PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COVID-19 THERE’S MORE TO ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020 IT THAN HANDING OUT SOME 45,721 3Q20 MADE STRONG LANKA’S PATHETIC DEATHS RECOVERED COMEBACK: NIELSEN LOSS (LPL) 6,989 »SEE PAGE 4 »SEE PAGE 10 FREE PADS THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP 217 38,262 UNTIL 11.00 P.M. ON 5 JANUARY 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU »SEE PAGE 6 Acid test for ‘bio bubble’ today DETECTING NEW COVID STRAINS Ukrainians at Dalada Maligawa alongside locals BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE exclusively in a biosecure bubble in Ukrainians’ test order to ensure the health safety of The Government’s biological all from the infection of Covid-19. bubble or biosecure bubble Speaking to The Morning, concept will face its litmus Organisation for Protecting the samples not sent test today (6) with the Kandy City Convener Thushara Ukrainian tourists set to visit Swarnathilaka raised concerns over the Sri Dalada Maligawa these decisions and said that the public (Temple of the Tooth Relic) and staffers could also be endangered to J’pura Uni while it is open to local by this visit. “We saw this when local safari BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI that can conduct genome sequencing and visitors. drivers had to be taken to undergo we have not received any samples of the According to Sri Lanka Tourism quarantine due to interactions they had Test samples of Covid-19-positive Ukrainian tourists,” Dr. Jeewandara said. Development Authority (SLTDA) had with Ukrainian tourists despite Ukrainian tourists have not been When queried as to whether the USJP Director General Dhammika the procedures in places, pertaining subjected to genome sequencing, the test had requested for test samples of the Wijesinghe, the Ukrainian group will to the travel bubble concept. We are conducted to identify new strains of the Ukrainian tourists, Dr. Jeewandara said visit the Dalada Maligawa today from worried that a similar situation may coronavirus, as they have not been sent that the university does not make such 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. During this time arise here. We cannot allow this to to the University of Sri Jayewardenepura requests but conducts tests on samples slot, local devotees too would also be to visit the place, as it will not close storey of the Maligawa, they would happen, as the tourists who should (USJP), the only facility in the country if they are sent to them. allowed to enter the temple. during this time,” she said. be maintaining only a four-metre be under quarantine continue to travel equipped to conduct such tests. Foreign media reports from late “Since the relevant officials agreed Wijesinghe told The Morning that distance with the local devotees. everywhere, without even wearing Speaking to The Morning yesterday (5), December 2020 claimed that the on this time slot, we have given during this time slot, the tourists would The Government has maintained, a mask, while it is the people who USJP Director – Allergy, Immunology, Ukrainian Health Ministry had announced permission for the tourists to visit be required to use another route to even amidst severe political and public interact with them that get punished,” and Cell Biology Unit Dr. Chandima the circulation of five new strains of the temple during this timeframe. This enter the temple. criticism, that the Ukrainian tourists he further said. Jeewandara said that genome sequencing coronavirus in the Ukraine; this was will not affect the locals who come However, after entering the upper would travel within the country Contd. on page 2 is a complex process that needs experts in the backdrop of the first group of to operate test machines and interpret Ukrainian tourists arriving in Sri Lanka samples, and such experts are rare in on 28 December 2020 as part of a pilot Sri Lanka. project to revive tourism in the country. New law to manage WHEN GOIN' GETS TOUGH “We are the only facility in the country Contd. on page 2 social media Kantale Sugar Factory BY PAMODI WARAVITA cordial relationship between journalists and the public by preventing any The Sri Lanka Press Council Law, prejudice to the public through media No. 5 of 1973 as amended, which is coverage. to become museum currently restricted to the print media, Speaking to The Morning yesterday, The Kantale Sugar would be amended this year to cover Sri Lanka Press Council (SLPC) Factory, a project which electronic and new media as well, Commissioner Niroshan Thambawita decades ago facilitated Minister of Mass Media Keheliya said that since media has expanded 50,000 direct, indirect, Rambukwella told The Morning at present from print to include both and temporary jobs and yesterday (5). electronic and new media, the law was a huge money spinner He believes this would provide should be amended to allow the SLPC for the Government, increased attention to the mediation of to mediate between aggrieved parties