SUNDAY 8 AUGUST 2021 LATEST EDITION VOL: 10/35 PRICE : RS 70.00 Inside Story Did Lackadaisical Attitude Cause Hospital Overcrowding? With the overcrowding of hospitals and the shortage of oxygen in India owing to the increasing number of COVID-19 patients, countries have been cautious with regard to See on measures to be adopted in the event of an PAGE A16 unpredicted spike in the number of patients. A4 2019 Easter attacks Kochchikade bomber’s Hospital Morgues father released Indictments to be handed to Pujith, Hemasiri on 27 August Overflowing with BY HANSI NANAYAKKARA Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala yesterday released from all charges, Ahmed Alawdeen, the father of the suicide cadre who blew himself up at the... COVID Bodies Story Continued on PAGE 2 Poses serious health As COVID-19 spread increases risk to workers New curbs on Kalutara crematoriums weddings, events announced to operate 24 hours BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE BY JAYASINGHE (COLOMBO) discussion with Kalutara District Further amendments were introduced on midnight Secretary Prasanna Ginige. Friday (6), on restrictions for weddings and other In an attempt to reduce congestion Dr. Rathnayake added the Local ceremonies, taking into consideration the prevailing... in hospital morgues, all crematoriums Government Commissioner was also in the Kalutara District are to be informed in writing regarding the Story Continued on PAGE 2 operated round the clock. decision. Kalutara Regional Director of Health Meanwhile, sources at the Panadura Services, Dr. Udaya Rathnayake, said Base Hospital stated that due to the the number of patients dying of pile up of 45 corpses at its mortuary, COVID-19 has increased rapidly, including 22 corpses of people who overcrowding hospital morgues. had succumbed to COVID-19, a The decision was taken following a nauseating smell had begun to... Story Continued on PAGE 2 Intelligence Units inform President SL Police now a 120 protests Three more MPs ‘Jungle Police’ test COVID-19 – Anura Kumara held last month positive BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND Intelligence Services on Friday (6), informed METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that a total of 120 Ranjan also tests positive protests had been held across the country last Jathika Jana month and at least 1,500 people had taken part in BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND Balawegaya (JJB) each of these protests. METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE Leader Anura People getting together in this manner, without Kumara Dissanayake following health guidelines, had led to the rapid Three more MPs have tested positive on Friday (6), claimed spread of COVID-19 across the country, they had for COVID-19, Serjeant-at- Arms that Sri Lanka Police pointed out. Narendra Fernando said on Friday (6). is now becoming a SLPP MPs Janaka Tissa Kuttiarachchi ‘Jungle Police’. Story Continued on PAGE 2 and Rohana Dissanayake and SJB MP Speaking in Dilip Wedaarachchi have been tested Parliament, Dissanayake questioned positive for the virus. Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retired) Sarath Weerasekara as to... X-Press Pearl wreck Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 will be removed in October IUSF Convener, J’pura – MEPA Chairman student activist remanded BY SULOCHANA RAMIAH MOHAN BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK Bill, were remanded till 11 August by the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court. Following the directive by the Merchant Shipping Convener of the Inter-University Police Spokesman SDIG Ajith Rohana Secretariat to the owners of the MV X-Press Pearl Students’ Federation (IUSF) Wasantha said, the arrests were made in the ship to remove the wreckage at the earliest Kumara and President of the Sri evening of 5 August. possible, including underwater containers, the Jayewardenepura University Students’ In addition, the drivers of three vans, ship owners said they would commence the Federation Amila Sandeepa, who were that transported protesters from process in October, said Chairperson, Marine arrested over their participation in the various parts of the island, were Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) protest, near Parliament on 3 August, arrested by Police and charged with Dharshani Lahandapura, in an exclusive interview against the General Sir John Kotelawala violating travel restrictions. They were with Ceylon Today. National Defence University (KNDU) granted bail. See more on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 SUNDAY 8 AUGUST 2021 NEWS Following COVID cases at Immigration, Emigration Dept Issuing Ordinary Passports Halted BY SULOCHANA RAMIAH MOHAN contracting COVID-19. PCR tests privately are waiting for However, the officials will be COVID-19 control policy along with According to the Department’s results as well, he told Ceylon Today. operating as an essential service to the Health Ministry’s The Department of Immigration and spokesman, eight officials had Due to potential risks, the Department issue passports in case of urgent