www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 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 43,069,901 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 7,784 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 8,835,252 230,104 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 1,156,350 INDIA 7,873,664 118,621 BRAZIL 5,381,224 156,926 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERED RUSSIA 1,513,877 26,050 16 3,803 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 3,966 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] 31,744,016 SPAIN 1,110,372 34,752 THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 11. 00 P.M. ON 25 OCTOBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU NEW COVID-19 DETECTIONS COVID-19 PATIENTS TOTAL CASES 4,313* Stats updated as at 7.00 p.m. on 25 October GPS mapping COVID-19 16th Covid death reported in SL The 16th Covid-19 death in Sri Lanka was reported yesterday (25). A 70-year-old male from Colombo 2 receiving treatment inaccurate: GMOA at the General Hospital Intensive Care BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA Services, GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando In order to implement digital surveillance, the Unit (ICU) died early last morning. The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said the GPS stressed that the mapping was inaccurate due to GMOA has requested the Ministry to facilitate the failure of the Epidemiology Unit to share a platform-hosting facility (web server), real- Manning Market mapping of Covid-19 patients done by the Epidemiology Unit of the necessary data with relevant parties. time PCR-positive data from all government Ministry of Health was inaccurate and not up to the expected standard. Therefore, the GMOA has taken steps to and private laboratories, and details of close closed till Nov. In a letter written to Minister of Health Pavithra Rajapaksa, the Secretary to the Ministry of develop a digital surveillance platform to contacts. The Colombo Manning Market is Wanniarachchi and copied to President Gotabaya Health, and the Director General of Health achieve the above requirement. Contd. on page 2 temporarily closed until 1 November, authorities confirmed. RS. 5,000 FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY CURFEW SC to reschedule cases Curfew in Colombo The Supreme Court, headed by the Allowance Chief Justice, has decided to reschedule cases pending before the court during the period of the quarantine curfew. SLMA makes for 15 more recommendations The Sri Lanka Medical Association police areas (SLMA) and the Intercollegiate Committee representing all medical z Rs. 2.3 billion z Rs. 16 million for dry professional colleges and associations allocated to pay over rations for orphanages put forth recommendations to contain 400,000 families and homes the current Covid-19 outbreak. A request has been made to more police areas where the curfew the Ministry of Finance to obtain has been imposed, said Gampaha Curfew in four more the necessary provisions to grant District Secretary Sunil Jayalath. areas in Colombo an allowance of Rs. 5,000 to 15 Contd. on page 2 Quarantine curfew was imposed in the Fort, Pettah, Borella, and Welikada 20TH AMENDMENT police areas from 6 p.m. yesterday (25) till further notice. Explanations Legal action called from errant against No decision to lift MPs: SLMC Gampaha curfew Following a discussion on errant MPs No decision has been taken to lift the Friday (23) on four of its MPs Opposition Leader Sajith curfew imposed in the Gampaha District who voted in favour of the 20th Premadasa has stated that legal today (26), Army Commander Lt. Gen. With quarantine curfew imposed in certain areas around Colombo, police officers checked persons and motorists entering Amendment to the Constitution, action will be taken against Shavendra Silva said yesterday (25). such areas yesterday (25) the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress the Samagi Jana Balawegaya PHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM (SLMC) issued a statement on (SJB) parliamentarians COVID-19 RESTRICTED TRAVEL Saturday (24), noting that the who voted in favour of the Six Kalubowila QUARANTINE CURFEW MPs were asked to explain their 20th Amendment to the Hospital staff infected position. Constitution. Six staff members of the Colombo Over 500,000 Courts won’t Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 South (Kalubowila) Teaching Hospital have been identified to be positive for passenger arrivals function Covid-19. z Arrivals from March till October this year Reducing environmental Airport and Aviation Services from two of its airports during regularly: BASL Night mail trains from (Sri Lanka) (Pvt.) Ltd. (AASL) the period from March to The courts in areas where quarantine curfew pollution Fort cancelled stated that it has handled over October. has been imposed will not function for regular All night mail trains departing from 500,000 repatriated passengers Contd. on page 2 work, according to the Bar Association of Sri z Recycle drop box