highlights Cabinet gives green light monday Expressway, five flyovers 7 june 2021 to ease traffic congestion page A4 E-Paper

Vehicles carrying essential service workers Permanent sticker system from today By Treshan Fernando Floods, Landslides Police will adopt a permanent sticker system from today (7) to allow workers, needed for essential services, to travel easily during travel restrictions, without being subjected to multiple inspections, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said. He added that these new stickers will be valid until the end of travel restrictions. There will be 11 types of stickers that will be pasted on Kill 16, Three Missing vehicles at various checkpoints in Colombo from today. The stickers will be pasted at Negombo Road, Expressway entry points, Kandy Road, Low-level Road, High-level Road, Parliament Road, Galle Road and a few other locations. 49,778 persons in 11,876 270,912 people in 67,564 The stickers will have different colours which will indicate the different types of essential service workers. The green families displaced families affected stickers will be pasted on those working in the health sector, light blue stickers on vehicles of the tri-forces and purple stickers to indicate those working in essential services from By Paneetha Ameresekere Mawanella, Dehiowita, Yatiyantota and the private sector. Rambukkana DSDs and surrounding areas in Those working in export-oriented sector will be given a light Sixteen persons died and three were the Kegalle District, Ambagamuwa DSD and brown sticker, essential suppliers and essential goods traders reported missing, while another five were surrounding areas in the Nuwara-Eliya will be given the yellow and red stickers respectively, and the injured due to floods, landslides and District and Nivithigala, Ratnapura, Elapatha, media will be given an orange sticker. earthslips, the Disaster Management Centre Eheliyagoda, Ayagama, Kalwana and Kiriella Those who must travel for necessities such as for medical (DMC), issuing a report at 6:30 p.m. DSDs and surrounding areas in the reasons or travelling to and from the airport and delivery yesterday, said. Ratnapura District. service workers will be given the white sticker. Four were killed in a landslide at The NBRO further said that since the DIG Rohana stressed that the sticker will also have the Aranayaka, Kegalle on Saturday. Among the rainfall in the past 24 hours exceeded 75mm number of people travelling in the vehicle written on the balance 12 reported dead, three each were in certain places, residents would have to be sticker and Police will collect the NIC numbers of passengers from the Gampaha and Ratnapura Districts, on the watch for landslides. Those places are as well. two from the Puttalam District, one each from Elpitiya DSD and surrounding areas in Galle, The number of passengers will be noted on the sticker and the Colombo, Galle and Kalutara Districts and Divulapitiya, Gampaha, Attanagalla and DIG Rohana said that this number should not be exceeded. In another from the Kegalle District. Mirigama DSDs and surrounding areas in the addition, he told the media that only those who have given Meanwhile, the three missing were from the Gampaha District, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara their NIC numbers to Police when pasting the sticker can Puttalam, Kalutara and Kurunegala Districts. and Thunpane DSDs and surrounding areas travel in the vehicle. And the five injured included two from in the Kandy District, Abanganga Korale, He stressed that the vehicle with the sticker should not be Kalutara and one each from the Gampaha, Pallepola and Yatawatta DSDs and used for any other purposes other than for travelling to and Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya Districts surrounding areas in the Matale District and from their workplace. Those violating this stipulation would respectively. Kuruwita and Imbulpe DSDs and be reprimanded by Police and the vehicle would be taken into “Floods, landslides and earth slips impacted surrounding areas in the Ratnapura District. custody, DIG Rohana added. 270,912 people attached to 67,564 families as Kurunegala and Galle Districts, as a result of The Irrigation Department, issuing a report Those travelling with the sticker are still required to always at 6.00 p.m. yesterday,” the DMC further said. the inclement weather, DMC further said. at 3.30 p.m. yesterday said that though Kuda keep their NICs and the letter from their workplace with them, A total of 26,846 persons belonging to 6,176 Meanwhile, the breakdown of the aforesaid Ganga and Attanagalu Oya have reached DIG Rohana explained. families have been highly impacted and 270,912 people impacted by the inclement major flood level, their water levels were He also noted that there may be queues forming at evacuated to 104 safety centres set up to weather are: Gampaha (161,683); Colombo falling. checkpoints today morning and he urged those heading to assist the displaced, it said. Most of these (65,342); Puttalam (29,049); Ratnapura Similarly, though the waters of the Kelani work to leave early to avoid facing delays. DIG Rohana safety centres are in the Colombo (52), (5,614); Kalutara (4,476); Kurunegala (3,653); Ganga and Kalu Ganga have reached minor maintained that whilst there may be delays today, in the Gampaha (18), Kalutara (10) and Ratnapura Kegalle (1,059); Nuwara-Eliya (301) and flood levels, their water levels too were falling, future this will be more convenient for the public. (nine) Districts. Another 22,932 displaced Kandy (35); respectively. the Department said. The Irrigation Additionally, DIG Rohana also warned the public that they persons (5,700 families) are residing with Meanwhile, the National Building Research Department also said that though the waters should not tamper with or damage the sticker. relatives or friends, the DMC said. Organization (NBRO) at 4.30 p.m. yesterday of the Magura Ganga, a Kalu Ganga tributary Police will begin applying stickers from today and they will Most affected areas were Kolonnawa, said that since the rainfall during the past 24 and that of Maha Oya were closer to reaching continue this system for a few days. Kaduwela and Kotte in the Colombo District; hours has exceeded 100mm and if the rains minor flood levels, nonetheless, currently Wattala, Kelaniya, Biyagama, Ekala, Ja-Ela, continue, there would be a need to evacuate their water levels too were falling. Katana, Gampaha in the Gampaha District; to safer areas to avoid being victims of Meanwhile, the Met Department, in its Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura District and landslides. weather forecast up to 4 a.m. tomorrow (8) Millaniya in the Kalutara District, the DMC Those areas are: the Seethawaka and said that showers will occur at times in the report said. Padukka Divisional Secretariat Divisions Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western X-Press Pearl Additionally, some families living in the (DSDs) and surrounding areas in the Colombo Provinces and in Galle, Matara, Nuwara-Eliya Kegalle, Gampaha, Galle, Colombo, District, Neluwa DSD Galle, Walallawita, and Kandy Districts. Showers or Ratnapura and Kalutara Districts were Agalawatte, Ingiriya, Bulathsinhala, thundershowers will occur at a few places in evacuated to safe places due to high risk and Matugama, Horana, Palindanuwara and the Uva and Eastern Provinces during the VDR given to CID are residing in these safety centres, DMC said. surrounding areas in the Kalutara District, evening or night. Mainly fair weather will Fifteen houses have been fully damaged and Pasbage Korala DSD and surrounding areas prevail elsewhere. Temporary localised strong BY Thameenah Razeek another and 935 houses partially in the in the Kandy District, Kegalle, Aranayaka, winds and lightning will occur during Ratnapura, Gampaha, Colombo, Puttalam, Galigamuwa, Warakapola, Ruwanwella, thundershowers, it said. The Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), of the ill-fated X-Press Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle, Kandy, Kegalle, Bulathkohupitiya, Deraniyagala, (Pic by Amitha Tennakoon) Pearl, was handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Police Spokesman, DIG Ajith Rohana said the data from the VDR, also known as a ship’s black box, will be examined. He added the VDR contains communication between the captain, Flood-affected Sapugaskanda Refinery Allowing foreign tourist arrivals the main corporation, and the local agent. Meanwhile, the captain and crew have given 20 statements to the Police, and the Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) and Meeting tomorrow on Sajith questions Govt Government Analyst have collected circumstantial evidence and water samples to analyse the pollution that has occurred By Nabiya Vaffoor closed their borders to to the environment. preventing oil spills tourists,” charged By reviewing the information on the VDR, DIG Rohana Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. assured that the Police will identify the parties guilty for the Premadasa asked the He also mentioned about environmental contamination near Sri Lanka's coastline. BY Thameenah Razeek drink, but the locals are Government why it decided how the Government allowed A VDR is a piece of shipboard equipment that records a concerned. We hope to hold a to prioritise foreigners over Ukrainian tourists to ignore variety of data that can be utilised to reconstruct the voyage A meeting will be held tomorrow meeting with the Chairmen of the Sri Lankan citizens, following quarantine regulations