PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COVID-19 ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2020 34,732 JAFFNA STALLIONS A KINDER GDP SEES RECORD FALL, DEATHS RECOVERED WIN LPL 2020 CHRISTMAS BUT CABRAAL BUOYANT 8,638 THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP 160 25,652 »SEE PAGE 8 »SEE PAGE 5 »SEE PAGE 3 UNTIL 10.00 P.M. ON 16 DECEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU BY LAHIRU POTHMULLA and Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Gambia for threshold programme development. The Millennium Challenge Sri Lanka loses the MCC compact grant The Board also reaffirmed its support Corporation (MCC) Board which proposed compact with Sri Lanka. of the Board. re-selected Benin, Burkina Faso, for regional integration; Malawi, for continuing compact development met on Tuesday (15) in Washington A release issued by the MCC “As part of the annual selection Côte d’Ivoire, and Niger as eligible Mozambique, Timor-Leste, and in Indonesia, Kosovo, and Lesotho.ˮ DC has decided to discontinue the yesterday (16) announced the decisions process, MCC’s Board of Directors for concurrent compact programmes Tunisia for compact development; Contd. on page 2 Penal Code fines to be amended The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (14) approved the proposal made by Minister Mahapola to set of Justice Ali Sabry to amend the fines stipulated in the Penal Code, The Morning learnt. Minister Udaya Contd. on page 2 Gammanpila Smart classes for up foreign unis BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI Mahapola Trust Fund “This will enable us z Aimed at raising uni The Mahapola Trust Fund is planning Director Parakrama Bandara to either increase the all by 2022: G.L. told The Morning yesterday student allowance to Rs. All schools will be provided with smart student allowance to facilitate the establishment of (16) that these for-profit 7,000 or grant Mahapola classrooms with provisions to foster foreign universities in Sri Lanka to universities, which will scholarships to more low- English language literacy by 2022, stated z University villages increase the Mahapola allowances be open to both local and income students,” Bandara Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Pieris. of state university students, The foreign students, are still said. Contd. on page 2 to be established Morning learnt. in the planning stage. Contd. on page 2 NEW COVID-19 DETECTIONS RS 1,000 DAILY WAGE TOTAL CASES A fresh start Crucial 31,070*Stats updated as at 10.00 p.m. on 16 December COVID-19 discussion Deaths increase to 160 Three more Covid-19-related deaths were reported in the country yesterday today (16), increasing the death toll to 160, the Department of Government Information announced. z Govt. and RPCs to meet BY PAMODI WARAVITA regarding the long-running dispute over the daily wage Patient escapes from A crucial meeting between of plantation sector workers the Ministry of Plantations will be held today (17), The Welisara Hospital and regional plantation Morning learnt. A 43-year-old Covid-19 patient company (RPC) owners Contd. on page 2 who was being treated at the National Hospital for Respiratory Diseases in RENEWABLE ENERGY Welisara escaped the hospital yesterday (16) morning. Fish traders resumed operations at the Peliyagoda Fish Market yesterday (16) after being reopened following the second wave of Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown Expedite projects: PHOTO LALITH PERERA PCR, antigen tests MAHARA PRISON CLASH for garment factory SUPREME COURT FIRE President employees Culprits identified: Police President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has All garment factory employees are Police Media Spokesman has identified the leaders who examined the possibility of rapidly to undergo systematic PCR or rapid Deputy Inspector General (DIG) created the unrest inside the UNP adding renewable energy sources antigen testing, stated the National Ajith Rohana said the Criminal Mahara Prison. such as wind, solar, and natural gas Operations Centre for Prevention of Investigation Department (CID) Contd. on page 2 to the power grid, the President’s Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO). Media Division (PMD) stated. calls for Contd. on page 2 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Mandatory quarantine Court orders POSTAL DEPARTMENT continues after airport inquiry reopening cremation of Director General of Health Services The United National Party (UNP) yesterday Launches new Dr. Asela Gunawardena said yesterday (16) called on the Government to conduct (16) that plans have been made to an immediate, transparent, and independent continue mandatory quarantine measures four bodies inquiry into the fire at the Supreme Court. courier service even after the reopening of Bandaranaike The Wattala Magistrate’s of the four inmates killed due to Contd. on page 2 The Postal Department Minister of Mass Media Keheliya International Airport (BIA). Court yesterday (16) took up gunshot injuries during the recent launched a new cash-on-delivery Rambukwella yesterday (16). the appeal to allow the burial of Mahara Prison clashes. service, which was inaugurated by