Sunday 23 AUGUST 2020 Latest Edition Vol: 09/40 Price : Rs 70.00 Inside Story Sinharaja’s Downfall: Paradise Paved in Asphalt There are places on Earth that hold outstanding universal value to humanity – these are named World Heritage Sites and protected for the benefit of generations to come. A11

Graduates Opposition taken for a ride – Sajith Group Making By Gagani Weerakoon The Government has duped unemployed graduates by calling for applications and issuing letters of appointment in a hurry prior to the General Election, but not allowed them to report to work after the Election, Opposition Leader Sajith a Deal With Premadasa claimed.

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Did Mohamed purposely detonate Govt? Dehiwela bomb? Disappointed minority MPs SDIG Jayawardena wants in crossover talks separate probe By Buddhika Samaraweera By W.K. Prasad Manju A separate investigation should be carried out into Abdul Latif Jameel Mohamed, who A group of Opposition According to reliable sources, initiated in the backdrop of the blew himself up by detonating a bomb at the Parliamentarians have initiated this group predominantly Government heading for a Tropical Inn Lodge in Dehiwala on 21 April negotiations with a powerful comprises Opposition legislators Constitutional change and 2019, said former Director of the SIS, SDIG member of the SLPP Government representing minority parties. minority parties becoming Nilantha Jayawardena. to strike a deal and cross over. These negotiations have been disappointment over not... On 21 April 2019, Jameel Mohamed had first tried to detonate the bomb at...

Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 Ranil issued SL will buy Russian vaccine notice to after WHO approval Minister of Health Pavithra appear Wanniarachchi said, will take measures to purchase the COVID-19 vaccine developed in Russia for local before PCoI patients, once it received approval from By Faadhila Thassim the World Health Organisation (WHO). Health Ministry Spokesman Viraj Former Prime Minister Ranil Abeysinghe said, Ambassador of the Wickremesinghe was on 21 August, issued Russian Federation, Yury B. Materiy,... notice to appear before the PCoI appointed to probe political victimisation of public Story Continued on page 2 servants during the tenure of the United National Front-led Government, on 4 and 7 September. He was thus issued notice based on MPs appointed to Wiggy’s speech complaints made to the PCoI by the former Secretary to the Ministry of Economic House Selection ruffles feathers Development, Nihal Jayathilaka and the former Director General of Divi Neguma, Committee Kithsiri Ranawaka. in Parliament A group of 12 Parliamentarians have been By Gagani Weerakoon Story Continued on page 2 appointed to the Committee of Selection of Parliament under the Chairmanship of the Remarks made by Speaker . Thamizh Makkal Tesiya The Committee of Selection, for the first Kootani (Tamil People’s Rs 6B loss session of the Ninth Parliament, comprises National Alliance) Jaffna , Leader of the House District Parliamentarian , , C.V. Wigneswaran, in , , his congratulatory due to visa , ,... message to the... fee waiver Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 – SLTDA Following underage boy boarding trawler By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan Enhanced e-security system

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (STLDA) said, the country has for fisheries harbours lost Rs 6 billion in revenue when the former United National Front-led By Leon Berenger harbours after an underage boy was able to Government waived the on-arrival visa fee board a multi-day fishing trawler at Mirissa in the aftermath of the Easter bombings in The authorities are to enhance the in June this year, a top official said on 21 2019. electronic security system at fisheries August.

Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 A2 sunday 23 august 2020 news Probe into fire at Two in custody over alleged SJB questions abuse of autistic boy Parliament premises Two persons were taken into revealed that both suspects’ Authorities have launched plastic container. Parliament custody over the alleged kid- have separated from their an investigation into the inci- employees had subsequently Govt’s haste nap and sexual abuse of a wives. They are residents of dent where a fire erupted in extinguished the fire. 12-year-old autistic boy in Maha Ingiriya, Ingiriyala, and the Parliament premises while Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms Ingiriya on 21 August, Police Urugala. The victim is cur- President Gotabaya Achintha Cooray had visited to abolish 19A said. The two suspects, aged rently undergoing treatment Rajapaksa was delivering the the site as a part of the inves- 63 and 56, are alleged to have at the Horana Base Hospital. new Government’s Policy tigation and it has been decid- repeatedly abused the child The suspects were produced statement on Thursday (20). ed to scrutinise video footage Leader of the House says it has after bundling him into a van before the Horana Magistrate The fire erupted at a shed, obtained from the closed cir- left country in a mess and then driven to the house and further investigations are which stored furniture in the cuit television cameras fixed of one of the suspects. being conducted by the yard where Parliament is in the vicinity to ascertain By Gagani Weerakoon amended. Is it being done for Initial investigations Ingiriya Police. (NV) located. According to who threw the cigarette butt the benefit of the people or to Parliament sources, initial into the plastic container. The main Opposition, the serve some other secret reports suggested that the fire Disciplinary action would be Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) agenda?” he questioned. had been ignited by a cigarette taken against the suspect, on 21 August, questioned in Kiriella also claimed, the ‘one butt thrown by a driver into a Parliament sources said. (GW) Parliament the Government’s country, one law’ concept is haste to abolish the 19th not realistic. “There are many BIA Customs busts Amendment to the customary laws in this Constitution. country. There are Kandyan ‘Kush’ packet in transit Chief Opposition Whip and Law, the Thesawalami Law, the Well aware SIS officials performed their SJB Kandy District Muslim Law, among others. It By Sulochana “This strain of duties – SDIG Jayawardena Parliamentarian Lakshman is difficult to change these Ramiah Mohan cannabis is rare to Kiriella queried as to why there Laws which are hundreds of find and much Who’s responsible for was such haste, when most years old,“ he said. Customs officers more expensive members sitting on the In response, Leader of the attached to a than local Government side today had House, Minister Dinesh courier bonded cannabis. The failure to prevent bombings voted in favour of it in 2015. Gunawardena claimed, the warehouse at the origins of Kush “We introduced the 19th 19th Amendment to the air cargo terminal cannabis are from – Queries Commission Amendment to the Constitution has left the at the landrace plants By Buddhika aware that the SIS officials Constitution to reduce the country in a mess and that Bandaranaike mainly in Samaraweera had performed their duties powers of the Executive therefore it has to be changed. International (BIA) Afghanistan, pertaining to monitoring President, and at the time, the “The President was elected in on 21 August found Northern Pakistan If the relevant institutions extremist activities properly. I had only November last year but, he a package and North-Western including the NSC acted upon used to pressurise officers 45 seats even though we were could not immediately dissolve containing a strain of India with the name coming the information provided by under my purview to perform in the Government. However, the Parliament because of the cannabis known as ‘Kush’ from the Hindu Kush the SIS on the spread of their duties in a timely we got the required two-thirds 19th Amendment to the being couriered to Sri Lanka mountain range. It is more Islamist extremist activities in manner. majority in the House to pass Constitution. He had to wait from the United States. popular among the youth and Sri Lanka since 2018, the Responding to a question this Amendment,” he said. for the end of four and half The package had been sent has a high demand,” noted an bombings on 21 April 2019 from a Member of the Kiriella also said the years of its term to be from the U.S. to a Colombo official attached to the BIA. Easter Sunday could have Commission as to who was incumbent Government has completed before doing so. resident, a Customs official He said that since it is rare, been prevented, said former responsible for the failure to not disclosed whether they Because of this, the Parliament informed, adding that 222g of racketeers have employed Director of the SIS, SDIG prevent the bombings on propose to retain the was dissolved in March and cannabis was seized and that various concealment methods Nilantha Jayawardena. Easter Sunday, despite the independent Commissions the Parliamentary Election had its street value of the drug was to smuggle such drugs into He was testifying before the SIS having performed its duty, setup under 19th Amendment to be postponed twice due to more than Rs. 2.2 million. the country. The substance PCoI probing the bombings on SDIG Jayawardena said, he to the Constitution. “Tell the COVID-19. This Amendment The Narcotics Control Unit which was packed with a few 2019 Easter Sunday, on 21 was not in a position to state country how the 19th has tied the President’s hands of the Customs is conducting children’s books was handed August. as to who should be held Amendment to the and left the country in a mess,” further investigation into the over to Police Narcotic Bureau He also said, he was well responsible for it. Constitution is going to be Gunawardena further claimed. incident. for further investigations.

Continued from page 1 Opposition Group... Graduates taken...... getting promised National List slots from the main Opposition. Making a special statement calling the applicants again to When contacted, a top most politician confirmed meeting a group of in Parliament on 21 August, report to work. However on 16 Ranil issued... Opposition MPs in this regard. Premadasa further claimed August, the Ministry of Public Wickremesinghe, However, Fonseka, Asked as to why the Government would go for negotiations when that the Sri Lanka Podujana Administration, Provincial former Hakeem and already having 151 MPs on its side to ensure two-thirds majority, he Peramuna (SLPP) seemed to Councils and Local Parliamentarians Sampanthan and said they might consider taking a few more as a precautionary have taken unemployed Government issued an , Secretary of the Anti- measure to ensure the Constitutional amendment process is not graduates for a ride. announcement publishing the Malik Samarawickrema Corruption Committee hindered. “The SLPP gave a promise names of 40,092 graduates and President’s Ananda Wijepala did Meanwhile, it was also learnt that two SLMC MPs from the East are during the Presidential who are not qualified for the Counsel (PC) not appear before the also in the group that is currently negotiating. They have apparently Election that under its training. Dr. Jayampathy Commission on 21 demanded ministerial portfolios but have not received a positive Government, all unemployed “Various reasons including Wickremaratne, MPs August. response from the Government as yet. graduates would be given the non-recognition of certain , M.A. Accordingly, the Government jobs. Following degrees by the University Sumanthiran PC, R. group was again issued that Election victory, the Grants Commission, the Sampanthan, Field a notice on 21 August Government published an inclusion of their names in the Marshal Sarath to appear before the advertisement on 7 February Employees Provident Fund, Fonseka and Anura Commission on 9 and 2020 calling for applications the failure to attach copies of Kumara Dissanayaka, 11 September. SL will... from unemployed graduates, certain documents, among and J.C. Weliamuna Jayathilaka and ...had briefed Wanniarachchi on the new vaccine. The promising to recruit them for others, have been mentioned PC were formerly Ranawaka lodged the Ambassador on the occasion had said Sri Lanka had been able to various jobs existing in the as reasons for disqualifying summoned to appear complaints claiming successfully control COVID-19 owing to the timely measures taken public sector. Thereafter, in them. Unemployed graduates before the PCoI on 21 that their arrest in by the Government. Materiy had also stated a scholarship scheme the last week of February staged a demonstration on 18 August with regard to relation to the alleged will commence to help not only Sri Lankan doctors but other 2020, the Government August,” Premadasa also Jayathilaka’s misappropriation of medical professionals to further their education in Russia. (DJ) released letters, calling those claimed. complaint. Divi Neguma Funds applicants for training and He demanded to know from While Dissanayaka was politically asked them to report within the Government as to what informed the motivated. three days. action would be taken to Commission that he Meanwhile, MPs Dr. However, with the rectify the situation. could not appear Rajitha Seneratne and intervention of the Election Leader of the House, before it on 21 August, Patali Champika SDIG Jayawardena... Commission, that recruitment Minister Dinesh Gunawardena the attorneys Ranawaka were issued ...the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo, but had later gone to the process was suspended. After responded and said that all of representing the other notice to appear before Tropical Inn Lodge since the bomb had not detonated. the General Election, the them would be given respondents requested the PCoI on 10 Testifying before the PCoI probing the bombings on Easter Sunday, on Presidential Secretariat again employment as decided by the for the statements September based on a 21 August, SDIG Jayawardena said, he had received several other issued a release on 14 August, Cabinet of Ministers recently. previously made by the complaint lodged by information with regard to the incident and that he would testify complainant at the former Chairman of concerning them on camera before the PCoI. PCoI proceedings, Rakna Arakshaka “After the bombings took place at several luxury hotels and churches while also requesting Lanka Limited Victor at around 8.45 a.m. on 21 April 2019, Colombo had gone into an for more time. Samaraweera. immediate lockdown. However, Jameel Mohamed had failed to carry out the bombing at his first target, the Taj Samudra Hotel and had gone to MPs appointed... the Tropical Inn Lodge where he detonated it,” the witness added. ..., Gayantha Karunathilake, Rauff Hakeem, He also said, there was doubt whether Jameel Mohamed had and Selvam Adaikkilanathan. purposely detonated the bomb or whether he was trying to test his The names were submitted to the House by Gunawardena and explosive device, as it did not explode at his first target. they were approved on 21 August. (GW) Wiggy’s speech...... Speaker of oath in which they also Parliament, Mahinda pledged not to directly or Yapa Abeywardena, came indirectly, in or outside under severe criticism Sri Lanka, support, Enhanced e-security... Rs 6B... from various factions and espouse, promote, The electronic system will and are currently in remand issues since he lived with a SLTDA Director General Galle District Samagi finance, encourage or be upgraded to store data custody. foster parent. Dhammika Wijesinghe told Ceylon Jana Balawegaya (SJB) advocate the relating to fisher folk and The new electronic system Apart from that, the Today that 950,000 tourists arrived MP Manusha establishment of a their families along with would be able to detect such authorities also intend to during July-December 2019, when Nanayakkara on 21 separate State within the places of residences and frauds while at the same time upgrade the security the free on-arrival visa was August demanded that it territory of Sri Lanka. MP other personal details as a maintaining an accurate systems at the fisheries introduced for 48 countries be expunged from the Wigneswaran’s speech wider plan to streamline database of those involved in harbours through the including India and China. Hansard. here is a violation of that those employed in the the fisheries industry. setting up of closed circuit Normally, the Government charges Raising a privilege issue oath,” he claimed. industry, Director Operations “The case in Mirissa is television cameras, USD 35 per traveller for on-arrival in Parliament regarding During his speech, at the Fisheries Ministry, disturbing simply because fingerprint machines and visa. the speech made by Wigneswaran who started Kalyani Hawapathirana said. anyone, perhaps a wanted other high tech equipment, According to him, even now there Wigneswaran on 20 off with a few words in She said that in the case at criminal or a narcotic she said. was a proposal from stakeholders to August, Nanayakkara Tamil and then switched Mirissa, it has been revealed smuggler, could have had However, she conceded waive the on-arrival visa fee which called on the Speaker to to English, said that: “I that the owner of the boat access to the vessel using that the Fisheries the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism expunge it from the start my felicitations, had provided a doctored fraudulent documents. Department lacked the Kimarli Fernando has vehemently Hansard – the official honourable Speaker, birth certificate of the minor Initial investigations so far funds needed for such opposed. record of the hailing you in my mother that enabled him to board have revealed that this is an equipment and was hopeful “We are already making massive Parliamentary tongue, the oldest living the vessel without detection. isolated case but on the of a positive response from losses and the new Government will proceedings. language of this world, The boy is alleged to have other hand, the probe has the new administration. not allow free visa facilities Nanayakkara was irked and the language of the been beaten and tortured for not been concluded,” “It is essential that the 23 anymore,” noted Fernando. by the former Northern first indigenous several weeks by his elder Hewapathirana added. harbours situated across the Also, the SLTDA noted that the Provincial Council Chief inhabitants of this crew members after a tuna She further said that the country possess a thorough foreign exchange earned in 2018 Minister’s reference to the country and proceed in accidentally slipped from his boy was forced to take up security system in order to was Rs 712 billion and in 2019 it Tamil language as being the link language.” hand back into the sea. employment on the multi- nab errant fisheries workers dropped to Rs 646 billion and that a the oldest living language The Speaker said he Since then, the boat owner day trawler owing to family and even smugglers,” total loss of Rs 66 billion had been used by the native people. would look into the and four others were arrested poverty and possibly social Hewapathirana said. incurred to Sri Lanka Tourism. “All new MPs take an matter. sunday 23 august 2020 Page 3 A4 sunday 23 august 2020 focus

