SLOW COVID-19 DEATH OF LOCAL CASES TOTAL CASES 2,988 SINHARAJA? DEATHS RECOVERED ACTIVE CASES 134 12 2,842 RS. 70.00 PAGES 64 / SECTIONS 7 VOL. 02 – NO. 49 SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 CASES AROUND THE WORLD RECOVERD TOTAL CASES 17,138,894 CONSTITUTIONAL ETCA DEATHS REFORMS: 13A RETURNS DISCUSSIONS 24,681,048 836,744 TO THE LIMELIGHT RECOMMENCE THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 9.00 P.M. ON 21 AUGUST 2020 »SEE PAGE 5 »SEE BUSINESS PAGE 1 »SEE PAGE 7 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY Tenders to China and UK z z Cabinet approval to be sought Funding to be more favourable to Sri Lanka BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA Accordingly, the construction Highly informed sources attached Furthermore, the funding was said to Meanwhile, the construction work contracts for Section III of the CEP are to the RDA, who wished to remain be finalised in a manner which would be of CEP Section I from Kadawatha to The Road Development Authority (RDA) is to finalise the to be awarded to a Chinese company, anonymous, told The Sunday Morning more favourable to Sri Lanka, he noted. Mirigama was resumed last week after awarding of the construction contract for the long-delayed while the construction of Section IV that the finalised documents would be Once Cabinet approval is granted, paying an advance payment of Rs. 16.67 Sections III and IV of the Central Expressway Project (CEP), The of the CEP would be awarded to a submitted to the Cabinet for approval the construction of Sections III and IV billion to the contractor. Sunday Morning learnt. UK-based contractor. to proceed. would begin immediately. Contd. on page 2 DRUG ADDICTION Testing continues CENTRAL CULTURAL FUND MISAPPROPRIATION 5,000 caught Akila to blame? Allegations have been heritage management million has been distributed within two levelled against former institutions in the country, among 1,000 temples around the Minister of Education Akila The Sunday Morning learnt. country, of which the majority Viraj Kariyawasam for As alleged by one of the are from the Kurunegala months misappropriation of funds former directors attached to District, without even following The prison system has incarcerated a of the Central Cultural Fund the CCF who wished to remain the proper procedures. whopping 5,000 new drug addict prisoners (CCF), one of the principle anonymous, a total of Rs. 500 Contd. on page 2 within the last two months, The Sunday Morning learnt. Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Changes to 13A on the cards Upuldeniya said there were a total 8,000 drug addicts within the prison system. z Entire Constitution to be reviewed z 19A given priority “There are about 8,000 drug addicts in Changes to the 13th Amendment to the new constitution and we will be looking at all prisons across the island, 5,000 of whom were Constitution by the incumbent Government aspects of it, including the 13th Amendment,” incarcerated within the last two months.” are on the table, The Sunday Morning learnt. Rambukwella said. However, he said that The Commissioner General said the prisons Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Mass priority would be given to the 19th Amendment. were facing an issue of drug addicts going into Media Keheliya Rambukwella said that the entire Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission withdrawal and having health issues due to Colombo Municipal Council Public Health Department officials randomly took samples from 175 Constitution would be reviewed and changes reiterated its position on the 13th Amendment the lack of drug supply. vendors and customers at the Manning Market in Fort to be sent for PCR testing for Covid-19 made, including to the 13th Amendment. and its implementation. Contd. on page 2 PHOTO LALITH PERERA “It is our Government’s policy to bring in a Contd. on page 2 CAPITAL HEIGHTS Aruwakkalu CAPITALRS. 34 MILLION HEIGHTS Constitution UPWARDSRS. 34 MILLION delays MMDA railway further UPWARDS delayed CAPITAL HEIGHTSreforms The completion of the railway line carrying BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA garbage from Colombo to the Aruwakkalu RS. 34 MILLION Waste Disposal Plant will see further delays VISIT OUR UPWARDSWEBSITE The Government has made constitutional due to construction work on the line being changes their top legislative priority, held up due to the prevailing coronavirus CAPITALVISIT HEIGHTS+94 OUR 763112233 meaning that other legislation such as situation, The Sunday Morning learnt. RS.35SHOW APARTMENT MILLIONWEBSITE UPWARDSRS. 