specifics and important information during an accident (8), with all the stakeholders, to Pradeshiya Sabha, CPC, Water its decision to allow tourist during the second wave of the investigation. prevent any oil spill, following Supply and Drainage Board and arrivals, amidst strict travel pandemic. floods at the Sapugaskanda oil the Marine Environment restrictions islandwide. “The authorities are trying refinery in the future and mixing Protection Authority (MEPA) this “Foreigners are being to open doors to a new strain of oil with flood waters, Minister of Tuesday (8) to discuss how to allowed to visit tourism of COVID-19 virus by Energy Udaya Gammanpila said. prevent this problem from destinations such as Yala allowing tourists into the The Sapugaskanda oil refinery happening again,” he noted. When National Park under tourist country, especially when 20 Containers was flooded following heavy rains asked if there will be any bio- bubble system. Even many countries such as UK and water crept into a refinery compensation for the damage during the initial stages of the and USA request their system in the oil-filled clearing done to the people, he said they pandemic, they advertised citizens to refrain from from X-Press Pearl premises, causing an oil spill would monitor the damage, and allowed tourist visits visiting Sri Lanka,” added which mixed with the flood waters. calculate it and take action to pay when all other countries Premadasa. Officials from a number of compensation. washed ashore institutions, including the Ceylon The reason for taking immediate Petroleum Corporation (CPC), the action in this regard, with the By Naalir Jamaldeen Navy, the Coast Guard, and the assistance of the Navy, the Coast National Water Supply and Guard, and the MEPA, since the English-medium education Debris of the Singapore-registered MV ‘X-Press Pearl’ cargo Drainage Board, are attempting to day this happened, was to take ship, which was completely destroyed by fire, is washing contain the situation, said steps to recover the oil before it from primary to A/Ls ashore, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Gammanpila. gets mixed with Kelani River Chairman, Dharshani Lahandapura said. He inspected the 50-year-old waters. She said 40 containers, each weighing 20 tons, which treatment plant system used to In response to another media By Thameenah Razeek washed ashore, had been collected so far and 129 polluted filter oil-mixed water on the query, he stated that he is not locations have been cleaned up. ground floor of the Sapugaskanda accountable for the past and that The Education Ministry has focused its efforts on providing A group of 6,400 individuals including the Tri-Forces have Oil Refinery, which is operated by this is the first time this has English-medium education from primary classes up to the been deployed for the clean-up operation. the CPC. happened since he became a G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination. Most parts of the ship are known to have sunk, 40 The Minister told reporters that Minister. “The first step is to Following the recommendations of the Ministry of containers each weighing 20 tons have been collected, and the people are complaining about not prevent this from happening Education’s Committee of Experts on the provision of total amount of waste collected from these containers can be being able to get water from their again. The next stage is to pay the English-medium education in schools islandwide, Secretary evaluated after extracting the waste from all containers, she wells. “The water from the taps persons who have been affected. of Education, Prof. Kapila Perera, said steps will be taken to said. has not been contaminated, We will make certain to set up such schools at the provincial level as a pilot project. Large amounts of waste or an oil slick have not been noticed according to the Water Board. accomplish both of these goals,” Based on the results of the pilot project, the facility will be in the vicinity of the shipwreck site. MEPA officials remain on They claim that the water is safe to he concluded. available to all children in the future. alert to mitigate the effects of a possible oil spill, she added. A2 monday 7 june 2021 news BIMSTEC celebrates 24th anniversary No Threat of Furnace Oil President Leaking Into Kelani River extends By Nabiya Vaffoor water seepage following the heavy downpour. There was a possibility of – Navy Sri Lanka Navy yesterday (6) assured furnace oil mixed water in the that there is no threat and zero probability Sapugaskanda area drifting into the Heiyanthuduwa area in Sapugaskanda greetings of furnace oil from tanks at the Kelani River through the Pattivila canal. had been inundated by rainwater. There Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery mixing with Operations are continuing at the moment was a possible risk that this furnace oil President Gotabaya assured that Sri Lanka will the water of the Kelani River. to skim the furnace oil from the flood mixed with flood water in Sapugaskanda Rajapaksa extended warm remain committed to all the The Navy and Coast Guard, in a joint waters using floating boom," Navy area drifting into Kelani River through wishes and greetings to BIMSTEC initiatives. effort have prevented flood water-mixed Spokesman Captain Indika De Silva said. Pattivila canal as the current rainfall member states of the Bay of “The Secretariat has furnace oil leaking from an underground decreases and the water level of Kelani Bengal Initiative for Multi- supported and facilitated the tank at Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery from However, the Navy and Sri Lanka Coast River goes down. Responding to the Sectoral Technical and process under the BIMSTEC spreading towards the Kelani River. Guard have taken action to prevent situation, the Navy and the Coast Guard Economic Cooperation frame work to achieve this "The separator tanks containing furnace further spread as it could have an adverse got into action on 4 June to skim the (BIMSTEC) which celebrated outcome and I wish to take oil at the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery impact on the water distribution of furnace oil exposed to the external its 24th Anniversary this opportunity to convey managed by the Ceylon Petroleum Ambatale and Biyagama water treatment environment and to prevent it from yesterday (6), since its our gratitude” he said. Corporation, have overflowed with the rain plants. spreading further. inception in 1997. The possibility of Sri Lanka “We take great pride to be hosting the 5th BIMSTEC one of the founder members Summit in the latter part of this prestigious initiative 2021 depending on the way back in 1997 and as the COVID -19 situation in the COVID jabs programme current Chair of BIMSTEC, country was expressed by the Expired birth control we have convened eight core President. BIMSTEC Meetings” President Rajapaksa pills issued in Vavuniya Rajapaksa said. encouraged member states to GMOA alleges He said during this year, continue strengthening By Rasadi Gamage- Vavuniya the organisation was able to cooperation and collectively achieve many of its goals address regional challenges A group of women have complained to the Vavuniya Health during the BIMSTEC between member states. Office that they had received expired medicines issued by health Ministerial Meeting and (ST) politicisation service workers. After health authorities advised the public to avoid By Dilanthi Jayamanne unnecessary pregnancies during the spread of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical officers in Vavuniya had The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) accused issued birth control medication to married women in the area. the Epidemiology Unit of paving the way once more for However, the drugs were later found to be expired and the United Kingdom politicians to distribute chits to their supporters in obtaining the stocks have since been recalled. COVID-19 vaccine after the Director General Health Services (DGHS) issued the ‘National Vaccination Programme Against moves SL to ‘Red List’ COVID-19 to identify Priority Groups,’ for the next phase of the SriLankan Airlines has informed their customers that effective COVID-19 vaccination programme where the Sinopharm vaccine 0400hrs (UK Time) on Tuesday 8 June 2021, Sri Lanka will was to be used. move to the “red list” of countries entering the United Kingdom. GMOA Secretary, Dr. Senal Fernando said that according to Agriculture From 8 June passengers from Sri Lanka will not be allowed to the Circular, priority had been given to those over 60 years, travel to the UK unless they are a British national/an Irish pregnant women, employees of the government sector working at national/or anyone with residence rights in the UK. level (which include District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, Ministry Secy quits Issuing a press release, the SriLankan said: Passengers who Grama Niladari officials, Samurdhi officials and other members have already booked their travel on the next three flights to of the village committee), employees in factories and workplaces By Nirmani Guneratne London UL 503 on 5th, 6th, and 7th June will not be affected by (all employees above 18 years of age), selected from high- risk this change. MOH areas. Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage says that Passengers who are allowed to travel must; Also, the general population between 30 to 60 years in selected Ministry Secretary Rohana Pushpakumara had tendered his • Take a COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result three Grama Niladari Divisions in selected high- risk MOH areas have resignation due to personal reasons. days (72 hours) before their travel. been included in the priority listing, he said. He added that Vice Chancellor of the Agriculture Faculty of • Book a managed quarantine hotel within a 14-day period All elders’ homes in the identified Districts of Matale, Nuwara the Wayamba University Prof. Uditha K. Jayasinghe would be before arrival. The booking will include hotel, quarantine Eliya, Hambantota, Trincomalee, Ampara, Anuradhapura, appointed to the post to replace Pushpakumara. transport and travel tests for COVID-19 tests on day 2 and day Kurunegala, Puttalam, Badulla, Moneragala and Kegalle would 8 of quarantine. also receive the vaccine, Dr Fernando pointed out that there was • Complete a passenger locator form (PLF) with details of very little difference in the vaccination programme that is where the passenger will quarantine when they arrive. currently being carried out and the one to be implemented in the Passengers must provide a quarantine package invoice number above-mentioned Districts. to complete their passenger locator form. Vaccination was currently being carried out prioritising high 3,000 COVID-19 Passengers need to book their quarantine hotel and day 2 and risk areas. Invariably it paves the way for political interference day 8 tests on The passenger locator form is available. For and preferential treatment being given to certain people in those further information and clarifications, passengers are requested areas. It still leaves room for political manipulation of the cases detected daily to contact their travel agents, their nearest SriLankan Airlines vaccination programme. Office, or the Airlines’ Global Contact Centre on +94117771979 He lamented that it would have been well and good if the – Army Commander or visit the website www.srilankan.com. Epidemiology Unit at least now had followed a scientific method in identifying the target groups. By Chamara Amarasuriya The GMOA Secretary noted that the COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy which had been prepared by his outfit in consultation The head of the National Centre for the Eradication of COVID- with clinicians and epidemiologists coincided with the ones 19 Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said that prepared by the WHO and the National Advisory Committee on currently there are 32,600 COVID-19 infected individuals in the Month’s relief to Communicable Diseases (NCCD). It gave a clear priority listing country. starting from the ‘mandatory stage’ of administering the He said a total of 3,000 cases are being detected daily and coronavirus vaccine to frontline workers both health and non- advised the public to strictly adhere to health regulations pay water bills health workers including the Tri Forces, police and their high- considering the grave situation at hand. risk contacts. According to the collaborative efforts of doctors’ Silva added that this situation had emerged due to the New unions, stage one should be aimed at reducing the mortality rate Year cluster that had sprung last April paving the way for the By W. K. Prasad Manju and case severity through vaccination of all persons above 60 third wave of the pandemic here. years, pregnant women and persons between the ages of 18 to The Government has focused attention to provide relief to 60 years with comorbidities. Stage two of the vaccination process consumers who have not been able to pay water bills as a result should aim at maintaining economically essential services of travel restrictions. through the vaccination of government employees such as those Once travel restrictions are removed, it is intended to give in the Water Board, Electricity Board, Petroleum, ports of entry, consumers who had not been able to pay their water bills a Postal, Telecom, banking, sanitary services, supply chains, US airlifts emergency period of about one month during which they could settle their economic centres and large scale factory workers. Also closed bills, Minister of Water Supply Vasudeva Nanayakkara told environment workers such as teachers and university staff medical supplies to SL Ceylon Today. should also receive the vaccine during stage two. He noted that in stage three University students, persons The US Government, through the US Agency for International between 18 and 60 without insignificant comorbidities should be Development (USAID), has airlifted emergency medical supplies vaccinated. to Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to help save lives, stop the “The aim should be to put the available vaccines to maximum spread of COVID-19, and continue to meet the urgent health SLAF’s Heated Humidified use at this juncture and prevent deaths and severity of disease needs across South Asia, the U.S. State Department, quoting its due to COVID-19 and ensure that essential services and spokesman Ned Price on Thursday (3) said. Oxygen Therapy Unit handed economic activities are maintained but even now the main aim of In Sri Lanka, this assistance includes 880,000 vital pieces of the Epidemiology Unit is preventing disease spread which calls personal protective equipment (PPE) and 1,200 pulse oximeters over to Gampaha hospital for 70 percent of the country’s population to receive the vaccine to support frontline healthcare workers and others most which currently is a far cry due to the slow arrival of vaccines. affected by the current outbreak. ‘USAID is coordinating A ‘Heated Humidified Oxygen Therapy Unit’ manufactured by Meanwhile, the Epidemiology Unit has administered 353,156 additional shipments for South Asia in the coming weeks and the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) was officially handed over to the doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca second dose, 953,480 of the we’ll have more details on that in the days and weeks ahead,’ Gampaha District General Hospital yesterday (6). This unit will Sinopharm first dose and 64,986 of the Sputnik V first dose by 5 Price further said. (PA) be used to treat patients who have contracted COVID-19. June 2021. This unit was manufactured by the General Engineering Wing based at SLAF Base Katunayake and funded by the United Trade Union of Gampaha. It was handed over to the Director of the Gampaha District General Hospital, Dr. Priyantha Eleperuma. The event, which was held in adherence with COVID-19 health guidelines, was attended by the Director General Engineering of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal MD STF finds 151g of heroin Ratnayake, Officers and Other Ranks from the SLAF, members of the United Trade Union of Gampaha and staff from the Gampaha District General Hospital. (TF) in van in Moneragala The STF, on a tip-off, Police is conducting further 22.7 g of heroin and arrested man in Mt.Lavinia, 3 kg of searched a van at the Hada- investigations into the eight suspects. heroin from a suspect (36) Oya Bridge, Moneragala, on discovery. Among the detections from Mulleriyawa; 2.58 g of 5 Saturday and found 151 g Meanwhile, Gampola made on Saturday, Police heroin from a 30-year-old of heroin in the possession Police arrested a 30-year-old arrested a 28-year-old suspect at Ambatale; 2.2 g of of three of its passengers, man on Saturday who had suspect from Borella with heroin from a 32-year-old Police said yesterday (6). stolen a three-wheeler worth 4.40 g of heroin in his suspect detected in the They took into custody five Rs 915,000. Upon searching possession. In a separate Kesbewa area;2.12 g of suspects including a woman the suspect, Police also operation also conducted at heroin detected from a and the driver of the van and found 2.365 g of heroin in Borella, Police arrested a suspect (39) arrested at another three passengers in his possession. 26-year-old man who had in Eheliyagoda and 2.06 g of this connection. The In like developments, his possession 4.2 g of heroin detected from a suspects are from Pottuvil, Police in eight separate heroin. In like developments, suspect (31) at Ampara. They were of the operations conducted Police on Saturday seized Hanguranketha, Nuwara- ages 23, 51, 54, 60 and 61, elsewhere in the island on 4.13 g of heroin in Eliya, respectively. respectively. Siyabalanduwa Saturday seized a total of possession of a 49-year-old (PA) monday 7 june 2021 A3 A4 monday 7 june 2021 news