Corrupt power deals by the last regime – CEB Chairman Why Power Outage, When Technology is in Place? By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan breakdowns and making losses. When the Norochcholai plant was The power and energy sector in Sri completed in 2014, the tariff was Lanka, mainly the Ceylon Electricity reduced by 25% and in 2015 we had Board (CEB) is alleged to be one of the a profit of Rs 20 billion. There were no most corrupt and most negligent other power plants after Norochcholai entities in the country. In the past, and we had to purchase power at Rs even the state sector worked with the 30 for diesel and thus followed a loss,” power sector in the most lackadaisical the CEB Chairman added. manner - cancelling competitive Herath said the country should do tenders and at the same time away with diesel power plants and awarding them to those who curry shift to LNG, coal or solar power. favour with higher ups or private According to him, Solar power was power suppliers based on deals. There purchased for Rs 22 and through the are accusations that CEB Engineers new tenders it is now Rs 10 and wind run a monopoly. power which was purchased for Rs 25 The CEB is also one of the biggest is now only Rs 9 through competitive loss-making entities in the country bidders. The old prices were all and at the moment it is suffering a Rs corrupt deals, he pointed out. 85 billion loss (last year) due to diesel In two years we will have an LNG purchases and not due to any plant and we are going to procure it. improvements made to the sector. There was an LNG project and it was Meanwhile, the CEB confirmed that shelved. It was given to LTL one of the recent power outage in the whole our subsidiary companies but the last country last Monday was due to CEB Chairman Vijitha Herath Technology needs government tried to give it to a foreign human error that had taken place in investor. the Kerawalapitiya power station. breaks down, it’s due to the power There is a 5% to 6% power demand The public outcry is that the regular load not being transmitted which growing annually and it is on the hourly and one-and-a-half hourly would result in tripping and to restart to be improved backdrop of the 20-year power blackouts were due to unjustifiable the plant, the system has to cool down generation plan, he said. reasons. after the steam evaporates. The The outage was an unfortunate – LECO Chairman When the Sampur power plant was CEB Chairman Vijitha Herath, who electricity is produced using steam incident and lack of power planned, former President Maithripala is also President of the Sri Lanka turbines. So it has to be cooled to add for seven hours caused a the reading online and Sirisena had halted it due to protests. Podujana Engineers’ Front appointed water and to restart and it takes a few huge loss all round, also LECO could If there was a long term vision it in December 2019, is an engineer. He days. admitted Lanka disconnect and would have solved many problems is of the view that the only possible Electricity Company reconnect the power and eased the power sector If that way to raise the CEB from its downfall Chinese-built plant needs Limited (LECO) Chairman digital networking” he Sampur power plant was operating , as a humongous loss-making entity is Chinese to repair Athula Priyadharshana said. “We are opting losses would be minimised, noted to implement the five projects that are de Silva. “If we do not for smart meters Chairman Herath. It was a 500mw in the pipeline and to introduce LNG In the beginning when the Chinese want a recurrence, then which will be plant joint venture with India. Then and renewable energy in the future. built the Norochcholai coal power we need to upgrade the introduced soon so the next option was to have a 300mw plant the power supply was system. Technology that the revenue of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) where CEB mafias interrupted with severe breakdowns should be improved,” he officer does not have to LTL Holdings (Pvt) the lowest bidder The CEB has been alleged to be and the Chinese were recruited to added. visit house to house. was awarded the investment project. running a diesel and coal mafia and operate it. Even now Chinese experts LECO is the largest Owners whose houses LTL Holdings (Pvt) went to Courts and also a mini power mafia. It has also are brought down to rectify the Electricity distribution Chairman LECO are closed most of the the Government decided to handover been alleged that engineers were specialised machines when there is a company in Sri Lanka and day and depending on the project to them. running the show to their whims and breakdown. a subsidiary of the CEB is the area, the smart fancies. The CEB Chairman explained why also taking steps to curtail many of meters will record the reading. Sampur power plant “But that’s not what the CEB Chinese are still needed to operate the the shortcomings in the power Residents could read the usage it on “Although we could not establish should be doing,” notes the Chairman gas turbines despite locals having the sector. Chairman LECO told Ceylon the computer and update the meter the Sampur plant, there is room at and stressed that human error of skills. Today that smart Energy Meter rates and the energy consumed. A the Norochcholai for another plant. A such calamitous proportions should “These machines are handled by (House Service Meters) are to be power smart grid collaborating with Cabinet decision has been taken and not occur. He said, “Such negligence specialists and we outsource them introduced shortly and CEB will the Katubedda University is also in if CEB wants to make profits we has to be rectified and was an only when needed. We don’t have follow suit. the pipeline. The experiment will should move to LNG supply and we ‘unfortunate’ incident”. them with us because seldom such have a separate power supply grid can generate 5bn units. Compared to Herath stressed that there were special machines breakdown. We Smart meters so that when the main grid shuts diesel we will make a Rs15 profit some down the line who were involved outsource those who built the LECO has tied up with the down this will swing into operation (Rs.15x5bn) that would result in Rs. in corrupt deals during the Norochcholai plant as a best practice. Chinese to manufacture local smart automatically. 75 billion per annum. This is the way procurement process. The CEB must It’s a waste to have fulltime specialists meters and the first 50,000 will be “This grid will be useful to forward,” he opined rise above all this and come clean. and as such outsourcing is cheaper. distributed by end 2020. hospitals where power should not With those five projects in hand, Now a system is in place; a tough It’s better to hire from the original “We have partnered with the be interrupted. The power sector besides solar and wind power, we will procurement process is also put in equipment manufacturer than hiring Chinese AnteLECO Metering has to be upgraded and a be able to bring costs down. What is place. Meanwhile, not all CEB officials someone from another country as it’s Company and will promote smart continuous power supply is a important is that there should be no are corrupt. There are a number of risky. meters so that consumer could see must,” he said delays in the in the procurement top officials who were above board, he Today 20-odd Chinese operators process. said. stationed in Norochcholai began Power is a recovery of investment Resign operations. projects, he stressed. We spoke to Norochcholai power Mafias in the However, regarding the blackout, plant manager, engineer Indrasiri running short with the demand about 5 billion units. There is also the President of the Consumer Rights Gallage who also admitted the loss increasing, in the early 90s, the non-conventional renewable energy energy sector Protection Organisation, Ranjith per day of Rs 400 million and speaks government decided to go for coal (NCRE) which includes solar, Vithanage told the Media that if the of the capacity of the plant and were power. Sampur was proposed, then windmill and mini-hydropower There are allegations that there is a recent power-cut was the result of assessing the loss upto today another in Matara was also proposed. generating about 10% of power diesel mafia, coal mafia and mini- human error as claimed by the CEB (Sunday) for their reference. Finally, Norochcholai plant was generation amounting to a million power mafia and some CEB engineers Chairman, he must resign from his He said on Friday’s one power unit proposed but at that time the units. He said, at the inception a wind owned mini power stations and were position immediately. out of the three units is in full proposals failed. “The power demand power was purchased at Rs 24 per supplying power to the national grid. Chairman Herath admitted that the operation and by Sunday (today) all kept increasing and a power crisis MW and solar was purchased Rs. 22 The Chairman says that if this Norochcholai shut down has caused a three units that produce 900mw will erupted in 1995 having no option but but those rates were all ‘deal rates’. allegation was so, it was a clear Rs 400 million loss per day from last be in operation. to go for diesel generation. The issue Now however, it’s all purchased for conflict of interest and so far he has Monday to today (Sunday). But the He said that the transmission of with Diesel is that we need Rs. 30 for such a low rate of Rs 10 or so.” had no information regarding loss of revenue to consumers was five power from Norachchaolai was shut one unit generation of power for The present Government has a engineers running mini power plants. times more, he added. down when the trip collapsed, he which we have to add another Rs. 5 long-term plan to resolve and bring However, he did not dismiss the He said that during a regular added. for transmission distribution the CEB out of the morass of loss contention that anyone of them could maintenance operation the authorised Monumental loss network. Our average selling of power -making. A Rs 90 billion loss has been be indirectly involved and could engineering superintendent while (total selling amount) is divided by the projected for 2020, noted the CEB register such business in another’s applying the breaker had Norochcholai power transmission units and the result is some Rs 16.30 Chairman. name but so far he had not heard inadvertently applied a different stands at 19.5 million units per day but the cost to generate power when However, he said that the about CEB engineers running mini breaker. The shock caused by it and if it shuts down the loss is divided by the total unit stands at government has reduced the heavy power stations. tripped the Norochcholai power monumental. Norochcholai needs some Rs 23. fuel oil price and there is also a drop Regarding the diesel mafia, his view transmission. Inquiries are ongoing. about 7,500 mt of coal per day. The So for every unit, we make a loss of in power demand as well with the is that it happens perhaps with the We have identified what had triggered annual amount of coal needed is 2.4 Rs 6. 50. It’s between 18 to 19 billion coronavirus spread. diesel prices and there could be the outage and the person behind it, billion mt. units and this results in a Rs 85 corruption when there is a delay in noted the CEB Chairman. Norochcholai has improved its billion loss in 2018.” He also pointed Fuel prices purchasing and during breakdowns. “This should not happen. There house load supply. Indasiri notes that out besides that, they had invested in However, the fuel price was not When the Norochcholai power plant should be protection for such the coal is also brought based on coal power projects and there too they reduced and a high tax was imposed stops working we sometimes assume activation or error. We upgraded it price index and these days coal is have met a colossal debt burden on the Indian Oil Company and for the breakdown occurred because of when the last outage occurred in imported from South Africa and also hence the CEB turns out to be a loss- CEB too. Besides this, the CEB was diesel purchasing. He was however 2016. purchased at a very reasonable rate. making entity. awarded Rs 50 billion by the Treasury quick to add that in all of this blaming Earlier also there were He denounced any wrongdoing or Calculating the economic loss, with which the CEB settled its debt to the entirety of the CEB was unfair. investigations on power outage and corrupt hand in the coal deals Herath explained that they refer to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. When asked whether there was any that prompted us to introduce a however there can be some getting one unit of power to Rs. 100 which corruption in this regard and whether control system and all substations in involved craftily. precisely states that we generate New projects it was investigated in the past, he the country are monitored from Currently around five companies power for Rs 23 and is given to Five power projects are in the added that there are competitive Battaramulla. are in the competitor’s bidders who consumers at Rs 100 and that that is pipeline. They are the Upper biddings. Those who got permits for To rectify the blackout does it take are getting the coal for Norochcholai a loss. Kotmale, Broadlands Hydropower contracts probably had corrupt deals. seven to eight hours asked the writer plant. “Loss cannot be measured only by Project in Kithulgala, Moragolla In the case of solar power plants, to which the CEB chairman The CEB Chairman pointed out that the above calculation. The main loss powerhouse, Uma Oya and in some got permits and sold them at responded, “When the total system the main issue noted was that the is due to the diesel supply. From the Seethawaka. Only Upper Kotmale is higher rates. was down, we thought we could high cost in power generation that Mahaweli hydropower, we only have completed and others are underway. However, I have been absolved of supply power in two hours but failed. leads CEB to face colossal debt the operational cost and maintenance Broadlands will be completed by the any corruption. When internal If the entire system collapses, we had annually. The cost to generate power and obtaining power at Rs 3 per unit end of 2020 while the Uma Oya investigations are carried out, the to restart one by one and again it is exorbitant when calculated. but for transmission etc, it costs Rs 8 project will be completed by 2023. culprits manage to slip out and there tripped, hence the delay. After the When asked whether the CEB has per unit and sold for Rs 16. This is a The Moragolla plant will also be is no way of tracing the culprit. The investigation we have to redesign the savings from power generation, the profitable venture’” he said. completed by the end of 2024. For best and only way is to put things system where such human error does Chairman explained the history of the He further explained about coal Seethawaka the process is underway right. If the procurement is executed not occur, he said. CEB, where the first initiated power and says the fuel cost is with some financing matter is properly without corruption, there With the Norochcholai hydropower generation began after between Rs 7 and Rs 8 adding to it is resolved. still could be corrupt deals between disconnection, we had to continue the Mahaweli projects were completed transmission network cost which is “The government wanted to expedite the contractors and it would not be supplying power and we started the and at that time it was a profitable Rs. 9.50. This is fairly reasonable and all former projects. These projects will openly seen.” hydropower plant. If Norochcholai venture. But when the capacity was has continuous supply generating supply power and there would be no [email protected] news sunday 23 august 2020 A5

School curriculum GMOA calls for ban to be modernised By Thameenah Razeek – GL A new Cabinet Paper is to on Palm Oil imports be prepared to modernise and develop the school By Dilanthi Jayamanne palms during his policy statement at the diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, curriculum in line with the inaugural ceremony in Parliament on 20 diabetes and high blood pressure. “NCDs present needs and job The Government Medical Officers’ August, and said that the Union viewed it have become more of an epidemic than opportunities, Minister of Association (GMOA) urged the Ministry of as a positive effort on the part of the epidemics themselves. The COVID-19 Education Professor G.L. Health to set up a technical committee to President to ensure dietary safety. He pandemic has also taught us the Peiris noted. study the impact of palm oil on the appealed to the President to take this seriousness of being a patient with a NCD He said this at a special nation’s health in a bid to introduce laws move a step further and ban the as almost 96% of deaths caused by the discussion with the to ban its importation. importation of palm oil. Viral infection comprise those suffering principals of several leading GMOA Secretary, Dr. Senal Fernando, Meanwhile, he lamented that unhealthy from a NCD. schools held at the Ministry speaking to Ceylon Today Friday (21), food habits adopted by people lead to In this regard, the importance of using of Education. welcomed the move by President Gotabaya 75 per cent of the deaths in the country coconut oil as opposed to palm oil merits Developing children's and religious organisations Rajapaksa to ban the cultivation of oil owing to various non communicable consideration. analytical intelligence and are important in this regard. the ability to think critically We will study all of them are key issues since in depth and make future education is an exploration, decisions based on these he noted, adding that the suggestions,” he said. Eliminating drug use among teens current education system He also invited principals has fewer opportunities for to express their views on children, and therefore it is how the curriculum should necessary to shape the be revised to reflect the Invest more on mental structure of education in priorities related to such a way that the interest employment opportunities. of the child develops. The problematic situation “Change should take place that has arisen due to the health – Academic taking everyone's opinion lack of textbooks for a into account. number of subjects relating By Eunice Ruth Nilanga Gamage said. they face difficulties during this stage Before taking final to the General Certificate of When contact Friday (21), he note that from their family and peers which makes decisions at Ministry level, Education (GCE) Advanced We need more resources with a strong the number of these cases increase each them depressed. This depression and there will be an island-wide Level Examination and the support system and more consultant day and that the situation in Sri Lanka frustration leads to adolescents to drug dialogue on curriculum possible remedies in this psychiatrists who can mentally support has got much worse compared to the last addiction, he added. development at District regard were also discussed. people to overcome addiction to eradicate five years. He also noted that apart from level. Discussions also focused and stop increasing drug use among He said that the main reason for this medications, the best way to treat addicts The ideas and suggestions on how counselling services adolescents, the Consultant Psychiatrist issue is because youth nowadays have a is to listen and drawing closer to them so of teachers, parents, can be more effective in at the Ministry of Health and Senior habit of creating their own identity when they can open up themselves without any students, alumni schools with regard career Lecturer at the University of Ruhuna, entering their adolescent years and that fear. associations, civil society choices. A6 Sunday 23 august 2020 Focus

