www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 For verified information on the Quarantine Unit COVID-19 TOTAL CASES TOTAL CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any 0112 112 705 ACTIVE CASES of the following authorities CASES IN Epidemiology Unit Health THE WORLD 21,880,512 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 2,895 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 5,571,976 173,159 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 773,895 BRAZIL 3,340,197 107,879 INDIA 2,667,973 51,280 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 927,745 15,740 11 2,676 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 14,600,883 S. AFRICA 587,345 11,839 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS208 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 9.30 P.M. ON 17 AUGUST 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU COVID-19 HEALTH GUIDELINES ISLANDWIDE POWER INTERRUPTION POWER OUTAGE Facemasks Water supply Committee disrupted The water supply in several areas yesterday mandatory (17) was disrupted due to an islandwide power outage experienced throughout the country. A spokesman of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said the in Parliament water supply from pumping stations had to investigate been disrupted without electric generators. BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA wear facemasks Contd. on page 2 even while It is mandatory for all speaking in the TRAFFIC LIGHTS DISCONNECTED MPs as well as others Chambers. visiting or working at “Facemasks are Heavy traffic the Parliament to wear mandatory and MPs power outage facemasks on the day of cannot take them off even the inaugural sitting scheduled to speak in the Chambers.” BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA According to a statement issued in Colombo for 20 August. He said that all staff and by the Department of Government Severe traffic congestion was reported Deputy Secretary General of visitors too must wear masks as A committee to look into the islandwide power outage was Information, the power outage had yesterday (17) in roads in Colombo as Parliament and Chief of Staff a mandatory requirement. appointed yesterday (17) by newly appointed Minister of been a result of a technical failure that traffic lights were not functioning due to Neil Iddawela said that MPs must Contd. on page 2 Power Dullas Alahapperuma. had occurred at the Kerawalapitiya the prevailing islandwide power failure. Grid Substation. Reportedly, as a result of traffic lights HISTORICAL SITE IN KURUNEGALA Speaking to The Morning, he said Meanwhile, it is learnt that Ceylon Consumers throughout the not functioning, several roads in the city of the committee would meet for the first Electricity Board (CEB) officials are island were left for hours without Colombo have been blocked. However, police time today (18) to find out the root also investigating the cause of the power at around 1 p.m., the CEB officers had attempted to guide motorists in Litigation threatened cause of the power interruption that islandwide power outage experienced confirmed. order to curb the situation. occurred yesterday. yesterday, as the cause remains unclear. Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 against MC members PCOI ON EASTER ATTACKS BY SARAH HANNAN two MC members opposing the IN THE HOT SEAT decision. MS summoned Kurunegala Municipal Council “Out of the Rs. 44.3 million (MC) members had voted to pass that is required to be paid as the necessary administrative and administrative and legal fees, the on 26 August legal fees that were required for Kurunegala MC approved Rs. 21 Former President Maithripala Sirisena the legal hearings against the million following the meeting has been summoned by the Presidential demolition of the archaeological held yesterday (17). Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the site in Kurunegala, with only Contd. on page 2 Easter Sunday attacks last year. The Commission has requested the now PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS MP elect to appear before the Commission’s Police Unit on 26 August. Will not be unfair to Contd. on page 2 anyone: Justice Minister GOVT. ANALYST’S DEP. Newly appointed Minister Constitution and the people 2 employees of Justice Ali Sabry PC of Sri Lanka. assured that no one would be He made these observations arrested harmed or subjected to unfair while addressing the gathering A laboratory employee attached to the treatment by the proposed after he assumed duties as the Government Analyst’s Department has been constitutional amendments and Minister of Justice yesterday (17) arrested with 18.7 g of heroin. that the Government would at the Ministry premises. The Police said the suspect was arrested work to strengthen both the Contd. on page 2 Sunday evening (16) in the Moratuwahena area in Athurugiriya by the Athurugiriya Police. Contd. on page 2 SUBSTANDARD TURMERIC POWDER Wimal Weerawansa yesterday (17) officially assumed duties as Minister of Industries at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce INAUGURAL P’MENT SESSION CAA recalls premises located