set the Fort Railway Station were cancelled Lanka (BASL). up at schools and from yesterday (25) onwards, stated AREAS IN WHICH QUARANTINE CURFEW Contd. on page 2 state institute the Railway Control Room. HAS BEEN DECLARED The Ministry of Environment signed Reaching dangerous GAMPAHA DISTRICT COLOMBO DISTRICT a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two private companies Minister of Environment Mahinda Dematagoda Fish safe for levels: Health authorities to launch an initiative to collect empty Amaraweera, Atlas Managing Maradana Director Asitha Samaraweera, and The continuous social movements Kotahena consumption: carbon pens and used toothbrushes INSEE Cement Chairman Nandana have pushed the Covid-19 situation Mattakkuliya for recycling. Ekanayake with the specially in the country to dangerous levels, Modara Contd. on page 2 designed recycle drop box Epidemiology Unit Chief Epidemiologist Wellampitiya Health Ministry Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said. NATIONAL LIST SLOT Bloemendhal BY SARAH HANNAN Grandpass Police sergeant at Gothatuwa UNP to decide this week Mulleyirawa The Ministry of Health has reaffirmed Parliament tests positive Maligawatte that fish and related products are safe for BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake A sub-inspector attached to the Keselwatte consumption, provided that they are cooked said that the party leadership would Parliament Police Intelligence Unit has Dam Street in a hygienic manner. The United National Party meet this week to decide on an tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. Aduruppu Street Contd. on page 2 (UNP) is to decide who will fill individual to represent the UNP Weralabada Police the single parliamentary seat in Parliament. Station this week. Contd. on page 2 NIC mandatory to COVID-19 visit Dalada Maligawa KALUTARA DISTRICT It has been made compulsory for the Payagala Aluthgama Nothing is 100% foolproof: THASL visitors of the Temple of the Sacred Beruwala Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) BY MIHI PERERA (THASL) President Sanath Ukwatte immediately isolated, the hotels to bring their national identity card KURUNEGALA DISTRICT said that no safety measure in place were shut down, and all the staff (NIC) with them, stated Sri Dalada Kuliyapitiya Referring to the Covid-19- is 100% foolproof. present at the time were tested; the Maligawa Chief Custodian Pradeep Pannala positive cases detected in the hotel Ukwatte, speaking to The Morning, staff are being kept in the hotel Nilanga Dela (Diyawadana Nilame). Giriulla industry — at Hilton Colombo and shared that upon identifying for a few days until the results are Narammala * Updated as at 9.00 p.m. on 25th October Shangri-La Colombo specifically — temperature hikes in the employees released. SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 Dummalasuriya Source: Sri Lanka Police The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka of both hotels, the staff were Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS Monday, October 26, 2020 Contd. from page 1 around has greatly affected the airports and dates where curfew is imposed will be Epidemiology Unit GPS... seaports and their surrounding towns. The rescheduled, and the new dates will be He stated that considering the zonal Bandaranaike International Airport and the notified later. lockdown and the dynamicity of the issue, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport issues map on it is mandatory to perform GPS mapping continued to operate under the regulation of patients and contacts up to the grama and supervision of the Sri Lankan health Reducing... niladhari divisions. authorities to repatriate Sri Lankans living “Studies have revealed that disposable “We are extremely disappointed to note abroad,” AASL Head of Marketing and carbon pens and toothbrushes potentially high-risk Covid-19 that patient mapping is not performed up to Corporate Communications Dr. Sumith De cause significant environmental damage. the expected standards,” he stated. Silva noted. For the first time in our country, a Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr. Accordingly, the Bandaranaike International programme to recycle discarded carbon pens Jayaruwan Bandara and Epidemiology Airport has handled 6,971 aircraft, 515,659 and toothbrushes will be launched in the areas in SL Unit Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath passengers, and 109,995 metric tonnes of coming weeks,” Minister of Environment The Ministry Samaraweera were not available for cargo since March 2020. Mahinda Amaraweera told The Morning. of Health’s comment. The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport Two private companies, INSEE Cement has handled 250 aircraft, 13,325 passengers, and Atlas Sri Lanka, last week signed an Epidemiology and 69 metric tonnes of cargo during this agreement with the Ministry of Environment Unit has issued Allowance... period, fulfilling its national responsibility to support the recycling of discarded details of high-risk Accordingly, an amount of over Rs.