Chemical fertilizer, pesticides and weedicides import ban confirmed ISHARA MUDUGAMUWA The Cabinet has approved Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s pro- posal as Finance Minister to sub- SRI LANKa’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER I SINCE 1918 mit Import and Export (Control) WEDNESDAY JUNE 02, 2021 I 17 PAGES I VOLUME - 103 - NO 129 RS. 30.00 I REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER IN SRI LANKA I E-PAPER Regulations to implement the pro- posed ban on the import of chemi- cal fertilizer, pesticides and weedi- cides declared under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969, to Parliament. Talks on for producing Sinovac vaccine locally Co-Cabinet Spokesman Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambuk- MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN the Daily News that initial discus- cination in Sri Lanka and the world for such vaccines on a daily wella said the Cabinet of Ministers Preliminary discussions were held sions were held on Tuesday at his production of vaccines in Sri basis. on April 27 this year, decided to in Colombo for the setting up of a Ministry to plan out the legal frame- Lanka, where it was decided that It was also felt that there is an ban importing chemical fertilizer, plant to manufacture the Chinese work needed for the establishment of the production of vaccines is the urgent need for the manufacture of pesticides and weedicides with the Sinovac COVID vaccines in Sri a manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka. best solution to end and control these vaccines because of the rising intention of promoting organic fer- Lanka. The focus of the discussions the pandemic successfully since prices of vaccines in all parts of the tilizer. TO PAGE 02 Justice Minister Ali Sabry PC told was on the legal status of vac- there is a huge demand in the world. TO PAGE 02 RS.30 BILLION FOR RS.5,000 ALLOWANCE DISTRIBUTION 6-6.5 MILLION A mobile vegetable vendor does double duty as a LP Gas delivery service in Colombo yesterday. Picture by Sulochana Gamage FROM TODAY FAMILIES ELIGIBLE Organic fertilizer for next Maha season BOON FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES ISHARA MUDUGAMUWA Keheliya Rambukwella speaking at this week’s Cabinet approval has been granted to import Cabinet media briefing held yesterday at the DILSHAN THARAKA and the pandemic will be eligible to required organic fertilizer and natural mineral Government Information Department said the LAHIRU FERNANDO receive the allowance. fertilizer through the government-own fertilizer government has taken measures to ban the use The distribution of the Gov- State Minister Semasinghe company for the cultivation of 500,000 hectares and import of chemical fertilizers, pesticides ernment’s Rs.5,000 allowance for said the distribution of the allow- of paddy fields in the 2021/2022 Maha Season. and weedicides to promote the use of organic low income families will begin ance will be strictly according to Co-Cabinet Spokesman Mass Media Minister fertilizers in the country. TO PAGE 02 covering the entire country from the given criteria and he expects today (2). Around 6-6.5 million that only the eligible groups will families will be eligible for this request the allowance. scheme. If a family currently receiving The Government expects to benefits under any Government New Police HQ to come spend nearly Rs.30 billion for this subsidy scheme receives less than project, Samurdhi, Household the current allowance of Rs.5,000, up in Bellantota Economy, Micro Finance, Self- the relevant arrears will be paid Employment, Business Develop- under this scheme. Only one ISHARA MUDUGAMUWA ment and Underutilised State allowance per family will be given The government has decid- Resources Development State is the fourth round of the allow- and the Samurdhi allowance paid ed to shift the Police Head- Minister Shehan Semasinghe told ance payment since last year. on the seventh of every month quarters Complex to the Bel- a media briefing yesterday. Only Accordingly, Samurdhi recipi- along with the relevant arrears lantota area. the low income families and those ents, those who receive other will be paid from today, he added. Co-Cabinet Spokesman Mass who have completely lost their State allowances, low-income Although the distribution of Media Minister Keheliya Ram- income due to the pandemic will families, and those who have lost money was completed within two bukwella told the media at the Government be eligible for this allowance. This their sources of income due to to three days under TO PAGE 02 Information Department announcing this week’s Cabinet meeting decisions. TO PAGE 02 Production will not be affected due to ship mishap People buying salt ‘Enough salt available, no need to panic’ in excessive quantities SHAVINI MADHARA H.L.SUNIL SHANTHA, Kalutara central special corr. Ceylon Salt Company Hambantota Chairman Nishantha Sadabarana People in many parts of the country including the said any chemicals floating in seawater