highlights monday Indian PM Modi 28 september 2020 Latest Edition holds virtual Vol: 09/240 Price : Rs 30.00 conference with PM Rajapaksa READ In Sports page A8 CEYLON TODAY AND Lakshitha,King of Consider all verbal WIN National Surfing orders as circulars LUXURY HOTEL Lakshitha Madushan from Weligama SC took the major honours by winning – President STAYS! both the Arugambay edition and D INSIDE overall National title with 3,000 points ETAILS at the Surfing Open/National... page A8 A16

Former Army COS tells If information shared with STF PCoI on political victimisation Shani Wanted Easter Attacks Duminda Executed Could Have Been CID officers led by former CID Director Shani Abeysekera acted maliciously to make sure former MP was executed, and even overstepped their duties, former Chief of Prevented Staff of the Army, Major General Amal Karunasekera said, adding that this is apparent from voice tapes between MP and CID officers. He said so while testifying before the Presidential – SDIG Latheef Commission probing political victimisation, on Saturday (26). By Buddhika Samaraweera Nilantha Jayawardena did not When considering the telephone specifically notify him of the conversations between the then Director of If the intelligence information on the intelligence information that a the CID and Inspector of Police Easter Sunday attacks was shared terrorist attack was likely to take Nishantha Silva, it is apparent that all with the Special Task Force (STF), at place in April 2019. of this was done for the purpose of least the attacks that took place in SDIG Latheef said he telephoned bringing to a standstill the work of could have been prevented Jayasundera on 10 April 2019,to intelligence officers and taking by sealing off Colombo, former inform that he had returned to Sri political revenge, said (Retired) Commandant of the STF, Senior DIG Lanka following a training Major General Karunasekera. M.R. Latheef said. programme in France and asked In connection with the Testifying before the Presidential Jayasundera if there was abduction and assault of Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the anything special, but journalist Keith Noyahr, the then Easter Sunday bombings on 26 Jayasundera did not inform him Director of the CID Abeysekera September, he also said former on anything special. and CID officers led by Inspector Defence Secretary Hemasiri However, it was earlier of Police Nishantha Silva and Fernando, former Inspector General of revealed before the PCoI that, Army intelligence officers had Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundera or by 10 April, the then IGP acted with the purpose of taking former Director of the State Jayasundera was revenge, Karunasekera further said. Intelligence Service (SIS), Senior DIG informed about the...

Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 COVID-19 Scare in Matara Global COVID-19 Control Austin tells Easter Flower drop on Ratmalane Attacks PCoI Lansiya’s grave Airlines, hotels Lanka number No Acting Defence Five more two – Survey Minister appointed when unlicensed told to stick to , bested by China, came in Sirisena went abroad second in terms of COVID-19 epidemic drones uncovered prevention measures, economic recovery By Buddhika Samaraweera guidelines and international cooperation, out of 108 By M.C. Perera countries surveyed by the Yicai Research Although it is compulsory for any By Leon Berenger Institute, part of China’s largest financial ministers to appoint someone to cover their Five more unlicensed drones with media group, Yicai Media Group. duties when they go abroad, no one was cameras were found in a house in The COVID-19 control Task Nine out of the top 10 countries were in appointed to act as the Defence Minister Kothalawala, Kaduwela, belonging to the Force has issued a fresh the Asia-Pacific region, namely South except on one occasion when former person who had brought a drone with a reminder to airlines and hotels Korea, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, President and Defence Minister Maithripala camera to drop flowers on the grave of to strictly adhere to the Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia and New Sirisena went abroad, said former Secretary Ratmalane ‘Lansiya’, at the Mount guidelines when taking in Zealand, according to the report released. to the President, Austin Fernando. Lavinia Public Cemetery on Saturday guests, aimed at preventing a Ghana was in third place. He said this, on 26 September, testifying (26), Dehiwala Police said. reoccurrence of last week’s Germany was the highest-scoring before the Presidential Commission of Police said the value of the cameras incident in Matara, a topmost European country, coming in 23rd, with Inquiry (PCoI) into the bombings on Easter was about Rs 2 million. official said yesterday. Austria, Greece and Switzerland also Sunday, 21 April 2019. The suspect has been identified as “We met up with several... among the continent’s better performers. Manjula Nishantha Kumaratunga (28), The US and Brazil, both countries with Story Continued on page 2 Police said. Story Continued on page 2 leaders who initially downplayed the They further said, of the five drones problem and with lower levels of that were seized, three of them had cooperation by the public, ranked 98th Killing of ‘Ratmalane Roha’ cameras fixed on them. Ruwan tells Easter Attacks PCoI and 89th respectively. On the instructions of OIC of the Sweden, which opted for the Dehiwala Police, Chief Inspector of Police Sirisena told Tri-Forces controversial policy of herd immunity, Four held for H.L. Dushmantha, OIC of the Crime came in at number 90. Division, Inspector of Police Rohana Chiefs not to visit PM Udayanga and a team of officers are celebration bid conducting investigations. By Buddhika Samaraweera By Leon Berenger

Although the Prime Minister has the power to Four persons, including the sister of an summon the Armed Forces in the absence of the alleged drug dealer currently domiciled President, the Commanders of Tri-Forces had been overseas, were arrested, after they attempted instructed by former President , to celebrate the death of an underworld figure not to visit the Prime Minister, said former State shot dead by Police on Thursday last week, at Minister of Defence, . a location in Kochchikade, Negombo. He was testifying before the Presidential The suspects were linked to the alleged Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday drug dealer Amal Sinhara alias ‘Kudu Anju,’ bombings. believed to be currently living in Italy. He also said Sirisena, who was the Defence Minister at the time, had never appointed him as the Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 Acting Minister in accordance with the due process Police seize when he was on foreign tours and noted that he had 1,024 kg of turmeric served as Acting Defence Minister only once before... Tuition Master held with drug haul By Nabiya Vaffoor Story Continued on page 2 Sought to purchase car for wife Police have seized over 1,024 By Leon Berenger and tuition master who is a was picked up in a sting kilogrammes of turmeric, believed to 21 waste containers Berty Weerasinghe resident of Rock House in operation carried out by have been smuggled via the sea route. (Katana) Mattakuliya, Police said. Police following a tip-off at The stock of turmeric, seized on 26 re-shipped to UK Initially the tuition master the Dandugama Bridge and... September, was packed in 29 polythene A tuition master and two bags, and was found in a lorry that had By Thameenah Razeek others were arrested in been parked in the Periya Karisal area in possession of 150 grams of Mannar. Twenty-one freight containers containing waste heroin and six kilograms of The stock of turmeric was found when material,shipped to Sri Lanka in 2017,were cannabis, having a street the Pesalai Police searched the lorry in re-shipped to the United Kingdom on 26 value of Rs 5.5 million,at a question, following a tip-off. September,on the instructions of the Attorney location in Negombo So far, it has not been revealed who General. yesterday, Police said. brought the stock of turmeric to Sri Reportedly, a total of 263 containers, filled with Among those arrested were Lanka, and the Pesalai Police are waste material, were illegally imported by a private... a former student of the conducting further investigations.

Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 A2 monday 28 september 2020 news

Continued from page 1 Correction With reference to the news report titled ‘Case against former Shani Wanted... Kandy ASP further hearing on 25 Sept’ in our Sunday edition published on 27 September, we have inadvertently mentioned, He also said, on several occasions, The witness said it was then Mount complaint filed by retired Major General “When the case was taken up, the accused Patabendige who is officers Abeysekera and Silva had tried Lavinia Magistrate Lochana Amal Karunasekera, Parliamentarian presently out on bail was present in Court.” And, “the Attorney to influence him to say that the attack Abeywickrema who imposed these bail Ranjan Ramanayake, former General has indicted the accused Patabendige in the High Court.” on journalist Noyahr was carried out conditions. Parliamentarian Hirunika It should have read, “When the case was taken up, the accused with the knowledge of then Defence CID officers had worked with the Premachandra, former Director of the former Kandy ASP Udugampola, who is presently out on bail was Secretary and objective of keeping him in remand even CID Shani Abeysekera and former present in Court.” And, “the Attorney General has indicted the since he rejected that charge, a while bail had been granted, he felt, Inspector of Police Nishantha Silva have accused Udugampola in the High Court.” conspiracy was launched both locally witness Karunaseker apointed out. been issued with summons to be We regret the error and extend our apologies to Colombo High and internationally during the tenure of Meanwhile, it was arranged for the present at the Presidential Commission Court Judge Adithya Patabendige. the Good Governance Government with Commission to listen to some other on 9 October. the goal of bringing to a standstill the tapes of conversations between MP work of intelligence sectors. Ranjan Ramanayake, former MP Karunasekera said a good Hirunika Premachandra, Shani background for the terrorist attacks Abeysekera and Nishantha Silva, where that took place on 21 April last year was views had been expressed in a Sirisena told... created due to officers of the intelligence malicious manner regarding .. the Easter Sunday witness added. sectors becoming henchmen of the intelligence services. bombings. “On that occasion Meanwhile, the PCoI members political authority. At the same time, the Chairman of the too, I was informed that I had questioned Wijewardene He also said he was arrested in Commission ordered on that day, been appointed Acting Minister whether he would accept the connection with the case of the Director of the CID, Senior only after the former President statement made by several abduction and attack on journalist Superintendent of Police Prasanna left on a foreign tour. witnesses that former Prime Noyahr on 3 April 2018 and it was Alwis to inquire into the country to I was not informed of it before Minister arranged to keep him remanded for which CID officer, Inspector of Police he went out of the country,” he had left the NSC before it ended more than 5 months. He said, on 10 Silva had fled to and report to the Court added. on several occasions. September 2018, he was produced in about it. The Chairman of the He also said he had not "I accept that he has left it the Mount Lavinia Magistrate Courts Commission informed the Director of attended National Security many times. However, he did and three surety bails of Rs 10 million the CID that former Inspector of Police Council (NSC) meetings since not have the power to intervene each were specified as bail conditions of the CID Nishantha Silva was abroad 26 October 2018. in security affairs,” he said. and it was said that all three surety and that it was reported through In response to a question from Asked if he would accept the bails should be of executive officer summons sent previously to him. an Additional Solicitor General statement that the Yahapalana grade and that one of them should be a The Chairman further said that (ASG) as to why, he said he had Government did not prioritise close relation as well as that a according to the Charter of the United not received any invitation to national security, he said the guarantor of the Government in the Nations Organisation or policies of that attend. previous Government had never executive grade should be paying PAYE particular country, there would be no “When I inquired about this underestimated national taxes between 12 to 24 percent. These room for Nishantha Silva, who has fled from the then Defence Secretary security, but the conflict were all mentioned in the bail the country, as a respondent subject to Hemasiri Fernando, he said he between the President and the conditions, Karunasekera told the allegations regarding political revenge, was awaiting Sirisena's Prime Minister affected the Commission. The Commission asked to be granted political protection in approval to invite me,” the national security. the witness who the Magistrate was another country. who had specified the bail conditions. Also, in connection with the

Easter Attacks ...... intelligence 2019, following another intelligence information although there was some information received by the foreign tour and he said, received by him on 20 April kind of relationship, it was SIS regarding a possible “That day I called the that a terrorist attack was not as it should be. terror attack. former Defence Secretary inevitable on 21 April, the The witness said the STF, When questioned as to Fernando and witness added. which was under a whether he received the Jayasundera, but on that Adding that it was a separate ministry at the intelligence information on day too, they did not serious matter as to why time, had to face some the possibility of a terror inform me of any possible he (SDIG Jayawardena) did obstacles from Police attack received by the SIS terror attack, the witness not do so, SDIG Latheef Headquarters while on 4 April, the witness said said. SDIG Latheef further said if he was made aware exchanging certain letters. Tuition Master... his office had received it on said that SDIG of the intelligence Requests made from ... the other two were arrested a short while later 9 April 2019. But the Jayawardena had sought information;at least the former Ministers of Law The suspects were identified as drug suppliers to the Chilaw-Puttalam former IGP did not call and his views on the incident attacks that took place in and Order Sagala area. The suspects were moving from Colombo to Chilaw at the time of inform him about it until where a bomb placed on a Colombo could have been Ratnayake and Ranjith their arrest that was made following a tip-off. he returned to Sri Lanka, motorcycle was detonated prevented, by sealing off Maddumabandara and The group is alleged to have been involved in the trade for a he added. Also, he met in Kattankudy on 16 April Colombo. former Secretary to the considerable period of time, according to Police. Fernando and Jayasundera 2019 and that at 7:27 on Meanwhile, in response Ministry, Jagath P. The tuition master later told Police that he got involved in the drug on 11 April, and on that 20 April 2019; he called to a question from a Wijeweera to allow the STF trade in order to purchase a hybrid car for his young wife. day too they had not SDIG Jayawardena to member of the PCoI as to to attend the National A car, one motorcycle, three measuring scales and four mobile phones informed him about the express his views regarding what the official Security Council and the were also seized from the suspects, according to Police. Further possibility of an attack. it. Even at that time, relationship was between weekly intelligence review investigations are being conducted by the Negombo Police on the SDIG Latheef returned to Jayawardena did not former IGP Jayasundera meetings did not receive instructions of the area Police chief Senior Superintendent (SSP) Saman Sri Lanka on 19 April inform me of the and him, the witness said any response, he said. Sigera. (Pic By Berty Weerasinghe, Katana)

21 waste... Airlines, hotels...... company in 2017, exploiting polythene waste. “There is no Court ... representatives from both the airline and hotel stakeholders,” Commander Silva added. operational procedures which come case with regard to the 21 freight industry and briefed them on the steps that must Panic struck the Deep South region late last under the purview of the Board of containers repatriated recently,” he be taken when registering foreign crew members week, after a Russian pilot tested positive for Investments. alleged. from both aircraft and ships,” Head of the Task COVID-19 and was allowed to mingle with the local Media Spokesperson of Sri Lanka The importation of freight containers Force, Army Commander Lieutenant General public, that included making visits to upmarket Customs Sunil Jayaratne yesterday is a violation of the Basel Convention Shavendra Silva said yesterday. shopping centres in the area. (27) claimed that Customs detected the on the Control of Trans-boundary He added that in future arrivals at the Mattala The Russian was part of a 14-member crew that case in 2018 and preliminary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) will be had arrived at the MRIA on 12 September on a investigations revealed the containers Their Disposal and rules and housed in hotels situated in the vicinity and that cargo plane and later booked into the hotel at had been imported to the country in regulations of the European Union as instructions towards this end have already been Polhena in Matara. 2017. The matter was referred to Court well. issued. The hotel, it was later found, was not a for returning the rest of the containers The Basel Convention on the Control He said an Army unit had also moved into the sanctioned quarantine centre and therefore it had as well. Legal proceedings are currently of Trans-boundary Movements of MRIA to assist the Air Force in the screening of made a serious blunder in accepting the guests underway in this connection. Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal arrivals, as more aircraft are scheduled to land at without notifying the regional health and other According to Sri Lanka Customs, the usually known as the Basel the airport in the coming weeks. authorities. majority of the freight containers Convention, is an international treaty “We have taken all precautions, so that what The Russian was subsequently given a clean imported to the country, in the guise of made to reduce the movements of happened in Matara will not be repeated and sheet after a second anti-body test proved negative used mattresses, contained plastic and hazardous waste between nations. towards this end, we need the cooperation of all and was allowed to leave the country.

Lanka second... Four held... The Yicai Research Institute used the SEIR continued to be present. The suspects had attempted to celebrate Police warned of legal action on anyone epidemiological model to predict the state of For those countries that had the outbreak the killing of Dewamuni Harold Rohana de attempting to celebrate the death of the the pandemic in different Nations, classing under control in its early stages and then saw Silva, also known as ‘Ratmalane Roha,’ slain underworld figure. them as Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious or new clusters emerge, all had more than one who is alleged to have murdered Suresh Ratmalane Roha is alleged to have Removed, as well as its own self-developed new infection in July, indicating that Asanka de Silva alias ‘Lansiya,’ Kudu carried out at least 28 contract killings ‘social network-based virus transmission consistent epidemic prevention and control Anju’s younger brother. including two Police Officers who were model.’ measures are essential. The arrests took place at the Dehiwala- murdered at the Maspotha area in Countries with strict epidemic prevention Until an effective vaccine is widely available, Mount Lavinia Public Cemetery, where the Kurunegala in 2016. policies, such as China, South Korea and Italy, the novel coronavirus will co-exist with remains of Kudu Anju’s brother is buried. His funeral was held on Saturday evening all had the pandemic under control and logged humans, the report concluded. Effective Earlier, Kudu Anju had threatened to at the Angulana General Cemetery, amidst less than one newly confirmed case in July, governance that responds quickly using harm any person that attended the funeral Police security. the models showed, which based their technological means and which can depend on of the slain underworld figure and urged The suspects were produced in the Mount calculations on earlier disease trajectories and public support is an effective strategy to deal the authorities to hold the funeral outside Lavinia District Court and were ordered to with the assumption that asymptomatic cases with the pandemic. the Dehiwala- Mount Lavinia area. be remanded until today.

