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PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COVID-19 ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 MIND 35,049 BROWNS INVESTMENTS PROTEAS IN DEATHS RECOVERED PARTNERS WITH CHEC DILEMMA UR SEX 8,536 FOR PORT CITY PROJECT BEFORE SL TOUR Aiming to break the stigma around sex THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP 160 26,353 »SEE PAGE 3 »SEE PAGE 8 UNTIL 8.00 P.M. ON 17 DECEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU »SEE PAGE 5 SUBSTANDARD CANNED FISH HANDS OFF! Returned to China A consignment of canned fish containers Between July and October, 48 containers containing arsenic was re-exported to China containing 768 metric tonnes of canned fish worth yesterday (17) by the Sri Lanka Customs after Rs. 38.4 million were imported from China to being deemed unfit for human consumption by the Port of Colombo. the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLS). Contd. on page 2 BURIAL OF COVID-19 DEAD NEW COVID-19 DETECTIONS TOTAL CASES Govt. awaits 31,382*Stats updated as at 9.00 p.m. on 17 December COVID-19 Another 10 areas isolated proposals Parts of three police areas in the Eastern Province were placed under z Several lands with a lower water table proposed isolation from 6 a.m. last morning (17), said Army Commander BY SARAH HANNAN burial of the Covid-19 dead within Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva. Sri Lanka itself.” The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has proposed several Sabry explained that the expert suitable areas to bury the Covid-19 dead, the Ministry of committee, which includes virologists, WHO investigations Justice stated. microbiologists, and soil experts, will have to weigh in on the suitability of team to visit Wuhan The All Ceylon Port General Workers’ Union yesterday (17) staged a protest in front of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority against the cabinet paper to lease Areas with a lower water table are of Justice Ali Sabry said: “We have the land areas that the Government has A World Health Organisation the East Container Terminal (ECT) to an Indian company to be considered for this purpose, and not made any agreements with any proposed to them. (WHO) research mission to China PHOTO ESHAN DASANAYAKA the expert committee that has been parties to seek suitable land, especially He noted that the decision largely is expected to arrive in Wuhan next appointed to look into this matter will in foreign countries, to allow Covid- lies on the recommendations of these month to investigate how the novel EAST CONTAINER TERMINAL provide their recommendations to the 19 burials of Sri Lankan nationals. experts and the healthcare authorities, coronavirus jumped from animals GoSL on the proposed lands. “We are continuing to look at all only after which a ruling can to humans, and whether it emerged Speaking to The Morning, Minister feasible methods for permitting the be passed. earlier or in a different place than Tripartite MoC originally thought. NEW SRI LANKAN ENVOY TO CHINA 8 SriLankan Catering not cancelled yet Dr. Kohona z Discussions ongoing to z SLPA to own controlling staff infected invite foreign investors stake in investment assumes duties SriLankan Catering yesterday Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China Dr. (17) confirmed media reports of BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA "No final decision has been Palitha Kohona virtually assumed duties on eight employees of the SriLankan made," he added. State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara Wednesday (16). Catering operations division at Discussions are still underway When asked whether the The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing said Bandaranaike International Airport on inviting foreign investors for the Government was planning to SLFP disgruntled the new Ambassador was accorded a warm (BIA) tested positive for Covid-19. development of the East Container open up the ECT development to virtual welcome by its staff. Dr. Kohona had Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo prospective investors, the Chairman with SLPP arrived in China two days ago to take office Port, according to the Sri Lanka noted that the Memorandum of The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in his post. Patient gives birth Ports Authority (SLPA). Co-operation (MoC) signed has expressed disappointment in the Contd. on page 2 Dr. Palitha Kohona SLPA Chairman Maj. Gen. Daya between Japan, Sri Lanka, and Government for disregarding its public to quadruplets Ratnayake told The Morning that India had not been cancelled and representatives. FR PETITIONS ON Z SCORE A pregnant woman infected with the authority was yet to be officially therefore, the Government will take SLFP General Secretary State Minister Covid-19 gave birth to quadruplets informed about the decisions, and the appropriate decision. Dayasiri Jayasekara said an issue has arisen at the De Soysa Maternity Hospital the discussions were still ongoing. Contd. on page 2 as the Government has failed to include Postponed till Monday in Colombo yesterday (17). SLFP members in its plans. Further