Contd. on page 2 Beruwala Station bodies submitted by the families Contd. on page 2 temporarily closed The Beruwala Railway Station has been temporarily closed due to identifying two Covid-19-infected persons. Areas in Monaragala and Panadura isolated Two areas in the Kalutara and Monaragala Districts have been isolated Prisons Department with immediate effect, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva stated. Govt. to increase launches web app treatment centres z Visitors BY SARAH HANNAN and overcrowding that is visible during The Ministry of Health has decided to inmate visiting hours, which will also take over hospitals with relatively higher can make With the purpose of minimising the reduce the waiting time visitors have to patient capacity and expeditiously appointments inconvenience to visitors and ensuring spend while they wait for their imprisoned convert them into Covid-19 treatment the security of prison institutions, the family member to be brought to the centres, as daily infections continue to to visit inmates Department of Prisons launched a web app visiting area,” Commissioner General surge across the country. and place that allows families of inmates to make of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya told SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 an appointment prior to visits. The Morning. video calls “We hope this will ease the congestion Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS Thursday , December 17, 2020 Contd. from page 1 at a snail’s pace due to the Covid-19 issuance of tickets and checking have and Poonarin areas and it is also planned Another feature of the web app is that Mahapola to... disruptions, but that currently the unions been temporarily suspended, General to gradually increase the power share it allows inmates to receive video calls This project will allow global are holding talks with individual RPCs. Manager of Railways M.J. Dilantha generated using solar power and natural via relevant technology. universities to open local branches in “Not all RPC owners are in favour of a Fernando said. gas, the PMD added. Upuldeniya explained that similar to specially demarcated university villages daily wage of Rs. 1,000, but some are in He said the Beruwala Railway Station The President has emphasised that making an appointment to visit an inmate around the country with infrastructure agreement with it,” he said. will be reopened after disinfecting the the Government should intervene to during prison visiting hours, the families and other facilities built using Mahapola The proposal to increase the daily entire premises. remove all obstacles faced by private will also be able to schedule video calls funds. In return, the foreign universities wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,000 Meanwhile, another Covid-19-infected entrepreneurs when implementing with inmates. will pay a royalty fee of up to 20% of the was made during the first reading of person has been identified at the Kandy projects while providing all incentives This facility will enable inmates profit to Mahapola. Budget 2021 on 17 November by Prime General Hospital. needed in this regard. The Ministries who are not allowed to receive visitors Responding to questions about quality Minister and Minister of Finance Mahinda A member of the hospital staff has of Power and Energy are responsible physically to stay in touch with their assurance, Bandara said: “The quality of Rajapaksa. tested positive for the virus, according to for obtaining prior approval from other families. It would also ensure the safety these universities and investors will be hospital Director Dr. Iresha Fernando. institutions and awarding it to investors. and security of inmates as well the entire ensured and this project will not result in The President also said the Board of prison system. opening any substandard universities with Patient escapes... Investment (BOI) and the Ministries of This app has been developed by the minimal facilities.” Police Media Spokesman Deputy Areas in... Power and Energy should jointly take Planning and Information Technology University academic quarters are also to Inspector General (DIG) Ajith Rohana Accordingly, the Thotawatta area steps to explore investment opportunities Division of the Department of Prisons be established in parallel to this project, said the escapee had provided a false in Panadura (Kalutara District) and and implement projects expeditiously. on a concept of the Commissioner which will generate a separate income for address in Maradana to the hospital. the Alupotha area in Badalkumbura Solar power generation is to be done General of Prisons, with a pilot project Mahapola through the rent, said Bandara. “There was no such address in (Monaragala District) have been placed under several schemes and one of the launched on Tuesday (15) at the He added that generating income for Maradana. However, the Police has found under isolation. projects will be implemented to identify Angunakolapelessa Prison. Mahapola is the main goal behind this out that he is a resident of Grandpass and 100,000 Samurdhi families and to build project as “the fund has faced losses due addicted to drugs.