Sunday 29 November 2020 Latest Edition Vol: 10/02 Price : Rs 70.00 In Sports Under Lockdown, Scarcity Grips a Housing Project “We appreciate the President, Police and Tri-Forces for the lockdown and we understand how difficult the situation is, but we want the Government to understand that we are poor people and we are just demanding clean food.” A4

Tracking down overseas India’s NSA Doval LTTE fund raisers INTERPOL in Colombo Assistance Sought

– Weerasekara By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and the By W.K. Prasad Manju INTERPOL and Governments in those countries Maldives Defence Minister Mariya Didi were in Colombo to to take action against them. The Intelligence attend the Fourth National Level Trilateral Maritime Security Minister of Public Security, Rear Admiral Forces and the CID have also started to collect Meeting on 27 and 28 November. (Retired) Sarath Weerasekara said, on 27 information on such persons and their associates At the meeting, Doval was also expected to have high level November, assistance of the INTERPOL, the CID who live in . This information would be bilateral engagements with Sri Lanka’s leadership. and Intelligence Forces will be sought to track highly useful for future action. The two-day meeting focused on maritime security down and take action against those who collect The former United National Front-led cooperation in the Indian Ocean region, the Maldives and Sri funds for the LTTE overseas. Government had not taken any action regarding Lanka. “There are many persons who collected funds these persons and as a result, their network has for the LTTE in foreign countries. Since that is grown. But we will investigate and take action Story Continued on page 2 illegal, we hope to seek assistance from the against them,” he assured.

Alleged destruction of forests Shani transferred CEJ sends letters of demand By Risidra Mendis EIA/AGR/01/2020 dated 15 October to IDH 2020 has provided guidelines to the DG Former Director of the Criminal Investigations The Centre for Environmental Justice of the Mahaweli Authority for the Department (CID), SSP Shani Abeysekera, who (CEJ) has sent letters of demand to the proposed project without adhering to tested positive for COVID-19 recently, has been Director General (DG) of the Central the provisions of the National transferred from the Welikanda Hospital to the Environmental Authority (CEA), the Environmental Act (NEA),” Executive National Institute of Infectious Disease Hospital Mahaweli Authority, the Ministry of Director of the CEJ, Hemantha (IDH) in Angoda on 27 November. Environment and others, the Withanage claimed. alleged destruction of forests in He further claimed, around 5,828 Story Continued on page 2 Pollebadda, Maha Oya, for the proposed acres (2,359 hectares) are to be Agriculture and Livestock Development cultivated with maize under this project Project at Pollebadda-Rambakan Oya. and the land area is to be divided into “We have learnt that the DG of the parts of around 500 hectares and in Three Ministries CEA under the Reference Number 08/ turn handed over to a few persons. directed to stop Story Continued on page 2 pollution of Kelani River By Gagani Weerakoon and Methmalie Dissanayake Priest arrested

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) on over Maaveerar 26 November, directed three Ministries to work together and set up a mechanism to prevent water commemoration pollution in the Kelani River. The Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Water By T. Pratheepan (Jaffna Supply and the Ministry of Public Services, Correspondent) and K. Provincial Councils and Local Government were Saravanan (Batticaloa orrespondent ordered to set up a collaborative mechanism. C )

Story Continued on page 2 LTTE symbol Jaffna Police have arrested a Catholic Priest, while he was preparing to pay projected on homage to LTTE cadres who died in the war. Prof Dissanayake The Priest, known as Father UK House Bhaskaran, was arrested at 5:50 p.m. appointed SLMC Chair on 27 November, in front of the Jaffna of Parliament Diocese. Police said he was arrested as By Dilanthi Jayamanne A laser image depicting the flower he was preparing to pay homage to the gloriosa superba (niyangala in dead combatants and that he was taken Dean of the Colombo Medical Faculty, Professor Sinhalese and karthigaipoo in Tamil) to the Jaffna Police Station. Vajira Dissanayake was appointed by Health was projected on the UK House of In Batticaloa, in the Eastern Province, Minister as the new Parliament on Thursday, 26 four persons were arrested under the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC). November, along with the words,... Prevention of Terrorism Act for posting... Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 A2 sunday 29 november 2020 news

Continued from page 1 Priest arrested over...... photos of the slain LTTE Chenkallady, Chiththandi and In the meantime, the former Shani transferred to... Leader Veluppillai Morakattanchenai areas. A Northern Province Chief Prabhakaran and newly, appointed Development Minister and Tamil Makkal Abeysekera had been General to make Abeysekera’s family congratulating him on his Officer in a Divisional Thesiya Kootani MP C.V. sent to the Gallella arrangements to transfer informing the Commission birthday on Facebook. The Secretariat in the East was Wigneswaran paid homage to Treatment Centre for Abeysekera to the that they have no four persons were from also arrested. Police said that the LTTE dead at his residence prisoners after he tested Welikanda Hospital. information regarding the Eravur. One of the arrested they have identified 90 by lighting oil lamps. He said positive for the virus at the Opposition Leader Sajith status on his health (he was a retired civil servant, and persons who greeted the late that those who fought for the Mahara Prison. He had Premadasa on 27 November has multiple health issues) they were remanded on 26 LTTE Leader on Facebook, liberation of the Tamil people been reportedly transferred requested in Parliament or whereabouts. Given the November. The Police first adding that steps have been will live forever in the hearts of to the Welikanda Hospital that Abeysekera be concerns already conveyed identified the four from the taken to arrest them. the people. following a minor heart transferred to the IDH. regarding security issues condition. The and the threats to his life, Abeysekera was arrested HRCSL we ask you to take for allegedly fabricating made the immediate steps to take evidence in businessman request strong preventive measures Mohammed Siyam’s following to protect his life and LTTE symbol projected... murder case in 2013 in thereby secure Abeysekera, which ex-Deputy Inspector and to urgently ensure the ...‘We remember the heroes no less, then it begs the their violent terrorist General of Police Vaas best possible treatment at who fought for freedom from question whether the British activities, to project slogans Gunawardena and his son the nearest hospital Sri Lankan State genocide’, Government allows the on the symbol of British Ravindu Gunawardena treating persons infected as part of an event organised display of the images of other democracy, tantamount to were sentenced to death in by COVID-19, stated the by the LTTE front terrorist leaders, such as ISIS desecration of not only the 2015. letter signed by the organisations in the UK, to Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi House of Parliament, but the On 25 and 26 November, Commissioner in charge of commemorate the dead LTTE or Al-Qaeda Leader Osama very idea of democracy and the Human Rights Investigations and cadres. bin Laden? pluralism. Commission of Sri Lanka Inquiries, Ramani However, it would be Effigies of the vanquished The LTTE front (HRCSL) requested the Muttettuwegama urged. interesting to know whether terrorist leader, Velupillai organisations are allowed to Prisons Commissioner (MD) approval had been granted to Prabhakaran, and the flags of function freely in the U.K. the organisers, by relevant his now defunct terrorist and if the attitude of the U.K. authorities, to display this outfit had also been erected authorities towards them is image onto a UK Government in the UK including Wembley. lackadaisical, there will be building, given that The LTTE is singlehandedly serious consequences not permission of a number of responsible for developing only for Sri Lanka, which authorities is required to the now-famous suicide bore the brunt of LTTE’s display any image on a jacket, which they used to terrorism for three decades Three Ministries directed... building in the UK. wipe-out the political but also for the U.K., as these What is even more leadership of Sri Lanka, and outfits are already resolved to During the sitting, the the need to prevent pollution pollution issue. interesting is, if such a Prime Minister of India. radicalise the British Tamil COPE stated, the Kelani of the Kelani River as it is Chairman Dr. Charitha approval had not been They are also responsible youth and promote violent River, a major River in the directly linked to a number of Herath and Members, State granted, whether the British for the deaths of thousands extremism. History shows country and one which issues affecting the country, Ministers Susil law enforcement authorities of innocent civilians, for the that those who have supplies water to Colombo, especially the supply of Premajayantha and Ajith have initiated action against recruitment of children as mollycoddled terrorists and has been severely polluted drinking water, tourism and Nivard Cabraal, and those who are responsible for young as seven years as their fronts have always due to unauthorised urban development. Parliamentarians Eran this act. If indeed permission combatants, forcibly using learnt a bitter lesson. constructions and unlicensed The COPE met on 26 Wickramaratne, Jagath had been granted to display civilians as human shields. The world has seen much factories, restaurants and November to discuss the Pushpakumara, Premnath C. such images, on to the UK Allowing an outfit banned carnage due to terrorism and hotels. Environmental Audit Report Dolawatta and S.M. Marikkar House of Parliament building in a number of countries for violent extremism. The Committee stressed on on the Kelani River water were present.

India’s NSA Doval... Doval also met Prime Minister and was scheduled to meeting President as well. Meeting Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, Doval said the Government of India would extend its full support in reviving both nations and that despite the COVID-19 situation, development in the region, including Sri Lanka and India, should be prioritised. Premier Rajapaksa stated that housing projects have been implemented in the North and East and the upcountry areas with the assistance of the Indian Government and requested the support of the pandemic and that this has reduced the Government of India to commence such inflow of foreign currency. However, housing projects with a clear approach despite the fact that the economy needs while Doval reassured of the Indian to be strengthened in the face of the Government’s utmost support to these COVID-19 pandemic, strategies to causes. promote economic growth and Under the guidance of the Prime development are also being pursued by Minister of India, Narendra Modi, it was small countries in the region, he added. agreed at this meeting to adopt modern Doval’s arrival was on the invitation of technology and to focus on drinking the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, water supply projects initiated in India Major General (Retired) Kamal and to adopt such technology in Sri Gunaratne. Lanka. The other Indians officials in Colombo Doval said that due to the COVID-19 were Rear Admiral (Retired) Monty pandemic, many countries in the region Khanna, Deputy Military Advisor Amit had to face similar economic and social Narang, and Akshey Joshi, Akilesh problems but that economic revival and Jindal and Tejal Chandan. governance must continue in order to High Commissioner of India in overcome the obstacles of this Colombo, Gopal Baglay, together with pandemic. Doval said that despite the the Chief of Defence Staff, the COVID-19 epidemic, a lot of diplomatic Commander of the Army and the Head deliberations have been held virtually of the National Operations Centre for on the development of bilateral relations the Prevention of the COVID-19 and foreign affairs between leaders. Outbreak, Lieutenant General Furthermore, he also said that a lot of Shavendra Silva were at the immigrant workers, both in Sri Lanka Bandaranaike International Airport on and India, have lost their jobs due to the 27 November to welcome the delegation.

CEJ sends letters... “We have learned that around 500 “If the proposed development hectares has already been cleared and activities are utilising a forest cover that the CEA has issued the exceeding one hectare for non-forest aforementioned letter saying that if the uses, or clearing a forest cover of more development activities are within the than 50 hectares, an EIA process must land areas belonging to the Mahaweli be followed. The CEA has provided a Authority, there is no such need to Term of Reference (ToR) to the consider them for issuing an Mahaweli Authority along with the said Environmental Impact Assessment letter to submit only an Initial (EIA) approval,” Withanage explained. Environmental Examination (IEE). The He observed that instead of taking CEJ believes that the IEE is not action against the clearing of the forest adequate and that an EIA must be without an EIA, the CEA is issuing a done before starting the project,” set of guidelines that is contrary to the Withanage said. NEA, No.47 of 1980, as amended.

Prof. Dissanayake appointed... A Spokesman for the SLMC said, the to probe several allegations that had removal of the former President of the been levelled against them following SLMC, Prof. Harendra de Silva and the delisting of three Russian Medical four Council Members had been Faculties. carried out under the Sources said, the four members to recommendations made by the five be appointed by Wanniarachchi were member expert committee appointed yet to be named by her. news sunday 29 november 2020 A3

IGP assumes duties, meets President Easter Sunday PCoI Pujith gets emotional By Buddhika (CID) having informed that He also said that he was Samaraweera there could be a terrorist remanded for nearly four attack following the discovery months after the bombings Former Inspector General of a stock of explosives in the and was unable to attend his of Police (IGP), Pujith Wanathawilluwa area in son’s wedding. He lamented Jayasundara, who appeared Puttalam,Jayasundara said that although he had before the Presidential that he came to know of those requested the Prisons Commission of Inquiry into matters at the Commission. Department to allow him to the 21 April 2019, Easter “I came to know of these in attend it, no permission was Sunday bombings, for the the Commission. It is only granted. last time on 26 November, now that those matters seem “When considering the became emotional while to be merging technically. evidence before this giving evidence. There was only a memory of Commission, everyone knows When questioned as to why them at that time,” he said. where, how and when it went he had not paid sufficient He further said that he wrong,” he added. attention despite the then came to know about the Commission. “I do not At Jayasundara’s request, Chandana Deepal Wickramaratne assumed duties as the 35th Inspector General of Police (IGP) on 27 November at the Police Headquarters. Senior Deputy Inspector investigations conducted by remember if I was informed the last part of his final Meanwhile, Wickramaratne met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the General of Police Ravi the CID into the killing of two about them. I don’t know if testimony before the Presidential Secretariat on the same day. The President congratulated the Seneviratne, of the Criminal Police officers in the someone told them not to Commission was not open to new IGP and presented him with a souvenir. (TR) Investigations Department Vavunathivu area, at the inform me,” he said. the media.

COPF told 74% of estimated fiscal revenue in hand

The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury, S.R. Attygalle on 26 November told the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) that 74 per cent of the estimated fiscal revenue of 2020 has been received so far. The Government has received Rs 1,124 billion out of the expected total revenue of Rs 1,580 billion. The Committee met in Parliament on 26 November. Chairman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Members, State Minister and MPs, President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, Dr. , , Anupa Pasqual and Sahan Pradeep attended. The Committee met to review the allocation of funds within six weeks of the presentation of the Budget in accordance with Standing Order 121 and to submit a report to the Parliament on the estimate. Dr. de Silva pointed out that it is very important that all data related to the Budget be extremely accurate as it will have a severe impact on the future economic situation, both locally and internationally. At this juncture, the COPF Chairman queried Attygalle as to whether there could be any positive expectations regarding the revenue for 2020. In response, Attygalle said, while the economic downturn in the first quarter of the year was real, expectations for the second and third quarters were very positive. Committee Members said, if the data were correct, the economy would be in a good state. All the Committee Members in attendance also agreed to present the second report on the Budget in the future. Meanwhile, the Chairman informed the Committee that the MPs Hesha Withanage and have resigned from the Committee. (GW and MD)

Fitch downgrades Sri Lanka By Paneetha Ameresekere

The United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom (UK) based Fitch Credit Rating Agency downgraded Sri Lanka’s credit rating to a junk rating of ‘CCC’ on 27 November. ‘The downgrade reflects Sri Lanka's increasingly challenging external- debt repayment position over the medium term. In particular, a sharp rise in the sovereign debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio associated with the COVID-19 shock and narrowing financing options which have heightened debt sustainability risks,’ it said. ‘Sri Lanka's external funding needs are substantial over the medium term, and in our view, risks to the sovereign's ability to meet its external-debt service obligations have increased. The Government's external-debt obligations amount to US$ 23.2 billion between 2021 and 2025 or about $ four billion annually, against foreign exchange (FX) reserves at end-October of just $ 5.9 billion. The sovereign's financing and debt service challenges are exacerbated by its existing financing model, which has resulted in very high general Government interest costs to revenues ratios. The average interest cost to revenue ratio from 2016 to 2020 is about 50 per cent, substantially above the 'CCC' peer median of about 11 per cent,’ it said. A4 sunday 29 november 2020 focus Under Lockdown, Scarcity Grips a Colombo Housing Project Residents slam relief programme; officials call bluff