No Acting... He served as the Presidential Secretary for a making process. Especially, they worked interested in reconciliation between religions short period from 2017 to 2018. PCoI members responsibly when it came to matters pertaining and races than the previous ones and added questioned him as to how the relationship to security, he added. that it was a very progressive programme. between former President Sirisena and Prime When questioned regarding the overall However, there were some problems with the Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was during his nature of the previous Government, he said non-implementation of certain elements that tenure. In response, he said although certain nothing was happening in a specific time period should have been active in the process of parties were claiming there was a conflict and that there was no clear agenda on how the reconciliation. In response to a question on between them for political purposes, he did not National Security Council (NSC) should be whether the ban on the Islamic State observe such a conflict. conducted. organisation was discussed at the NSC However, he added that although there had Meanwhile, in response to a question meetings, the witness said he did not believe it been some disagreement between Sirisena and whether the previous Government had given was possible for a country like Sri Lanka to ban Wickremesinghe since October 2018, he did priority to reconciliation over national security, such a powerful terrorist organisation. It's not not feel it had an impact on the decision- he said the previous Government was more something that Heads of State can do, he said. Monday 28 september 2020 A3 A4 Monday 28 September 2020 News

MoD Secy need not have Max retail price Security experience - Fmr Secy to Prez By Buddhika Samaraweera

An official who is appointed as Secretary to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) does not need to have special experience of coconut Rs 70 or knowledge about security, said former Secretary to the By Thameenah Razeek President and MoD, Austin Fernando. coconut with a circumference of over 13 distributor or trader shall sell, expose or He said that even in countries where there are many inches should be Rs 70 and a coconut with offer for sale, or display for sale the items issues pertaining to National security such as India, The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) set a circumference of between 12 and 13 above the Maximum Retail Price. China, Japan, and Pakistan, the Defence Secretary is a maximum retail price for coconuts on 25 inches will be Rs 65. Further, a single Meanwhile, Chairman of the CAA, Retired often an officer from the country’s administrative service, September, according to Extraordinary coconut with a circumference below 12 Major General Shantha Dissanayake, said not a military official. Gazette No.2194/73. inches will be Rs 60. The Consumer Affairs that it was the duty of traders to set aside He was testifying, on 26 September before the The maximum retail price of a single Authority ordered that no producer, coconuts for purchase according to the size. Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Easter Sunday bombings. “It is not mandatory for the Secretary of the Ministry to have knowledge of the role played by the Ministry. In that sense a fisherman should be the Secretary to Ministry of Fisheries. The Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Father, daughter should be a farmer. But it is not practical,” he said. He further stated, the security of a country does not depend on its Defence Secretary but a matter of collective die in crash action. A member of the PCoI questioned the witness about former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando Doctor arrested having held various positions in a number of other A father and his young daughter were killed and four institutions during his tenure as Defence Secretary. He others injured in a head-on collision of a car and three- said it was difficult to prioritise the responsibilities of the wheeler in Srawistipura on the Kurunegala- Defence Secretary in such a situation. Anuradhapura Main Road yesterday, Police said. As the President’s Secretary, he said that he was not Those injured included two females riding in the aware of the appointment of former Defence Secretary three-wheeler and a doctor and his wife who were Kapila Waidyaratne PC, until he took over duties during travelling in the car, Police said. the last Government. Many key officials including The doctor’s two children who were in the back seat Secretaries of the Ministries are at present being of the car escaped unhurt, according to Police. appointed under various other influences apart from the They added that the female victim was driving the prescribed procedure, he added. three-wheeler when the accident took place at 1.00 a.m. yesterday. The injured are currently being treated at the Anurdhapura Teaching Hospital while the doctor has been placed under arrest. The Anurdahpura Police are conducting investigations. (LB) Ten nabbed with narcotics By Nabiya Vaffoor Meanwhile, the Western SWRD Remembered Naval Command with the Ten persons, including a assistance of the office of By Buddhika Samaraweera State Minister Dayasiri woman, were arrested, Assistant Superintendent of Jayasekara, Senior Vice during the past week, over Police, Negombo apprehended The 61st death anniversary of President, Minister Nimal Siripala the possession of narcotics another suspect with 2 gms former Prime Minister and de Silva, State Minister Lasantha and a controlled drug, of Kerala cannabis and about founder of the Sri Lanka Freedom Alagiyawanna, former Western Heroin, Kerala cannabis, 1,000 tablets of the controlled Party (SLFP), S.W.R.D. Provincial Councillor Gamini Mawa and controlled drug drug ‘Pregabalin’ (75mg) Bandaranaike, was marked at the Thilakasiri, former Speaker Karu ‘Pregabalin’ tablets were while he was transporting Bandaranaike Memorial in Jayasuriya and former Minister seized during special search those substances on a Horagolla on 26 September. were also operations conducted by the motorbike in Kochchikade The event was held under the present on the occasion. Navy and Police in the area. The motorbike used to patronage of former President The Bandaranaike family Western, Eastern, and transport the illegal drugs Chandrika Bandaranaike members paid floral tributes to Northwestern Naval was also seized. Human-elephant conflict Kumaratunga and Sunethra the Bandaranaike Memorial Commands. Meanwhile, another person Bandaranaike and other family followed by the guests and a The Eastern Naval with 12kg of ‘Mawa’ had members. donation of wheelchairs also took Command in coordination been apprehended in a Two State Ministries General Secretary of the SLFP, place. with the Kuchchaveli Police search carried out by the nabbed a female suspect Northwestern Naval working on solution with 2.1 gms of heroin, Command in Paniadiya, during a search in the Norochcholai. The State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Kuchchaveli area. The accused held in these Education, Research and Innovation and the State The Northwestern Naval separate operations were Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation are jointly Nine held with drugs at party Command together with the identified as persons from implementing a programme to find a scientific solution Nine persons were taken into The arrests were made at a Division Vice Branch of Poduwakattu, Puttalam, to the human-elephant conflict that has plagued the custody along with an assortment party following a tip-off from Puttalam collared five Dankotuwa and people of this country for a long time. of narcotics at a location in the neighbours, Police added. suspects, after searching a Norochcholai areas and A special discussion in this regard was held recently at Deepagodawatta area in The seized drugs had a street suspicious three-wheeler on ranged from 21-41 years old. the auditorium of the State Ministry of Skills Thelikada, Galle on Saturday value estimated at Rs 500,000, the Mannar Road in The apprehended persons Development, Vocational Education, Research and night, Police said yesterday. according to Police. Puttalam, for possession of together with narcotic drugs, Innovation with the participation of the State Ministers Some 40 stamps laced with Those rounded up are aged 1.5 gms of heroin. three-wheeler and motorbike in charge of the subject, Dr. and LSD, 20 narcotic pills and an between 25-30 years and In another combined were handed over to the . assortment of other drugs were residents of Kandy and Colombo, operation conducted in the Kuchchaveli, Puttalam, “On the instructions of the Minister Seetha seized from the suspects. Police added. Nagawilluwa general area, Kochchikade, and Arambepola, the research institutes under the Ministry the Northwestern Naval Norochcholai Police stations are offering scientific research knowledge to find Command and Puttalam as well as Division Vice solutions to the social problems faced by the general Police held two suspects with Branch of Puttalam for public in this country. Accordingly, the sustainable 45 gms of Kerala cannabis. onward investigations. application of practical scientific solutions to the human-elephant conflict was discussed. Kandy building collapse The Sri Lanka Inventors Commission, National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Industrial Technology Institute of Sri Lanka and Institute of Nanotechnology Samples sent for which functions under the State Ministry of Skills Two nabbed transporting Development, Vocational Education, Research and laboratory analysis – NBRO Innovation, are already conducting a number of illegally mined sand research programmes in this regard and some By Naalir Jamaldeen from the surroundings have y aalir amaldeen successful pilot tests have also been conducted. In been brought to the NBRO Head B N J by ASP in charge of future, these researches will be further expanded to National Building Research Office in Colombo for laboratory Valaichchenai region, G. C. provide scientific solutions to this problem. Technical Organisation (NBRO) sources, testing. Two persons transporting N. Jayasundera, that illegal support will be sought from the Arthur C. Clark Institute yesterday (27), said they have The sources said the final report illegally mined sand and sand mining was taking place for Modern Technologies and the National Engineering sent samples collected from the on the incident will be submitted violating permit regulations for a long time in Koraveli Research and Development Centre of Sri Lanka,” added recently collapsed building and its to the Governor of the Central were arrested by Police and Pulipaindhakal areas, a a release from the Ministry. surroundings in Buwelikada, Province and the District yesterday (27). They were Police team led by the OIC It was stated that the main reason for the arrival of Kandy for laboratory tests and to Secretary - Kandy in a few days. arrested at Pulipaindhakal, arrested the suspects. wild elephant in villages is the lack of adequate food and conduct thorough investigations Preliminary investigations in the Valaichchenai Police ASP Jayasundera said that water and about 50% of the problem will be solved if a in connection with the disaster. revealed the disaster took place, Division. Two tractors used to illegal sand mining and illegal mechanism is set up for this purpose and they can be The sources said samples as more floors had been transport the sand, were timber cutting had been confined to wildlife boundaries. collected from the collapsed constructed in addition to the seized, Officer-in-Charge of taking place for a long time in The Inventors’ Commission and the National Institute building, including portions recommended number of floors by Valaichchenai Police the Valaichchenai Police of Fundamental Studies are conducting research on the extracted from the concrete the authorities, the sources Dananjaya Peramuna said Division and a special unit reconstruction of the small tanks in the forests and the beams and other traces collected added. Following a tip-off received was set up to prevent this. restoration of the old system of nourishing the large tanks through them and identifying the fast-growing local grasses for feeding the elephants and cultivation. A high-efficiency hanging electric fence, an improved fence that cannot be destroyed by the elephants and a SDIG Latheef tells Easter Attacks PCoI collar system that provides special signals that can be worn by violent elephants have been invented by the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission. Pilot tests in this regard have been conducted in Udawalawe and Ampara. A Nearly 90% of SIS officers Policemen successful drone technology application has also been developed with the assistance of the Railway By Buddhika Samaraweera Jama’ath (NTJ) Leader Zaharan Hashim Also, he explained that despite a legal Department under the guidance of Manju Gunawardena could not be arrested, as the SIS did not have framework in which he could not be directly to prevent accidents caused by wild elephants. The Almost 90 per cent of the officers attached the power to arrest suspects. associated with the SIS Director, he had Industrial Technology Institute is implementing a to the State Intelligence Service (SIS) are Latheef added that given the fact that many directed STF officers to carry out operations communication based project to ensure the safety of the Police Officers and they too have the authority countries now have a separate law on at the direct request of the former SIS community from wild elephant attacks. to arrest suspects, said former Commandant intelligence, there are environments where Director. Speaking at the event, Minister Seetha Arambepola of the Special Task Force (STF), Senior intelligence officers do not engage in Meanwhile, the Chairman of the PCoI pointed out that a mechanism should be set up Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) operational duties, but 90 per cent of Sri questioned the witness as to whether the expeditiously to identify areas that should be given M.R. Latheef. He was testifying before the Lanka’s SIS officials are Police Officers, and information received by the SIS on 4 April priority in finding solutions to this social problem and to Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) that they could make arrests. 2019 regarding the possibility of a terror implement pilot projects. into the bombings on Easter Sunday, 21 April Latheef also emphasised that he was able to attack could be considered as intelligence State Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake stated that 2019, on 26 September. deploy STF officers for any operation at the information. Responding to this, Latheef said efforts are being made to find a solution to these issues by However, former Director of the SIS, SDIG time, adding that an STF team had been the information received from the foreign resolving financial and legal issues and that successful Nilantha Jayawardena, who testified before deployed to search for explosives in intelligence agency was clearly intelligence results can be achieved through a collective effort. the PCoI earlier, said National Thowheed Wanathawilluwa. information. column monday 28 september 2020 A5 Sri Lanka is Committed to Peace But What’s UN’s Commitment? By Shivanthi Ranasinghe Tamil ethnicity still caught in extortion won the war against terrorism. Yet, rackets where they are forced to despicably, over narrow political “Sri Lanka is committed to peace and support one gang for the protection agendas, certain countries have the Administration’s focus is on from other gangs. Inspired by violent continued to harass Sri Lanka over eradicating poverty, ensuring an Tamil films, these gangs are constantly allegations made by LTTE educated society, addressing drug- in battle with each other for dominance sympathisers against the Sri Lankan related and socio-economic issues and of the locality. military. Most unfortunately, the UN - conserving the environment,” stated Instead of addressing these domestic especially the UNHRC has been the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. concerns, the Western Governments tool used to bludgeon Sri Lanka over The UN in turn needs to respect are constantly breathing down the this matter. democratically elected Governments neck of Sri Lankan Government their President Gotabaya was indeed and “assist and support processes of solutions for ‘peace’ in Sri Lanka. speaking for all Sri Lankans when he such elected Governments to bring These solutions do not reflect the said, “it is the hope of my people that about sustainable solutions for needs ground realities. Instead, they harp on the world community will not seek to of their people.” The UN must ensure illusive goalposts. forget or rewrite the violent past of this that its systems assure “equity, terrorist organisation and allow the inclusivity and transparency, while LTTE - freedom fighters? propagation of the group’s propaganda, being more responsive to the ever- When Sri Lanka was under the siege which aimed at indoctrination and changing global environment,” said the of terrorism, the pressure was to radicalisation of another generation of President. This was the loaded negotiate with the LTTE. Hillary youth.” message the President delivered at the Clinton as the US State Secretary even General Debate of the 75th General tried to persuade that not all who UN duty to drop Assembly of the United Nations. terrorise are terrorists but are ‘freedom cudgels and help SL fighters’. This was the same position Using ‘peace’ to disrupt taken by the Swiss Courts earlier this Sri Lanka has never been and will President Gotabaya was clearly not year with regard to the LTTE. It’s very never be a white man’s burden. We are merely making a polite speech at a Swiss Kumar used innocent females in Jaffna to market his porn videos curious how these western powers capable of resolving our own issues. As respectable gathering. ‘Peace’ must be came to the conclusion the LTTE were noted by President, Sri Lanka responded the most hackneyed word used in refugees flooded these countries. Tamil teen gruesome Tamil freedom fighters, when they better to the pandemic than countries august assemblies filled with arrogant Therefore, these countries never had a mostly killed and terrorised the Tamils, with better resources. In effect, Sri leaders and egoistic officials. Everyone humanitarian issue in their hands as murder eliminated the entire Tamil political Lanka was able to meet the changing speaks of ‘peace’, but few are they did with the Middle East refugee In 2015, the gruesome murder of the leadership and assassinated all Tamil global environment most successfully. committed to it. It is indeed a sad crisis. The main challenge for these 18-year-old Sivaloganathan Vithiya human rights activists against However, the tensions between China plight that many would use ‘peace’ to countries was the illegal immigrants’ gave a peek to the terrifying terrorism! and US and its allies are rising. Against disrupt societies and systems. issue. On the whole, they were able to underworld operated by Tamil Negotiating with the LTTE was not an the building pressures President has In the name of ‘peace’, Sri Lanka has pick and choose whom they wanted immigrants in the West. The option simply because the LTTE was reiterated the Nation’s neutrality and had quite a traumatic experience. and obviously, they chose the most mastermind of the kidnapping and not interested in peace or even a commitment to maintaining “the Indian Despite its many efforts to regain and able and the best educated who would gang rape of this young schoolgirl was settlement. The LTTE only used the Ocean as a zone of peace.” retain its peace, the Island continues contribute positively to their Mahalingam Sasikumar, known as Peace Accords for respite, to strategise It is UN’s duty to help Sri Lanka with to be dragged into the vortex of various economies. Swiss Kumar as he lived in and re-arm, and return with renewed this commitment to peace. It can begin conflicts. While we tend to visit the This was Sri Lanka’s real loss. The Switzerland. He had filmed the entire vengeance. Even while these western by repairing its own damaged image by genesis of the LTTE as the origin of country’s limited resources provide a episode with the intent of selling it to Nations were engaged in fierce battles ensuring that it will cease to be a cat’s unrest in the country, this is not the free education to its people. Armed the pornographic industry in against terrorism on foreign soil, the paw of powerful Nations. As President beginning of the dissension that we with these qualifications and even Switzerland. unrelenting pressure on Sri Lanka was Gotabaya stated, to ensure the UN’s have been struggling against for so experience, Sri Lankans opt to settle in The LTTE might have been to negotiate with the terrorists. When sustainability and credibility, it must long. other countries to contribute to those annihilated in 2009, but clearly its peace was within horizon, the gears of halt the “political witch hunts through The Island’s peace was shattered economies in exchange for a better sources of funding is still very much these unsolicited advisers shifted to questionable motives against Member with the arrival of the Portuguese. lifestyle. It is truly sad that most of active. A recent report highlighted the the impending “humanitarian crisis”. States.” They came in the guise of trade, but these Sri Lankan Tamil expatriates plight of honest French citizens of It is against this tide that Sri Lanka [email protected] with the intention of robbing the choose to berate the Nation to help country. Shamelessly abusing the qualify for the residencies of these trust and hospitality of the people, countries. they began to forcibly occupy parts of The Western Nations, which are the country and waged war on the rest. popular destinations because of its Unable to dislodge this parasitic Force, efficiency and effectiveness, have the the help of the Dutch were sought. systems to address illegal immigrants In hindsight, we now know this to be and its associate issues that feed the a foolish move. Interestingly however, netherworld. Yet interestingly, the we had continued to repeat this West had consistently failed to do so. dangerous mistake. We asked powerful Nations to help us during the 1971 Tamil violence JVP insurgency and again in 1987, against legit Tamils when India dropped dhal on us. Luckily for us, on both occasions, the Over the years, these Governments world powers had other concerns have allowed a dangerous underworld overriding their geopolitical interest in of Tamil immigrants to be formed. The Sri Lanka. Even though Sri Lanka did gang violence against the legitimate not get the West’s support in ‘87 the Tamil residencies has been well way we did in ‘71, we were not recorded. Yet, very little has been done completely abandoned either. to address it. The UNHRC has used its forum many Geopolitical interests times to rap Sri Lanka’s knuckles over The US quietly connected us with the various internal issues that the UN has Israelis, while protecting its larger no mandate over. Yet, none of the markets in India. Though we did have special rapporteurs or even a High our moments with the Israelis, who Commissioner has ever taken the were also sympathetic to the LTTE, in matter over the vulnerabilities Tamil the long run the relationship was a ethnic citizens face in the West against very useful one for Sri Lanka. If US had the underworld Tamil gang violence. the same geopolitical interests of the During their heyday the LTTE Indo-Pacific region as they do now, it systematically targeted the decent might have been a repetition of the people of Tamil origin primarily for Dutch episode all over again for Sri extortion. Using various forms of Lanka. intimidation, these gangs in broad However, by the time, the new daylight, forcibly entered public and millennium was about to usher in, the private premises and collected large geopolitical currents had again begun sums of money to fund terrorism in Sri to change and not in favour of Sri Lanka. Lanka. The Norwegians were showing a marked interest in the ‘peace’ of Sri Lanka. Joining the Norwegians were the EU, US and Japan. Of course, many Tamils used the turmoil created by the terrorists to their advantage and left the Island for better economic pastures in the West. Scandinavian countries with their strong economies, better education systems, employment opportunities, and advanced socio- systems became as much a popular choice as the US, UK and other European countries. Choosing the best

However, during these three decades, there had never been a situation where a large influx of A6 monday 28 september 2020 editorial

Ceylon Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. No: 101, Rosmead Place, Colombo 07. Editorial Tel: 0117566522, 0117566526, 0117566527 Fax: 0117566545 Marketing Manager: 0117566550, 0117566551 Circulation Manager: 0117566580, 0117566581 E-mail : [email protected] Block Every Petitions Way Extremists Receive Support!