Curcuma longa Turmeric Turmoil By Thameenah Razeek allowed as it ruined the local farmer. The present government would import Turmeric, or ‘Kaha’ as it is known in only the shortfall. An effective plan the vernacular, as a popular spice, is would be implemented to boost one of the most important ingredients From Commodity cultivation of traditional export crops used in a range of food, and a variety and provide incentives to the farmer,” of medicinal preparations too. Wakkumbura added. However, now it has become very In the meantime, Consumer Affairs scarce. Turmeric-rich foods have Authority (CAA) initiated operations to vanished from most shelves or become to Luxury tackle traders who are mixing flour pricier. The wholesale price of turmeric with various colouring and selling as has reached Rs 3,000 – 3,500 per kilo, turmeric in line with the shortage of when only just a few months back it turmeric in the local market also CAA went at a tenth of that cost. What announced a Maximum Retail Price could be happening? (MRP) for turmeric powder at Rs 750 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a per kg, due to the growing demand. move to encourage and protect small However, wholesale vendors say it is a export crop farmers and small and joke to impose a control price on medium scale industrialists, had the turmeric powder or productions new government’s Finance Ministry without imposing a control price on take steps to prohibit importing key raw turmeric. spices such as pepper, Arecanut, They said that the farmers are cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cardamom, demanding to sell the turmeric for a ginger, turmeric, and cloves. concession price while already a The ban imposed through a gazette black-market has been created. notification under Commercial Hub Therefore, they said that amidst the Regulations in the Finance Act. economy drop, selling of turmeric for a Despite the shortage and increasing much lower amount like Rs 750 is a prices in the local market, the nightmare and no one will do it. Government is stern in its decision not to import turmeric under any Adulterated Turmeric circumstance. Insisting that no Powder in the Market approval shall be granted under these regulations to any enterprise to engage It was revealed that 50% of the in entrepôt and provision of logistic turmeric available in the market is services to any re-export business/ mixed with wheat flour and rice flour. activities or trans-shipment related to An inspection carried out by the spices and allied products namely, Consumer Affairs Authority revealed pepper, Arecanut, cinnamon, that wheat flour and rice flour have tamarind, nutmeg, mace, cardamom, been mixed with the most of turmeric ginger, turmeric, and cloves. sold in the market. India, the one and only ‘producer, The Authority said that the samples consumer and exporter of spices in the of turmeric obtained after receiving world’ that accounts for half of the complaints that turmeric was being overall global trading in spices, sold mixed with pigments and flour supplied 80 per cent of the country’s due to the shortage of turmeric were natural turmeric for about a decade packaging are extremely constrained mono-crop and an intercrop under has five more months to survive. When sent to the Government Analyst for even though the crop is so easy to to maintain the quality of harvested coconut. Major growing districts are asked whether the shortage will be testing. grow. A vine takes just a few months produce and keep it contamination Kurunegala, Gampaha, Kalutara, there for the next five months, According to reports released by the to mature. free. Kandy, Matale, and the Ampara department chief said “Yes, it will be Government Analyst, 50% of the Contamination Free About 20 per cent of the spice districts. He said that since turmeric like this and we will have to face it. In turmeric powder for sale is mixed with production in Sri Lanka is done by is a widely used spice, any disruption addition, after harvesting the crop by some kind of flour. Accordingly, legal Speaking of turmeric importation small-scale farmers, who typically in the supply chain can create an February we are still not sure that we action will be taken against those who done in the last two decades, the farm less than two hectare and overall adverse impact on the production and can meet the demand. But then again sell turmeric in this manner. Further Department of Export Agriculture there are only about 2,000 hectare to supply of industries while creating a by 2023 we will able to consume our tests are being carried out on samples Director General Dr. Aruna cultivate turmeric in the country. larger impact on the livelihoods and own turmeric for a good reasonable of various substances mixed into Heenkenda said that in the year 2017- Altogether before the year 2008, the well-being of the millions of small and price by creating a win-win situation turmeric. 18, a total of nearly 12,000 Metric tons Sri Lankan government has imported marginal farmers and workers between the customer and the Director of the CAA Asela Bandara of turmeric were imported just to meet 100 per cent of turmeric while no involved in production and processing vendor,” said that the cheapest yellow dye on its demand. production was done locally. “We are of spices. Though, the department of the market which is only authorized However, overall consumption of happy that until the ban of turmeric Locally Harvested Turmeric Agriculture has taken a step forward for industrial applications such as turmeric is 7,000 Metric tons whereas importation we were importing 80 per to import 400 Metric tons of turmeric paints are used to add more colour to about 2,000 Metric tons are cultivated cent of the consumption and now it is While justifying that turmeric after the ban without the department’s the turmeric that is mixed with flour yearly in Sri Lanka. Prior to the import zero per cent,” he added. cannot meet the demand due to the approval, it was frozen by the customs before being packed and release to the ban, the price per kilo of turmeric It was also noted that about six kilos sudden ban, Dr. Heenkenda said that and they have not released it to the market. stood at Rs 325 with an import tax of of raw turmeric are needed to they are looking forward to put a department since. Accordingly, 15 samples obtained Rs 102. manufacture a proper one kilo of cabinet paper to the Cabinet to at least Director of Agriculture Department, from across the island were submitted Dr. Heenkenda said that as a turmeric before release to the market. import a considerable amount of Dr. W. M. W. Weerakoon, and Dr. to the laboratory at the Industrial tropical country we were able to Back in the days raw turmeric was turmeric since the farmers are able to Heenkenda disclosed their stance Technology Institute of Sri Lanka, in cultivate only about 5 to 8 per cent of sold only for about Rs 20 to 30 and the cultivate and get the crops by about the ban and the shortage saying order to determine the quality turmeric from the whole consumption. famers were not actually regaining a February 2021. that the banning decision is a timely standards. Moreover, that 8 per cent of the spice good profit from the harvest. Adding to “Turmeric harvesting is not carried and an accurate decision taken by the However, Additional Customs production is done by small-scale that end, the department head said out around the year. The period government to protect the small Director General Sunil Jayaratne said farmers, who typically farm less than that it is the only reason why farmers between February and April is the entrepreneurs. Firstly, farmers did not that after initiating a probe, it was two hectares. Explaining the were not passionate about harvesting peak harvesting season for a bumper show any enthusiasm to cultivate decided to re-export to India the 62 procedure is easy even though the turmeric on their own. crop of raw turmeric. As in harvesting turmeric. “If we can ensure a containers of turmeric. He said that crop need 9 to 12 months to harvest, According to Dr. Heenkenda, of raw spice, turmeric happens during satisfying selling price to the farmers, the turmeric normally packed in large he said that proper harvest operations turmeric is grown in wet and the months of February until April. cultivation will go on. Nowadays bags and top wholesalers are such as cleaning, drying, and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka as a The ban was imposed in December turmeric is cultivated in many places importing these from India illegally where the farmers did not expect it so of the country. New data is being without a proper import permit. farmers were able to harvest only added to our data bases about the Accordingly one container contains 2,000 of Metric tons of turmeric by the farmers. There is a bigger demand for 18 tons of turmeric. However Customs end of April,” Dr. Heenkenda noted. turmeric than even Ganja or Gold. So, of Sri Lanka has decided to re-export This leads that Sri Lanka currently we are happy about the decision,” they these 62 containers of turmeric after has a requirement of approximately explained. the traders pay a fine. The fine will be 400,000 kilograms of turmeric for The negative side of the decision is one tenth of the duty fee which is local consumption. Due to the COVID- that the ban was suddenly imposed closely Rs 50,000,000 – 60,000,000. 19 outbreak and country’s lockdown without any pre-warning. Dr. “Before re-exporting we thought of period created an unwanted panic Heenkenda is hoping that the using this turmeric in the Sathosa buying which resulted an artificial government will at least provide them market and then it was stopped shortage of turmeric. “Rumours were a relief for the next five months just to because it can encourage the illegal spreading that using turmeric as an meet the hunger demand. importers. That is why we thought of Ayurvedic measure can boost the Meanwhile, State Minister of Minor re-exporting these containers amidst immunity level made people to panic Export Crop Development and Export this shortage,” he claimed. buy turmeric. The demand for raw Promotion said Lamenting the looters are misusing turmeric rose sharply as a result,” he reports that the Government is to the coast borders to smuggle turmeric, said. permit the temporary importation of Jayaratne said that even though the Nevertheless, Dr. Heenkenda said turmeric to the country in order to Navy is doing a good job on seizing that as a result of the ban, Farmers avoid the shortage. The steps would be turmeric smuggled through the coast carried out the cultivating operation taken to import turmeric for about border, it has been a taxing situation during the lockdown period. one-and-a-half years. “However, the to stop it. He said areas like Mannar Nevertheless, the crop can be import of turmeric in unlimited are very vulnerable and targeted areas harvested by next February, which quantities as in the past would not be for this smuggling operation. Suspects with smuggled turmeric NEWS SUNDAY 23 AUGUST 2020 A7 Early lockdown main reason for SL’s success against COVID-19 The Turkish State international news channel, suspending loan payments and launching a TRT World, recently said the early lockdown, the concessional refinancing programme of US$ 27 fast tracking of COVID-19 suspects and financial million (Rs 50 billion). The article added, “The Sri intervention in key areas are the most significant Lankan Government and Prime Minister Mahinda highlights of Sri Lanka’s success story when it Rajapaksa, also committed 0.1 per cent of the comes to curbing COVID-19. Gross Domestic Product for quarantine and In an article titled ‘Why Sri Lanka’s response to containment measures, and an additional US$5 COVID-19 is the most successful in South Asia’, million to the South Asian Association for Regional the news channel further said that Sri Lanka offers Cooperation COVID-19 Emergency Fund. A a glimmer of hope in curbing the daily infection Petroleum Stabilisation Fund was built to utilise rate. the lower international prices of oil. A separate “Early lockdown, a high testing rate and effective Presidential contributory fund was also created, social distancing measures have proved to be key which is worth US$ 7.4 million to date. Apart from for Sri Lanka in their fight against the pandemic all these measures, the Government laid a strong and keeping the infection rate low,” TRT World said, emphasis on the surveillance system to keep adding that from March to the end of April, Sri COVID-19 mortality at bay.” Lanka had conducted 930 tests per million people. Emphasising that Sri Lanka's robust healthcare “A reason why most of the cases are mild may be infrastructure was one of the main reasons the that the lockdown in Sri Lanka started very early," Government was able to act swiftly to respond to the article said, quoting the World Health the first cases of COVID-19, TRT World further said Organisation (WHO) representative to Sri Lanka, that the Government mobilised healthcare workers Razia Pendse. to closely monitor the pandemic's movement right TRT World further commended measures taken after the first case was reported in the country, and by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), including they ensured that most COVID-19 suspects were policies for monetary easing from the start of 2020, traced in potential hotspots. (SC)

Alleged war crimes at Warrant out for IP Trinco Navy Camp Nishantha de Silva CID coerced me Shani remanded till 3 September during Yahapalana BY TONY K. ATHUKORALA (MINUWANGODA) regime Gampaha Chief Magistrate Manjula Karunaratne on 20 Commander Ranasinghe tells PCoI August, remanded former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Shani Abeysekera and BY FAADHILA THASSIM the Sub Inspector of Police attached to the Embilipitiya Police until 3 September, on charges including fabricating Commander Sumith Ranasinghe on evidence and misleading the Judiciary. A warrant has 20 August said that the Criminal been issued for the arrest of Inspector of Police (IP) of the Investigations Department (CID), CID, Nishantha de Silva, who was named as the third during the tenure of the United suspect in the case. The Officer-In-Charge of the Colombo National Front led Government, Crimes Division (CCD), Jagath Dharmapriya Nishantha compelled him to state that a location told the Court that the suspect de Silva in the case, had named the ‘gun site’ at the Trincomalee gone to the Zurich Airport in Switzerland on 24 November Navy Camp was used for war crimes. last year from the Bandaranaike International Airport with Testifying before the Presidential his legal passport and had not returned to Sri Lanka, Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) according to information obtained from the Department of appointed to probe the political Immigration and Emigration. As further investigations are victimisation of public servants during required, a warrant should be issued for the arrest of the the tenure of the former Government, suspect as a first step and if the suspect de Silva enters Sri he added that the former Government Lanka legally or attempts to return to Sri Lanka illegally attempted to frame that this ‘gun site’ through a Sri Lankan airport, the CCD should be was used to detain the 11 youths who informed. IP Nishantha requested the Court to direct the were abducted and disappeared during Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to 2008-2009. investigate. The Court granted the Police request and He added that the CID also sought to issued a warrant for the arrest of de Silva as a suspect in obtain an order from the Colombo Fort the case. Magistrate to inspect the location and as a result, certain areas of the gun site were sealed, following which an order was also sought seven months later for United Nations delegates to inspect the Present Two women and a man in Police custody Two nabbed for area. Ranasinghe said that this ‘gun site’ Killinochchi man arrested was used for Intelligence officers, compensation molesting minor adding that allowing a location which is with 49kg of cannabis of importance to national security to be insuffi cient BY NAALIR JAMALDEEN inspected by foreign delegates is BY NABIYA VAFFOOR questionable. – Minister A 69 year old and a 50 year old were arrested on 19 PCoI Chairman, retired Supreme Two female suspects were arrested on 20 August for being in August night for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl who Court Judge, Justice Upali Abeyratne, Minister of Labour, Nimal Siripala possession of illegal substances. went to a shop to purchase some essential commodities. said that permitting such request for de Silva said the present A 29-year-old suspect, a resident of Murusamotai, Paranthan, This happened in an area in the Morawewa Police inspection by the Colombo Fort compensation of Rs 500,000 which is Kilinochchi, has been arrested with 49. 7 kilos of cannabis, Division, Police said. Magistrate has to be brought to the given to all labourers who face worth over Rs 1.96 million. The suspect was arrested during a The suspects were arrested following a complaint lodged notice of the Attorney General, sudden deaths at their workplaces, is raid conducted on information received by the Kilinochchi Police. with the Morawewa Police by the parents of the victim President’s Counsel Dappula De wholly insufficient. He averred that The suspect was produced before the Kilinochchi Magistrate’s stating that she was molested by the shop owner and a Livera. the sum should be increased up to Court and held for seven days on detention orders. Meanwhile, person who was at the shop at the time of the incident. Ranasinghe appeared before the Rs 2 million. De Silva noted that if another 31-year-old suspect, a resident of Borella was also The suspects are residents of Second Stage, Maha PCoI to make a statement with any breadwinner of a family were to arrested with 200 grams of heroin and Rs 30,000 in cash Diwulwewa. Morawewa, and the Police are to produce the regard to a complaint lodged by him die unexpectedly, that family stands believed to have been earned from drug trafficking, by the suspects before the Trincomalee Courts after formal against his unfair arrest in to suffer terribly. He had made these Thalangama Police during a special raid conducted in the inquiries. connection to the abduction of 11 remarks during a meeting held with Kalapuluwawa area. Further, reliable resources noted that the The victim has been admitted to the District General youths, claiming that such arrest officers of the National Labour suspect was known to be involved in drug trafficking around Hospital, Trincomalee. was politically motivated. Advisory Council. Borella and Nugegoda.

Judicial mediation need of the hour – District Judge BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY participation of the parties to ensure therefore not only may it be necessary to flexible and that the process should be of needs and interests instead of their strict their self-determination in the process of recruit new sets of judges but if would be an informal nature. In this regard, it is legal right) and the evaluative process Judicial mediation is the most decision making, with the protection of infinitely preferable to have a separate better to avoid adducing third-party (parties encouraged to reach settlement preferable choice for the quick and the concept of confidentiality, thereby group of judges to handle mediation. evidence (if unavoidable, the parties according to their legal rights and qualitative disposal of disputes, with the being an accountable, people friendly Further, Judge Anandarajah pointed out should be advised about their basic entitlements within the anticipated range increased participation of the disputants and trustworthy dispute resolution that in the event mediation fails and confrontational rights and on bringing of Court remedies) and the intended and participants, District Judge of mechanism. litigation is subsequently initiated, evidence on their behalf). Moreover, the model proposes a convergence of both Jaffna, A. A. Anandarajah noted. In this regard, a law must be enacted mediating judges should not be allowed information which is gathered or systems. The process should commence This was noted in an article authored to institute a separate judicial mediation to be involved in any further role in the adduced during the course of the process as a facilitative form and the parties by him titled 'Judicial Mediation: An process as this non-mandatory and case, and in particular they should not is confidential and the mediator can only should not be forced to achieve any Innovative Alternative To The Traditional voluntary process must be regulated be allowed to handle adjudication. Also, reveal it with the written consent of both resolution. Moreover, it is the duty of the Adversarial Legal System' which was with the basic principles, standards and training should be incorporated into the parties or as required by the law and the judge to protect the basic rights of the published in December 2019 in Volume guidelines being created by a relevant existing judicial training and in this same applies to the parties who are parties even when the parties are making Five of the Judges Journal by the Sri authority. regard, foreign experts and legal required to keep confidential any facts a consensus settlement. If a mediating Lanka Judges Institute. In terms of having judges as mediators, professionals who handle alternative discussed during the course of the judge determines that the final A State-sponsored judicial mediation he noted that it may be difficult for sitting dispute resolution could be invited to mediation. With regard to the forms of settlement is contrary to the law, he may programme, he noted, would allow for judges to transform themselves from the train judges about mediating skills. judicial mediation, Judge Anandarajah request the parties to reconsider it the maintenance of impartiality and conventional role of a passive adversarial On procedural rules, it was noted by noted that there exists the facilitative without commenting on the legality of neutrality by providing a sense of nature to the role of a mediator and Judge Anandarajah that they have to be model (parties negotiate based on their the resolution. A8 sunday 23 august 2020 Editorial Editorial sunday 23 august 2020 A9 Will Things Really End for UNP With Ranil As

