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We wish our readers a peaceful, serene and healthy Vesak SRI LANKA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER I SINCE 1918 WEDNESDAY MAY 26, 2021 I 15 PAGES I VOLUME - 103 - NO 123 RS. 30.00 I REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER IN SRI LANKA I E-PAPER VESAK POYA DAY MESSAGES Determine to act Engage in religious wisely as the Buddha discourse at home - PM preached - President As COVID-19 has hampered the Vesak challenges in celebrations, commemorate it giving prior- this difficult It is our societal duty in the face of the Events (Themangula) by staying at home dur- ity to understand the Buddhist teachings period. COVID-19 epidemic to dedicate ourselves to ing this Vesak due to COVID-19. in a more pragmatic way, Prime Minister He pointed out the escalation of COVID- the protection and well-being of the lives of “Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, which com- Mahinda Rajapaksa said in his Vesak Poya 19 situation hindered the Government’s others as preached by the Buddha, President memorates the three most significant events Day message. plans of celebrating Vesak on a high note Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in his Vesak Poya of the Buddha’s life (Three Noble Events); the He requested the public to engage in centering the Nagadeepa Raja Maha Day message. Birth of Prince Siddhartha, the Enlightenment Prathipatti Pooja at home during this year’s Viharaya in Jaffna. He also requested the people to engage in of Siddhartha Gautama and the Mahaparinib- Vesak, adding that properly understand- “However, the pandemic is not an obsta- Cabinet approves Amisa Pooja and Prathipaththi Pooja with bana (Passing Away), is the noble and merito- ing the Dhamma preached by the Buddha cle to observe the Vesak in a meaningful great veneration towards the Three Noble rious festival of us Buddhists. TO PAGE 02 provides an invaluable support to face manner. TO PAGE 02 14 mn Sinopharm, The “X-PRESS PEARL” 1 mn AstraZeneca vessel engulfed in flames. Pictures were captured by a SL Air vaccines purchase Force Bell 212 helicopter OPTIONS RUN OUT yesterday morning. FOR MV X-PRESS PEARL The Cabinet has grant- ed approval for the imme- BLAZE ON BOXSHIP OUT OF MEPA, NAVY CONSIDERING INDIAN SHIPS JOIN diate purchase of 14 mil- lion doses of the Chinese CONTROL AFTER EXPLOSION FURTHER ACTION FIREFIGHTING EFFORT Sinopharm vaccine and 1 million doses of the CAMELIA NATHANIEL The Marine Environment Protec- Speaking to the Daily News, had little effect as the fire was able to them which was to tow AstraZeneca vaccine. The chances of saving the Box- tion Authority (MEPA) and other MEPA Director General Terney within the containers carrying 25 the ship away into deep waters in The Cabinet proposal ship MV X-press Pearl anchored off authorities were discussing three Pradeep said that the fire onboard tonnes of Nitric Acid and other order to minimise the impact on in this regard had been Colombo were fading last night as options yesterday evening with the vessel was out of control with chemicals. Sri Lanka, to tow the ship ashore submitted by Health the fire on board went out of control regard to the massive blaze on board yesterday’s explosion and that He said the authorities were or to allow the ship to remain in Minister Pavithra following a massive explosion. the Singapore-registered vessel. spraying water or dry chemicals exploring three best options avail- its current position. TO PAGE 02 Wanniarachchi. TO PAGE 02 All liquor outlets Landslide, flood warning closed till June 7 for six districts All liquor outlets at supermarkets must remain closed until June 7, National Opera- Cyclone Yaas to become severe in next 24 hours tions Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head and Army Com- Rains exceeding 150 mm expected, wind speed to rise mander General Shavendra Silva said. “All liquor outlets must remain closed even when travel restrictions are relaxed. The sale of liquor is not permitted during this period and this applies to all supermar- kets as well,” the Government Information Department stated quoting the Army Com- mander. RUKSHANA RIZWIE based on information collat- The onset of the Southwest ed by the National Building Motor vehicle monsoon and effect of tropical and Research Organization cyclone Yaas over the Bay of (NBRO) the highest rainfall imports suspended Bengal has exacerbated wet was reported in Galboda in the weather conditions with sev- Ratnapura district receiving The Cabinet has decided to suspend the eral places reporting a maxi- 181mm of rain and Dehiowita import of even a limited number of motor mum rainfall of 180mm yes- in Kegalle district reporting vehicles considering the situation in the terday. 