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recently informed the Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate that according to investigations conducted so far, an illegal organisation in Qatar had sent a sum of Rs 13 million to an entity owned by detained lawyer, Hijaz Hisbullah, allegedly for extremist activities. According to CID investigations, this amount had been deposited by an unlawful terror outfit based in Qatar, known as Califford, to ‘Save the Pearl’ organisation, run by Attorney-at-Law Hisbullah. They further revealed that the said amount had been deposited to Hisbullah’s account over the past few years. The Easter Sunday attack has become one of the most-discussed disasters that had occurred in Sri Lanka’s history. The deaths, destruction and pain – caused by the spate of bombings carried out by religious extremists on 21 April, 2019, at several Europe’s prominent churches and tourist hotels – shattered Sri Lankans’ peace of mind a decade after the end of the war between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government, and also reignited fears of religion-based terrorism. Following the Easter Sunday attack, serious accusations were levelled against many parties, including but not limited to, former President, former Recovery Gamble Prime Minister, politicians, members of law- enforcement agencies including intelligence services and Islamic religious activists, for their alleged failure By JEAN to prevent the Easter Sunday attack despite several PISANI-FERRY forewarnings received from local and foreign intelligence services. To help their pandemic-hit More importantly, this incident also triggered a economies recover, European serious social discourse about how extremists operated Union leaders agreed in July in Sri Lanka for years without being noticed, and how to borrow €750 billion ($876 they received the support, especially financial support, billion) to finance €390 billion of foreign extremist groups and organisations. A well- in grants and €360 billion in coordinated, large-scale attack such as the Easter loans to the bloc’s member Sunday attack takes a considerable amount of States. The programme, planning and financial resources, and according to called Next Generation EU, what has been revealed through investigations so far, was rightly hailed as a major those who carried out the bombings had received breakthrough: never before substantial amount of foreign funds for various had the EU borrowed to activities including activities pertaining to the finance expenditures, let promotion of extremist ideologies in the guise of alone transfers to member legitimate religious activities. States. Various types of groups and organisations, especially But the programme and its than the 2.6% of GDP in aid Next Generation EU is in fact stamping (“here’s the money, non-government organisations commonly known as Recovery and Resilience that the US granted to structural: to chart a new please tell us what you do NGOs, receive a large amount of foreign funds every Facility, which will disburse Europe under the Marshall economic development path. with it”). Rather, it is meant year. These funds are given by foreign donors for most of the funds, amount to Plan. If invested shrewdly, The scheme aims to increase to be a contract whereby various purposes, mainly, projects aimed at addressing a high-risk gamble. If the such amounts could change economic resilience, support money is intended to serve various social issues and uplifting the lives of people plan succeeds, it will surely the recipient countries’ the transition to a carbon- certain goals, and the EU who are in need of assistance. Even though a lot of pave the way to further economic fate. free economy, accelerate checks that the conditions to these organisations are engaged in admirable initiatives, and perhaps The next question concerns digitalisation, and mitigate achieve them are in place. community service, the conduct of certain ultimately to a fiscal union speed. In the spring of this the social and regional fallout But heated controversies organisations remains questionable and/or unclear. alongside the monetary union year, EU economies entered from the pandemic crisis. are to be expected if the Even though any and all funds that come into the established two decades ago. free fall. They have now That brings us to the third Commission does its job, country are monitored by relevant authorities and But if the programme fails to recovered from their troughs, question: not how quickly EU rejects ineffective plans, and State institutions vested with the power to do so, after deliver on stated goals, if but are still operating at money will reach southern delays disbursements when the Easter Sunday attack last year, a serious question political interests prevail over about 5% below capacity. Europe, but whether it will milestones and targets are arose as to how the extremist groups operating in Sri economic necessity, federal Given the new wave of help tackle long-standing not met. The risk is that the Lanka received large amounts of funds without having aspirations will be dashed for infections, and rising curses, such as low process ends up in a to give proper reasons as to from where and for what a generation. unemployment, the productivity, structural bureaucratic squabble that reason they received funds. The first question is as immediate issue is whether unemployment, inequality, the public cannot decipher, Following the Easter Sunday attack, serious regards the size of the these economies’ growth and reliance on carbon- but which provides concerns were raised regarding the establishment programme. Although €390 momentum will endure or intensive technologies. ammunition to populists. known as ‘Batticaloa Campus’, owned by former billion in grants may look like weaken. The EU is clear on this To avoid falling into this Governor of the Eastern Province, M.L.A.M. Hizbullah. a large sum of money, it Should Europe’s recovery point, and the European trap, the EU will have to Testifying before the Presidential Commission of actually amounts to less than falter a vicious circle of Commission recently set out strike the right balance Inquiry appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attack, 3% of EU GDP, to be spent precautionary savings and the type of investment and between intrusiveness and former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Hemasiri over several years. worsening expectations could reform plans member States indulgence. It should select Fernando, claimed that a State Bank had received an Jason Furman, a former ensue, possibly leading to a are expected to devise in for each recipient a few order not to carry out investigations into foreign funds Chairman of United States double-dip recession. The order to access the money. targets and criteria that are received, but to release them within two days, for the President Barack Obama’s appropriate strategy is Although national specific, clear, and nearly construction of this campus, which is considered to be Council of Economic therefore to make budgetary Governments will have the indisputable; and it should one of the largest Sharia universities in the South Asia Advisers, reckons that the US support contingent on the initiative in drawing up be ready to fight for these region. Fernando, who served as the Defence Secretary Government’s fiscal response pace of the recovery. Money plans, they will have to return yardsticks. It will also need to when the Easter Sunday attack took place in 2019, to the 2008 global financial should be available now and to the drawing board if the scrutinise the allocation of further said that during his tenure as the Chairman of crisis amounted to $1.6 disbursed quickly in case of EU deems the projects too funds, and quickly raise a red People’s Bank, there were many instances where the trillion, or about 10% of GDP. need. vague or soft to be effective. flag in case of embezzlement. Bank was ordered to release large sums of foreign That was 3-4 times more, in But make no mistake: the This could prove politically As Bruegel’s Guntram Wolff funds received by various organisations without response to a much milder EU support package will explosive in countries such has pointed out, evidence of conducting investigations. These alarming claims raise shock. On the whole, come only later. Before its as Italy, whose Prime corruption would be lethal for serious questions as to why and on whose orders the therefore, individual money can start to be spent, Minister, Giuseppe Conte, Europe’s grand ambitions. foreign funds in question were released without countries remain in charge of the bloc must agree on fought for days and nights at Thomas Edison famously investigating. Ongoing investigations into this matter warding off the pandemic priorities, procedures, and the July summit against said that genius is 1% and other matters pertaining to the Easter Sunday blow. conditions, which inevitably northern EU members’ efforts inspiration and 99% attack will, in the near future, reveal that information Actually, the fiscal support takes time. Less than 10% of to condition financial support perspiration. Inspiration was as well. (Ital) already (End Ital) the money is expected be paid on predefined reforms. behind the July decision. Various groups and organisations operating in Sri committed by leading EU out in 2021, according to the The proposed compromise Now, Europe should start Lanka receive foreign funds for various activities. Even member States represents ECB. As matters stand, is sensible but fragile. sweating for a good cause. though there is a system in place to monitor how these 7-12% of national GDP – and therefore, responsibility for Member States’ plans will be Jean Pisani-Ferry, a funds enter Sri Lanka and how they are being used, significantly more is in the sustaining the recovery rated against their stated senior fellow at Brussels- the manner in which religious extremists received pipeline. Nonetheless, the EU remains with the EU’s goals and overall objectives based think tank Bruegel foreign funds raises a question as to whether the grants could make a big member States. Even in such as growth, job creation, and a senior non-resident existing system is being implemented properly. difference for some countries 2022, it will be too early to and resilience, while fellow at the Peterson Prosecuting those responsible for the Easter Sunday still reeling from the euro pass the baton to the EU and disbursement will be Institute for International attack is already happening; however, as a long-term crisis. Transfers (Ital) net of wind down national stimulus conditional on recipient Economics, holds the measure to prevent such tragedies, it is extremely expected repayments (End packages. The temptation of countries achieving agreed Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa important that Sri Lanka blocks every way extremists Ital) should be worth 4% of early fiscal consolidation milestones and targets. This Chair at the European receive support, especially financial support, and GDP for Spain, 5% for must be resisted. arrangement involves neither University Institute. strengthen existing laws and systems in this Portugal, and 8% for Greece, Rather than seeking to political conditionality (“first connection. according to ECB engineer a Keynesian cyclical reform your pensions, then (Courtesy-www.project- calculations. This is more demand boost, the goal of we can talk”) nor rubber- syndicate.org) COlumn Monday 28 September 2020 A7 Provincial Councils More problems than solutions

By Sugeeswara Senadhira function under the Provincial Council. existing proportional representation So, there is duplication of the costs of system of elections. “We have now On the sidelines of the debate on the administrative establishment, existed without these provincial proposed 20th Amendment to the Senanayake pointed out. councils for almost three years. The Constitution to end the period of The five-year term of all the nine provincial councils are white instability in governance due to the Provincial Councils lapsed and the elephants which this country cannot creation of two power centres by the provincial administration is currently afford. The 13th Amendment provides 19th Amendment reducing the powers under the Provincial Governors. Last for the creation of ethnic enclaves by of the Executive Presidency, another year, the opinion of the Supreme amalgamation of provinces,” the NJC debate on today’s relevance of another Court on holding the continuously statement said. amendment, 13A has also arisen. postponed PC Elections were sought The three-decade old system of and the Supreme Court clarified that Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement Provincial Councils has become the the old Elections Act was no longer When the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement main focus, as the majority opinion applicable and that the Elections was signed, then Opposition Leader seems to be that the 13A has resulted should be held according to the Sirimavo Bandaranaike lead a in duplication of administrative J.R. Jayewardene Ranasinghe Premadasa Sirimavo Bandaranaike provisions of the newly proposed Act, Satyagraha against it at the Bo Tree in structures and entities placing a heavy of which the delimitation report is a Pettah and the leaders who were burden on rapidly dwindling Treasury Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1987, the Kachcheri, which among other compulsory pre-requirement. The sitting with her included the current resources. Furthermore, the 13th Amendment was enacted to set functions like enforcing the general Government appointed a committee to Prime Minister devolution of powers to provinces did up the Provincial Councils. The laws and collecting revenue, also compile the delimitation report in and Foreign Minister Dinesh not solve the issue of militancy- provincial governance structure was served as the provider of the general accordance with the new Bill on Gunawardena. They opposed the turned-terrorism problem in the North established to devolve powers solely administrative services or the so-called Provincial Councils Elections, which Provincial Councils Act and after the and the East and it took two more held by the Central Government as a housekeeping services such as later presented its report to PCs were established by the decades to militarily eliminate the solution for minority issues. But the providing space for the different Parliament. This report was defeated Jayewardene Government with its curse of terrorism. Provincial Councils Law, enacted by departments or branch offices of the by a two-thirds majority. Hence, the steamroller majority, the Sri Lanka The Second Republican Constitution the Government of President Central Government departments, issue is deadlocked. Freedom Party boycotted the PC of Sri Lanka introduced by the first Ranasinghe Premadasa, failed to give providing centralised filing and record- Last year, SLPP Chairman, Professor Elections for a decade. Executive President, J.R. Jayewardene due considerations to the Principles of keeping, centralised communications G.L. Peiris also raised the question of Former Minister in 1978, was amended 19 times over Public Administration. As a result, etc, retired Civil Servant, R.M.B. the future of Provincial Councils. also proposed last year that the 13th the years and the 20th Amendment to wide powers were devolved to the PCs, Senanayake stated. The Government “People would question the practical Amendment to the Constitution the Constitution is already tabled in thus shrinking the core administration Agent was the Head of the Kachcheri need for Provincial Councils if the should be repealed and the Provincial Parliament. of the Central Government. and he was empowered in many laws Government delayed elections to them Council system should be abolished, The 1978 Constitution was brought and legislative enactments as the any further,” he warned. because they have become “white in as a solution to the country’s Duplication of person in whom power is vested in the Rear Admiral , elephants costing Sri Lankan citizens problems, but despite 19 administrative structure district for the implementation of these State Minister of Provincial Councils, over Rs 250 billion annually. With the amendments, the Constitution itself laws. But when the functions of the asserted immediately after assuming Provincial Councils out of the way, has become the source of many issues The duplication of administrative Central Government were devolved to office that land and Police powers will power should be devolved to specially pertaining to the balance of powers structure was the primary reason why the Provincial Councils, the Kachcheri not be given to Provincial Councils. to empower local councils and between the Executive, Legislature the Provincial Councils have become continued to be under the Central “Such powers will not be given to municipalities,” he said. Interestingly, and Judiciary, the preferential voting white elephants. In 2013, the top Government, although the Provincial Councils until the harmful Moragoda has been named next High system, devolution under the 13th public servant of the country, Lalith Government Agent was designated as elements of the 13th Amendment to Commissioner to India. Amendment, and the creation of two Weeratunga, the then Secretary to the the District Secretary. He should really the Constitution are abolished,” he Since the 1987 Indo-Lanka Pact, the power centres as a result of the 19th President has said on Twitter that “the serve as the Secretary to the Provincial said. wheel has turned a full circle and the Amendment. Provincial Councils system is a white Council. But instead of doing so and Last month, the National Joint Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna In accordance with the Indo-Sri elephant.” bringing the Kachcheri under the Committee (NJC) has urged the Government is today equipped with a Lanka Agreement signed by President Under the old system, the District Provincial Council, the government of Government to scrap the provincial two-thirds majority to decide the fate Jayewardene and Indian Prime Administration was pivoted on the the day set up new institutions to council system and do away with the of the Provincial Councils.