Ceylon Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. No: 101, Rosmead Place, Colombo 07. Leader and His WC Playing Pandu? Editorial Tel: 0117566522, 0117566526, 0117566527 President Gotabaya tea party. Foreign diplomats of 25 and 40 this timer of which five Amendment to the Constitution. He said that coconut cultivations were battle for leadership with over eight General Election. Fax: 0117566545 Rajapaksa in his 20-minute were seen engaged are between the ages of 25 and 30 said the ‘sahodara samagama’ was the most affected by the monkeys. members attempting to get hold of the They questioned the monks on the Marketing Manager: 0117566550, 0117566551 long policy statement said that conversation with the which makes up around 13 per cent back in force and all power is now MP Sirisena said that monkeys position. A further debate within the controversies that would arise by Circulation Manager: 0117566580, 0117566581 the nation has arrived at an President, too. of all MPs elected. There are 67 MPs concentrated in one family. destroy coconut trees by trying to UNP is that handing over leadership handing over the leadership to an E-mail : [email protected] important landmark in history Meanwhile, Premadasa left between the ages of 41 and 50. State Minister found pluck just one nut. “Suppose a single to members who have been defeated individual who is in support of a and assured that he will never the tea party soon after he A total of 126 departments, boards, fault with Nanayakkara for criticising monkey destroys the harvest of a would affect the future of the party. candidate belonging to a party that do anything that would joined without having a authorities and statutory bodies or 29 the Rajapaksa family. He said single tree to pluck one coconut, we Amidst such a backdrop, over 15 had severed from the UNP. undermine the ‘massive’ conversation with the per cent of all such bodies come Nanayakkara who is not a person would have to forego the harvest of monks including Ven. Thiniyawala Following this, the monks held a mandate received or the faith President or Premier. Even under the purview of the ministries who does not have any regard to around 1.5 million trees. This would Palitha and Ven. Bopitiye Media briefing and spoke against the kept in him by the people of though Premadasa did not talk headed by the members of the family values is not qualified to result in shortage of coconuts,” he Dhammissara arrived at Sirikotha on UNP leader. A very dark the country. to President or Premier, the Rajapaksa family, Galle District SJB criticise others. “He does not care said. Wednesday to meet the leader and “The UNP leadership does not He also said, it should other representatives of MP told about his wife or children at least. He SJB Gampaha District MP Field handed over a letter to him requesting provide sufficient care to monks and always be remembered that the Opposition had a healthy Parliament. This is out of the total of does not provide them with food,” Marshal said that for something that the leader would therefore, under the incumbent prime responsibility of a conversation with Prime 434 departments, boards, authorities Minister Lanza said. Sirisena was wrong in his estimates. not have expected. Government, we hope to have an future! people’s representative is to Minister Rajapaksa and the and statutory bodies in the country, MP Nanayakkara: “This is wrong. I “It is wrong to assume that monkeys “You have been in the leadership addition of 14,000 monks.” They said serve the public. “We will be President. Colombo District On the sidelines of the first prepare proposals for Nanayakkara disclosed while once married and then got divorced. have nothing else to do but to engage over the past 26 years. You have been while a prominent member of the UNP On Monday (17), around noon, Sri Lanka sensitive to fulfilling the needs Parliamentarian S. M. session of the Ninth amending the Constitution as participating in the debate on the Thereafter I married again. I do not in a campaign to destroy coconut defeated while you were also unable who overheard this made a call to the experienced electrical blackouts nationwide of the people, keeping in mind Marikkar was the first from the Parliament, various other their 15 members representing Policy Statement of the Government run brothels all over my district as my trees. According to him, monkeys eat to retain the victory gained and leader. which lasted for more than eight hours due to a that all these positions are Opposition to congratulate interesting events also took the Government is crucial to presented to the House on Thursday: critic does.” only coconuts and keep on plucking therefore, you have to step down and “The Rajapaksas would not have transmission technical failure at the responsibilities and not Premier and then Samagi Jana place. In one such incidence, the two-thirds majority “The President and Prime Minister are Maithri’s monkey coconuts. That is far from the truth. hand over the leadership to Karu affiliations with such monks who Kerawalapitiya Grid-Substation affecting the privileges,” he added. Balawegaya (SJB) Kurunegala former Mayor of Kotte required for a constitutional from the same family. There are two Monkeys destroy other crops, too. It Jayasuriya and you should sign this cause trouble as they know that the island’s entire 21 million population. The “The people have given the MP Ashok Abeysinghe and J.C. Municipal Council, Madhura amendment. Cabinet Ministers from that family - business is sad that he sees that as an issue of letter and hand it over to us,’’the monks would leave them if they do Minister of Power told Cabinet on Wednesday current Government a massive Alawathuwala, Hambantota Vithanage who was freshly There is a widespread Chamal and Namal Rajapaksa. high importance. There are many letter read. maintain such affiliation,’’ he said. (19), the blackout was due to human error and mandate. We have been given District MP Dileep elected as a Colombo District perception in the political Sasheendra Rajapaksa is a State Former President Maithripala other burning issues in this country,” Outraged by the request, Leader On Thursday, a journalist that a full report will be tabled on 24 August to the responsibility to take the Wedaarachchi, SJB National Parliamentarian arrived for arena that the SLFP is trying to Minister. Chairman of the District Sirisena told Parliament that the Fonseka said. Ranil set aside the letter while questioned the UNP leader about the give an explanation. In a surprising move, the country towards prosperity, List candidate Mayantha the inaugural Parliamentary negotiate a two-thirds majority Development Council is Nipuna monkey population in the country UNP Crisis attempting to clear certain things. party’s reforms and revival plans to Minister decided to bolster security at CEB’s while safeguarding the people Dissanayake had a chat with Session by a boat. by appointing a committee to Ranawaka. Prime Minister has three has increased to become a serious “You came to express your liking which the leader replied that it is the Control Unit by sending in the STF, stating that and protecting the sovereignty the President and Prime Arriving at the Parliamentary propose a new constitutional Cabinet Portfolios – Buddha Sasana, problem. It is evident that the United towards the appointment of Karu responsibility of the new leader to the unit should be secured to ensure of the country without Minister. Dissanayake was Complex by boat, Vithanage amendment. The Committee Finance and Housing and Urban Participating in the debate on the National Party failed to represent in while his name was already one of the revive the party. uninterrupted power supply. succumbing to any force. The talking about the awful said, it was a practical mode of will also be headed by Minister Development. President Gotabaya Government’s Policy Statement, the the new Parliament after 73 years names forwarded to the Working ‘’Are you really stepping down from We experienced rolling blackouts of three to present generation must fulfil situation that his brother transport as Parliament is Nimal Siripala de Silva. Rajapaksa has 23 institutions. The former President said that farmers while amidst of the internal political Committee. There is no issue with the leadership of the party?’’ the five hours from March to April in 2019 due to that responsibility for the sake had to face located in the middle of a lake. Meanwhile, MP Shantha Prime Minister has 49 under the were confronted with a serious issue turmoil, the setback in the General that but it is not me who makes the journalist questioned. severe drought conditions effecting hydroelectric of the future generations. This with the Premier, while He noted that he chose a boat Bandara has informed the Finance Ministry, 11 under the where crops in the country were being Elections, controversies on the leadership decisions, it is the Working “It is up to the Working Committee plants. The 2019 blackouts were regarded as is the Motherland of all of us. Wedaarachchi was talking ride to Parliament to avoid Central Committee of the Sri Buddha Sasana Ministry and six destroyed by animals. He said that change of party leadership and the Committee and such decision will to decide that” the leader replied. one of the worst in Sri Lanka since 2016 and the Hence, the time has come for about the grassroots level traffic congestion which is Lanka Freedom Party that he under the Urban Development when he was Agriculture Minister failure to finalise the National List. take a minimum of two months,’’ the UNP sources stated that although longest ever blackout recorded in the country’s all of us to join hands for the politics as both of them are generally experienced on the will be stepping down from the Ministry. He has 66 institutions there were around one million Although the submission of the UNP leader explained. initially and Daya history. At present, the daily power requirement sake of the country irrespective from Hambantota. roads leading to Parliament in position of the Sri Lanka under him. Namal Rajapaksa has monkeys in Sri Lanka. “However, names to the UNP National List was Meanwhile, several monks who had Gamage proposed the name of Karu is in the region of 36 – 37 GWh. of race, religion or party On the sides of the tea party, peak hours. Vithanage Freedom Youth Front. seven. Sasheendra has six. In today the number has increased to due to end on 17 Friday, the UNP come with them had left the place. It Jayasuriya for the UNP leadership, Our sources of power are mainly hydro, diesel, differences.” Jathika Jana Balawegaya explained that the President He added, this decision was addition seven other institutions over two million monkeys,” Sirisena sought additional time to so submit. is learned that the relevant monks only one of them are still of the same coal, wind and solar. These are fully and partly The President noted that (JJB) Leader, MP Anura had initiated the boat service, taken to allow another to including BoI, Telecom, said adding that the increased If this took place accordingly, John were sent to the leader by a opinion while certain others have owned by the CEB and the private sector. There simple issues have not been Kumara Dissanayake and MP as an alternative to reduce assume the post. Telecommunications and Regulations monkey population has become a Amaratunga, whose name was the prominent member attempting to get claimed that Navin Dissanayake’s are mini hydro power stations and large scale resolved even after 72 years of were having a traffic congestion, but General Secretary of the are under the COVID-19 task force threat as they destroy the crops and first on the list sent to the Election hold the leadership of the party. reluctance to state his stand point is solar and wind power plants owned by the freedom. Re-iterating the steps conversation about the current lamented the public showing Party, under . There is one plants cultivated by people.“These Commission by the UNP, could have Following this, Sagala, Shamal, problematic. private sector. According to the CEB purchasing will be taken to introduce a situation in the country. JJB little faith in this mode of stated that he informed the Shipping Industry State Minister he animals are not harmed here because been appointed as a Member of Senarath, Saman Ratnapriya who “Did the UNP General Secretary formula, hydro electricity is the cheapest to new Constitution, the MP Vijitha Herath and JJB transport. He said, he plans to same at the Central Committee does not have a single institution ours is a Buddhist country. In Parliament. were there at the time had shown a Akila threaten to not sign if his name produce at Rs 3.00 per unit followed by coal, President also noted that an National List MP Prof. Harini promote the use of the boat meeting which was held under him because he is not a addition there are animal rights However, the leader of the UNP video recording to the monks after is not sent for the national list?’’ a wind, solar and expensive diesel power which unstable Parliament that Amarasuriya were also there at service in future by Thursday (20). Rumour is that member of the Rajapaksa family,” the groups who will oppose such an act,” together with the Working Committee their conversation with the leader. prominent UNP member questioned costs Rs 25-30.00 per unit. The national grid cannot take firm decisions and the tea party. The Prime continuously taking a boat ride Bandara is planning to join SJB Minister said. He said that there he said. Sirisena said that Sri Lanka is yet to decide on a name for the seat Its content was that of Karu the leader. gets around half of its power requirements from succumbs to extremist Minister after having his tea, to Parliament as it is a hands with the SLPP by taking were questions over the President is the only country where animals are for it to be sent to the Commission. representing candidates who had “No one threatened me and there is hydro. Sri Lanka is also among countries highly influences very often is not walked to MPs and Ministers convenient mode of transport. its membership. holding certain portfolios which are given protection as opposed to food The incumbent leader of the UNP contested for the Telephone symbol a difference between a threat and a depended on diesel, accordingly the other half of suitable for a country. and was seen exchanging at not permitted under the 19th grown for human consumption. He has decided to remain amidst the for the Colombo District for the request.” the leader said. power requirements being fulfilled by fossil fuel “While introducing a new least a few words with Batik Minister Debate on Policy sources – coal and diesel. Although Sri Lanka’s Constitution, it is essential to everyone. Not only the MPs, It was not only boat rides Statement power consumption draws from many sources, make changes to the current but also their family members that were promoted during the a fault in any single one can set off a chain electoral system. While and the staff of the House were first day of the Ninth Matara District SLPP MP reaction that can shut down the entire grid. retaining the salutary aspects so enthusiastic to capture Parliament. Apart from Nipuna Ranawaka, a nephew In this context, the PUCSL approved CEB’s of the proportional selfies with the Premier and President and Prime Minister of President Gotabaya Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion representation system, these the President and they two Rajapaksa, it was the attire of Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Plan (LCLTGEP) spanning 20 years in order to changes will be made to ensure were also seen enthusiastically Dayasiri Jayasekara State kicked off address power shortages in future. The stability of Parliament and the obliging to selfie requests. Minister of Batik, Handloom the debate on the Policy LCLTGEP seeks to ensure energy security for people’s direct representation,” In the meantime, Tamil and Local Apparel Products Statement of the Government generations to come. The PUCSL said that he affirmed. National Alliance MP M. A. that turned many eyes. presented to the House by the through LCLTGEP, the least cost plant mix for Tea Party Sumanthiran was having a He was clad in Batik attire in President on Thursday. each year is identified by analysing and conversation with Prime a bid to promote his Ministry Ranawaka who entered evaluating various technology options and will Following the presentation of Minister when the latter and was in the middle of Parliament from the Matara serve as a guideline to help decision makers to Policy statement all MPs, tiptoed towards two very attention of many. Senior District got the unique stick to national policy objectives, by exploring foreign dignitaries and VIP special MPs who seemed to be women officials of Parliament opportunity to kick off the and evaluating various generation technology guests were escorted to the involved in an interesting and even fellow female important debate during his options in different situations. The generation MPs’ Canteen where the conversation. The two MPs colleagues were seen maiden speech to the demand was expected to grow 5.9 per cent every traditional Tea Party was held. that caught Premier discussing about Batik dress Legislature. Ranawaka used year from 2018 – 2022, while peak demand is Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s interest were with the Minister at length. the speech to thank his voters expected to grow at 5.1 per cent per annum, Rajapaksa arrived at the venue Minister Vasudeva Jayasekara stated that a law and extend support to the data shows. The same expected to grow 4.9 per accompanying Speaker Nanayakkara and MP C. V. will be enacted to make it President’s economic policies cent per annum from 2018 – 2037 with the peak Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena Wigneshwaran. Daughter of mandatory for State workers to which would focus on demand is expected cross at 4.5 per cent. and Opposition Leader Sajith Nanayakkara is married to report to duty wearing batik or strengthening local industry. According to the expected growth, it is identified Premadasa. Many Wigneshwaran’s son. Prime handloom apparel once a Leader of the House Minister that the grid should have an installed capacity representatives from Minister Rajapaksa week. Accordingly, prices of Dinesh Gunawardena said, a of 4,269 MW in the beginning of 2018 and Government as well as from interrupted the conversation batik and handloom apparel large number of young MPs 10,783 MW by the end of 2037. The proposed Opposition joined the tea saying “the two in-laws are in a will be reduced to enable have been elected to the House energy mix for the next twenty years consist, party. While Premier deep conversation,” and employees to purchase the for the first time this year and major hydro, coal, pumped storage hydro, Rajapaksa was engaged in Wigneshwaran together with products. the President and Prime combined cycle, oil and gas turbine plants. friendly conversations with the Nanayakkara greeted the PM SLFP Committee Minister are keen to see them According to the plan, least cost has been a ambassadors, President and welcomed him. Even the develop as proficient major concern, while ‘green solutions’ has been Gotabaya Rajapaksa with his photographers were excited to The Sri Lanka Freedom Party lawmakers. There are 26 newly an added value in identifying the technology wife Ioma Rajapaksa joined the capture this moment. has appointed a committee to elected MPs between the ages options for the generation mix of the next 20 years. Given these drawn out plans and clear data, it is up to the policy makers and responsible authorities to implement them instead of the usual bungling cavort of blaming and blackouts that the taxpaying public are forced to undergo. Even though our democracy seemed to be well greased and operational, constituents inadvertently vote for changes that have far reaching consequences. Successive administrations are in the habit of undoing even the good implementations done by predecessors just for the sake of political rivalry. The best example is how the Mahaweli Project, introduced in 1961 by the Bandaranaike Government, which was supposed to take 30 years to implement in meticulous stages , was accelerated by the JR regime in 1977 deciding to do it within the six-year tenure. Although the accelerated project made considerable headway, it made a huge negative environmental impact. Development is highly volatile when it is at the mercy of Sri Lanka’s high stakes politics where short term goals are crammed to fit the agendas till the next poll day. In addition, we have the mini power-station mafia profiting in this chaos with little to no regulation governing them, selling power at high prices and pushing back on renewable like solar and wind energy. Likewise, the mini-power station monopolists should be pressured by policy makers to adopt fair practices and frameworks parallel to Sri Lanka’s energy needs in the coming years. And last but not least, it’s the duty as citizens to advocate for and urge our representatives to commit to a credible plan or face a very dark future (literally!). A10 Sunday 23 august 2020 Focus

Counter Weight

Belt

Main Device

Belt Printed Circuit Board (PCB) A Humane Solution to Man’s War with Nature How local inventors are helping mitigate the human-elephant conflict