in Colombo 3 PHOTO LALITH PERERA Elected MPs substandard stocks MATTALA AIRPORT USED AS WAREHOUSE The Consumer Affairs “We request the consumers Authority (CAA) said that it to stick to purchasing turmeric invited for is continuously conducting raids powder from known spice Damages to be assessed on places selling substandard brands. The issue is with the sessions turmeric powder. retail stocks that are sold in An assessment report has been called a meeting held yesterday (17) on the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Speaking to The Morning, the market. Samples from by the Minister of Tourism on the future plans for the airport. Dasanayake has informed all Members of a CAA official noted that the several batches at present have damages done to Mattala Rajapaksa During the discussion, it had been Parliament (MPs) to attend the first sitting recently confiscated stock of been sent to the Government International Airport (MRIA) by using brought to the attention of the Minister of the ninth Parliament, which is scheduled turmeric powder had higher Analyst’s Department- it for paddy storage during the tenure that Airport and Aviation Services (Sri to commence at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday (20). percentages of wheat flour recommended laboratory for of the previous Government. Mattala Airport Lanka) Ltd. (AASL) had failed to make The Secretary General has extended this and food colouring instead of testing,” the official elaborated. Minister of Tourism Prasanna an accurate assessment of the damages invitation through a letter to the newly elected turmeric in it. Contd. on page 2 Ranatunga has ordered the report week, it is learnt. done to the airport. MPs. to be submitted to him by next The matter had been taken up during Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 FOUR LICENSED MICROFINANCE COMPANIES 16-YEAR-OLD LOSES VISION Hospital launches inquiry A group of medical specialists Rs. 5.4 b in loans and advances attached to the Mirigama Base Hospital have launched an investigation into the alleged incident reported from Mirigama issued during first 6 months where a 16-year-old epilepsy The Central Bank of Sri Lanka regulatory purview, The Morning explained: “Issues such as multiple However, for this year as at 30 June patient had lost his vision after (CBSL) affirmed that Rs. 5.4 billion learnt. borrowing, overindebtedness, and 2020, four licensed microfinance taking the medicines distributed in loans and advances has been issued CBSL officials made these remarks customer harassment prevail in the companies held a loans and advances by the hospital during the Covid- Lenin Niroshan from four licensed microfinance yesterday (17) in responses to a few microfinance sector. The lack of portfolio of approximately Rs. 5.4 19 lockdown period. companies during the first six months questions posed at them by The comprehensive credit information billion. Lenin Niroshan, a resident father, after taking the medicine, of 2020. Sunday Morning in its article titled and high competition in the sector The Department added that of Kaleliya in Gampaha, had Niroshan had shown allergic The financial regulatory authority “Microfinancing loans: The ongoing are some of the contributing factors regulations have been issued on the received the medicine from symptoms and been admitted to for Sri Lanka is set to propose the crisis in the North” and published on for the said issues.” maximum lending rate for licensed the Mirigama Base Hospital the Wathupitiwala Base Hospital, enactment of the Microfinance and Sunday, 7 August. When inquired about the total microfinance companies, which is 35% on 6 April by post due to the after which he had then been Credit Regulatory Authority Act Responding to our question on amount of loans disbursed in 2017- per annum (effective annual interest coronavirus-related curfew that transferred to the National Eye (MCRA Act) which is expected to the current status of microfinancing 2018 and 2018-2019, the Department rate), which enables protection for prevailed in the country. Hospital. bring the unregulated microfinance loans in Sri Lanka, CBSL’s noted that information for the said customers from high interest rates. However, as alleged by his Contd. on page 2 institutions and moneylenders under Communications Department periods were unavailable with them. Contd. on page 2 2 the morning OPINION/NEWS Tuesday, August 18, 2020 SECURITY IN ECONOMIC INTERESTS BY DIPANJAN ROY CHAUDHURY India, following the re-election of Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister (PM) of Sri Lanka and the family’s consolidation of power, is keeping a close watch on any move by the regime to India to closely undermine Delhi’s security and economic interests in the island nation as well as the Indian Ocean Region. While the Rajapaksas have traditionally been close to the Chinese, President Rajapaksa, younger brother of the PM, has monitor Sri Lanka refrained from taking any measure Air Force plane, which had developed the common citizens in meaningful so far to harm Indian interests a snag, in what won huge praises in ways, according to officials.