Success is never feeling tired By R.S. Karunaratne Lateral Thinking If you ask someone what was the most fatiguing Unconscious mind experience he had, he would say it is failure. All of us have experienced failure in some form or other. After an hour or so, he woke up suddenly with Some of us fail in examinations and others do so in the solution clearly in mind. He realised that his their attempts to achieve what they wish or intend. unconscious mind had done all the spadework. Some people fail to do a good job, marry someone Thereafter, he never felt fatigue. Finally, he they liked, or put up their dream house. There is completed the assignment remarkably well and nothing more enervating than not succeeding in life. enjoyed the exhilarating success. When the All the time our path of success is being blocked by difficulties are cleared from your path, you will get unforeseen circumstances. When we find it difficult a flow to do the rest of your work. Life offers few to move ahead, we feel that we are victims of a pleasures more invigorating than the successful vicious cycle. The danger is that failure in any exercise of our faculties. activity breeds fatigue. When we experience fatigue, Sometimes the main obstacle on your path may we find it difficult to do anything worthwhile. be the social situation at the time. You will find We experience this fatigue in two distinct ways. other people blocking your path of success. This We feel fatigue when we are about to start usually happens in offices as there is a cut-throat something such as following a course of studies. competition to get to the top rungs of the ladder of The duration of the course will make you unhappy. your profession. However, you cannot blame others On the other hand, you will feel fatigue even when for your failures. As William Shakespeare in Julius you are in the process of doing something. For Caesar says, The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our instance, many students enroll themselves to follow stars, but in ourselves. You have no moral right to various courses. However, after a few months, some blame others if you have shrugged off your own of them drop out. This is called the start-up fatigue. responsibilities. If you are determined to do a good The start-up fatigue is very common, although it job, you have to win the cooperation of others. is not something physically felt in your bones and Human society is so complex that you cannot muscles. The very fact of postponing a task is a expect everybody’s blessings for your success. kind of start-up fatigue. We put off a task because it There are vicious people who will not hesitate to is too tedious or difficult to perform. We should lure you into traps that will mar your career. know that the longer we postpone it, the more tired However, if you are on alert, you will be able to we feel. The only remedy is exerting our willpower avoid fatigue-failure that blocks your productivity. which is not something easy to do. Family problem Objectionable item One of my female colleagues went into a decline The moment you find yourself turning away from over a family problem. Her daughter had secretly a job, or putting it under a pile of other things you married a man she thought her father would not have to do, clear your table of everything else and approve of. She confided the secret in her mother, concentrate on the objectionable item first. In other who did not convey it to her husband. Carrying a words, tackle the most difficult job first. Years ago burden of guilt for a long time is no easy task. It will when I was assigned to write a series of articles to a definitely exhaust you. So, the mother’s fatigue foreign magazine introducing well-known English spilled over into her profession. Very often she was authors to pre-university students, I felt a bit pulled up by the management for poor performance. excited. I had to write them following the magazine She was saved from serious depression only when Editor’s instructions and deadlines. I stopped all other people told the secret to her husband. Being a :HHN other not-so-important activities and started well-balanced man, he did not react negatively. writing the series within the stipulated time. I never Finally, everything ended up happily. let myself to feel tired. I learnt a lesson in this A Vice Principal of a college who was about to exercise: Attack the most objectionable item first retire wanted to be a lawyer. He followed a course of and then proceed to do other things. studies and sat the final examination in law. When You will note that “performance fatigue” is more he failed to pass the examination, he sat the same difficult to handle. Here you are not reluctant to get examination in the following years. Although he did started, but you find that it is difficult to do the job not get pass marks, he did not diagnose the cause of right. However much you work hard, difficulties may his failure. If you fail an examination, you should appear insurmountable. As a result, you will fail diagnose the failure and take remedial measures. In again and again. Psychologists say the mounting rare cases, however, it may be that the task really is experience of failure carries with it an ever too difficult for you. In such a case, you should increasing burden of mental fatigue. If you find acknowledge the fact and bow out. yourself in such a situation, work as hard as The worst mistake you can make is to regard possible till the unconscious mind take over. mental fatigue as if it were physical fatigue. You can When Mortimer J. Adler was planning the 15th get over physical fatigue by giving your body a chance edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica, he had to create to rest. However, mental fatigue cannot be removed a topical table of contents for its alphabetically by taking a rest. The only remedy is to clear up the arranged articles. He had never done something like specific stumbling block. As human beings, all of us that before. Day after day he kept coming up with should try to succeed in all our endeavours. This situations that fell short. His fatigue became almost necessity is built into our biological set-up. Success in overpowering. One day, he put down on paper all the life is directly related to peak performance in any field reasons why that problem could not be solved. He of activity. We have to find solutions to our mounting tried to convince himself that what appeared problems as they come along. Then you will be insoluble really was soluble. Finding nothing else to convinced that success is never feeling tired! do, he sat in an easy chair and soon fell asleep. [email protected] A8 monday 28 september 2020 Focus Indian PM Modi holds virtual conference with PM Rajapaksa

The election victory you achieved is a huge opportunity to promote cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. The people of both of our countries are watching us with a new dream and excitement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his counterpart, Mahinda Rajapaksa. A bilateral conference was held between Indian Prime Minister Modi and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Rajapaksa on Saturday (26). This is the first bilateral conference conducted over video technology, since Prime Minister Modi and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Rajapaksa were appointed to the posts of Prime Minister. Commencing these bilateral discussions, the Indian Prime Minister congratulated the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The Indian Prime Minister, who said the immense victory achieved by the Party led by Rajapaksa at the last election was similar to the victory he gained representing the Bharatiya This election victory shows the further obtained a huge victory both in the international sea routes. Janata Party at the Indian General the trust that the people had in you. Presidential Election and the General The collective action taken in Election, also said he believed that This victory you achieved is a huge Election. We will set up the dousing the fire on the New Diamond these election victories would be opportunity to promote cooperation background required for all races to oil vessel makes it apparent that it is useful for great cooperation between between India and Sri Lanka. The In the face of work together in unity and useful for both countries to further India and Sri Lanka. people of both of our countries are cooperation. develop relations. Prime Minister Modi further said watching us with a new dream and the collapse of Based on the mandate we received In the face of the collapse of the that subsequent to the election excitement. We can move towards the the economy from the people, I should mention the economy which occurred as a result victories, an opportunity has arisen to future on progress in every faction. approbation that is reflected within of the COVID-19 pandemic, when commence a new chapter between We can go forward through fields which occurred the country regarding the way in supplying goods to the Indian market, India, Sri Lanka, and that the people such as education, industry of which we acted to gain victory over it is my belief that it would be suitable of the two countries were watching agriculture, trade as well as in a as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. to give more of an opportunity to them with new hopes and aspirations. number of other fields. I believe that the COVID-19 I have to tell you that even at the products of Sri Lanka. This is Modi held a broad discussion with your government will work towards most difficult of times, we gave appropriate for promoting the Rajapaksa and attention was focused maintaining in the future as well pandemic, when priority to the democratic rights of the economy of both countries. on bilateral relations and further basic economic projects. We hope to supplying goods people of Sri Lanka during our We will give priority to maintaining expanding cooperation in the main work with you while further activities. the Non-Aligned friendship that fields of both countries. promoting the cooperation that exists to the Indian At the same time, we made sure exists, in the same manner between The two leaders discussed the between both countries.” that we fulfilled to the maximum, our two countries which have defence fields in Sri Lanka and India, On this occasion, PM Rajapaksa market, it is my even if a situation that was really bad similarities in religion and culture. ways and means of promoting further expressed his views further: belief that it cropped up, essential things such as I believe that it will be possible to cooperation regarding trade relations, “I am pleased that you invited me the economy, health, education etc., gain victory over all of these as well as in several main fields that for this conference. At the same time, would be of our public. challenges based on the historic exist and many other facts. this is the first conference I am suitable to give Similarly, we provided financial relations that exist between Sri Lanka The views expressed by Modi, participating in since my appointment assistance to low-income families, and India as well as tolerance, commencing the bilateral as Prime Minister. more of an pensioners and disabled persons, discipline and commitment which are discussions conducted through Even though we are not meeting those earning daily wages and our heritages received through our video technology: face-to-face, I have to tell you that the opportunity to farmers in the face of the COVID-19 excellent civilizations.” “I welcome you with love to this cordiality, friendship and the ties of products of Sri virus. Ministers , conference. As usual, we welcome you brotherhood exist as always. We managed and coordinated the , M.U.M. Ali to India with love. I always invite you We commend you on the manner Lanka. This is procedure of bringing back to Sri Sabry, , Bandula to visit Bharatha. I am very happy India acted when the COVID-19 crisis Lanka, Sri Lankans who were abroad. Gunawardena, State Ministers Ajith about engaging in this interview, in facing the entire world commenced, appropriate for The World Health Organisation Nivard Cabraal, Jeevan Thondaman, this manner. on behalf of the security of promoting the commended the steps taken by Sri Secretary to the Prime Minister I am thankful to you for accepting neighbouring countries and the Lanka to control the COVID-19 virus Gamini Senarath, Secretary to the my invitation to this discussion. I also people of those countries. economy of both situation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Admiral wish you all the best on the occasion As the main country among SAARC countries It is necessary for our countries to Professor Jayanath Colombage, of your being appointed as the Prime countries, India exchanged views in work together closely, when providing Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Minister. At the same time, my this same manner with leaders in the solutions to threats connected to S.R. Attygalle, together with a group congratulations go to you for getting region. defence, safety and borders, since of top government officials such a mandate in Parliament as well. The Sri Lankan Government they are located in close proximity to participated in this occasion.

Consider all verbal orders as circulars – President President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has most backward Divisional Secretariat the village 100 Acres to Velanwita, to directed the officials to treat all verbal Division in the Badulla District and identify water sources to meet orders issued for the common good of Velanwita is considered as the most drinking water requirements and to the people as circulars to be backward village in the Haldummulla provide electricity within three implemented. “Those who neglect this Divisional Secretariat Division. months. will face stern action,” the President Commencing the first discussion President Rajapaksa paid attention said. forum titled Janapathi Gama Samaga to the difficulties faced by the people The President made these directives Pilisadara at Kumarathenna due to the communication difficulties at the “Discussion with Villagers” Vidyalaya, 100 Acre Village, and it was decided on the spot to forum which commenced on Friday Welanvita, Haputale, the President provide communication facilities (25 September) at Velanwita village in listened to the grievances faced by the within several weeks. Haldummulla, Badulla. fellow citizens. Villagers who had left many years “I expect public officials to The villagers pointed out to the ago, but attended the discussion consciously comprehend the President that the people had today, said the decisions taken by the problems of the people and provide abandoned their traditional villages President had given them the solutions. I will always stand by the due to the unavailability of basic opportunity to live in their original officials who make the right and practices such as roads, electricity villages again. unwavering decisions on behalf of the and drinking water. The President ordered the officials people. State institutions take a long They cited the fact that to take steps to construct a new time to address people’s issues. If a Kumarathenna Vidyalaya, which can building for the benefit of the written inquiry from one institution accommodate a significant number of students of the Kumarathenna does not receive a reply from the students, is now having only 16 Vidyalaya and further informed the other institution within 14 days, students as a good example of this officials to provide an opportunity for consider it as approved,” the situation. the children living in the surrounding President ordered. The President has directed the areas to return to school and receive The President ordered the speedy they have encountered. Haldummulla is considered as the authorities to carpet the road from an education. construction of the 35-kilometre A lengthy discussion took place The President also addressed a stretch from Beragala-Wellawaya on regarding issues faced by the farmers number of other issues of the people the route between Colombo- engaged in paddy, cinnamon and of the surrounding areas who came to Batticaloa road, the road up to coffee cultivations and in addition the the discussion forum. Wellawaya on Kalipanawela President ordered to correct the President Rajapaksa has ordered Halkanna road, the 100-acre central mistakes which occurred during the officials to provide solutions for road of Kakkuturawa, the road previous forest conservation surveys. the teacher shortages prevailing in connecting Dehilanda and Alutwela The President also addressed issues Kirawanagama and Nikapotha Maha and other by-roads. faced by parents with children. Vidyalayas and Koslanda National In addition, the President ordered Following the conclusion of the School, and to construct the the officials to compile a list of issues forum, the President visited a number playground of Hali Ela Maliththa pertaining to the lands owned by the of farmlands and residences, Maha Vidyalaya. Apart from that, it Land Reforms Commission and inquiring about hardships they face. was decided to appoint a Principal for Wildlife and Forest Conservation The Maha Sangha in the area, Wellawaya Gampaha Maha Departments presented by the public Minister , State Vidyalaya, to address the and to provide ownership certificates Minister Thenuka Vidanagamage, shortcomings of Soragune and and deeds to them. Members of Parliament, Sudarshana Janananda Vidyalayas and to A large number of farmers in the Denipitiya, Thissa Kuttiarachchi, upgrade Haputale Tamil Maha Badulla District are among those who Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Vidyalaya to a national school. receive the highest number of black Governor A.J.M Muzammil, Principal Following a differently-abled war pepper harvest in the island and own Advisor to the President, Lalith veteran’s request, President prosperous farms. Most of them are Weeratunga, other political Rajapaksa ordered to carpet the inclined to use organic fertiliser in representatives of the area and Moraketiya Road that extends to their black pepper plantations. Steps officials of several institutes were seven villages in the vicinity. were taken to address all the issues present at the discussion. column monday 28 september 2020 A9 Presumption of Innocence in Sri Lanka By Lakshman I. Keerthisinghe period through its preservation of Roman Law doctrine of the As soon as the Jury has been sworn, presumption of innocence. Following the Registrar shall in the hearing of the aforementioned Roman Law of the accused, read the indictment to Justinian, who lived at the dawn of the Jury and the Judge shall inform the medieval era, the Eastern Roman them that it is their duty to listen to Empire generally continued along his the evidence, and upon that evidence legal code, which includes to find by their verdict, whether or not presumption of innocence the accused is guilty of the charge, or Blackstone’s ratio, as expressed by any of the charges if more than one, the English jurist William Blackstone, laid against him, in the indictment, in his seminal work, Commentaries on and may also direct them briefly on the Laws of England , published in the the presumption of innocence, the 1760s, said: “It is better that ten guilty burden of proof and such other persons escape than that one innocent principles of law as may be relevant to suffer.” The idea subsequently became the case. a staple of legal thinking in Anglo- Code of Criminal Procedure Act (No. Saxon jurisdictions and continues to 15 of 1979) - Sect 217 be a topic of debate. Since a person convicted of murder This right is considered important by Court, but had preferred an appeal enough in modern democracies, against such conviction, was sworn in constitutional monarchies and as a Member of Parliament by the republics that many have explicitly Speaker, there has been a string of included it in their legal codes and protests in Parliament regarding its constitutions: such as Article 11 of propriety. As the matter is sub judice, The Universal Declaration of Human with a pending appeal, this article Rights, which states: “Everyone attempts to discuss the principle of charged with a penal offence has the presumption of innocence in the right to be presumed innocent until Criminal Law of Sri Lanka without any proved guilty according to law in a reference to the pending matters public trial at which he has had all before Court. the guarantees necessary for his The presumption of innocence is an defence.” Article 14 in the integral part of the Criminal Law in all the prosecution must prove the guilt legal burden of proof is thus on the century Digest of Justinian (22.3.2) International Covenant on Civil and Common Law countries. The basic of the prisoner is part of the Common prosecution, which must present provides, as a general rule of Political Rights also reiterates the principle is that a person accused of a Law of England and no attempt to compelling evidence to the trier of fact evidence: Ei incumbit probatio qui right. criminal offence is innocent until he is whittle it down can be entertained. (a Judge or a Jury). The prosecution dicit, non qui negat — “Proof lies on In conclusion, under the principles proved guilty beyond reasonable (A.C. 462, [1935] AER Rep. 1, p. 405)” must in most cases prove that the him who asserts, not on him who of rule of law, when an appeal has doubt. The sanctity of the Thus, the presumption of innocence is accused is guilty beyond a reasonable denies.” Similar to that of Roman Law, been made by a person aggrieved by a presumption is exemplified by Lord the legal principle that one is doubt. If reasonable doubt remains, Islamic Law also holds the principle judgement, the presumption of Sankey’s dictum in Woolmington vs. considered “innocent until proven the accused must be acquitted. Under that the onus of proof is on the innocence applies to the appellant Director of Public Prosecutions, where guilty.” In many countries, the many civil law systems, including the accuser or claimant based on a hadith whose conviction in a lower Court he stated that “Through the web of presumption of innocence is a legal English Common Law, in criminal documented by Imam Nawawi. After would be re-examined by the Appellate English Criminal Law one golden right of the accused in a criminal trial, proceedings the accused is presumed the rediscovery of Roman Law in the Court to rectify errors committed. thread is always to be seen that it is and it is an international human right innocent unless the prosecution 12th century and development of the About the writer: the duty of the prosecution to prove under the UN’s Universal Declaration presents a high level of evidence as jus commune, the canon law of the The writer is an Attorney-at-Law the accused persons guilt. No matter of Human Rights, Article 11. Under described above. Catholic Church influenced the with LLB, LLM, MPhil. (Colombo) what the charge is, the principle that the presumption of innocence, the Historically, in Roman Law, sixth- Common Law during the medieval [email protected] Think tank decries global push to privatise land

