pertaining to the revision application. Supreme Court Judge, Justice PC, Nalinda Indatissa PC, Anuja Chairman of Avant Garde Security revision application in the Court of Hence, Pathirana urged Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, President Premarathne PC, Deputy Services Private Limited, Nissanka Appeal, praying for an injunction Rajaratna, to defer the High Court of the Court of Appeal, Justice Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, Senadhipathi, who have been chatged against the case being heard in the trial till the revision application is A.H.M.D Nawaz, retired SC Attorneys Sunil Abeyratne and with giving and receiving a bribe of Rs High Court. concluded by the Court of Appeal. Justice Dr. Saleem Marsoof, Asoka Weerasuriya, Senior State 35.5 million, following an interim Perusing the revision application Taking the submissions into High Court Judges Vikum Counsels Madhawa Tennekoon injunction on the trial issued by the filed by the defendants, the Court of consideration, Justice Rajaratna said, Kaluarachchi and Aditya and Janaka Bandara, will be the Court of Appeal. Appeal, on 31 July, imposed an it would be impossible for her to set a Patabendige, President of the resource persons. The Commission to Investigate interim injunction against the trial precise date as to the conclusion of BASL Kalinga Indatissa PC, The Secretary of the BASL, Allegations of Bribery or Corruption being conducted by the HC. the revision application by the Court Faisz Musthapha PC, Rienzie Rajeev Amarasuriya, said BASL has charged Senadhipathi with When the case was taken up before of Appeal and ordered the case to be Arsakularatne PC, Razik Zarook Members with less than five furnishing the bribe to Fernando to Judge Rajaratna, defence lawyer Ajith argued again before her on 18 PC, Anil Silva PC, Shavindra years in practice are entitled to facilitate the maintenance of a Pathirana told Court that the Court of December. Fernando PC, Prashantha Lal a concessionary fee. A4 friday 4 september 2020 news

After reports of green Tremors in Kandy substance in sea Lunuwila NARA introduces new conducts First report to Coconut variety By Dilanthi 2020 and is said to Jayamanne have a harvest research potential of over A new hybrid variety 22,000 nuts per y aalir amaldeen GSMB this week B N J of coconut was hectare. It is also able By Thameenah Razeek being prepared currently and Victoria Reservoir or due to a introduced at the to fairly resist the The National Aquatic hopefully the documentation collapse of metamorphosed Lunuwila Coconut coconut mite. Resources Research and The first report of the will be available for release limestone, GSMB experts Research Institute of The spokesperson Development Agency (NARA) tremors which occurred in today (4) or tomorrow (5). added, noting that they are Sri Lanka (CRISL), said the new variety conducted research in several areas in Kandy will be It was also found that the conducting further studies on which would bear fruit was being introduced various places in the sea, ready and handed over to the data collected on the recent the matter. within three to four by the Genetics and after it was informed that Chairman of the Geological tremors felt in the Kandy The first minor tremor years. Plant Breeding Division certain areas had turned Survey and Mines Bureau District had revealed that the occurred on 29 August in A spokesperson for of the CRISL and is green, an officer said (GSMB) within the course of tremors did not take place Haragama in Kandy at 8:32 the CRISL said it had recommended for yesterday (3). this week. close to main plate lines or p.m. and the second was been introduced to domestic cultivation, Deep sea fishermen in Senior Director at the plate boundaries. reported in parts of Kandy, mark the International and for large-scale Angulana had informed the GSMB, Geologist Udaya de The tremors may have been including Aluthwatte and Coconut Day and that cultivations under good Ministry of Fisheries and Silva, yesterday (3), said the the result of anticipatory Pallekele, on 2 August at 7:06 the new variety has soil conditions and Aquatic Resources on 31 final parts of the report are induced seismicity close to the a.m. been named CRISL quality management. August that they noticed a mysterious green colour fluid floating in the sea, owing to which the fish harvested in those areas had turned green and yellow, he said. PCR test,VTM kits handed over to Premier Navy & STF on special search He said NARA had op in Tissamaharama commenced research in those areas and found that a particular kind of non- poisonous algae had spread Four arrested with in the sea. Such a situation could be observed in the sea off ice worth Rs 5.2M Kalutara, Payagala, Beruwala, Chilaw and By Nabiya Vaffoor interrogating the duo, the team Modara on 2 September. conducting the raid managed to NARA is conducting further Four suspects were arrested nab another suspect with six research in those areas, he with 696 grams of crystal grams of ice. Further added. methamphetamine (ice), worth interrogation into the incident led over Rs 5.2 million (Rs the Navy and the STF to arrest 5,220,000), on 2 September by yet another suspect who was Navy personnel attached to the transferring 681 grams of ice for Explosion at Abu Southern Naval Command and sale in a motorbike in the Kataragama Police Special Debarawewa. Dhabi restaurant Task Force (STF) during a special The suspects have been search operation in identified as residents of the Pannegamuwa and Debarawewa, same localities. One Lankan Tissamaharama. Meanwhile, the suspects along The handing over of 16,800 polymerase chain reaction test sets and 17,000 Virus During this operation, two with the drugs and the motorbike killed, another Transport Mediums (VTMs) by Coca Cola Company and the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to suspects were apprehended and were handed over to the Prime Minister took place at Temple Trees on 2 September. The medi- injured cal equipment is to be handed over to six hospitals engaged in the treatment of COVID-19 about nine grams of ice had been Tissamaharama Police for onward patients. The medical equipment is estimated at Rs 50 million. found in their possession. After legal action. An explosion occurred at a restaurant in Abu Dhabi on 31 August and subsequently there was unconfirmed information that two Sri Lankans were Why are groups silent over repeal Contempt of Court victims. Sri Lankan Embassy officials of 19th Amendment? – Kaviratne in Abu Dhabi visited the hospital to verify and confirm SJB parliamentarian Amendment. Kaviratne was Rtd Major Prasanna information regarding the Sri Rohini Kaviratne stated She stated that not only addressing an event held Lankans, of whom one Sri that it was surprising to civil society groups but at the Kottagas Junction, Lankan had lost his life and the find several civil society even political parties in Pallegama, Raththota. to face trial other is presently receiving groups instrumental in the North and South had Kaviratne also added treatment in the Intensive Care the formulation of the been conspicuous by that the Opposition has By Hansi Nanayakkara another case, was produced in Unit. 19th Amendment their absence in to engage with the public Court by the Prisons The Embassy and the Foreign maintaining a deafening mounting any opposition in a more constructive Colombo High Court Judge Department. Ministry are in contact with silence at a time when the to the present regime’s manner than at present Dhammika Ganepola, yesterday The Attorney General has UAE law enforcement and Government is efforts to repeal the 19th or else the Government (3) decided to take up the indicted Prasanna, on two hospital authorities to provide attempting to repeal it in Amendment in favour of would have a free hand in Contempt of Court case against counts, of Contempt of Court, assistance. favour of the 20th the 20th Amendment. duping the electorate. retired Army Major Ajith whereby he is alleged to have Prasanna, who is presently on made disparaging remarks, at a bail, on a daily basis with from media briefing conducted by him 16 November. on 12 January, against HC Justice Ganepola also issued Judge Gihan Kulathunga, who Urban schools should have 20% from other religions summons on four witnesses for had presided over the case filed the prosecution to be present in against interdicted Magistrate By Ruwan Laknath Jayakody recommendations to ensure communal be created for comparative learning. Court on the said date. Thilina Gamage and three and religious harmony. “A special day for peace and communal When the case was taken up, others, who were charged with Trilingual amity schools should be It was pointed out that students must harmony and diversity should be defendant Prasanna, who is in possession of an unlicensed instituted while regulating admissions to be given an opportunity to study their declared and included in the school remand in connection with elephant calf. State schools in urban areas to reflect not respective religions, while encouraging calendar, so that one student can be less than 20 per cent of students from the practice of their respective religious selected to deliver a short speech at the other religions, whereby schools in and cultural norms within the context of school assembly on the benefits of cosmopolitan urban areas are not limited a broader Sri Lankan identity and communal harmony,” it was further to a single religion or language. universal values. In this regard, the suggested. The Committee was also of 20th Amendment This was noted in the interim report of Committee proposed that schoolchildren the view that in each region, the the Select Committee of the Eighth must be taken to visit places of worship of Additional Zonal Directors for Education Parliament to study and report its other religions, while opportunities must should be from the non-majority race. TUs, civil society seek a month for public debate Suspended projects to be completed soon – Ahamed Several trade unionists and Constitution after its civil society activists, ratification by the Cabinet Batticaloa District Sri Lanka meeting held on 2 September that the remainder of the Engineering Corporation, the requested President Gotabaya without allowing recourse for Muslim Congress (SLMC) at the Eravur Urban Council to construction work could be contract of which had been Rajapaksa to allow a period of the people to discuss its merits Parliamentarian Naseer discuss the resumption of completed before the end of the given to a private construction one month for the public to and demerits would lead to Ahamed expressed confidence suspended construction work year and to commission it for company earlier. debate the pros and cons of consequences for the public that the development work in on the public market building, public use and a decision was A tourism centre which was the draft proposal of the 20th and the country in the future. his area that were suspended cultural hall and lakeside reached to obtain funds from being constructed at a cost of Amendment to the They have therefore urged during the tenure of the tourism centre in the Eravur the next Provincial budgetary Rs 10 million was suspended Constitution prior to it being the President not to allow the previous United National Front region. It was decided to allocation to complete the work when nearly Rs 8 million worth gazetted. 20th Amendment to be led regime can be resumed resume the construction work on the top floor of the market. of work was completed. A These trade unionists and gazetted without subjecting it with the support of the on the public market, which It was decided at the meeting decision was taken to obtain civil society activists have for a meaningful discussion President and the Prime was suspended when 90 per to take over the construction funds and resume the observed that being unduly among the public as it could Minister. Ahamed made these cent of the work had already work on the cultural hall and construction work on it hasty in attempting to gazette imperil the future path observations at a special been completed. It was hoped to hand it over to the State thereafter. (NJ) the 20th Amendment to the undertaken by the country.

Construction sites hotbeds for dengue – NDCU By Eunice Ruth Health (MOH) regarding proposed Also, she said the number of patients is Rs 1,200 and the FBC test is Rs 400. Ratnapura have been identified as high- construction projects. She added that to reported from construction sites and The official further said it is expected risk areas and several special mosquito Construction sites need to be more stop the spread of dengue and breeding, the surrounding areas have increased to have a dengue spike in the upcoming control campaigns were organised in aware in controlling the dengue spike environmental management with in recent times. months due to monsoonal changes. The those areas with the help of the Tri- within the country, said an official of modification is much important to She urged the public to be aware of MOHs of each District started Forces and these campaigns will be the National Dengue Control Unit reduce the sources of breeding in the test prices in the hospitals, as inspecting all breeding places, including conducted in the upcoming months, (NDCU). construction sites and personal previously private hospitals charged Rs houses, schools, construction sites and she said. Already, we have conducted When contacted yesterday (3), she protection is also important to reduce 2,000-3,000 for a NS1 Antigen test and other places. several school-level programmes last said the construction industry is human-vector contact. full blood count (FBC) test, but that now In total, 26,238 patients have been year to teach children from the identified as a key player in the spread Also, she said the construction sites it has a fixed price after discussing with reported within till the end of beginning on aspects pertaining to of dengue and to prevent this, building need to be inspected on a daily basis the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA). August and most importantly 3,745 prevention, but this year it was skipped approval issuing authorities should and that potential breeding places need According to the CAA Act, No. 9 of 2003, cases were identified from Colombo. due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said inform the respective Medical Officers of to be removed at the beginning itself. the fixed price for the NS1 Antigen test Therefore, Colombo, Kandy and the official. column friday 4 september 2020 A5 Crony Ireland By Padraig Colman

I have often had occasion to chide some Sri Lankans about their masochistic propensity to tout their homeland as a land like no other when it comes to nepotism, corruption, and venal politicians whose main aim is to feather their own nest rather than to meet the needs of the constituents they are rewarded handsomely to serve. The malign efforts of Sri Lankan politicians are dwarfed by the truly monumental corruption to be witnessed in the US. In the UK, the Government is taking advantage of the pandemic to hand out contracts to political supporters who have no experience in epidemiological matters and the Prime Minister is packing the upper chamber with cronies and donors. He has even given a peerage to his own brother. My passport is an Irish one. There are many things about Ireland of which I am proud. It has to be said that the amount of political corruption that Ireland has experienced is rather impressive for a Nation of only 4.1 million people. The ‘brown envelope’ A t-shirt popular in Ireland at the time bore the slogan: “Ben there, Dunne that, bought the Taoiseach” Ireland currently finds itself at a respectable No. 18 in the Corruption Perception Index (CPF) and it has bring peace to . phoned into a radio programme and the affair. Also at the table was former hovered around that position for Ahern signed the cheques from the said that he had sneaked a look at the Independent TD Paudge Connolly, many years. Since the bad old days of Lenihan account, and this and other table plan for the golf club function. now a Monaghan county councillor. , there has been a matters from the past came back to The supermarket When he went up to his own room, he He had recently been playing golf in general recognition that to retain its haunt him, forcing Ahern to set up said to his wife: ‘There’ll be trouble Spain so should have been in attractiveness to foreign investors, the which brought tycoon Ben Dunne with this one.’ quarantine. the Irish state needed to tackle a about his downfall. of Dunne’s Stores, There were ten tables. At the At Table 9 was former Fianna Fáil culture of corruption. The ‘brown The Haughey case was a tipping ‘captain’s table’ was Noel Minister of State with responsibility envelope’ (or bribing of planning point. For a long time, Charlie got on a cocaine- Grealish, Galway West TD (MP) and for older people Áine Brady and her officials) has long been a feature of away with it even though it was captain of the golf society; Minister for husband, Gerry, also a former Fianna Irish life. Gombeenism describes the common knowledge what he was up fuelled night in Agriculture Dara Calleary and his Fáil TD for Kildare. Brady is chief kind of parish-pump, pork-barrel to. There was even a measure of wife, Siobhán (he resigned); and EU executive of Third Age, an politics in which those elected to be affection for his rascality; he was Miami, confessed trade commissioner Phil Hogan (he organisation that supports older legislators devote themselves to called ‘a cute hoor’. It is difficult to to a hooker about resigned). Former Fianna people in Ireland.Among the guests cronyism and self-aggrandisement sustain this when the people are Fáil Minister Noel Dempsey and his listed at Table 10 was Loman rather than honestly suffering and the politicians are bribes he had paid wife, Bernadette, were there too. Dempsey, a property consultant and representing their constituents’ wallowing in the trough. One At other tables were former Fianna brother of former Fianna Fáil interests. definition of corruption is “the misuse Charlie as he tried Fáil TD and Senator Donie Cassidy, Government Minister Noel Dempsey. It is a matter of public record what of entrusted power for private gain”. to throw himself president of the golf society. Cassidy His response to enquiries by the Irish a Taoiseach (or Irish Prime Minister, For ordinary citizens, it is more resigned as vice-president of Fianna Timeswas: “You are hounding pronounced ‘tea-shock’) earns. On up-close and personal than an out of a hotel Fáil following the controversy. The everybody, so no comment and this fairly modest amount, Charles abstract definition. It means citizens society’s 50th anniversary event was a goodbye”. Martin Brett, deputy Haughey enjoyed an opulent lifestyle, struggling to get what should be their window. The tribute to the late Mark Killilea, a chairman of Kilkenny County including an opulent but right. ‘Speed money’ to fast-track founding member of the group and Council, who was also at this table unfortunately garrulous mistress, public services might be seen as being tribunal concluded former Fianna Fáil MEP. Fianna Fáil said attendees were being wrongly who even more unfortunately, was a akin to tipping a waiter at a Minister and property pilloried and anyone who resigned sociable and bibulous journalist. The restaurant, but this is part and parcel that Haughey had developer Frank Fahey was also at over the scandal should be reinstated. McCracken Tribunal in 1997 of a toxic culture. this table. Former RTÉ radio unearthed illegal payments by The Irish tribunals made a received around presenter Sean O’Rourke was at Those who wrote the businessmen into offshore accounts difference, in that they undermined GBP 10 million another table of eight. RTÉ cancelled guidelines and Haughey faced criminal charges the public’s tolerance for unethical a number of future projects with for obstructing the tribunal. It behaviour, and they destroyed the from businessmen. O’Rourke, which had included a Among those attending were people reported that the bribes, “when culture of silence in the process. planned weekend politics show. who had a hand in writing the Governments led by Haughey were Senior politicians such as Prime A significant Also, at the table were guidelines they were themselves championing austerity, can only be Ministers Haughey (death saved him Senator Paddy Burke and councilor breaking; there was a doctor, former said to have devalued the quality of a from criminal conviction) and Ahern, portion of funds Enda McGloin, who both lost the Fine chair of the Parliamentary Health modern democracy”. Foreign Minister Ray Burke (who was donated for a Gael whip as a result of their Committee; there was the CEO of a Confessions jailed), and EU Commissioner Padraig attendance. Dr Michael Harty, former charity for older people; there was the Flynn and his daughter Minister liver-transplant TD and chair of the Oireachtas health man responsible for health and safety The supermarket tycoon Ben Beverley Flynn (who was working for committee, was also at the table.John in Parliament; there was an Dunne of Dunne’s Stores, on a a bank when, in the Hiberno-English operation for his Flaherty, captain of the guard experienced broadcaster known for cocaine-fuelled night in Miami, phrase, “the firm’s cash got mixed up at Leinster House, who is responsible his incisive questioning of hypocrisy. confessed to a hooker about bribes he with their own”) were named and former colleague for health and safety in the Houses of Fintan O’Toole: “Did they not grasp had paid Charlie as he tried to throw shamed – and they paid the price. Brian Lenihan was the Oireachtas was there. how profoundly insulting so many himself out of a hotel window. (A That the arrogance has not The Judge was there people found the idea that someone T-shirt popular in Ireland at the time departed from the Irish political misappropriated who set the rules could make an bore the slogan: “Ben there, Dunne mindset was demonstrated by recent Supreme Court judge and former exception for himself? Did that not that, bought the Taoiseach”). The events. I described in these pages the by Haughey for attorney general Séamus Woulfe who lodge somewhere in the well- tribunal concluded that Haughey had furor that erupted when Parliament’s had until very recently been the developed part of their brains that received around GBP 10 million from golf club decided to hold a shindig in personal use State’s chief law officer overseeing the deals with self-preservation – I’d businessmen. A significant portion of total disregard of the rules ordinary drafting of the regulations was there. better not do that anyhow? “ funds donated for a liver-transplant people were trying to follow to control He is now facing a review by former The Sri Lankan people strongly operation for his former colleague the spread of COVID-19. As usual, chief justice Susan Denham into stated that they were unhappy with Brian Lenihan was misappropriated Fintan O’Toole nails it: “They didn’t whether he should have attended the what the politicians had done after by Haughey for personal use. see the obvious because they didn’t The Function event. 2015. There are high expectations of Charlie’s protégé and successor think they had any obligation to be There were 81 people at the Guests at Woulfe’s table included the new Government. Politicians Bertie Ahern presided as the aware of where they were and what function, plus staff and management. Senator Jerry Buttimer, should heed the consequences of the youngest-ever Taoiseach over a they were doing.” There were other hotel guests who did who resigned as Leas Cathaoirleach arrogance of the great and good in booming Irish economy and helped not attend the function. One of them (deputy speaker) of the Seanad, over Ireland.

