www.themorning.lk LATE CITY VOL 01 | NO 05 | Rs. 30.00 { FRIDAY } FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2021 PRAMODYA TO REPLACE DE MEL? ‘IT TRULY SRI LANKA, THE CONTRARIAN WHAT GREEN LIFTED INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY REVOLUTION CAN SAVE OUR SPIRITS’ OF 2021: CAM THE AILING ELEPHANT? »SEE PAGE 16 »SEE PAGES 7 »SEE PAGE 5 »SEE PAGE 11 Over 100,000 Govt. reserves migrant workers 2 m Pfizer doses ineligible for help z Registrations expired, no z SLBFE urges prompt renewal z Vaccines to be z Not through z Additional cold z Pfizer claims SLBFE coverage or benefits considering Covid dangers purchased, not World Bank storage to be effective against BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE donated COVAX facility developed Covid variants them ineligible for any Randeniya said that 100,000 Over 100,000 Sri Lankan coverage or benefits provided Sri Lankan migrant workers BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI reservation was made by the SPC is the sole supplier of migrant workers registered by the SLBFE during this from the Middle East, The Government has reserved two million doses of the Pfizer- State Pharmaceuticals Corporation pharmaceuticals, surgical under the Sri Lanka Bureau Covid-19 pandemic. Malaysia, Singapore, and the BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine which are to be purchased soon, (SPC). consumable Items, laboratory of Foreign Employment Speaking to The Morning Maldives should renew their The Morning learnt. “The SPC has reserved about chemicals, and equipment to all (SLBFE) have service yesterday (28), SLBFE outdated registration with the Speaking to The Morning Healthcare, Epidemics, and two million doses of the Pfizer institutions administered by the contracts that are out of date Deputy General Manager SLBFE without delay. yesterday (28), Secretary to Covid Disease Control Dr. vaccine to be purchased and Health Ministry. and require renewal, making and Spokesman Mangala Contd. on page 2 the State Ministry of Primary Amal Harsha De Silva said the received soon.” Contd. on page 2 INDEPENDENCE DAY REHEARSALS FROM INDIA WITH LOVE Jabs for Colombo Special traffic health workers today plan from z Roughly 2,000- BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI 2,500 workers Roughly 2,000-2,500 health workers from tomorrow from 7 hospitals seven hospitals in the Colombo District z are to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE President receives 500,000 vaccines Covishield vaccines today (29), The A special traffic plan will be in effect from at BIA Morning learnt. tomorrow (30) around the Independence Health workers from the National Square area, ahead of the 73rd Independence z Cold chain goes Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo North Day celebrations in Colombo. islandwide on Teaching Hospital in Ragama, Police Media Spokesman Deputy Inspector wheels Contd. on page 2 General of Police (DIG) Ajith Rohana, speaking to The Morning, said that motorists are advised to use alternative routes to avoid any inconvenience. Contd. on page 2 MPs invited to Parliament for PCR tests Members of Parliament (MPs) have been invited to undergo random PCR tests that will be conducted within the Parliament complex, Sri Lankan health workers unloading the first 500,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine donated by the Indian Government at the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health said Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando. PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE Contd. on page 2 FIRST TIME IN SL COVID-19 CASES Hash oil kilo worth No law to TOTAL CASES ACTIVE CASES over Rs. 5 m nabbed extradite 61,045 BY HEMANTHA LIYANAPATHIRANA Prevention Division arrested a DEATHS RECOVERED A drug in the form of oil extracted suspect with a kilogramme of the for probes from either cannabis or hashish, drug from Arawwala, Maharagama 6,320 290 54,435 named “hash oil”, with a street on the night of 27 January. z Case needs to be filed, SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU value of over Rs. 5 million per Investigations have revealed that says AG’s Dept. THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 8.00 P.M. ON 28 JANUARY 2021 kilogramme, has been discovered the suspect had smuggled in the for the first time in Sri Lanka. drug from Dubai for distribution BY WARUNI SAMARASINGHE The Police Organised Crime at star-class hotels and clubs. The existing extradition law is inadequate BACHELET CONCERNS Contd. on page 2 and insufficient to extradite a suspect living overseas for the purpose of investigation without a case being filed against the suspect, Additional Solicitor General Ayesha Jinasena HRCSL to discuss with PC said. Jinasena, who assisted the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing Easter Sunday attacks of 2019 with regard to the Govt. delegation hearing of evidence, said that the law only provides for the extradition of a suspect against BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY HRCSL Chairperson Jagath “Once we know the constituency and whom a case has been filed in Sri Lanka. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Balasuriya told The Morning yesterday the membership of the delegation, we can She noted this on 27 January when the Lanka (HRCSL) will discuss the serious (28) that the HRCSL does not yet know discuss the situation,” Balasuriya added. Commission officially concluded the hearings human rights-related concerns raised as to who would comprise the delegation The report by Bachelet on “Promoting and the recording of evidence. by the Office of the United Nations led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Reconciliation, Accountability, and Jinasena further said that although the US High Commissioner for Human Rights make its way to the 46th Session of the Human Rights in Sri Lanka” has dealt had indicted three Sri Lankan suspects in (OHCHR), led by Michelle Bachelet, United Nations Human Rights Council with emerging threats to reconciliation, connection with the Easter Sunday bombings once the government delegation to (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, accountability, and human rights. in an American court, Geneva is finalised. which is to commence next month. Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 42 www.themorning.lk { NEWS } Friday, January 29, 2021 deaths were recorded in the country on Wednesday, and doctors from the German Army have been deployed to Lisbon to help manage the spike.Cases Germany to not give have also increased in parts of France and President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly mulling a stricter lockdown. What’s behind the supply problems? The EU signed a deal with AstraZeneca in August for 300 million AstraZeneca jab to over-65s doses, with an option for 100 million A number of other regions, including more, but the UK-Swedish company z ‘Insufficient data’ over its efficacy for older people Catalonia in the northeast, are having has reported production delays at plants similar problems with stock. Catalan in the Netherlands and Belgium. Germany’s vaccine committee has said AstraZeneca’s Covid jab Immunisations at Public Health Meanwhile, Paul Hunter, Professor officials believe their 30,000 remaining AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said should only be given to people aged under 65. The committee cited England, said both the AstraZeneca of Medicine at the University of East doses will run out this week. production was “basically two months “insufficient data” over its efficacy for older people. and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are “safe Anglia, told BBC News that the elderly Many countries are facing similar behind where we wanted to be”. and provide high levels of protection should not worry about receiving the jab. shortages due to delays in shipments of The EU had hoped that as soon as The European Medicines Agency is bloc. But the EU says the firm must against Covid-19”, particularly against “We do know that it is safe in people both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna approval was given, probably on Friday, to decide on Friday (today, 29) whether honour its commitments and deliver the severe disease. over 65. They have much fewer side vaccines, which are the only ones delivery would start straight away, with to approve the vaccine for use across jabs by diverting stock from the UK. “There were too few cases in older effects than younger people and it currently approved for use in the EU. some 80 million doses arriving in the 27 the European Union (EU). Pfizer-BioNTech has also cut the people in the AstraZeneca trials to almost certainly provides substantial There was added confusion in the nations by March. But the production The UK has been using the number of doses it is delivering to the observe precise levels of protection benefits in terms of preventing severe Czech Republic on Wednesday (27) issues have dented this hope. AstraZeneca vaccine in its mass 27-member bloc. in this group, but data on immune disease and reduces the chances of after the Health Ministry called for a Reports said last week that the EU immunisation programme for weeks UK confident ‘safe’ vaccine has responses were very reassuring.” going into hospital.” two-week halt to new vaccinations due would get 60% fewer vaccine doses – now, and public health officials say ‘substantial benefits’ UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson The pace of the EU’s vaccination to supply issues, only for their statement about 50 million jabs – than promised it is safe and provides “high levels of The independent vaccine commission said he was not worried by the German programme has been criticised in recent to be denied by the Prime Minister. in the first quarter of the year. protection”. advising the German Government recommendation. weeks, with a number of countries “This (Health Ministry statement) was The bloc is also facing delays with The German announcement comes said on Thursday (28) that there was “Our own authorities have made it failing to hit their own targets. Officials unnecessary,” Prime Minister Andrej supplies of the Pfizer-BioNTech as the EU is in dispute with leading “currently insufficient data available very clear that they think the Oxford- have blamed a combination of logistical Babis said.