By P.K. Balachandran has succeeded at emboldening politicians and citizens alike, resulting One of the ugliest features of the in increased land invasions, killings modern world is the exploitation of and violence against Indigenous and natural resources for private gain, land rights activists, as well as an irrespective of its consequences for acceleration of deforestation. The the environment and the larger budgets, staffing, and enforcement of community, especially the poor the agencies responsible for majority. environmental and indigenous Humanity has started consuming protections have all been slashed,” the the world’s natural resources faster Oakland report points out. than they can be replenished. The Great Amazon Fire in 2019 was Governments, corporations, and man-made says the Oakland Institute. international financial institutions “Ranchers set large portions of the are wanting to put land to Amazon on fire, threatening a “productive use” in the name of multitude of indigenous communities “economic development and and the ecosystems on which they prosperity for all,” despite hard rely,” it alleges. evidence that this has only led to an increase in poverty, says the Myths about private US-based liberal think tank, The was made available for such projects mineral reserves that are inaccessible economic value of land. The PNG titling Oakland Institute, in its latest report as an incentive. due to unclear land governance Government aims to move 20 per cent titled: Driving dispossession: The systems. In 2018, Byrne signed a of all land into a formal market by Most proponents of the privatisation global push to unlock the economic COVID-19 exploited multi-country partnership with the 2022. Already, due to the takeover of of land use a development imperative potential of land. The report cites the case of Ukraine World Bank to expand the use of lands in the last 40 years, justification. The idea that privatising “To attract private investment, to show how even the distress caused blockchain for registering land around deforestation and environmental land will bring development comes in governments are marketing by COVID-19 is exploited to sell a the world. degradation, and destruction of part from the – now largely debunked hundreds of millions of hectares of dangerous capitalist idea. Myanmar intends to put land to its livelihoods have occurred. – claims of Peruvian economist land as available without regard for “In Ukraine, the IMF has leveraged most “efficient use” through In Sri Lanka, the US is trying hard Hernando de Soto. Soto said “securing those whose livelihoods depend upon the economic fallout from the COVID- amendments to the country’s “Vacant, to get the Government to sign the US$ land rights” via private titles would it. They ignore the fact that as much 19 pandemic to coerce Europe’s Fallow, and Virgin” (VFV) Land Law. 480 million Millennium Challenge improve access to credit, agricultural as 65 per cent of the world’s land breadbasket into creating a land Passed in 2018, the amendments Corporation (MCC) Compact, a part of investment, and environmental area is held by communities as a market, despite overwhelming imposed a six-month deadline to which (US$ 67 million), is meant to be protection. But research reveals that whole under customary laws and not opposition in the country. In March anyone occupying so-called VFV land spent on a land project focused on private titling has not increased by individuals. Billions of people rely 2020, Ukraine ended the moratorium to apply for a 30-year permit to mapping and digitising 67 per cent of access to credit and loans. The claim on communally managed natural on the sale of land that had stood for continue using the land, after which the State lands, with the explicit that private titles offer tenure security resources such as rivers, lakes, 19 years, to qualify for a desperately any unpermitted lands would be made purpose of stimulating investment while customary systems remain forests, and savannas for their needed US$ 5 billion loan package available for agriculture, mining, and and increasing its use as an economic insecure is often repeated, yet not livelihoods. For most of the people, from the IMF. The World Bank, along other purposes. asset. substantiated by evidence. land is a common good, valued as an with the European Bank for The Government ignored the fact The Government formally owns an “On the contrary, the process of ancestral asset with social and Reconstruction and Development that far from being vacant or fallow, estimated 85 per cent of Sri Lanka’s transitioning locally developed cultural significance,” the report (EBRD), has been laying the these lands were used by communities 6.6 million hectares of land. Out of the customary systems – that in many pointed out. groundwork for the creation of a land for farms, gardens, orchards, and State land, 1.38 million hectares are cases offer tenure security – into Governments and corporations are market to the benefit of agribusiness forests and were governed under allocated to farmers through permits private titled land is likely to result in eager to convert smallholder farms, and private investors who promise customary tenure systems. or grants. The proposed MCC compact considerable social and economic grasslands, and forests into growth in exchange for access to land. Hundreds of civil society groups would shift control of millions of displacement, while placing monoculture plantations, cattle Farmers, agricultural workers, from ethnic/tribal Karen, Kachin, hectares away from the State towards ecosystems at risk. While research ranches, and mines. But this only unions, and the vast majority of the Shan, Chin, Karenni, and Mon private interests. Lankan civil society has long shown the value of contributes to climate change, population of Ukraine have staunchly communities had expressed concern groups and a Presidential Committee customary systems, Western aid environmental degradation, opposed the creation of a land over the law, The Oakland Institute have called on the Government to agencies and international financial displacement, loss of income and market.” notes. In Rakhine State, the homeland reject the MCC compact. institutions generally fail to recognise poverty, the report says. Blockchain technology of the one million Rohingyas now In Brazil, the far-right government the evidence and continue to advocate Western governments and Western living in refugee camps in Bangladesh, of President Jair Bolsonaro is using and support the privatisation of land institutions like the IMF, and the The land market is now getting 50 per cent of the land is VFV land. pro-business, anti-Indigenous and the creation of land markets,” The World Bank are pushing for the speedily international with the Given the refugees’ inability to return rhetoric to garner public support for Oakland Institute says. privatisation of land by dangling adoption of ‘blockchain’ technology by to Rakhine, these lands could be seizing indigenous lands. In conclusion it says: “Rather than money in front of poor countries. In many countries. The blockchain taken away by the Government and “Bolsonaro assumed office in erasing local governance and negating its 2017 report titled: Enabling the technology creates a database that is sold off to local and foreign parties. January 2019 after a campaign in individual autonomy, governments Business of Agriculture, the World shared through a network of While 97 per cent of the country is which he promised to expand the must instead build systems that Bank prescribed formalising private computers across the world. under customary land tenure in exploitation of the Amazon Forest, incorporate a diversity of ownership property rights, easing the sale and According to The Oakland Institute, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the PNG halt the demarcation of indigenous and tenure systems, and focus on a lease of land for commercial use, the former Overstock.com CEO, Government is making available lands, and arm ranchers to allow the development path that serves the systematising the sale of public land Patrick M. Byrne, has said the use of millions of hectares of lands for palm takeover of those lands for cattle people, instead of one that takes the by auction, and improving blockchain for land titles will help oil, mining, and timber operations ranching. While some of his attempts land away from them for corporate procedures for expropriation. Money unlock trillions of dollars in global under the guise of “unlocking” the have been blocked by Congress, he profits.” a10 monday 28 september 2020 world

Seoul, South Korea Glion, Switzerland Yemen’s warring parties agree largest prisoner swap