34 MILLION the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act Contd. on page 2 READY FOR INSPECTION UPWARDS (MMDA) would only be looked at later, The Sunday Morning learnt. OTTER ACQUISITION PROJECT NEARING+94 763112233 COMPLETION VISIT OUR “The constitutional reforms are a mighty SHOW APARTMENT WEBSITEtask and we are prioritising that at the Otter to merge VISIT OUR moment. We will look at other laws such +94 763112233WEBSITE as the MMDA thereafter,” Ministry of READY FOR INSPECTION SHOW APARTMENT www.capitalheights.lk with Waters Edge SHOW APARTMENT +94 763112233 Justice Secretary M.M.P.K. Mayadunne READY FORREADY INSPECTION FOR INSPECTION told The Sunday Morning. The Urban Development Authority (UDA) PROJECT NEARING COMPLETION Reforms to the MMDA have been is to acquire the Otter Aquatic Club (OAC) PROJECT NEARINGPROJECT NEARING COMPLETION COMPLETION pending since the previous Yahapalana in Colombo and plans to operate it together Government. with Waters Edge, Battaramulla, without “Right now, we are concentrating solely hindering the privileges of its near-5,000 on the constitutional reforms that are to be members, UDA Director General Prasad brought about,” he added. Ranaweera told The Sunday Morning. Contd. on page 2 TILE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS No relaxation: Minister BY SARAH HANNAN will give directives to import Royal Ceramics Lanka such material. At present, PLC Director Tharana State Minister of Rural we have sufficient tile and Thoradeniya, who is also Housing and Construction, ceramic products to supply a member of the Sri Lanka and Building Material the country’s requirement. We Ceramics and Glass Council, Industries Indika Anurudda will first give priority to the told The Sunday Morning: Herath said that no decision stocks that are made available “We commend the decision has been taken to relax the by the local manufacturers,” the Government has currently import restriction placed on Herath told The Sunday taken to restrict imports. tiles and ceramic ware, as Morning. Prior to Covid-19, our local local manufactures already Meanwhile, local tile manufacturers faced quite have sufficient stocks. manufacturing companies a challenge in moving their “The President is only going urged the Government to not products. Our products had to to consider the requests made give in to the requests of the compete with the cheap prices for building materials that tile importers to relax import that these imported tiles were are in short supply in the restrictions given the present marked up against. country at the moment, and economic climate. Contd. on page 2 WITH OUR READERS’ HEALTH IN MIND A SPECIAL ANTIMICROBIAL INK HAS BEEN USED IN THE PRINTING OF OUR NEWSPAPER 2 the sunday morning FOCUS/NEWS Sunday, August 30, 2020 BY SARAH HANNAN BRIDGING NAWALA AND KOTTE only make matters worse. We do not oppose the development of infrastructure During the lockdown period in the suburbs, but we request that the earlier this year, residents of authorities do the necessary studies School Avenue in Nawala observed and assessments before proposing such a motorcade of 40 vehicles driving projects.” down their neighbourhood, Update sent to RDA disturbing their otherwise tranquil Authorities environment. The Sunday Morning contacted RDA Deputy Director of Bridge Designing The residents acted immediately and Planning Dhammika Jayakody to inquire had promptly questioned the officials to whether the project proposal is still being The toxins released by the vehicles what the commotion was, which is when to move pursued from their end. “Following our that commute through the bridge will they were told by officials of the Urban institute’s site visit and the meeting which disrupt the growth of the plants due to Development Authority (UDA) and the we had with the residents from the area its toxic gas emissions, and the noise Road Development Authority (RDA) in May, we have now initiated an EIA emission will prevent pollination about a proposal made for a bridge- and submitted the proposal to the Central Dr. Himantha Atukorale, a resident of building project that would connect Environmental Authority. We are awaiting School Lane Nawala Road and Kotte Road to ease the forward the receipt of the EIA report, after which traffic on Sri Jayewardenepura Mawatha z RDA proceeds to z Residents are yet to the next steps would be followed, which from the Ethul Kotte junction to the would determine whether the bridge can fauna that we see today.” Rajagiriya junction. obtain EIA report hear from RDA be built over the proposed area or whether Dr. Atukorale added that the wetland is The proposed bridge would run from it needs to be moved to another area.” home to at least 20 types of endangered the Angampitiya area over the wetland Meanwhile, UDA Director General animals such as the fishing cat that separates the two areas and fall N.P.K. Ranaweera said that while (Prionailurus viverrinus) and otter (Lutra onto School Lane and School Avenue in improving the overall look of the city Lutra) as well as over 250 species of Nawala. is partly the UDA’s responsibility, they plants. are yet to get a word on who would He also pointed out that should the be constructing the bridge, should the bridge construction go ahead and the proposal go through. pillars installed, the drilling would disturb We are awaiting the receipt of the EIA the water table as well as cause severe report, after which the next steps would damage to the ecosystem.