By Eunice Ruth human activity. There are 6,000 elephants in Sri Lanka; and as of 15 Extinction – the worst fate that could August, 174 elephants and 59 humans be faced by any living creature – has died due to the HEC. With all these cast its gaze at the elephants of Sri facts, several questions regarding the Lanka, and is working its issue need to be posed to the relevant machinations through us, the authorities, chief among which is this: humans. are they taking necessary action to In the last few decades, the Human- resolve the issue? Elephant Conflict (HEC) in Sri Lanka In a first step towards doing so, the has increased to drastic levels. Sri Lanka Ministry of Environment According to data from the last five and Wildlife Resources and the years, the HEC has been seeing an Department of Wildlife Conservation increased number of deaths and have collaborated with the Sri Lanka property losses year over year, Inventors Commission (SLIC) to begin resulting in social and economic a new national mission to mitigate the problems in several areas. HEC using local inventions. As humans, we are gifted with SLIC Commissioner, Prof. Rangika something none of our fellow animals Halwathura noted that six Sri Lankan received – the ability to think, to inventions were selected for use in reason. However, this gift – the cause mitigating the HEC, which promise for our development – may also prove better solutions than the technical our downfall, as our actions lead to equipment currently in use. break them easily. It leads to huge longitude and a location link on Google negative consequences to not only Although man and elephant have maintenance costs, which make it Maps. Data is transmitted in every two each other, but also the creatures maintained an association since difficult to fulfil out the intended role. hours to the servers, including battery around us. Can we instead put this ancient times in Sri Lanka, with the To resolve this issue, this invention health, signal strength and device intellect to use in saving ourselves and increasing human population and was designed to protect the fence by health for better device management. the species we’ve endangered? changes in land-use patterns, providing longevity through proper The device is operated using a durable The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas elephant habitat is being continuously security system activities. battery management technology and Maximus), by now part of Sri Lanka’s reduced. As a result, elephants often When elephants try to break a pole the expected battery lifetime is more national identity, is the largest and wander into human lands, resulting in on these new fences, the security than five years. The battery functions darkest of the three recognised the conflict. system activates and the switch in the without any external power and does subspecies of Asian elephant, and is In Sri Lanka, there are 26 national security system detonates an alivedi not need recharging during the native to the island. Since 1986, parks where 60 per cent of elephants (elephant-repelling firecracker). This operation. Elephas Maximus has been listed as live, while the remaining live in natural Prof. Rangika Halwathura will make the elephant stay away from The product is 100 per cent Sri endangered by the International Union forest reserves. Except in the Western the fence and prevent it from entering Lankan-made, except for the for Conservation of Nature, as its Province, all other provinces in Sri Department of Conservation of Forests the village, while reducing the chance semiconductor devices and electronic population has declined by at least 50 Lanka, especially the North-western, as a solution to this problem, the of the fence breaking. components that are used in hardware per cent over the last three Eastern and Southern Provinces, are Department failed to implement the Electronic elephant manufacturing. The concept design, generations, a period estimated to be the most affected by the HEC. policy as there were weaknesses in hardware and firmware development 60-75 years. The species is According to a report prepared by coordination between relevant repellent and manufacturing are done in Sri predominantly threatened by habitat the Auditor General released in July institutions. However, SLIC has put Lanka. The system is with high loss, degradation and fragmentation. 2020, even though a national policy on technology to use in developing This invention comprises an performance and at a relatively low About 60 per cent of elephant deaths elephant conservation and innovations to provide a combined electronic device that is capable of cost than imported collars. during the last four years were due to management was approved by the solution. generating sound at an ultrasonic Elephant fence “More than just a mission, this will be frequency in the range that is a good opportunity to research elephant inaudible to the human ear. Sounds at monitoring system movement, and we can also monitor this frequency cause discomfort to their response towards us, so that we elephants, who will move away from This invention consists of a solar can succeed in this mission,” he noted. the device due to the auditory stress. panel, rechargeable battery, battery Below are the innovations the SLIC This device can be utilised by the charger, remote monitoring software, plans to sue in mitigating the HEC. general public to repel elephants. battery-level indicator circuit, rainfall- detection circuit, alarming system, Elephant Fence with a Multi-purpose electric SMS alert service, and a main modernised insulator to fence energiser controller unit. Sahan C. Ranasinghe, the inventor repel wild elephants This energiser is a low-cost, portable of this system, noted that the setup This invention was designed by device that provides an electrical pulse detects the fence voltage, battery Hewa Kaluwan Annakkage Sarath to a fence protecting crops from voltages, continuity of the fence and Gamini and Hewa Kaluwan elephants, called a ‘Shock Defender’. rainfall level. All these details are sent Annakkage Thashmila Dhananjani. This five-kilo unit can support a fence to the central monitoring software Sarath Gamini said that these fences that is 1.8km long, typically covering through the control unit. If the were designed with two electric poles about 50 acres (20.2 hectares). When continuity of the fence is broken, the in the shape of an ‘L’ and an ‘F’, which it’s fully charged, it can work for 48 control unit activates an alarm to alert work with the help of an insulator. hours on battery power. This can be villagers. It generates SMSs with the These electric fences have chains that used as a portable electric fence, which time and date of the breakage, which are two feet apart from one another. is useful in situations where elephants are sent to the relevant personnel of Elephants are unable to break these have broken down an elephant-fence the Wildlife Department. chains as easily as the old ones, as by various means. Remote monitoring software they move along with the animals. installed in the Department of Wildlife When the elephant enters through Real-time elephant offices will allow officers to monitor the these fences, it will receive an electric locating, security and status of all electric fences in the shock that will make it turn around. island and be alerted. The software can “Here we have created two electric remote multi-sensing generate reports and monitor online fences, one of which causes the collaring system fence status. The unit also consists of elephant to be shocked if it tries to an indication circuit for when power is Energiser enter a village. However, wild animals The project is being developed by down. If someone disconnects the inside the village can walk through the Chamil Weerasiriwardena and Ranga power to the Tusker Control Unit, it fence lines without being electrocuted Pieris. will automatically update the central as they walk out into the forest. This Ranga Pieris explained that this real- server, he added. fence is designed to work with the help time elephant locating and security Inventions like these might be able of both current and solar energy,” system is a canvas belt with an to turn the tide of the human-elephant Gamini explained. electronic device mounted around the conflict, which has not only cost “This fence will not break like the elephant’s neck to monitor the GPS resources, but the lives of both other fences presently available; and location of an elephant, track its humans and elephants. SLIC’s even if 10 elephants pass the fence, movement, record and save data on a innovations show us that a there will be no damage to it,” he remote web server, and send alerts at sustainable, humane solution to the noted. defined occasions to authorised conflict can be reached if we put parties. A web link with authenticated enough time and effort towards it. It is Resilient electric fence login details is provided to view, now up to the relevant authorities to N.S. Godamanne, the inventor of this download and analyse relevant data. ensure this project, powered by local electric fence, noted that one of the He noted that all elephant talent, is managed effectively to major issues with elephant fences movements are displayed live on a guarantee a better future for humans currently in use is that elephants can map, with date, time, latitude and as well as elephants. Electric Elephant Repellent Focus sunday 23 AUGUST 2020 A11

Sinharaja’s Downfall: Paradise Paved in Asphalt By Ranmini Gunasekara develop any part of the road that runs through Sinharaja. There are places on Earth “The Army has been tasked that hold outstanding universal with constructing about eight value to humanity – these are roads under a programme to named World Heritage Sites develop 100,000km of road in and protected for the benefit of rural areas. The Army has not generations to come. One such yet even touched this area of World Heritage Site is the the road going through Sinharaja Forest Reserve, one Sinharaja Forest; we haven’t of the last remaining virgin even neared that area. As the rainforests in Sri Lanka, which Sri Lanka Army, we are very is home to over 60 per cent of Existing Lankagama-Deniyaya road through Sinharaja made in 2013 Construction underway in the Lankagama-Deniyaya road sensitive when it comes to the country’s endemic flora and these things, and we are fauna. and they sent an inspection currently doing a lot of However, this virgin panel. After they inspected this reforestation work in other rainforest and its treasure- project they said the World parts of the country.” trove of species have come Bank would no longer fund the While the expansion of the under numerous threats in the project. Apparently the Sri Lankagama-Deniyaya road has past decades, as selfish Lankan Government had been been halted in the 1.1km individuals and Governments the one to propose this project stretch running through alike try to stake their claim to to the World Bank in the first Sinharaja, it is evident that this this ecosystem under the guise place. is not the Government’s first or of ‘development’. “Now there is this road from last attempt to ‘develop’ roads The most recent of these Lankagama to Deniyaya, which within the country’s last virgin ‘developments’ to cause was first started in 2013, and rainforest. It is vital that our outrage amongst Jagath Gunawardena Ravindra Kariyawasam Jayantha Wijesinghe they are trying to expand it leaders understand that, environmentalists and once again.” irrespective of its location, as a enthusiasts alike was the will lose their business to rainforest bordering Gin Ganga part of the World Bank-funded Meanwhile, Army World Heritage Site, the construction of a road from the competition.” river,” he said. Ecosystems Conservation and Spokesperson, Brigadier Sinharaja Forest Reserve village of Lankagama, located He further added that while “The construction activities Management Project Chandana Wickramasinghe belongs not to any one person on Sinharaja’s border, to the Neluwa-Lankagama road carried out without the (ESCAMP). We complained told Ceylon Today that the or community, but to all the Deniyaya. According to can be repaired, the knowledge or observation of the about this to the World Bank Army had no intention to people of the world. activists, while this road Lankagama-Deniyaya road relevant approval agencies already exists as a small eight- cannot be widened, as it runs severely endanger the endemic foot road with 1.1km of it through the rainforest and species, which are already in running through the Sinharaja endangers many of the danger of going extinct due to Forest Reserve, the Engineering endemic plants and animals in human activities surrounding arm of the Sri Lanka Army had the area. the rainforest. The road will been tasked with paving the also bisect the existing corridor road in concrete and widening No prior approvals connecting the Sinharaja World it to 20 feet. Meanwhile, speaking with Heritage Rainforest and the Ceylon Today, Convener of adjoining Dellawa Rainforest to Halted temporarily? Rainforest Protectors, Jayantha its south, which is yet to be After much controversy and Wijesinghe said that no annexed to the Sinharaja World public uproar, with an online approval had been taken from Heritage Rainforest.” petition in circulation – in the relevant Government addition to several complaints institutions for the expansion Not the first time and letters being sent to of this road. Meanwhile, Environmental UNESCO – the Road “The military has not sought Lawyer, Jagath Gunawardena Development Authority (RDA) approval from any regulatory said that two Environmental finally announced that no body. When we contacted some Impact Assessments (EIA’s) construction would take place of these institutions, they were should be conducted before in the 1.1km stretch running completely unaware of this proceeding with this road through Sinharaja. However, expansion. The Department of expansion. the rainforest is not yet in the Forest Conservation (DFC) told “There are two legal obstacles clear – many of the road us that they were notified by a here. One is that they have to projects within Sinharaja have letter regarding the road do an EIA because that project been stopped and started time construction project and they involves the clearing of a and again. have not been updated on the cumulative area of more than According to the Centre for ground situation. When we one hectare of forest. Any Environment and Nature contacted the Central project that involves the Studies (CENS) National Environmental Authority at the clearance of more than one Coordinator, Ravindra time, they also said that they hectare of forest needs an EIA Kariyawasam the road in were unaware of the project. in Sri Lanka. question was first made in The same went for the Neluwa “The second thing is that 2013, illegally, as there were Divisional Secretary, Provincial they can’t build anything plans for a hotel complex to be Council Chairman, and the through a National Heritage established in the Lankagama Irrigation Department. When Wilderness Area, declared as area. we contacted the RDA, they such under the National “The further expansion of told us they were not involved Heritage Wilderness Area Act. this road was halted in 2013 in the current phase of this So any road construction that after we all intervened in the project.” goes on within 100m of the matter. But they restarted it in He further added that if this Sinharaja boundary needs an 2020, and although the road was to be expanded, illegal additional EIA under the Government now says that it activities such as poaching, National Heritage Wilderness has been temporarily halted, logging, sand mining and Area Act.” we never know when it will human encroachment would Although the RDA has issued start once more.” propagate within the Sinharaja a press release that states that Kariyawasam alleged that MP Rainforest and result in further no construction will take place Nipuna Ranawaka was among harm to the already-fragile in the 1.1km stretch of the the proponents of this road ecosystem. Lankagama-Deniyaya road that expansion. “A significant portion of this goes through the Sinharaja “This area is Ranawaka’s road goes through pristine Rainforest, under the seat; he is behind this. He has primary forest that has a instruction of the President, promised some people here 60-degree slope, which is prone environmentalists and activists that he will build this road. to massive landslides. This alike expressed their doubt on However, small business southern sector of the whether the project would be owners of the area are actually Sinharaja World Heritage halted permanently, as this against this, because once this Rainforest contains the highest was not the first road of its kind big road comes up and the area number of waterfalls and the illegally carved within this becomes more urbanised, they last remaining patch of riverine primary rainforest. According to Kariyawasam, there have been three roads illegally constructed within Sinharaja. “One of the first illegally- constructed roads was the Imbulakanda-Sooriyakanda road that was being made in 2009. Back then, I was with the Green Movement and we filed a case against it in Ratnapura, where the Court gave an order to stop it. “In 2018, there was the Kudawa-Doranella entrance Lankagama-Deniyaya road as seen on Google maps road to be built by the DFC as A12 sunday 23 august 2020 Interview