Yemen's warring parties have agreed to exchange around 1,000 prisoners, including 15 Saudis, as part of trust-building steps aimed at reviving a stalled peace process, the United Nations and sources said on Sunday. The Yemeni North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un (Reuters) Government, backed by a Saudi- led military coalition, and the Search for slain S. Korean Houthi movement they have been battling for over five years, in late 2018 signed a deal to swap some 15,000 detainees N. Korea split between both sides but the pact has been slow and only partially implemented. Martin Griffiths, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, and Fabrizio Carboni, Regional Director for the Near and Middle East The two sides will now free of the ICRC, attend the closing plenary of the fourth meeting of the Supervisory Committee on the Implementation warns of naval of the Prisoners’ Exchange Agreement in Yemen, in Glion, Switzerland (Reuters) 1,081 detainees and prisoners, UN Envoy Martin Griffiths said tensions in a joint news briefing with the Griffiths telling them: "Well peace talks in Stockholm in Fabrizio Carboni, sitting next to International Committee of the done, well done." December 2018. "I urge the Griffiths, called on the two North Korea said on Sunday it is searching for the Red Cross (ICRC) after a nearly Sources familiar with the talks parties to move forward warring parties to provide body a South Korean official killed by its troops, but 10-day meeting of the prisoners' and Houthi-run Masirah TV said immediately with the release and "security and logistical warned that South Korean naval operations in the exchange committee held in the the movement would release 400 to spare no effort in building guarantees" for swift releases. area threatened to raise tensions by intruding across Swiss village of Glion above Lake people, including 15 Saudis and upon this momentum to swiftly The ICRC team will interview a disputed sea border. Geneva. Heads of the two sides four Sudanese, while the agree to releasing more those released and give them North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un issued a rare of the committee hugged at the coalition would free 681 Houthi detainees," Griffiths said. medical checks. apology on Friday for the fatal shooting of the South end of their meeting, with fighters in the largest swap since ICRC Middle East Director (Reuters) Korean fisheries official in North Korean waters, according to Seoul. South Korea's military has accused the North's soldiers of killing the man, dousing his body in fuel and setting it on fire near the sea border. Taipei, Taiwan Washington, USA After South Korean President Moon Jae-in convened a ministers' meeting to discuss North Korea on China name dispute Sunday, the Presidential Blue House reiterated calls for Pyongyang to allow a joint investigation into the killing. It urged the restoration of military communication hotlines that the North severed earlier this year, as relations soured. From birds North Korean State news agency KCNA called the killing an "awful case which should not have happened" but accused South Korean naval operations near in the area of crossing into North to climate change Korean waters. "We urge the south side to immediately halt the The dispute over part of China, to the anger Late on Saturday, the intrusion across the military demarcation line in the international organisations of Taiwan's Government Government of the southern west sea that may lead to escalation of tensions," referring to Taiwan as and many of its people. Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung KCNA said. Chinese has moved from Beijing views the island as said the website of the A spokesman for South Korea's Ministry of National wild bird conservation to merely a wayward Chinese Global Covenant of Mayors Defence had no immediate comment on the North's climate change, after a province. for Climate and Energy had accusations. global alliance of mayors This month a Taiwan bird begun listing Taiwan The South has been searching only in waters south began listing Taiwanese conservation body said it member cities like itself as Amy Coney Barrett (Reuters) of the Northern Limit Line, a contested sea cities as belonging to China had been expelled from a part of China. Washington, United States (Reuters) demarcation between the two Koreas that dates to the on its website. partnership with a British- On Sunday, Taiwan's end of the 1950-53 Korean War, South Korea's China has ramped up based wildlife charity after Government reacted with Yonhap news agency said, quoting an unnamed coast pressure on international they demanded the Taiwan anger. Trump's Supreme guard official. groups and companies, no group change their name "Taiwan is Taiwan. China Court pick Barrett South Korea has mobilised 39 vessels, including 16 matter how small or and sign documents stating is China. Taiwan is not a naval ships, and six aircraft for the search, which obscure, to refer to they did not support city of China's. If there is continued on Sunday despite the North Korean democratic Taiwan as being Taiwan's independence. incorrect usage we think complaints, Yonhap said. North Korea was beginning this is extremely improper," Senate its own search operation to recover the body, KCNA Premier Su Tseng-chang said. told reporters. (Reuters) "China hopes to make Republicans Taiwan part of it in the world, a city of its. This is ready not in line with the facts." Taiwan's Foreign Ministry Yerevan, Armenia said it had asked the group quick push to make a correction, while Breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai said his city was US Senate Republicans on Sunday known globally as being in prepared a concerted push toward quickly southern Taiwan, rather confirming President Donald Trump's Clashes erupt than as part of China. third Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney The Global Covenant's Barrett, despite strenuous objections by between Armenia secretariat said in a short Democrats who appear powerless to stop email to Reuters that they them. "may not be able to respond In a White House Rose Garden ceremony and Azerbaijan until business hours on Saturday, Trump announced Barrett, resume Monday." 48, as his selection to replace liberal Armenia declared martial law and mobilised its An audience waves Taiwanese flags during the National Day (Reuters) Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan (Reuters) male population on Sunday after clashes with 18 September at age 87. Barrett said she Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh would be a justice in the mould of the late region in which sources on both sides reported staunch conservative Antonin Scalia. Her fatalities. Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh, a mainly confirmation would result in a 6-3 ethnic Armenian region inside Azerbaijan which Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Wellington, New Zealand conservative majority on the Court. declared independence in 1991, also announced In boost for PM Muhyiddin Trump urged Republicans, who hold a martial law and mobilised the male population after 53-47 Senate majority, to confirm Barrett, clashes which the two sides blamed on each other. NZ PM on course a Federal Appeals Court Judge and a Armenia said Azerbaijan had carried out an air and for election favourite of religious conservatives, by the artillery attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, but Azerbaijan Malaysia's ruling 3 November election. He has said he said it had responded to Armenian shelling. victory – Poll expects the justices to have to resolve the Armenian human right activists said two civilians, a coalition wins election in which he faces Democratic woman and a child, had been killed by Azeri shelling. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda challenger Joe Biden. Baku said an unspecified number of Azeri civilians first electoral test Ardern is poised to retain power at next The Supreme Court has only once in US had been killed and six wounded, and Nagorno- month's election, a widely watched poll history had to resolve a Presidential Karabakh said 10 of its military staff had been killed. Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin showed on Sunday, although it said a Election, in 2000. Trump also has declined The reports could not be independently confirmed. Yassin's ruling coalition won a key State recent COVID-19 outbreak has dented to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if Russia's Foreign Ministry, a mediator in decades of election on Saturday, in a vote that was her support slightly. A Newshub-Reid he loses the election. conflict between majority Christian Armenia and widely seen as a referendum on his seven- Research Poll released on Sunday "I look forward to meeting with the mainly Muslim Azerbaijan, urged both sides to cease month-old administration. showed support for Ardern's Labour nominee next week and will carefully fire immediately and hold talks. The victory in Sabah State in Borneo is Party at to 50.1 per cent, though this is study her record and credentials," said (Reuters) likely to strengthen Muhyiddin's position as down from the record 60.9 per cent Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, he faces a leadership challenge from recorded earlier this year when New who has made confirming Trump's judicial Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who said Zealand was widely lauded as a world appointments a paramount priority. "As I this week he had the parliamentary majority leader in battling COVID-19. have stated, this nomination will receive a needed to oust the Premier. Support for the main opposition vote on the Senate floor in the weeks Muhyiddin's Perikatan Nasional (PN) National Party was at 29.6 per cent, up ahead." coalition and its allies won 38 of the 73 seats 4.5 percentage points. Barrett is expected to begin meetings up for grabs in Saturday's election, narrowly Should the poll findings materialise, with individual senators on Tuesday. taking control of the previously Opposition- Ardern would govern without relying on Trump said the Senate Judiciary held State. any coalition partners. Committee, chaired by his ally Senator Muhyiddin said earlier that victory in Sabah New Zealand was COVID-free for 102 Lindsey Graham, would begin could pave the way for early national elections days until a second wave hit Auckland confirmation hearings on 12 October. aimed at ending uncertainty over the stability last month. Ardern became the Like Trump's two other appointees, Neil of his ruling alliance, which has a two-seat country’s youngest Leader in more than Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in majority in Parliament. 150 years in 2017, after the kingmaker 2018, Barrett is young enough that she Muhyiddin came to power in March after nationalist New Zealand First Party could serve for decades in the lifetime job, forming an alliance with opposition parties agreed to form a government with her leaving a lasting conservative imprint. Though a ceasefire was agreed in 1994, Azerbaijan and following the shock resignation of his Labour Party, ending the National Trump's two previous appointments were Armenia frequently accuse each other of attacks around predecessor, Mahathir Mohamad. Party’s decade in power. surrounded by controversy. Nagorno-Karabakh (Reuters) (Reuters) (Reuters) (Reuters) monday 28 september 2020 b11 Policy Inconsistency Reason for Foreign Outflows – First Capital By Rajiesh Seetharam fallen to a historical low with only Rs 12 billion opined Mathew. worth of foreign holdings left in the system, Sri Lanka may head towards W shaped Inconsistent policies and regular changes in which significantly reduces the outflow risk.” recovery in 2021, instead of a U or V shaped tax rates led to lower earnings of companies First Capital Head of Research, Dimantha recovery states a Mid-Year Outlook 2020 and heavy selling by foreigners in bond and Mathew, speaking at a recent webinar, stated report put out by First Capital Research. equity market in the recent past. that despite foreign selling, retail and high net The report states that Sri Lanka is expected In 2020 Market Earnings are expected to worth individuals are investing in equity due to to a steep contraction of 5.8% in 2020, due to drop 22%, First Capital Assistant Manager – the current low interest rates and attractive the pandemic as well as the unexpected Atchuthan Srirangan said. valuations. “We expect stronger market contraction in 1Q 2020. GDP growth may Speaking to Ceylon FT he stated that by 2Q returns during 2020,” he said. expect to be a struggle at 2.8% in 2021. 2021, the Government may have to relax “With business activity expected to gradually “Considering the heavy CBSL Holding import restrictions to boost GDP. Also, along pick up and accelerate towards next year, volume and inevitable relaxation of import with the private sector credit picking up due to investors are likely to be positive on the restrictions, economy may showcase a the availability of low interest rates, and the recovery of profits towards 2021E, with an currency spike followed by an interest rate widening budget deficit, the government would expected market earnings growth of 19%. We spike resulting in another shock to the have to borrow from the local market by believe that a bulk of the earnings dip is economy which may prevent a V shaped issuing Government Securities or through the already factored into the market and thereby recovery while inducing a W-shape type of banking system, meanwhile CBSL may have to assessing the earnings recovery for 2021E and recovery process,” according to the report. print more money. This would lead to higher evaluating businesses on forward earnings The report further notes that there is a Friday Markets CBSL holding, forcing CBSL to sell dollars to makes more sense as an investor. possibility of a further policy rate cut of 50 bps save a currency crash which in turn would With possible interest rate and currency in the short term, which may bring down bond lead to lower foreign reserves. shocks on the cards, despite the acceleration yields further below the bottom of bond yield Srirangan noted that Sri Lanka currently has in recovery of business activity, we expect bands (1Yr-5.0%, 5Yr-6.5%, 10Yr-7.0%) for a Shares hit foreign reserves of US$ 6.5 billion, which is 2021E market returns to be limited to 10%, as short period considering the sizable liquidity in sufficient for 4 months imports. “Sri Lanka’s we target the ASPI to have a fair value of Rs the system. 7½-month high funding options are limited. If any of the donor 5,800-Rs 6, 200,” he said. Mid-Year Outlook 2020 notes that the USD/ countries or funding agencies delay or refuse to “In the shares that you bought, look at the LKR rate will stay stable in 2H 2020 with a The Colombo Stock Exchange ended the week fund Sri Lanka, it may put pressure on local targeted average annual return. Generally we marginal depreciation as the Government on a high note as the benchmark index rose to a interest by 2Q 2021, and may lead to a look at 1-year T-bill rate, which is currently gradually relaxes import restrictions. seven-and-a-half-month high on Friday (25) on currency crash in the latter part of 2Q 2021“. around 4.8% plus 8% equity premium. If you However a steep depreciation in the rupee is a high turnover despite continued foreign exits “However, on a positive note foreign holdings have an expected average annual return of expected in 1H 2021 when more import from the market. in the Government Securities market have above 12.8%, it’s a good investment for a year,” restrictions are lifted. The benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) gained 0.82 per cent (47.84 points) to close at 5,859.04 points, its highest since 12 February, while the more liquid S&P SL20 gained 0.01 per cent (0.16 points) to close at 2,482.08 points. Sri Lanka a cheap/mass market destination Tea, Rubber and Coconut The daily turnover at the CSE stood at Rs 2.4 billion on Friday (25), lower than Rs 2.8 billion Estates Act to be amended recorded the previous day. Perception should be More than 453.5 million shares changed By Dilanthi Jayamanne and Eunice Ruth hands on Friday (25) during 21,995 trades. Shares of 264 companies were traded, of which changed – VP Walkers Tours The Tea, Rubber and Coconut Estates (Control of 97 emerged as winners as against 83 losers. Fragmentation) Board, said amendments were to be introduced Foreigners were the biggest sellers on Friday By Anjali Caldera Meantime he also emphasised to its Tea, Rubber and Coconut Estates (Control of (25) for the 51st consecutive session. Net foreign that there is a lot of potential for Fragmentation) Act, No. 2 of 1958, which would ease the outflow during the day amounted to Rs 358 Throughout these years Sri Sri Lanka Tourism with the fragmentation and sale of coconut lands. million, as foreigners sold shares worth Rs 693 Lanka is seen as a cheap and a Chinese market as the latter A source at the Board said on 22 September the Act was million as against purchases worth Rs 335 mass market destination; this being the second largest source enacted with the objective of controlling the fragmentation of million. perception should be market to the country. coconut lands not less than four hectares (10 acres) in extent and Top five gainers during the day were HNB changed, stated John Chinese arrivals in Sri tea and rubber lands not less than 20 hectares (50 acres). Finance (non-voting), Carsons, SMB Leasing, Keells Holdings, Vice Lanka started to climb According to the provisions of the Act, a Certificate of Consent Autodrome and Bukit Darah. President Walkers Tours from 2013, with 54,000 issued by the Board had to be sought when portioning out these Top five losers were Blue Diamonds, Nations Prabath Harsha Kumar. arrivals a year and this lands for sale or when these lands are transferred as a single Lanka, Fort Land, Shalimar and Ceylon Tea Harsha Kumar said this gradually raised to unit. However, amendments would be introduced to reduce the Brokers. at a recent discussion on 271,000 in 2016. But then stipulated acreage. ‘Post-COVID Tourism from in 2019 the number The proposal made by the then Minister of Plantation China’ held in Colombo. dropped to 167,000 due to Industries, to amend the Act by incorporating “Sri Lanka’s tour the Easter Sunday attacks provision to reduce the limit for portioning out or the transfer of ‘Spot’ down packages are Harsha Kumar and also COVID-19. coconut lands as a single unit to two hectares (five acres) and to comparatively low There are a number of limit fragmentation or the transfer of tea and rubber lands as a over a Rupee compared with other countries, flights operating Colombo- China, single unit to eight hectares (20 acres) was approved by Cabinet thus our revenue from tourism is thus a vast potential to attract at the time. Inflationary MP up Rs15B deprived and at the same time Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka Sources of the Board said the amendments were being this undermines our local without a hassle. During the pre- finalised. Efforts were being made, however, by the Coconut By Paneetha Ameresekere products.” COVID period, Sri Lankan Cultivation Board to increase the coconut lands in the North and Further highlighting the Airlines operated four flights to East. A census conducted by the Coconut Cultivation Board The benchmark ‘spot’ lost most of the gains it challenges in handling the Chinese Shanghai and Beijing, then Air showed that there were 21,063 acres of coconut in the Jaffna made in the three consecutive market days to market, he revealed that Chinese China, China Southern, China District, last year alone. The harvest that year in the District was Thursday, by sharply falling by between Rs1.15 nationals who are in Sri Lanka on Eastern and Chongqing Airlines 27.45 million nuts. and Rs1.05 (0.62per cent to 0.62-0.57per cent) student and work visas tend to and more charter flights are Meanwhile, the Government has, on 22 September, imposed a in two-way quotes, to be trading at Rs185.10/20- work as tour guides for their own expected to operate with the tax of Rs 375 for importing palm oil and Rs 150 for coconut oil to 30 to the US dollar in two-way quotes as at 4p.m. nationals as they alone possess the opening of the Mattala reduce the selling of palm oil as coconut oil, said the State the following day Friday, market sources said. language skills to communicate International Airport. Minister of Plantations, . Addressing a Media They said that this sharp depreciation was with their fellow Chinese; depriving Besides, Sri Lanka has already briefing, he said, we have seen so many incidents where the caused by a virtual, continuous stream of net opportunities for local tour guides done promotions in Beijing, market dealers are selling some other oils instead of coconut oil foreign outflows from the financial markets. In and the money generated goes to Shanghai, Guanzhou etc. and mixing them with the original coconut oil. the calendar year to Friday ‘spot’ has fallen by Chinese nationals instead. This Referring to the potential He said the annual coconut production of Sri Lanka is 2.8 Rs 3.95 (2.18 per cent) in two way quotes, may also affect the quality of Sri growing segments for the Chinese billion and among that, for domestic needs, 1.8 billion coconuts thereby causing cost-push inflationary pressure Lanka Tourism. market, Harsha Kumar further were being used and only the remaining one billion is being used as Sri Lanka is an import dependent economy. Moreover, collecting the due highlighted the possibility of for the industries for various productions. There is a need of 3.6 In related developments, Government of Sri payments from the Chinese promoting the MICE (Meetings, billion coconuts to run the industries, but unfortunately we are Lanka’s (GoSL’s) demand-pull inflationary face outbound agents for tours is a Incentives, Conferences and facing a shortage of 600 million coconuts due to various reasons, value money printing (FVMP) debt sharply major problem, he insisted. “The Exhibitions) market. “Chinese he said. increased by Rs 15,118 million, thereby as a credit terms of the local MICE market goes to Europe with The Government has taken steps to increase and improve the whole, upping its FVMP debt by 4.93 per cent to Destination Management 2,000-3,000 pax. We have the coconut cultivation and it has been discussed to provide the Rs 322,056.41 million on Friday. Consequently, Companies (DMCs) vary to 30-45 required resources to promote the needed fertilisers, waterways and loans for the cultivators. GoSL’s MP borrowing costs (BCs) increased days. But Chinese Tour Operators MICE market for Chinese It is also being decided to stop coconut auctions and the steeply by 1,206.98 per cent (Rs 743.26 million) drag these payments to 90 days nationals with new maximum retail price of a coconut is set at Rs 70. He said the to Rs 681.68 million, led by GoSL selling the and sometimes beyond 180 days, accommodations coming into play Government will take measures to smash the coconut mafia, more expensive (to it) Treasury (T) Bonds to the thus this is a serious area to as in Shangri-La , Marriot and which has increased the prices by stockpiling and not releasing Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) on Friday. address.” also the upcoming Cinnamon Life. coconuts. In other developments, market liquidity, during trading, increased by Rs10,385 million (US$ 56.11million) on Friday, led by the settlement/s of Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL’s) swaps with the market and/or GoSL’s sales of dollars to CBSL, followed by exporter Rushanka elevated to Dy Chairman at Sampath Bank conversions. Conversions are based on the middle rate of the ‘spot’ as at 4 p.m. on Keshini joins as Independent Director Wednesday which was Rs 185.00 to the dollar. Howbeit, CBSL, the steward of the country’s Sampath Bank PLC announced Treasury, Marketing, Audit, Risk debt and of its foreign reserves, is not the elevation of Rushanka Silva as Deputy Management and Strategic Planning. He also transparent in its interventions in daily open Chairman (Non-Independent, Non-Executive serves as a Non-Executive Director of Capital market operations, underlined by keeping mum Director) and Deshal de Mel as Senior Alliance Investments (Pvt) Ltd and Research in regard to the causes for the changes in Independent Director with immediate effect. Director of Verité Research (Pvt) Ltd. He was market liquidity due to such actions. The Bank also announced the appointment also a Commissioner at the Securities and Consequently market’s net excess liquidity of Keshini Jayawardena as Non-Executive, Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka in 2018 - increased by 15.60 per cent (Rs 25,498 million) Independent Director with effect from 1 2019. to Rs 188,968 million on Friday. October 2020. Keshini counts over 28 years of experience Rushanka Keshini Deshal de Mel MP is CBSL’s sole and mandated authority. The Board of Directors of the Bank passed Silva Jayawardena in Banking and Finance. She was previously MP is exercised to meet GoSL’s monetary the resolutions on these appointments at the attached to Nations Trust Bank PLC where she commitments in the absence of adequate meeting held on 24 September 2020. Motor Spares (Pvt) Ltd, and Indra Property served as Chief Operations Officer from 2015 revenue. However, if MP ends up in the hands A dedicated professional with a background Development (Pvt) Ltd and Chairman of to 2016; Deputy General Manager – Retail and of GoSL only, without ‘once more’ being passed in Management Accounting, Marketing and Braybrooke Residential Properties (Pvt) Ltd, SME Banking from 2011 to 2014 and Deputy on to CBSL, for instance as settlement to buy Sales, Rushanka brings with him Braybrooke Residential Towers (Pvt) Ltd and General Manager – Leasing and Factoring for the required dollars to meet GoSL’s foreign debt experiences from across a diverse range of Indra Hotels and Resorts Kandy (Pvt) Ltd. 2006 to 2011. Prior to that, she was part of servicing commitments from the former (CBSL), industries. He has been serving as a Non- Deshal is an eminent Economist and was HSBC Sri Lanka’s leadership team for 18 years then, that causes demand pull inflationary Independent, Non-Executive Director recognised a Young Global Leader by the where she last held the position of Head of pressure. of Sampath Bank PLC since 1 September World Economic Forum in 2019. He Operations. She is a Solicitor of the Supreme The market is avoided to meet GoSL’s foreign 2017. He has been actively engaged with and had served on the Board of Directors of Court of England and Wales. She currently debt servicing commitments for fear that that contributing to the Strategic Planning, Credit, Sampath Bank PLC as a Non-Executive serves as an Associate Consultant at Bridge would further weaken the rupee. Investments in Marketing, Treasury, Nomination, Capital Director from 2012 to 2017. Partnership and The Centre for Inclusive T-Bills and T-Bonds are considered risk free, Planning, Shareholder Relations and He re-joined the Bank’s Board on 26 Leadership, both UK-based consultancies with because, in the event GoSL is unable to honour IT functions at the Bank in this role. He is September 2019 as an Independent, Non- offices around the world. She is also associated such debt, CBSL is mandated to print demand- also the Managing Director of Indra Traders Executive Director and has been involved with UK-based boutique consultancy, Kinetik pull inflationary money and repay such (Pvt) Ltd and serves as Deputy Chairman of with Nomination, Related Party Transactions Solutions. She holds a BSc. (Econ) from the creditors. Siyapatha Finance PLC; Non-Executive Reviewing, Human Resources and London School of Economics and Political Director of Sampath Centre Limited, Indra Remuneration, Shareholder Relations, Science. B12 Ceylon FT monday 28 september 2020 news On the backing of over 30 years’ experience SRL aspires to build research driven knowledge industry

SRL is one of the oldest marketing shows, but what the data means. It is quality agency among their clients. and research consultancy agencies part of their service to provide quality After so many years in the business, that is fully independent and fully Sri research in a way that is entirely SRL continues to keep up their Lankan. It was established on 28 valuable to the user. standards, representing their clients September 1989. SRL is also an entirely Sri Lankan and the data over themselves. As the As one of the pioneer research and company, which really makes them market has evolved, so has SRL, consultancy companies in the stand out as a company that truly being one of the first companies to country, SRL has been at the understands the local market and take their data online in 2006 and forefront of the industry designing how to get accurate knowledge out of even now, keeping up with the and developing Market-related it; they ask the right questions, they digitalised world and social media so Information Systems and introducing analyse correctly and obtain the right as to provide the best quality analysis various products for the first time to samples. They know Sri Lankan taste in order to provide clients with the Sri Lankan market over the past and therefore know how to actionable information. “By March 31 years. understand data in a way that can 2019, with Neel’s blessing, I managed Back when they started, market only be taught by experience in the to digitise everything 100 percent research wasn’t a very popular word field - not by Western-centric models. through the use of tablets and in the country. Their work was all All their application software has smartphones for the best data quality about showing people the advantages been developed by Sri Lankans, and and real time data,” highlights of their data collection. Over the years they pride themselves on their Mihirani Dissanayake, CEO of SRL. they have proved themselves and specialised catering to Sri Lankan Today, SRL prides itself for its their business introducing avenues clients. “In 2004, we predicted achievements spanning three that were unheard of before. election results 99 percent accurately decades, out of which they continue Some of the main services one week before the results were to value data driven knowledge introduced by SRL, that are now the marketing industry almost every social research. published, with other election sharing. The commitment and considered integral parts in any two years. Now market research is Nevertheless, SRL still considers predictors nowhere as close as we enthusiasm of the team towards marketing communication strategy, something that is so common, with themselves more than just a research are. It was published in the Sunday research and data analysis has are media monitoring, TV rating everyone knowing these terms. SRL company, instead seeing themselves Times,” remarks Neel de Silva, helped grow the knowledge market of services, and tracking services. SRL has grown in many ways over the as part of the knowledge industry. Chairman of SRL. Sri Lanka and benefited a wide has brought new products and new years, contributing significantly to They still go the extra mile by not only Consistency and dedication has spectrum of industries to make better innovative concepts to the forefront of the development of marketing and showing their clients what the data earned SRL their reputation as a top and effective business decisions.

Motorbike and three-wheeler tyres Parents who chose CIMA exalt its values Local producers want A stepping stone to professional success Govt to halt imports

Motorbike and three-wheeler tyre manufacturers in Sri Lanka have stated that there is no shortage of motorbike and three-wheeler tyres locally, and therefore there is no need whatsoever to import any. The companies further emphasize that their factories have the capacity to supply the demand for tyres locally, and that they are already supplying products to the market, thereby fulfilling local needs. In the year 2019, Rs 1062 million worth motorbike and three-wheeler tyres and tubes have been imported to the country. The country could have saved Rs 1062 million in foreign exchange savings by producing all of these locally. The local tyre producers iterate their support of the current government’s drive to prioritize local manufacture by Prof.Sampath producing motorbike and three-wheeler tyres in Sri Lanka to Jayanthi Dharmasena Amaratunga Ravi Edirisinghe Roshan Mahanama Venkkat Ramanan Zahara Ansary fulfill local demand, and that they need the continued support of the government to develop the production process. Only a “No matter where you start or what you He spoke about the Great Reset, an about the inclusion of technology in few types of tyres of special sizes that are not produced locally choose to do, CIMA will allow you to initiative by the World Economic Forum, leadership, people, business and technical are imported in small numbers and they have less demand as explore various avenues in the dynamic which aims to call all stakeholders to skills instead of seeing it in isolation. they are not used widely, the local manufacturers stated. They business world in your journey to become co-operate collectively to manage the He complemented Jayanthi and Ravi, also emphasize that they produce sufficient amount of tyres in a well-rounded individual”. This was direct consequences of the COVID-19 who at the very outset realised how to high demand in the local market, without any shortfall. Local mentioned at the recently concluded crisis. understand finance and be able to advise motorbike and three-wheeler tyre manufacturers say that webinar where, CIMA-qualified industry He emphasised on the specialised on different parts of a business, and they are improving production capacity and aim to increase experts emphasised on why CIMA was skillsets that are necessary to face these greatly emphasised that the greatest the amount of exports from the present volume. They also their best choice for themselves as well as changing dynamics of the world and on asset of being a management accountant believe that they can create thousands of new jobs through for their children when considering the three key parameters published in a is that decisions are made to make an this initiative. building a career in finance and business. World Economic Forum article: impact based on insights,which allows The webinar event was moderated by foundational literacies, competencies and accountants to forecast multiple options Country Manager of CIMA Sri Lanka, character qualities, as well as the and allow businesses to make strategic Zahara Ansary, with Venkkat Ramanan, framework surrounding these parameters decisions.“This is the fundamental DNA the Regional Vice President, Asia Pacific, as lifelong learnings. that CIMA offers to accountants, as well of the Association of International Why do these skillsets matter now? as opening up global opportunities since Nuzrath Nazar’s Certified Professional Accountants as the Regarding this query, he quoted an CIMA is a global organisation,”he added. key speaker. The other panellists example from Air Asia’s business model, Roshan Mahanama spoke about how comprised Chair of the University Grants where during the pandemic, the airline choosing a qualification that suits one’s Idea pitched as Best Commission Sri Lanka and the former operator changed its business model to personality is important. He spoke about Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri suit the changing dynamics and leveraged living the dream and paid gratitude to his Wins CIMA Hundred & 10% Elevator Pitch Jayawardenepura Prof. Sampath its fintech arm to ensure business parents who allowed him to live his Amaratunge, Managing Director of success. dream, which was to represent Sri Lanka Hayleys Agricultural Holdings Jayanthi He went on to highlight what skills will in the sport he passionately loved. Dharmasena, CEO of GAC Group Ravi be required by employers post COVID-19. Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, spoke Edirisinghe, and coveted Sri Lankan He said, “Organisations don’t like laying about how CIMA became a highly pursued cricketer and a former member of the Elite off people since it is a human-conscious qualification amongst local university Referee Panel Roshan Mahanama. decision, so it would be the last decision. students. Presenting on the theme ‘Developing The initial decision would be on how to Managing Director of Hayleys new leaders for a changing world’, get the best out of the people.” To Agricultural Holdings Jayanthi Venkkat Ramanan commenced the overcome this, he suggested that Dharmasena related how timing webinar reflecting on the unprecedented companies attempt to identify the agility differences in her studies resulted in her situation the world is currently of its employees in transforming their following the CIMA qualification. experiencing, citing that in lieu of this, it skill sets in order to be resilient and Ravi Edirisinghe, CEO of GAC Group, is pertinent that new leaders need to be thrive in the long term. spoke about how he ended up choosing nurtured and nourished to face challenges He also related to how technology is CIMA despite having a passion for in the changing world. making an immense impact and spoke mathematics and engineering.