By Thameenah Razeek these appeals and that they would looking to them, adding that they “We appreciate the President, Police distribute the ration package or and Tri-Forces for the lockdown and allowance based on the we understand how difficult the recommendation made by the relevant situation is, but we want the Grama Niladhari. He further added Government to understand that we are that Rs 110 million has already been poor people and we are just demanding allocated for the distribution of the clean food.” Rs 10,000 ration packs. He also said An agitated mother, Shermila, cried that if anyone feels that they have not over the hunger her family is faced been given what they deserve, they can with due to the low quality food they still contact the local Grama Niladhari got as rations for 14 days. “It is a and clarify the matter, adding also that disgrace that a resident of the the appeals need not always be in the Methsada Sevana housing complex, form of a written document but could which is in a lockdown area, is also be made via a phone call. expected to eat ‘low-quality’ food,” Shermila cried her eyes out every time Double whammy she narrated her sad story. She is According to the Consumer Affairs desperate without milk powder to feed Authority (CAA), as a State-run her infant and having nothing but rice authority, they have no jurisdiction to with pieces of onions for meals. examine any consumer items “The announcements said the poor distributed by Government who are under quarantine will receive agencies nor conduct raids on a handful of dry food and other items them. Director of Consumer from the Government. Is this what we Affairs and Information, get? We are not animals. And, why Asela Bandara said should we eat date-expired food with that they will not worms in it? Is it the middlemen who investigate the are benefiting?” said Shermila. Government issued Shermila’s husband, Ravi, pulled us if we claim that these goods are specific on relief packs out the sealed package which the unacceptable. Already we are framed what and because they trust rations came in and clearly showed as ones who are being dramatic and where, so we that those that the distributors have pasted a that we are planting these worms in can say what Government forged expiry date over the original the rice after we got them. We have no happened so agencies will never date. He also showed us the moving need to do such things. We are poor we can pose distribute worms in the dry fish they received and we are not ashamed to say so. But the question anything that is of and described how disgusting the we will never accept being called liars,” with the housing poor quality or in a smell was. he sobbed. complex name shortage. He noted “For the past two days, there has The mother of three sobbed over the and the people,” he that they can only take been a scarcity of food. Not enough inability to provide nutrients to her said. Yasaratne also actions against those rations are supplied. It is not just us, children and said that the children are mentioned that the ration Government agencies, if around 100 others did not get the nauseated by the food rations. She The announcements packs can be distributed someone lodges a complaint with Rs 10,000-worth relief package. We also said that the gram the either by Lanka Sathosa or the them. were promised we’d receive the Rs Government had provided is not fit for said the poor who Kolonnawa Co-Operative Mart. The ugly truth is that these residents 10,000-worth ration pack, but we only consumption and cannot even be are under Without looking into the allegations, under lockdown are facing a double got something that was worth just cooked. “We owe each and every Yasaratne condemned the residents whammy due to the inability to Rs 7,500. We do not know who the person around us and now we have quarantine will for revealing the irregularities to the complaint against the shortage of middleman benefiting from all this is, nothing to do but to eat what is being receive a handful Media instead of coming out and rations and their poor quality and but it is we who are suffering,” provided. But the children won’t eat it. lodging a proper complaint, ignoring having to be confined at home. The Shermila’s husband Ravi said, adding If their father can engage in some of dry food and the fact that the residents are under residents were put under lockdown that some neighbours’ did receive the trade, my kids can eat something other items from lockdown. He denied, at every point, following a sudden announcement and listed items labelled on the ration edible. These lawmakers are just that there was anything bad in the they did not have the time to buy all pack, which they did not get. jabbering lies in the Parliament,” she the Government. Is ration packs since the food suppliers the goods they needed in time. said. this what we get? are State-run companies. CAA is the apex Government Unsuitable for The Government claimed that they Reliable sources said that they’ve organisation mandated to protect consumption are giving free rations to 65,700 people We are not animals. witnessed Grama Niladaris visiting the consumer interests and ensure fair living in the vicinity of the Colombo And, why should Divisional Secretariat several times to market competition in Sri Lanka. It In a bid to help the public during the Divisional Secretariat and promised inform them of the problem. Sources has been established under the lockdown, the Government launched 10,000 and 5,000 ration packs we eat date-expired also noted that the Lanka Sathosa has Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 09 several programmes, including the regardless the residents are food with worms in provided date-expired items to the of 2003. The Act has laid down the well-known Rs 5,000 allowance given quarantined or not. However, Modara, Colombo Divisional Secretariat after legal provisions empowering the CAA to those living in areas under lockdown Madampitiya, Maligawatte and it? Is it the the GA refused to procure goods from to take necessary actions to safeguard and the delivering of essential food Sumithrapura residents have the Kolonnawa Co-Operative Mart. the interests of consumers while items and drugs to their homes. As complained that there is a shortage of middlemen who are Nevertheless, it was also revealed that maintaining effective competition part of these initiatives, the rations and the food provided is of poor benefiting? the relief packs distributed by the among suppliers of goods and services. Government recently announced that quality. Kolonnawa Co-Operative Mart had a Their corporate value is the trust, Rs 10,000 worth of essential goods will “Whoever consumes any prepared shortage of items. honesty and integrity and be provided to people who are in self- food using these essential items, Contemplating the situation, accountability which has been violated quarantine in their homes. provided by the Government, will Yasartane sugar coated the situation here in public, but still the While the lockdown has adversely definitely get sick; or at least get saying that those rations are of good Government organisation’s wings are affected the population, it has without diarrhoea for two days. Most times the quality and that Government agencies clipped that they cannot probe a doubt disproportionately affected the victims are elderly people and small Unfortunately, he is also under would never provide something that is irregularities of the State. poor and those with low-income. Even children,” alleged Ravi. He claimed quarantine after coming into contact below good quality. Not only the CAA’s, but also the though the Government claims that that he suffered from stomach aches with a COVID-19 patient. The Colombo District Secretariat is wings of Public Health Inspectors’ are they have tried every option to and vomited twice after eating the dry Generally, most residents in the liable to provide comfort and clipped. When contacted, the Senior overcome the crisis, people seem to be fish and drinking the powdered milk housing complex have phoned the accommodation to more than 600,000 Public Health Officer to Colombo not satisfied with the rations nor the provided by the Government. Grama Niladhari as they cannot meet citizens living in area. The Government District noted that since the relief relief packs the Government “If this is how they distribute food, him in person. The Grama Niladhari has made all the preparations and packs were delivered by a third party, distributes. people here will go crazy and kill has informed that he will talk to the allocations to provide relief including they are unable to get a proper However, the people eligible for themselves. Hunger is a bigger devil for District Secretary in Colombo rations for the people who have lost response even if the resident who Rs 10,000 worth of goods recently us,” he added. regarding this situation. their livelihood or are being received poor quality rations lodges a lamented that the quality of what they However, these people are from a Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Podujana quarantined. complaint. received was unacceptable. Several lockdown area where they do not have Peramuna Youth Federation Secretary Calling the intentions of the people Amid such discrepancies, the persons who received it told Ceylon access to livelihood, mobility, housing, Hasith Dharshana said that an demanding the Rs 5,000 allowance or General Treasury has allocated Today that the package, prepared by nutrition, sanitation, and healthcare. inconsistency in the Rs 10,000 ration the Rs 10,000 rations as ‘baseless and Rs 7.56 billion (Rs 7564.71 million) to Sathosa and distributed by Divisional People who live without a proper packages have also been reported in dramatic’, Yasaratne noted that as a provide relief to the public while Secretariats and Grama Niladharis, income and suffer from inability to put the Madiwala area where people under State-run institute, they have quarantine process is in progress. The contained food that was unsuitable for food on the table, have to depend on self-quarantine had received rations performed their role to the fullest even Government has provided relief packs consumption and was not up to unreliable rations or insufficient relief that are not worth Rs 10,000. He said thought people are ‘staging a show’ of dry rations to a total of 43,376 standards. goods. Even during the curfew period, that he will lodge a complaint urging before the camera and Media to draw families quarantined in their homes Edmond, who is a labourer from people were able to get their daily wage for a thorough investigation in a bid to attention towards themselves. islandwide. The total sum spent for Sath Hiru Sevana in Modara and a by engaging in some sort of work. find the individuals who are Even though the GA said that they this purpose is Rs 438.76 million. father of three, claimed that the food When asked if they had lodged any profiteering from the crisis. have finished distributing Rs 10,000 While praising President Gotabaya items they received were not worth complaint with anyone or informed Denial ration packs to 12,248 individuals, he Rajapaksa’s idea to deliver ration Rs 10,000. To make matters worse, it about this issue, Shermila noted that noted more than 37,000 individuals packs door to door, most people was also reported that some who the lockdown has left them Pradeep Yasaratne, the Government have sent appeals to relevant insisted that the Government should consumed the food items had got food handicapped without means to inform Agent (GA) of Colombo denied all authorities requesting that officials fix a proper system to ensure that they poisoning. “My child almost fainted anyone but said that at least two allegations made by residents of the grant them the Rs 5,000 allowance. are not feeding ‘poison’ to people who after drinking the milk prepared with residents have notified the chairman of housing complex. “We are distributing However, the Colombo District are depending on the Government for those milk powders. No one will believe their housing complex regarding this. many rations packets and please be Secretariat said they have received their only meal till the lockdown ends. news sunday 29 november 2020 A5 Restricting Media a blow to democracy – JJB Artistes Artistes attached to the Jathika Jana Media institutions are there to provide Police custody. This is a very Balawegaya (JJB) noted that any information to the people. He added unfortunate situation. There are a large restriction on the Media would that if the people have a right to number of artistes who face such constitute a deadly blow to democratic information, they should think economic difficulties.” rights. seriously about this. Another member of the association, Member of the executive committee of “Today, artistes who are engaged in Keerthi Welisarage, proposed that the an association of artistes, affiliated to many fields are facing difficulties. The Government implement a programme the JJB, Jayathilaka Kammallaweera best example is actor Wilson that meets the basic needs of artistes claimed that a situation has arisen Karunarathne, who had waited in a including those in rural areas. where Court orders are obtained queue to get Rs 5,000 without even a The duo spoke at a Media briefing against Media institutions whereas facemask and therefore was taken into held in Battaramulla on 26 November.

SJB MPs attack Govt’s Foreign Policy President By Nabiya Vaffoor precaution due to the current situation, but this affects the meets The country is in the middle of income of the school transport an international power struggle sources since the Government’s new Chief due to the wrong foreign policy of hasn’t reduced the price of petrol the incumbent Government, or diesel,” he added. Prelate claimed Samagi Jana Meanwhile, SJB MP Sujith Balawegaya (SJB) Perera noted that Sri Lankans President Gotabaya Parliamentarian J.C. who work abroad should be Rajapaksa called on Alawathuwala. brought back to our country at a the newly appointed “Despite the country’s lower cost. Chief Prelate of the Sri situation due to the COVID-19, He also alleged that as soon as “Most of these workers have Lanka Ramanna delegations from various this Government came to power, lost their jobs and are Nikaya (Sect), Ven. countries visited our country for they sold the three-acre land experiencing income-related Makulewe Wimala negotiations. First a Chinese behind the Shangri-La Hotel. problems because of the Thera. delegation, then an American Meanwhile, they have identified pandemic. Some workers from The President, who delegations, and currently the the most valuable 200 acres Kuwait claim that they have on 27 November, National Security Advisor to the around Colombo and are taking been asked to pay over visited the Vidyawasa Prime Minister of India, Ajit steps to sell them off, he further Rs 400,000 to return to Sri Pirivena in Minioluwa, Doval is visiting Sri Lanka. We alleged. Lanka including tickets and the Mirigama, where the have a suspicion that the He opined that though the quarantine fee. Usually, it only monk resides, extended Government is taking steps to Government informs the public costs Rs 60,000 for the ticket fee his best wishes to the sell the Eastern Jetty of the to send the children to schools, from Kuwait to Sri Lanka. This is newly appointed Chief Colombo harbour to India. The they do not have any effective another scam,” he alleged. Prelate. trade unions took many plans to protect the children. Fielding a question raised by a Appreciating the precautions to stop this and “The Government hasn’t journalist regarding the Suwa service rendered by the even the Prime Minister provided the provisions that Seriya ambulance service, Sect to the Buddhist negotiated with them and were promised to be provided to Perera added that this service clergy and the nation, promised a lot of things before schools to cover the extra was being neglected by the President Rajapaksa the General Election. But now expenses they have to bear to Government since it was the said that he and the this Government has taken sanitise the school and make former United National Front-led Government would steps to repress the trade unions changes according to the Government that introduced it. extend their fullest by making a former Army COVID-19 health guidelines. Perera and Alawathuwala support to continue Commander, the Chairman of The Government has limited the expressed these views on 27 this endeavour. the Ports Authority,” he further passengers who can travel in a November at a Media briefing claimed. school bus or van as a held at the SJB headquarters. A6 SUNDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2020 FOCUS

BY SULOCHANA RAMIAH MOHAN

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to take its toll on the country unscrupulous elements have begun making hay while the sun shines in the form of illegal sand mining. Sand mining has been taking place unabated in the Chandanamadu Aaru area in Eravur in the Batticaloa District. It has become an open secret that such activities were going on where a cargo train fitted with 19 carriages was seen transporting sand to Colombo in the last month with over 500 tippers being used to load the sand onto the train. Sand mining on the banks of this river was highlighted about five years ago but there were permits issued by the Divisional Secretariats at the time. However, there are those who Ceylon Today obtained a claim the way sand mining was letter by Divisional Secretary carried out in the area went Eravur Pattu Chenkalladi N. beyond the approved limits. Vilvartanam addressed to The river banks have widened the regional GSMB officer and flattened over the years as a dated 2 November 2020 result of sand mining. Whether stating that based on public it is legal or illegal, the sand demand from the areas of mining activities has caused Maiylavaattan, Siththandi much tension among the area and Uppaaru not to issue residents. sand mining permits. He The practice of sand mining in said by issuing permits it itself is perfectly legal and is in has caused immense fact encouraged by the inconvenience to the authorities and when the river villagers and such permits accumulates sand beds it can be are illegal and urged the removed and the Geological GSMB to immediately halt Survey and Mines Bureau sand mining in the river. Can (GSMB) sells permits to remove all legal sand mining permits the excess sand from the river so be accepted as legal? This is that river can flow freely and the question tabled by the excess water can then be Rampant people of the Eastern diverted to areas where there is Province. a lack of water. However, geologists at the GSMB are entrusted with the task of monitoring how much GSMB officials sand is removed from a say sand permits legal particular riverbed when sand Sand Mining in mining takes place. As soon as Ceylon Today’s attempts the required amount of sand is to talk to GSMB Chairman removed, the sand mining Anura Walpola and Actg. licence is cancelled. Likewise, Director General Eng. D. the GSMB keep issuing licences Sajjana De Silva failed. whenever sand needs to be East Causing However one of the reduced once again. Regional GSMB officials The sand mining practice in said he was willing to clarify Batticaloa on a 9 km stretch of some of the questions in-between Eravur and Kiran in posed by Ceylon Today to the Chandanamadu Aaru had their Chairman. According been destroyed rapidly by the Distress to People to the GSMB official, the constant removal of sand. sand permits are legal and In recent years there have transporting sand from been issues about this method Eravur is also legal and of sand mining using tipper Enormous amounts Legality of sand Hemachandra Associates trucks or tractors as these was issued with the Trading vehicles sometimes traversed Licence by the GSMB. across private lands on their of sand transported mining permits by However, he was not issued way down to the river to a sand mining permit. transport the sand. The official added that so Such activities had drawn to Colombo by train GSMB questioned far the train from Eravur protests from people in the had transported sand to villages by the river and as Colombo on three occasions recently as two weeks ago a and a total of 300 cubes of tractor that was transporting sand were brought to sand knocked down a youth at a Colombo, 100 cubes of place called Kithul in the sand on each occasion. Chenkalladi area, some 10km from Batticaloa. The youth succumbed to his injuries. Colombo. Even earlier there had been According to him, only two protests against sand mining sand mining permits are issued taking place. Approximately for this area one being for 100 three months ago a PS member, Cubes and the other for 500 Muralitharan, was assaulted by Cubes of sand but this person a sand mafia gangster when he were in a quandary about who remained silent about it. According to reports a allegedly transports over 3000 went to investigate the actions of gave permission to transport “There are over 20 villages backhoe is used at the station to cubes of sand openly and uses the sand miners. He had also sand by train to Colombo. situated along the river and we load the sand onto the carriages about 400 tippers filled with succumbed to his injuries after Apparently, the sand is off- have been protesting for the last of the train. river sand which is transported being hospitalised. Villagers say loaded at the Maradana station’s five years but to no avail”, In recent years Another area where such in the open to the railway the suspects are out on bail. cargo section and there is President of the Batticaloa Civil activities are taking place is the station. However, the sand mining speculation that it is to be used Society Forum, S. there have been Paalan Medu area where sand He alleged that Eravur PS hasn’t stopped. In fact it has for the Port City Development Sivayoganathan lamented. Due mining is taking place unabated, Secretary N. Vilvaratnam, M. increased in intensity. In the last Project. to excess sand removal several issues about this so much so that the main bridge Muralitharan and Kiran PS month alone a new train service When Ceylon Today called the villages were experiencing method of sand has now tilted to a side due to Secretary Rajbabu know about has been arranged to transport GSMB hotline 1921 that flooding during heavy rains and the reckless removal of sand the illegal sand mining practices sand to Colombo beginning its registers complaints on illegal in Siththandi it affected the mining using from underneath the bridge. that were taking place. journey from the Eravur Railway mining (rocks, sand, soil or any people’s lives. People along the tipper trucks or According to Yoganathan they When Ceylon Today contacted Station. other mineral), an official said river banks planted 50,000 have on several occasions tried PS Secretary Rajbabu, he said Hanging on the front of the that she had ‘heard’ about a palmyrah saplings so that it tractors as these to lodge a complaint in this nothing of that sort is train is a board whing reads train transporting loads of sand would control sand erosion and regard with the Eravur Police happening in the Kiran area but “Hemachandra Associates” and from Batticaloa to Colombo. today all those trees have been vehicles but they had refused to record M. Muralitharan, a PS member the man who is engaged in the When asked whether there is a destroyed, posing a real danger sometimes the complaint or avoided the from Eravur Chenkalladi, said sand mining business claims complaint regarding it at the to private lands. issue saying they would inquire nearly 40 rural associations and that he is an official from the GSMB, she said she would have He also stated that two traversed across into it, saying they have given societies signed a petition about Prime Minister’s office. to check on it and get back to months ago when Minster of private lands on up. the illegal sand mining taking This seems to have some truth me. Environment Mahinda “We now intend to inform the place and handed it over to the in it as when the sand When Ceylon Today asked an Amaraweera visited Batticaloa, a their way down GSMB of what is taking place GSMB, Divisional Secretaries, transporting train was launched environmental activist and a petition on illegal sand mining officially,” Yoganathan said. Tamil MPs and Government a month ago, there was an civil society member in was submitted to him and even to the river to Apparently, the same person Agents and the Divisional invitation issued to the GSMB Batticaloa about the sand MP transport the engaged in sand mining in the Secretariat of Chenkalladi had officials to attend the launch mining that was taking place Shanakiyan Rasamanickam had Eravur area has been engaging responded stating they would ceremony of sand transportation unabated, he said even the informed him about the illegal sand in the same business in look into it. from Eravur to Colombo. Divisional Secretariats were sand mining that is going on in Polonnaruwa until the The Ceylon Today is in At that time GSMB officials aware of what was going on but the district. He also highlighted authorities put a stop to it after possession of a letter dated 20 it in Parliament recently. several Police complaints were October written by the civil The villagers say the sand lodged into his illegal activities, society of Siththandi, mafia continue to flourish with the culprits continue with sand it was alleged. Mavadivembu and the support of officials in the mining elsewhere after finishing An eye-witness to the illegal Vantharumullai areas to GSMB government departments and the place where they get the sand mining activities taking Technical Services (Pvt) Ltd, a that the Pradeshiya Sabha permit to remove the sand. Also place in Eravur, who wanted to subsidiary of the GSMB, where issues permits but does not if they are asked to remove 100 stay anonymous, stated that it was informed about the monitor whether the sand cubes of sand they remove 250 Hemachandra Associates has impending natural disaster and mining is taking place in a and at the same time if the been working closely with top threat to the environment and proper manner. permit is for 500 cubes of sand, politicians and their family villages in and around the When the GSMB approves the these sand mafia gangsters members and even now it is Kiranpul Anicut due to sand issuance of the sand mining make sure they remove more noticeable the amount of sand mining taking place in a permit the PS have work than 3000 cubes of sand and accumulating at the railway haphazard manner. There are according to it. However, those that is what could be seen piled station and it’s beyond the about 4,000 ha of paddy land permits are misused, up at the Eravur Railway stipulated amount of sand that that could be destroyed as a Yoganathan alleged. He claimed Station. is allowed to be brought to result, Muralitharan noted. News Sunday 29 November 2020 A7 60 yrs as proposed age of retirement TUs To Back Proposal on Optional Basis and EPF Access