Three quarter of the year is minded will know that the son very early in the afternoon gone. I remember very well The Way it is zodiac sign is, until the 22nd, at the Katunayake Airport to proclaiming at the beginning Virgo, while after that, Libra. catch his past-midnight- of January that this year I speak too soon; upsurges September As a mother, one of my flight. The sight of a lamb would be propitious as it had and peaks of infection are sharpest and most poignant being deserted haunted me. such a lovely set of integers – always ready to engulf us. The batik, clay and handicrafts delightful spring fever is over. memories of September was But matters mercifully turned 2020. How wrong I was! Never world and many other industries and much else. We In Australia and other saying goodbye to my son as out well for me, unlike for so have we, in our island, and all countries suffered and are hope the country benefits and southern lands the spring he set forth to the US of many other less fortunate who around the world, have had still suffering from the ravages the economy; down in the season kicks off this month. America to enter university lost their children to either such a bad year of of the disease with thousands dumps as of now, will start to The solstice is very much there. It was in 1989, at the the Police or JVP killers. My innumerable deaths, lock of deaths recorded. rise soon. evident as we have sweltered worst of the JVP uprising with son too, benefitted by our downs, protests and general So, it is the ninth month of Accessing Internet, I find with high temperatures in Sri universities closed; schools decision unlike many less mayhem. I won’t proceed to the year and we have long that though in the Gregorian Lanka starting about a also given a longer holiday; a fortunate children who were itemise them but in truth, past the halfway mark of Calendar we use, September fortnight ago. It was school I worked in was burnt forced to give up higher even during the darkest days 2020. What do we have to look is the ninth month, it was in pronouncedly cooler in July and heavily destroyed; and studies then. of our civil war – 1983 to 2009 forward to? We have a the first Roman calendar the and then came the higher curfews strictly imposed. We The question we ask – nor during the two JVP Government in place. The seventh month since January temperatures. had to send our son overseas ourselves as the year 2020 uprisings - early 1970s and President has proven himself and February were introduced Personal not only to benefit from wanes is: should we anticipate late 1980s - have we to be concerned about the later. Thus the name studies abroad but to keep the next three months of the experienced such constraints people and the country. The September is derived from significance of him safe for it was highly dying year or look to the and limits to personal August General Election ‘septum’, the Latin for seven. dangerous then for young immediate future with freedom. We in Sri Lanka, brought into Parliament the The symbolism of September boys to be moving around; pessimism and lost hope? thanks to our President and ‘good, the bad and the September is on ‘focusing and Interesting to know that the even conscription to the JVP Depends much on each his Presidential Task Force indifferent’. We have had refocusing our energies.’ In birthstone for September is being bruited. We had to sell person’s personality and and all health workers, some deplorable candidates the Northern Hemisphere the sapphire; the birth flower what we had. It was the circumstances and how the suffered comparatively little being voted in. A Cabinet has September signals the is forget-me-not, morning moment that most pierced my Government manages the from the dreaded COVID-19. started working, so also State beginning of autumn with its glory and aster – little daisies. heart with sorrow and affairs of the State. Of course it could well be that Ministers – developing the nostalgia that spring and its Those who are astrology trepidation when we left our Kumari A6 Friday 4 September 2020 Editorial

Ceylon Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. No: 101, Rosmead Place, Colombo 07. Editorial Tel: 0117566522, 0117566526, 0117566527 Fax: 0117566545 Marketing Manager: 0117566550, 0117566551 Circulation Manager: 0117566580, 0117566581 E-mail : [email protected] Education Reforms The main focus of the recently proposed Cabinet Paper on reforms to the education curriculum is to create a more pragmatic approach to education through its content and learning methods, while focusing on providing the child with access to technology and vocational education at various levels. At a special meeting between the representatives of the newly established Presidential Task Force on Education Reforms, including curriculum revisions, Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the objective of the reforms is to produce an education system where children are not limited to memorise subject matter but have the practical ability to overcome challenges with logical intellect and analytical ability. Currently, Sri Lanka’s education system is an Shinzo Abe’s outdated mire as proved during the lockdowns where temporarily adapting to remote learning proved difficult, mainly due to lack of facilities but significantly because of the lack of technological knowledge, even with students who had internet connections. Our schools reward the studious who can recite the times- Legacy for Japan tables, handle basic Mathematics, study and regurgitate material while maintaining the accepted decorum towards their instructors. By Shihoko Goto public support for his Traditional-minded teachers are often administration. intimidated by new innovations and are more History may look far more At the same time, many likely to punish students who show exceptional kindly on Shinzo Abe than continued to see Abe’s vision skills because of our old-fashioned system’s Japanese voters did during his for Japan as an extension of aversion to outliers. Creative students are often last few months of office. He his own family’s aspiration, only reserved for when the school needs to resigned only days after setting even as he became the conjure up some arts and crafts or some other a record as Japan’s longest- country’s longest-serving tacky thing for a sports or cultural event. This serving Prime Minister. Prime Minister. system goes on to be transposed to all aspects of society including workplaces and public Already nostalgic? A political blue-blood works where any suggestion for improvement is Of late, Abe had been in action received with scorn and doubt. We have heard struggling in public opinion the common adage “We can’t do it here, not in polls, not least because of Of course, there is no doubt Sri Lanka,” far too many times while the very voters’ frustration about his that Abe is as political blue- scoffers who say these brag about innovations handling of the COVID-19 blood as they come, with of Sri Lanka’s Ancient rulers. In recent years, pandemic. former Prime Minister reforms only made their way as far as Yet, far from declaring good Nobusuke Kishi as his implementation and have mainly been cosmetic, riddance to a Premier who maternal grandfather, and lasting months at best. most likely would have maternal grandfather Kan Abe Prof. Peiris also observed that the serious continued to slide in popular a former member of the House problem in education is the gap between the support, Japan is already of Representatives. subject knowledge acquired by students and beginning to look back His family legacy no doubt the job opportunities and the fact that students nostalgically on Shinzo Abe’s gave him a considerable having to wait for a long time to pass their A/Ls seven years and eight months advantage especially within before they can enter universities. Although Sri in office. the conservative Liberal Lanka has an excellent record for literacy and There is widespread Democratic Party, but at the an inclusive public education system compared recognition of what he has same time, it had continuously to its Asian neighbours, it somehow came short achieved – not only a stable been a double-edged sword in when producing vocationally proficient young Japan, but one with a clear winning over public support. men and women for the job market. The view of its own identity and Abe’s single greatest problem squarely rests in the education role in the world. achievement is undoubtedly system’s non-alignment with job market needs the fact that he brought and old-fashioned attitudes. The reality is that A clear vision stability to Japanese politics youth unemployment is at an all-time high and Even his staunchest critics and became an established we all know of recent university graduates who would not deny that Abe had a global Statesman at a time of have resorted to baking cakes or riding for Uber clear vision for Japan at a time great global upheaval. Eats because they couldn’t find a job for their when countries across the Amid the rise of anti- specialisation. The situation is very bleak when globe have been struggling to globalisation and economic higher education institutes churn out wave grapple with the shifts in the nationalism, Abe’s endeavours after wave of grads with humanities and social international balance of power to press ahead with the Trans- science degrees when the industries are mostly and challenges to economic Pacific Partnership trade demanding candidates with business, technical growth. agreement and a bilateral and IT proficiencies. It’s not that students who Until 2012, Japan had trade deal with the EU study humanities or social sciences are useless; struggled with defining its positioned Japan as a there are plenty of jobs if they are willing to look identity in a post-Cold War of law prevailed across Asia. champion of free trade and in the right places (i.e. advertising, project order. As it ceded the number Abe’s vision was enhanced its standing as a management). But the problem lies in this two spot in the global economy undoubtedly welcomed by keeper of the international misguided notion that any sort of degree can to China in 2010, the narrative The prospects of Washington – and by EU order. land you a suit and tie job in a nice cosy office for Japan both at home and member countries as well. Late-stage hiccups offering a six figure sum. That’s not how the job abroad was that it was a Japan changing market works. country that had peaked, and Assertive Japan, Abe’s handling of the While all of the above can be fixed with long would continue to slide with its pacifist tepid voter support coronavirus pandemic and the term intervention, there is the issue with an aging population and Constitution postponement of the Tokyo educational institutions with dubious growing debt. despite China’s Abe’s challenge, however, Olympics provided two accreditation that needs immediate action. Defensive realism was that the prospect of a important dampers, defining From time to time we hear of questionable growing military more muscular and assertive his Government in 2020. diploma mills where degrees are virtually up for Abe, however, brought forth Japan had tepid support from Neither, are expected to have sale with sub-par academics or no coursework a grand vision, if not a capabilities, the Japanese voters themselves easy solutions moving forward. whatsoever. Reformers should also work on strategy, for Japan to be ongoing threat and from neighbouring China So, perhaps it is no surprise routing out these places lest they lead to able to reassert itself as a and Korea in particular. that he resigned when he did. thousands with useless certificates clogging up global power that would of North Korea The prospects of Japan It echoed Abe’s first the job market. If this practice persists, champion the rules and and a less changing its pacifist resignation as Prime Minister recruiters will have a hard time vetting institutions that had helped Constitution despite China’s when he previously served in candidates for postings, not to mention the the country re-establish itself dependable growing military capabilities, the post in 2007, when he left disaster if ones with these fake degreeholders after the end of World War II. United States as the ongoing threat of North office after only a year due to start getting jobs (They already do). Faced with a more ambitious Korea and a less dependable health reasons. a security In this context, vocational training schools China that was not only United States as a security Conclusion should be promoted in areas where there are increasing its military guarantor failed guarantor failed to garner wide high market demands projecting for the next capabilities, but also eager to public support. As things stand, it seems few decades. Sri Lanka should aggressively offer an alternative roadmap to garner wide What’s more, Abe’s much- unlikely that Abe’s eventual invest in IT education to prepare the country for for international development public support noted overtures to reach out to successor will be able to the emerging technological paradigm. Reformers that challenged United States President Trump personally to command the world stage as should also scout for new out-of-box thinking dominance, Japan under Abe secure greater United States he did, and with it, Japan’s educational innovators to replace the old cadre. sought to enhance its defence commitment to Japan has had ability to be a global stabiliser capabilities and play a greater mixed results, and did not will diminish as well. role in ensuring that the rule necessarily translate to greater (www.theglobalist.com) Column Friday 4 September 2020 A7