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan arrivals. The SLAITO asked for a visa free package. We made losses of six Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism billion rupees by giving free visas. Kimarli Fernando, challenges those They also went to the Prime Minister who’d undermine the task of recently in my presence and asked for promoting the destination. “I told my free visas again. I told them that they staff to stop the corruption that they forced the last regime to go visa free have been engaging in the past,” she and made losses as a result. It’s just told Ceylon Today. A firebrand, USD 35 per person which is Rs 6,000 Fernando also warned tourism roughly. Do we want a guests who associations not to dictate terms to cannot pay Rs 6,000? We might as her and her organisation, as they well not have that guest. I was stern have done with her predecessors. on this. “Change your mindset, think globally and entertain the informal sector that SLAITO asked for Rs 6 is bigger than the formal sector,” she billion to pay their staffers urged. “I don’t take a salary, nor use a salaries. What have you done State vehicle. I also use my own about it? phone. My work in the last seven months is to remove the old ways that A: We gave them a four per cent are barriers in promoting Sri Lanka loan and they were satisfied. However, tourism, and we are succeeding the Treasury is trying to find the tremendously,” she added. funding to subsidise that amount. The Treasury, the Central Bank and How are you going to market Sri Lanka Tourism are working on the destination having how to subsidise that interest. It has faced the Easter attacks and Kimarli Fernando been approved by the Cabinet but not COVID-19? yet executed since we are working on the mechanism to fund it. A: Any international tourist considers safety paramount. Keeping Did you suspend 18 that in mind, we have detailed Don’t Dictate permanent staffers working COVID-19 guidelines so that all at Sri Lanka Tourism’s accommodations and restaurants information centre and the need to be certified. We have given the HR Manager. Why? certification process to an independent audit firm KPMG Terms on A: Not true. They were on contract International Cooperative that has basis. also worked for the Singapore Government. Firstly, it’s to make sure Wasn’t there a circular that Sri Lanka is safe with a working requesting to make them certification process. Secondly, we How to Promote permanent? have created an App that provides an A: No. There were 18 staffers before online immigration form where all I took office. The previous HR head is details will be registered. This way we on probation now. She requested the will know where a guest will be then chairman in writing for staying and travelling. The confirmation letters to make the 18 information will be sent to the Sri Lanka Tourism permanent and had mentioned in the Ministry of Health (MoH) and their 25 letter: ‘however, those confirmation district hospitals daily. So the would be subject to the Treasury’s Ministry will have all the information; – Kimarli Fernando approval’ which she did not get. That form the time a guests applies for a confirmation from the Treasury never visa till they leave the country. We don’t need to know whether you represent them although many are came so we consider them to be on Thirdly, there is also a PCR test when own the land or hotel if conditions are members. contract. The HR manger also had the guest arrives and again in seven met. Our goal is to make sure hotels several allegations about her poor days. We are not aggressively are registered so that guests know How is SLAITO’s overall performance and the previous marketing the country as it is not the what they want. Sri Lanka Tourism operation? chairperson had also made time to do so and we also don’t know Promotion Bureau, the Convention A: What do they invest in? They complaints about her. when airports are going to be opened Bureau and the Sri Lanka Tourism don’t have an official vehicle. They for commercial flights. Health Development Authority, which is don’t even invest in property. They Haven’t they all gone to the authorities are giving priority to Sri under my purview (except for Hotel rent vehicles from the Chauffeur Labour Tribunal? Lankan citizens overseas. We are School), should create a conducive Tourist Guide Association and private A: I personally think the 18 should looking at a Danish technology which environment for the tourist industry business partners. What is their cost? be reinstated because it’s the HR includes a robotic arm that can do 33 to grow. You cannot ignore hoteliers. It is not manager who did not complete the PCR tests in one go that could work We have handled their 4,000 staff who dictates terms. task of their permanency; she had for one flight of passengers in 90 What shortcomings did you the pandemic well; My predecessor may have accepted mislead them. minutes. The mobile app will indicate find? their terms and conditions but not that we will need four hours to A: For example, travel agent it has given us a me. I want them to refocus and There is a Rs. 150 million analyze the test, to be on the safe operations should meet the following chance to reboot. I include the informal sector as well. corruption that had taken side. Promotion should be linked to criteria: 250 square feet office space They have to take in the OTAs. If the place at your UK office and destination’s safety. Airlines will be for inbound travel agency and should will resist anyone informal sector joins us we can the internal audit urged also taking safety measures with PCR have a reception hall, etc. So I asked stopping me from negotiate with them. We have a those involved to return the testing and will notify passengers to the Board, mainly the Sri Lanka driving on volume to negotiate. We can help sum. It is about an event undergo tests 96 hours before Association of Inbound Tour them in their digital marketing and that never took place in the boarding. Operators (SLAITO), why do we need Sri Lanka Tourism extend support in digital training. We such restrictions? They vehemently will train them as soon as they UK but the money has been How will you do the PCR test objected to any updates. Why do you because this is our register. This is how you help the absorbed and the person who on the seventh day after a need a large office space and reception chance. We can poor. They did not get any relief handled it was working on guest arrives? or pamphlets because it is an inbound package after the Easter blasts or for a contract. The matter has A: Since we will know the guest’s tour operator? The guest calls you reset the COVID. However, the OTA’s will have been referred to the Bribery location, we will be able to coordinate. and all you need is a phone. We finally price-based to start paying dues when we Commission too. Can you The private sector will do the test with changed despite many objections. negotiate with them. MoH approval. marketing to clear the doubts? How did you change product-based Are the registration fees and A: It’s not Rs. 150 million, and it How about global SLAITO’s traditional license fees relaxed? was nine years ago. I was not promotion? practices? marketing. Slow A: We have relaxed it for this year informed that it had gone to the A: The Global Promotion Cabinet A: We got a lot of support from tourism has no only due to COVID. We are also going Bribery Commission. However the Paper was approved in January 2020. public service officials to remove the to do the new product and promotions matter has been referred to Secretary It is a five-year programme. The Paper 250 square foot office space and place. We should as well. The European Union is to the Ministry of Tourism was completed two years ago and reception rule and to keep the travel pitch Sri Lanka extending funds to promote Hettiarachchi. Our official, then an looks at different segments of global insurance and the registered location indigenous wellness products and assistant director, did not recruit the tourism. The mature, immature that can be also a home stay. high. We have to develop a mobile app. The grant is 3.5 said staffer. The entire blame is on her market and emerging markets are Following this change we saw many million Euros and the app will be now. I studied the whole file and no studied. The procedures are long and travel agents registering. We got 300 say we are an called ‘Visit Sri Lanka’. one can find her guilty of that charge. arduous and we started the process new hotel accommodation expensive and I’m referring to our PR Director and during the pandemic itself. registrations in the last seven months When is that coming? Acting MD, Madubani Perera. There alone compared with the 2,500 premium product. A: The EU has done the study and was a letter from our office in 2018 to Who drafted the plan? registrations in the last three decades. We have been the implementation is ongoing. We the HK High Commissioner, that they A: We drafted the plan internally, need the health authority’s guideline are responsible for this official but not the terms of reference and How did inbound operators pitching low so it on Ayurveda. That has been done and handling Sri Lanka Tourism there. inputs by procurement specialists. come to know about the has been difficult is tabled in Parliament. We also have Why will our PR director be held Procurement is a difficult task. Even changes? the capacity building in terms of responsible? There is no probe about in my first seven months as A: We ran ads and contacted many to rise human resources for Ayurveda. To her involvement. The audit report chairperson, we are unable to make others. Now travel agent registration this end, the product development is should mention the then HK High decisions with the procurements. has increased by 23. We would have mainly by the private sector. Kerala Commissioner. stayed this way if we think only of leads in this sector and we never Is this the action plan the ourselves and not in terms of what the promoted it. We don’t have a brand Sri Lanka Tourism also President wanted from country needs. We had a biased when tourists arrive via OTA. So we name or logo for Ayurveda. Some suffered due to its slow Sri Lanka Tourism? market during the war and SLAITO don’t want to underestimate the private sector is promoting it but approval process, etc. How A: Yes. The President has 10 dictated terms. Then and now, the informal sector. They have there needs to be more improvement will this be tackled? agendas in the manifesto. One is Maldives charges more than USD 100 contributed to local tourism more on the product itself. We can pitch people-centric tourism sector and an per guests and we were charging low than others. We have changed Ayurveda quit well in midst of the A: Yes. When you want to invest, administration free of corruption. during the war. This was the time guidelines so they all can take part. pandemic. one has to go to 34 line agencies for What we want is an efficient public when the 2005 Act where travel agent approvals. So we put all forms in one service and uplifiting international guidelines were drafted. Now it’s 11 What is your ultimate goal? How long will it take to see master document which covers all the standards. For efficient public service, years since the war ended, and A: However, there are no all these taking shape with agencies. There are sections in that we have started with what is called international hotel chains are representatives from the informal all the negativities in the app, i.e. the UDA approval and ‘automation’. Since January, every promoting their brands and running sector, like SMEs, tour guides, backdrop? environment clearance. When the single registration is done online. their own websites, getting domestic Wildlife drivers, Trincomalee and the person signs that application, we will There were allegations of malpractices and international bookings. The Habarana and Hikkaduwa Tourism A: We have handled the pandemic do the needful and inform the 34 and online registration has ended Online Travel Agents (OTA) has grown Associations. They have reps but no well; it has given us a chance to agencies. We have used the same that. We amended registration tremendously. voices. Whereas SLAITO, which has reboot. I will resist anyone stopping method to build with civil aviation, procedures and the requisite only 250 members and employing me from driving on Sri Lanka Tourism airport and Immigration Department. documents. We’ve only had less than Are you going to shelve old about 4,000, dictate terms to Sri because this is our chance. We can Our online visa application is on the 2,500 registered accommodations in strategies? Lanka Tourism which they have been reset the price-based marketing to app. I totally agree that the the whole country in the last four A: Yes. There are several doing for decades. product-based marketing. Slow procurement and procedures are decades or so. There is an informal stakeholders with the biggest say and tourism has no place. We should hard. Even now, when I want to do a sector with 25,000 that are not they dictate the agenda. SLAITO What about the bureaucracy pitch Sri Lanka high. We have to say simple job, I need 11 signatures to get registered and we wonder why none cannot dictate agendas anymore. in Sri Lanka Tourisms – An we are an expensive and premium it done. It’s a huge hindrance because succeeded to get them signed up. They did during the war when things industry that should be free product. We have being pitching low one official can block you from We found that the process was were different. There are those with from such? so it has been difficult to rise. proceeding. But with the new app, we unnecessarily difficult. This has kept nothing to do with Sri Lanka tourism got a procurement specialist funded the poor man out. For instance, there officially because they are OTA. They A: That is not so. It’s about a certain The Easter attacks grounded by the UNDP who is assisting us to is a hotel running for 10 years on don’t have Government assistance, group of people who continue to tourism. When can we pitch navigate within these specifics. The protected land that was leased to a they don’t pay any taxes and practice an old agenda. It’s not the high? Government is looking for a hotelier. As long as you have a letter authorities take credit when tourists whole SLAITO but some eight A: We received 1.9 million tourist procurement platform and the system from the Wildlife Department on the show in the millions. State members pulling the strings. Others arrivals after the blasts. The previous must change. lease agreement, we have no issue. associations should not take credit call to tell me that SLAITO doesn’t year was the highest with 2.3 million [email protected] focus sunday 23 august 2020 A13 Fleecing the Dead at BIA Next of kin taken to cleaners COVID-19 breeds racketeers SLBFE blamed for lapses

By Leon Berenger

The COVID-19 pandemic created misery, both in the country and around the world, but at the same time, it also was an opportunity for a group of unscrupulous individuals to make a quick buck, riding on the corpses of Sri Lankans that died overseas during this dark period. It all begins at the country’s international entry port – the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, the receiving point of the remains of Lankans who had died while working or living overseas. GUIDELINES However, the dead does not include those that had perished from the COVID-19 pandemic, since at the very earliest. international health guidelines do “The Bureau has received a certain not permit the repatriation of such degree of information in this regard remains to whatever country that but there has been no complaints may be. from the aggrieved persons,” Relatives arriving at the cargo Director/ General Promotions, terminal of the BIA, to collect their Training and Media Mangala dead, are pushed through a horde of Randeniya said. bureaucratic red tape starting from He said that the Bureau is seeking security to the COVID-19 Health to get more involved starting from the Desk and officials with the Sri Lanka BIA to the hospital and finally the Bureau of Foreign Employment cemetery at Negombo, adding that (SLBFE). discussions towards this end, with all The procedure could last nearly stakeholders, will be held at the half a day or even more before they highest level shortly. could lay their hands on their loved The Negombo Municipal authorities one that had passed away. say they are forced to charge a sum of And that is only the beginning of Rs. 12,000 per cremation due to the the ordeal that lay ahead, for the additional costs owing to the COVID- next of kin, for more horrors were Palitha Atukorale Mangala Randeniya Nilanthi Fernando 19 pandemic. awaiting them along the line. According to health officials at the same coffin in which the body was alone in this sordid racket as it which is understandable on one FEE BIA, who are sanctioned to oversee brought to the country purely as a extends further to the Police desk at hand, but on the other, it must also “Protective clothes must be provided the repatriation of the dead, precautionary health measure. the hospital morgue and last but not redress the next of kin who are to the handlers at the crematorium, relatives must abide by the strict Having said all this, it is not an the least the men operating the obviously in a state of mourning. apart from other precautionary COVID-19 guidelines prior to burial. easy task as it may sound and the crematorium at the public cemetery Many of these people may be living materials and therefore the hapless next of kin are pushed to where hard cash must change hands in the outstations with little or authorities are compelled to charge 48 HOURS the sword and all the time the clock before the job could be done. knowledge of the law and therefore the fee of Rs. 12,000 up from Rs 9,000 According to the guidelines, the ticks on. This group is also aware that the they should receive meaningful help prior to the COVID-19 scenario,” remains must be collected by a The half dozen funeral directors, next of kin are not broke altogether in whatever way possible instead of Commissioner of the Negombo registered undertaker and removed situated within the Negombo since they receive Rs 30,000 from throwing them to the sharks,” Municipal Council Nilanthi Fernando to the Negombo District General Municipal limits these days, have the SLBFE on accepting the remains Atukorale added. said. Hospital on the same day and allegedly formed into a clique when and for them time is also running He further noted that the country’s She added, apart from the cremated at the very earliest, not it comes to dealing with the Lankan out and so at the end of it all they coffers earns some US$ 10 billion stipulated fee that has to be deposited exceeding 48 hours, that too, the dead that arrives from overseas. win the day. annually in foreign exchange to the Council no one is authorised to cremation must be carried out inside earnings through remittances demand anything beyond that. the crematorium of the public COFFIN NUMWSL brought in by the Sri Lankan There could be errant employees cemetery at Negombo and nowhere These undertakers flatly refuse to Palitha Atukorale of the National migrant workers but now even the but so far the Council is yet to receive else. accept the coffin in which the Union of Migrant Workers’ Sri Lanka dead are fleeced before they are a single complaint, Fernando added. The rule does not permit, under remains had arrived into the country (NUMWSL) said that the relevant allowed on their final journey. Meanwhile, the Association for whatever circumstances, for removal and insist on selling one of their own authority, such as the SLBFE, “This is sad and should never be Licensed Foreign Employment of the body to the dead person’s at a considerable sum in a clear should be doing more towards the case because at the end of the Agencies (ALFEA) added that the ancestral home, village or town or violation of the COVID-19 health helping these people out. day the COVID-19 pandemic is not SLFEB should be doing more in this even to a funeral parlour. guidelines. “Offering a paltry sum of their doing,” Atukorale added. regard since it is the subject The body has to be removed The hospital authorities have been Rs 30,000 is way down the line authority. straight from the hospital mortuary instructed that a body could only be adding that the Bureau should make LAPSES “It is sad to note the predicament of to the Negombo cemetery where the released to a registered undertaker arrangements, starting from the BIA The SLBFE for its part relatives calling over at the BIA to remains will be cremated since a and therefore the services of an to the crematorium, instead of acknowledged that there have been collect their dead and this should burial is also not allowed, says undertaker has to be sought at allowing the hapless relatives and lapses on its part adding that more never be the case,” ALFEA Secretary Dr. R. Liyanage of the health unit at whatever cost if the funeral is to be others from experiencing such an should have been done towards M.H.M. Arshad said. the BIA. carried out within the stipulated ordeal. helping out the people in these The authorities also insist that the period of time. It is the Government that has set circumstances and that the matter (Additional reporting and Pix by remains have to be cremated in the The funeral undertakers are not the health and other guidelines will be taken up for serious discussion Berty Weerasinghe, Katana)

Increasing child sex abuse Should parents be more vigilant about child safety?

