www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 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 14,924,246 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 2,730 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 3,978,665 144,195 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 615,030 BRAZIL 2,121,645 80,251 INDIA 1,171,446 28,488 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 783,328 12,580 11 2,048 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 8,958,752 PERU 373,628 5,173 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS671 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 1.45 P.M. ON 21 JULY 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU Rishad ordered to appear before CID The Fort Magistrate ordered PHIs to assist EC former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today (22) at 9 a.m. to record a statement over the Easter bombings. Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen Contd. on page 2 on election day APPEAL OVER SUSPENSION z Despite ongoing TU action BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA indicated this during our do with the election or the has even happened. We will SJB petition dismissed discussions,” he said. Election Commission, so I think of it if and when it The appeal filed by Samagi Jana dismissed yesterday (21) by the Civil The Election Commission (EC) said that the Public He also said that he didn’t don’t think it will be an issue,” happens,” he said. Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Appellate High Court of Colombo. Health Inspectors (PHIs) would not refrain from believe that the PHIs would he said. PHIs have begun refraining Ranjith Madduma Bandara, The Civil Appellate High Court assisting on election day. go ahead with the strike. In the event the strike does from engaging in any Covid- challenging the Colombo District has ordered appellant/petitioner “During our discussions, it happen, the EC would address 19-related activities in protest Court’s order on the membership of Madduma Bandara to pay a sum EC Director General Saman not obstruct the election process. appeared that they wouldn’t the issue at that time. of the recently issued Gazette 99 UNPers (United National Party) of Rs. 25,000 as legal cost. Sri Rathnayake said the PHI “They will help us in their conduct the strike. Regardless, “There’s no point jumping Notification on the Covid-19 who are members of the SJB, was Contd. on page 2 unions had assured they would duties on election day. They their issue has nothing to the gun now before the strike health guidelines. 2020 GENERAL ELECTION Stop the hunt MISUSE OF STAMP MACHINES Three candidates Two probes arrested over violations underway Candidates of the United National Party (UNP) and the Samagi Jana BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA Speaking to The Morning, Balawegaya (SJB) have been Postmaster General arrested for election violations. The Postal Department has Ranjith Ariyaratne said two Two candidates from SJB and launched an investigation into investigations are currently a candidate from UNP have been the misuse of stamp machines underway including an internal taken into custody, Police Media by former members of provincial investigation and a police Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratne councils that has caused huge investigation. told The Morning. losses for the D epartment. Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 ADVERSE WEATHER No propaganda Over 14,000 work at religious persons affected The adverse weather conditions persons from the Galle District, places: EC that developed over the past week causing partial damage to 144 have affected 14,260 persons households, full damage to two The Election Commission (EC) The Bank of Ceylon Employees’ Union staged a protest yesterday (21) near the Lake House Roundabout, demanding the in eight districts and resulted in households, and partial damage has urged candidates contesting reinstatement of Sanasa Development Bank Trade Union Leader Amila Sunimal and the halting of employee hunting four deaths. to three commercial properties. the 2020 general election to PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE Strong winds impacted 11,748 Contd. on page 2 refrain from engaging in election POLITICIANS AT RAJANGANAYA FUNERAL propaganda activities in places of COVID-19 religious worship. Engaged in ONE CANDIDATE FROM MULTIPLE PARTIES The EC has stated that it has received complaints of election Welisara propaganda activities being carried campaigning without Not a qualified out at places of worship with many of these complaints coming Navy cluster from the Colombo, Gampaha, quarantine: PHIs Kalutara, Hambantota, and The Public Health Inspectors’ had also attended the funeral, are candidate: EC concludes Ampara Districts. Union (PHIU) alleged that several ignoring the compulsory 14-day Contd. on page 2 politicians who had visited the quarantine and instead