By Ruwan Laknath Representing the aforesaid unemployment benefit Jayakody Union, Anton Marcus, scheme. Also, the percentage speaking to Ceylon Today, of senior citizens in the Unions representing workers outlined the timely need to population is increasing. In in free trade zones, industries raise the retirement age limit, today’s day and age, the and also seafarers, declared citing the increase in life societal reality is that parents that whilst there is a pertinent expectancy in both males and have become a burden on need to raise the age of females (higher for females children and as a result, we retirement in the private and than males) and thereby the know of instances where they semi-Government sector and lengthening of the duration in seek employment, post- to establish it statutorily, the which they have no retirement, through manpower age of retirement should employment, post-retirement agencies and even as security however, be entirely optional, and a concomitant absence of guards.” not mandatory, and thereby a primary source of income, Marcus also pointed out that not affect the right to access the lack of a pension and if it is made mandatory, the and withdraw funds from the unemployment benefit scheme labour turnover would be high Employees’ Provident Fund for the private sector, and the among workers in places like (EPF). increase in the percentage of trade zones, and that this in The Free Trade Zones and senior citizens in the turn would create a situation General Services Employees’ population. where there could be a Union noted that they had “Right now, at the ages of 50 shortage in labour to work in taken this stance during and 55 years, females and factories. discussions held, regarding males, respectively, withdraw “Ultimately, our position is the same in the past, at the the balance of their EPF funds that the EPF is composed of National Labour Advisory and spend it on matters such the employees’ money and that Council. as the weddings of their the Government has no right Although there is no age of children and the like. In terms to make a call on it without retirement established by law of life expectancy, it is between consulting them first. We will and applicable to the private 50 to 70 years for both sexes, not allow the EPF to be sector at present, currently, it and that means that post- touched. We expect that the is 50 years for females and 55 retirement at present, females Commissioner General of for males, at which ages they have about another 25 years Labour will, as mentioned can access and withdraw the while males have around 20 elsewhere, summon a balance of their EPF funds. years to live (there are tripartite forum with the The Appropriation Bill of exceptions to both). This is a Department of Labour, the 2021/Budget of 2021 has long time to stay without a job employers and their union, proposed raising the and thereby a source of income and the employees and their retirement age to 60 years. in the absence of a pension or unions to decide on this.”

New SLAF Contingent Deployed in Africa

The sixth Aviation Contingent, of the Sri Lanka The traditional handing over and taking over Air Force, deployed at Bria, under the United parade was conducted where the Contingent Nations Multidimensional Integrated Commander of the fifth Contingent, Wing Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Commander Kushan Wanniarachchi, handed Republic (MINUSCA) took over the command of over the command to the Contingent the Sri Lanka Aviation Unit in the locality on 25 Commander of the sixth deployment, Wing November, the SLAF said on 27 November. Commander Sumeda Samarasekara. (PA) A8 sunday 29 november 2020 Editorial Editorial sunday 29 november 2020 A9