173mm. country, the Prime Minister’s Media Divi- The Meteorology Depart- Continuous rainfall during sion said in a press statement on Monday. ment has sounded the alarm the last 24 hours has also led The Cabinet meeting was held on Monday over ‘Yaas’ which is forecast to to a rise in the Kalu River via Zoom and it was chaired by Prime Minis- Army personnel were yesterday seen decorating the roadsides near the entrance to the Army Headquarters in Pelawatte in intensify into a severe cyclonic basin, prompting the Irrigation ter Mahinda Rajapaksa. TO PAGE 02 Battaramulla with lanterns to mark the Vesak Poya Day. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage. storm. Department to issue an ‘Amber’ As of yesterday evening, flood alert warning. TO PAGE 02 More quarantine law Nurses to withdraw CHEC gets Athurugiriya, from PCR, RAT violators nabbed sample collection New Kelani Bridge SHAVINI MADHARA been arrested so far for vio- ed in the Western Province Police on Monday arrested lating quarantine regulations. on Monday. They had been E-way construction 745 persons for violating quar- DIG also stated that a spe- operating disregarding travel Cite seven unaddressed antine regulations like wearing cial drone operation was con- restrictions. The DIG said face masks and maintaining ducted in Colombo-North and they will be produced before issues despite discussions The Cabinet social distance, Police Media Central-Colombo on Mon- the respective Magistrates’ of Ministers has Spokesperson DIG Ajith Roha- day, and that 12 people were Courts. The Government Nursing Officers’ Asso- granted approval na stated. arrested on offences related About 106 passengers, who ciation said their members decided to with- to award the He said it was the highest to quarantine rules and regu- were on board three-wheelers, draw from obtaining samples for PCR test- construction of the elevated expressway (BOT) basis. He said the CHEC would number of arrests made in a lations by monitoring from had also been taken into police ing and Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) from that connects the Athurugiriya Inter- be given three years to complete the con- single day since Police began drones. custody under the quarantine yesterday over several problems pertaining change and the New Kelani Bridge to the struction and another 15 years to generate operations to nab quarantine He also noted that 81 rules and regulations and to their service. China Harbour Engineering Corporation income from it. law violators on October 30, three-wheelers were taken they were also to be produced Association President Saman Rathnap- (CHEC), Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Min- Accordingly, the CHEC will get 17 2020. into police custody during before the respective Magis- riya writing to Health Minister Pavithra ister Udaya Gammanpila said. years before it transfers the ownership He said 13,493 people had a special operation conduct- trates’ Courts. TO PAGE 02 Wanniarachchi outlined seven issues faced This construction project will be imple- of the expressway back to the Govern- by the nursing staff, adding that solu- mented on a Build-Operate-Transfer ment. TO PAGE 02 tions were not received to those problems despite repeated discussions with the Health authorities. Super Flower Blood Moon The under- lined issues Two mobile vehicles to provide MP Bandara, wife eclipse today at moonrise include not essentials in each GN area - Minister providing COVID positive The first lunar eclipse lunar eclipse, said Prof. lunar eclipse after 2019 an adequate AMALI MALLAWAARACHCHI of 2021 will be visible to Chandana Jayaratne, the and is famously known as number of N95 Samagi Jana Balawegaya many parts of the world Director of Astronomy and the Super Flower Blood face masks and Co-Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Ramesh (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara and his today (Vesak Full Moon Space Science Unit, of the Moon. other facili- Pathirana said the government will do its best wife tested positive for COVID- day) as a total lunar Colombo University’s Phys- The eclipse is visible as ties related to minimise inconveniences caused to the public 19. eclipse from 2:17 p.m. to ics Department. a total eclipse to regions to COVID-19 during travel restrictions. Posting on his Facebook 7:19 p.m. Sri Lanka Stand- During the lunar eclipse like Australia, parts of the prevention Minister Pathirana said that two mobile vehi- page, the MP confirmed this ard time. the shadow of the Earth western US, western South programmes, cles will be assigned for each Grama Niladhari also requesting those who came It will be visible to Sri falls on the Moon. America, and in South-East not issuing the division to facilitate people to purchase essential into contact with him recently Lanka as a penumbral “This is the first total Asia. TO PAGE 02 Circular food items. Pathirana made these observations at to self quarantine and be vigi- TO PAGE 02 the media briefing on TO PAGE 02 lant. TO PAGE 02 DN page 2 NEWS WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021 Death of former Dinamina journalist Refrain from organizing Former Dinamina jour- nalist Manel Pushpaku- mari (58) passed away on Monday after a brief ill- ness.

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