COVID-19 ‘Slightly AG Orders Probe Into Brandix out of Control’ COVID-19 Origin
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HIGHLIGHTS WEDNESDAY 28 october 2020 Withstanding LATEST EDITION Great Power VOL: 09/262 PRICE : Rs 30.00 Bullying In Sports PAGE A6 Rohit, Ishant omitted from India’s Escalating US tour squads Intervention in Sri Lanka India left out the injured duo of opener Rohit Sharma and quick Ishant Sharma from the Test and limited-overs squads for their upcoming tour of Australia,... A16 PAGE A7 In areas coming under CMC COVID-19 ‘Slightly AG orders probe into Brandix Out of Control’ COVID-19 origin BY HANSI NANAYAKKARA – President of PHIA Attorney General Dappula de Livera has ordered Acting IGP Chandana D. Wickremaratne, to CMC Health Chief Three deaths promptly launch a probe into the recent spread of COVID-19 from the Brandix apparel factory in brushes aside allegations in one day Minuwangoda, stated his Coordinating Secretary State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne yesterday. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Quarantine curfew imposed in Panadura, Moratuwa and Homagama Avoiding PCoI on political victimisation Kotagala Town in Hatton isolated Ranawaka et al BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE AND KUMUDU patients with the virus had been reported from JAYAWARDANA Grandpass, Maradana, and Mattakkuliya. “It can be prosecuted is becoming extremely difficult to find out President of the Public Health Inspectors' details regarding the places they had visited Association of Sri Lanka (PHIA), Upul Rohana, and their close contacts, due to the increasing – U.R. de Silva PC said the spread of COVID-19 in the Colombo number of infections,” he said. Municipal Council (CMC) area was ‘slightly He lamented that prevention and control BY KUMUDU UPUL SHANTHA out of control.’ Rohana said a large number of would slip through the fingers of the PHIs,... President’s Counsel U.R. de Story Continued on Silva, Head of the Infrastructure PAGE 2 Development Committee of the Justice Ministry, says the Presidential Commission of Rishad’s bail Inquiry, which is probing acts of Pompeo arrives political victimisations during the previous regime, has the BY GAYA THIRIMADURA plea rejected power to file legal action in the - KATUNAYAKE Supreme Court against SJB MP BY HANSI NANAYAKKARA Patali Champika Ranawaka and U.S. Secretary of State, other witnesses, as they... Michael R. Pompeo, arrived Colombo Fort Chief in Sri Lanka at 7:35 p.m. Magistrate Priyantha Story Continued on PAGE 2 yesterday aboard a Boeing Liyanage yesterday 757, accompanied by a rejected the bail delegation of 45, for two- application submitted day bilateral discussions. by ACMC MP Rishad Army in COVID-19 The touring U.S. Bathiudeen. delegation led by Pompeo The Parliamentarian Tracing Mission was welcomed at the BIA was re-remanded by State Minister of until 10 November. BY PANEETHA AMERESEKERE Foreign Affairs Tharaka Former Minister of Balasuriya, U.S. Industry and The Army’s Quick Reaction Rider Team (QRRT), to Ambassador to Sri Lanka Commerce further strengthen the ongoing preventive Alaina B. Teplitz and a Bathiudeen, the mechanism against COVID-19 transmission in the group of officers... director of the project Colombo District and its suburbs, on a directive Mohamed Yaseen given by Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Head Story Continued on PAGE 2 Samsudeen and the project accountant of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of Alagarathnam Manoranjan, are accused COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence of violating Article 82(1) of Presidential Staff and Commander of the Army, is now engaged Cabinet approves 46 curfew Elections Act, No. 15 of 1981 by in conducting random temperature checks on people misappropriating public funds to the in congested areas. new MoU with India tune of Rs 9.5 million. The Army said in this connection, QRRT soldiers violators arrested yesterday morning (27), operated at Rajagiriya, BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK Story Continued on PAGE 2 Modara, Maligawatta, Gothatuwa, Pettah,... The Cabinet gave its consent to a Police have arrested another 46 proposal submitted by the Prime Minister, individuals and taken seven vehicles into Will Pompeo sign as the Minister of Finance, for entering into custody, during the past 48-hours, for a new Memorandum of Understanding with violating curfew regulations. secret agreements? the Government of India. Police Spokesman, DIG Ajith Rohana said Addressing the weekly Cabinet Media Police have arrested 1,122 persons and “Is U.S. Secretary briefing yesterday (27), at the Information taken into custody 163 vehicles so far, since of State Michael R. Department, Co-Cabinet Spokesman 4 October, for violating curfew regulations Pompeo here to Ramesh Pathirana claimed, the imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 finalise agreements Government of lndia has awarded financial pandemic. He said that they will file charges such as the grants to Sri Lanka since 2005 with a view against the suspects according to Millennium to implementing small-scale development... quarantine law. Challenge Story Continued on PAGE 2 Corporation (MCC) Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Agreement and Status of Forces Four SLMC MPs voting for 20A Agreement (SOFA)? JVP warns U.S. Are there other Hakeem struggling to secret agreements to be signed that have take disciplinary action ‘Hands off Sri Lanka’s Sovereignty’ not been revealed before the country?” Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader MP several Buddhist Rauff Hakeem is presently struggling to institute monks questioned. disciplinary action against four of his MPs who had Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, voted in favour of the 20th Amendment to the Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera, Ven. Malwane Constitution. Chandraratana Thera, and Ven. SLMC sources said MP Hakeem has already Kapugollagama Ananda Thera sent a letter notified the four MPs who had voted for the Bill, to the President expressing concerns demanding written explanations as to why they regarding Pompeo’s visit. went against the party decision and voted with the “Pompeo’s visit is seen as an invasion of Government. Sri Lanka by the United States and not on It has also been reported that the supreme council an invitation” they said. Copies of the letter of the SLMC would meet to take a final decision BY METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE yesterday (27) staged a protest opposite the were also sent to Chief Prelates, religious regarding the conduct of the four MPs next week. U.S. Embassy in Colombo, against the visit of leaders, the Prime Minister and other It has been reported the four MPs who voted for... The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Members of Parliament and Ministers. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER 2020 NEWS Citing issues with DDG Lab Services CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 MLTs threaten to COVID-19 ‘Slightly Out of Control’... suspend PCR tests ... if the present situation Department (CMCPHD), Dr. said they included, Maradana, within the CMC limits worsened. Ruwan Wijayamuni, brushed Mattakkuliya, Fort, Pettah, Sri Lanka experienced the aside allegations that the Bloemendhal, Borella, Welikada, BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE had been imported for its use. highest number of COVID-19 COVID-19 situation in the CMC Dam Street, Foreshore Police The extraction machine is used to extract deaths yesterday (27), when area was somewhat out of area and Wolfendhal Street. Medical laboratory technologists (MLTs) the Ribonucleic acid (RNA) from the three deaths were reported, control. The Hatton, Kotagala Town in warned that they would be forced to specimen taken for PCR testing for COVID- bringing the total to 19. Dr. Wijayamuni noted that up Hatton was isolated following the suspend PCR tests, if timely measures were 19. The National Operation Centre to October this year, the city had increasing number of COVID-19 not taken to replace the Acting Deputy Although these required reagents had for Prevention of COVID-19 seen 134 COVID-19 patients, patients, Head of NOCPCO, Director General of Laboratory Services been imported by the company, which (NOCPCO), said by late afternoon while another 62 had been added Lieutenant General Shavendra (DDG Lab Services), who was not willing to purchased the three machines that were two COVID-19 deaths had been with the Brandix cluster at its Silva said. Silva said the decision discuss the issues of the service with given to the BIA PCR laboratory, and reported, an 87-year-old woman Minuwangoda facility and one at had been taken, as the number professionals. measures taken to release them after a from Wekanda, Slave Island and the Colombo Dockyard on 18 of patients had increased to 10 President of the College of Medical lapse of over three weeks in the airport a 19-year-old from Keselwatta. October 2020. However, 337 by yesterday (27) morning, and Laboratory Science Sri Lanka (CMLSSL), cargo facility, the PCR laboratory is still The National Hospital noted were added with the detection of that a decision had been taken to Ravi Kumudesh, said a permanent DDG unable to use them, as the Health Ministry that the deaths had occurred at COVID-19 patients at the isolate the town area, to prevent Laboratory Services was needed to address has issues regarding the cold chain at the the time of admission. The Peliyagoda Fish Market last further spread. the technical and professional issues faced airport cargo facility. deceased had tested positive, Wednesday (21). On Sunday (25), two persons by the laboratory service. The position He noted that although there was a risk after PCR tests were conducted He lamented that within nine from Kotagala, Hatton working at should be filled with an official who could in using manual extraction machines, the on them. days, the numbers had escalated the Peliyagoda Fish Market were cordially work with the MLTs, he said. BIA PCR Laboratory had been able to Earlier in the day, the Health by another 632, with rigorous diagnosed with the virus.