after the MV X-Press Pearl mis- Kalutara district have started buying salt in large hap will not affect the production of salt whatsoever. He also insisted quantities following the rumour of possible sea water that there was no shortage of salt in the country and said there was no contamination after a ship carrying chemicals caught need for panic buying on rumours of a shortage. TO PAGE 02 Salt harvesting in Hambantota. fire in the seas off the Colombo port. TO PAGE 02 RDA gets Enjoining Order against Reveal Selendiva Achieve fiscal stability, four Central Expressway contractors Investments’ revisit 2019 tax Former Minister Daya Gamage’s ‘Olympus’ Company among them new role - UNP concession package - MP LAKMAL SOORIYAGODA struction Company from preventing the SHIROMI ABEYASINGHE The Colombo Commercial High Court Road Development Authority from tak- Samagi Jana Bal- has issued an Enjoining Order prevent- ing possession of the Site, Stage II of The United National Party has awegaya (SJB) MP ing four contractors including former the Central Expressway from Mirigama urged the Government to pub- Patali Champaka Minister Daya Gamage’s ‘Olympus’ Con- to Kurunegala. TO PAGE 02 licly reveal details regarding the Ranawaka said the operations of Selendiva Invest- country should strive ments (Pvt) Ltd. to achieve fiscal sta- The UNP Working Committee bility while restruc- Daya’s company can be penalised for breach of contract - Kiriella has raised concerns that the Gov- turing loans. ernment is currently attempting Making a special statement over the eco- ASELA KURULUWANSA to use the ongoing COVID-19 nomic situation in the country Ranawaka Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy district MP Laksh- enforced travel restrictions in said the government should revisit the tax man Kiriella yesterday said the government can claim the country to engage in busi- concession package introduced in 2019 to damages from the company owned by former MP Daya ness ventures related to State- achieve fiscal stability. TO PAGE 02 Gamage for breach of contract in the construction of the Owned assets. TO PAGE 02 Central Expressway. TO PAGE 02 DN page 2 NEWS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021 Moratuwa Mayor refused Health officials decide bail, remanded till 11 KAPILA SOMARATNE, Panadura group corr. Moratuwa Addition- on vaccine doses - Minister al Magistrate Uddala Suwandurugoda yes- ASELA KURULUWANSA and SHAVINI MADHARA sector decides if getting only one dose in this regard. The Minister further point- terday refused the bail Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Namal builds the required immunity and if anyone ed out that it was mandatory to sign a form application filed before Rajapaksa stated that the government can- is not satisfied with the process or the vac- stating that one had no objection to receiv- Court by lawyers of not determine the number of doses needed cine dose they can refuse to take it. ing the vaccine. He also stated that if there remanded Moratuwa to be administered to an individual and He further said that the vaccination pro- is any problem the person can inquire Mayor Samanlal Fer- such decisions are made only by health cess in Sri Lanka is carried out in accord- about any issue from a doctor at the vacci- rnando. experts. ance with the accepted methods in the nation centre. He stated that in compari- He was remanded by Speaking to the media in Kandy yester- world and all activities are carried out after son to other countries, Sri Lanka is at the Minister Namal Rajapaksa at the centre where the the Moratuwa Addi- day (1), the Minister said that the health giving a good understanding to the people forefront in vaccinating its citizens. vaccination drive in the Kundasale DS Division is tional Magistrate till June 11 pending further held. Picture by Asela Kuruluwansa investigations over the alleged obstruction of duties of health officers at a vaccination centre at the Methodist Church in Molpe Moratuwa on May 27. A “B”Report regarding the incident had Batticaloa PHIs angry over Former UNP Minister’s company been submitted to Court by a Special Police Another Lankan Team attached to the Mount Lavinia Police deliberately delayed on May 28 based on the complaint made to the Mount Lavinia Police by the Health Officials abuse, suspect arrested Expressway work - Minister who were on duty at the Vaccination Centre. SIVAM PACKIYANATHAN, the PHI who went to dis- He surrendered to police on May 28 morn- ISP hacked Batticaloa special corr. charge his duty. Cabinet approves removal of ing on receipt of information that he is wanted LAHIRU FERNANDO Public Health Inspectors After making a complaint Olympus construction company by police for questioning over the incident The official website of a leading Internet (PHIs) attached to14 MOH to the Police the PHI along where he had allegedly obstructed the duties Services Provider (ISP) in Sri Lanka has divisions in the Batticaloa with his colleagues in the The Cabinet gave approval to way from Meerigama to Pothuhera.