consideration of in universities on the basis of the REOPENING FOR TOURISM Speaking on the provincial council the Fundamental Rights (FR) Z scores recently issued by the elections, Jayasekara said President petitions filed seeking an University Grants Commission Nafeerwatte in Gotabaya Rajapaksa is yet to respond to interim injunction suspending (UGC) has been postponed to Authorities requests to hold a discussion in this regard. the admission of students to Monday (21). Wellawatte isolated Contd. on page 2 engineering and physics faculties Contd. on page 2 Nafeerwatte in the Wellawatte police area has been isolated with continue EC discusses 2021 COVID-19 immediate effect. Public asked to electoral register Cardinal asks devotees discussions co-operate during A final decision on reopening the country’s The preparation of the 2021 electoral roll was to to restrict movement airports for tourists was yet to be made despite be discussed at the Election Commission’s (EC) festive season Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm the ongoing discussions conducted by the meeting yesterday (17), EC Chairman Nimal Various anti-Covid health operations are Cardinal Ranjith yesterday (17) relevant authorities, Airport and Aviation Punchihewa said. to be carried out during the festive season requested the devotees to restrict Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL) Chairman The newly appointed members of the EC were under which the people have been requested movement to and from Colombo Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri said yesterday (17). AASL Chairman Maj. scheduled to meet for the first time yesterday. to provide their details to the authorities, during the festive season and give Contd. on page 2 Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri Punchihewa said several issues apart from the Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said priority to religious observances EC Chairman Nimal preparation of the electoral roll would be discussed yesterday (17). during Christmas. Punchihewa at the meeting. Contd. on page 2 SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 LAND CLEARING For cultivation, not in protected areas z Tree planting in upper catchment areas of five waterfalls commences The Minister of Environment encroaching forest lands, the the Forest Department or the affirmed that none of the committee that is appointed DWC has been affected by recent land clearances that to look into these matters have such plantations, except for were reported took place found during their preliminary the incident that was reported within forest reserve land observations that these lands in Anawilundawa when the areas or Department of are within the Mahaweli zones Ramsar-protected wetland was Wildlife Conservation which were originally zoned cleared. (DWC) lands. for cultivation purposes. These He also noted that private Minister of Environment lands have been underutilised plantation owners are now Mahinda Amaraweera, for years, and with the revival joining the Ministry of speaking to The Morning, in agriculture, many of these Environment’s project to said: “Although there is an lands are now being put into reforest areas which are increase in incidents being good use.” identified as watersheds and Minister Mahinda Amaraweera with private reported stating that private Amaraweera confirmed water catchments areas. plantation company representatives plantation companies are that no land which belongs to Contd. on page 2 2 the morning INTERVIEW/NEWS Friday , December 18, 2020 BY PAMODI WARAVITA If the Government does go ahead with lifting the ban, what do scientists and Spearfishing, the trophy fishing SL SHOULD NOT PROMOTE conservationists such as yourself hope sport of hunting fish underwater to do? Since your organisation also using spear guns and diving gear, engages in marine conservation efforts, was practised in Sri Lanka until do you have any plans to stop this from 2017. It was banned a mere three happening? years ago under the Fisheries and This legislation only came into place three ‘KILLING TOURISM’ years ago. It is sad that they are already talking Aquatic Resources Act, following a particularly concerning event where about overturning it. State Minister for Fisheries a humphead wrasse, part of an Kanchana Wijesekera has, however, made DR. ASHA DE VOS a strong statement that they are opposed to endangered species, was killed on Hammers ‘spearfishing’ as shortsighted and detrimental in the long run the legalisation of spearfishing. I am going the southern coast. to trust him and hold him to it. People have A report published last week alleged that the by this activity – in this case, coral trout. The of the water, people wouldn’t return because thought long and hard before putting this ban Ministry of Sports was planning on informing issue of taking bigger fish is that quite often, there’s no point in coming back when there’s into place, for the sake of the country and the the Navy and the Ministry of Fisheries to permit they are the ones at reproductive age. So if you nothing left to see. So economically, it doesn’t nation.

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