India’s Prime Minister allowance to more than 25,000 Narendra Modi congratulated individuals in the Colombo District, the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Colombo District Secretariat has on the first anniversary of the received these appeals, adding that latter’s assumption of Office. they are yet to look into them. He said, via a letter that the Yasaratne noted that they distribute India-Sri Lanka relationship Rs 10,000 worth of rations or the Rs had expanded into new areas 5,000 allowance, according to the and was strengthened in the recommendations made by the relevant past one year. Modi underlined, Will Ranil Return Grama Niladhari. He further added Ceylon Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. the strong collaboration that Rs 110 million has already been No: 101, Rosmead Place, Colombo 07. between the two countries in the allocated for the distribution of the Rs At the meeting, Editorial Tel: 0117566522, 0117566526, 0117566527 midst of challenges posed by the 10,000 worth of rations. COVID-19 pandemic He added that the rations are the Party had also Fax: 0117566545 symbolising the friendly ties prepared by the Lanka Sathosa. “The discussed the Marketing Manager: 0117566550, 0117566551 between the two peoples. allowances and rations will be Circulation Manager: 0117566580, 0117566581 Modi reiterated India’s distributed to families under filling of its E-mail : [email protected] commitment to support Sri quarantine and to low income families,” Lanka’s fight against the he said. National List post COVID-19 pandemic as well as While noting that the protests that in Parliament and in Sri Lanka’s development were conducted regarding the rations priorities. He also expressed to Parliament? or the allowances were baseless, a majority of confidence that under the Yasaratne said that if anyone feels that decisive leadership of they have not been given what they activists had Reopening Rajapaksa, full potential of the deserve, they can still contact the area bilateral relationship will be Grama Niladhari and clarify the urged the Party realised. Modi wished the TNA MP wishes ‘his leader’happy birthday matter, adding also that the appeals Leader to fill the President success in the tenure need not always be in the form of a Schools and ahead and looked forward to written document but could also be vacancy. continued close cooperation. made via a phone call. A few days later, on Friday It was during this (27), India’s National Security PBJ’s letter raises Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and the in Parliament, Govt. remains mum concern meeting that, O/L Exam Maldives Defence Minister Mariya Didi were in Colombo to Secretary to the President, Dr. P.B. former MPs The health and education authorities decided to attend the Fourth National Level The 21st century is National Party the Ministry of Law and Order for four Premadasa not to instigate people.” Jayasundera, sending a letter to the Arjuna reopen schools for the third term last week. Trilateral Maritime Security considered as the knowledge- said party seniors are determined to years and had weakened the Premadasa: “I do not instigate Heads of all State banks, financial Accordingly, apart from the schools in the Western Meeting on 27 and 28 centric century. In order to finalise the appointment and build a intelligence services by imprisoning anyone. These are the real problems institutions and State institutions, Ranatunga, Province and those in areas under lockdown or November. make this a reality strong support base from grassroots Intelligence Officers. He said he could people are facing at the moment. It is has stated that all ongoing isolation outside of the Western Province, were High Commissioner of India in ‘Saubhagyaye Dekma’ Policy levels. not do in four months what the UNF sad that the Government thinks that advertisement and publicity reopened for academic activities in the Grades 6 to 13, Colombo Gopal Baglay, together Statement envisages building a Meanwhile, former MP Akila Viraj Government had not done in four speaking about these things is campaigns in such institutions and Vajira on Monday. with the Chief of Defence Staff, technology-based society, a Kariyawasam resigned from his post as years. tantamount to instigating people.” should be deferred temporarily. On the first few days, the attendance at almost all the Commander of the Army statement from President’s the General Secretary of the UNP Commissioner: “Were you aware Semasinghe: “You were speaking He has stated that instead, all Abeywardene had the reopened schools was dismal. Parents were and the Head of the National Office stated. earlier last week. that during your tenure, about giving Rs 20,000 for a family finances incurred for these activities apprehensive to send their children to school due to Operations Centre for the It added, “All economic sectors He said if the Party Leader does not Parliamentarians and Ministers were even during the Election time. But the should be channelled to the demanded in one the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus. Some Prevention of the COVID-19 including agriculture, industry allow him to tender his resignation involved in the forcible acquisition of people rejected you.” development programmes of the schools where normally a few hundred students would Outbreak, Lieutenant General and services will become letter, it would be sent to him through land in areas such as the Vanni and Premadasa: “I am glad that Government. voice that attend classes, last week there was barely a dozen. Shavendra Silva were at the technology dependent in the some other means. Batticaloa and the construction of Semasinghe accepted that the Concerns were raised about this Wickremesinghe In the meantime, nearly 30 students and 14 teachers Bandaranaike International future. The Government seeks Kariyawasam had submitted his Muslim villages and mosques there?” Government has no intention to matter as this would lead many in two schools in Ambalangoda, in the Galle District Airport on 27 November to to integrate investment in resignation letter to the Party Leader, Witness: “Some Ministers used their increase the monetary relief. Thank private Media institutions into should heed their had to be directed to self-quarantine as the parents of welcome the delegation. education with economic when the party management political power to clear forests and you for that.” financial crisis and thereby two students in the same family were tested positive The other Indian officials in initiated in India and to adopt trilateral discussions among sectors to create a society armed committee, which was formed cultivate lands. Some Ministers were Semasinghe: “Now, you are twisting jeopardising lives of thousands of pleas and head to for the virus. The parents were already in self-isolation Colombo were Rear Admiral such technology in Sri Lanka. India, Sri Lanka and the with new technology in the 21st temporarily, convened at Sirikotha. angry with me when I tried to suppress what I said and misleading the people. Media workers Parliament and were scheduled to undergo PCR tests. However, (Retired) Monty Khanna, Deputy Doval said, due to the COVID- Maldives. century. President intends to He had mentioned that he was them. I tried a lot to control it. But as I did not say that we would not Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP they had sent their children to schools, disregarding all Military Adviser Amit Narang, 19 pandemic, many countries in Opposition Samagi Jana build a culture of technology resigning from his portfolio for the there were certain divisions within the increase the relief. Ours is a who was also the advice given by the health authorities. and Akshey Joshi, Akilesh the region had to face similar Balawegaya (SJB) innovation that will enhance the Party Leader to restructure the Party Government, some were against me. It responsible Government. People voted a former journalist raising concerns Due to their thoughtless actions, the two schools Jindal and Tejal Chandan. economic and social problems Parliamentarian Chaminda living standards of the people. and to also facilitate the process of was difficult for me to deal with that for us because they believe we can about the matter in Parliament said had to be disinfected and sanitised before admitting The two-day meeting focused but that economic revival and Wijesiri attempted to raise a “Simplification of State appointing new faces to the key posts situation.” protect them. We will not let them there should be a fair mechanism to students to the classes. on maritime security governance must continue in question in Parliament on the machinery and market process, of the Party. Commissioner: “Islamist extremists down.” give advertisements of State Soon after the reopening, the schools in the Kandy cooperation in the Indian Ocean order to overcome the obstacles visit and if it was linked to the expansion of digital governance Having kept the resignation letter rose without hindrance during your More than 37,000 persons have, by institutions to all Media stations. Municipality area had to be closed due to the rising region, the Maldives and Sri of this pandemic. Doval said, Colombo Port East Terminal. through the use of information aside, Party Leader Wickremesinghe tenure. How did that happen?” Tuesday (24), sent appeals to the He was speaking at the Committee number of cases in the region. The same was reported Lanka. despite the COVID-19 epidemic, However, Speaker Mahinda technology as a tool for had stated that General Secretaries Witness: “The reason is the authorities requesting that they be Stage debate on the Appropriation from Kilinochchi, where a high number of cases were Doval also met Prime Minister a lot of diplomatic deliberations Yapa Abeywardena refused to knowledge exchange are cannot be appointed offhand. protection given to them by Muslim granted the Rs 5,000 allowance, Bill 2021. The Expenditure Head of reported. Mahinda Rajapaksa and was have been held virtually on the allow the MP to raise the priorities of the newly Kariyawasam told Media that though political leaders. Certain political Colombo District Secretary Pradeep the Mass Media Ministry was poo in Tamil) was projected on the In another instance, this newspaper reported that scheduled to meeting President development of bilateral question, saying it was not in established Ministry. he had resigned, he would not leave parties are based on religion, race, Yasaratne said. debated. UK House of Parliament on when a student had collapsed due to fatigue during Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well. relations and foreign affairs line with the Standing Orders of Establishment of international party politics altogether, and vowed ethnicity and language. It is a great He said that even though they have Speaking further Nanayakkara Thursday, 26 November, along with the morning assembly of one school, none of the Meeting PM Rajapaksa, Doval between leaders. Furthermore, Parliament. electronic payment schemes, that he would continue his politics with disaster for the country. I did not care already distributed the Rs 5,000 said, “These days, only Media the words, ‘We remember the heroes teachers or fellow students had approached the fallen said, the Government of India he also said, a lot of immigrant Wijesiri objected saying he high-speed data exchange the UNP. about the power of religion at the level stations which favour the who fought for freedom from Sri student, in fear that the student maybe COVID-19 would extend its full support in workers, both in Sri Lanka and had a right to raise the matter system and associated mobile When Kariyawasam had attempted of political parties. I did not give any Government and the State Media Lankan State genocide’, as part of an infected. Although this may sound inhuman and reviving both nations and that India, have lost their jobs due to but the Speaker told the MP he network across the country are to tender his resignation, a few Party leeway to the perpetrators. I made stations get advertisements from event organised by the LTTE front extremely inconsiderate, given the fear and despite the COVID-19 situation, the pandemic and that this has needs to request for a date to within the purview of the new activists had urged him to remain in decisions, but those decisions had not State Institutions. This is not fair. organisations in the UK, to apprehension that people have built up regarding the development in the region, reduced the inflow of foreign raise the question as it was not Ministry.” his post till at least 15 December, when been implemented. It happens.” Some Media institutions can survive commemorate dead LTTE cadres. coronavirus, no one can expect them to approach a including Sri Lanka and India, currency. However, despite the in the original agenda of the Developments in UNP all key posts would fall vacant Sajith wants allowance in- because their owners have other However, it would be interesting to sick person, without taking any precautions. should be prioritised. fact that the economy needs to day. automatically. businesses. But many Media stations know whether approval had been Following this incident, Ceylon Teachers’ Union, Premier Rajapaksa stated that be strengthened in the face of New Ministers Several factions have At the meeting, the Party had also creased do not have that privilege.” granted to the organisers, by relevant charged the education authorities of reopening the housing projects have been the COVID-19 pandemic, requested Leader of the United discussed the filling of its National List “Government advertisements were authorities, to display this image schools in a hurry, without taking proper precautions. implemented in the North and strategies to promote economic Last week witnessed a National Party former Prime post in Parliament and a majority of Opposition Leader essential for all Media stations. Not onto a UK Government building, Union leaders said all schools must be provided with at the East and the upcountry growth and development are revision of subjects under few Minister activists had urged the Party Leader to urged the Government to increase the only in Sri Lanka, even in other parts given that permission of a number of least one kit of personal protection equipment, so that areas with the assistance of the also being pursued by small ministerial portfolios in which to enter Parliament through the fill the vacancy. monetary relief provided to people in Meanwhile, of the world about 40 per cent of the authorities is required to display any precisely during incidents like those, the teachers can Indian Government and countries in the region, he Ministries of Defence and the National List. It was during this meeting that, areas under lockdown and isolation in income of Media stations comes from image on a building in the UK. approach sick students without fear. requested the support of the added. Technology have been bought UNP members and several former MPs , Anoma Colombo due to COVID-19 as Rs 5,000 Speaker Mahinda Government advertisements. Now, What is even more interesting is, if The union also kept on urging the Government to Government of India to Doval’s arrival was on the under the purview of President civil society groups have made Gamage and Vajira Abeywardene had is insufficient for a family to survive on the Government has suddenly issued such approval had not been granted, close down all schools at least until next year, as the commence such housing invitation of the Secretary to the Gotabaya Rajapaksa. the request considering demanded in one voice that for a month. Raising a question under Yapa a letter stopping advertisements whether the British law enforcement daily number of cases continues to rise at a rate of 400 projects with a clear approach, Ministry of Defence, Major Rear Admiral Sarath Wickremesinghe’s knowledge Wickremesinghe should heed their Standing Order 27/2, Premadasa said: Abeywardena being given to Media stations. I table authorities have initiated action to 500 cases. while Doval reassured of the General (Retired) Kamal Weerasekara was sworn in as and expertise on Standing pleas and head to Parliament. “There are delays in distributing the this document. This could be against those who are responsible for However, the most important question in the minds Indian Government’s utmost Gunaratne. the Cabinet Minister of Public Orders and other Parliamentary Maithri now says... current monetary relief of Rs 5,000 to refused to allow a considered as an indirect threat to all this act. of both students and parents is whether the support to these causes. Meanwhile, Speaker Mahinda Security while Chamal affairs. low income families in areas under Media stations that if they do not If indeed permission had been authorities will go ahead with the GCE Ordinary Level Under the guidance of the Yapa Abeywardena refused to Rajapaksa was sworn in as the Accordingly, a special Former President Maithripala lockdown and isolation in Colombo. A question to be publish news in favour of the granted to display such images, on to Examination, scheduled to take place from 18 to 27 Prime Minister of India, allow a question to be raised on State Minister of State Security, discussion was held at the UNP Sirisena said he believes a powerful Grama Niladhari could distribute the raised on the visit Government, their main income the UK House of Parliament building January 2021. Narendra Modi, it was agreed at the visit to Sri Lanka by India’s Home Affairs and Disaster Headquarters Sirikotha last foreign country or some other force was money only for 100 people per day would be curtailed,” he pointed out. no less, then it begs the question O/L Exam is one of the most important competitive this meeting to adopt modern National Security Adviser Ajit Management before President week to finalise the national list behind the 21 April 2019, Easter because they do not have enough to Sri Lanka by LTTE Commemoration whether the British Government examinations in the school calendar, the results of technology and to focus on Doval. Rajapaksa at the Presidential post. Sunday Bombings and National resources to distribute it to all. Also, it allows the display of the images of which allow the students to select the subject stream drinking water supply projects Doval arrived in Colombo for Secretariat. Deputy Leader of the United Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ) Leader is said, the Government would provide India’s National While officials of the Attorney other terrorist leaders, such as ISIS for the Advanced Level. The entire school year was Zaharan Hashim. Rs 10,000 worth of essential goods General’s Department and Police Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi or disrupted following the outbreak of the COVID-19 He also said intelligence officials from packages to these people as well. But, Security Adviser were trying to obtain restriction Al-Qaeda Leader Osama bin Laden? pandemic. Although arrangements were made to countries such as the United States of people in some areas allege they are yet Ajit Doval. orders against celebrating dead LTTE Effigies of the vanquished terrorist provide lessons online, the success of this programme America, India and the United to receive that package. That is why cadres, TNA MP Charles leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, and is yet to be ascertained. Kingdom had arrived in the country a people in several areas staged protests Doval arrived in Nirmalanathan today wished slain the flags of his now defunct terrorist It made news last week when photos of a group of few days after the Easter Sunday on roads in the past few days.” LTTE Leader Valupillai Prabhakaran outfit had also been erected in the UK students in Baduraliya were depicted studying on the Bombings, adding that it was extremely Premadasa added, as the current Colombo for for his birthday while addressing including in Wembley. roadside as they do not have sufficient telephone problematic that none of those officials monetary relief of Rs 5,000 is Parliament Thursday. The LTTE is singlehandedly signal reception to their homes. Immediately following had been able to find out who was insufficient, the amount should be trilateral “Happy Birthday to our leader responsible for developing the now- the viral posts, the Sri Lanka Telecom sent a team to backing Zaharan. increased. discussions among Prabhakaran who fought for our famous suicide jacket, which they the area to immediately facilitate internet service to the “I also do not believe that Zaharan is “Even in speeches I made during the people,” the MP said, while used to wipe-out the political children in the area. the Leader of this organisation because Presidential Election campaign, I said, India, Sri Lanka addressing the House during the leadership of Sri Lanka, and a Prime However, the more pertinent question here is how a Leader would never have launched a Rs 5,000 is not sufficient for a family debate on the expenditure head of Minister of India. many students in this country can afford devices that suicide attack,” he said. and that a family should therefore be and the Maldives. the Ministry of Irrigation. They are also responsible for the facilitate online learning. Can all parents afford to He was testifying before the given at least Rs 20,000 for the month. There was absolutely no protest deaths of thousands of innocent provide a smartphone, let alone a desktop or laptop Presidential Commission of Inquiry Even for a family of two persons, at Opposition Samagi from the Chair of the House or civilians, for the recruitment of computer, for their children? How many can afford to into the Bombings on Easter Sunday. least Rs 15,000 has to be spent just to Members of the Government or the children as young as seven years as pay for the data that is needed to access various Apps The witness also said the reason for survive by fulfilling the basic needs. Jana Balawegaya Opposition in this regard. combatants, forcibly using civilians and web pages? the uncontrollable rise of Islamist Now, many people in areas under (SJB) While Nirmalanathan was as human shields. A considerable percentage of parents of school-going extremism in the country was the lockdown and isolation do not have any addressing the House, Deputy Allowing an outfit banned in a children are daily wage earners, whose livelihoods were support that extremists received from income. They have lost their jobs. So Parliamentarian Chairman of Committees Angajan number of countries for their violent affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A large number of Muslim Ministers and politicians. the Government should pay attention Ramanathan was chairing the terrorist activities, to project slogans people have either lost their jobs or not had a proper “During your tenure, despite the to these people,” he notified. Chaminda Wijesiri proceedings. There was no reacting on the symbol of British democracy, income since March this year. In such a contex, how active involvement of the intelligence He then queried as to whether the attempted to raise to the Parliamentarian’s speech from is tantamount to desecration of not they can facilitate their children’s online education is services, the Armed Forces and the Government is planning to increase the Ramanathan. only the House of Parliament, but the an issue the authorities must pay serious attention to. Police, no information was received monetary relief. a question in The LTTE continues to remain a very idea of democracy and Given these complications, Education Minister Prof. about the bombings. How did that “How many families live in the areas proscribed terrorist organisation in pluralism. G.L. Peiris announced last week that they will take the happen?”, a Commissioner asked. under lockdown and isolation in Parliament on the Sri Lanka and any attempt to glorify The LTTE front organisations are decision on conducting the GCE O/L Examination In response, Sirisena said because of Colombo? Does the Government have a or idolise the organisation and its allowed to function freely in the UK within the next 10 days. They expect to conduct a the arrests of military and intelligence plan to provide relief to these people visit and if it was leaders are prohibited according to and if the attitude of the UK survey among teachers to ascertain how far the officials, officers were seen not doing without any delay? How many families linked to the the Sri Lankan law. In an alarming authorities towards them is syllabus has been covered, before deciding on holding their job properly. “Leaders of all have got the monetary relief and development, the MP also referred to lackadaisical, there will be serious the examination. sectors must work with a broad essential goods packages at the Colombo Port East Prabhakaran as his leader. consequences not only for Sri Lanka, It would also be prudent to find out whether all the understanding of their subject area. It moment? What are the steps you are When MPs are sworn in as public which bore the brunt of LTTE’s students who are expected to sit for the upcoming O/L is the responsibility of every sector,” he planning to take to provide relief for the Terminal representatives, they are bound to terrorism for three decades but also Exam received the full extent of the online teaching. If said. people suffering from COVID-19 take a pledge not to support any for the UK, as these outfits are not, we’ll be doing a great disservice to the children of He also said, “two days after the related lockdown and isolation in other overt or covert attempt to create a already resolved to radicalise the the daily wage workers and other downtrodden bombings, the Islamic State (IS) Leader Districts?” separate State in Sri Lanka. LTTE British Tamil youth and promote classes, whose only recourse is to obtain a good said it was an attack by the IS In response, State Minister Shehan Leader Prabhakaran, to whom the violent extremism. History shows education, which would enable them upward social organisation. This whole incident Semasinghe said, a detailed response MP extended a birthday wish, waged that those who have mollycoddled mobility. Also, they are the people who should benefit seems to be a conspiracy, because it for Premadasa’s questions would be a three-decade long war to create a terrorists and their fronts have mostly from Sri Lanka’s much-celebrated free appears that Zaharan was being provided on 27 November. separate State in the country. always learnt a bitter lesson. education system. manipulated by some foreign hand.” Semasinghe: “Our Government will Meanwhile, a laser image depicting The world has seen much carnage He further said the United National never let the people down. Until the the flower gloriosa superba due to terrorism and violent Front (UNF) Government had headed answers are provided, I request (niyangala in Sinhala and karthigai extremism. A10 Sunday 29 november 2020 Focus When a President Acts With Impunity Sirisena says had to make decisions at his discretion regardless of the law

