www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk Maintain Distance, Stay Safe MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk For verified information on the Quarantine Unit COVID-19 TOTAL CASES TOTAL CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any 0112 112 705 ACTIVE CASES of the following authorities CASES IN Epidemiology Unit Health THE WORLD 7,915,926 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 1,889 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 2,146,884 117,559 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 433,181 BRAZIL 851,321 42,802 RUSSIA 528,964 6,948 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD 11 1,287 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 INDIA 324,482 9,247 4,067,248 UK 295,889 41,698 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS591 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 9.30 P.M. ON 14 JUNE 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU COVID-19 2020 GENERAL ELECTION Concerns over controlling political meetings Threat not over z Difficult to control politicians z Following guidelines and crowds: PHIs doubtful at election meetings The Public Health adhere to the election-related issued for the election, as Inspectors’ Union of Sri health guidelines. those guidelines are not Lanka (PHIUSL) has raised PHIUSL President Upul legally binding. Unless the concerns over their ability Rohana told The Morning guidelines are gazetted, it in Sri Lanka: PHIs to control and monitor that it would be impossible alone would not help reduce election-related activities for PHIs to take any action the threat of spreading the z z in ensuring that politicians, against those who violate coronavirus, he stressed. Adherence to health Govt. urged to take policy their supporters, and voters the health guidelines Contd. on page 2 guidelines low among public decisions to assist authorities BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA Diseases Act, PHIUSL President exchanging fish in the middle Three proposals Rohana stressed that unless the of the sea with Indians are still EC yet to finalise With the number of Covid-19-positive cases rising in guidelines were gazetted, it would being conducted. Though there is India, Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) warned that the not be followed properly. no social transmission at present, on polls by JVP sanitiser budget coronavirus threat in Sri Lanka was not yet over and “The country’s airport will if somebody comes into contact Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) BY SARAH HANNAN therefore urged the public to strictly adhere to health reopen after some time and if it with a Covid-19-positive person Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake guidelines issued by the authorities. operates as usual, with 40,000 while engaging in these kinds of yesterday (14) put forward three proposals The budget to purchase sanitiser for the people entering the country per illegal activities, that person might pertaining to the general election. upcoming election is yet to be finalised, PHIs’ Union of Sri Lanka “When there is a looming day, conducting PCR (polymerase bring down the virus and it will Speaking during a press briefing yesterday, Elections Secretariat Director General (PHIUSL) President Upul Rohana coronavirus threat, the public chain reaction) tests for each and spread in society.” Dissanayake said that no citizen should fall Saman Sri Rathnayake, told The Morning. said adherence to the health shouldn’t act the way they usually every one would be impossible, Therefore, the public should victim to the coronavirus as a result of having “We are holding mock polls in selected guidelines among the public was act, and it is a must to follow all and that is why these guidelines strictly adhere to the health to exercise their franchise at the general electorates at present and based on the currently at its lowest, and around the necessary health guidelines,” should be gazetted,” he stressed. guidelines and the Government election. “Public servants including officers requirements for each electorate, we are 60% of society had returned to he stressed. Explaining further, he said: “The should take the necessary policy in the health sector who will be assigned on yet to arrive at an amount that we will need going about their activities as Highlighting the necessity to situation in India is not good and decisions to help the authorities duty during the election process should not to spend to make such purchases. usual, i.e. how things were before gazette all health guidelines under the incidents of illegal activities; conduct their duties, Rohana be at risk of contracting the virus.” Contd. on page 2 March. the Quarantine and Prevention of bringing down illegal drugs and added. UNP TO REBUILD PUBLIC FAITH FOLLOWING TU DEMANDS ROBBERY AT CNH Testing one, two, three Young cop who Listened to Postal services foiled robbery dies wants of the recommence z Succumbs to injuries sustained in road accident on