Notes to the People Reinstating ‘Control Areas’ By Sumanasiri Liyanage

Amartya Sen in his 1972 article, ‘Control Areas and Accounting Prices: The economic An Approach to Economic Evaluation’ advanced for the first time in my crisis predated knowledge the concept of ‘control areas’ that were constituted by the the national economy. What has happened epidemiological with the advent of neo-liberal reforms in 1977 was the gradual weakening of crisis, locally as those control areas. All kind of State intervention and economic planning well as came under the purview of those internationally. control areas and may fall within a wide spectrum of ideological COVID-19 came groundings that entail Keynesian as a supply demand management, social democracy, trade and capital account shock. The restrictions, central planning and public ownership. The state by shortage of raw deploying multiple interventionist materials for measures can act in order to achieve its stated objectives. apparel Since 1977, Sri Lanka has undermined and in certain cases industries due to removed those control areas as the disruption of pressure came from the vortex of international capital. Oftentimes, the sea and air pressure stemmed directly with the transport as conditionalities of the international financial institutions. Indirectly, the well as the movement of ‘hot money’ posed constant pressure on the State action. shortage of International capital and the supply in China organisational structure attached to it in 2019. This puts the Sri Lankan more and more dependent on the serious balance of payment crisis due continuously pressed the State to economy in a conundrum and finding prevailing system. This situation was to multiple reasons. This is not liberalise first the current account and a solution remains extremely difficult vividly described by Prof Prabhat because of the COVID-19 pandemic. eventually the capital account of the and problematic. One may see some Patnaik in the following words. Nonetheless, this time, the crisis is balance of payment making the State similarity between the situation in “…State policy gets directed towards exacerbated by the simultaneous such a strengthening of ‘control areas’ less amenable to those pressures. 1960 and the situation today where keeping international rentiers happy presence of an epidemiological crisis. is the only way to ‘unplug’ the the degree of gravity is similar. With so that they do not precipitate As I mentioned in one of my previous influence and dominance of the Debt Burden the continuous deficit in the trade payments crisis. For this interest rates columns, the economic crisis predated international rentier class and their The situation was somewhat under balance and the overall deficit in the have to kept high, the fiscal deficit has the epidemiological crisis, locally as local associates. However, one thing is control when the imperialist countries balance of payment, the country has to to be kept in check and tax rates have well as internationally. COVID-19 absolutely clear. In response to the of the West and the East injected borrow more money thus increasing to be kept low, all of which contribute came as a supply shock. The shortage Government’s reintroduction of massive amounts of money as bilateral the debt mountain to meet the annual to deflation and stagnation. Moreover, of raw materials for apparel industries ‘control areas’, rentier elements, assistance to start big infra-structure debt obligations unless the radical step workers’ rights have to be restricted to due to the disruption of sea and air international financial agencies and projects, like the Mahaweli Diversion of debt default is not seen as an ensure their acquiescence in this transport as well as the shortage of their local associates using their links project. However, after 2005 when the alternative option. deflation. If perchance a capital flight supply in China. Similarly, the receipts with techno- bureaucrats and big infra-structure development As Dr Vagisha Gunasekera, a young does occur despite all this, domestic of foreign exchange were severely politicians would disrupt and weaken projects were financed by foreign debt, political economist at the Open resources and assets have to be offered restricted for three reasons. The lower the control areas reducing them to the situation transformed and the University in Sri Lanka disclosed in for sale ‘for a song’ to entice such demand for apparel and garments supplementary measures to dominant state’s capacity to intervene in the her presentation at the Marx School capital not to leave the country’s exports, reduction of the arrival of marketist perspective. economy in order to contain and last Saturday (August 29), shores. In short, the policies of the tourists and the reduction of income To face this counter-attack, the delimit the pressure of international Governments are reluctant to adopt Nation-state instead of having the from migrant labour. In such a Government should go back to financial capital became weak. The the debt default option not for autonomy that planning presupposes context, the restriction of imports and economic planning It is incorrect to total debt in 2005 was US$ 22billion economic reasons as the economic are dictated by the caprices of a group the promotion of import substitution argue that planning is impossible in (approximately Rs. 2 trillion that cost is not that substantial but for of international rentiers.” are unavoidable. Hence, the the current global context. In fact, the increased to US$ 57 billion (Rs. 7 political reasons as many The policy prescriptions that Prof Government’s policy retreat though ad countries may confront the attack of trillion) by 2015. Under the Governments that adopted the debt Patnaik listed in the above quote were hoc is not a retreat. If those steps are international rentier class and their ‘Yahapalana’ regime the total debt default option failed to get reelected. the policy measures implemented by articulated in a well thought out long- local associates only by having faith increased from Rs. 7 trillion to US$ 75 the ‘Yahapalana’ Government and term policy perspective it will even and confidence over to real producers billion (Rs. 14 trillion). Of course what Dependent State defended by the mainstream metamorphose into an advance. of the country, working people. is more relevant here are the annual Syndrome economists. Although the mainstream (The writer is a retired teacher of total debt repayment obligations as a Retreat or Advance economists may interpret this political economy at the University percentage of the GDP that increased Facing such a conundrum, many reinstatement of control areas in the of Peradeniya. from 72 per cent in 2015 to 87 per cent States in the global South became Like in 1960, today Sri Lanka faces a economy as a regressive measure, E-mail: [email protected]) Golden Opportunities By Dr. Devika Brendon suffering and desperation of the people crimes of these people, as so much of affected by the recent war. People - what they do is covered up, or Like many people, I have been including children - had died as a obscured, or overly reliant on thinking a great deal recently about result of the bad quality penicillin sold eyewitness reports, or described as human nature, and specifically about to them by Harry Lime. The debris of ‘hearsay’ or ‘conjecture’ or ‘false the opportunism that we are seeing recent bombings lies around the city in accusations’ by the legal defenders exposed by the stresses placed on our which this scene is set: the ornate they hire with the money they have societies by the COVID-19 threat, and public squares are deserted, and unethically appropriated. the ongoing economic and social beautiful local girls are keeping Nobody thinks about human beings,’ disruption it has caused. company with Americans in exchange asserts Harry Lime, closing the door of We hear, via social media and for silk stockings, high quality the carriage. ‘Governments don’t. Why community discussion, about people chocolate, and small amounts of cash should we? They talk about the people taking advantage of vulnerable others to keep their families alive. and the proletariat. I talk about the in unconscionable ways. People who suckers, and the mugs. It’s the same are elderly, or ill, or lonely, or isolated. Free of income tax! thing. They have their Five Year Plans. One person’s bad luck or misfortune is The exposure of Lime’s conduct And so have I.’ another person’s golden opportunity. takes place in the carriage of a Ferris Harry Lime’s self-justifying wheel, in a macabre deserted monologue in this scene is very Where does avarice begin? amusement park in Prague. As the famous. I believe Orson Welles A lot of it goes unnoticed, in the The Third Man 1949 Ferris wheel scene Ferris wheel carriage sways, claimed to have improvised some of maelstrom of daily life. The person who suspended high in the sky, Lime opens it, immersed in character as Harry says they need to have surgery which bookings agent for a travel company into that space and enrich themselves the door and invites Holly to look at the Lime. The most famous speech, is described by them as urgent and who defrauds his employer by via the other person’s trust, innocence, scene below. They themselves are so known as ‘the cuckoo clock speech’, necessary, and is given a sizeable loan channelling the fees of incoming frailty, generosity or sense of ‘old- far up that the people ‘down there’ on takes place as they come back to for that purpose, but who puts the tourists into an unauthorised bank fashioned’ honour. the ground below look like dots. ground and Lime takes his leave of amount in an interest-bearing account account set up by himself under a He says to his shocked friend: his former friend, whom he has just, instead, and delays the surgery for as generic name, copying the letterheads The Third Man ‘Victims? You’re being melodramatic. in a brief and menacing sequence, long as he can. The person, who makes and invoice forms of the company he is At what point do self-interest, sharp Look down there. Would you really feel implicitly threatened to kill for oneself indispensable to an elderly working for and substituting his own thinking and survivalism become any pity if one of those dots stopped knowing too much about his illegal person living on their own, then bank account for that of the company - exploitation? Not illegal acts, moving, forever? If I offered you 20,000 activities, up in the carriage above persuades him without witnesses to which, as an employee, he has a technically, but actually in fact pounds for every dot that stopped, the desolate city: present to sign over the land title deeds legal obligation not to act in a unethical? The classic 1940’s film ‘The would you really, old man, tell me to ‘Don’t be so gloomy ...After all, it’s of his property to her. fraudulent way. Third Man’ shows this in a famous keep my money? Or would you look not that awful. You know what the People who invite their family and Horrified, we hear of people in public scene between two former friends in down there and calculate how many - fellow said - in Italy, for 30 years under friends to invest in companies from positions of authority, entrusted with post-war Czechoslovakia. Orson dots - you could afford to spare? And the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, which their life savings and the money the care of vulnerable children Welles plays a man called Harry Lime, free of income tax, old man. Free of murder and bloodshed, but they they had invested - for their children’s displaced by war, famine or disaster, who is an American business operator income tax.’ produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da weddings or their education or their trafficking the children they claim to working amidst the chaos caused by This is how an exploiter thinks. Vinci, and the Renaissance. In own retirement - never emerge again. have saved, using the children’s WW2, selling penicillin to the people Whether they delay repaying loans Switzerland, they had brotherly love, No accountability, no regulation, no situations of poverty and economic via the black market. given to them in good faith, or marry they had five hundred years of returns just unrecoverable losses. desperation as leverage. When his friend Holly arrives at his someone for money, or for property, or democracy and peace - and what did The person whose school friends join All these incidents show people who, request to accept his job offer to join in share dividends, or kill them for that produce? The cuckoo clock. So together to pay her child’s private when confronted or exposed, show this enterprise, he discovers that his money, or land title deeds, the person long, Holly.’ hospital high medical bills, and then that they really believe they were old buddy has been ‘watering down’ they are extracting resources from Well, well. As young Elizabeth discover that the parents had moved simply doing what came naturally to the penicillin he sells, charging higher ceases to be a human being in their Bennet asked her favourite aunt, in the child to a local hospital instead, them in the circumstances. There was prices and selling lower grade quality eyes, but becomes a ‘mark’, a target. Pride and Prejudice, 200 years ago, and that the person they helped had a gap in knowledge, awareness, of the stock to ill and impoverished They look at them and see only how where does prudence end, and avarice kept the balance money for herself. capability, on the part of someone they people: not selling the concentrated much money they can make from begin? At what point do we say ‘this is The tradesperson who charges a knew, or worked for, or had been to amounts that would make them well, them. And they always say, as Lime criminal’ when the perpetrators hidden commission on purchases he school with, or were related to; and but, like a predatory drug dealer, does, ‘There’s no proof against me’. themselves describe it as ‘self help in gets for a homeowner. The trusted they felt entitled to insert themselves callously taking advantage of the great Indeed, it may be difficult to prove the times of other people’s trouble’? A8 friday 4 september 2020 asia Tokyo, Japan At least two people killed as Typhoon Maysak hits waterlogged Koreas At least two people were reported killed and thousands were temporarily without power as Typhoon Maysak smashed into A Filipino crew member believed to be onboard Gulf Livestock 1 is the Korean Peninsula on Thursday (3), rescued by a Japan Coast Guard boat during their search and rescue bringing heavy rain and lashing winds to operation at the East China Sea, 2 September 2020 (Japan Coast areas still recovering from Typhoon Bavi. Guard/Handout via Reuters) The ninth typhoon of the season and the fourth to hit the Peninsula this year left about 120,000 households without power across South Korea, officials said. Cattle ship Flights were cancelled or delayed and downed trees and other debris caused light damage, Yonhap news agency capsized in storm reported. One person died when winds shattered a window in South Korea's second-largest city of Busan, which bore the brunt of the in East China Sea storm's 170 Kph (105 mph) winds, Yonhap reported. – Rescued crew member Another man in the city was found dead, believed to have fallen from the roof of his A ship carrying 43 crew and nearly 6,000 cattle from New house while repairing a leak, the agency Zealand to China capsized after losing an engine in stormy reported. weather in the East China Sea, the only crew member rescued The Peninsula typically sees only one so far told Japan's coastguard on Thursday (3). typhoon a year, but another typhoon, The Gulf Livestock 1 sent a distress call from the west of Haishen, is brewing south of Japan and is A woman looks at debris caused by Typhoon Maysak in Pohang, South Korea, 3 September Amami Oshima Island in southwestern Japan on Wednesday expected to hit the Korean coast on 2020 (Reuters) (2), as Typhoon Maysak lashed the area with strong winds and Sunday (6) or Monday (7), NASA's Earth heavy seas. Observatory reported. Bavi, and for a second week in a row State no immediate reports of casualties. Japan's coastguard said it had rescued one crew member, Some of the areas hardest hit on TV carried rare live reports of storm surge North Korea's agriculture sector is Sareno Edvarodo, a 45-year-old chief officer from the Thursday were still counting the cost of and flooding, including in the coastal town particularly vulnerable to severe weather, Philippines, on Wednesday night (Tokyo time) while searching last week's Typhoon Bavi and one of the on Wonsan. and this summer's storms and floods have for the ship. wettest monsoon seasons on record. The reports showed a damaged bridge raised concerns over the country's According to Edvarodo, the ship lost an engine before it was Parts of the South Korean resort island and flooded farmland, while a van with tenuous food situation. hit by a wave and capsized, a coastguard spokeswoman said. of Jeju reported more than 1,000mm (39 loudspeakers broadcast warnings to The string of storms are being fuelled by When the ship capsized, crew was instructed to put on inches) of rainfall since Tuesday, residents. "extremely warm water of the tropical lifejackets. Edvarodo told the coastguard he jumped into the according to the weather agency. Later in the day, State TV reported that Western Pacific", NASA reported. water and did not see any other crew members before he was North Korea took the brunt of Typhoon the typhoon warning had been lifted, with (Reuters) rescued. Pictures provided by the coastguard showed a person in a lifejacket being hauled from choppy seas in darkness. Three vessels, five airplanes and two divers had been deployed to continue the search, the coastguard said. Taipei, Taiwan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The crew included 39 people from the Philippines, two from New Zealand, and two from Australia, it added. The Philippines Government said it was coordinating with the China's comments New youth Japanese coastguard as it searched for the missing crew members ahead of another typhoon building in the region. Typhoon Haishen is brewing south of Japan and is expected on Czech Speaker party hopes to to hit the Korean coast on Sunday (6) or Monday (7). The Gulf Livestock 1 departed Napier in New Zealand on 14 August with a cargo of 5,867 cattle bound for the Port of denounced 'unshackle' country Jingtang in Tangshan, China. The journey was expected to take about 17 days, New Zealand's Foreign Ministry told Reuters. China's ‘vulgar threats’ The 139 metre (450 ft), Panamanian-flagged vessel was built over a visit by the Czech from old politics in 2002 and the registered owner is Amman-based Rahmeh Republic's Senate Speaker to Compania Naviera SA, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. The Taiwan are like a cold, One of Malaysia's ship manager is Hijazi & Ghosheh Co. Calls to the owner and unwelcome winter wind and youngest lawmakers will manager were unanswered. contrast with the courteous start a youth-based party Last year, New Zealand launched a review of its live export words the Speaker offered this month with the hope of trade, worth around 54 million New Zealand dollars (USD 37 while in Taiwan, a senior changing a political million) in 2019, after thousands of animals being exported Taiwanese politician said on landscape long dominated from New Zealand and Australia died in transit. Thursday (3). by ‘old hands’ and money New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said it China, which claims politics. Syed Saddiq Syed had temporarily suspended live cattle export applications after Taiwan as its sovereign Abdul Rahman, 27, said the the Gulf Livestock 1 went missing. territory, has condemned yet-to-be-named party would (Reuters) Czech Senate Speaker Milos seek equal representation for Vystrcil for going. The women and young people in Chinese Government's top Parliament and do away with diplomat Wang Yi said this a patronage system that week he would pay a "heavy Czech Senate President Milos critics say has blunted the New Delhi, India price" for visiting the Vystrcil attends a news Southeast Asian country's democratic island. conference in Taipei, 3 competitiveness. September 2020 (Reuters) Vystrcil declared himself to "We want to unshackle be Taiwanese in a speech at Malaysia from the type of Facebook bans Taiwan's Parliament on cultured country, like spring politics based on money and Tuesday (2), channelling the sunshine, splendid and power, and refresh it with ruling party politician late U.S. President John F. warm - Taiwan's people were young people with the right Kennedy's defiance of deeply moved", You said. heart, mind and interests Malaysian politician Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman communism in Berlin in "Chinese Foreign Minister who can move Malaysia reacts during an interview for policy violation 1963, further angering Wang Yi's vulgar threats forward," he told Reuters on with Reuters in Petaling Jaya, Beijing but winning plaudits however were like a cold, Thursday (3). Malaysia, 3 September 2020 Facebook Inc has banned in Taipei. unwelcome winter wind that Syed Saddiq said he drew (Reuters) a member of India's ruling Speaking with Vystrcil by cause discomfort." inspiration from French party for violating its policies his side Taipei, Taiwan Vystrcil said he had invited President Emmanuel who was in early talks to join covering violence and hate, Parliament Speaker You You to lead a delegation to Macron's youth-oriented En Syed Saddiq's party this as Mark Zuckerberg's Si-kun praised his "stirring" Prague for what he termed a Marche and Thailand's week. Syed Saddiq said the company finds itself caught speech at the legislature. ‘working visit’, and Future Forward Party in his talks involved 33 young in a debate over how it Vystrcil "was gentle and dismissed China's criticisms. bid to shake up a political people of diverse ethnicities handles political content in elegant, a paragon of a (Reuters) culture that has been run by and backgrounds, including its biggest market. aging stalwarts for decades. academics, religious leaders The company said on The average age of and members of the Thursday (3), it had banned Malaysian lawmakers is technology and corporate politician Raja Singh from Facebook and Instagram under its around 55, a worrying sectors. He remains "dangerous individuals and organisations" policy. Kabul, Afghanistan concern for the country confident that the group's When contacted for comment, Singh, who is from Prime where the median age of its diversity will be an asset Minister Narendra Modi's party, sent Reuters a video message 32 million-strong population despite differences over saying his followers and other party workers had opened up Officials primed for is 29. Prime Minister controversial issues such as pages using his name and that he plans to contact Facebook so Muhyiddin Yassin, 73, took same-sex relationships, that he can open an account. talks with Taliban after office in March after the which is outlawed in the "I want to use social media following all norms," he said. resignation of 95-year-old Muslim-majority country. The world's largest social network is facing a public-relations prisoner deal – Sources Mahathir Mohamad, who Syed Saddiq first came to and political crisis in India after the Wall Street Journal served as premier twice national prominence after reported that one of its employees, Ankhi Das, opposed applying Afghan negotiators and senior officials will fly to Doha for including a 22-year stint joining hands with Mahathir the company's hate-speech rules to profiles in Singh's name peace talks with the Taliban after the two sides reached a that ended in 2003. to oust a corruption-tainted which had called Muslims traitors. compromise over the release of prisoners, diplomatic and Mahathir has founded his Government in 2018. He Some Facebook employees have raised questions about Government sources said. All but seven of the 5,000 prisoners own party to take on former became Malaysia's youngest whether adequate procedures and content regulation practices whose release the Taliban had demanded as a precondition for ally Muhyiddin, who holds a Cabinet member after being were being followed by the India team, sources familiar with negotiations have been freed, four Government and diplomatic slim majority in Parliament. appointed as the youth and discussions told Reuters last month. sources told Reuters. National security advisor spokesman Muhyiddin also faces a Sports Minister in On Thursday, Facebook said it will also remove Pages, Groups Javid Faisal confirmed that all but ‘a small number’ of the challenge from an opposition Mahathir's administration. and accounts set up to represent Singh and Facebook events remaining Taliban prisoners had been released, in return for alliance led by 73-year-old But the experience left him when it comes to know the individual is participating, but will the insurgent group freeing security force members in line with Anwar Ibrahim, whose disillusioned with political continue to allow wider discussion of him, including praise & the Government's demands. "Diplomatic efforts are ongoing," on-again, off-again feud with parties' reliance on raising support. he said in a tweet, referring to the final few prisoners who Mahathir has shaped money through business "The process for evaluating potential violators is extensive and international partners objected to releasing. "We expect direct political conversation since dealings and cronyism. it is what led us to our decision to remove his account," the talks to start promptly." The Taliban did not respond to a the 1990s. "There's a real The new party will seek to company said in a statement request for comment. It was not immediately clear when the desire for a fresh political cap political donations from The Wall Street Journal reported the move earlier, saying at talks would start. A Government source said they could begin culture to replace the private entities and instead least five Facebook profiles dedicated to Singh, which once had as soon as Saturday (5), but a second source subsequently said current one which is rely on new methods such as more than 300,000 followers, showed a message saying "This that initial plans for the Government delegation to fly to Doha outdated and has failed to online crowdfunding, he Content Isn't Available Right Now". on Thursday (3) had been postponed. engage young people," said said. (Reuters) (Reuters) Qyira Yusri, a youth activist (Reuters) world friday 4 september 2020 A9