By Buddhika Samaraweera Secretaries in a short period of five years has rendered relevant There have been several instances institutions and proceedings inactive. where leaders and public officials were In reply, the former President said punished for acting contrary to the that no such situation had arisen as a Constitution and other legal provisions result of it. He said it was normal for in certain countries including Sri security heads to be removed from Lanka. Former Pakistani President time to time in countries such as the Pervez Musharraf, for example, was United States and the United sentenced to death for violating the Kingdom. Constitution. "Leaders like Donald Trump, Barack Be it in writing or not, all citizens are Obama, Boris Johnson have removed bound to abide by the Constitution officials like secretaries on a number of and other legal provisions of the occasions," he said. country in a civilised world. As Sri Jayasuriya also questioned whether Lankans, we too have a duty to respect all incidents of damaging several and abide by the Constitution and Buddha statues in the Mawanella other laws. area, killing two Police officers in the Especially, all those being appointed Vavunathivu area and finding a stock as public servants, Members of of explosives in the Wanathawilluwa Parliament, Ministers, Prime Ministers area were reported following the or Presidents promise to abide by the change of Government on 26 October, Constitution at their first swearing-in. 2018. In such a situation, how unfortunate In response, Sirisena admitted it and would it be if a President, who being said the removal of the Prime Minister the first citizen of the country, acts and the Cabinet was a political matter. contrary to the Constitution and other Nilantha Jayawardena Nimal Lewke Pujith Jayasundara He added that the decision was taken legal provisions and makes in consultation with experts such as disparaging utterances about it before witness said that he had some administration. Even Kautilya of India, the President's Counsels. He said that a place quite similar to the Courts? understanding of it. Maddegoda also in 'Arthashastra' said to take away the there was no impediment for Former President and current drew the witness's attention to a ones who are not trustworthy and to Government officials to carry out their Parliamentarian Maithripala Sirisena Gazette Notification issued by the then approach those who can be trusted. duties. was explaining with great gusto about President Chandrika Bandaranaike That is what governance is all about. He further said that he still believes how he disregarded the Constitution Kumaratunga in 1999 regarding the Maithripala Strategies should be used on a case- that the decision taken to remove the and other legal provisions during his permanent Members of the NSC. by- case basis," Sirisena said. Prime Minister in 2018 and to appoint tenure in office before the Presidential He questioned the witness whether Sirisena was Does that mean that it was a new Prime Minister was politically Commission of Inquiry: that’s he accepted that Jayasundara had explaining with opportunistic to go beyond the legal correct. investigating the largest one-day been barred from attending the NSC framework during your tenure as the Sirisena also said he believes a massacre in Sri Lanka, the 2019 meetings since 2018, despite the fact great gusto about President? Maddegoda queried and powerful foreign country or some other Easter Sunday bombings. that the relevant Gazette Notification how he disregarded Sirisena, in reply, said that he would force was behind the Easter Sunday Testifying before the Commission mentioned the officials who must not say so. bombings and the National Thowheed that is comprised of a former High attend, and Sirisena admitted that he the Constitution Also, when Maddegoda suggested to Jama’ath (NTJ) leader Zaharan Court Judge, two former and current prevented Jayasundara from attending the witness that he had taken certain Hashim. Judges of the Court of Appeal, a it. and other legal decisions based on very childish He said that intelligence officials Supreme Court Judge, as well as a Maddegoda then suggested to the provisions during reasons, Sirisena said that he from countries such as the United former Secretary to the Ministry, witness that it was against the law not completely rejected the claim. A States, India and the United Kingdom Sirisena was observed explaining with to summon such permanent Members his tenure in office childish person cannot be a President, had arrived in the country a few days great confidence how he acted in a to the NSC. In response, Sirisena before the he responded. after the Easter Sunday bombings, manner contrary to the Constitution rejected the premise. “Whatever was in Maddegoda further suggested that adding that it was extremely and the law of the country. the law and the Gazette Notifications, I Presidential Sirisena did not pay attention to problematic that none of those officials Sirisena said, when ruling the had to act according to certain certain issues as he only thought had been able to find out who was country, he had, in terms of his circumstances. I should call Commission of about the existence of the previous behind Zaharan. discretion, to take decisions in a trustworthy officers to the NSC. I Inquiry: that’s United National Front-led Government "I also do not believe that Zaharan is certain manner, regardless of what is called a Deputy Inspector General of of ‘good governance’. In response, the the leader of this organisation. mentioned in the law, rules and Police instead of Jayasundara since he investigating the witness said that he had not cared Because a leader would never have regulations. broke the trust I had reposed in him,” about the said Government since the launched a suicide attack," he noted. He made this admission on 24 he added. largest one-day day the Central Bank Treasury Bond The witness also said that the reason November during cross-examination President’s prerogative massacre in Sri scam took place. “At that time I was for the uncontrollable rise of Islamist by Anura Maddegoda (PC) who trying to dissolve Parliament. But I did extremism in the country was the appeared for the former Inspector That means that you do not consider Lanka, the 2019 not have the powers to do that,” support that extremists received from General of Police (IGP) Pujith legal provisions and acted according to Easter Sunday Sirisena said. Muslim ministers and politicians. Jayasundara. your own wishes. Isn't that right?” Also, various parties claim that the Meanwhile, retired Senior DIG and Sirisena said this during the Meddegoda questioned and Sirisena, bombings constitutional crisis that arose in former Security Adviser to the former culmination of a series of exchanges in reply said, "No, I did not ignore such October 2018 due to the removal of the President Sirisena, Nimal Lewke said with Maddegoda when the latter rules and regulations. But officials had then Prime Minister Ranil he was removed from the post of initially questioned him as to why he to be brought in at the discretion of the Wickremesinghe and the Cabinet from Adviser by Sirisena within a week after had not summoned Jayasundara to President," office and the appointment of a new pointing out that there were some the National Security Council (NSC) Meddegoda then asked Sirisena to In such a situation, when questioned Premier and Cabinet led to a collapse shortcomings in the State Intelligence since 2018, despite a special Gazette show anywhere in that Gazette as to whether the removal of in national security and various Service (SIS) and its then Director, Notification naming the IGP among Notification that states the President Jayasundara from the NSC was a sectors. In particular, there have been Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena. those who should be permanently can act at his discretion, to which the deliberate omission of legal provisions, talks of the killing of two police officers Lewke was appointed by the former summoned to the NSC meetings, to latter said, "It may not be mentioned in the witness said that he completely in Vavunathivu by Islamist extremists President as a Security Adviser in which Sirisena replied that not only the Gazette Notification. But a head of rejected the claim. "I have removed not in Sri Lanka and the vandalising of September 2017, and has been serving had he prevented Jayasundara from an institution can make the decisions only the IGP but also the Prime Buddha statues in the Mawanella in the post for nearly one year. attending the NSC but that he had also to run it with discipline and ethics. I Minister," he said. At the time, area, some incidents that took place However, Lewke said that he had not on an occasion removed the then acted according to certain things that Maddegoda pointed out to the witness after October 2018. been invited to any security meeting on Prime Minister and the entire Cabinet happened at that time. Only that the Premier was not a permanent However, former President Sirisena any occasion since he was appointed of Ministers. trustworthy persons were invited to Member of the NSC. In response, objected saying that the change of to the post, adding that he had been When Maddegoda pointed out that the NSC.” Sirisena said: "No, but the person Government in October 2018 or the summoned to a staff meeting only the latter decision had been quashed Meanwhile, when queried if the closest to the President in terms of the change of President Secretaries and once. by the Supreme Court, Sirisena said relevant Gazette Notification had hierarchy of power is the Prime Defence Secretaries from time to time He said once he went to Sirisena and that be that as it may, when ruling the mentioned anywhere that Members of Minister and I even removed him. during his tenure did not in any way briefed him on some shortcomings of country, he had to, in terms of the NSC could be summoned on the That's why I said it. Not only the weaken the national security of the the SIS and its former Director practical necessity and his discretion, basis of trust, the witness admitted Premier, but the entire Cabinet was country. Jayawardena. "I asked the President to take certain decisions in a manner, that it could also not have been in the removed," Lewke’s removal pay attention to that,” he said. regardless of whatever is mentioned in Gazette Notification. Maddegoda then pointed out to "There, the President said, "Okay, I the law, rules and regulations, and When further queried by Maddegoda Sirisena that the SC had given a clear Attorney-at-Law Dilshan Jayasuriya, will see." A week later, I received a that in this particular instance he had as to whether he (Sirisena) should act ruling that the decision taken by him appearing for former Defence Secretary letter informing me that my service as sought to summon to the NSC only in accordance with the law and the (Sirisena) to remove the Prime Minister Hemasiri Fernando, asked the witness the Security Adviser was no longer those he deemed trustworthy. provisions contained in the Gazette and the Cabinet was completely whether he admits that the needed," Lewke explained. When queried if he had a good Notifications, the witness said that he unconstitutional. "What may not be in appointment of five Defence Buddhikasamaraweera94@gmail. knowledge of the Constitution, the accepted that. the law has to be done in public Secretaries and three President com Focus sunday 29 november 2020 A11 Fmr ICTA Director drops bombshell StaySafe Digital Device Can Intrude on One’s Privacy By Thameenah Razeek Speaking further he noted what they have done is given the facility Former Director of the Information through the app that someone can and Communication Technology enter another person’s information for Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), their sake. “Now, when you are doing Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana dropped a that, you are causing a security bombshell, by claiming that the ‘Stay problem. That means if one knows Safe’ digital device, designed with the any ID number one can access their aim of containing the spread of information. This is not a security COVID-19 pandemic, that was flow. This is how the system was introduced to President Gotabaya built. Any person, who is cagey and Rajapaksa, breaches personal data goes around taking other person’s security and allows anyone access. data and ID numbers and enters in He tweeted a photo of a ‘Stay Safe’ the app to retrieve information can get promotion in his neighbourhood it. No one can stop it and also supermarket and said there was still knowing someone has COVID-19 or an open API that tells if a particular he has been quarantined is NIC has tested positive for Covid-19. information that others should know,” He also said, “Fix it or take it down”. not be given to someone else so easily. he noted. An API is a set of definitions and He also noted that the patient or the Answering the currently raised protocols for building and integrating victim has all the right to keep his issues, he noted that irrational application software. API stands for security details with him. comments are made by people who Application Programming Interface. While noting that API is an easy way have a pinch of knowledge about IT. APIs are a simplified way to connect to maintain and update several He said unfortunately he has made your own infrastructure through websites simultaneously, Prof. preparations to take out all the names cloud-native app development, but Samarajiva said the responsible from the Stay Safe database. So, the they also allow you to share your data authorities should be more careful in ID number and the other information with customers and other external the way that they use APIs and grant will be there. “But again, we had to users. permission to the users. re-implement it with a One Time Speaking to Ceylon Today “No one should be able to retrieve Password to stop data breaching. This Dr. Weerawarana noted that anyone sensitive data such as someone’s paved the way to stop someone, who can enter an NIC number to the Stay health status. There should be does not have a mobile, accessing any Safe application and retrieve specific persons who can retrieve of those facilities provided by Stay information of another such as them. Dr. Weerawarana is one of the Safe app. This is a very unfortunate whether he or she is a COVID-19 most talented people who really thing. But this is what people were patient or not. He further noted that associates with the API technology. He asking. People are using terms such it is not ethical that anyone can is more aware about the subject than as Privacy is a fateful thing,” he noted. retrieve someone’s information that me,” he noted. Pointing out that the issue Dr. easily. “I privately informed the ICTA While insisting that the people who Weerawarana raised is not a big regarding this days ago but nothing address of any organisation, name have a bit of IT knowledge are always thing, De Silva said when someone was done. The ICTA did not announce and the telephone number of the hindering government’s acts, tries to do a good thing for the country anything on whether they fixed this owner. The code can be printed and incumbent ICTA Chairman Jayantha people sling mud at them. Just or not,” he noted. displayed at the organisation. de Silva explained that people should because few guys cannot understand Dr. Weerawarana also questioned Everyone, whether he or she owns understand the infrastructure the real thing they cannot stop the why the promotion was so preventing the spread of the virus. or does not own a mobile phone, will facilities and the social and economic whole process, he said. lackadaisical? Was this launched The ‘Stay Safe’ project has been be registered and their whereabouts condition of the country. He added Contradicting Dr. Weerawarana’s without cross government support? designed as a solution to these two could be identified. Steps will be that there are different ways of statement, that he privately informed He said that the Ministry of Health, problems. taken by the ICTA to make the public initiating these apps in different them about the drawback in the app, Police, Army all have to be behind The new initiative was introduced aware of this information through all situations. Those situations can be Jayantha de Silva said that he did not this for it to work, otherwise it will by ICTA Chairman Jayantha de Silva media. separated into mainly three parts. get any complaints from anyone in never work. during the daily meeting presided However, concerns arose over the First is assuming that everyone in the this connection. Also, he claimed that “And yes, my friends in ICTA will over by the President with the privacy after Dr. Weerawarana country has a smartphone, second people are being very liberal on social get mad with me, but you were members of the Presidential Task tweeted about this issue and he also one is assuming everyone has a media platforms but not in real life. notified many days ago and the API is Force on COVID – 19 Prevention on noted that ICTA as the apex service smartphone or a button phone and However, the Stay Safe application still open. You cannot take security 4 November. agent to the country has not taken the last one is that people don’t have has been amended and 100 per cent so lax. I am assuming the other The new device is based on a QR any action in this connection even either. privacy is in the cloud. “But if people reported issues have been fixed, but code. The project will be implemented after he personally informed them. “If someone is using the smartphone want to be so narrow-minded and the reporter’s blog has been removed. in a simple manner that is easily He tweeted, “Yeah I am going to get or a button phone, the Stay Safe cagey and also vicious, I have no Why?” he tweeted once again asking accessible to all parties involved in bashed again. But I did ping privately application is 100 per cent secure. answer to that. I know these guys who why the blog post that reported the COVID-19 prevention, commercial (and got a response saying ‘not a big But suppose you have to open the app make such claims. They have a habit issue was taken down after the issue. and public sector entities and the deal’ 10 days ago,” for an old mother or a small kid, then of doing that. It is the bitter truth that ‘Stay Safe’ digital device traces close general public. Meanwhile, Former ICTA Chairman we have to think what are we going to the good side is being praised. We associates of COVID-19 infected and The QR code can be easily acquired Professor Rohan Samarajiva said that do? So, we have to take a policy were working in the interest of the the movements of the disease carriers using a smart phone by entering sensitive data, that someone is decision whether we are going to give people and we will never make them are the two major challenges in basic information such as the name, infected with some disease, should access to them or not,” he said. feel guilty,” he concluded. Western seabed a garbage dump By Eunice Ruth geometry and colour and the contamination by micro-plastics in Marine plastic pollution has become sand was 60% and 70% in the surface a significant problem worldwide and waters off the coast. The size range of Sri Lanka is more vulnerable to this micro-plastics from surface waters global problem, which poses and beaches were to 1.5 – 2.5 mm and environmental, economic, and public 3 – 4.5 mm, respectively. A majority of health threats. Over 50 per cent of Sri these were identified as polyethylene Lanka’s seabed is polluted and this (PE) and polypropylene (PP) with some includes 80 per cent of the seabed in polystyrene (PS) foam and the Western province, according to fragments derived from larger debris research findings of the National appearing to be the dominant type of Aquatic Research Agency (NARA). micro-plastics. The research report revealed that Micro-plastics were present in the amount of plastic particles, mixed either sediments, sand or water with the sea water, had increased, surfaces, however, the highest levels especially due to wrapping materials, of micro-plastics on the water surface industrial waste and fishing were associated with fisheries equipment being dumped into the harbour locations where polystyrene sea. As a result of that, the Western foam was a major component, sea area has been identified as the whereas high counts on beach sand most polluted area. were at recreational beach sites. In Sri Lanka, only 50 per cent of “In order to minimise the marine waste is dumped or discarded into the pollution and protect the marine life, environment while, a large amount of the MEPA has organised an land-based waste enters the coastal underwater cleanup programme of and marine areas as marine litter. Sri the sea beds of Palagala in Mount Lanka is in the fifth rank among the Lavinia with the help of Sri Lanka largest marine polluters with respect Navy, Pearl Protectors Sri Lanka and to single use plastics and 1.59 million some other organisations. Even metric tons of Sri Lanka’s marine life and coral systems get countries, where they follow 3R and surface while the remaining goes though we collected around 65 mismanaged plastic ends up in the affected immediately. The plastics 5R long-term waste management under the water and plays a huge role kilograms of wastes from underwater ocean annually. form micro-plastic particles which can systems in order to reduce in effecting corals and the all marine and 13 kilograms through snorkeling, Coordinator of Pearl Protectors, contaminate marine life causing a environmental pollution,” said life. there is more waste under the water, Muditha Katuwawala, noted that due huge threat to marine life as well as Katuwawala. “A collective and effective waste where it cannot be cleaned up within to the increase in marine pollution the human lives. Most importantly, this General Manager of the Marine management mechanism needs to be a couple of days. This cleanup negative impact on coastal and under water pollution will impact the Environment Protection Authority followed in order to avoid extensive programme is not an easy task, but marine environment also increased, national economy through the (MEPA) Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara marine pollution in Sri Lanka and the MEPA will conduct more events such as consumption of micro- destruction of livelihoods of people said that the Sri Lankan water beds alternatives should be introduced and like this to clean our sea beds and to plastics by marine life, coral reef who depend heavily on ocean-based are not only contaminated by plastics, used in order to prevent the pollution. make it a clean place,” he said. destruction and underwater industries such as the tourism and but also by micro-plastics. These The Sri Lankan public should reduce Also, he noted that awareness ecosystem impacts among others. fisheries. micro-plastics which form due to the their consumption of plastic and among public regarding the marine The important ecosystems such as “The use of single use plastics needs improper waste management of plastic products for domestic pollution needs to be raised and the coral reef, sea grass beds and to be reduced and rejected as it is a plastic, can cause severe purposes and should support the public should act responsibly by mangroves get affected in many ways major threat to the marine environmental problems such as minimising of plastic pollution in the cooperating with the authorities to due to the disposal of plastics as reefs environment in Sri Lanka. We are not health hazards and impacts on food marine environment,” said Kumara. make Sri Lanka a plastic pollution- play a major habitat role for several following a proper waste management chains. He also noted that only 30 per He said that micro-plastics were free country. species and when it gets affected, all system when compared to other cent of plastic waste floats on the classified according to polymer type, (Pix courtesy Pearl Protectors) A12 Sunday 29 november 2020 Focus Is RCEP Conducive to Sri Lanka? By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan generated USD 26 trillion of GDP in 2019. RCEP will generate a little over China has made the right decision 30 per cent of world output. Also, the in signing the Regional agreement will immediately eliminate Comprehensive Economic Partnership tariffs and quotas on 65% of goods (RCEP) agreement, considered the traded within the bloc. Remaining biggest trade agreement with 15 tariffs will be liberalised over the next countries and more expected to join. 20 years, ultimately covering around There is a perception that countries 90% of trade within the bloc – and in the region that do not sign the this establishes a common rules-of- RCEP could be at risk as it eases origin framework that will enable tariffs on 98.1% of goods. exporters in member economies to On the other hand, countries like use inputs sourced from other India think it’s a risk to be part of the members to qualify for preferential RCEP. New Delhi exited from the access when trading within the bloc. RCEP to protect local industry and From a global perspective, the farmers, but several top Indian agreement signals that Asia is diplomats disagreed with the move. pushing ahead with trade There are of course the usual liberalisation and Sri Lanka is absent. conspiracy claims where detractors say the partnership is intended to RECP need to be studied expand China's influence in Asia, closely – Senior lecturer describing China as the biggest beneficiary of the RCEP. In this trade Senior lecturer Department of pool however, even the U.S. has not Commercial Law of the Faculty of shown a keen interest as of now. Law, University of Colombo Prof. In this new trade race, Sri Lanka is Dilini Pathirana said if Sri Lanka is still an observer. State Minister for going to be part of the RCEP it should Regional Co-operation Tharaka be done very carefully although in her Balasuriya noted that Sri Lanka is opinion it should not stay without looking at the Sino-Lanka FTA closely RCEP with ASEAN file photo 2020 joining the group. and the discussion is on-going. He “As far as I know, we are not said certain trade policies needed to cooperation. China and ASEAN involved in its negotiations and so, be corrected or studied further. working in concert have been a key when we join we would just become a Moreover, he noted the agreement underlying factor behind the strong rule taker which means we follow needs to be ratified by Parliament. momentum of China-ASEAN what the rule makers say,” and added “We have had the Singapore FTA cooperation and its important role in that throughout history we have been signed, but it is not in operation as ensuring regional stability and just rule takers. We have to be a part yet. Similarly, we are studying the prosperity. after carefully studying its texts rules FTA between Sri Lanka and Thailand In the next step would be the parties and regulations and the investment too,” he added. being committed to completing their chapters. On RCEP he said the legislative domestic approval procedures so that She also noted that she finds that measures have to be looked into and the agreement will enter into force as the RCEP provides pre-establishment even Indonesia, which is part of the early as possible. national treatment which is risky Association of Southeast Asian In Asia, economic integration has which means that the provision Nations (ASEAN) and now the RCEP, become a top priority for most included in investment treatises to recently said they have imposed a countries. There is a national provide foreign investors with the nickel ban on other countries as they tendency to revert to protectionism. same treatment with national have a joint venture in the area of Regardless of our ambitions, our investors even before they establish electronics with Japan. economy requires imports for growth their investment in the host State. It On ASEAN, the Minister added, “We and the RCEP comes in handy. limits the host State’s ability to screen are still observers although initially a and block bad investments. This is member, due to the geopolitics at that Protectionism like an open invitation for foreign time Sri Lanka had to pull out”. and Sri Lanka investors to come in without any All in all, the environment for screening being done. This is not good agreements should be conducive, he Sri Lanka has its share of in my view, especially in terms of added. He also pointed that the protectionism, too. We have seen this national security. COVID-19 pandemic had created an openly where it has been trying to RCEP Article 10.3 states that the unexpected economic downturn and keep its sovereignty intact and has National Treatment: Each Party shall consequently the country needed to given priority to security which is the accord to investors of another party, restrict imports to maintain a stable top concern for all. and covered investments, treatment foreign exchange balance. It was With a bilateral trade relationship, no less favourable than that it obvious we needed to halt imports of RCEP Prof. Thilini Pathirana there are potholes and loopholes, yet RCEP Minister accords, in like circumstances, to its goods other than essential items, he Sri Lanka has always been careful investors and their investments added. with its trade ties that even resulted concerning the establishment, The merits and demerits of RCEP 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. in countries frowning down on it. Sri Lanka may lobby to derail the acquisition, expansion, management, could be seen when it takes off, The RCEP consists of 20 chapters, Lately, the Foreign Ministry was agreement, his report stated. conduct, operation, and sale or other however, the move at a time a many covering comprehensive market seen battling countries that come with To take part in the agreement, Sri disposition of investments in its countries are penniless due to no access commitments on goods, ‘ulterior motives,’ yet there is a lot Lanka has to be a RCEP country - territory. trading taking place at all due to the services, investment and other areas. more the government needs to put which Sri Lanka is not. Sri Lanka also Secondly, for great certainty, the virus spread needs careful It is a comprehensive, modern, high- into practice before it strikes a trade tried hard to enter ASEAN and still treatment to be accorded by a Party consideration. quality and mutually beneficial free balance. could not. under Paragraph one means, China has been working on this trade agreement. The overall An expert on international relations, Sri Lanka joining the RCEP is concerning a government other than project for a couple of years now and liberalisation level for trade in goods Dr. Ganesan Wignaraja, in his report unlikely to happen soon but Sri Lanka at the central level treatment no less despite the fact that they are not part exceeds 90%; the service trade to the United Nations Economic and has been heavily criticised for favourable than the most favourable of international bodies such as commitment is significantly higher Social Commission for Asia and the accepting loan facilities mainly from treatment accorded, in like ASEAN, SAARC and BIMSTEC they than that of the original China-ASEAN Pacific in 2018 noted that trade with China where in return we not only circumstances, by that government to managed to link themselves with FTA; the negative list approach is RCEP economies particularly China have to settle the loans but also investors and to the investments of ASEAN. applied for market access have grown rapidly during the 2000s allowed them to have a foothold in the investors of the party of which it forms The RCEP came quite suddenly commitments on investment; the and account for an increasing share country 100 long years to do a part. because it came right after the US rules cover trade facilitation, of Sri Lanka’s trade. business. And there are lots of economic geared to stretch the Quad group intellectual property rights, He pointed out, the share of RCEP President Gotabaya Rajapaksa impacts on domestic investors who ‘militarily’ having India, Australia and e-commerce, competition policy, economies in Sri Lanka’s global himself last week aptly said, ‘We don’t cannot compete with those foreign Japan who are threatened by the government procurement and other exports increased from 25% to 30% want loans from china but investors, she stressed. China’s Communist Party (CCP) on its areas at a higher level. But many of between 2010 and 2017 while their investments’. She further noted that most side. This group is suspicious of the areas have been challenged as share of global imports rose from 81% But, has Sri Lanka created that developing countries avoid such China’s movements and actions in the well. to 84%. Until recently, Sri Lanka did pathway for sensible feasible and agreements because they want to Indo-Pacific region and over expelling The RCEP Agreement also fully not express interest in joining the economically winning trade pacts, keep control over the entry of foreign their top personalities from China, takes differences in economic scale RCEP, but this is changing as many ask. Using the pandemic as an investments. “These issues should be questioning China over COVID-19 and development levels among policymakers are becoming concerned excuse just last week Sri Lanka decided through carefully drafted virus spread, trade conflicts all of members into consideration, and about the economic effects (e.g. trade banned EU imports and it irked them. national policies. She said, and asked those are now pretty much expressed includes dedicated chapters on small diversion and preference erosion) of The Colombo-based Heads of the question, “What is the national in the international media. and medium-sized enterprises and being left out of the large Asian Missions representing the European investment of policy of China? It never However, China, while battling economic and technological integration group, he explained. Union and its Member States, at high- gave national treatment for foreign those who oppose them, pursued the cooperation to help developing He states that the FTAs with level meetings, reminded us of their investors then or even today. They try RCEP to regain its strength in the members, especially the least Indonesia and Malaysia were raised trade partnerships with Sri Lanka and to avoid it as much as possible, she South Asian region which is politically developed ones, to fully enjoy the during visits by their Heads of State to also raised concerns over Sri Lanka noted. seen as China outsmarting the U.S. benefits of RCEP. Sri Lanka in 2018. In more concrete not being equally an economic partner Prof. Pathirana also touched on the and its allies. China also managed to As it is the world's largest free trade terms, a bilateral FTA with Singapore with the EU. They were referring to positive side of the RCEP based on the have Japan and Australia in the RCEP area and is a new milestone for East was swiftly concluded in 2018 and Sri banning EU imports. “Trade is not a 10.15 clause of the RCEP. The clause frame. Asian economic integration where the Lanka’s Ministry of Economic one-way street. The current import provides contracting State parties The RCEP seems to be a collective populations, economic volume and Development and International Trade restrictions are hurting Sri Lankan with enhanced regulatory space to approach because it is not China vs trade of the 15 existing RCEP said that we envisage this as a first and European businesses, and on apply measures that they consider other countries. Many major U.S. members all account for about 30% of step towards closer integration with Foreign Direct Investment”, the EU necessary for the protection of its allies in the Asia-Pacific region are in the global total, which means that ASEAN and potentially being part of representatives told top government security interests. “This provision is this agreement and China cannot about one-third of the global economy the RCEP in the future. ministers. admirable and reduces the chilling dominate the attitude of these forms an integrated market. He further elaborated that the FTA Sri Lanka is also not part of ASEAN effect of such international countries or ASEAN's attitude. China boasts of its ties with China- with Singapore could be beneficial nor had signed a Free Trade agreements. The investment chapter However, some U.S. and Western ASEAN relations after three decades when Sri Lanka seeks to join the Agreement (FTA) with China. Sri contains carefully drafted provisions elites still believe that China is the of development and that among RCEP. Lanka and SAARC relations have also considering emerging trends in the ‘biggest winner’ of the RCEP. ASEAN’s dialogue partners, China has The country is forging closer gone dull and with BIMSTEC, despite field of foreign investment. “All in all Chinese Minister Zhong Shan at the been number one on many fronts. economic ties with ASEAN and its being the present chair, nothing investment chapters have been 4th RCEP summit on 15 November, China was the first to join the Treaty recently-concluded FTA with tangibly moved forward even before carefully drafted to reduce took the RCEP to a different level on of Amity and Cooperation in Singapore offers a stepping stone the pandemic struck the country. ambiguities as much as possible, she behalf of the Chinese government Southeast Asia, the first to forge a towards this end. RCEP membership Sri Lanka needs to pick up the added. adding 10 ASEAN countries including, strategic partnership with ASEAN, the is an eventual policy goal. But both mantle from its days of economic Come may what, Sri Lanka needs to Japan, the Republic of Korea, first to start FTA negotiations with Singapore and Sri Lanka need to do liberalisation once again and the pick up many of the trade pacts and Australia and New Zealand as its new ASEAN and the first to give more to ensure that the benefits flow RCEP would be a great opportunity, be part of the global village, this time partners. The RCEP was launched at unequivocal support for ASEAN to Sri Lanka. Otherwise, there is a local traders said. thinking differently. the East Asia Summit in November centrality in East Asian regional risk that potentially affected parties in The 15-member countries of RCEP – [email protected] tribute Sunday 29 November 2020 A13