Cabinet gives green light PPE carrying Globemaster Aircraft Expressway, Five Flyovers to arrive from Australia An Australian Defense provide essential support to Force C-17A Globemaster frontline workers. to Ease Traffic Congestion Aircraft departed Perth on ‘The Australian Friday (4) morning, carrying Government welcomes the oxygen equipment for India close cooperation with the Sri and personal protective Lankan Government to allow in Colombo, Kandy equipment (PPE) for Nepal the Mattala International and Sri Lanka, the Airport to be used as the hub The construction of five flyovers and a connecting Nugegoda and Kalubowila Australian Foreign Ministry for the delivery and four-lane elevated expressway from the controlled by traffic signals. The project is said. distribution of these COVID- New Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya as a envisaged to be completed in 22 months. The Australian 19 support supplies to the part of easing traffic congestion in the The Flyover at Getambe junction will Government is contributing other countries.’ capital and Kandy will be launched by also be constructed with the financial aid AUD 5.5 million (USD 4.2 ‘Australia continues to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today from the Hungarian government at a cost million) for emergency relief work in partnership with our (7). The inauguration ceremony is of Rs 9,451 million. It would be 396.70 in Sri Lanka as it faces its neighbours in the Indo- scheduled to be held with the participation metres in length and its branch-flyover own health and Pacific to support our shared of a limited number of people as per health would be 285 metres in length. The width humanitarian challenges, the regional recovery from the regulations in place in view of the of the flyover would be covered in three Ministry further said. COVID-19 pandemic and to pandemic. segments. The main flyover would be of PPE donated by the protect lives and livelihoods,’ Premier Rajapaksa will participate in the 9.40 metres in length and counted Western Australian the Australian Foreign ceremony via new technology from Temple together with the branch flyover the total Government and delivered to Ministry also said. Trees, stated a press release issued by the width would be 12.90 metres. The width of Nepal and Sri Lanka will (PA) Ministry of Highways. the branch-flyover from Kandy to Highways Minister Johnston Fernando Peradeniya would be 6.40 metres. In said the implementation of the project was addition, plans are underway to a manifestation of the Government’s planned to reduce huge traffic congestion construct the underpass enabling two or commitment to realising the visions and created by vehicles coming from the three vehicles at once and will comprise a policies of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Southern Expressway to Colombo and 30 metre-long four-lane iron bridge from ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ in line those from Battaramulla, Kaduwela and Peradeniya to Kandy. The project is with plans for sustainable development. Athurugiriya to Colombo. It is to be 16.4 envisaged to be completed in 28 months. This year’s budget laid special emphasis km in length and the estimated cost is Rs The length of the flyover at the Justice on finding solutions to traffic jams in main 134.9 billion. The construction would be Akbar Mawatha would be 207 metres and cities, the Minister said adding that as a done by the China Harbour Engineering 8.4 meters in width. The Flyover at part of easing traffic congestion in Company in 36 months. The elevated Uttarananda Mawatha would be 396 Colombo and its suburbs and Kandy, five expressway will start from the New Kelani metres in length and 10.4 metres in width. new flyovers and an elevated expressway Bridge and will run through Kolonnawa, The flyover connecting the two from the New Kelani Bridge to Rajagiriya, Buthgamuwa, Battaramulla, aforementioned flyovers would be 310 Athurugiriya would be constructed. Koswatte, Pothu Arawa, Hokandara to the metres in length and 6.9 metres in width. Flyovers would be constructed at Outer Circular Expressway. There would The total cost for the three aforementioned Kohuwala junction, Getambe Junction, be inter-changes at Orugodawatte, flyovers is estimated at Rs 5,270 million. It overpassing the Slave Island Railway Rajagiriya, Koswatte, Hokandara and at is planned to be completed in 12 months Station to Justice Akbar Mawatha, Dematagoda connecting Baseline Road. and construction work of the flyovers Uttarananda Mawatha and another flyover There would be another inter-change would be by Maga Engineering Pvt Ltd. connecting two overhead bridges. A flyover linking the elevated expressway to the The flyover across Beira Lake and the would be constructed across Beira Lake Outer Circular Expressway at Slave Island Railway Station connecting and Slave Island to Bala Daksha Mawatha Athurugiriya. Bala Daksha Mawatha and Chittampalam and another connecting Chittampalam A The Flyover at Kohuwala junction will be A Gardner Mawatha is planned to be Gardiner Mawatha. constructed with financial aid from the completed in 12 months. It would be 360 Govt sends out Cabinet approval has been granted for Hungarian government at a cost of Rs metres in length and 11 metres in width. these constructions. 2,648 million. The overhead bridge would The total construction cost is estimated at The four-lane elevated expressway from be 217.30 meters in length and 9.4 meters Rs 2,730 million and the work is to be red warning about the New Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya is in width overarching a four-lane road completed by Access Engineering PLC overwhelmed Preserving health of our planet Troops rescue health system By Thameenah Razeek pointed out. Governments The Minister voiced these five families from Environment Minister thoughts while cleaning his Mahinda Amaraweera house and garden in requested the public to keep Angunakolapelessa and should adopt flood waters their backyards clean to inspecting mosquito help curb the dengue breeding grounds in and Troops rescued overflowed and Commander menace warning that if both around his property. To bold policies more than five displaced families Security Forces - the COVID-19 pandemic commemorate World families in on 5 Saturday. West Major and dengue start to spread Environment Day, he also President Gotabaya Gampaha, among The patients were General Vikum at the same time, the planted a mango tree in his Rajapaksa emphasized that if – President whom were four taken to Liyanage, General health-care system would garden. we are to preserve the health decisive action despite the COVID-19 quarantine Officer be overwhelmed. He said that this menace of our planet and ensure challenges we will face. If we patients, from the centres while Commanding 14 He went on to say that has been affecting us since human health and hesitate to make decisions, flood waters of the their family Division Major dengue is an environmental 2009, and that the disease sustainability, Governments essential initiatives such as Attanagalu Oya members from General Sujeewa problem and that there are is still out of our control. must not hesitate to adopt this will always remain on Saturday, Sri two families were Senerath Yapa, many deadly diseases all Highlighting the fact that bold policies. confined to the realm of Lanka Army (SLA) isolated. Commander 141 over the world, and that humans are now bearing ‘Such policies should discussion’, the President said. Rescue Brigade Brigadier diseases like SARS and the brunt of irresponsible support ecological said. These operations were Pradeep Gamage Ebola, as well as the environmental damage conservation, help combat The President said the operations took coordinated and Commanding COVID-19, which has now caused to nature, the loss of biodiversity, and decision taken by Sri Lanka place in the under the Officer 6 Sri shut down the world Amaraweera said the enable people to achieve their to ban imports of chemical Attanagalle - supervision of Lanka Artillery indefinitely, are a natural Environment is never unjust economic aspirations in more fertilisers and agrochemicals Ketakalapitiya SLA Commander Lieutenant punishment for mankind and treats everyone equally. sustainable ways,’ he further will pave the way for a areas after the General Colonel O.N.J. De adding that to combat He said people believe the said. greener economy and a Attanagalu-Oya Shavendra Silva, Silva. (PA) dengue, everybody must do earth is theirs. “The land, on The President made these healthier society, whilst their best to clean the the other hand, belongs to remarks addressing the Agro supporting the aspirations of environment around them. species other than humans. ecology Event at the 48th the State in terms of food If 99 out of 100 houses are Man must now pay the price Session of the United Nations security in the long term. clean but one neglects its for all of those creatures’ Committee on World Food The President expressed After one and a half years obligations, dengue can cruel abuse. Nature is a Security, on Friday (4) via confidence that Sri Lanka’s spread to everyone else, he beautiful thing,” he stated. video technology. initiative will inspire other The Committee on Food Governments to take Hydroelectricity/wind Security (CFS), while similarly bold action for the applauding the President’s betterment of their citizens. decision to completely On behalf of the organisers account for 50% eliminate the use of chemical of the CSF48 Agroecology Sri Lanka Navy rescues fertilizers, invited President event, Chief Scientist Dr. of electric needs Rajapaksa to its annual Fergus L. Sinclair in an 95 persons from floods conference to deliver a appreciation letter By Paneetha Ameresekere special lecture. commended the statement The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) rescued 95 persons from floods on 5 ‘Climate change is one of made by the President. Cheap and clean electricity powered by hydroelectricity and Saturday. They comprised 61 persons including women and the most serious issues "I was deeply impressed wind together provided more than half of Sri Lanka’s electricity children from the Ja-Ela area in the Gampaha District; 29 humanity faces. Mitigating with the bold statement that needs for 13 consecutive days to 5 Saturday for the first time in persons including women and children from 10 families from its impact requires urgent you made and the clear 579 days, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) data showed. the Kiriyankalli, Pulichchikulam and Battuluoya areas in the collective action from all rationale that you put The last time ‘hydro’ and ‘wind’ together provided 13 consecutive Puttalam District and five individuals from the Bulathsinhala