Moscow, Russia CDC tells U.S. States to prep for Belarusian Leader COVID-19 vaccine distribution Lukashenko replaces security chiefs Belarusian leader as soon as late October Alexander Lukashenko has appointed new heads The U.S. Centres for Disease and U.S. respondents would take of the KGB security Control and Prevention (CDC) a COVID-19 vaccine if available, service, the Security has asked State public health Scott Ratzan, co-leader of a group Council and the State officials to prepare to distribute a called Business Partners to control committee amid potential coronavirus vaccine to Convince, told Reuters in August. protests and strikes over high-risk groups as soon as late Drug developers including a disputed election, the October, documents published Moderna Inc, AstraZeneca Plc official Belta news agency by the agency showed on and Pfizer Inc are leading the reported on Thursday (3). Wednesday (2). race to develop a safe and Lukashenko said he The timing of a vaccine has effective vaccine for the won the 9 August taken on political importance as respiratory illness. Presidential Election by a U.S. President Donald Trump The CDC documents describe landslide, but protesters seeks re-election in November, say it was marred by two vaccine candidates that must Belarusian President Alexander after committing billions of be stored at temperatures of massive vote-rigging Lukashenko (Reuters) federal dollars to develop a minus 70 and minus 20 degrees allegations and have vaccine to prevent COVID-19, Celsius. Those storage taken to the streets for more than three weeks which has killed more than requirements match profiles of demanding he step down. 180,000 Americans. candidates from Pfizer and Retaining the loyalty of the security forces, who have "For the purpose of initial Moderna. helped him crack down hard on the protests, is vital to planning, CDC provided States MSNBC that based on the workers, national security Last month, the U.S. Health Lukashenko as he tries to navigate the most serious with certain planning patient enrollment rate in personnel, and nursing home Department said the CDC was challenge to his 26 years in power. assumptions as they work on COVID-19 vaccine trials residents and staff, the agency executing an existing contract He appointed Ivan Tertel, formerly head of the State State specific plans for vaccine underway, there could be said in the documents. option with McKesson Corp to control committee, to head the KGB. Valery Vakulchik, distribution, including possibly enough clinical data to know by Regulators around the world support potential vaccine who served as chairman of the State security having limited quantities of November or December that one have repeatedly said development distribution. committee, was appointed secretary of the country's vaccines in October and of the vaccines is safe and speed will not compromise CDC Director Robert Redfield Security Council, Belta reported. November," a CDC spokeswoman effective. vaccine safety, as quicker results has asked state governors to Lukashenko also appointed Vasily Gerasimov as told Reuters. The documents put online by would stem from conducting expedite McKesson's requests for acting head of the State control committee. The New York Times had earlier the New York Times showed the parallel trials that are usually building vaccine distribution The behaviour of the security forces is in focus after reported that the CDC had CDC is preparing for one or two done in sequence. But such centres and to consider waiving human rights experts from the United Nations said contacted officials in all 50 States vaccines for COVID-19 to be reassurances have not convinced requirements that would stop this week they had received reports of hundreds of and five large cities with the available in limited quantities as everyone. them from becoming fully cases of torture, beatings and mistreatment of planning information. soon as late October. Preliminary results of a survey operational by 1 Nov., according protesters by Police. The country's top infectious The vaccines would be made conducted over the last three to a recent letter obtained by The Belarusian Government has denied abusing disease expert Anthony Fauci available free of cost first to high- months in 19 countries showed Reuters. detainees and has said its security forces have acted earlier on Wednesday said on risk groups including healthcare that only about 70% of British (Reuters) appropriately against demonstrators. (Reuters)

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Warsaw, Poland As expats leave Washington, United States City seeks to attract Republicans Closing wealthy foreign retirees criticise Pelosi over coal mines hair appointment inevitable U.S. Republicans criticised appointment, although salons House of Representatives Speaker elsewhere in the state and across Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday (2) much of the country were already for going to a hair salon in San open. – Deputy PM Francisco in an apparent President Donald Trump and Poland will close its coal mines in the coming violation of the city's coronavirus other Republicans seized on a decades as phasing out the fossil fuel is inevitable in pandemic regulations, but the brief video of Pelosi's light of the European Union's climate policies, Democratic leader said she had appointment, which first aired on Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin said on Thursday been told by the salon the the Fox News channel, to accuse (3). appointment was allowed. Pelosi, the most senior elected Poland generates most of its electricity from Pelosi briefly addressed the Democrat in Washington, of burning coal, which has become costly due to rising issue to reporters in San hypocrisy. prices of carbon emission permits. The industry has Francisco, saying, "I take Trump used the incident to also struggled with falling demand for coal, which responsibility for falling for a set- attack Pelosi, saying on Twitter accelerated during the COVID-19 lockdown because up." that she is "constantly lecturing" the country used less power. Under strict rules to combat the others. On top of that, many miners caught COVID-19 and A general view of Business Bay area, after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 28 coronavirus pandemic, hair "The Beauty Parlor owner must some mining operations were temporarily closed or March 2020 (Reuters) salons in San Francisco were still really dislike Crazy Nancy Pelosi. reduced. prohibited from admitting Turning her in, on tape, is a really The Government, together with coal mining trade Dubai is seeking to attract firms have been cutting jobs to customers on Monday (31 big deal," the President wrote. unions, aims to work out a restructuring plan for the wealthy foreign retirees as the save costs. August), when Pelosi had her (Reuters) industry by the end of September. It had planned to economy of the Middle East This has prompted many close two coal mines, but dropped the plan following trade and tourism hub reels expatriates - who make up the pressure from the unions. from the coronavirus pandemic majority of the population of "The process of closing mines is inevitable, as it is and low oil prices, prompting the UAE, which includes Dubai very much related to the EU's energy and climate many expatriates to leave. - to leave the country in which policies. This process will last for a few decades and It will grant visas renewable residency is tied to employment over that period coal mines will be closed," Sasin told every five years to resident and that does not offer private radio RMF. expatriates and foreigners over citizenship routes to non- Poland is the only EU country that has not pledged the age of 55 who fulfil specific nationals. to be carbon neutral by 2050, with the ruling Law financial conditions, the The new law could help prop and Justice (PiS) party arguing it needs more time Government Media office said. up Dubai's real estate market, and significant funds to switch to a zero-emissions To be eligible, they must have which has been suffering from economy. a monthly income of at least oversupply for years. But research by Greenpeace shows Poland could 20,000 dirhams (USD 5,445) or The economy of Dubai, the phase out coal by 2035 in a business-as-usual 1 million dirhams in cash UAE' second-largest and scenario. savings, or 2 million dirhams second-wealthiest emirate after Sasin also raised a question mark over a planned worth of property in Dubai. oil-rich Abu Dhabi, is expected investment in a new open-pit lignite mine in Zloczew Important sectors of the to shrink sharply this year, in central Poland. Dubai economy such as with some analysts estimating "This is an issue of environmental permits. The tourism and transportation a contraction of over 10 per other question is whether in 20-30 years we will need have been severely impacted by cent. such an investment," Sasin said. the coronavirus crisis and (Reuters) U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Reuters) (Reuters)

London, United Kingdom Nairobi, Kenya Britons slowly returning to workplaces All nations should People in Britain continued to to get back to their workplaces as – Statistics Office gradually return to their workplaces schools across Britain reopen after in late August, something Prime the summer holidays. unemployment as the Government join global COVID-19 Minister Boris Johnson wants to Last week, one of the country's winds down its job retention speed up in September to help the business leaders said big urban scheme - online job adverts economy recover from its historic centres looked like ghost towns, remained around 55 per cent of vaccine effort coronavirus slump. putting at risk swathes of their 2019 average for a fourth Fifty-seven percent of working companies which cater to consecutive week, the ONS said. All countries should join hands in a adults travelled to work between commuter workers. Separately, a survey published by global effort to procure and distribute – Africa CDC 26 August and 30 August, up from The ONS said footfall in retail the Bank of England showed potential vaccines against the it would not join the effort, called 55 per cent two weeks earlier and areas hit more than 75 per cent of companies expect the hit to sales coronavirus across the globe, the head COVAX, due to President Donald 33 per cent in May, the country's its level a year earlier in the week and employment from the pandemic of the Africa Centres for Disease Control Trump's administration's objection to statistics office said on Thursday starting 24 August, largely driven to last well into next year." and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday WHO involvement, a move described by (3). by people returning to high streets. The Decision Maker Panel survey, (3). The World Health Organisation some critics as ‘disappointing’. Those working exclusively from Counts of cars, pedestrians and conducted between 7 August and (WHO) said 76 rich nations were now "We are in this together. No country home slipped to 20 per cent from 22 cyclists in London and the North 21 August, also found the share of committed to joining a global COVID-19 will be safe if any other country in the per cent, the Office for National East of England returned to around employees on furlough fell to 12 per vaccine allocation plan co-led by the world still has cases of COVID," John Statistics said. That figure stood at pre-lockdown levels. cent in August from 18 per cent in WHO that aims to help buy and fairly Nkengasong, the head of the Addis nearly 40 per cent in June. However, there was a reminder July and a peak of 36 per cent in distribute the shots. Ababa-based continental body, told an Johnson has urged more people that Britain is facing higher April. (Reuters) The United States said on Tuesday (1) online news conference. (Reuters) A10 friday 4 september 2020 news Appeal against Gateway Int’l School judgment thrown out Plaintiff/Appellant asked to pay Court costs School had not violated terms of contract