By Udeni Saman Kumara On the Seventh Commemoration of R.I.T. Alles Alagiyawanna Mukaweti was a Sinhala poet, who lived in the Kotte era. Subhashithaya is a poetry book he composed to provide advice on life. One of the verses in the poem uses sandalwood to describe excellent An Educationist character. Like the sandalwood spreading fragrance when it is crushed, good humans also shows their morals under pressure. This poem came to my mind when I thought of that great educationist Par Excellence R.I.T. Alles who we commemorate for the seventh year. History is heavy and deep because of the weight of the there. I was perplexed, but the personality. He did not let any student persons who have left behind many Minister relieved me quickly. fall behind. He was our class teacher things for the future. Such “Mr. Alles, we want to start a new cum English teacher. He had an personalities are remembered forever. school to reduce the competition to inborn talent in teaching English. I The students of educationist R.I.T. enter Royal College. We have chosen was thorough in grammar, thanks to Alles, who are domiciled around the you to start the school. Therefore, you my father, who taught me. I could world, remember him every year on will have to start the school in the read and write, but Mr. Alles gave me this day. land we have chosen on Gregory’s the strength to use the language They cherish the memory of their Road. We shall build a new building boldly. I must thank him for making teacher and value his virtues now, there,” the Minister stated. me a person who is not afraid to more than they did in the past. They “I was amazed. I said that I was a speak before any audience. He taught want to tell his story to the younger simple teacher who had no knowledge us the longest word in the English generations. It is a story of a highly of administration. But the Minister language. It was respected career in teaching. ignored my protest and told me that floccinaucinihilipilification which Ralph Ignatius Thomas Alles was they had already decided on the meant nil or nothing,” Lalith born on 3 October 1932, in Galle, the matter. Weeratunga said. capital city of the Southern Province “1967 was a life-changing year for Foreign Minister Dinesh of Sri Lanka. The colonial rule in me. The building construction Gunawardena was another student of Ceylon was in its 136th year then. The started. I was sometimes the Mr. R.I.T. Alles. This is how he first election of Ceylon’s State contractor or the supervisor and once remembered his teacher. “He gave us Assembly, the Parliament then, was in a while, the watcher too. There a wealth of knowledge on discipline, held in 1931. Senior Mr. Alles were times I acted as the principal belonged to a family of rural elite in too, but there wasn’t a single teacher Kaluwella, Galle. With hopes to on my staff. When I first went to see provide a good English medium the land, I was shocked. It was about education to the students, Mr. Alles a quarter acre. A dirty gutter carrying admitted his son to St. Aloysius waste from the General Hospital went College in Galle. His peers in the across the land, which was a thicket Aloysius College were veterans in called Koombikele. The name meant many fields from writing to business. ‘jungle of ants’. The slums nearby R.I.T. Alles received his senior were called Uniport. As I perceived, education at St. Anthony’s College in the land was not suitable for a school. Kandy. St. Anthony’s College cast him “However, I accepted the challenge. as a disciplined young man who was Since there was no staff to help me, I brilliant in the English language. sought the support of the cadet R.I.T. Alles’ story of success, as a platoon and the mathematics section renowned educationist, has a modest of Royal College. In return, I taught start. Alles passed junior exams at them in the evening to prepare them St. Anthony’s and passed the Senior for the Ordinary Level examination. School Certificate at the Bennet The students cut 23 huge trees and Commerce College in Colombo. He prepared the land for the building joined the teaching staff of the same construction. With Prime Minister during a school. After that, he qualified to “According to construction method prize giving at D.S. Senanayake College enter the Teacher Training College in proposed by engineer Nandasena Maharagama in 1956. Kulasinghe, a 100 x 20-foot building After two years of education at the and a 80 x 20 building were initially Teachers’ Training College, he joined constructed at the cost of Rs 54,000. the teaching staff of Royal College in The challenge was achieved and D.S. 1957. Soon, he became a popular Senanayaka College was started on teacher there. On 31 August 1959, he married a teacher named Rohini whom he met at the Teacher Training College. She was a teacher at Piyathissa Vidyalaya, Galle by that time. Alles family settled With Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and in Uluvitike, Galle. J.R.P. Sooriyapperuma However, Mr. Alles attended school With President J.R. Jayewardene and Minister Sirisena Cooray every day. He taught during a school function English and mathematics while serving as the master-in-charge of the cadet platoon. His commitment was recognised and rewarded. He was appointed as the principal of D.S. Senanayaka Vidyalaya, a newly founded school in Colombo 8. This is how he remembered the day Having a chat with President R. Premadasa and he got that Minister Sirisena Cooray Addressing students at D.S. Senanayake College promotion: “I was 35 years old caretaker of the mosque in Maradana then. I was teaching and got the left-wing of the mosque a lesson to an allocated to the students of Zahira Ordinary Level class. College. When the white-capped The school peon Zahira boys went to the mosque, I brought a note from monitored whether all of them would the principal, observe religion. My principle was Mr. Bogoda that, they must observe religion as Premarathna. same as I do. Parents liked this Saluting me as RITA, move.” he informed me that Mr. Alles held the position of the secretary of principal of Zahira College from 1983 the Ministry of to 1986. Education In 1986, he founded the network of M.J. Perera and Gateway Iinternational Schools. He educational director remembers the experience as follows: Hettiarachchi had With President D.B. Wijetunga and Minister Sunethra Ranasinghe at his son “At D.S. Senanayaka College, I called The wedding photo of R.I.T. Alles and Rohini Alles wanted to meet me. I Harsha Alles’ wedding students ‘son’ because there were ran to the office only boys. I continued the principles suspecting what would happen. I 10 February 1967, with 167 students must belong to the religion of the of D.S. Senanayaka College with the criticised the education white paper at and five teachers. virtues, country and nation. His majority of students. To bypass this sons and daughters of Gateway the convention of the Secondary “I must thank my wife, who gave me teaching exceeded curricula and law, chairman of the school board of schools. The schools network grew Teachers’ Union. I was afraid they had full freedom to commit to my duty, textbooks. Zahira College changed my position independently, and we were happy wanted to question me on that. I relieving me from family burdens.” “I remember how I was encouraged as Director Education instead of and free.” entered the office muttering, “I am In 1968, Mr. R.I.T. Alles was by him to be promoted as a sergeant principal. Thus, I became the first Meanwhile, D.S. Senanayake finished.” Mr. Premarathna heard me selected for a scholarship at of the cadet platoon of Royal College. I Sinhala Buddhist principal of Muslim College was losing its former glory. but did not say anything but smiled. Cambridge University to learn new still remember his commands as our Zahira College. I streamlined the Therefore, he was again invited to “The two officials asked me to meet educational methodology. The staff officer at Diyathalawa and Hanwella school and changed the entire system. lead the school and retired from D.S. the Minister of Education I.M.R.A. was 13 at that time. ‘Country before training camps. He taught us to I called the students ‘son’. There was Senanayaka College on 31 March Iriyagolla. He was a strict gentleman, self’ was the school motto. challenge the challenges,” Dinesh a practice of being late to school. To 1992. He was promoted as the State and I went there in fear. I was wearing There are many students who Gunawardena said. correct this, I closed the gate at 7.30 secretary of education and served the a coat without a tie. However, the remember the brilliance of their Another significant milestone in Mr. a.m. The parents were against this. I future generation of the nation gatekeeper did not notice my anxiety. teacher R.I.T. Alles. President’s Alles’ life is becoming the principal of pointed out to them that every Muslim promoting the principle – He abruptly rejected entry for me. adviser and former Secretary to Zahira College, Maradana, one of the prayed at 6 a.m. and asked why the ‘All good things are for children’. “Hon. Minister is waiting for me. I President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Lalith leading Muslim schools of Sri Lanka. Muslim students could not come to His name is written in gold in am R.I.T. Alles, I said. After a few Weeratunga, learnt from him when he He describes the experience in his school at 7.30 a.m. history. It is carved in the hearts of minutes, I was called in. Mr. Perera studied at Royal College. autobiography. “I understood that it was easy if all his students. That is why they light a and Mr. Hettiarachchi, who came to “Mr. Alles was very kind, although “Ministry of Education issued a students go to the same mosque for lamp in his memory, wherever they Royal College to meet me, were also he was a highly disciplined circular that the principal of a school midday prayers. I negotiated with the are, at 7 p.m. on 28 November. A14 sunday 29 november 2020 focus Taking PCR Testing Seriously ...and saving Sri Lanka from Western COVID thinking By Dr Ravi P and then isolate infectious CHART 1 uses Google data scientists and experts did not Rannan-Eliya cases, combined with face- that track how lockdowns look at the global evidence in masks and social distancing. changed the time that people March and come to the same As we as a spent at work. The more conclusions that Thailand, nation and the Learning from China intense the lockdown the Cambodia, Vietnam and New Government Contrary to anti-Chinese greater the reduction in time Zealand did. Many of us did, search for conspiracy theories, many of spent at work and further to and the largest body of Sri answers on how them pushed by Western the left a country lies in the Lankan doctors – the GMOA – to best tackle our second leaders and conservative chart. As you can see, there is also did. But in the face of the COVID-19 wave, there is no groups prone to racism, China no relationship (for the most important challenge to global consensus as to what has been fairly open about its technically inclined, adj. face the nation since the interventions are the most experience tackling COVID-19, R2=0.0) between this measure defeat of terrorism (another effective or even what the goal after making some serious of lockdown and COVID-19 battle that the West continues is. initial mistakes. Consequently, control. If anything, the data to fight), our authorities only Most countries are pursuing in February and March experts suggest that lockdowns were aped and continue to double- the goal of minimising the and Governments around the more severe in places with down on a Western approach spread of the virus enough so world looked at China for worse control of COVID-19. that does not work. as to live with it. Encapsulated potential lessons on how to CHART 2 shows the Whether this means that the by the phrase “flattening the tackle the virus. Their association between COVID-19 whole Jathika Chintanaya curve”, which was coined by understanding and transmission and the enterprise was always lacking the US CDC, this approach interpretation of the Chinese percentage of the population in intellectual substance, or a comes out of traditional public experience differed in critical that wore face-masks in sham, or whether our leaders health thinking about how to ways. public. Again, there is no just ignored it, I do not know. manage the next influenza Initially, influential Western evidence of any relationship Only time will tell if we will pandemic. This traditional nations, in particular the UK (adj. R2=0.0). change course to set our own thinking sees the goal as being and the USA, dismissed the CHART 3 is the only one that path based on facts and to prevent cases increasing so Wuhan lockdown as being shows anything meaningful. It reality, and adopt the cat that much that they overwhelm the something only an Asian shows the association between catches the mice, to health system. I call this the despot would do and face- the logged ratio of PCR tests to paraphrase another Asian ‘Western approach’, since masks as being culturally cases, a measure of testing leader who did transform his much of its scientific basis in alien, but they soon embraced intensity, and COVID-19 country for the better. the COVID-19 pandemic both as the virus spread transmission. As is apparent, CHART 1: ASSOCIATION comes from the work of the rapidly in their own countries. the greater the intensity of BETWEEN REDUCED CDC and in a highly influential In contrast, they never took PCR testing the better the MOBILITY AND COVID-19 paper by Imperial College seriously the other important once it crushed its first wave. from the pandemic are ones country controlled COVID-19 TRANSMISSION London scientists in March message from China: that This approach was what like China, Vietnam and New (adj. R2=0.27). In fact, none of Note:Reductions in time 2020. The British researchers aggressive PCR testing and Australia essentially Zealand that adopted the locations that tested at the spent at work estimated by argued that there was no isolation of infectious cases eventually did. aggressive testing and went very highest levels failed to IHP analysis of Google alternative, but to use was critical and could Most of the other countries hard for elimination. The control COVID-19. mobility data; average lockdowns to suppress the eliminate the virus. For that did adopt China’s whole economy versus health When I was preparing these reproduction number for virus, whilst taking other example, we now know that as approach were Asian, choice framed by the Western charts, I was planning to show countries estimated using measures such as home early as 13 March 2020 that including almost all the approach turns out to be only Sri Lanka separately, but data from Johns Hopkins isolation of cases and social the British Government’s predominantly Buddhist complete nonsense – the best then I noticed that the University COVID-19 data distancing to slow the virus. Scientific Advisory Group for societies, such as Thailand, economic policy is elimination. predominantly Buddhist repository. Not just one lockdown, but Emergencies (SAGE), which Cambodia, Bhutan and The second clue is the societies adopted COVID CHART 2: ASSOCIATION repeated lockdowns for years brings together the top British Vietnam. All of these adopted surprising lack of scientific strategies systematically BETWEEN FACE-MASK USE until a vaccine or other scientific and Government aggressive testing, and evidence to show that different to the rest of the AND COVID-19 solution was found. Whilst its experts, had concluded that Vietnamese officials will lockdowns or face-masks have world, so I marked them too. TRANSMISSION basic concern is to save lives, China was succeeding in sometimes tell you how proud made a huge difference in Green indicates the ones Note: Daily face-mask use it led to many people framing eliminating the virus. However, they are that they followed slowing the global spread of where Theravada Buddhism is from estimates generated by the choice as being between their meeting minutes report their own thinking and did not COVID-19. I am not going to dominant and crimson the Institute for Health Metrics health and the economy. This that they assumed wrongly rely on what WHO delve into that research here, others.CHART 1: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN REDUCED MOBILITYand AND Evaluation COVID-19 TRANSMISSION and data has provoked fierce debate, in that the Chinese approach recommended. but in the spirit of Jathika Two1.4 things stand out. First, sourced from YouGov; average countries such as USA, UK would fail, and that China You might think that finding Chintanaya and of thinking for the predominantly Asian reproduction number for and Brazil, as to whether the would suffer a second wave out which of these two ourselves, Ishare some Buddhist) 1.3 societies, with one countries estimated using assumed economic damage of later in 2020. China of course approaches is better is one of indigenous Sri Lankan exception, did not follow the data from Johns Hopkins lockdowns justifies the health never did. It’s hard to avoid the the most important questions analysis that conveys the same Western approach to COVID- University COVID-19 data 1.2 benefits. This Western conclusion that years of anti- in the world today that point. My thanks to my 19 control. Instead, they went repository. approach has also tended to China bashing and innate scientists (and economists) are colleagues at the Institute for for PCR testing that was more CHART 3: ASSOCIATION be the dominant view in most prejudice against the rising tackling. But you would be Health Policy (IHP) who did aggressive1.1 than what WHO BETWEEN PCR TESTING international agencies, Asian nation contributed in wrong. Global research is incredible work to put these and most Western experts INTENSITY AND COVID-19 including in the WHO, many of some way to that huge error of dominated by Western data together. have1.0 recommended, and face- TRANSMISSION whose technical experts were judgment. scientists and Western Data maskAverage reproduction number (R use, whilst going easy on Note: Testing intensity trained in Europe or North The only Western countries research funding, and they lockdowns.0.9 Second, with one estimated using IHP’s COVID- America. that took China’s success have largely focused on The accompanying charts exception,Adj. they R2=0.00 all effectively Testing Database; average In contrast, a small band of seriously were New Zealand evaluating the impacts of show the associations between controlled0.8 COVID-19 enough reproduction number for countries have ignored this and Australia, perhaps lockdowns, face-masks and lockdowns, face-masks and to put-80 them on the-60 road to -40 countries-20 estimated 0using conventional thinking and because they were far enough other interventions, but not PCR testing and the average elimination. Reduction in time atdata work (%) from Johns Hopkins pursued the goal of from Europe, and more the impact of increased reproduction number of Note:ReductionsThat one in time exception spent at work estimated is byus IHP analysis— of Google mobilityUniversity data; average reproduction COVID-19 number for data countries estimated using data from Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 data repository. elimination. This means receptive to Asian experience, testing. In fact, as was recently COVID-19 in countries during Sri Lanka. We followed most of repository.For reference, the achieving zero or near zero not to be affected by Western reported by a study published the first pandemic wave the world in their uncritical ratios of tests to cases were local transmission and groupthink. In the case of New by the Lancet, there had been (March to mid-June 2020). I adoption of the Western Sri Lanka 42, Japan 31, Korea preventing importation of the Zealand, as early as the first zero publishedCHART 1: ASSOCIATION studies BETWEEN REDUCED MOBILITYuse the AND COVID-19average TRANSMISSION effective approach.CHART 2:And ASSOCIATION as our BETWEEN Minister FACE-MASK USE86, AND COVID-19Mongolia TRANSMISSION 89, Thailand 94, virus through tight border week of April, its COVID-19 evaluating the impact of PCR reproduction number (Reff) as of Health has said simply Taiwan 148, Myanmar 164, 1.4 controls. I call this the “Asia- strategy was pointing at what testing on COVID-19 a measure of how well each following1.4 WHO instructions. In Cambodia 287 and Vietnam Pacific approach”, because it China had done, instead of transmission as of August country controlled COVID-19. doing so, we rejected the 1,410. The current ratio in Sri was mostly adopted by some treating it as irrelevant the way 2020.) 1.3 The reproduction number is approach1.3 of aggressive PCR Lanka is indicated by the Asian nations and others in the British experts did. Around Which is both a shame and used by epidemiologists to testing) advised by independent green, vertical dashed line, 1.2 the Western Pacific, such as the same time, Australian particularly unfortunate for us refer to the average number of Sri1.2 LankanAdj. R2=0.00experts and and is equal to ~22. Australia and New Zealand. experts were also thinking if we want to decide between new cases that each infected followed by other Asian and Dr Ravi P. Rannan-Eliya is This approach is based on the along similar lines, as well as the 1.1two approaches, or if you person infects. If the average Buddhist1.1 societies. Executive Director of the early success of China in talking to New Zealand have to advise the President Reff is more than one, each Jathika Chintanaya Institute for Health Policy defeating its COVID-19 colleagues. In particular, one what he should do. new case will result in more (IHP). He trained as a 1.0 1.0 epidemic, but not so much on Sri Lankan-Australian However, from my Sri cases, and the epidemic will I used to think Jathika physician at Cambridge, what happened in Wuhan, but researcher, Dr Kamalini LankanAverage reproduction number (R perspective the spread exponentially. If Reff is Chintanaya was all about and in public health and on what the other Chinese Lokuge at the Australian available0.9 clues strongly favour less than one, the number of rejectingAverage reproduction number (R 0.9 Western thinking economics at Harvard. The provinces did. As Chinese National University (ANU), the possibilityAdj. R2=0.00 that the Asia- cases will dwindle and and relying on our own views and opinions experts advised Sri Lanka in published in April 2020 a Pacific0.8 approach of elimination eventually the virus will be thinking0.8 and the innate expressed in this article are March, the USA and anyone study that concluded that through-80 aggressive -60PCR -40 eliminated.-20 A lower 0 wisdom04 from a shared20 0 his personal60 views,80 which else who was listening, the extensive PCR testing of testing is the better one. First,Reduction in timereproduction at work (%) number means Buddhist heritage – one that Daily mask canuse (%) also be found at his core of this approach is not coughs and colds would be the theNote:Reductions evidence in time increasingly spent at work estimated by IHP analysis of Googlethat mobility data;a country average reproduction is doingnumber for better thatNote: Daily we face-mask also use share from estimates with generated many by Institute for Health Metricsblog and Evaluation site and – data“Personal sourced from Script” countries estimated using data from Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 data repository. YouGov; average reproduction number for countries estimated using data from Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 data repository. lockdowns, but instead most effective strategy to keep shows that the economies in controlling COVID-19, and a nations in Asia. Stupid me. at http://www.ihp.lk/blogs/ intensive PCR testing to detect Australia free of outbreaks which are recovering fastest higher number the opposite. It’s not that Sri Lankan ravi.