countries’, the President forward for them. This days which met over 50 per cent of Sri Lanka’s electricity needs area in the Kalutara District. further said. opening address will set the was a year and a half ago from 12 October 2019 to 4 November SLN has deployed a total of 33 relief teams in the Western, President Rajapaksa also tone not only for the agro 2020.. Southern, Sabaragamuwa and Northwestern Provinces to said that the Government’s ecology side-event but the Meanwhile, on 5 Saturday, ‘wind electricity’ and provide relief to the people affected by the floods caused by decision to ban imports of whole CFS48 consideration ‘hydroelectricity’ together provided 72.89 per cent of Sri Lanka’s torrential rains. Moreover, 11 more Navy relief teams are being artificial fertilisers and of policy convergence around total electricity needs, followed by CEB thermal coal 25.88 per kept on standby for deployment as and when a need arises. (PA) agrochemicals enabled a agroecology report. Your cent and oil 0.21 per cent, respectively. Coal and oil are long-needed national statement leads the way in environmentally pollutive imported substances. CEB doesn’t give transition to a healthier and their implementation and the amount of electricity provided by solar, another clean and more ecologically sound sets the trend for national cheap source of electricity. system of organic action," he said. Segmentalising the production of hydroelectricity on Saturday, agriculture. "I think your statement will Mahaweli provided 13.28GWh or 40.58 per cent of Sri Lanka’s ‘We are aware that there be picked up widely beyond total electricity needs on that day, Laxapana 5.92GWh (18.09 per will be teething problems CFS as a world-leading cent), Kukule Ganga 1.83GWh (5. 60 per cent), Samanala Wewa during this transition. These initiative to take climate 1.24 GWh (3.80per cent) and CEB (small hydro)0.19GWh (0.60per include constraints in change seriously and cent), respectively. domestic production and transition to more Meanwhile, ‘Wind’ provided 1.39GWh (4.24per cent) of Sri supply of organic sustainable food systems Lanka’s total electricity needs on 5 Saturday. alternatives, as well as based on agroecological According to Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL’s) Annual adverse public perceptions principles. These decisive Report 2020, the cost of producing one unit (one kWh) of arising from the ban’, the and practical actions that Sri hydroelectricity last year was a mere Rs 2.32, however, the President added. Lanka is taking will be a production of CEB thermal coal electricity was more than four ‘However, as leaders, it is beacon to others," Dr. times that cost at Rs 9.81 a unit and CEB thermal oil electricity 13 our responsibility to take Sinclair said in the letter. times the cost of hydroelectricity at Rs 29.94 a unit. column monday 7 june 2021 A5

The Kandalama Hotel practises responsible tourism and is one of the most successful ventures in the tourism industry Development – Needs a Change of Perspective By Shivanthi Ranasinghe background of both a medical practitioner and Poverty is Not to be passing of these resolutions is not the final a successful entrepreneur. As such, he Romanticised objective either but mere steps of the process. Whenever there is a development project envisioned a private medical college that could Having passed these resolutions it is now easy before Sri Lanka, the discourse would almost not be rivaled by any other in the region. The poetry we see in the narrow dirt tracks to justify the harassment against Sri Lanka. always be dominated with negative The SAITM mortuary thus employed a special framed between green paddy fields deprives Those who find comfort in the fact that these connotations. We as a Nation tend to see more technique that preserves the suppleness of our rural communities from basic facilities. resolutions are legally non binding ought to problems than positives. More often than not, limbs long after rigor mortis sets into the body. When we choose to live in comfort, we have no study closer the consequences of the travel the arguments against the project are more This allows the medical student to understand right to romanticise poverty but every moral bans imposed on our top military leaders, hypothetical than real. the movements and workings of limbs better. duty to pull those trapped in penury out of it. denying them the opportunity to attend At the time, apart from SAITM only one other Poverty, as the wise Chinese idiom states, important world seminars and training Kandalama Hotel college in the entire region had such a facility. should be put out as a fire on rampage. Our courses. If colonising a country - militarily or When the Kandalama Hotel was to be built To study with such facilities would interest lack of empathy towards our economically economically - is a step-by-step process, then the protests against it were intense. The not only the Sri Lankan students but also challenged is all too clear when we protest over so is safeguarding it. This is the reality we environmentalists feared the Hotel would foreign students. This fact was not lost on not only mega projects but even minute ones. must understand with regard to the Colombo pollute the Kandalama tank and with it the universities as far away as Scotland. These The commotion over the repair of the Port City and in fact any development project. surrounding area. This concern was coupled colleges too began to explore the possibility of debilitated road connecting a remote village Instead of our current pessimism we must with worries over the corrupting influences partnering with SAITM. This would have bordering the Sinharaja Rainforests with the learn to appreciate the importance of tourism would bring on the people of the area. opened up degree courses from high-end rest of the country is a case in point. development - whether it is a mere repair and These concerns quickly built in momentum. universities that are not possible to many due Immediately, environmentalists feared that the widening of a dirt track to provide greater Despite the treated water we as urban dwellers to the exorbitant costs involved in terms of widening of the road would lead to illegal accessibility to those in remote villages or mega drink or the very indulgences we enjoy as tuition fees and living expenditure in a foreign logging of the Sinharaja Rainforest. These projects like reclamation the sea to create tourists or the environmental damage we incur country as UK and Europe. Therefore, we lost villages had existed for a long time and are brand new cities with the latest technology and as we build our comfortable abodes, many more than a medical college as we could not increasingly getting cut off from the rest of the investment projects. failed to see any merit in the hotel project. see past all the problems that could possibly society for the want of a mere road. Instead of Identifying the dangers and pitfalls ahead of Unable to move forward the project was soon in arise. exploring ways to make the preservation of the time is certainly a good practice. We must jeopardy. Sinharaja Rainforest a strategic importance for however also have the courage and confidence The investors however took serious note of The Unique Role of the villagers’ survival or economic to have counter plans for it instead of letting these concerns and closely studied the issues. Entrepreneurs empowerment, the only outcome these fear freeze us into thinking that the only They thus devised a recycling plant that would environmentalists saw was the possibility of solution is to stop the project altogether. not pollute even a drop of water in the tank. Perhaps the most contentious part illegal logging. While many raised their voice in ([email protected]) The green policies the Hotel adapted soon won surrounding the SAITM controversy was the the name of Sinharaja Rainforest, them numerous international awards year one played by the politicians. It was their almost none spoke on behalf of the after year. express view that a vital education sector as deprived fellow human being. In their studies they found the villagers were the medical field should not fall into the hands not living idealistic lives as envisioned by the of entrepreneurs. The reasoning was that a Even a Conqueror Needs protestors but one steeped in utter poverty. business would do anything for a profit. Hence, a Step-by-Step Plan Due to the lack of infrastructure, like roads they would qualify even the unqualified as these villagers did not even have easy access to medical practitioners and put innocent lives in Today, before us is the biggest the free healthcare system in the country. danger. development project of our times - Consequently their average lifespan was Yet, almost all politicians are being the Colombo Port City. Instead of around 47 years - almost half of those living in supported - financially and otherwise - by the the excitement it deserved, we urban areas. profits of entrepreneurs. It is otherwise simply worry incessantly that it would This gave rise to what the Hotel termed as impossible for politicians to afford an office become a Chinese colony. responsible tourism. The Hotel thus got with a staff, travel expenditure, organising of It is not only the Chinese who directly involved with the matters concerning events or even a simple media gathering on the may want to colonise us but also the villagers and besides helping with the stipends they receive as members of the Europeans, Americans, much needed infrastructural support also parliament or provincial