The case filed by Sepala Ekanayake dismissed Ekanayake’s claim. between the father of the child and Additional District Judge of Colombo thereafter enrolled at another in the Civil Appellate High Court of Ekanayake had subsequently the School. too had noted that there is no international school at the beginning the Western Province, appealing appealed the Colombo DC’s judgment Judge Thahir held that the condition in the said application of 2002. “Hence, it appears that no against the judgment delivered by at the WP Civil Appellate HC, once Additional District Judge of Colombo stating that French will be taught at damages whatever have accrued to Additional District judge of Colombo again claiming that the School in had “rightly held that the document key stages one and two. the child.” dated 15 June 2010 in favour of the question had wrongfully terminated (brochure) is not an offer but an The School contended that the In conclusion, the Court held that Gateway International School the studies of his child. invitation to treat”, and further cited child’s studentship was terminated it “sees no basis to interfere with the (Private) Limited., was dismissed Judge Thahir in his judgment Patridge v. Crittenden (1968) 1WLR on the grounds that the School fees judgment of the Additional District yesterday (03). noted, “The damages, then must 1204 to the effect that an for the September-December 2001 Judge of Colombo.” The Court determined that the accrue to the child and not to the advertisement was an invitation to term was not paid. According to the Accordingly, the Court dismissed plaintiff’s claim of wrongful plaintiff, who is the father of the child, treat and not an offer. application, the School fees should the appeal with costs (Rs 25,000) and termination of a student had no basis and that under the circumstances, Therefore, Judge Thahir further be paid at the time of enrolment and affirmed the judgment of the as the contract between Ekanayake the action should have been filed by pointed out that it is abundantly subsequently paid before the end of Court. and the School was not breached by the child through a next friend.” clear that the statement which the current month or term for the Judge Abayakoon too concurred the School but by Ekanayake. Hence, the Court noted that “ex facie, mentions that French is a subject at succeeding month or term. The with Judge Thahir’s opinion. The plaintiff Ekanayake is the there is no cause of action accrued to key stages one and two is not a child’s mother in her evidence had The case Sepala Ekanayake v. father of a child who was a student at the plaintiff against the defendants in condition of the contract entered into categorically admitted the fact that Gateway International School Gateway International School. terms of the averments in the plaint.” by Ekanayake and the School. Thus, the child’s School fees for the entire (Private) Limited {WP/HCCA/ Citing wrongful termination of his This basis alone, in the Court’s view the contention of the Attorney for September-December 2001 term COL/123/2010 (F)}, was heard child’s studentship, the plaintiff filed makes it liable for the plaintiff’s Ekanayake stating that the” School were not paid. before WP Civil Appellate HC Judges a case at the District Court (DC) of action to be dismissed. had breached the contract by not “In the circumstances, it is Mohamed Laffar Thahir and Sampath Colombo (31768/MR) seeking Rs 6 The plaintiff’s Attorney-at-Law teaching French at the key stages manifestly clear that the studentship B. Abayakoon. million as damages from the School. citing a brochure issued by the one and two is devoid of merit. of the child was terminated on the Attorney-at-Law Anuruddha The School had denied the School which stated that French is a The Court added, “The application basis that the fees for the child were Dharmaratne appeared for the allegations on the basis that the subject at key stages one and two, submitted by Ekanayake to the not paid,” Judge Thahir held, adding plaintiff Eknayake while President’s termination was lawful and in turn contended that the School had agreed School for the purpose of enrolling “Hence, it is the view of this Court Counsels Romesh De Silva and filed a counter claim seeking to to teach French to the student in the child is the valid offer and that it that the contract was not breached Saumya Amarasekera appeared for recover Rs 36,750 as unpaid School question and that since the School was the acceptance of the said by the School but by Ekanayake. the defendant-respondent Gateway fees from Ekanayake. had delayed in starting to teach the application by the School that The Court further observed that it International School under the Following a trial, the Additional French language in the School, the created the legally binding contract.” is evident that the child had studied instructions of Attorney G.G. District Judge of Colombo had School had breached the contract The Court also noted that the at the School till the end of 2001, and Arulpragasam. Otto von Bismarck: How did He Maintain Peace in Europe By Sirish Paudel directed his foreign policy and happening, Bismarck hosted either party was attacked. It constraints the likelihood of diplomatic engagement towards the Congress of Berlin as an achieved one of Bismarck’s war. In a multipolar world, a The war of 1870 between keeping France at bay and ‘honest-broker’. Dissatisfied primary foreign policy goals – declining major power is only France and Prussia had two isolated, for he knew any with the outcome of the isolation of France. likely to pursue war as long as major consequences. First and hostile alliance by France with Congress and at Bismarck’s However, all wasn’t gold for its relative military power is foremost, the defeat of France other European powers posed role, Russia ended the Bismarck in his foreign policy. considerably higher than other and the subsequent Treaty of the danger of a potential two- Dreikaiserbund. However, The War in Sight Crisis of 1875 major powers in the multipolar Frankfurt marked the end of front war that threatened the Bismarck was able to uphold was one of such. France had system. However, in a bipolar the French dominance in survival of the German Empire. and maintain the peace but at recovered earlier from the world, there is a clear continental Europe. Secondly, So, he sought maintaining Russian antagonism. Fearing defeats of the Franco-Prussian delineation of friend and foes. the German annexation of amiable relations with other Russian military preparedness, war than Germany anticipated There is also no third power Alsace and Lorraine completed countries and core part of his Bismarck sensed Germany them to and kicked off their that could take opportunity of the establishment of the focus was on building a could be subject of a two-front rearmament programme. By the spoils between two major German Empire which peaceful and friendly alliance war; realising the need for an virtue of Security-Dilemma, powers. Therefore, in this propelled them among the with Austria and Russia. ally, he got into military alliance Germany felt threatened. This system, a declining power is ranks of major European [2] Initially, Bismarck found with the Austrian empire and unwanted crisis unfolded when likely to pursue war even if it powers. The reunification of himself in a crossroad when formed the Dual Alliance. The an article ‘Krieg-in-Sicht’ was just matches relative military Germany caused a Russia and Austria were terms of the treaty stated both published in Germany that capabilities of the rising power. fundamental shift in the contending over the issue of the Austria and Germany would mentioned several high-profile [4] It can be argued that distribution of power in Balkans. The relative decline of aid one another in the event of German officials contemplating during the time Bismarck was 19th century Europe. Bismarck the Turkish power had opened indispensable and Bismarck an attack from Russia. Later, preventive war against France. in power there were no major had understood that among up opportunities for Russia and knew this to the core. Back Italy joined the alliance to make It created fear among the wars. However, it wasn’t others his objective was to gain Austria to fill the power then, Britain controlled most of it the Triple Alliance. All these Europe’s elite; the Brits and the because of his “love for peace” – trust and make Germany look vacuum in the region. The the world’s colonies as well as efforts from Bismarck made Russians made their position as was demonstrated by peaceful and friendly to other Balkans were of a strategic the oceans. In order to sure France formed no alliance clear to Germany that no Bismarck’s appetite for wars countries. Bismarck was able importance to both the perpetuate Germany’s security with major powers. preventive war would be between 1864 and 1870 (with to convince other European Russians and the Austrians. and survival, the last thing With German alliance getting entertained. This unwanted Austria, Denmark and France). powers that unified German With neither willing to let the Bismarck wanted was to stronger, and feeling incident resulted in Bismarck’s Rather it had got to do with empire was a status quo power other have influence in the antagonise Britain by getting increasingly isolated, Russia diplomatic failure and taught systemic conditions – polarity – and posed no security threats region, Bismarck sensed himself into colonial came to an understanding with him a lesson that unallied constraining the prospects of to them. Consequently, Germany could become competition. In addition, he Germany and Austria which France can still pose a threat. war. Back then, Europe was through his diplomatic tact and reluctantly involved in any viewed colonies as resulted in the Renewal of the However, this incident can be multipolar. Germany was going proactiveness Bismarck future Austro-Russian conflict counterproductive that could Dreikaiserbund. This alliance considered a wakeup call for through extensive maintained peace in Europe for over the area. easily create entanglements effectively made sure France him who later initiated policies industrialisation and nowhere nearly two decades. [3] So, he proposed the that result in diplomatic rift remained isolated and any that sought peace in Europe near did they possess a [1] The main theme of this formation of the League of the and disputes with powerful French-Russian coalition and quite remarkably achieved considerable military prowess. article is to elucidate how the Three Emperors forces. Moreover, he sensed wouldn’t materialise it. Bismarck knew any foreign policy undertaking by (Dreikaiserbund) which inherent danger of colonial throughout his tenure. Once, David Copeland’s expansionist adventure would Bismarck and his system of officially took shape in 1873. commitments leading to shift on the verge of getting in a be met by force from Russia, alliance with Austria and The objectives of the German focus from Europe. potential Austro-Russian Dynamic Differential France and Britain. Similarly, Russia was able to prevent Dreikaiserbund were twofold: Furthermore, Bismarck saw conflict, Bismarck made sure, upon unification, Germany Germany from war against first and foremost, to ease off German future in Europe; his all contending parties were Theory although became a powerful other European powers and tensions between Austria and reference to “My Map of Africa pacified and the status quo was Going by the realist force, it was still only a rising thus, preserved peace in Russia over territorial claims in lies in Europe” being a preserved. However, the assumption in a world power and the hegemon – Europe. the Balkans and secondly, to testament to it. This explains Bulgarian Crisis (1885) characterised by anarchy and Britain- was not in decline. prevent intervention in any why, initially, in spite of escalated the situation when self-help where States are Thus, war wasn’t initiated due Bismarck and His potential strife between domestic pressure, Bismarck Russia sought war with Austria rational unitary actors, David to power differentials in System of Alliances Germany and France. was reluctant to get into and Britain would support Copeland, in the Origins of economic and military aspects Although, the alliance did not colonial adventures for fears of Austria to stop Russian Major war, has posited that a between the Hegemon and the Aftermath the Franco have military component to it, confrontation with Britain and takeover of Bulgaria; the dominant but a declining State rising power. Furthermore, Prussian War, France was in for the time being, it instead focused on trade and tension all but ended the perceives a rising power as a talks of preventive wars were agony over the lost territories. fulfilled Bismarck’s aim to industrialization to bolster Dreikaiserbund once again. serious security threat and in discussed in 1875, 1877 and The French despised the isolate France. In addition, the German economy. The onus was on Bismarck to order to perpetuate its survival, 1887, however, weren’t Germans, the hatred and the three parties also vowed to The events in the Balkan reconcile Russia and Austria the declining major power is pursued for the very reasons. animosity against Germany preserve the status quo in Crisis (1875-1878) exacerbated and with his diplomatic more than likely to resort to [5] Bismarck wanted peace was at all time high and the Europe. Austria-Russia rivalry. Yet adeptness Bismarck negotiated war. Thereby increasing and economic stability for the French would pounce upon any Likewise, the German Empire again, Bismarck feared Austro- a defensive alliance – chances of great power wars. unified Germany until it opportunity to get revenge on had just come into being, Russian war could engulf the Reinsurance Treaty with By virtue of Dynamic became preponderant to Germany. Bismarck, cautious although unified Germany was whole region. In order to Russia. The terms of the treaty Differentials theory, Copeland challenge the system. of the French revanchism, powerful, they weren’t prevent this from secured neutrality in the event has maintained that polarity (www.moderndiplomacy.eu) friDAY 4 september 2020 b11 Protectionism Would Affect SL Exports, FDI By Rajiesh Seethram see the EU president making sudden announcements of 30% An EU delegation to Sri Lanka duty hike on certain products. and the Maldives, headed by The tax system and legal system Denis Chaibi, said that trade in the EU are reliable. The EU should be a two- way street and GDP is thrice that of China and protectionist policies of the fifteen times that of India. Sri Government may affect Foreign Lanka can get better margins by Direct Investment (FDI) to Sri trading with the EU,” he added. Lanka. When questioned regarding Speaking at an event on some buyers in the EU cancelling ‘German sustainable initiative in orders during the pandemic, Sri Lanka to facilitate Market Chaibi responded saying, “If access to EU’, Chaibi noted that, someone has a proper contract “Sri Lankan exports amounted to and if the contract is not fulfilled, more than 2.5 billion Euros (US$ then he can go to a tribunal or to 3 billion) worth products per year Courts. The EU has one of the Thursday Markets whereas Sri Lanka imports was best and most reliable legal only around 1 billion euros (US$ systems in the world.” 1.5 billion) annually resulting in With regard to the high a net trade balance of more than Denis Chaibi standards and regulations Foreigners flee 1 billion euros, favourable to Sri maintaining a good Human with FDIs. Protectionist policies imposed by the EU when th Lanka.” Development Index and Social would make it difficult for the EU importing products, Chaibi said CSE for 35 day “Sri Lanka imports US$ 4 protection. Sri Lanka exports delegation to convince industries these standards were set out to billion worth of products from more to the EU compared to in the EU to invest in Sri Lanka. maintain green and sustainable China, while it exports only US$ imports from EU, however, we If a country keeps changing its growth models. “The EU isn’t a 200 million worth of products. understand that is how trade policies, tax rates and military super power, but Sri Lanka uses the money works. But Sri Lanka should protectionism, investors would definitely we can say that we are obtained from exports to the EU, allow the EU also to export to Sri be doubtful of the safety of his a standards super power. If a to pay for Chinese imports. Sri Lanka without imposing investments, repatriation of product meets EU specifications, Lanka should make strategies to protectionist policies. Sri Lanka profits and be hesitant to make then the producer would find it export more to China,” noted already enjoys the GSP plus from investment in that country,” he easy to market it in any part of Chaibi. the EU,”he said. said. the world. Thus the investment “We commend Sri Lanka for Chaibi said even for traditional Chaibi further said the EU is a made to produce goods according having the best labour standards industries to grow, it needs reliable trading partner with to EU standards is worth the in South Asia and also for technology. “Technology comes consistent policies. “You won’t investment,” Chaibi said.

New Trade Policy Cabinet appoints Committee for Investment Promotion By Dilanthi Jayamanne By Mario Andree to be formulated Douglas Dewananda, Transport The Cabinet approved the appointing an Expert Committee Minister , Minister of The Colombo Stock Exchange posted losses on on the formulation of a National Trade Policy for Sri Lanka. The Cabinet approved the Power Dallas Alahapperuma, Thursday (3) ending the two-day bullish run, as the It has been observed that the National Trade Policy approved appointment of a Cabinet Sub- Minister of Highways Johnston bench mark index slipped on a high turnover as by the Cabinet in August 2017 has not been formulated in committee, on Investment Promotion, Fernando Minister of lndustries usual with continued foreign outflows from the consultation with stakeholders. chaired by Premier Mahinda , Minister of market. Accordingly, the proposal submitted by Trade Minister Rajapaksa who is also the Minister of Plantation , The benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) , to appoint an expert committee Finance and Minister of Urban Minister of Lands S.M.Chandrasena, slipped 0.17 per cent (9.14 points) to close at representing all relevant parties to formulate a new National Development and Housing. Minister of Justice Ali Sabri, Minister 5,350.85 points, while, the more liquid S&P SL20, Trade Policy, that was presently suitable, was approved by the The decisions taken by the Cabinet of Water Supply Vasudewa representing the top 20 shares, slipped 0.19 per Cabinet of Ministers. on Wednesday (2) prioritised the Nanayakkara, Minister of Energy cent (4.55 points) to close at 2,343.81 points. expansion of local and foreign Udaya Gammanpila, Minister of The daily turnover at the Colombo Stock investment facilities for an export and Tourism , Exchange stood at Rs 1.11 billion on Thursday, import substitution manufacturing Minister of Ports and Shipping lower than the Rs 1.78 billion recorded during the economy that will benefit all parties Rothitha Abeygunawardhana. previous market day. Despite decline in quality while eradicating poverty through the Cabinet approval was also granted More than 71.5 million shares changed hands on National Development Programme in to sanction assistance from State Thursday (3) during 11,066 trades. the Policy Framework “Vistas of Ministers: , Shares of 241 companies were traded, of which 77 Prosperity and Splendor.” , Dilum emerged as winners as against 73 losers. 5.9 M/kgs of tea The Subcommittee includes Trade Amunugama, D.V. Chanaka, Nalaka Foreigners were net sellers on Thursday (3) for the Minister Bandula Gunawardana, Godahewa and thirty-fifth consecutive session. Net foreign outflow Environ Minister Mahinda for the activities of the Sub- during the day amounted to Rs 20 million, as come under the Amaraweera, Fisheries Minister committee. foreigners sold shares worth Rs 68 billion as against purchases worth Rs 48 million. Top five gainers during the day were Industrial hammer Asphalt, Malwatta (non-voting), Softlogic Life, Lankem Development and People’s Merchant. This week’s tea auction CTC BP1s were irregular For Greater EU Market Access Top five losers were Blue Diamonds (non-voting), offered total of 5.9 M/kgs. and tended easier, whilst SMB Leasing (non-voting), Tess Agro, Ceylinco There was fair demand, the PF1’s were up to Rs 20 Insurance and Bimputh Finance. notwithstanding the overall per kg lower. Low Grown SL should adopt decline in quality. varieties sold well. Ex-Estate offerings Low Growns comprised comprised 0.75 M/kgs. 2.6 M/kgs in the Low Sustainability Standards overall, quality was barely Grown Leafy/Semi Leafy By Rajiesh Holdings COO Shirendra MPBCs fall on uncertainty maintained. Best Western and Tippy catalogues. There Seetharam Lawrence, pointed out BOP’s were irregular, whilst was fair demand. Quality on that transparent the corresponding BOPF’s, offer this week was, in In addition to existing compliance with ‘Spot’ gains for where quality was general, lower to last. Select legally binding standards, sustainability standards maintained, sold around Best BOP1/OP1s together European importers look was one of the major 3rd straight day last week’s levels. Others with improved teas in the for more consumer- reasons for MAS declined Rs 10-20 per kg. Below Best category were driven standards like Holdings to become the By Paneetha Ameresekere In the Below Best category fully firm to selectively Fairtrade, Compliance largest apparel company brighter BOPs gained Rs dearer. Others were and Good Manufacturing in South Asia and be a The benchmark ‘spot’ continued to make gains 20-30 per kg, whilst the irregular and often lower. Practices, stated German global leader in the for the third consecutive market day yesterday, others were irregular. Better OP/OPAs too were Industry and Commerce industry. albeit marginally, compared to the steep gains it Corresponding BOPF’s firm to irregularly dearer. Chief Delegate, Andreas Friedrich Naumann made the previous two days, increasing in value were firm and tended easier. Balance was barely steady, Hergenroether. Foundation’s Head of Sri by between five to 10 cents to be trading at Rs Plainer BOP’s were barely particularly where quality “For Sri Lankan Lanka and Bangladesh 185.20/30 to the US dollar in two way quotes as steady. Corresponding was not maintained. At the exporters to have broader Office, Hubertus von at 4pm, market sources said. BOPFs - coloury sorts were lower end, prices were market access to the EU, Welck, noted that These gains were aided by the Government of firm and Rs 10 per kg mostly firm. PEK/PEK1s too they should adopt “Compliance to Sri Lanka’s (GoSL’s) import control regime. In dearer, whilst the others were firm barring the teas at sustainability standards Andreas Hergenroether standards also includes the three market days to 4 p.m. yesterday, the were firm. Nuwara Eliyas the lower end, which were covering social and good Human Rights and ‘spot’ has steeply gained by Rs 1.30-1.40 (0.70- had hardly any BOP/BOPFs easier. In the Tippy environmental aspects,” noted Labour standards like the ones set 0.75 per cent). Nevertheless, in the calendar year on offer, whilst the large leaf catalogues, a select range of Hergenroether at a Media briefing out in the ‘UN Guiding Principles on to 4 p.m. yesterday the ‘spot’ has declined by Rs teas from this region FBOP/FF1’s maintained. organised by the Delegation of Business and Human Rights’ would 3.90 (2.15 per cent). continued to sell well. Uda Others were mostly lower. German Industry and Commerce in take an effort, but will be profitable In other developments, Government of Sri Pussellas were mostly firm. At the lower end, cleaner Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) and the for companies in the end,” Lanka’s (GoSL’s) money printing borrowing costs Uvas - few select seasonal types were firm to Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Friedrich Naumann Foundation for (MPBCs) decreased by Rs 48.60 million (23.15 teas sold well, whilst the irregularly dearer, whilst Freedom (FNF) in Sri Lanka on their Freedom (FNF) was established in per cent) to go deeper into negative territory (Rs others sold around last others were easier. In the initiative ‘Sustainable Supply Chains Germany in 1958. It aims to promote 258.56 million) yesterday due to domestic levels with a few select Premium catalogues too, a as driver for global competitiveness’. the principle of freedom for the investor penchant to invest in risk-free Treasury BOPF invoices gaining up to selection of well-made teas Hergenroether further stated that dignity of all people and in all areas of (T) Bonds and T-Bills due to uncertainty, rather Rs 20 per kg following were firm to irregularly as a part of the initiative, the former society, both in Germany and abroad. than to lend to the relatively risky private sector, special inquiry. dearer, whilst others were Human Rights Commissioner of the The Friedrich Naumann Foundation where, however, better rates may be obtained. High and Medium Grown lower following quality. German Government, Markus for Freedom works in over 60 Meanwhile, led by the settlement of exporter Loening will train Sri Lankan countries worldwide conversions, the country’s foreign reserves were companies’ representatives how to AHK Sri Lanka is part of the inflated by US$ 11.91 million (Rs 2,216 million) comply with global and EU-related German Chamber Network at the end of yesterday’s trading. Conversions sustainability standards. “Many Sri supported by the Federal Ministry for are based on the middle rate of the ‘spot’ as at 4 Lankan companies already comply Economic Affairs and Energy of p.m. on Monday (31) which was Rs 186.10 to the with these standards but are Germany with offices in 142 locations dollar. Tuesday (1) was a Poya holiday for the unaware of the requirement of formal and in 92 countries. It is closely markets. documentation. The initiative aims to connected to the Chambers of Meanwhile, GoSL’s face value (FV) MP debt raise awareness of the need of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) in remained unchanged at Rs 293,874.47 million sustainability-related documentation Germany. Together they support at yesterday’s trading. Consequently market’s with Sri Lankan exporters to increase German companies with building up net excess liquidity increased by Rs 2,216 global competitiveness of Sri Lankan and extending their business million (1.18 per cent) to Rs 189,376 million. companies and to facilitate market relations to foreign countries, access to the EU and the US.” representing in total 3.6 million Speaking at the event, MAS German companies. B12 Ceylon FT FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2020 news Coca-Cola, SLRCS support to combat COVID-19 Donate 16,800 PCR testing kits Entering the third phase of its thousands of Sri Lankans and Rs 130 million contribution to reopen its international airport combat the COVID-19 outbreak, for tourists. Coca-Cola’s strategic Coca-Cola and its implementing donation of testing kits at this partner Sri Lanka Red Cross critical moment in time will help Society, handed over 16,800 + increase testing capacity. COVID-19 PCR Kits and Viral In the initial phases, Coca-Cola AEL nears Transport Media (VTM) to the pledged Rs 130 million as its Ministry of Health to enhance contribution to fight the completion of Deduru testing facilities for COVID-19 in pandemic while in the second Sri Lanka. stage it partnered with the Sri Oya water project Although the country is not Lanka Red Cross Society to help under lockdown, COVID-19 has marginalised people such as daily Construction works of DI pipeline, laying of 26 not been eradicated in Sri Lanka wage-earners by donating dry the Deduru Oya Water km long clear water and MoH continues to undergo rations, sanitary items and first Supply Project which transmission pipeline, daily testing aligned with the aid kits to over 6,000 families. By aims to provide safe and the installation of WHO’s message to all nations to reinforcing the health care drinking water to distribution network for accelerate testing as a means to response and looking after the communities in and 164 km of diameters by curb the spread of the disease. most vulnerable segments of around Mahawa, 100 mm – 300 mm (PVC MoH Sri Lanka conducts society, Coca-Cola leveraged on Nagollagama and and HDPE pipes). approximately 1000-2000 tests its long-term commitment to the Polpithigama areas is Upon its completion by daily and increasing the number country to enhance preparedness nearing completion. To end of September, the of tests will be a pivotal tool in the and response, a press release combat the growing project will provide nation’s plans to repatriate stated. threat of chronic kidney surrounding diseases rapidly communities with access spreading across these to safe drinking water areas, the National Water purified to WHO Supply and Drainage standards which will Lankagama-Neluwa Village Board spearheaded the significantly reduce water supply project accelerating rate of together with Kolon chronic Kidney Diseases Global Corporation of prevalent in those SLT Group to improve connectivity Korea as the main localities. contractor and Access The Construction Engineering PLC (AEL) Project Manager of AEL On the instructions of the Telecommunications Service as a subcontractor. Chathura Senadeera President, the Engineers from Provider, it is our responsibility The AEL’s work stated: “One of the major SLT - Mobitel visited the to ensure that we not only includes the challenges encountered Lankagama-Neluwa village to provide connectivity to all Sri construction of an intake throughout, is that lack assess and identify the Lankans but also empower them pump station (16,500 of water and extreme dry implementation mechanism for a with the right knowledge and m3/day capacity) at the weather conditions Detachable Guyed Mast Solution, know-how to evolve and move left canal bank of leading to quality issues the company said. forward towards an info com and Deduru Oya Reservoir, in Grade 35A concrete Situated amidst lush knowledge rich society. We would Potuwewa water components of the water mountains, the Lankagama also like to thank the DG of treatment plant (15,000 retaining structures. village is located at the Southern TRCSL for encouraging and m3 per day capacity), However, along with our boundary of the Sinharaja Rain setting the right strategies for water towers at Maho own engineering Forest, which falls into the operators to innovate and bring (1,000 m3 capacity), and expertise we were able to Neluwa Divisional Secretariat in value to the Country. The Nagollagama (750 m3 combat the problem the Galle District. implementation of this capacity) and laying of a successfully in finalising Despite the geographic Detachable Guyed Mast Solution 500 mm diameter - 3.5 the projects to the set obstacles and transportation is another step towards km long raw water main standard.” difficulties, SLT - Mobitel will reaffirming our mission of care, promptly implement a bridging the digital divide. The initiative, said, “In line with the share and deliver and we will Detachable Guyed Mast solution project will be implemented Government’s vision of digitising continue to empower Sri Lankans to establish superior connectivity without any negative impact to Sri Lanka, the SLT Group feels by providing connectivity and broadband facilities to the the environment of the area, the privileged to take on the venture solutions and contributing area by 20 September 2020, company stated. of powering rural areas with towards Sri Lanka’s digital uplift thereby empowering the village Chairman of SLT Group Rohan superior connectivity solutions. and literacy.” with digital capabilities and Fernando, commenting on the As the country’s