will be converted into a issues that arise due to content published of the public and electronic and new museum, The Morning on social media and members of the media organisations. learns. public affected by such publication. However, Thambawita mentioned that Speaking to The Rambukwella said that, although new media raises complicated issues Morning yesterday the new amendments would not aim since new media does not always have (5), the State Minister to regulate social media, he believes a proper organisational structure. As of the Development that the public must have an equal such, the SLPC has sought advice from of Sugarcane, Maize, The Kantale Sugar Factory has been closed for 30 years and is surrounded by thick jungle and filled with opportunity to respond to new forms the Telecommunications Regulatory Cashew, Pepper, damaged vehicles, machines, and closed down buildings. of media. Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) Cinnamon, Cloves, and “While journalists and new media on the methods of intervention in new Betel Production, and Sri Lanka, has been suffered closure by the are given adequate power, citizens media. He added that the SLPC believes the Promotion of Allied closed for 30 years end of 1999. Although the should also be safeguarded in some the Council’s membership should be Products and Export, and is surrounded by factory was reacquired form or another.” expanded to include electronic and Janaka Wakkumbura said thick jungle and filled by the Government The aforementioned law was new-media experts as well. that the Government took with damaged vehicles, subsequently, it did not established with the aim of building a Contd. on page 2 this decision because machines, and closed begin production. the building is in a down buildings. However, the dilapidated condition. The factory was gifted Government is set to “All the machinery and by Czechoslovakia in build a new factory VIOLENT DEATHS OF MONKS the buildings are too old the 1960s and managed adjoining the old factory, to have good production to earn profits for the with a sugarcane plant value.” Government till the nursery of over 500 acres, Asgiriya Chapter Two workers pushing a cart loaded with goods down First Cross Street in The factory, one of 1990s. However, in and restart operations this Colombo Fort yesterday (5) the biggest factory 1993, it was vested with year. pleads for protection PHOTO ESHAN DASANAYAKA complexes owned by a private company and Contd. on page 2 BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY to which four persons have been arrested; this came in the wake Cabinet nod to complete ‘Wage hike must not The Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam of the suspicious circumstances Sect appealed to the Government to surrounding the recent death of a ensure the protection of religious Dutch national monk in the South. COVAX Facility application destroy industry’ leaders yesterday (5) following Article 9 of the Constitution holds The Cabinet of Ministers has given to enter the GAVI COVAX Facility, Nimal Siripala comes out in defence of planters recent incidents which resulted in that the Sri Lankan State is duty the go ahead for Sri Lanka to complete which supports low and middle-income the deaths of monks. bound to, among other matters, the second part of a two-part application countries to obtain vaccines for 20% of BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY rubber that greatly contribute “We hereby request the protect the Buddha Sasana. process to secure four million Covid- their population without any significant AND SUMUDU CHAMARA to Sri Lanka’s economy, as Government to provide protection Dhammananda Thera added 19 vaccines under the Global Alliance delay, has to be submitted before 8 January well as companies in the to monks and religious leaders, that the Asgiriya Chapter will be for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) 2021. Sri Lanka has been accredited by The longstanding issue of plantation industry, should be and ensure the non-recurrence requesting relevant authorities COVAX Facility. the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the plantation sector workers’ protected. We cannot take into of such incidents,” Siam Sect including the President, the Following the proposal submitted by eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine daily wage must not be looked consideration just one side of Asgiriya Chapter Supreme Sangha Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, through this facility. at only from the workers’ side, this issue and introduce laws Council Secretary Dr. Medagama Minister in charge of the subject the Cabinet granted approval on 4 January Addressing a media briefing on as that could adversely affect stipulating a minimum daily Dhammananda Thera said in of Buddhasasana, and the relevant to submit the application that concerned Covid-19 vaccination organised by the the workers in the long run in wage – that’s not the way to response to a query by The Morning.