The Innovative Idea on Revolutionising Medical Laboratory Litro Gas introduces new categories of cylinders Services by Nuzrath Nazar was pitched as the Best Idea at the recently concluded CIMA Digital Career Fair under the Having undertaken an Litro Buddy (2.3kg), Litro Mega segment of Hundred &10% Elevator Pitch held on the 17 extensive study on consumer (37.5kg) and Litro Bulk (1MT). September at Hatch Works Sri Lanka. purchase patterns and “Litro Gas has always been The idea was presented based on his experience carried preferences, Litro Gas has driven by a passion for service forward from being a key member in the establishment of Sri pioneered a national endeavor excellence that is reflected in Lanka’s First reference Laboratory – Lanka Hospitals in offering value and economic every aspect of our product Diagnostics (LHD) and from serving as a Senior Manager of benefit to the customer by offering. Our ability to Marketing at Hemas Hospitals. introducing different product understand and respond to The event was judged by Ravi Edirisinghe, CEO of GAC segments. changing customer needs Group Sri Lanka, Jeevan Gnanam – Founder/ MD Veracity AI “As a responsible state while offering them a tangible and MD of Digital Reality, Ajith Gunawardena – Founder owned enterprise (SOE) with a economic benefit, is a critical Bluestone Capital, Shehara Jayaweera – Joint MD MacLarens national obligation to provide factor that defines our mode of Group of Companies, Kishan Nadarajah – Principal BOV clean cooking energy for 6 operations as a state owned Capital, Rishini Weeraratne – Consulting Editor of Daily million Sri Lankan households, enterprise (SOE) with a unique Mirror Online, Editor – Hill Online, Wijeya Newspapers we are in alignment with H.E present and future and Litro Gas Terminal Lanka corporate culture and an Limited. The President’s vision ‘Vistas of generations. A part of which is (Pvt) Limited. operating system”, says Nuzrath Nazar was awarded a cash prize of Rs 100,000 from Prosperity and Splendour’ ( managing the cost of living The new segments have been Janaka Pathirathna, Director Zahra Ansary – Country Manager, CIMA Sri Lanka and Saubhagye Dakma) which factors whenever possible”, named in 05 categories and – Sales & Marketing/ Shanmagum Sivabakaran – Director Operations at Imperial focuses on a unified national says Anil Koswatte, Chairman are available as Litro Regular Corporate Affairs at Litro Gas College. economic policy benefitting & CEO - Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. (12.5kg), Litro Budget (5kg), Lanka Ltd. insight monday 28 september 2020 A13 Empowering Migrant Women Returnees By Paneetha Ameresekere significantly different from those of other women. That Indian Tamil men Female overseas migrant returnees, also tend to have significantly lower war widows and women heads of earnings and lower LFP odds than households, are members of ‘another’ other men (though not the case in target group who would greatly benefit 2006 for LFP) underscores the dire from efforts to enhance the use of situation for estate sector residents in microfinance, complementary general, the WB said. business development training and land-titling reforms to help build North and East women’s assets for use as collateral or The WB also said that because of other economic leverage, the World the Northern and Eastern (N&E) Bank (WB) in a recent report titled Provinces’ high incidence of extreme ‘Getting to Work Unlocking Women’s poverty, men in female headed Potential in Sri Lanka’s Labour Force,’ households (FHHs) must at least try said. to obtain work. ‘A potential employment sector for The high numbers of job seekers returnees–many of whom have relative to available jobs; elevate their worked as domestic servants rates of unemployment. Poor urban providing childcare in households men in this region might be especially abroad–could be the sorely needed, prone to unemployment because the for a ‘ high-quality care economy’ that infrastructure and markets for has yet to develop in Sri Lanka, the nonagricultural work have developed WB said. in only a few pockets. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Bureau of While agricultural production Foreign Employment’s institution of remains sluggish, the finding that more stringent requirements for women in FHHs are not prone to women seeking overseas employment unemployment may be capturing the in 2013 was meant to protect relatively strong socio-cultural migrating women by endowing them constraints on women’s job seeking with advanced skills that would among the ethnic groups that make preclude their need to settle for low- up majority populations in the skill jobs, such as housekeeping Northern (Sri Lankan Tamil) and work. However, these policy changes Eastern (Sri Lankan Moor) parts of leave a growing population of poor Sri female labour force participation ethnic groups (including the fare almost as badly in labour force the island, the report said. Lankan women in need of ‘in-country (FLFP) rates—Kandy; Jaffna in the far Sinhalese majority), Indian Tamil participation (LFP) as Moor women up LFP among these women is alternative livelihoods,’ the WB said. North; Ampara, Polonnaruwa, and women have the greatest odds of until 2013, after which Malay women considerably lower (22 per cent in the Women continue to make up a Batticaloa in the East; and the West participating in the labour force and pulled ahead.) Northern Province and 19 per cent in significant proportion of the overseas Coast districts except for Galle and the best chances of securing a job as a Since 2011, Moor women have been the Eastern Province) compared with Sri Lankan labour force, though their Kalutara. paid employee, according to ‘the the least likely to find work as paid the national female LFP (FLFP) rate of share relative to men’s has decreased Overall, the low levels of both multivariate analysis.’ employees; moreover, they have 36 per cent. Women who do work in since 1997 and since 2012 has domestic and international migration For securing a job as a paid tended to have the highest rates of these areas encounter gender wage dropped to less than 50 per cent. from the conflict-affected Northern employee, however, in more recent unemployment, except in 2015 when differentials as high as 50 per cent, and Eastern Provinces for overseas years Indian Tamil women have not Burgher women’s unemployment the WB said. Comparisons jobs are surprising. Given that these retained the great advantage they had rates surpassed those of all other Gender wage differential is the In 2003, women made up 53 per areas have among the highest poverty in 2006 and especially 2009, when women, the WB said. average difference in emoluments cent of the total overseas workforce rates in the country, the relative lack they were 72 per cent more likely than Meanwhile, Indian Tamil women’s earned by an employed man over that and as much as 62 per cent in the of out-migrating women suggests that Sinhala women to become a paid high rates of LFP and working as paid of an employed woman. later years of that decade. mobility and ‘other’ socio-cultural employee, and more than twice as employees are not surprising, given Labour dynamics in the Northern Meanwhile, districts in Northern, constraints may be acting on women likely if they lived in the urban sector. that Indian Tamils are predominant in and Eastern Provinces have been Eastern, and Western Sri Lanka have in the largely Tamil-Muslim local (As of 2015, they were 37 per cent tea and other estates. Unfortunately, severely affected by more than two both low female labour force population. Other explanations could more likely than Sinhala women to their extreme disadvantage in decades of recurrent war, the report participation (FLFP) rates and low be that these women lack the social become a paid employee). earnings relative to women from other said. With the large-scale devastation receipts of domestic household networks that facilitate migration, or However, Indian Tamil women also ethnic groups also is not surprising, of infrastructure, services and links to remittances, the WB said. Both FLFP that they simply lack the funds are less likely to be unemployed than given the poor working conditions in markets, job opportunities in the and domestic (local) remittances are required for travel to the destination. other women, the WB said. By the estate sector. Indian Tamil women predominant agriculture and fisheries high throughout most of the Centre of contrast, women in Sri Lanka’s Moor earn significantly lower wages than sectors have declined and the country and in the Southeastern Estate Tamils ethnic group fare the worst in labour any other group of women, even when employment is increasingly districts of Matara and Hambantota. Among the different ethnic groups markets. They are the least likely to considering only those women who characterised by informal daily wage Only Kurunegala, Matale and of women in Sri Lanka, Indian Tamil participate, with 23 percentage points live in the estate and rural sectors, and unskilled labour, it said. Income- Kalutara have both high international women (Estate Tamils) tend to fare lower odds of participation than the WB said. earning opportunities continue to be household remittances and high FLFP best in labour market outcomes, Sinhala women and nearly 30 This suggests that Indian Tamil relatively scarce in this region, which rates. except for earnings, the WB said percentage points lower odds than women’s relative wages have is still being rehabilitated. Most districts with high Across years (2006–15) and Indian Tamil women. (It is interesting deteriorated in recent years; in 2006 (Next Monday: Increasing Women international receipts tend to have low compared with women from all other to note that Malay women tended to and 2009 their wages were not Employment in Private Sector) Are we changing enough? By Mamun Rashid Five private FM radio stations the world” by World Bank. It is still emerged as a new medium for growing, with half a million migrants Nowadays, we are so busy coping entertainment in 2010. Personal time being added per year. with the changes in our day-to-day in front of television has gone up due City people are now more eager to lives that we do not have the time to to the increasing affordability of most embrace festivals such as Pohela step back and think for a moment modern TV sets and increasing Boishakh, Pohela Falgun, and new about how Bangladesh is changing options through cable TV and about year celebrations with friends and and what those changes are. 30 private Bangla satellite channels. family as a breath of fresh air in their Let’s take a trip down memory lane Now, even small grocery shops have a busy lives. As society has evolved, the and try to figure out some of the TV, and there are always 10-20 people mushrooming growth of English- significant changes that took place in the evening watching whatever is medium schools, ladies’ hostels, between 1990 and 2020, apart from going on. shared apartments for private the Covid-driven “new normal.” However, TV time is decreasing university students, community I don’t remember accessing among the urban youth. They are centres, shopping malls, beauty Facebook or any other social media more inclined towards hanging out salons etc is also seen. platform or even e-mail in the 90s as with friends on weekends, video- Amusement parks, resorts, and we do now, though e-mail started in chatting on busy days, Facebooking, gymnasiums have cropped up. Retail 1971. My eye doctor keeps on Youtubing and the like, not to investment in capital market as well cautioning me not to look at screens mention Netflix or Amazon Prime. as the number of bank accounts rose too much. In 2010, over 850,000 people were in line with increase in relevant But who cares? There were no using Facebook in Bangladesh, and largest MNCs through management food joint/coffee shop/restaurant activities. mobile phones in 1990 as Pacific the subscriber base has risen level recruitments. propping up in the city’s happening Well, not everything has changed in Bangladesh Telecom, popularly exponentially over the last few years, As a result, workplace culture has spots. Bangladesh. For instance, the public known as Citycell, was awarded the not only for Facebook but also for become faster, delivery-focused, and For women, the amount of time health scenario remains archaic or licence and came into operation at the other popular social networking sites. deadline-oriented. This has led to spent with family has gone down non-responsive, the quality of public end of 1992. T&T landline These days, you should not be at all flexibility in office timings. Some come significantly. Nowadays, unlike earlier education has not improved, the connections have fallen from a surprised to receive a friend request in early in the morning, some work times, they do not always accept the transport situation has worsened, sought-after necessity to almost an from your maid or chauffer. long hours to meet a deadline, and decisions of the spouse. deregulation and policy adaptation obsolete mode of communication. The daily routine of a government or some carry the work home in laptops Motor vehicles have become the have not been taken up at the desired According to 2008 data, Bangladesh private service-holder 30 years ago and tend to important emails while main vehicle for transportation pace. was ranked 67th in terms of number was to work from nine to five, come stuck in hours-long traffic. Working instead of rickshaws. In a country The two heads of the two large of land telephone lines in use, with home straight or after a little bit of from home has become regular under where vehicle and fuel prices have political parties have not joined any 1.4 million connections. We can safely shopping, and have afternoon snacks the ‘new normal’. gone up gradually, cars are no longer discussions ‘face to face’ for almost 30 assume that the number has not gone with their spouse and children. The Women empowerment has taken an obvious choice. Both foreign and years. Civil bureaucracy is still up significantly in the past several whole evening was leisure time, which place in two distinct ways. Rural domestic air travel to and from playing their main role of being years. Almost all PSTN (public people spent listening to music, women have been financially active Bangladesh have increased manifold. ‘bureaucratic’. switched telephone network) reading books, visiting relatives, and through the micro-finance movement. Apart from the national carrier, Here is hoping that someday we will companies had premature deaths. the like. On the other hand, more and more three privately-owned Bangladeshi be able to ponder over tremendous To the credit of the mobile Large-scale privatisation and women in urban areas are enrolling in airlines and about 15 foreign airlines positive changes taking place in these operators, most of the population has increasing Foreign Direct Investment universities, going abroad for higher are operating to meet the fast-growing neglected areas as well. My boss at been brought under internet coverage. (FDI) have changed this daily routine. studies, and joining the corporate demand for air travel. Standard Chartered London used to The number of personal computers in The private sector has taken over the world. The country is getting urbanised at say: “Change has to happen, because use was around five per cent of the driving seat of the economy, more Eating out has gone up because an annual average urbanisation rate change is the only constant thing in population in 2010. Even before multinational corporations (MNC) people have started appreciating the of 3.5%. We have seen mass migration this world.” Covid-19, we had witnessed a have come in, and local private diversity of different cuisines or to cities, especially Dhaka. Mamun Rashid is an economic significant rise in personal computer companies are embracing the outsourced kitchens. Almost every Dhaka was marked as the “the city analyst usage, especially laptops. business practices of the world’s month there is at least one new fast with the highest population growth in (Dhaka Tribune) b14 Ceylon Ft monday 28 september 2020 advertorial

Rain guard sealant Seylan introduces BITUMIX to serve rubber World Mastercard plantation sector BITUMIX recently during rainy season and as the country. Seylan Bank recently launch a loyalty points exclusive benefits are, global established a modern a result the estimated The introduction of this introduced the exclusive Seylan cashback system. airport concierge services, manufacturing facility to annual latex production product facility by BITUMIX World Mastercard Credit Card Seylan’s range of credit cards access to ‘Boingo Wifi’, exclusive produce high quality yield can be increased is very much in line with the as a part of a strategy to expand is known for their range of offers destination LIMO services, Bitumen based sealants for significantly. Sri Lankan Government's its range of credit cards. throughout the year. With opportunity to participate in a pasting rain guard covers While the local Rubber drive to save all important The Seylan Credit Card Seylan World Mastercard Credit Lounge key programme, access above the tapping panel of sealant market has been foreign exchange during Experience invites consumers to Card, they are now expanding to global medical services, the rubber tree. Rubber dominated by imported these challenging times. In indulge in luxury with around the offerings to suit the growing opportunity to indulge in a plantations are reported to products, BITUMIX is the next step of this the clock offers at over 800+ needs of consumers looking out variety of exclusive golf be benefited by pasting rain expanding their product journey, the company also selected merchant outlets. for international standards and experiences, attractive travel guards recommended by portfolio with a focus to has the intention of Seylan Bank is the only bank exclusivity on products and Insurance schemes and so the Rubber Research produce locally aggressively looking for with World Mastercard to services. Some of the most much more. Institute (RRI) of Sri Lanka, manufactured sealants potential export markets for which facilitates reducing the necessity of this product in natural latex continuous tapping even importing such products to producing countries. ComBank Singer introduces two new launches ‘Cash diesel generator models on FD’ facility Singer recently introduced bulbs. A 3.5KVA generator can 5000 W (5KVA) and 3500 W support two television sets, an The Commercial Bank of (3.5KVA) diesel-powered air conditioner, a ceiling fan, a Ceylon has introduced a ‘Cash generators. computer and 10 electric on Fixed Deposits’ (FDs) facility The newly introduced single bulbs. which enables depositors to cylinder, air-cooled and These two generators will be withdraw against their FD 4-stroke G-SD5000 and ideal for a small business to value through a Debit or Credit G-SD3500 generators make ensure the continuity of Card linked to their accounts. very low noise and each has a business operations even The Bank said the facility has capacity of 450cc. Each of during a power failure and been especially designed to them has 14.5 litre fuel tank serve its loyal customers. meet any unforeseen financial capacity and, with rated Likewise, a Singer generator requirements of the Bank’s FD rotation speed of 3000 provide could become handy to a clientele. electricity for many hours, household, especially during In case of an emergency, continuously. day time to carry out all customers that have the‘Cash Electricity from a 5KVA household chores when there on FD’ facility will be eliminated generator can support two is a power failure. A Singer Lotus Tyres offer vacation for winners from the requirement to uplift television sets, three ceiling generator also won’t let your their FD accounts, in mid- fans, a pedestal fan, an air children miss any online Samson Rubber Industries RIU Hotel - Ahungalle. “Lotus Tyres has a close contract, which would lead to a conditioner, two computers, a learning sessions due to power (Pvt.) Ltd.the manufacturer The lucky winners of the relationship with our trade loss of the contracted interest refrigerator and 11 electric failures. and distributor of Lotus marketing promotion partners, who are constant earnings. Tyres recently organised a organised for dealers who support in our journey Upon opening a Fixed Deposit star class domestic vacation met sales targets in the past towards success. This for one year or more with a for their valued trade year, were given this valuable programme is held with the minimum value of Rs 100,000 partners and their family opportunity. aim of strengthening those customers can avail of this members. The event was held with bonds beyond meeting sales ‘Cash on FD’facility, to Lotus Tyres’ trade partners the participation of the Board targets.” stated Kavinda withdraw cash up to 90% of the and their family members of Directors of Samson Rajapaksa, Director, FD value through a Debit card, spent two days in relaxing Rubber Industries, and the Samson Rubber Industries, the Bank said. and enjoying themselves at Sales and Marketing team of commenting on the the top of the line star class Lotus Tyres. initiative. Sports Monday 28 September 2020 A15