Amãna Bank BMICH hosts first exhibition OrphanCare since lockdown completes one year The BMICH hosted its the first exhibition since support of our partner for first exhibition since the the lockdown amidst this event – Asia Over 2,700 Orphans lockdown, signifying an stringent health safety Exhibitions and important milestone in the measures in consultation Conventions, truly benefitted ‘Restart Sri Lanka’ journey. with health and other restarted Sri Lanka. It was AIA CEO Nikhil Advani and Ninewells Chief Operating The Exhibition – Kedella relevant authorities to a success beyond our Officer and Medical Director Dr. Vibash Wijeratne hand Amãna Bank’s until they reach the Home-maker Expo, held ensure a health safe expectations which is over the first complimentary AIA Life Cover to a new OrphanCare age of 18, at which from 14 to 16 August environment for the evident by the massive parent at Ninewells programme point the funds will 2020, attracted over visitors, exhibitors and number of visitors to the successfully become accessible to 20,000 visitors on the staff. We appreciate the exhibition. AIA Partners Ninewells Hospitals completed a quarterly them. three days signifying Sri cooperation extended by With the success of the fund distribution to Sharing his views on Lanka’s return to the ‘new the public in adhering to first exhibition since the over 2,700 deserving the fund, Head of normal’ and public health and safety lockdown, we hope to Offers free recipients in July OrphanCare Azad confidence in the measures implemented at continue hosting 2020, thereby Zaheed said, “This is successful handling of the the venue” said BMICH exhibitions every weekend completing 4 cycles of the fourth consecutive pandemic by the Chief Executive Sunil in the future amidst strict insurance cover to fund distribution disbursement of funds government and its Dissanayaka. health safety practices,” since launching the to designated agencies. “We are hosting “The BMICH, with the Dissanayaka said. venture in 2019. accounts of the all new parents OrphanCare, the beneficiaries despite Bank’s flagship CSR the challenging times AIA has partnered Ninewells Chief venture, was in the backdrop of the Ninewells to provide Operating Officer and established as an Covid-19 pandemic.” BILEETA powers Nepal’s healthcare system financial protection Medical Director independent trust With over 14,000 and security to Dr. Vibash Wijeratne with the aim of registered orphans in In the wake of the functionalities of Delivering protective families that step into said, “Adding a new addressing a very the country, Orphan pandemic, BILEETA (Pvt) “EntutionVesta” at the equipment where and parenthood by way of member to the family important, yet mostly Care has to date Ltd, who supply ERP Ministry of Health and when they are needed providing a Personal is the most joyful unattended need of enrolled over 2,700 solutions both locally and Population in Nepal to safely and reliably every Accidental Life experience but it orphan children; orphans to the internationally, have been deliver Personal Protective day, the EntutionVesta Insurance free of comes with it a huge which is to secure the programme supporting Nepal to supply Equipment (PPE) such as solution has helped the charge. responsibility and fate of orphans once representing 79 lifesaving medications facemasks, gowns, gloves, Ministry of Health and the AIA’s Chief while we do our best to they reach the age of orphanages with the throughout the country, face shields and eye population in Nepal to Executive Officer ensure the best 18 and are compelled objective of reaching using their globally protection, seamlessly manage their supply chain Nikhil Advani medical attention and to leave institutional out to orphans in the recognised ‘EntutionVesta’ across the correct and smoothly with detailed commented, “As a care, it is great to have care. country. eLMISsystem. relevant supply chains to insights into exact stock parent, I know, having a partner such as AIA Termed by UNICEF In enrolling orphans With the COVID-19 citizens including the availabilities, stock outs, a baby is the most on board to offer as ‘The Second to the programme pandemic, BILEETA remotest locations in the expiries and lead-time. amazing moment for a financial peace of mind Abandonment’, this Amãna Bank recently extended the country. This has resulted in couple, bringing great and protection.” growing concern is the OrphanCare has giving both health joy and a lifetime of Ninewells Director challenge faced by honoured Article 2 of facilities and hospitals in happiness. We want Marketing Nilantha orphans, who were the United Nations Nepal the ability to rapidly these new parents to Rathnayake added, “As abandoned at Convention on the execute and treat infected know that they can a hospital committed childhood, and are Rights of the Child victims without any count on AIA to be to adding value to our now forced to transit where all enrolments shortages of PPEs, in the there for them customers, we are or ‘age out’ of are irrespective of the Central, Provincial, throughout their life delighted to have AIA institutional care. child’s or their District, Local journey together. We onboard to offer our The Bank’s parent’s or legal Government and Health are happy to partner new parents a gift that approach seeks to guardian’s race, Posts across the country with Ninewells will truly make a intervene in a vital and colour, sex, language, whenever necessary. maternity hospital to difference to their lives decisive aspect, which religion, political or Additionally, it has also add value to their while guiding them is funding. To that end other opinions, provided them the ability customers by giving towards financial the OrphanCare Trust national, ethnic or to plan their production them free insurance protection at this has been making social origin, property, capacities and make the coverage at a time significant milestone of periodic deposits into disability, birth or any PPE available as and when when it becomes most their lives.” PPEs used at remote locations in Nepal orphans’ accounts other status. required. meaningful to them.” tourism friday 4 september 2020 ceylon ft B13 Adventure Travel Possibilities in Sri Lanka Concerns over sensitive areas crucial By Anjali Caldera committee also discussed with the a lot of money, which is not true. Our telecommunication, regional environment is mainly attached with Sri Lanka Tourism has so much organisations, the new ambulance adventure activities; thus refrain from potential to operate with new avenues system, 1919 etc. We had discussions polluting the nature, not carrying and by resources available in the country. with the Air Force on sky sports, with throwing plastic bags, bottles, use of To operate the tourism post-COVID, the Navy on water sports and with the reusable water bottles, not damaging industry must look into these prospects Police on land based activities. With wildlife are simple things that we can and market the destination accordingly these activities we have to get do to contribute to sustainability with a strategic campaign. permission from relevant authorities. through adventure tourism. Forests are Concerns over developing adventure Further, the committee initiated some money earners for tourism.” tourism as well as wellness tourism will programmes related to adventure Well, we have a plenty of options. be a reasonable foreign exchange tourism with the support of Sri Lanka There are over 200-300 adventure generator to Sri Lanka Tourism as both Tourism schools, SLAITO, Guide events happening in the world. “The segments appeal to niche markets with to natural disasters compared with 15-20 sites. Best sites for beginners are Lecturers Association etc. enthusiasts inquire on trail running high spenders. other adventure tourism destinations located in the South and the West Unfortunately, before finalising they which is lacking in Sri Lanka but for in the world like Indonesia, Europe, coast. There are a lot of reefs.” had to face the global pandemic which we have all the required Major strengths Africa where there are sudden volcanic “Then we have leisure sports with COVID-19. resources. We need to develop Throughout the year Sri Lanka has eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, mass participation like Colombo It is mentioned that this team is designated hiking and biking trails, resources for an adventurer – the wild fires etc. Thus, multi activities in Marathon, full and half marathon. Tea actively involved to get the international with stops at local houses, hiking for diversity of the island and its vast one destination within a limited time of Cup; only the ranking professionals can accreditation for some activities and days without using a mode of ecosystems including coasts, rivers, travel, very low risks of natural participate in the event; from Sri Lanka hopefully within a year the committee transportation as in countries like rainforests and jungles have potential disasters, timely monsoons, the climate only two teams are allowed and the rest will be able to end up with what they Nepal , Norway etc.; trails for four to five for many outdoor activities. Sri Lanka’s and also major hotel projects coming are from all over the world. The ‘Rumble started. Besides, Sri Lanka Tourist days,” Warnakulasuriya suggested. biggest advantage is the high mobility up, camp sites, eco lodges, home stay in The Jungle’ event is for selected Board has also taken leisure adventure Weerasinghe mentioned that Sri provided its compact size; tourists can concepts are major strengths we have professionals. We also have two surfing tourism as a serious segment. They Lanka operates trails (non motorised travel to any corner of the island within that we can utilise to promote Sri Lanka events at Arugambay with 123 have also started training with guides, trails) for 14 days; starting from a few hours. as a well-known adventure tourism participants from around the world; 50 chauffeurs and the people attached to Negambo to Passikudah; sleep in “Diving is possible around the year; destination, Warnakulasuriya insisted. top rankers take part in the event,” he these activities. sleeping packs, temples etc. and “we do kite surfing is possible for eight to nine This segment will also lead to further revealed. carefully monitor them without months of the year; then surfing 10 community engagement which is one of Moreover, there are rickshaw and tuk Concerns allowing any cultural disturbances. We months of the year in East, South and the sustainable goals in the tourism tuk adventure rides as well. Thus, the People will never forget what they feel, don’t want to expand them, thus it is West” said Lanka Sportreizen (LSR) industry. related DMCs or operators involved in adventure ensures that. limited only to a small number of tour Founder and Chairman Thilak The recent achievements of the promoting adventure tourism can No Roads Expeditions Managing operators.” Weerasinghe during a webinar country, receiving the ‘Safe Travels always combine many activities Director, Peter Miller, advises for Hence, the most important factor is organised by the Sri Lanka Association Stamp’ from World Travel and Tourism together. startup adventure operators in Sri managing the carrying capacity; of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) on Council (WTCC) with the controlling of Lanka to start with passion, concern without disturbing the local eco system. the potential and possibilities of rising COVID -19 cases and also the Safety and risks associated over the additional needs what Otherwise we will lose these resources adventure travel in Sri Lanka. peace in the country gained after a with adventure tourism adventure travellers look out for as in which promote the island for adventure During the same webinar, Walkers 30-years civil war are also pull factors right food, right coach, good trekking tourism. Therefore, it is necessary to Tours, Nature Odyssey Manager Diran for Sri Lanka to create the market for Adventure travellers are usually risk guides, untapped areas etc. Sri Lanka develop and take forward these Warnakulasuriya also pointed out all adventure tourism. takers. But it is always better to have a should also overcome the language activities carefully. These resources these activities add additional value set of guidelines to follow best practices barrier. are located in high sensitive areas. and sense to the adventurer, as in Present operations so we can recommend our country to Besides, there is a demographic For example coral reefs if damaged guests who go on hikes will also be able At present Sri Lanka operates several anyone as a responsible and a safe misconception on adventure, that it is take generations to recover. So it is to enjoy the bio-diversity in the area, adventure tours through designated adventure tourism destination in the associated only with the young. But necessary to have a balance between endemic species of fauna and flora in tour operators like Nature Odyssey, world. adventure is a wide spectrum even the tourism and conservation. the location and gain much more LSR etc. According to Weerasinghe, during the old can involve themselves in More awareness and educating the valuable experience and knowledge Referring to some of the activities last two years a committee consisting of adventures like cycling, walking, cruise guests will help to sustain the which exactly are the requirements of conducted by LSR, Weerasinghe stated all the adventure experts in the country and boat rides etc. sector. millennial travellers today. that they manage most of the dive sites and relevant Government organisations Large Minority Adventure Travel Thus, it is essential to concern The country is also a premier diving in Sri Lanka; “We do wreck dives, deep gathered to present criteria and Co-Founder and Partner Julian Camal over not to make a mass market for site with shipwrecks, whale pods, dives etc. Diving in Sri Lanka is guidelines to develop the sector. pointed out how important adventure tourism but focus on corals and 1,500 Km of costal line different to diving in Maldives; we have Some certificate courses were also sustainability is when organising small groups and premium groups where two per cent are reefs. good dive sites, there is more feasibility introduced at National Vocational adventure activities. “People believe aiming niche market segments with Besides, Sri Lanka is less vulnerable though our sites are less; limited to Training Institutes in Sri Lanka. The when it comes to sustainability it costs high spenders. Travel locally and experience Sri Lankan authenticity and hospitality Best practices of New Zealand ‘Post COVID-19 Tourism’ and lessons to be learned for Sri Lanka