CHART 2: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FACE-MASK USE AND COVID-19 TRANSMISSION CHART 3: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PCR TESTING INTENSITY AND COVID-19 TRANSMISSION CHART 1: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN REDUCED MOBILITY AND COVID-19 TRANSMISSION 1.4 1.4 1.4

1.3 ) 1.3 1.3 ) )

1.2 1.2 1.2 Adj. R2=0.00

1.1 1.1 1.1

1.0 1.0 1.0 Average reproduction number (R Average reproduction number (R 0.9 0.9 Average reproduction number (R 0.9 Adj. R2=0.27 Adj. R2=0.00 0.8 0.8 0.8 0 2 4 6 8 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 0420 0 60 80 Log(Test-to-Case Ratio) Reduction in time at work (%) Daily mask use (%) Note: Testing intensity estimated using IHP’s COVID-18 Testing Database; average reproduction number for countries estimated using data from Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 data repository.For reference, the ratios of tests to cases were Sri Lanka Note:Reductions in time spent at work estimated by IHP analysis of Google mobility data; average reproduction number for Note: Daily face-mask use from estimates generated by Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and data sourced from YouGov; average reproduction number for countries estimated using data from Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 data repository. 42, Japan 31, Korea 86, Mongolia 89, Thailand 94, Taiwan 148, Myanmar 164, Cambodia 287 and Vietnam 1,410. The current countries estimated using data from Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 data repository. ratio in Sri Lanka is indicated by the green, vertical dashed line, and is equal to ~22.

CHART 2: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FACE-MASK USE AND COVID-19 TRANSMISSION CHART 3: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PCR TESTING INTENSITY AND COVID-19 TRANSMISSION

1.4 1.4

1.3 1.3 ) )

1.2 Adj. R2=0.00 1.2

1.1 1.1

1.0 1.0 Average reproduction number (R Average reproduction number (R 0.9 0.9 Adj. R2=0.27

0.8 0.8 0420 0 60 80 0 2 4 6 8 Daily mask use (%) Log(Test-to-Case Ratio) Note: Daily face-mask use from estimates generated by Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and data sourced from Note: Testing intensity estimated using IHP’s COVID-18 Testing Database; average reproduction number for countries estimated YouGov; average reproduction number for countries estimated using data from Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 data repository. using data from Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 data repository.For reference, the ratios of tests to cases were Sri Lanka 42, Japan 31, Korea 86, Mongolia 89, Thailand 94, Taiwan 148, Myanmar 164, Cambodia 287 and Vietnam 1,410. The current ratio in Sri Lanka is indicated by the green, vertical dashed line, and is equal to ~22.

CHART 3: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PCR TESTING INTENSITY AND COVID-19 TRANSMISSION

1.4

1.3 )

1.2

1.1

1.0 Average reproduction number (R 0.9 Adj. R2=0.27

0.8 0 2 4 6 8 Log(Test-to-Case Ratio) Note: Testing intensity estimated using IHP’s COVID-18 Testing Database; average reproduction number for countries estimated using data from Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 data repository.For reference, the ratios of tests to cases were Sri Lanka 42, Japan 31, Korea 86, Mongolia 89, Thailand 94, Taiwan 148, Myanmar 164, Cambodia 287 and Vietnam 1,410. The current ratio in Sri Lanka is indicated by the green, vertical dashed line, and is equal to ~22. sports sunday 29 november 2020 A15 2026 Commonwealth Games Bid CGF shares vital information with SL Continues discussions with Canada and Australia as well

By Anjana Kaluarachchi would only back a bid to stage the Games in 2027 or later, citing it is Commonwealth Games Federation focusing on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, (CGF), the governing body of the which Canada will co-host with Commonwealth Games shared Mexico and the United States. information about potential budget Toronto, the biggest city in Ontario, is and sport programme for the 2026 poised to stage World Cup matches. Commonwealth Games (CWG), to help Australia then threw in their hat for Sri Lanka’s potential bid to host the a brief period, before Adelaide’s bid for Games, Chief Executive Officer of CGF the 2026 Games was firmly ruled out partnership, David Leather said. by the South Australian Government Leather said this during a virtual last month. CGF General Assembly yeterday The CGF and Commonwealth providing updates for its members, Games Australia claimed they are while also saying CGF is continuing working on developing a hosting discussions with Australia and proposition for an alternative Canada, who are the other potential Australian State, which would include candidates. evaluation of the benefits and costs of Early this month,Ceylon Today holding the Games. reported that the National Olympic Sri Lankan city Hambantota bid for Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL), who the 2018 Commonwealth Games, but is also SL’s representative at the CGF, lost to Gold Coast Australia by 43 is bracing themselves to bid for the votes to 27. 2026 CWG, as front runner Hamilton CGF said their immediate focus was (Canada) faced a setback by failing to on selecting a host for the 2026 secure Government support. Commonwealth Games, with the aim Speaking to Ceylon Today, NOCSL of bringing the process to a Secretary General Maxwell de Silva De Silva stated that if we are to officials, which is the model Sri Lanka Hamilton, Ontario had been the conclusion as soon as possible next said they are keen to handle the bid host the Games, we should look at should adopt. frontrunner earlier this year, with the year. Interest has been received from process and host the Games if the Birmingham 2022 plans of building a He further said that Sri Lanka could Bid Committee and Commonwealth potential hosts for the 2030 Government gives them the green fully-fledged international sports get Maldives on board to share the Sport Canada ‘working exclusively’ Commonwealth Games and beyond, it light regarding costs. De Silva further university with all facilities for the expenditure, where Maldives (who with the CGF on staging the Games in was claimed. said NOCSL will discuss the matter Games, which will help in hosting isn’t keen on hosting the entire 2026, but failed to secure Government Sri Lankan Government is yet to with Sports Minister Namal events, as well as provide Games) could host a couple of events support. issue any comment regarding the Rajapaksa. accommodation for athletes and there. The Ontario Government said it matter.