Saturdays people: RW BY SKANDHA GUNASEKERA The State Intelligence Service (SIS) Constable who was involved United National Party (UNP) Leader Postal services have resumed in preventing the Rs. 7.9 million Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing a functioning on Saturdays following money heist at the Colombo meeting of the party district managers, said demands made by trade unions National Hospital (CNH) died that the party has listened to the people of (TUs). in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) the country and was adapting to their needs. Joint Postal Trade Union Convener last morning (14) after he was He stated that this election will see the K.M. Chinthaka Bandara said involved in an accident last week, UNP as the party with the largest number the Government had decided to the Police Media Division told of new candidates. recommence operations on Saturdays. The Morning. Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 QUARANTINED JAFFNA RESIDENTS Test negative CIRCULAR ON SALARY DEDUCTION An election official behind a plastic sheet marks the finger of a voter with ink during a mock election to test the health guidelines implemented against Covid-19 in Ingiriya yesterday (14) for Covid-19 Union files FR petition PHOTO LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP The residents of the houses in A fundamental rights (FR) petition who’s salary had been deducted. The Jaffna that were quarantined have has been filed by the Ceylon Teachers’ Eastern Province Education Director, tested negative for Covid-19, The Union (CTU) against the deduction of Eastern Province Chief Secretary, Eastern SRI LANKAN MIGRANT WORKERS Morning learnt. a day’s salary from the monthly salary Province Governor, and the Attorney Ministry of Health Chief of principals and teachers in the Eastern General have been named as respondents. Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Province to a government fund without Speaking to The Morning, Stalin said Ready to take responsibility: JVP Samaraweera said that there were their written approval. there has been a FR violation of CTU Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna migrant workers in foreign permitted to travel to Sri Lanka. no positive cases. The petition has been filed by CTU members in the Eastern Province as a (JVP) politburo member and countries, if the Government If the screening mechanism is President Priyantha Fernando, Secretary day’s salary had been deducted without National People’s Power (NPP) will allow them to return to well established at the airports, SEE FULL STORIES Joseph Stalin, and a teacher of the Eastern the approval of its members. Kandy District Leader K.D. the country. we should look at a way to bring ON PAGE 2 Province, namely Ponnadurai Udayaruban Contd. on page 2 Lalkantha said the JVP is “There are still about 40,000 these migrant workers back to willing to take responsibility Sri Lankans who are stuck in Sri Lanka immediately.” for at least 20,000 Sri Lankan foreign countries as they are not Contd. on page 2 WELISARA NAVY CAMP TOURISM INDUSTRY To be declared Covid- Govt. looking to reopen before free: health authorities 1 August zNext round of PCR tests due shortly zNegative results would reopen the camp The Government is currently looking at possibilities of opening the Bandaranaike The Welisara Navy Camp, which are scheduled for next week, he said. reports. Around 194 Navy officials International Airport (BIA) for tourists before was declared an isolated area in April, Once it is cleared, the camp would are currently receiving treatment August, Minister of Industrial Exports, would soon be a Covid-19-free zone, be ready to reopen for operations, for the virus, according to Army Tourism, and Aviation Prasanna Ranatunga according to the health authorities. Dr. Samaraweera noted. Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra told the media following a political meeting Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath A total of 657 out of the total Silva. in Wattala on Saturday (13). Samaraweera told The Morning that number of infected Navy personnel After the first Navy case was Ranatunga however emphasised that Mangala meets CBK the decision on reopening the Navy have been discharged from hospitals reported, around 4,000 people at the before the island is reopened for tourism, Former Minister Mangala yesterday (14). Samaraweera last camp would be taken next week, after after testing negative for Covid-19. Sri Lanka Navy Camp in Welisara, the Government hopes to complete the Samaraweera met with former week announced that he would be the next round of PCR (polymerase The total number of Navy officials including sailors and their families, repatriation of Sri Lankans stranded in President Chandrika Bandaranaike stepping aside from contesting the chain reaction) tests was conducted who contracted Covid-19 was 876 were quarantined within the camp, other countries. Kumaratunga in Attanagalla, at upcoming general election from on all sailors in the camp.