councils. In fact, some Indians and the Japanese. The educated them on better hygiene and living politicians are so well looked after by the threat from external agents would conditions. Furthermore, as a policy when business community that they can even refuse also exist. The answer then is not employing the first preference was always given the salary and other perks due to them as an to turn our backs on development to the residents of the area. This uplifted their MP without a second thought. In such a projects but to embrace it and economic power and today the villagers and the context for a politician to denounce an become economically strong. Hotel has a healthy, symbiotic relationship. entrepreneur as a scoundrel without scruples All the above-noted countries From a Nation’s point of view, the Kandalama is a bad reflection on themselves. If, as they can easily subdue us militarily - Hotel became one of the most successful argue, a businessman would do anything for provided that these countries do ventures in the tourism industry. Even at the profit, then the support the business indeed wish to colonize Sri Lanka. height of terrorism when tourism was community extend to politicians would also be Yet, none of these countries have collapsing Kandalama thrived. It became the for profit. If it is so, then the politician who is opted for a military intervention. must visit place to both local and foreign maintained by these profits could be no better Either approach any of these tourists. Location was half the attraction. It than the businessmen they denounce. countries opt to take – military was the food - especially the local cuisine that This kind of short sighted, illogical and intervention or act as a economic became the magnet. baseless accusations have more than one hitman – they would need a step- negative connotation. It is wrong to look at our by-step plan. The events vis a vis The Controversy over SAITM entrepreneurs as if they were all made out the Sri Lanka at the UNHRC over the The story of the private medical college same mould as Ebenezer Scrooge in A past decade is a case in point. SAITM is similar. The possible problems that Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It breeds A crucial step in the final might arise by allowing a private medical contempt for a community in our society. This objective of those who brought college preceded the actual issues that are community are the risk-takers, willing to work resolutions against Sri Lanka was already prevailing. beyond normal hours and conditions towards to establish that the Island nation Instead of proposing a single viable solution the success of their enterprise. An had committed war crimes. They to the existing problems, the entire focus was entrepreneur is one with leadership and skill to first needed to have these to prevent issues that has not even taken command. In the process they provide allegations as documented. This place. Therefore the only solution to the livelihoods to many others. They share their was the purpose of the hypothetical problems was to nuke the project profits for the betterment of the society. One Darusman’s Report. After the altogether. may question or be skeptical of the motive for three member panel duly Allowing a private medical college would have sharing profits. Nevertheless, it is without documented the allegations the redressed many of the already existing issues argument that profits move many circles. next step was to establish that the that prevent our own students from pursuing a These qualities need to be acknowledged documented allegations were medical degree. Often they are being denied the positively. In fact, our youth should be credible. Hence the purpose of the privilege for the want of point zero five in their encouraged to emulate these entrepreneurs OISL, which liberally copy-pasted aggregate. It is easy enough to expect the than be mere followers and job seekers. The from the Darusman’s Report, Government in power to expand the resources courage to forge ahead and take responsibility conveniently ignoring the contents to accommodate a greater capacity. However, for your team or followers is not a mean feat. of the report generated by the UN increasing the capacity alone is insufficient. Instead, we equate a businessman to a self- Colombo based office. Now, armed An education institute too must be governed serving scoundrel. Then the suspicion we with what they term as credible, with a vision. The knowledge in any field is a entertain over development projects before us documented allegations growing entity and the education we provide is not surprising. Without development we resolutions is bright against Sri must support this growth. The founder of need to realise the deprivation we suffer due to Lanka - a member State. It is SAITM, Dr Neville Fernando had the lack of economic opportunities. important to understand that the A6 MONDAY 7 JUNE 2021 WORLD

Kabul, Afghanistan In Rare Public Outing, Trump At least 11 people Denounces Fauci, China killed by a Dangles 2024 prospects landmine in north Former President Donald Trump on launched by the New York Attorney At least 11 civilians, Afghan officials accused the Saturday (5) sharply attacked U.S. General’s Office is “the ultimate fishing including children, were Taliban of incessant infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci expedition,” and said it was the latest killed when their vehicle set violence against over his handling of the coronavirus attempt by Democrats to bring him down off a landmine in northern Government Forces and pandemic, demanded reparations from after two impeachment sagas when he was Afghanistan, local civilians in a bid to seize China and denounced an investigation into President. government officials said on complete territorial control his finances in a speech in North Carolina. “It’s been a five-year witch hunt, hoax Sunday (6), accusing over several provinces. Speaking in Greenville, North Carolina, at after hoax,” said Trump. “They’ll never stop Taliban insurgents for Husamudim Shams, the the State’s Republican Party Convention, until November of 2024.” planting the landmine Governor of the Northern Trump joined a chorus of Republican New York Attorney General Letitia James bombs. Province of Badgis, said 11 politicians who are criticising Fauci for has been investigating whether the Trump No militant group, passengers, including three asking Americans to wear masks to guard Organisation falsely reported property including the Taliban, children, travelling to the against the virus and who at times has values to secure loans and obtain economic claimed responsibility for city of Qala-e-Naw were been skeptical of a theory that the virus and tax benefits. the attack that occurred on killed in the blast on escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan, Trump vowed to help Republicans in Saturday, hours before Saturday (5). China. 2022 congressional elections and endorsed senior Taliban leaders and Roadside bombs, small Trump called Fauci “not a great doctor U.S. Representative Ted Budd for a U.S. UN officials met in Qatar to magnetic bombs attached but a great promoter” for his frequent Senate seat in North Carolina after his discuss the Afghan peace under vehicles and other television appearances. “But he’s been daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, said she process, security for attacks have targeted wrong on almost every issue and he was would not run. diplomats and people members of security forces, wrong on Wuhan and the lab also,” Trump Former U.S. President Donald Trump points He appeared to dangle a possible run working for humanitarian judges, Government to the Media while speaking at the North said. Carolina GOP convention dinner in Greenville, himself for President in 2024, saying he agencies in Afghanistan. Officials, civil society The origin of the virus remains hotly North Carolina, US (Reuters) was looking forward to that year. Advisers A Taliban spokesperson activists and journalists in contested and remains under study by U.S. say Trump, who faces a potential said in statement on Twitter recent months in intelligence agencies. Trump’s appearance had all the indictment in New York over his business that Sher Mohammad Afghanistan. Trump’s own handling of the pandemic, hallmarks of his signature campaign rallies dealings, has been discussing the Abbas Stanekzai, the Nearly 1,800 Afghan in which nearly 600,000 people in the complete with a musical playlist heavy on possibility of another Presidential deputy head of the Taliban’s civilians were killed or United States have died and he himself was Elton John standards. campaign. political office “reiterated wounded in the first three infected, was a factor in his loss to North Carolina Republican Party Trump emerged from seclusion for the strong commitment to the months of 2021 during Democratic President Joe Biden in the Chairman Michael Whatley introduced Saturday event, the first in a planned series Afghan peace process in the fighting between November 2020 election. Trump as “our president,” a nod to the of speaking engagements this summer. meeting” with UN officials. Government Forces and Trump called on China to pay USD 10 former President’s baseless claims that the “The survival of America depends upon While the Taliban Taliban insurgents despite trillion in reparations to the United States 2020 election was stolen from him through our ability to elect Republicans at every delegation assured security efforts to find peace, the and the world for its own handling of the voter fraud, which Trump called “the crime level, starting with the midterms next year,” to all relevant UN agencies United Nations said in April virus, and he said nations should cancel of the century.” Trump said. staff and other diplomats this year. their debt to Beijing. Trump said a criminal investigation (Reuters) based in Afghanistan, (Reuters)