By Prof D.A.C. Suranga Silva New Zealand to bounce back was the Something New, New Zealand’ including controlling COVID-19 in the local rates. and Hanshika Herath strong leadership in the country and campaign was created so the regions country, reenergising domestic tourism lBranding Regional Tourism: Own their tourism strategy. could pick it up and own it to bring and leveraging the regeneration of the Feathers energise and encourage The tourism sector took a massive hit ‘Do Something visitors and spend back to their economy. The Prime Minister and other regional tour operators to plan and through COVID-19 all over the world. It communities.” leaders systematically prepared the promote tourism in their regions. This was one of the hardest-hit sectors in the New, New Zealand’ Integrated Responsible people of New Zealand and the national will help local tourists to have a better global economy and it is the sector economy to be more resilient, to experience as well as benefiting local which will take a longer period to Tourism Authority of New Zealand Regional Tourism embrace change, be kind and businesses. recover as a result of border closures in launched a new campaign to inspire supportive to everyone and stand up as lRekindling Sri Lankan Heritage: many countries. This recovery is New Zealanders to make their vacations Regional tourism organisations play a one nation. It is apparent that New Customise tourism marketing to suit unpredictable, and no one knows when for travelling and do more and more major role in accomplishing the aims of Zealand is controlling COVID-19 locals with different and creative it will happen, although the industry is travelling. This campaign was ‘Do the national campaign. The New successfully and rebuilding their slogans such as “Best in Sri Lanka”, now getting back up and running slowly Something New, New Zealand’, which Zealand Government has spent nation, the economy, and national “Better to see your own country”, in many countries in the world. was aimed to promote more domestic NZ$20.2 million for this national tourism. “Time for yourself”, “Caring for New Zealand: Welcoming tourism. This campaign highlighted the campaign and it has supported regional What we can learn from New yourself and travel locally”, “Melting point that “now it is the perfect time for tourism organisations in their Zealand: moments”. Domestic Tourists First Kiwis to make their ‘New Zealand Must- destination management planning lThink Locally and Act Responsibly: Sri lApplication of Global Innovation and Do’ bucket list item a reality, we’ve all along with other projects to support Lanka tourism has largely depended Technology: Encourage more digital The first COVID-19 case in New got things; we’ve always wanted to see their regional tourism industry. This on international tourism. There is a media promotion such as promotion Zealand was reported on the 28 and do”. funding is of great support for the local good opportunity in the current through social media in order to raise February 2020. As of 14 May 2020, the The campaign promotional videos community and local tourism operators pandemic climate for Sri Lanka to awareness of domestic tourists and country had a total of 1,497 cases. Due shared moments that locals could to reenergise tourism in the country. In think about the importance of encourage them to think about travel to this significant outbreak, all borders experience in their own country and addition, this national funding helps developing domestic tourism in the locally. and entry ports were closed to all non- sought to stimulate people to think local tourism operators to customise country and to future-proof the lNetworking and Integration: Network residents on 19 March 2020. about domestic tourism rather than their tourism marketing at regional level industry minimising the risk of losing with industry stakeholders and International tourism in New Zealand waiting until the borders opened to go while maintaining the national brand. international tourists in the future. develop strategies to attract more was massively impacted by this border abroad and travel. After the hit of this massive campaign lShould Not for ‘Withering on the Vine’: domestic tourists to tourism services. closure. Tourism in New Zealand is an The ‘Do Something New, New Zealand’ through social media, TV and It is important to create a local culture lDoing the Right Things with Doing important sector of the national promotion hit the local lifestyle and newspapers, Kiwis embraced the of domestic tourism and to open the Things Right: Last, but not least – economy, it directly contributed to encouraged people to think about travel opportunity to get up and do something doors to local tourists rather relying developing sound leadership and NZ$16.2 billion of the country’s GDP. In locally. Most of the tourism workforce new. on the return of foreign tourists. direction for industry practitioners is addition, tourism supported nearly 12 could get back to their jobs through the Some of New Zealand national Waiting until international tourism paramount. Sound leadership could per cent of New Zealand’s workforce. domestic business generated by the campaign toolkit included: gets back to normal could lead to the develop, drive and help brand the The vast majority of international campaign and it supported local lA range of downloadable assets that industry ‘withering on the vine’ and concept of “Travel locally”. tourists arrive in New Zealand to explore businesses significantly. regional tourism organisations and could make recovery been more Let’s work together and bounce back its unique geographical location and Before COVID-19, domestic tourism tour operators could customise with challenging. Sri Lanka tourism with new thoughts. pristine natural environment. Tourism accounted for 60% of tourism which imagery and branding lRight Awareness with Acute Let’s be kind and we will help our local New Zealand’s main marketing slogan is was a NZ$40.9 billion contribution to lLogos for use in digital, print, and Positioning and Robust Marketing: businesses. Lastly, be a tourist in your “100% pure New Zealand” which the economy. New Zealanders video for campaign artwork and other Implement a sound national own country. focuses on how tourists can experience previously spent NZ$9 billion on collateral campaign to promote domestic Authors: the clean, green and virgin natural overseas travel per year. The national lImagery and video assets to showcase tourism in the country, and raise Prof. D.A.C. Suranga Silva environment. The majority of campaign of ‘Do Something New, New new holiday ideas for New Zealanders awareness with locals of the options – Founding Coordinator Tourism international tourists arrive at Auckland Zealand’ was successful enough to lTourism New Zealand also ran to travel and visit locally within Sri Study Programmes University of Airport, and from there travel to capture a portion of this spend workshops with regional DMOs and Lanka. For example, “Travel locally Colombo, destinations throughout the country in domestically and to help local operators to build additional and experience the authenticity in Secretary General Tourism and both the North Island and the South businesses. Although domestic tourism opportunities your own country”. Hospitality Educators and Island. Auckland Airport closed-down is unlikely to completely fill the gap left New Zealand is a very optimistic and lLocalisation and Mass Customisation: Researchers Association of Asia during the nine-week period of by international tourists, domestic very proactive nation. The leadership of Customise tourism packages to the (THERAA); Hanshika Herath lockdown. tourism helps sustain the sector and the country is headed by the Prime preferences, taste and budget of – PhD Candidate, New Zealand immediately took the supports the GDP in the country. The Minister Jacinda Ardern, and this domestic tourists. This could include Auckland University of necessary actions to reenergise the Tourism New Zealand chief executive leadership has been paramount for the more family tour packages, small Technology, Auckland, tourism sector. The major strength in stated that “We made sure our ‘Do country’s success so far in all aspects group tour packages with discounted New Zealand b14 Ceylon Ft friday 4 september 2020 advertorial CIMA launches Dilshara new CCO of MullenLowe MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka announced the appointment of Dilshara ‘Hundred and 10%’ Jayamanna as the Group’s Chief Creative Officer (CCO) with effect from 1 September CIMA recently launched selected number of 2020. ‘Hundred & 10%’, CIMA Sri entrepreneurs can pitch A product of Ananda College, Colombo Lanka’s first-ever ‘Virtual their product or business and West Thames College, London, Career Festival’. idea to well-known Dilshara began his career in the creative The weeklong event will business leaders. industry at Young Asia Television in 2000. be held from the 13 – 19 “Here at CIMA, we work He joined MullenLowe, then Lowe LDB, as September 2020, featuring towards supporting the a Creative Group Head in early 2006. global and local industry concept of lifelong Prior to this appointment, he served as leaders. professional learning and Senior Vice President and Executive Sharing her thoughts on experience,” said Zahara Creative Director (ECD). Dilshara Jayamanna the initiative, Country Ansary. Manager for CIMA Sri Among the featured Lanka Zahara Ansary said, business leaders “The environment has headlining the event are, dramatically changed since Zahara Ansary; Vice COVID-19 hit the world and President of CIMA / Head PABC offers high interest has forced many companies From Left: Country Manager CIMA Sri Lanka Zahara Ansary; of Finance & to speed up their digital Vice President of CIMA / Head of Finance and Administration Administration, Sri Lanka on ‘Champion Saver’ innovation and Sri Lanka and Maldives at World Bank Melanie Kanaka and CEO and Maldives at World transformation. Therefore, – Tresync Imran Furkhan Bank, Melanie Kanaka; especially during times like Founder/CEO of Bluestone ‘Champion Saver’ sets itself apart account not only to grow this, the youth and will fully utilise the power of Framework, namely Capital Private Limited, Ajit from other products by offering deposits gradually but also to professionals of today need the digital landscape, whilst Technical, Leadership, Gunewardene; Managing depositors the best of both worlds – park savings and receive a high to build relevant skills that providing a platform where People Handling, Business Director of Jetwing Travels the freedom to withdraw any interest rate until the next will help them assure their industry leaders, both local and Digital Skills. Apart (Private) Ltd, Shiromal number of times from their Savings investment opportunity arises, employability. ‘Hundred & and global, and individuals from the panel speakers, Cooray; Regional Vice account, while enjoying a high be it purchasing a vehicle, 10%’ is the first-ever Virtual across the island can come the festival will also host President – Asia Pacific, interest rate. property, or any other form of Career Festival organised together for an enriching exciting events including a Association of International Under this banking product, investment. by CIMA. Through this learning experience.” Hackathon calling on Certified Professional staying true to its promise of Champion Saver Account week-long festival, we want The week-long event will individuals to register in a Accountants, Venkkat encouraging Sri Lankans to save provides best of both worlds and to inspire the next feature a diverse list of key 24-hour competition where Ramanan; CEO – Tresync for a secured future, Pan Asia encourages depositors to save for generation of Sri Lankan speakers across different participants will be tested Imran Furkhan, and Head Bank offers a high interest rate a prosperous future while professionals to go above industries covering topics on their problem solving of Learning and on all Champion Saver Savings providing the freedom to withdraw and beyond the normal in relating to the five skills of skills, as well as an Elevator Development – John Keells Accounts. your savings without any negative their careers. This festival the CGMA Competency Pitch segment where a Holdings – Imani Perera. Champion Saver is an ideal implications on the returns. Mercantile Investments partners with mCash Offers loan repayment via mCash

From Left: Lalith Liyanarachchi (General Manager), Nalin Herath (Chairman) from Homelands Skyline (Pvt) Ltd, Kiththi Perera (CEO), Imantha Wijekoon (Chief Officer), Chethana Attanayake (General Manager) from Sri Lanka Telecom SLT fibre to power 10 apartment complexes in Colombo Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) with an uninterrupted, optimum, recently signed an agreement with innovative and world class ICT Homelands Skyline, the real estate and digital infrastructure. We are company in Sri Lanka. very confident that through our Under the agreement, SLT will partnership with SLT, we will be be a telecommunications and able to enhance the lifestyles of broadband infrastructure services the residents of our apartments. provider for 10 different Having already worked with them residential apartment complexes in the past for our previous located in Colombo. projects, and having first-hand From left: Prasad Indika - Assistant General Manager - IT, Lahiru Dayananda - Assistant General Manager Sales & Marketing, The agreement was signed by experience of their capabilities Hirantha Tennakoon - Assistant General Manager, Recoveries, Dhanushka Fonseka - Chief Operationg Officer/ Non-Executive SLT CEO, Kiththi Perera and Director, Gerard Ondaatje – MD Mercantile Investments, Shashika Senerath - Chief Marketing Officer, Mobitel, Isuru Dissanayake - and expertise, SLT remains our Senior General Manager - Marketing, Rishani Gunaratne - Manager Mobile Financial Services, Shehan Perera - Assistant Manager - Homelands Chairman, Nalin number one choice.” Mobile Financial Services Herath at an official agreement Kiththi Perera speaking on signing ceremony held at SLT behalf of SLT said, “We are truly Expanding its rapidly- mobile payment platform Pledge-loan Facilities. has experienced immense premises in Colombo Fort. humbled by the confidence and growing base of strategic available for enhanced Having formed a growth over the last few Sharing his views on the new trust that Homelands has placed partners, mCash recently convenience and speed in partnership with mCash, years with a large clientele partnership, Nalin Herath said, on us. We thank and appreciate welcomed Mercantile conducting financial the finance company’s and growing customer “We strive to excel in every aspect them for giving us this great Investments onboard with transactions. customers can simply dial base that continues to of our business, with honesty and opportunity to be the ICT and its advanced mobile money Mercantile Investments #111# or download the expand countrywide. integrity being key factors that we digital infrastructure provider for platform. Under the terms has been in the forefront of mCash App and select Mobitel’s mCash has focus on. We also aspire to make a these 10 apartment complexes in of this partnership, Sri Lanka’s financial Mercantile Investments by transformed the mobile difference in the lives of people by Colombo. We assure that our Mercantile Investments services industry for over following the specific money concept in Sri creating innovative living spaces superior fibre infrastructure will customers can enjoy the 55 years, a trail-blazer in instructions given on the Lanka by introducing that make dreams an everyday support them to deliver their sheer convenience of the financial services menu or simply visit any of innovative features, and reality. This is our main vision promises to their clients by making their loan industry specialising in a the mCash retailer constantly creating ways in behind each of our apartments. enhancing their living experience repayments via mCash, the wide range of innovative locations islandwide to which mCash can be more So, when choosing an ICT partner, with ultra-fast internet revolutionary mobile money financial solutions make loan repayments inclusive and adaptive to we had to be very careful, in connectivity that allows for platform, which is including Vehicle instantly. customer lifestyles. selecting someone who will be able download speeds of up to transforming the country’s Financing, Leasing In addition to extending mCash is a Mobile Wallet to match our high standards in 100Mbps, crystal clear voice electronic payments Facilities, Deposits & financial inclusion, mCash conceptualised by the terms of innovation, integrity, communications, as well as landscape. mCash works in Savings, Micro-Finance has redefined the way National Mobile Service honesty and reliability, and who through access to high definition partnership with leading Solutions, Business Loans, consumers carry out Provider, Mobitel and will be able to deliver our promises (HD) TV content via PEO TV and corporates across various Personal Loans, Mortgage- transactions with the use approved by the Central to our residents to provide them PEO Go”. sectors in order to make its backed Loans, as well as of a mobile phone. mCash Bank of Sri Lanka.

ComBank conducts webinar Helping women entrepreneurs navigate ‘new normal’