and advice,”Department said and added Emigration has temporarily halted the undergone PCR tests out of which six says they are operating with a slim staff emergency needs. that these decisions will change service of issuing ordinary passports have contracted with the virus. and so has decided to halt issuing the “These measures were taken by the according to the COVID-19 situation from Friday (6) owing to six officials Many other officials who have done ordinary passport for a while. Government in consultation with the in the country. Weerasekara challenges Bandara in Parliament: ‘Prove that I gave a bag of clothes to a woman’ BY GAGANI WEERAKOON Nalin Bandara to prove his in front of the Parliament’s played a Media stunt by should prove this allegation. the case for me,” the Minister AND METHMALIE allegation that Weerasekara entrance with a bag of ladies saying that he was denied to If he does that, I will step asserted. DIssANAYAKE or one of his close family clothes’ on his head for five give a bag of clothes to a down from my post as an MP. In response to Weerasekara, members had provided minutes, Weerasekara who group of teachers who were However, I will not say Bandara said that he would Public Security Minister clothes to a woman who was raised a question of privilege arrested after a protest. He Bandara to step down from provide a video recording in Rear Admiral (retired) Sarath arrested by Police. in Parliament on Friday (6) accused me of providing his post, because I know which the said woman Weerasekara challenged If Bandara failed to prove stressed. clothes to a woman who was people like him do not have thanked Weerasekara for Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP the allegation, he would stand “Bandara, on Thursday (5), earlier arrested by Police. He many things. But that is not sending her clothes. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 New curbs on weddings,... ...COVID-19 situation in the country, seating capacity for less than 500 Department of Immunology and Hospital Morgues.... Head of the National Operation Centre people. Molecular Medicine Sri for Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPCO), General Silva said a decision had also Jayewardenepura University, Dr. ..emanate, posing a serious mortuary or on trolleys. General Shavendra Silva said. been taken to permit only 25 people at a Chandima Jeewandara, warned of a health risk to the hospital’s They added, besides the 22 He added that decision has been given time at funerals. wide spread of the delta variant in workers. corpses of those who had perished taken to allow only 150 guests at He further said instructions had been Colombo. In a tweet he said based on Sources said, the mortuary from COVID-19, a further weddings or other functions held at issued to heads of Government variant PCR sampling at the University’s refrigerator could only store 12 unidentified five corpses and 19 halls or ballrooms which have a seating institutions to decide on the number of lab, the delta variant had spread from corpses and they noted that all other corpses had piled up at the capacity of 500 people. He also said only employees required to carry out daily 19.3 per cent during the first week of other corpses are kept outside the hospital premises. 100 guests will be permitted to attend work. July to 75 per cent during the last week weddings where the venues have a Meanwhile, Director of the of the same month. Kochchikade bomber’s... ...St. Anthony’s Church, received from the Attorney taking further action against prevent the 2019 Easter Patabendige and Mohammad to grant the prosecution Kochchikade during the General, who had informed the suspect concerned. Sunday terror attacks and Izardeen. sufficient time to examine the Easter Sunday attacks in Court, that he does not wish Meanwhile, the three-Judge complicity to murder, to be The Court, having ordered the charges to be included in the 2019. to further sustain the trial Bench of the Colombo High recalled on 27 August to hand two accused to be released on indictments against the accused Alawdeen had been in against the suspect as there Court yesterday ordered the over the indictments to the duo bail, ordered that a report on duo. remand for over two years. was insufficient evidence to case against former IGP Pujith who have been released on bail. their fingerprints be submitted. Later, the Bench ordered the The Court decided to release implicate him in the crime. Jayasundara and ex-Defence The case was taken up before DSG Dileepa Peiris appeared case to be recalled on the the suspect from the case The CID had previously Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, a Bench comprising Judges on behalf of the AG and the aforesaid date and ordered based on submissions sought advice from the AG on on charges of failure to Namal Balalle, Adithya prosecution. He urged the Court that the indictments be filed. X-Press Pearl... Three more She pointed out that the experienced at present oil slick seen from the in the oil tanks, as per their owners of the Ship have removal of the wreckage will wreck, she said they have preliminary observations.