Vatican City, Holy See Pope calls for U.S. boosts Taiwan’s COVID-19 reconciliation, fight with vaccines healing over Canada The United States will donate about their safety, and in any 750,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses case cannot import them without school discovery to Taiwan as part of the country’s changing Taiwanese law, which plan to share shots globally, U.S. bans their import. Senator Tammy Duckworth said The senators also met with on Sunday (6), offering a much- President Tsai Ing-wen at the needed boost to the island’s fight airport, who said the vaccines, against the pandemic. along with those Japan donated Taiwan is dealing with a spike in last week, would be a great help domestic cases but has been in their fight against the virus. affected like many places by global “The vaccines are timely rain vaccines shortages. Only around for Taiwan, and your assistance three per cent of its 23.5 million will be etched on our hearts,” people have been vaccinated, with Tsai told the senators, in footage most getting only the first shot of released by her office. two needed. U.S. senators and Speaking at Taipei’s downtown congressmen visit Taiwan Songshan airport after arriving on routinely in normal times, but a three-hour visit with fellow coming in the middle of an Pope Francis arrives at the San Damaso courtyard for the Senators Dan Sullivan and upswing in infections on the weekly general audience at the Vatican - (Reuters) Christopher Coons, Duckworth island when its borders remain said Taiwan would be getting U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth, Dan Sullivan and Chris Coons wave next largely closed to visitors is a to Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and Brent Christensen, director of Pope Francis said on Sunday (6) that he was pained 750,000 doses as part of the first the American Institute in Taiwan, after their arrival via a U.S. Air Force strong show of support. by the discovery of the remains of 215 children at a tranche of U.S. donations. freighter at Taipei Songshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, 6 June 2021. Unusually, they also arrived former Catholic school for indigenous students in “It was critical to the United (Central News Agency/Pool via Reuters) on a U.S. Air Force C-17 Canada and called for respect of the rights and culture States that Taiwan be included in Globemaster III freighter, rather of native peoples. the first group to receive vaccines which firm’s shots they would Wu thanked the United States for than a private jet as is generally He urged Canadian political and Catholic religious because we recognise your urgent get. the donation. “While we are doing the case for senior U.S. visitors. leaders to “cooperate with determination” to shed light need and we value this Taiwan has complained about our best to import vaccines, we Taiwan’s vaccine arrivals have on the finding and to seek reconciliation and healing. partnership,” she said at a news China, which claims the must overcome obstacles to been gathering pace. Francis said he felt close to “the Canadian people, who conference after the group arrived democratically-ruled island as its ensure that these life-saving Japan delivered to Taiwan 1.24 have been traumatized by the shocking news”. from South Korea. own, trying to block the island medicines are delivered free from million doses of AstraZeneca Speaking to pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter’s She did not give details of which from accessing vaccines trouble from Beijing,” he said. coronavirus vaccine on Friday for Square, he stopped short, however, of the direct apology vaccines Taiwan would get or internationally, which Beijing has China has offered Taiwan free, in a gesture that more than that many Canadians had demanded from the Catholic when. Taiwan Health Minister denied. Chinese-made vaccines, but the doubled the amount of shots the Church for its role in the residential schools, which Chen Shih-chung told reporters Standing by Duckworth’s side, Government in Taipei has island has received to date. operated between 1831 and 1996 and were run by a he was hoping to find out soon Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph repeatedly expressed concern (Reuters) number of Christian denominations on behalf of the Government. The discovery last month of the remains of the children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, which closed in 1978, has reopened London, United Kingdom New Delhi, India old wounds and is fuelling outrage in Canada about the lack of information and accountability. The residential school system forcibly separated Johnson calls on G7 to Lockdown rules to ease as about 150,000 children from their homes. Many were subjected to abuse, rape and malnutrition in what the vaccinate world by 2022 end COVID-19 cases decline Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 called “cultural genocide”. British Prime Minister Boris Francis spoke two days after Canadian Prime Minister Johnson on Saturday (5) called for Justin Trudeau said the Catholic Church must take leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) responsibility for its role in running many of the rich nations to make a commitment schools. to vaccinate the entire world against (Reuters) COVID-19 by the end of 2022 when they meet in Britain next week. Johnson will host the first Baghdad, Iraq in-person summit in almost two years of G7 leaders - which follows a meeting of the group’s Finance Ministers which wrapped up earlier A health worker in personal protective equipment collects a swab Two drones sample from a woman during a rapid antigen testing campaign for in the day - and said he would seek a COVID-19, at a railway station platform in Mumbai, India (Reuters) intercepted, shot down pledge to hit the global vaccination A person receives a dose of the Pfizer goal. “Vaccinating the world by the BioNTech vaccine, at vaccination India reported 114,460 new coronavirus infections on centre for young people and students end of next year would be the single Sunday (6), the lowest in two months, while the death toll over air base - Military at the Hunter Street Health Centre, greatest feat in medical history,” amid the COVID-19 outbreak, in increased by 2,677, as parts of the country prepared to ease Iraqi military said on Sunday (6) that air defences at Johnson said in a statement. “I’m London, Britain - (Reuters) movement restrictions. Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base that hosts U.S. Forces, calling on my fellow G7 leaders to join India has the world’s second-largest number of coronavirus intercepted and shot down two drones. us to end this terrible pandemic and Joe Biden since he took office in infections after the United States with total cases at 28.8 The military said in a statement the drones were pledge we will never allow the January. While the richest nations million, according to Health Ministry data. The country has intercepted and shot down at around 12:30 a.m. local devastation wreaked by coronavirus have been vaccinating large numbers suffered 346,759 deaths. A second wave of the coronavirus that time. On 8 May, an attack by an unmanned aerial to happen again.” of their populations, many poorer has largely battered the rural interiors of the country is yet to surveillance system targeted Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base, The Leaders of Germany, France, countries have not had the same abate but New Delhi and other cities are working towards but it caused no injuries. the United States, Italy, Japan, the access to vaccines. And health allowing more businesses to operate and movement rules to be There was no immediate claim of responsibility for European Union and Canada will join experts have warned that unless relaxed from Monday (7) onwards. The Western State of Sunday’s attack. Armed groups that some Iraqi officials Johnson for the three-day summit in more COVID shots were donated, the Maharashtra, which is India’s richest and has suffered the say are backed by Iran have claimed responsibility for Cornwall, southwest England, which virus will continue to spread and most infections during the second wave, plans to start this similar incidents in the past. begins on Friday (11). It will be the mutate. week easing in stages a strict lockdown imposed in April. (Reuters) first overseas trip for U.S. President (Reuters) (Reuters) Monday 7 June 2021 b7 2020 Budget Deficit Alone More Than Total Revenue- Finance Ministry Paneetha Ameresekere expenditure on interest payments councils, Armed Forces and Police partial impact of the upward which was Rs 980.3 billion (Rs in 2020 was Rs 794.2 billion, an revision in July 2019 for Government of Sri Lanka’s 980,300,000,000) equivalent to increase of 15.7 per cent pensioners who retired before (GoSL’s) total expenditure last 38.5 per cent of 2020’s total compared to Rs 686.4 billion in 2017 and the impact of the year was Rs 3,040,996 million (Rs recurrent expenditure, the 2019, the Ministry said. progressive salary increase under 3.041 trillion) compared to a total Ministry said. ‘Implementation of the salary Public Administration Circular revenue figure of a mere Rs Meanwhile, the