Rugby Scrapbook Viiking Ventures and Sevens Rugby requires Dambulla – A perfect fit Synergy across brands is his talents far and wide, other ventures such as the a change in thinking the hallmark of any shrewd with labels such as JMJ Sports Academy, which investor, and as such it was entrepreneur, businessmen, has provided a platform for By Vimal Perera from the well-organised school rugby. This level too a no-brainer for Sachiin actor and sports & fitness many a sports enthusiast to has to be addressed. Joshi, owner of the enthusiast, all fitting Joshi showcase their talent on the By the end of January 2021, clubs are expected to With Rugby Sevens included in the Olympic Dambulla Viiking Lanka to a tee, sport is arguably national stage. kick start the stalled Sevens rugby season. The Games and more sevens being played around the Premier League where Joshi’s true passion “The idea is to promote Tournament Committee had a zoom discussion globe, we must realise that the XV's and 7's games franchise, to install his lies. He is already a player the youth, their talent, and with the clubs who have agreed on the dates. This is are now indisputably separate. iconic Viiking moniker on and co-owner of the our shared love for the a positive sign for rugby,but more importantly, it is This change should have happened many years the team. Celebrity Cricket League sport. We are here to a step to achieve the long-term goals – meeting the before in Sri Lanka. With the current plans, it has “Well our group entity is team Telugu Warriors, while contribute, to make things objectives spelt out by the Minister of Sports vision to take place without a doubt. The acceptance of the called as Viiking Ventures, he is also the driving force better,” says Joshi of the and looking fifteen years ahead. direction by the Minister of Sports, as well as Sri and the name Viiking was behind the JMJ Sports LPL. “Any league in the To achieve that end,adjustments need to be made Lanka Rugby,requires suitable structural kept with after putting a lot Academy. Joshi also enjoys world is to promote the to the local rugby structure as a whole. adjustment because the techniques and training of thought into it. Vikings playing football and cricket sport, the talent and the The sevens can push forward to a more enjoyable required are very different. The change will have to were known to be noble in his spare time. As such, institution of cricket. game time. The crowds for club XV's rugby has be before the player graduates to club rugby and warriors. When we got the when the opportunity came Hopefully through LPL we dwindled. Getting numbers back needs more than a need to be fashioned while playing for the school. opportunity to acquire the to acquire and promote an get to contribute to this kick start -possibly a jump start! The sevens is a The forwards in 15-a-side do need bulk, which is team it was called The LPL franchise, Joshi didn’t movement. LPL has great bigger draw as it is a faster game and takes less not required in sevens as less body fat levels are Dambulla Lions. I thought hesitate in seizing the potential to achieve that.” time than the XV's, which is partly hampered by more appropriate. We have to talk differently from a why not rename it as opportunity. That said, Joshi is keenly time taken on scrums (due to resets and poor sevens and fifteens perspective. Cannot stick to the Dambulla Viiking so as to “I have been a passionate aware of the unique scrummaging and collapses) and time-outs. The old formula which has only helped us to win the create a great synergy and cricketer myself and when challenges posed by hosting advantage sevens has over XV’s is fans enjoy a Bowl. In today's sevens game one hardly sees XV integration with the belief of this was offered to me, I a sporting tournament in faster game with more running rugby and fewer forwards, as most are third-row players. the company,” explains immediately got excited as it the middle of a pandemic. scrums, resets and line-outs. The advantage is for sevens rugby and rugby Joshi. gets you the potential to be He firmly believes with the XV's game need spectators to hold their attention sevens is a party. What has changed the game for While the name was in touch with your first right drive and execution for 80 minutes, whereas a Sevens game is more them is the arrival of the modern Sevens athlete; changed in the name of love.” the tournament and Viiking relaxed, thrilling and more of a party. men who possess the fitness,the speed of a 100m synergy, the purchase of the The LPL’s stated goals of franchise have the potential It is a fact that there has been an increasing gap sprinter and the agility. franchise itself was one promoting youth and to be among the few success between Sevens Rugby and the traditional fifteen- Sevens has reduced the competitiveness gap more in tune with Joshi’s hidden talent in Sri Lanka stories of 2020. a-side game. Players have had to make a choice - between the first and second-tier nations. The world passions. Despite spreading meshes well with Joshi’s (Agencies) do they want to concentrate on Sevens or 15s? of international Sevens prevents the tragedy of bog This question is bound to arise in the club rugby margins as in XV's. arena. The clubs will have to think in terms of Any nation capable of producing seven speedy sevens being different to fifteens. A change in athletes can, on their day, achieve winning results. structure is required, as clubs citing lack of Some degree of specific rugby training will always India’s tour of resources call upon their Sevens players to play in be needed. Take the case of Fiji in XV’s and 7s. The New Zealand pull off Australia the XV's fixtures. The trend globally is towards same possibility exists for SL clubs. developing a specialised talent pool for the seven- .While it is true that the Rugby World Cup is one Auckland thriller Kohli baffled a-side game. This is the change in structure that is of the world's most significant and most popular required. That needs the support of coaches and sporting events, two events outrank it: the FIFA administrators. Maintaining a Sevens squad World Cup and Summer Olympics. by Rohit’s requires funds. Either it will be from team Who knows what the evolution of Rugby Sevens sponsors or from the kitty received by event will look like after 2021, but the thought alone is absence sponsors. Or when franchised tournaments are enough to stir excitement in the SL rugby fan! India Virat Kohli said he played the clubs need to be compensated. That Hopefully, the structure would change and maybe was kept in the dark about deputy again is a look at the structure. with fewer players required and possibly practice in Rohit Sharma’s hamstring injury This structure needs a steady supply of fresh smaller grounds there may be more teams than the and believes the opener should players to augment the ones who retire from the eight teams that have sustained for over a quarter- have travelled to Australia to boost game for various reasons each year. That will come century. his chances of playing the Test series against Tim Paine’s men. Rohit was initially ruled out of the entire Australia tour with the New Zealand greeted them down but Jimmy injury, which kept him out of four Pumas face second All Blacks test international cricket Neesham forged Indian Premier League (IPL) back in the country with important partnerships matches in the United Arab Argentina were written off first win over the three-times a thrilling five- with debutant Devon Emirates. The 33-year-old, by everybody but themselves world champions with a 25-15 victory in the first Conway and Mitchell however, returned to lead Mumbai before the start of the victory in their first test in against West Santner to seal victory Indians to a record fifth IPL title, makeshift Tri-Nations more than a year. Indies on Friday. with four balls to spare. prompting questions about the tournament, but will put one They followed that with a Kieron Pollard's Score extent of his injury. hand on their maiden battling 15-15 draw with blistering 75 West Indies 180/7 The Indian Board subsequently southern hemisphere test title Australia last week in powered West Indies to a (Pollard 75*, Fletcher 34, added him to the Test squad, if they can find a way to beat Newcastle and, equal on commanding 180-7 in Ferguson 5-21, Southee while monitoring his recovery at New Zealand again this points, but with a game in the Auckland contest 2-22) the National Cricket Academy weekend. The Pumas sent hand over their rivals, have which was reduced to New Zealand 179 for 5 (NCA) in Bengaluru, having shockwaves around the rugby their first major international 16-overs-a-side following (Neesham 48*, Conway deemed him still unfit to travel world two weeks ago when silverware within their grasp. rain interruptions. New 41, Thomas 2-23) with the rest of the team to Pablo Matera they deservedly earned their (Reuters) Sam Cane Zealand's top order let (Reuters) Australia. (Reuters) 2020 A16 SUNDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2020 SPORTS 27 November Jaffna 176/2 (20 ov)

Galle 175/8 (19.3/20 ov)

Lanka Premier League 2020 won by 8 Today - 3.30 pm Kandy Vs Dambulla Today - 7.30 pm Fernando Guides Galle Vs Colombo Stallions Home Hasaranga shines with ball

Two youngsters – tournament -had things under control as they (92n.o.) and Wanidu conceded just 52 runs in GALLE GLADIATORS Hasaranga de Silva the ten overs from over 5 to (2-12) - exceled as 15, with Wanidu Hasaranga D. Gunathilaka b Hasaranga 38 Jaffna Stallions sealed a returning figures of 2 for C. Walton c Hasaranga b Olivier 04 comfortable 8 wickets win 12. But then came the A. Khan c de Silva b Hasaranga 20 over Galle Gladiators in the storm as skipper Shahid B. Rajapaksa c Fernando b Olivier 21 2nd encounter of the Afridi, 40-years on paper M. Siriwardana c de Silva b Olivier 02 tournament played in and cleared to play only last S. Afridi c Moores b Olivier 58 Hambanthota yesterday. morning, hammered 58 off S. Jayasuriya run out 17 Chasing Gladiators 175, 23 deliveries, which saw M. Amir c Moores b Perera 03 Stallions opener Fernando three fours and six sixes. A. Dananjaya not out 02 started off slowly scoring Afridi who landed in the Extras: 02 just ten off the first 20 island on 25th did not have Total: (for 8 wickets in 20 overs) 175 deliveries he faced, but to undergo the mandatory Fall of Wickets: 1-24 (3.3), 2-58 (7.5), rather than getting into a 7-day 3-79(11.2), 4-92(13.1), 5-93(13.3),6- panic about it, he kept quarantine 155(17.6), 7-166(18.6),8-175 (20.0) going until he found his for foreign Bowling: 3-0-27-0, rhythm, and his next 43 players as 4-0-46-0, deliveries yielded 82 runs medical 4-0-44-4, 4-0-30-0, taking him to an unbeaten authorities Wanidu Hasaranga 4-0-12-2, Shoaib 92 in the end with seven cleared him Malik 1-0-11-0 sixes and five fours, which after tests. He sealed the game for the had contracted COVID-19 Stallions. before and recovered. He and the The skipper who came in JAFFNA STALLIONS experienced Shoaib at number six kept dealing Malik added an in sixes, as he smashed four Avishka Fernando not out 92 unbeaten century stand in the 18th over by Duanne c Khan b Amir 18 (110) for the third wicket Olivier, which shifted the Tom Mooresc Afridi b Shiraz 18 which saw them home momentum of the game. not out 27 comfortably without any Danushka Gunathilaka Extras (lb2, w18, nb1) 21 hiccups. Stallions were in looked good at the top of the Total (For 2 wickets in 19.3 overs) 176 control for most part of order alongside Azzam Fall of Wickets: 1-35(3.2), 2-66(7.4) the game, apart from a few Khan(son of coach Moin Bowling: Akila Dananjaya 3.3-0-33-0, overs where Afridi dealt Khan) at the other end, but Mohammad Amir 4-0-29-1, Asitha with sixes, albeit getting the at the end of the power play Fernando 3-0-28-0, 4-0- benefit of a dropped chance where they scored 53, 20-0, Mohamed Shiraz 3-0-38-1, early in his inning. Stallions took control with Milinda Siriwardana 2-0-26-0 Earlier in the match, skipper Thisara Perera Jaffna Stallions - the best leading from the front. prepared team in the (AK) Avishka Fernando Shahid Afridi Wanidu Hasaranga

Hamilton says he would COVID-19 Breach never refuse a knighthood Pakistan get ‘fi nal warning’ in NZ Seven-times Formula One world Pakistan Cricket Board champion Lewis Hamilton left no doubt CEO Wasim Khan was told by the on Thursday that he would accept a New Zealand Government that one knighthood if it was offered to him. more breach of New Zealand’s The Mercedes driver is now the most COVID-19 protocols by the Pakistan successful grand prix driver of all time squad would result in the entire and has been tipped by the media to travelling party being deported. become Britain’s latest sporting “Sir” In a WhatsApp voice message to in the country’s New Year’s honours the travelling players which list. ESPNcricinfo has obtained, the PCB “Firstly, I would never ever turn CEO addressed his players candidly, down the royal family,” the 35-year-old telling them being sent back home told reporters at the Bahrain Grand would be ‘hugely embarrassing’. Prix when asked what his response “Boys, I spoke to the New Zealand would be. Government and they told us there “I’ve grown up in the UK and I’m an were three or four breaches of avid fan of them. protocols,” Wasim Khan said in the “There is no greater honour than voice note. ‘They have a zero- your country recognising you and tolerance policy and they’ve given us honouring you with such an award.” a final warning. We understand that a chartered flight with special facility. More significantly, New Triple world champion Jackie this is a difficult time for you, and permission obtained from the New Zealand Cricket issued a statement Stewart, now 81, is the only one of you went through similar conditions Zealand Government. They moved revealing several players had Britain’s 10 Formula One world in England. It’s not easy. But this is on to Christchurch, where they were breached quarantine regulations, champions to have been knighted. a matter of the nation’s respect and set to undergo 14 days of strict and that the team would be put on a The late Australian triple world credibility. Observe these 14 days isolation. The arrangements, “final warning”. It prompted a champion Jack Brabham was also and then you’ll have the freedom to however, got off to a rocky start rebuke from New Zealand’s director knighted, as was the late Stirling Moss go to restaurants and roam about when six players returned positive general of health Dr. Ashley who is widely regarded as the greatest freely. They have told me in clear COVID-19 tests upon landing in Bloomfield, who said it was “a driver never to have won the title. terms that if we commit one more New Zealand; the PCB had claimed privilege to come to New Zealand to Hamilton’s admirers have suggested breach, they’ll send us home.’ there were no positive tests in the play sport, but in return teams in the past that he is insufficiently The Pakistan squad is due to play travelling party in Lahore, from must stick to the rules that are appreciated at home. three T20s and two Tests in New where the team flew. The six players designed to keep COVID-19 out of (Reuters) Zealand, and landed in Auckland on were moved into a separate isolation our communities”.

Smith, Finch Hit Tons as Australia Beat India in Tour Opener

Steve Smith and Aaron Finch led the had conceded in any one-dayer. back pillaging runs again. dismissed Virat Kohli (21) and Shreyas way with centuries as Australia opened Hardik Pandya thumped four sixes in a Smith survived an early scare on 15 Iyer in the 10th over. their home summer with a one-day bright 90 to give them hope but the when he was given out lbw but he Spinner Adam Zampa (4-54) redeemed victory over India by 66 runs on Friday in innings petered out after his fifth-wicket immediately reviewed and the tracker himself with ball in hand after dropping the first men’s international played in partnership of 128 with opener Shikhar showed the ball was going a whisker Kohli in the deep when the India captain front of a crowd since March. Dhawan (74) was broken and India above the stumps. was on one, but his was only one of a The capacity of the limped to 308-8 in their 50 overs. Thereafter, Smith looked at his very string of misfields from both sides. Sydney Cricket Ground was reduced by “I’ve been searching for something for a best as he raced to the third fastest one- India play two more one-dayers in 50% because of social distancing rules couple of months but a few days ago day century by an Australian in 62 balls, Sydney and Canberra before a three- but a crowd of 17,821, mostly backing something just clicked,” Smith said of his clubbing 10 fours and four sixes. match Twenty20 series and four tests the tourists, were treated to some . “It was nice to contribute to a Finch had already secured his 17th around the new year. fireworks from the home batsmen in the good win.” century in the format from a more “I think we had enough preparation so afternoon sun. The teams lined up in a “Barefoot pedestrian 117 deliveries before no excuses,” said Kohli. “The key to Finch scored 114 in an opening stand Circle” in recognition of indigenous departing to make way for a vintage keeping the batsmen in check is picking of 156 with David Warner (69) to lay a Australians before the match and Glenn Maxwell cameo of 45 runs off 19 up wickets and we couldn’t do that.” platform before his predecessor as moments of silence remembered Dean balls. Score captain Smith smashed 105 off 66 balls Jones, who died last month, and Phillip Paceman Mohammed Shami was the Australia 6 for 374: (Finch 114, Smith to drive Australia to 374 for six – their Hughes, who suffered a fatal injury at pick of India’s bowlers (3-59) and skittled 105, Warner 69, Maxwell 45, Shami highest total against India. the ground exactly six years ago. Smith with a full toss in the final over of 3-59) India, who were forced to spend two There was another short pause early the innings. India 8 for 308: (Pandya 90, Dhawan weeks in quarantine on arrival in in the Australia innings when two Josh Hazlewood (3-55) stalled a 74, Zampa 4-54, Hazlewood 3-55) Australia, always looked like struggling environmental protesters ran on the blistering start to India’s innings by (Reuters) to chase down the third highest tally they field but Finch and Warner were soon removing Mayank Agarwal and then

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