The Commercial Bank of and an extension of its segments, the Bank said. subsequent monitoring to pandemic on businesses. Transformation Catalyst Ceylon in collaboration with knowledge-sharing and Topics covered in the ensure beneficial utilisation of The resource persons for the Tusitha Kumarakulasingam, the Women’s Chamber of educational sessions during webinar included ‘Managing these funds and information webinar included Management Renowned Hairdresser, Industry and Commerce this period of social distancing. your money,’ ‘making your on how to make the best use of Consultant Anoji De Silva, Beautician and Trainer (WCIC), conducted a webinar The Bank has continued to supply chain resilient,’ the COVID-19 loan schemes Founding Chairperson of Nayana Karunaratne and exclusively for women offer Entrepreneur Skills ‘COVID-19 is just another launched by the Bank for both Women in Logistics and SME Officer, Development entrepreneurs to help them Development Programmes to hurdle’ and ‘self-confidence is the SME and Micro business Transport (WiLAT) Sri Lanka Credit Department of adapt to the requisites of the enable its SME and Micro all you need.’ sectors. and Immediate Past Commercial Bank, Vinod ‘new normal’ following the customer segments to remain The webinar also discussed The Bank briefed Chairperson of the Chartered Pillai. The Moderator for the COVID-19 pandemic. competitive, and this webinar directions on how to get participants on the reduced Institute of Logistics and programme was Commercial The webinar was part of the was focused on offering financial assistance from the lending rates offered by the Transport (CILT) Gayani de Bank’s Senior Manager - Bank’s ongoing efforts to pandemic-specific advice to Bank, information on the Bank in response to the Alwis, Business and Women Banking Kamalini empower women in business, women entrepreneurs in these release of loan funds and adverse effects of the Marketing Consultant and Ellawala. sports friday 4 september 2020 A15 ASBC plans to host four competitions in 2021 The Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) has March. The ASBC Asian Schoolgirls and Schoolboys confirmed its intention to host four different Boxing Championships could take place in continental events in 2021. September, followed by the ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Members of the ASBC Competition Commission Championships in November. discussed plans for next year at their latest virtual Participants in the meeting discussed the COVID-19 meeting. situation in their countries and the training The ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships has possibilities of their national teams. been earmarked to take place between the end of All National Federations are now required to track January and the beginning of February. the situation over the next two months, which will India was awarded the event in February of this allow an assessment on the safety of boxers, coaches year, with competition initially scheduled to take place and officials planning to attend the upcoming events. in November and December. The Competition Commission suggested that Boxing Federation of India Secretary General Jay training and sparring camps, as well as local events, Kowli confirmed last month the Championships would could be the focus of the next few weeks to allow be moved to a date in 2021 because of the COVID-19 boxers to regain their confidence in the ring. crisis. Training programmes for developing Asian countries The Competition Commission also hopes the Asian and wildcard participation in major events were Under-22 Boxing Championships can be held in among the other topics discussed during the meeting. Action from a previous event T10 Hardball semi-finals today Benthara SC will meet Madampa CA ‘A’ won by 87 Pragathi SC CA won by 9 Balapitiya Super SC ‘A’ and Balapitiya Super SC ‘B’: 39/7 runs wickets Pragath SC will meet Nandians (10) (V. Anuradha 11, R. Yasara Madampa CA ‘A’: 125/4 (10) Balapitiya Super SC ‘A’: 60/6 CA today in the semi-finals of the 2/8, G. Deneth 2/8) (C. Jayasri 85 n.o., A. Mendis 13) (10) (K. Mendis 25, D. Nethmina Inter Clubs Under-15 T10 Super Benthara SC: 40/0 (3.5) (G. Balapitiya Super SC CA ‘B’: 14, S. Madhusanka 10, J. Xavier League Hardball Deneth 15 n.o., L. Eranda 13 38 (9) (I. Kumara 2/2, A. Mendis 2/6) Tournament at the Teachers n.o.) 2/6, S. Sandayuru 2/8) Pragathi SC: 61/1 (8.4) (V. Training College ground Nandians CA won by 9 Balapitiya Super SC ‘A’ won by Helambage 38 n.o., M. Balapitiya. The tournament is wickets 55 runs Pawarinda 26) conducted by Super Sports Club Madampa CA ‘A’: 79/6 (10) (T. Balapitiya Super SC ‘A’: Benthara CA won by 10 Balapitiya. Akash 28, C. Jayasri 19, S. 117/3 (10) (D. Nethmina 70, S. wickets Seven teams participated in Sandayuru 15, A. Nethsara 3/8) Madhusanka 26 n.o.) Madampa CA ‘A’: 77/1 (10) (T. the tournament and were divided Nandians CA: 80/1 (10) (K. de Madampa CA ‘B’: 62/8 (10) (S. Nimshan 30, C. Jayasri 14, V. into two groups: Livera 36 n.o., M. Malshan 16 Nethwara 19, N. Jayaweera 13, Vidarshana 2/16) Group ‘A’: Balapitiya Super SC n.o., R. Jeewanka 11) T. Madusanka 3/10, D. Benthara CA: 81/0 (6.2) (G. Kumar Samarasinghe ‘B’, Benthara SC, Nandians Benthara SC won by 30 runs Nethmina 2/13) Deneth 43 n.o., L. Eranda 33 Cricket Academy, Madampa Benthara SC: 88/6 (10) (L. Pragathi SC CA won by 9 n.o.) Cricket Academy ‘A’ Eranda 28, V. Theekshana 23, G. wickets Nandians CA won by 9 wickets Samarasinghe Group ‘B’: Balapitiya Super SC Deneth 16, R. Yasara 14, V. Madampa CA ‘B’: 86/5 (10) (S. Balapitiya Super SC ‘B’: 40/1 ‘A’, Madampa Cricket Academy Hansajith 2/8) Menuwara 32 n.o., V. Nethmira (10) (V. Malith 1/02) ‘B’, Pragathi SC Cricket Academy Nandians CA 58/5 (10) (V. 17, A. Garumanna 2/10) Nandians CA: 41/1 (3.2) (K. Results of first round Malith 24 n.o., R. Jeewanka 11, Pragathi SC: 88/1 (10) (V. Sandaru 20, R. Jeewanka 13 re-elected matches S. Vihanga 11, V. Theekshana Helambage 64 n.o., D. n.o.) President Benthara SC won by 10 2/13) Kalupahana 20 n.o.) (IR) Kumar Samarasinghe, former Sales Director of Singer Sri Lanka Ltd., was re-elected as the President of Galle Cricket Club at their AGM held at the club Jaffna Masters confront Thomian Masters on 5th premises last Sunday. Office bearers: Play a combined team on 6th President: Kumar Samarasinghe Vice Presidents: Ruwan de Silva and Rtd. By M.H. Yakeem Patron, Warden Rev. Marc Billimoria, for Mahinda Halangoda, Asanga Seneviratne, DIG Chandana Galappaththii his encouragement and support. He also Vajira Wijegunawardena, Anura General Secretary: Gajabaa Pitigala The Thomians are proud to announce a thanked the Sponsors, Shanthini Bulankulame, Deepal Ahangama, Amitha Treasurer: Thushara de Silva mini tour by the Jaffna Masters to Colombo Ahangama of Coconut Miracle Organics, Abeynaike, Ishak Shabdeen, Nalin Asst. Secretary: Thusitha Wijetilake to play the first historic match against Gihan Wirasinha of ASL Logistics, Johann Jayatilleke, Sunil Wijeratne, Thiran Cricket Secretary: Charles de Silva Thomian Masters on 5 September, and a Peiris of Red Bird Aviation, Asanga Thenabadu, Suresh Bulankulame, Ramesh Bar Secretary: Titus Gunarathna second match on the 6th against a Seneviratne of Nation Lanka Equities and Wanakuwatte, Ranesh Ratnadasa, Naresh Pavilion Secretary: Rohan Gunasekara combined team led by Shane Fernando. Thiran Thenabadu for sponsoring the kit. Adhikari, Ruwan Sirisena, Yasassri Social Welfare Secy: Daminda Imbuldeniya Both matches will be played at Colts He also mentioned the support extended by Mendis. Ground Secretary: D. G. Manawadu ground commencing at 9.30 a.m. Shane Fernando and Colts CC, Nalliah Combined Team from: Shane Fernando, Billiards Secretary: Samantha Liyanage The tour is funded and sponsored by the Devarajan and Harry Vaheesan. Ian Coggins, Wijayananda Perera, Executive Committee: Dilith Jayaweera, Hasitha Thomians, while the travel arrangement is The Thomian Masters was formed as a Sanjeewa Ranatunga, Chaminda Mendis, Rajapaksha, Sampath Daulugala, Malaka de Silva, A. sponsored by Michael Arnold (Thomian) team not only to enjoy the game they love, Duminda Nanayakkara, Sujith Perera, Lal S. Jameel, Chandana Pradeep Kumara, Nipun Udara and Ride for Ceylon. but also with the intention of spreading the Ranasinghe, Jerome Chandrasekera, Dirk de Silva, M.D. Dickson, Dinesh Chaminda. Speaking on behalf of Thomian Masters game to other schools island wide. Pereira, Maurice de La Zilwa, Jagath (IR) Cricket, Deepal Ahangama thanked the Thomian Masters from: Johann Peiris, Fernando

Colombo FC Champions

Colombo FC beat Blue Eagles 4-0 at Sugathadasa Stadium under lights on Wednesday (2) to emerge champions of the Vantage FFSL Kavindu Ishan (Blue Eagles) - Most President’s Cup Tournament. Valuable Player of the tournament Goal scorers for Colombo FC were Ahmed Shazny (2), Furic Momas (1) and Shabeer Razooniya (1). Pix by Kelum Chamara Momas Furic (Colombo FC) in action

New Young FC – winner of the Fair Play Team award

Fazal Mohamed (Colombo FC) in Fazal Mohamed (Colombo FC) - Player Kavindu Ishan of Blue Eagles in action Razooniya Shabeer celebrates scoring a goal action of the match A16 friday 4 september 2020 sports New Sports Act in six months

Ministers Namal Rajapaksa and Ali Sabry along with other officials at the discussion. Launch of Galle Gladiators in Pakistan

A special discussion was held to complete the new Act within six between the Minister of Sports months. LPL franchise Galle Gladiators and Youth Affairs Namal It was agreed that Sports Rajapaksa and Minister of Justice Ministry officials will formulate a Ali Sabry at the Ministry of concept paper within two months, Justice yesterday regarding the after which the new Act will be new Sports Act. prepared based on it. Also in attendance at the A Special Committee comprising discussion were former Sri Lanka officials from the Sports and skipper and Member of the Justice Ministries, Attorney National Sports Council , Kumar General’s Office and Legal Afridi named Sangakkara, Secretary to the Draftsman’s Office will then be Ministry of Sports Anuradha appointed to prepare the Draft Bill Wijekoon , officials from the within two months. Ministry of Justice and Attorney The Draft Bill will then be General’s office. It was tentatively discussed and the Act presented icon player decided that it should be possible to Cabinet for approval.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid in August, but SLC had no choice but Afridi has been named the icon player to postpone it due to the players’ Bangladesh Head Coach for Galle Gladiators for the upcoming request for a shorter quarantine period, Lankan Premier League (LPL) 2020. which did not receive the green light Afridi last played a T20 franchise from the Sri Lankan health authorities. Hathurusingha ready league contest for Multan Sultans in In the UAE, it is compulsory for IPL the (PSL) players to undergo a quarantine 2020. period of six days only, which has Galle Gladiators is owned by given BCCI and franchises some to accept if offered Nadeem Omar, who also owns the breathing space to get the tournament Pakistan Super League (PSL) going, which SLC is hoping the Sri Chandika It was rumoured franchise . The Lankan Government will extend the Hathurusingha has that Hathurusingha announcement of Afridi’s inclusion in same facility for the LPL in November. expressed his desire to had a bitter the franchise was made at a launch The tournament is set to be played once again be the relationship with the ceremony in Karachi on Wednesday at three venues - Sooriyawewa, Bangladesh head coach if senior players of the evening. Pallekele and Dambulla - with the he is offered the post. The SL National team, and “Proud to be the icon player for semi-finals and final to be played in former coach also to avoid any Galle Gladiators. I want to thank Pallekele. Matches will not be played mentioned that he always unpleasantness he Nadeem Omar bhai and also in Colombo since R. Premadasa has a very special place in decided to leave. He congratulate him for being the first Stadium is undergoing renovations. his heart for Bangladesh. revealed this in an franchise owner from Pakistan in the As per SLC’s current schedule, LPL Besides, he always keeps interview with a LPL. I’ll be seeing you all in Sri will feature 23 matches among five an eye on Bangladesh’s leading Bangladesh Lanka,” Afridi tweeted. teams, which are named after five progress in the cricket Chandika Hathurusingha daily, “The Daily Meanwhile, Nadeem Omar speaking cities: Colombo, Kandy, Galle, arena. ”. at the launch said his Quetta Dambulla and Jaffna. Hathurusingha was “I didn’t have any Gladiators team’s head coach Moin The total rights of LPL was awarded appointed Bangladesh head coach personal agenda with anyone? For Khan will also be the head coach of to Dubai based sports broadcasting in 2014. After he took over, me, the Bangladesh national team Galle Gladiators. company Innovative Production Bangladesh emerged as a new was the most important. Whoever Afridi also played in Sri Lanka’s first Group (IPG) for a period of five years superpower on the cricket stage and could make the team better had my ever franchise based T20 tournament, for US$ Ten Million by SLC in August. beat some of the major Test playing support. My resignation had nothing Sri , back in Cricket announced fresh dates for the IPG will own ground, production, nations. However, in 2017 he to do with players or the BCB Board 2012. He played as the icon player for commencement of the LPL, which will franchises and TV rights of the suddenly resigned from his post to officials, it was a personal reason,” the Nagenahira team. be from 14 November to 6 December. tournament. take over the Sri Lanka national Hathurusingha said. Earlier on Wednesday Sri Lanka The LPL was earlier set to take place (CTSports) team. (Agencies)

Osaka beats second-round challenger No agreement between Djokovic extends Former champion Naomi Messi, Barcelona winning streak Osaka made quick work of second-round opponent Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s Media reports, Camila Giorgi 6-1 6-2 at the father and agent, met Barcelona including sports dailies Marca World number one Novak U.S. Open on Wednesday, in Club President Josep Maria and Mundo Deportivo. They said Djokovic brushed aside a lopsided matchup at the Bartomeu on Wednesday to Bartomeu sees Messi as a key Briton Kyle Edmund 6-7(5) Arthur Ashe Stadium in discuss the player’s wish to leave part of Barca’s plans to rebuild 6-3 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday which she showed no sign of the club, but the talks ended in under new coach Ronald Koeman. after a sluggish start to slowing down. stalemate, Spanish media There was no comment from the remain unbeaten in 2020 A dominant Osaka came reported. club. and move into the third roaring out of the gate, Earlier, the senior Messi said it Six-times world player of the round of the U.S. Open. winning the first five straight would be ‘difficult’ for his son to year Messi, unhappy at his team’s On a hot, humid day at games in near-pristine form, remain with Barcelona, the only failure to win any silverware last Flushing Meadows, committing just four club he has ever played for season and humiliated by an 8-2 Edmund was left bathed in unforced errors in the first professionally. Champions League thrashing by sweat, while a cool and set and winning 10 of her 12 The meeting lasted one-and-a- Bayern Munich, told the club last collected Djokovic stayed on first-serve points. half hours and was held in a week that he wanted to leave. course for his 18th Grand Osaka walked onto the cordial atmosphere according to (Reuters) Slam title and improved his Osaka wearing a Elijah court with her left leg McClain mask 2020 match record to 25-0. wrapped in medical tape, but It stands as the second showed no signs of fatigue match. “Things that we think best start to a season since during the match, firing off (are) common names (are) the Serb went 41-0 in 2011. four aces and forcing her probably not common With the two other Novak Djokovic opponent into 24 errors. overseas.” Ferrari brace for more pain members of the sport’s Big “My serve was pretty She had previously worn a Three - Roger Federer and Australian Open and he did good,” the 22-year-old said mask honouring Breonna Ferrari fans are having a and controversial settlement with Rafa Nadal - absent from not surrender another to the after the match. “I’m really Taylor, a Black woman killed wretched time this season, so it the governing FIA earlier this year. the tournament, Djokovic is 44th-ranked Briton. happy with my attitude. I by Police officers who burst may be just as well that Sunday’s The last time Ferrari failed to heavy favourite to hoist the A serve that was misfiring thought I was really positive into her apartment in March, Italian Grand Prix will be run score at Monza was in 2005, when trophy and the Serb in the first began to find the throughout.” at her first-round match on without spectators. only the top eight took points, but overcame a slow start to mark in the second, the Osaka, who kept Italy’s Monday, and said she had Even if a clampdown on engine Michael Schumacher still finished show why. Serb securing the early Giorgi on the run throughout seven different masks with modes slows Mercedes’ Formula 10th. “Mentally, Kyle played a break on an Edmund the match, kept the pace up her at the tournament. One leader Lewis Hamilton, the In 1995 Ferrari suffered a double fantastic first set, did not do double fault on the way to to complete the affair in just “When I heard about his locals can expect little cheer as retirement, but Austrian Gerhard much wrong,” said Djokovic, levelling the match. one hour and 10 minutes. story it was very hurtful,” they watch from afar due to Berger at least started third. who celebrated his victory Djokovic again seized the Brings protest to Osaka later told reporters, COVID-19 restrictions. “You have to be realistic, you by moving to the centre of initiative in the second with international audience when asked about McClain. Ferrari, fifth overall and just cannot expect miracles. The the court and back-to-back breaks to Meanwhile, she stepped In a lawsuit filed last month two points clear of Renault, are package is what it is,” said four acknowledging the canned jump ahead 4-1 but into the Stadium wearing a against the city of Aurora heading for their worst season in times world champion Sebastian applause. “It was anybody’s struggled to close out the mask that read ‘Elijah and its Police, McClain’s 40 years and could chart new Vettel after Spa. game really for a set and a set, Edmund rallying to cut McClain’ harnessing tennis’s family alleged he was tackled lows in their traditional home Hamilton aims for 90 half. the advantage to 5-4 before global appeal in her fight for by Police Officers during an race - this year the first of three Hamilton, 47 points clear of Red “Winning the second set I the three-times champion racial justice. encounter despite presenting in Italy. Bull’s Max Verstappen and felt more comfortable. held for a 2-1 lead. The 22-year-old’s mask no physical threat. The sport’s oldest and most heading for a seventh world title, is “Overall, it was a very When Djokovic broke to honoured McClain, the “I still don’t think his name successful team, winners with a five times winner at Monza. good test and I am happy to open the fourth Edmund’s 23-year-old Black man who is put out there compared to, Charles Leclerc from pole last year, Another victory, his sixth in eight get through.” last bit of resistance died after a violent encounter like, George Floyd or drew a blank in Belgium last races, would line the Briton up to Edmund took a tight vanished and the Serb with Aurora, Colorado, Police Breonna Taylor. For me, Sunday after failing to qualify in equal Schumacher’s record 91 opening set, laying down an delivered an emphatic officers in 2019. today was very special in the the top 10. wins at Mugello, a Ferrari-owned ace to clinch the tiebreak knockout punch to set up a “I think tennis - people way that I wanted to A repeat, at a similar ‘power’ track hosting a grand prix for the 7-5. third-round clash with watch it all around the represent him very well,” she circuit, would be a humiliation for first time to celebrate the Italian It was only the sixth set Germany’s Jan-Lennard world,” she said in a said. a team who have lost engine team’s 1,000th race. Djokovic had dropped going Struff. televised interview after her (Reuters) performance since a confidential (Reuters) all the way back to the (Reuters)

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