freely The Ratnapura District General of Elections Saman Sri The final three Covid-19 patients of the funeral house in Rajanganaya, engaging in political campaigns. candidate who is reported to Ratnayake said yesterday (21). Welisara Navy Camp have been discharged where a Covid-19-positive person Contd. on page 2 be contesting from two different He told The Morning that the after making complete recoveries. Postal voting political parties from the District secretariat would not remove These sailors will, however, spend another PETITION SEEKING KARUNA’S ARREST for the upcoming parliamentary the name of the candidate 14 days under self-quarantine, adhering to the election would not from the nomination list Covid-19 health and safety measures. concludes be considered as it would affect Accordingly, all 906 Navy men from the Postal voting for the 2020 general Appeal Court as a qualified the two political Welisara camp, who were infected with Covid- election concluded last evening (21). contestant and parties and their 19, had recovered as of last morning (21). Voters who were unable to cast therefore would nominations Contd. on page 2 their postal votes on the previously rejects petition not be eligible would be set dates due to unavoidable The Court of Appeal has rejected a petition requesting to sit in the next automatically circumstances were permitted to the court to issue a directive to the Acting Inspector Parliament even rejected. Warrant cast their votes on Monday (20) and General of Police (IGP) to arrest Tamil United Freedom if the candidate Contd. on yesterday (21) at their respective Front (TUFF) Leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, is elected by page 2 District Election Office. TUFF Leader alias Karuna Amman, over the controversial statement the people of Commissioner on Shashi Vinayagamoorthy Contd. on page 2 he made on 19 June. Contd. on page 2 the District, General of Elections Muralitharan Commissioner Saman Sri Ratnayake Weerawansa LOOKING AT PARDONING MINOR OFFENDERS Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday (21) issued an arrest warrant on Shashi Weerawansa in relation to the case filed over the alleged Committee to present report forging of documents by her to obtain passports. BY SARAH HANNAN According to statistics shared by committee chaired by President’s Attorney-at-Law Kaushalya Chair Indatissa to confirm. He said: Shashi Weerawansa is the the Department of Prisons, 26,000 Counsel (PC) Kalinga Indatissa, Jayarathne, and Commissioner "The committee is yet to take a wife of National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader President Gotabaya Rajapaksa individuals are currently placed in comprising Presidential Secretariat General of Prisons Thushara decision and the report is yet to be and Minister Wimal Weerawansa. According has appointed a seven-member remand at prisons islandwide, while Director General – Legal Affairs Upuldeniya, had arrived at a decision compiled. We were to meet at the to reports, Shashi Weerawansa’s counsel had committee to explore the possibility the capacity is only 15,000 inmates, Attorney-at-Law Harigupta to pardon inmates involved in minor beginning of this week, however informed the court that she was unable to attend of pardoning minor offenders so as given the present health and safety Rohanadeera, Shavindra Fernando offenses, in an effort to reduce the meeting was postponed as the court sessions since she was unwell, but had to reduce the number of inmates in guidelines. PC, Ministry of Justice Additional congestion in prisons. members could not come to an failed to present a medical certificate to court. the prison system. Media reports claimed that the Secretary Piyumanthi Peiris, The Morning contacted Committee agreement on the terms presented." Contd. on page 2 2 the morning OPINION/NEWS Wednesday , July 22, 2020 China poised for diplomatic windfall in SL elections z Beijing backs politicians and influential Buddhist leaders, expert says Rajapaksa political parties to defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa Government, which wants new in his run for a third term. terms. BY MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR Former President Maithripala Sirisena ended Japan appears unmoved for now. "There up winning, and his camp accused a Chinese is no such fact that Japan and Sri Lanka China is cultivating a wide swathe company with investments in Sri Lanka of have agreed to revise the plan of the LRT of political allies in Sri Lanka ahead financing the Rajapaksa campaign. project," an official at the Japanese Embassy of the nation's general election Last year, in November, Gotabaya in Colombo told Nikkei, referring to the Light on 5 August, marking a break Rajapaksa, a former military lieutenant Railway Transit project. "We understand that from throwing its lot in with one colonel, won a decisive mandate in the this project has so far been implemented as dominant political camp.