By Faadhila Thassim against telling his parents. Several child abuse cases in Sri educated on the manner in which Fear of consequences The NCPA, referring to the Lanka make it evident that sexual they would fall prey to such efforts. According to statistics of the NCPA, While the whole country is shaken statement made by the victim child, grooming takes place. In the case of there have been a total of 594 child by the number of increasing child stated that the tutor had sexually the 12-year-old boy, although the Innovative ways to teach sexual harassment complaints made sex abuse cases and the focus is on abused him on several occasions doors and windows of the child’s room children to the 1929 Child Help Line, while the measures that need to be taken even when his mother and were open on initially, the tutor slowly there have been 294 child rape cases, by authorities vested with the grandmother were present in the began to conduct classes with both, It is sad how we as a society have 288 Grave Sexual Abuse cases and responsibility, what we also tend to house, while stating that on one the windows and the doors, closed. been pushed to a situation by which, four cases of sexual exploitation of focus on less is the huge impact occasion that he was so abused, his The boy stated that the tutor also unless our children are taught about children between 1 Jan 2019 to 31 that parents and guardians could mother had walked in with a cup of showed him sexual videos although good and bad touch, there is a high Dec 2019. But how many cases go have in curbing the risk of such tea for the tutor but failed to notice he did not consent to this and this possibility of their entire lives being unreported? occurrences up to a certain extent. it because of, what we may continued until the child was ruined. The concerns among the With every unreported case, a According to the National Child consider, the trust that she had in eventually sexually abused. public that children’s minds could be paedophile is set free allowing him to Protection Authority (NCPA), the the tutor. Chairman of the NCPA, Professor misled by sex education, could only be exploit yet another child’s life and latest child sex abuse took place The question that follows is, how Muditha Vidanapathirana, told rebutted on the basis that these are thus, in order to avoid such when a tutor, who provided math do parents who try their utmost to Ceylon Today said there are eight taught in the child’s home in an occurrences, it is important that classes to a 12-year-old boy in the protect their children identify a steps for sexual grooming that innovative and appropriate manner, so parents complain and ensure that child’s house, sexually abused the paedophile looking for its prey? paedophile engage in and that it is that a child would know when they are justice is sought for their children. child on several instances, Given the current situation in the vital that parents are aware of such being sexually abused. Is it just girl children that unknown to the child's family. country and around the world, it tactics. Parent-Child relationship Although it had taken place in seems as though, parents could not He said the first step is where the are sexually abused? 2018, action was only taken in afford to let their children associate perpetrator identifies his/her prey Vidanapathirana stated that a good 2020. The reasons why there was a with any stranger at all, but is the and as the second step, he would and healthy relationship between Statistics have proven that not just delay makes it evident that the risk of child sex abuse only from attempt to build the trust of the child children and parents is vital in order to girls, but several boys have also been main issue that also has to be strangers? and in the third step would attempt to bring justice to the child who is sexually abused. The same level of addressed with regards to child sex A paper published by the Ceylon get close to the child. sexually abused and also in order to concern, when a girl has been subject abuse is that parents and guardians Medical Journal in 2017 states that ‘’The fourth step includes that of avoid the occurrence of such incidents, to such abuse, should also be given to are vested with the responsibility to a cross-sectional analytical study isolating the child from the family and as children who do not have a strong a boy. “It is so important that parents ensure that children who face such revealed that of the 132 victims, ensuring that the child would not by relationship with their parents tend to understand that there is always an heinous acts, which affect their referred by authorities to General chance tell the family of what it will go be easy prey for paedophile. equal risk of a boy being sexually entire lives, are comfortable or Hospital in Chilaw, from 2012 to through, following which the ‘’It is important that parents spend abused and they should not be given secure in speaking out about their 2014, 94 per cent of the cases were perpetrator would sexually abuse the enough time and provide the love and less attention in these terms. They concerns. where the perpetrator was known to child,’’ he said. care that their children require, should be given the same protection This 12-year-old boy had initially the victim or the victim’s family. The final step is whereby the because in the event they fail to do so, given to a girl child,” Vidanapathirana told his friend of the sexual abuse perpetrator would ensure that the it allows paedophile to provide for the added. that his tutor was inflicting on him Sexual grooming child does not tell its family of what children and build trust in their minds What is evident from the continuing before he told his parents, out of Sexual grooming is a process by has happened to it by either and eventually engage in sexual rise of children being sexually abused fear based on two reasons, one was which a paedophile prepares or threatening the child, providing false grooming,’’ he added. is, that while we rely on the that the child's father had found the grooms a child before sexually promises, or providing the child with The parent-child relationship is also authorities to take action and tutor and the child assumed that abusing it and this is conducted in gifts, he added. so important to ensure that a child, implement policies to bring justice to complaining of the incident will several steps and could be done over a What is evident from this, with the who is in the initial stages of being these children, we have to also, in the make it difficult to find another number of days or years until the number of sexual abuse cases coming sexually abused, could speak out to its meantime, ensure that our children tutor and also on the basis that the paedophile thinks it fit to sexually from people known to the children, is parents and ensure that it does not are always within our protection and tutor had threatened the child abuse the child. that it is important that children are continue. care. A14 sunday 23 august 2020 focus Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella The Man Who Milked the UNP’s Demise! By Buddhisiri Bakeer Markar and Kabir brought to Parliament during see is Kiriella is gearing up to Dharmapriya Hashim. According to some, that time. However, on 23 drag Premadasa’s SJB towards Kiriella and Wickremesinghe August 2018, the then Leader the same fate that the UNP Samagi Jana Balawegaya are two sides of the same coin. of the House, Lakshman suffered at the hands of (SJB) Kandy District MP Kiriella had withdrawn that Wickremesinghe. If that is his Lakshman Kiriella has been Demand for national proposal. At that time the JVP intention, then he does not appointed as Chief Opposition list slot questioned in Parliament need to unite the Opposition. Whip. Lakshman Bandara whether Kiriella did that to take All he has to do is continue in Kiriella has represented Kiriella is a shrewd revenge on the Auditor the same vain as Parliament for over 30 years. politician. He did now allow General. Kiriella once said the Wickremesinghe, who practises He hails from the Central Hills Premadasa to realise that by Maha Nayakas of the Asgiri and divisive politics. and is married to C. switching parties he was only Malwatu Raja Maha Vihara Jayawardena who also hails saving his own skin. He used to ask him when he went Good from the bad from the same area. He was presented a set of conditions to worship at the Temple of the On the other hand, SJB educated at Royal College, to Premadasa’s faction, while Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, claims that they carefully Colombo and is a schoolmate being in the UNP. The first when the work on the Central separated the good from the of UNP Leader Ranil condition was the demand for Expressway was going to be bad when forming their party; Wickremesinghe. a slot in the National List. The completed. Ironically, Kiriella and this has been the reason Wickremesinghe is an LLB second was to get his daughter himself was the Minister of why they were able to emerge graduate while Kiriella became Chami Kiriella nominated from Highways then. as the main Opposition of the a lawyer after entering Law the Kandy District. Kiriella The Yahapalana Government new Parliament within just two College. knew that had he contested he was in power for five years. The months of forming the party. In Kiriella held a number of would face a humiliating Central Expressway is yet to the present context, this important portfolios during defeat. But, Premadasa and Co get off the ground. Yet, the statement needs to be carefully several UNP regimes, such as thought Kiriella was adding former Minister continued to examined. Minister of Plantation value to the SJB. However, state that 80 per cent work on A closer look at some SJB Industries, Minister of until the last moment, he and the Mirigama-Kurunegala members and then the likes of Tourism and Sports, Deputy Vajira Abeywardena served as stretch has already been Kiriella, it is more than Minister of Foreign Affairs and Wickremesinghe’s two main completed, and that portion apparent that the goodness of Minister of Higher Education lieutenants. would be opened for the public some of them will be tainted by and Highways. He is a UNP Many SJB members soon. the corrupt nature of some stalwart and stood by vehemently opposed giving a others. Also, corruption Wickremesinghe whenever National List slot to Kiriella. Embezzled allegations levelled against there were campaigns against Therefore, he had no choice He also boasted that he saved Kiriella are far from over. They the UNP Leadership. It is but to contest the Election. Rs 25 billion for the keep piling on. correct to say Kiriella has great Although he was the District Government by awarding the Another thing that we must political acumen. Leader, he only came fourth in politics, as many Coordinating charged,” he has told thus contract to construct the keep in mind is that the group Therefore, he had the inkling the preferential list. Both Rauff Secretaries, as Kiriella did. before the PCoI. Expressway to a Japanese elected from the SJB are not that the UNP would be Hakeem and Haleem gained According to the findings of company. However, the biggest strangers to politics. The people decimated at the 2020 General more preferential votes in the Presidential Commission of JEDB lands given to corruption allegation levelled know that some of them had Election. However, he Kandy than him. The daughter Inquiry (PCoI) probing family members against the former Minister of been close confidantes of Ranil remained on the fence as he didn’t even receive corruption in good governance Highway is that he embezzled Wickremesinghe and had been wanted to save his skin while nominations. But, none of that government, Kiriella had Meanwhile, the Planters’ millions of rupees from the by his side even during the also safeguarding matters now. Those who toiled recruited 44 Coordinating Association of Ceylon has Central Expressway project. Central Bank Treasury Bonds Wickremesinghe. for the party have been tossed Secretaries. The Chairman of accused Kiriella of illegally However, former Minister scam. Some who were in the Kiriella stepped out of aside. Kiriella has become the Road Development giving lands in Hantana Kiriella says, “Building the notorious footnote gang have Sirikotha at the eleventh hour victorious. Authority (RDA) has given the belonging to the Janatha Central Highway has always already been sent to the before the Election. He was According to Kandy voters, appointments based on the Estates Development Board been my dream. I can die in dustbin of history. But, some closely monitoring who else although Kiriella was in letter sent by Chamindrini (JEDB), to his wife, daughter peace, once I complete this others stay silent until the time was joining hands with Sajith Parliament for 30 years, he Kiriella, on the advice of and other relatives. project.” cometh. Premadasa and the SJB. All of hasn’t done anything to former Minister Kiriella PCoI probing corruption The post of Chief Opposition The question is whether the them were political novices, develop Kandy. Lakshman himself. It is estimated that during the good governance Whip is a crucial position in likes of Kiriella and Madduma except for Mangala Bandara Kiriella also leads the the loss incurred by the government conducted Parliament. It is vested with the Bandara could join hands on Samaraweera. Therefore, as list of most corrupt MPs in the Government as a result of hearings based on corruption important responsibility of the same journey. Kiriella is the soon as Samaraweera stepped Yahapalana Government. He is these illegal recruitment by the Auditor General during amassing public opinion kind of politician who patiently out, Kiriella stepped in accused of malpractice when amounts to Rs 13.5 million. the first four years of the against a ruling party. The bides the time. Whatever said thinking he could now play a awarding contracts to What is more interesting is the Yahapalana rule. It was Gamini question is whether someone of and done, it is no secret that a bigger role in the party. construct the Central excuse he gave for this at the Wijesinghe who served as the the likes of Lakshman Kiriella group more loyal to And now, he sits as Chief Highway, when he was the PCoI hearings. Auditor General during that has the integrity and strength Wickremesinghe rules the apex Opposition Whip, surging Minister of Highways. “If this Commission says it is period. A proposal to increase of character such a position of the SJB. What the people ahead of the likes of Ranjith No other Minister ever had, wrong to give jobs to UNP the salary and allowances of demands. can do is patiently wait and see Madduma Bandara, Imtiaz in the history of Sri Lankan supporters, then, I’m guilty as the Auditor General was Unfortunately, what we can how this drama unfolds! Do Kids Really Need to Drink Cow’s Milk? By Dilanthi Jayamanne market. The local tinned milk One of the main causes of for powder culture apparently the emanation of greenhouse Only in January this year Sri seemed to have moved from gases such as water vapour, Lanka was applauded and children to adults. carbon dioxide, methane, received a pat on the back for A united effort should be nitrous oxide is the production her tireless efforts by made from all sections of of powdered milk. successive governments to society “to minimise the Also there was a severe promote breastfeeding. The carbon foot and ecological foot waste of energy in milk country came first amongst 97 prints from the time society production and distribution. others on breastfeeding rate commences providing Therefore, in using fuel to according to a survey nutrition to its children.” Not provide that energy a large conducted by the World only the world but even Sri amount of carbon dioxide was Breastfeeding Trends Initiative Lanka is currently faced with released to the atmosphere. (WBTI). issues of climate change and The island’s rank was based the gross destruction of the Increasing milk on its performance on ten environment in the name of production indicators of policies and development. programmes the WBTI used to Giving milk powder to Chairman of the Presidential colour code and rank children even those under the Task Force on Economic countries. This article does not age of five years contributes to Revival and Poverty Alleviation aim to address the colossal this problem. There is no (PTFERPA), Basil Rajapaksa, subject of the necessity of new necessity for milk food said the Government was mothers breastfeeding their companies to rush to the focused on increasing milk infants below six months. assistance of people during production to meet local milk Even the few mothers who disaster situations such as demand and to bring it to were diagnosed with the those which Sri Lanka has export levels within the next COVID-19 virus were called on faced in the past a bid to five years. He said the Task to breastfeed their infant distribute packets or tins of Force was focused on food based on the fact that powdered milk. Perhaps they security and nutrition and although the mother had should have second thoughts intended to develop large-scale contracted the viral infection about how ethical it was to dairy farms as well as small- the unborn child was free of it. in Sri Lanka. The Family consumption by one year of to commercials, billboards and make use of people’s misery to scale dairy farms to increase Further, all mothers are Health Bureau (FHB) age. even sponsoring and carry out their promotions. local milk production. It was called on to breastfeed their continuously insists on The instructions issued to displaying their logos and There is a heavy toll levied revealed on the occasion that babies but there may be some exclusive breastfeeding until mothers note that while giving names in pharmacies or retail on the environment by the about eight litres of liquid milk amongst them who are unable completion of six months to the baby two to three main shops. dairy industry. It starts from was required to produce one to do so owing to various facilitate optimal growth and meals per day that they should the farm to the glass or bottle kilogramme of milk powder. health issues in mother and development in children. be breast fed in between Number of packets of milk that is placed in the The base of all milk food is infant. After which mothers are meals. It was revealed during a hands of a young child. To cite cow milk which is solely meant encouraged to start on soft or Note: even the FHB does not recent Media briefing held in some of these instances the for the calf. We humans are Challenge of semi-solid foods after recommend that the young view of the National best place to commence would probably the only beings that malnutrition completing the mandatory six child or toddler be given a big Breastfeeding Week themed be the forest clearing that nurture our young and months while continuing to glass of ‘wholesome cow’s ‘Support breastfeeding for a takes place to commence dairy nourish our adults on the milk The World Health breastfeed their child for two milk’ allegedly fortified with healthier planet’ that roughly farming which not only produced by another creature. Organisation (WHO) and the years or longer with nutritious nutrients to support brain for two years a million children destroys the eco system but That is probably why even the United Nations Children’s complementary food. development and growth. require at least “150 million also the trees which are the Chairman of the PTFERPA is Fund (UNICEF) to provide The instructions issued by Although advertising infant tins of powdered milk.” main absorbers of natural concerned about the local milk guidance to the country in the FHB notes that a growing formula has been prohibited it Therefore, let us not think carbon dioxide. requirement. Currently the meeting the challenge of child needs an increasing has not stopped milk food about the number of packets The environment pollution milk production in Sri Lanka malnutrition in early amount of food which should manufacturers in promoting that would be required within and the release of methane is 420 million litres. childhood developed a national gradually change the their milk for older children, the same time frame. Perhaps that occurs from dairy farms Let us hope that in order to strategy. A five-year national consistency from well mashed namely for children from one it is a blessing that Sri Lanka and the energy loss during increase the production no strategy was developed for food to nutritious food to five years of age using their does not have so many tinned milk powder production and forests are cleared and no infant and young child feeding prepared for family own websites and moving on milk brands available in the distribution were tremendous. waterways are polluted. sports sunday 23 august 2020 A15 Mind: Your Powerhouse By Priyangwada Perera method of 1950s of a motivational speak of five functions of the human Yoga Science, Vedanta and Buddha speaker is still thought to be mind. “Mind can be focused, Dhamma were their base. He focused Regardless of whether you are a motivation. It is not enough in modern controlled, distracted, scattered, be on Buddhism and its development of sportsman or not, most of us are terms. Humans possess the skills, but dull or lethargic. To win in sports, the the human mind. Presenting a couple sports fans. We have our favourite continuous improvement is essential. mind has to be in the focused and of papers at Toronto University, stars and favourite teams. Yet, we “Mental skills can be catered to an controlled status. A mental coach has Canada and being received well, he know a sportsman/woman who is individual athlete or a team of all ages to ensure that the athlete’s mind patented it as Mental Process brilliant today and on a winning and ability. Learning Mental Skills stays in this ‘focus and controlled’ Re-Engineering. His work was highly streak, might also perform badly and can help an athlete prepare and position. Talent alone cannot bring appreciated by the Professional lose the next day. Even with the same perform at his/her highest level victory. To do this, an athlete›s self Golfers’ Association (PGA). skill, the same team, how many of our consistently both on and off the field. confidence should already be Not many Sri Lankans were teams have lost the match that It also helps them to gain a mental developed by the mental conditioning interested in this concept initially. immediately followed? “That is simply edge over other competitors and coach. My task as a mental coach is to Thilaka Jinadasa single handedly due to the difference of mental develop more resources for success.” direct all that training to get stored in worked on it and got his assistance condition”, said Mental Coach Nalaka Hewamadduma continued. “Before the subconscious mind of the athlete. for our national Netball Team and Hewamadduma. getting into mental skills That needs technique and this some they kept winning. Since the Coaches do not believe this is development, one has to look at the of our coaches’ lack.” authorities did not agree to let him important, or they have not wellbeing of the athlete, and it is not Next is the development of the tour with the team during recognized the importance of sports what we do at a general physical test. conscious mind. These three are the competitions they could only have psychology and mental conditioning. Wellbeing is assessed by an athlete’s most important. The West has plenty online sessions. Their opponent was “If somebody is handling a mental intake of food, sleep, their breathing of research done on these. But we Australia who also had been exposed problem or an issue, we go to a and so on. If you do not breathe air have a cultural mismatch when we try to mental training. But Lankans were psychologist or a psychotherapist. with a higher oxygen percentage, your to adopt western concepts. Thinking better off because Nalaka had based it That is a clinical treatment. But concentration goes down. Even the patterns of the local people should on Buddhist teachings. mental conditioning or mental time of the day chosen for training at match with the techniques used. No Going back to Canada in 2018 he management is something different.” a ground plays a part. If the air is full Nalaka Hewamadduma matter what, this has to be culturally kept focusing more on Buddhist Hewamadduma has diverted his of toxic fumes, that has an effect. addressed. Our minds are conditioned philosophy. He trained Basketball knowledge in engineering to mental These are the things we do not pay Hewamadduma elaborated: “Eating in such a way that certain things are players in LA, US on the initial NBA conditioning. Medical perspective attention to. Jak fruit gives energy and a high level rejected. Where this is not understood level. looks at the problem while the Both modern and ancient wisdom of nutrients. But digestion takes a lot and handled, there is the danger of At the SAAF and Commonwealth engineering perspective looks at the say that every thought we harbour of energy and makes you feel dull or hiring a foreign coach. Things should Games, the Lankan weightlifters won development. Mental conditioning is consumes some form of nutrient. Our sleepy. Hence, an athlete should not be localized. medals with him working side by side the use of core mental skills to thoughts consume energy. We know eat such food during the peak Nalaka was a national level with the team and the coaches. He improve overall performance. “Focus, certain types of food are not good for performing period. That dulls both the sportsman in athletics and weight has been a professional career and Concentration, Determination, us. Even if they are high in nutritional mind and the body. A high nutritional lifting. At the University of Moratuwa, corporate trainer for the past 25 Commitment and Confidence are the value, some foods do not agree with value does not go in par with he received colours in seven sports years. He focuses on the mental core mental skills. Secondary skills the bodies of certain people. The same everyone’s mind. Mental conditioning including Soccer, Rugby, Swimming, conditioning of Corporate Leaders. like Mental Imagery where a positive happens with our mind. Every food is a process that has to be done Wrestling and Volleyball. But Resilience, Collaboration and image is created through does not match the mind of each regularly. World Class athletes use finishing his competitive sports and Wellbeing are his key areas. Brilliant Visualization, Emotional Control, person. One would eat something and 20% of their training time for physical moving to Canada, he got exposed to individual performers sometimes do Thought Control, Mental Planning feel energetic, while others eat the training and 80% for mental training. Mental Conditioning that had an not do well in a team. Collaboration is and Self Motivation are added,” he same food and feel dull and lethargic. Hewamadduma’s expertise is on approach through engineering. With what won the 1996 Cricket World said. That is why individual assessment is ancient South Asian wisdom – sports and the technical background, Cup. Nalaka thrives in unearthing Sadly, in Sri Lanka the old western important.” Buddha’s teachings and yoga science he saw their base was in South Asia. that secret and blending it with skills.