Army Road Race 2020 Sanmugeswaran, Wathsala clinch titles

By Anjana Kaluarachchi

National level athletes resumed competition after a couple of months due to COVID-19 when they took part in the 55th Army Action from the Police SC vs Nugegoda SC encounter Road Race (half marathon) held in Colombo on Saturday. South Asian Games Silver medalist Kumar Sanmugeswaran and former Walala A. Rathnayaka CC athlete Wathsala Herath Tamil Union comfortably won the race. The runners started from Akuregoda Army Headquarters and headed towards Diyatha Uyana, and from there they record fourth win ran towards Panagoda via Malabe (a distance of 21.0975 Km). Tamil Union C&AC S&WC won by 54 runs) Sanmugeswaran of Artillery Regiment, who recorded their fourth win in Nugegoda S&WC: 217/9 trains under Director of the National Institute the SLC Major Youth (Under (43) (Amitha Dabare 52, of Sports Science, clocked 1 hr 10 min 16 23) Inter Clubs Cricket Sakuna Liyanage 37, Nipun sec, ran alone for most part of the race. Tournament when they beat Lakshan 26, Mohamed Sampath Gunasekara from Sinha Bloomfiled C&AC by 5 Faheem 3/37, Tashik Perera Regiment finished second (1 hr 10 min 47 wickets at Bloomfield 2/26) sec), while Sagara Wijewickrama of yesterday. Police SC: 163 (38) Gemunu Watch Regiment finished third Galle CC, BRC, (Resandu Thilakarathne 30, (1 hr 11 min 47 sec). Sebastianites C&AC and Ashel Sigera 28, Nipun Artillery Regiment also secured the Nugegoda S&WC were Lakshan 4/57, Muditha men’s overall title with 56 points. the other teams to Lakshan 3/24, Vimukthi In the women’s event, Wathsala Herath was register wins. Kulatunge 2/29) surrounded by male competitors as she was well At Bloomfield In Galle (Galle CC won by ahead of her female counterparts from the outset. (Tamil Union won 32 runs) She clocked 1 hr 25 min 15 sec to win the event. by 5 wickets) Galle CC: 260/9 (50) Second placed athlete Sureka Sewwandi was three Bloomfield: 121 (Pawan Sandesh 72, Kalpa minutes behind clocking 1 hr 28 min 57 sec, while (47.1) (Rashan Chethiya 62, Vinura Dulsara Iresha Sugathapala finished third in 1 hr 31 min 4 sec. Dissanayaka 28, Sachindu 43, Ruvin Peiris 2/25, Asitha Winners Colombage 4/21, Raveen de Wanninayake 2/43, Sakindu Men Silva 3/15, Ravindu Wijerathne 2/51) 1. Kumar Sanmugeswaran (1:10.16 sec) Fernando 2/20) Kurunegala YCC: 228 2. Kelum Sampath Gunasekatra (1:10.47 sec) Tamil Union: 123/5 (23.4) (47.4) (Dilshan Kollure 53, 3. Sagara Wijewickrama (1:11.16 sec) (Ravindu Fernando 29 n.o., Tharinda Wijesinghe 42, Women Navod Paranavithana 29, Keshan Wanniarachchi 38, 1. Wathsala Herath (1:25.15 sec) Raveen de Silva 26 n.o., Asitha Wanninayake 29, 2. Sureka Sewwandi (1:28.57 sec) Aravinth Rajendran 2/21) Ravishka Wijesiri 3/45, 3. Iresha Sugathapala (1:31.04 sec) At BRC (BRC won by 3 Vinura Dulsara 2/27) Pix by Nuwan Amarawansha wickets) In Maggona (Sebastianites Navy SC: 172 (45.2) won by 120 runs (Gajitha Kotuwegoda 50, Sebastianites: 222/9 (50) Ravindu Madushanka 44, (Tharusha Samarawickrama Dasun Seneviratne 2/22, 79, Sachin Fernando 41, Malinda Abishek 2/32) Ruchira Koshitha 3/29, BRC: 173/7 (35) (Nisal Avindu Theekshana 2/32) Francisco 41, Lahiru Baduraliya CC: 102 (32.4) Attanayake 36 n.o., Ravindu (Mithira Thenura 50, Nadith Madhusanka 2/31, Samitha Mishendra 2/19, Praveen Ranga 2/38) Cooray 2/25) At Police Park (Nugegoda (IR)

Kumar Coach Sajith Jayalal with his athletes (from left third place -Sagara Sanmugeswaran Wathsala Herath Wijewickrama, second place -Kelum Sampath Gunasekatra, win- in action in action ner Kumar Sanmugeswaran (right)

Citing mental health BCB allows

players to break Valtteri Bottas celebrates with the trophy bio-bubble Bottas wins in Russia Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) always start a new bio bubble upon Valtteri Bottas won the radio as he took the on Saturday opted to break their their return back to the hotel from Russian Grand Prix for chequered flag. own bio-bubble that they had their respective homes. Mercedes on Sunday after “It’s nice to get a win, it’s initiated from 21 September, as “We have to do fresh testing of team mate and championship been a while and I need to try COVID-19 they announced a three-day family COVID-19 as the previous tests leader Lewis Hamilton and keep the momentum. break for the cricketers in order to will not be considered due to a long collected two time penalties There’s still quite a few races keep them mentally fresh. duration between each test,’’ he for infringements before the to go, so you never know. I’ll BCB Chief Physician Debashish said, adding that they did not race had even started. The keep pushing, I won’t give up hits ICC HQ Chowdhury admitted on Saturday complete the last COVID-19 test win was the Finn’s second of and we’ll see how it ends up.” that letting the cricketers come out that was expected to be completed the season. Hamilton’s hopes were from their hotel implies that the 72 hours before their departure. Hamilton, who started on dashed when stewards issued present bio bubble is broken, but Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka, pole position in Sochi hoping two five-second penalties for in Dubai added that they opted for this which was scheduled for July- for a 91st Formula One making practice starts option considering the mental state August, was postponed because of victory to equal Ferrari great outside the designated area The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the ICC of the cricketers. Debashish said the COVID-19 pandemic. BCB Michael Schumacher’s all- as he headed to the grid. headquarters in Dubai as few of its staffers have that they have time to start from Cricket Operation Chairman time record, finished third “Not the greatest day. I take tested positive for the dreaded virus and are in scratch, which includes new dates Akram Khan said on Saturday they behind Red Bull’s Max the points that I got and move mandatory isolation as per the United Arab Emirates’ for COVID-19 testing. are now planning to fly somewhere Verstappen. on,” said Hamilton, who also health protocols. ‘’We have to think about the between 7 to 10 October if “Never give up. It’s a good collected two penalty points on According to information received by PTI, all mental state of our cricketers as everything goes smoothly, but day,” said Bottas, who his licence that leave him just affected ICC staff are isolating as per local protocols they were really bogged down added that they are yet to receive addressed his critics in more two away from a one-race ban. and those who have been in close contact are also staying inside the bio-bubble for an official response from SLC basic terms over the team (Reuters) doing the same. the first time in their life. regarding their reservation about The ICC headquarters would remain closed for a “It’s true that the existing bio- the 14-day quarantine. few days and the staff would work from home, as the bubble is broken, but we can (Agencies) entire premises is being sanitised for operations to restart, as per the health safety norms of the UAE Government. Gill shines in KKR win While there was no official communication from the Young Shubman Gill drove, A calm and composed Gill ICC, a senior Board Member privy to the development pulled and cut with authority was in complete control of his confirmed that there have been a few ‘positive cases’, in an unbeaten 62-ball 70 as innings and paced it brilliantly but maintained the global body was ready for any Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the way to his fifth IPL fifty. eventuality. “It has been managed very well by the overwhelmed Sunrisers Reigning World Cup-winning ICC as they were prepared considering the second Hyderabad by seven wickets skipper Morgan played the surge of cases in the UAE,” the Board official said. on Saturday. Gill and Eoin perfect supporting role before The ICC staff are expected to work from home for a Morgan (42 not out in 29 joining the party by smacking few days as the office premises will be sanitised to balls) helped KKR open their Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a make it fully operational, as per the health safety account with a convincing huge six in the 15th over to tilt norms of the UAE Government. win, with two overs to spare. the match in favour of KKR There are currently six IPL teams based out of Opting to bat, Sunrisers Brief scores: Sunrisers Dubai and they are using the practice facilities at the Hyderabad never got going Hyderabad 142/4 in 20 overs ICC Academy grounds located in Dubai Sports City. after Pat Cummins (1/19) and (Manish Pandey 51, David “The ICC Academy is perfectly safe because neither it rookie spinner Varun Warner 36; Andre Russell 1-16, is adjacent to the office headquarters nor are there Chakravarthy (1/25) removed Pat Cummins 1-19) lost to any ICC staff who are present at the practice session. the opening pair of Jonny Kolkata Knight Riders 145/3 So there is no question of any health scare as far as Bairstow and David Warner in 18 overs (Shubman Gill 70*, IPL teams are concerned,” a Senior Board source told respectively, and were Eoin Morgan 42*; Rashid Khan PTI on the condition of anonymity. restricted to a below-par 1-25) by 7 wickets (Agencies) Bangladesh cricket team during a practice session (File PIC) 142/4. (Agencies) A16 MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2020 SPORT

Surfing Open/National Championship 2020 Lakshitha, King of

Lakshitha Madushan in action National Surfi ng Wins all three legs to Boost to Arugambay tourism economy clinch National title after COVID-19 economic catastrophe

BY ANJANA KALUARACHCHI

Lakshitha Madushan from Weligama SC took the major honours by winning both the Arugambay edition and overall National title with 3,000 points at the Surfing Open/ National Championship series finale held in Arugambay over the weekend. Exciting finals were held throughout yesterday - which incidentally also marked World Tourism Day. The Arugambay tourism-based economy which faced a catastrophe following the COVID-19 lockdown, Women open winner Nikira Robb (second row 5L), second place Kroot Laesson received a big boost with several (second row 3 L) and third place Anne Sunara Jayamanne (second row 4L) pose with foreigners participating in the open Open Winner Asanka Sanjeewa supporters and other competitors after the event event. Lakshitha who first participated in improved a lot. Even though many Laesson of Estonia. Sri Lanka’s Anne 2. Kroot Laesson (Estonia ) the Surfing National event in 2018, years have passed since surfing was Jayamanne was third. 3. Anne Sunara Jayamanne became National Champion in his popularised, it hasn’t really improved A total of 97 surfers participated in (Sri Lanka) very first attempt, while in 2020 he a lot. There aren’t many sponsors for the event, including several 4. Lien Uten(Belgium ) beat 2019 National Champion Lesitha this event, and all we get is the foreigners, which was organised by Nationals Prabath to win the title. opportunity to simply focus on Lanka Sportreizen (LSR) with the 1. Lakshitha Madushan The first of the three rounds was surfing, which could lead us to win blessings of the Ministry of Sports and 2. Asanka Sanjeewa held in Madiha surfing point Matara something on behalf of Sri Lanka Youth Affairs and Ministry of Tourism 3. Lesitha Prabath in January, followed by the second internationally,” said Lakshitha after and conducted by the Surfing 4. Praneeth Sadaruwan round in Hikkaduwa in March before his win. Federation of Sri Lanka. Nationals Overall (Madiha, the COVID-19 lockdown. The final Meanwhile, the open men’s Results Hikkaduwa, Arugambay) round was held in Arugambay in championship which saw surfers from Open – Men 1. Lakshitha Madushan September where Lakshitha shone by several countries competing was won 1. Asanka Sanjeewa (Sri Lanka) (Weligama SC) 3000 points winning all three rounds, scoring by Asanka Sanjeewa, while Bar from 2. Bar (Israel) 2. Lesitha Prabath (Arugambay 1,000 points per round. Israel was placed second and 3. Liam Mourad (Australia) SC) 2130 points “I have been surfing since 2011. We Australia’s Liam Mourad third. 4. Andra Milan (Sri Lanka) 3. Praneeth Sandaruwan Anne Sunara Jayamanne comes out learned a lot by watching videos, and South Africa’s Nikita Robb won the Open – Women (Arugambay SC) 1895 points after competing if we had a good coach we could have open women’s event followed by Kroot 1. Nikita Robb (South Africa) Pix by Kelum Chamara

Dialog President’s Gold Cup Volleyball 2019 Yupun clocks PB in 200m

Sprinting sensation Yupun Siyane Tharu and Golden Bird Abeykoon, who recently broke the SL 100m record, competed once again last night in a 200m event in men’s and women’s champs Italy, where he clocked a personal best time of 21.35 seconds. Yupun hasn’t really been Siyane Tharu Sports Club of Gampaha and focusing on the 200m lately and Golden Bird SC of Radawana overcame Ranthuru it’s been a couple of years since he Sports Club and Rathnapala SC of Mahausweva 3-2 ran an individual 200m race, and and 3-1 respectively to clinch the men’s and is quite capable of clocking a much women’s titles at the President’s Gold Cup Volleyball faster time. powered by Dialog Axiata worked off at the National Competing in the Vii Athletic Youth Services Centre, Maharagama on Saturday Elite Meeting last night, out of 11 (26). It was an enthralling men’s final which was a heats Yupun won one and finished treat to watch, where a superb third set rally by in overall second place. Yupun Abeykoon (File photo) Ranthuru SC just fell short. Siyane Tharu SC had Earlier this month Yupun built a two-set cushion and was on their way to clocked 10.16 seconds to set a new later he also won a Bronze medal wrap up the game in three sets, but Ranthuru Sri Lanka and South Asia record in at an IAAF level event at Gala dei Sports SC mounted a spirited fight-back and took it the 100m, winning the open Castelli, Switzerland, clocking to a fifth set. championship in Germany. A week 10.24 seconds. Ranthuru SC had a sluggish start to the match, allowing their opponents to take the first two sets comfortably 25-23 and 25-16. The never-say-die Rantharu SC players made a strong comeback in Chamara Mihiran, captain of Siyana Tharu SC receiving the President’s the third set and played with a lot of confidence and Gold Cup trophy from Hon. MP, President of the finally found their rhythm and almost turned tables Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation. Ayesh Dilhara, Vice-Captain of Siyana Quartararo wins Catalunya MotoGP when they took the third and fourth sets 25-21 and Tharu is also in the picture (on left) 25-19 to shell shock their opponents. Reclaims championship lead Coming into the all important fifth and final set, it was a thrilling battle with both teams scoring point Petronas Yamaha’s for point from the outset. Siyane Tharu had to call Fabio Quartararo won his third upon all their reserves to out-play the spirited race of the season at the Catalunya Ranthuru SC 15-12 to clinch the title. Grand Prix in Barcelona on Sunday In the keenly contested women’s final, Golden Bird to reclaim the lead in the MotoGP SC of Radawana beat Rathnapala SC of world championship standings. Mahausweva by 3 sets to 1. Frenchman Quartararo won his first race since his back-to-back triumphs at Jerez in July, finishing ahead of Suzuki duo Joan Mir and Alex Rins. Both Suzuki riders overtook pole sitter Franco Morbidelli in the final stages of the race to finish on the podium. Andrea Dovizioso, who led Quartararo by a point in the championship before the race, crashed out in the first turn on the his 350th start, was in second opening lap after he started 17th place when he crashed for the Irosha Udayangani, skipper of Golden Bird SC receiving the champion’s on the grid. second time in as many races after trophy from Harsha Samaranayake, Senior General Manager – Brand and Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi, who losing control on turn two. Media, Group Marketing, Dialog Axiata PLC was chasing his 200th podium on (Reuters)

Published by Ceylon Newspapers (Pvt) Limited, 101, Rosmead Place, Colombo 7 and printed at its press at No. 302/1A, Minuwangoda Road, Ja-Ela.