50-plus Cricket Encounter Consider children’s sporting skills Thomian Masters meet when enrolling to schools – Prof. Peiris Kotte Combined CC today By Thameenah Razeek

By M.H. Yakeem Peiris, Deepal Ahangama, In the backdrop of four students of Lakshman Thurairatnam, Sunil Sri Gunaratana College, Paragoda Thomian Masters will meet Kotte Wijeratne, Johann W, Ramesh winning six medals at the Indian Open Combined CC in a 30-over Wanakuwatte, Nalin J, Anura Karate and Taekwondo encounter at the Bloomfield Bulankulame, Amitha Abeynaike, Championships, Minister of Education grounds today (23rd). The match Vajira Wijegunawardena, Thiran Prof. Peiris said that priority should be will commence at 9.30 a.m. Thenabadu, Ranil Peiris given to children’s sporting skills when After the COVID-19 Pandemic Kotte Combined CC from: Shane admitting them to schools rather than brought all sports to a temporary Fernando, Ian Coggins, Sujith just academic qualifications. halt, the past cricketers will come Perera, Duminda Nanayakkara, He mentioned this at a special into action and the present players Wendall de Zilwa, Dirk Pereira, ceremony held at the Ministry of can witness the true spirit of Jerome, Chandrasekera, Suranjith Education under the patronage of sportsmanship in and out of the Dharmasena, Shafiq Rahim, the Minister of Sports Namal field at this encounter. Wijayananda Perera, Jagath Rajapaksa to felicitate the four Thomian Masters from: Johanne Fernando students, Desindu Samaratunga, Hirun Jayawardena, Malitha Madushan, Keshara Buddhimal and their coach Ruwan Nissanka, who were later enrolled in the Batemulla National School after consultations with the Principal A.W.W. IPL bio-bubble to keep Prof. G.L. Peiris and Minister Namal Rajapaksa with the four students Karunasinghe, the Principal of Mahinda College, Galle, Gamini Jayawardena and Galle District started to evaluate children’s athlete mechanism for talent hunting and corrupt bookies at bay Sports School, in order to develop a skills by examinations,” Prof. Peiris enrolling potential athletes, though future programme for them. noted, while saying that he hopes to that mechanism is dormant in many “The school is responsible for collaborate closely with the Ministry of sporting schools, while funding identifying and developing students› Sports in the future. limitation and lack of infrastructure athletic abilities. The school is the Meanwhile, Minister of Sports and does not help the process. pioneer to the development of an Youth Affairs Namal Rajapaksa said Secretary to the Ministry of athlete from the age of 06 to 19 years. that steps will be taken to admit Education Prof. Kapila Perera, Children’s athlete skills should be students who excel in sports to Additional Secretary (School Affairs) considered when a child is being ‘Sports Schools’ in the near future by L.M.D. Dharmasena, and Director enrolled to a school. But here giving priority to their sporting skills. K.L.G. Kithsiri were also present at the Principals and the administration had Sports schools already have a felicitation ceremony.

FIFA warn Trinidad Clay court nationals and Tobago over Postponed qualifying High Court bid Staging this year’s Indian Premier would be keeping an eye on those League (IPL) in a bio-secure bubble platforms. FIFA has warned Trinidad and Tobago they rounds re-commence will at least make it harder for “People do try to make innocent face suspension from international football if The postponed HNB– illegal gambling rings to approach contacts also. But under the garb of they pursue a dispute through the country’s HUTCH clay court players, the man in charge of friendship or as a fan, there could High Court in contravention of the world nationals, one the three safeguarding the world’s richest be an odd chap trying to explore governing body’s statutes. highest–rated domestic competition told Reuters. things. The Trinidad and Tobago Football annual tennis Players’ movements will be “Monitoring social media does not Association (TTFA) and FIFA have been at tournaments in the limited and monitored as part of require much manpower. We’ll be loggerheads since March after the latter country, recommenced strict COVID-19 protocols around taking help of professionals also.” dissolved the executive of the cash-strapped on Friday (21 August) at the eight-team tournament, which The IPL was rocked by an illegal association. TTFA President William Wallace the Sri Lanka Tennis will be played in the United Arab betting scandal in 2013, which led opposed this and initially took the case to Association (SLTA) Emirates from 19 Sept. to two-year suspensions for its FIFA’s only recognised body to hear disputes, courts under the “The IPL being held in a bio- Chennai and Rajasthan franchises. the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but guidance of Tournament secure bubble is going to make a Two security liaison officers will withdrew the complaint citing concerns of bias. Director Ganendra difference because no interaction is be embedded with each team “The insistence of the TTFA former leadership Subramaniam. allowed with the outsiders,” said during the 53-day tournament this to bring this matter to a local court instead of The qualifying rounds Ajit Singh, Head of the year. the established dispute resolution forum at of the tournament Indian Cricket Board’s (BCCI) Anti- The ACU can also seek help from CAS greatly endangers the overall football which commenced in Corruption Unit (ACU). “So, that the anti-corruption unit of the structure in the country and endangers the March had to be halted part will be slightly easily managed. governing position of Trinidad and Tobago football due to the covid-19 “The other part is social media International Cricket Council (ICC), internationally,” FIFA warned in a statement on pandemic. etc. through which people try to which is headquartered in Dubai. Thursday. “The absence of a resolution that is The tournament will make contact and communicate, “ICC won’t have anything to do in line with the statutes of both FIFA and TTFA conclude on Sunday (13 that we’ll have to take care of.” directly, but we do exchange will result in the matter being brought to the September) following Unable to meet with fans, players information with them during attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for the required health Amrik Wettimuny in are expected to spend more time normal course. So if needed, we’ll consideration and potential further action.” guidelines stipulated by action during the interacting with them over social do that again,” Singh said. (Reuters) the Sports and Health boys under-14 first round match media, but Singh said the ACU (Reuters) Ministries. A16 sunday 23 august 2020 SPORTS

SLC Major Tier ‘A’ Tournament Chilaw Marians lead Colts in first innings

Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and other Council Members having a discussion with the Sports Minister

Chathuranga de Silva Malinda Pushpakumara We are here to Chilaw Marians CC were in the lead in the first innings against Colts CC on day two in the Super-8 fixture of the SLC Major League Tier ‘A’ Cricket tournament (2019/2020) Friday 21. Left hand bat Chathuranga de Silva (NCC) scored 159 runs in 229 balls with 15 boundaries and a six develop all sports against CCC at P. Sara Oval, while another left hander Rumesh Buddika (Chilaw Marians CC) scored 145 runs in 185 balls with 20 boundaries against Colts CC at SSC. Right hand bat Janith Liyanage (Ragama CC) scored – Mahela 107 runs in 227 balls with 7 boundaries and a six against Army CC, while left hand bat Raminda Wijesooriya (BRC) scored 109 runs in 163 balls with My aim is to remove politics from sports – Namal 13 boundaries and a six against Saracens CC. Left arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara (CCC) By Anjana Kaluarachchi Jayawardene also stated that the outdated Council comprising top business leaders and took 6 for 80 runs against NCC. Sports Act of 1973 needs to be replaced. professionals, rather than ex-national DAY TWO SCORES: Newly-appointed National Sports Council “Our Sports Act is outdated. We also expect sportsmen and women like in previous years. At SSC Chairman Mahela Jayawardene said that he to get legal counsel and advise the Sports The Council includes the likes of Hemas Colts CC: 302 (72) is very happy about the personnel of the Minister on drafting a new Act suitable for CEO Kasthuri Wilson, Dialog Axiata CEO Chilaw Marians: 399/9 (53/0 o/n) (101) (Rumesh Council, and is hoping to impart his modern day sports,” said Jayawardene. Supun Weerasinghe, SLT CEO Rohan Buddika 145, Kasun Vidura 68 n.o., Lasith Croospulle experience and knowledge to uplift all sports Meanwhile, Sports Minister Rajapaksa said Fernando, Director Manufacturing MAS 54, Oshada Fernando 35, Dilruwan Perera 3/84, in the country and not just the sport he that he expects NSC to provide a service Ruwan Keragala and Chairman EWIS Group Nipun Ransika 2/58, Akila Dananjaya 2/72) played, cricket. beyond just advising the Minister, which is of Companies Sanjeewa Wickremanayake, At P. Sara Oval “This team is special; it has top their role as per the Sports Act. He said he while apart from Jayawardene it includes NCC: 467 (341/5 o/n) (125.3) (Chathuranga de professionals. We need their knowledge in expects them to prepare plans to transform fellow cricketer Kumar Sangakkara, Silva 159, Lahiru Udara 111, Mahela Udawatte 77, this journey. We are here to develop all amateur athletes into professional athletes Olympian swimmer Julian Bolling, Motor Sahan Arachchige 62, Malinda Pushpakumara 6/80, sports in Sri Lanka and build a plan to do and develop Sri Lanka sports to international Racer Dilantha Malagamuwa and Lahiru Gamage 2/66) that. Also, bridging the gap between school standards. international sports lawyer Rowena CCC: 210/3 (48) (Kusal Mendis 80, Lasith sports and national sports is vital, as these As a first step he said that he will only Samarasinhe . Abeyrathne 42 n.o., Minod Bhanuka 33) two now aren’t going well, as school sports authorise National teams and National sports Chairman of the Sri Lanka Paralympic At CCC are governed by the Education Ministry while selectors after recommendation from the Committee Maj. Gen. Rajitha Ampemohotti, Ragama CC: 501/9 decl. (294/5 o/n) (144.3) National Sports Association comes under NSC. He also said that his prime target is to Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva , (Janith Liyanage 107 n.o., Saminda Fernando 92, Sports Ministry,” said Jayawardene prior to remove politics and sports politics from basketball personality Yaswanth Roshen Silva 80, 62, Nishan leaving the country on Friday to UAE for the sports. Muttetuwegama and Director General of the Madushka 56, Amila IPL, where he coaches defending champions On Thursday, the Sports Minister Department of Sports Development Amal Aponso 44, Yasoda Mumbai Indians for the fourth year in row. appointed a 14-member National Sports Edirisooriya are the other members. Mendis 3/74, Malka Madusanka 2/84, Seekkuge Prasanna 2/128) Army CC: 93/6 (35) ( 50, Lasith Malinga set to miss initial part of IPL Shashika Dulshan 3/19, Ishan Jayarathne 2/5) Lasith Malinga is set to miss come handy. Malinga defended to the Covid-19 pandemic. As At MCG Katunayake the first part of the 2020 IPL for eight runs in the final over of the per the rules, anyone entering Sri BRC: 392 (319/6 o/n) Mumbai Indians. ESPNcricinfo IPL final against Chennai Super Lanka needs to undergo a (110.1) (Raminda understands Malinga will not be Kings last year, that too after he mandatory 14-day quarantine, Wijesooriya 109, Shanuka travelling to the UAE, where the had leaked 42 runs in his first which means Malinga would Dulaj 94, Nisal Francisco IPL will be played from September three overs. Bowling the last over, have had to remain in quarantine 52, Deshan Dias 39, 19 to November 10, and will miss he conceded just seven runs off if he flew to the UAE and then Bhanuka Rajapaksha 33, the initial games due to personal the first five balls and then took a came back to see his father at Ranitha Liyanarachchi reasons. It is understood , of Shardul Thakur, on the any point. 4/66, Sachintha Peiris Malinga's father has been ill and final delivery when the Super Malinga, who turns 37 on 28 2/85) may require surgery in the Kings needed two to win, to seal a August, has been one of the most Saracens SC: 191/5 (64) coming weeks. The fast bowler record fourth title for Mumbai. valuable players in the IPL for (Sithara Gimhan 43, wants to be by his side and will One key factor that is likely to Mumbai. He is the second- Gamindu Kanishka 43, be training in Colombo. It is have contributed to Malinga's highest wicket-taker in T20s, Ashen Bandara 31, believed Malinga is likely to join decision is the current behind Dwayne Bravo, and is Mohammed Shiraz 2/45) Mumbai during the business end quarantine protocol imposed by also the highest wicket-taker in (IR) of the tournament, including the the Sri Lankan Government for IPL with 170 wickets. Janith Liyanage (Pix by Kelum Chamara) playoffs, where his experience will people entering the country due (ESPN) Lasith Malinga

National Sports Council Int’l sports lawyer Rowena can fill Athletics void

By Anjana Kaluarachchi Apart from being a top legal expert, lDirector Legal at Sportfive, which she also has an MBA in sports was UEFA Euro 2008 broadcast The local athletics community management from Loughborough rights sales agent; raised their eyebrows yesterday University. lGeneral Counsel at Athletics following the appointment of the With Sri Lanka’s new Sports Management & Services AG, National Sports Council 2020 Minister Namal Rajapaksa aiming to which is the service agent for the because it lacked representation introduce a new Sports Act to replace International Sports Business from track and field, the only sport the 47-year-old Sports Act of 1973 , Division of Dentsu Inc. (Tokyo, which has won Olympic medals for her knowledge as a sports legal expert Japan; Sri Lanka. Athletics is also the sport will be vital to draft the Act and other lDirector – Professional Squash which won all of Sri Lanka’s Asian laws to guide sports forward . Association; Games Gold medals and more than Sri Lanka has a history of being at lNon-Executive Director - 50% of South Asian Games Gold loggerheads with International Chartered Institute for the medals. Olympic Committee (IOC) and other Management of Sport and Physical Out of 14 professionals of the international bodies over various Activity (CIMSPA), Professional highest calibre, internationally sports laws introduced over the past development body for UK sport & acclaimed sports lawyer Rowena few years, while the country was physical activity sector; Samarasinhe could fill the void of banned over some issues, where her lConsultant – Right formula which track and field. knowledge will be vital to avoid such is an award-winning global sports Rowena is a partner of a top law unfortunate situations. and entertainment consultancy Rowena Samarasinhe with firm LEVEL based in London and is Rowena Samarasinhe participated at the first Among many other achievements, that handles all aspects of sports meeting of the National Sports Council via zoom Usain Bolt founder and Managing Director of she negotiated a major sponsorship sponsorship; Gen-Sport, a company which works agreements. She has also worked development body for UK sports and deal for IAAF (now World Athletics), lManaging Director- GENSport, a with top international sportspersons with some of the largest global sports physical activity sector and board which was considered as the biggest consulting agency focusing on the in marketing, player representation properties, concluding ground- member of the professional Squash ever sponsorship, and also negotiated provision of affordable and etc. She has vast knowledge about breaking deals for sports bodies, in Association. a broadcasting deal for the IAAF accessible commercial and other sports, track and field and addition to major endorsement deals On the legal front, she is among World Championship. consultancy services to all international sports law and with some of the most prolific the Legal 500 General Counsel During her 16-year legal career, sporting organisations and specialises in the negotiation and athletes in the world. Powerlist Switzerland 2018 and mostly in sports related fields, individuals; implementation of international She is a Non-Executive Director of Legal 500 ‘Next Generation Partner’ following are some positions she has lPartner – LEVEL, London based sponsorship and broadcast CIMPSA, the professional Sport 2020. held: law firm.

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