expenditure on increment under PA Circular No 03/2016, the Ministry said. 1,373,000 million (Rs 1.373 salaries and wages amounted to Rs. 3/2016 and recruitment of 53,177 Furthermore the number of trillion), leading to a gross 794.2 billion, equivalent to 31.2 per graduate trainees into the pensioners also increased by 3.4 borrowing of Rs 1,668,000 million cent of recurrent expenditure. Government service in 2020 per cent, from 639,984 in 2019 to (Rs 1.668 trillion); required to Expenditure on welfare contributed to this notable 661,790 in 2020. The expenditure Friday Markets bridge the deficit which was more programmes including pensions, increase in expenditure on on compensation for injured and than the total revenue made, the samurdhi, medical supplies, salaries and wages,’ it said. deceased security personnel Finance Ministry in its 2020 fertilizer subsidies and interest Additionally, total pension increased by 11 per cent to Rs Annual Report released last subsidies was Rs. 717.1 billion. payments increased by 13.2 per 37.4 billion in 2020 from Rs 33.6 Share hit 7 Monday (31 May) said. Expenditure on salaries and cent to Rs 257.8 billion in 2020 billion in 2019 due to the increase Among the top expenditure wages for public servants from Rs 227.7 billion in 2019. in allowances in line with the rise ½-week high commitments in 2020 were the including those in the provincial This increase was due to the in basic salaries, it said. By Mario Andree

The bullish run at the Colombo Stock Exchange extended for the second Most valuable consumer brands consecutive session on Friday (4) as the Capital Trust benchmark index rose on a higher turnover Lanka IOC improves its rank to record a new seven-and-a-half-week high Research accurately picks despite continued foreign exits. The benchmark All Share Price Index among Top 100 (ASPI), which started the day at 7,516.20 undervalued Tile sector Lanka IOC PLC, the country’s Lankan company. Keeping up points gained 51.18 points (0.68 per cent) to top listed energy company has with the economic development close at 7,567.38, its highest since 16 April Capital Trust Research released FY21 earnings for TILE and LWL. jumped its brand position among of the country, Lanka IOC plays this year, while the more liquid S&P SL20, a Tile Sector update report on the With more information obtained Sri Lanka’s top 100 brands a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s which started the day 3,025.76 points gained 22 May 2021. The four on company performances upon published by the LMD Brands business landscape fueling the 20.71 points (0.68 per cent) to close at companies published their Q4 release and review of quarterly Annual, a most renowned brand Sri Lankan spirit and powering 3,046.47 points. FY21 earnings on 25 and 28 May financials as per standard publication of the country the nation through vibrant The day’s turnover neared Rs 3.15 billion, 2021 and it was found that practice, Capital Trust Research compiled by Brand Finance (UK). channels of distribution and higher than the Rs 2.8 billion recorded Capital Trust Research had very released earnings updates with Manoj Gupta, Managing diversified range of products. As during the Market’s previous day’s trading. accurately forecast the RCL FY21 revised FY22 financial forecasts Director of Lanka IOC stated “The a responsible corporate citizen Shares of 263 listed companies were earnings and had been and valuations on the June year 2020-21 was unprecedented with a strong commitment traded during the day of which 100 were conservative with forecasting 2021. in terms of uncertainty, volatility towards sustainability, the winners ahead of 78 losers. and disruptions due to challenges wellbeing and the prosperity of More than 96.2 million shares changed RCL LWL TILE PARQ which emerged as a result of the the nation is our prime purpose, hands during the 27,310 trades that took COVIDt-19 pandemic. The Gupta added. Figures are in LKR mn place. restrictions due to lockdowns Gupta added that brand Foreigners exited the CSE on Friday (4) for Net Earnings attributable to Equity Holders for FY21 affected the market demand of integrity is how consumers (Forecast in Research Report on 22nd May 2021) the eleventh consecutive session. The net 6,141.41 2,753.03 1,988.05 548.68 products. Despite the adverse perceive your company and its foreign outflow during the day amounted to Forecasted Growth % 5% -3% -8% 18% business conditions, LIOC has products, image, and reputation. Rs 147 million as foreigners sold shares Net Earnings attributable to Equity Holders for FY22 performed exceptionally well in Maintaining a positive brand (Forecast in Research Report on 22nd May 2021) worth Rs 329 million as against purchases 6,444.67 2,678.49 1,820.39 650.01 the operational parameters. The reputation increases customer worth Rs 182 million. company focused on cost loyalty, builds confidence in the The top ten winners during the day were: Target PER x 10 9 9 8 optimisation, infrastructure market and helps position you as nd Colombo Fort Investment, Mercantile Target Price on 22 May 2021 (LKR) 58.20 88.29 61.74 38.00 modernisation, technological a leader in your space. “The best Shipping, Guardian Capital, Renuka City developments and sustainability way to build and maintain Hotels, Abans, Citrus Hikkaduwa, Renuka and also emphasis on renewable your business›s reputation is by Net Earnings attributable to Equity Holders for FY21 Hotels, Renuka Foods (non-voting), Alliance solar energy.” consistently acting (Actual Results) in Report on 1st June 2021 6,134.51 2,960.21 2,450.77 597.35 Finance and HVA Foods. Lanka IOC has embarked on a with integrity in all Forecasted Growth % 5% 2% -5% 9% Top ten losers were: Nation Lanka Finance, journey to transform the energy your business practices and Net Earnings attributable to Equity Holders for FY22 Beruwela Resorts, Blue Diamonds, Kelsey (Forecast in Research Report on 1st June 2021) sector. A subsidiary of Indian Oil Lanka IOC is committed to build Homes, Good Hope, Radiant Gems, Lankem 6,441.24 3,019.41 2,328.24 650.01 Corporation Ltd, its integration and maintain strong brand Ceylon, EB Creasy, Laugfs Gas (non-voting) with communities across the recognition, to be trusted by the and Laugfs Power (non-voting). Target PER x 10 9 9 8 country over the last 19 customers while focusing on st Target price on 1 June 2021 (LKR) 58.50 99.54 79.00 38.00 years has made it a true Sri sustainability”, he said.

Inflationary MP From Strength to Strength ‘Brand Finance Most Valuable and Strongest Brands 2021’ Up Rs 1.96B Fitch Upgrades HNBA and HNBGI to ‘A+ (lka)’ Sri Lanka By Paneetha Ameresekere Reaffirming the strength and stability of HNB

The Government’s demand-pull Assurance PLC Group, fundamentals and a prudent confident of driving our Insurance Shines inflationary face value money printing Fitch Ratings upgraded the outlook to risk underwriting.” performance up further and Sri Lanka Insurance tops the ranking in (FVMP) debt increased by Rs 1,960 million ‘National Insurer Financial She further said, “this rating are well positioned for many aspects in the recently published and overall by 0.22 per cent to Rs Strength Rating’ (IFS) of both upgrade augurs well for the growth.” Mr. Fernando added Brand Finance report on Sri Lanka’s most 875,673.17 million on Friday. HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) soundness of strategies that “I am happy to note that the valuable and strongest Brands 2021 FVMP debt has been over Rs 0.5 trillion for and its fully owned have been crafted for both Group recorded a Gross edition. Sri Lanka Insurance tops the list as a record 141 consecutive market days to subsidiary HNB General companies as well as for the Written Premium (GWP) of The Most Loved Financial Brand of the year, Friday due to a lack of revenue. Insurance Limited (HNBGI) capability and business LKR 3.2 billion for the first The Most Loved Insurance Brand of the Government money printing borrowing from ‘A(lka)’ to ‘A+(lka)’ citing acumen of the Management quarter of 2021. The Life Year and the Most Valuable General costs (MPBCs) sharply increased by 7.21 stable outlooks. Teams. This will no doubt Insurance business posted Insurance Brand of the year. Sri Lanka per cent (Rs 1,381.14 million) to Rs The Rating Actions , issued fortify our position in the a remarkable 51% growth in Insurance is moving forward proving it’s 20,527.20 million led by Central Bank of Sri by Fitch on the 3 June 2021 market as a solid player and GWP achieving LKR 1.6 prowess to be awarded these three Lanka (CBSL) buying Treasury T-Bonds from states, “The upgrade reflects further infuse confidence in billion and the General prestigious titles for the 4 the consecutive the primary market and panic selling of T the insurers’ improved the mindset of key Insurance business year. Bonds and T Bills in secondary market capital position, as measured stakeholders to transact with recorded a GWP of LKR 1.6 During 2020, Sri Lanka Insurance has trading on Friday due to uncertainty. by strong regulatory risk- both Companies. I wish to billion marking a 27% been in the forefront in aiding and The benchmark administered ‘spot’s based capital (RBC) ratios. thank each and every growth. It is noteworthy to supporting COVID relief initiatives. Sri unwritten two way quotes were unchanged The ratings also take into member of both teams for mention that the market Lanka Insurance donated Rs 5 Million to at Rs 199.75/200.25 to the US dollar for the account the insurers’ their dedication and rank of HNBGI has the COVID relief fund, donation of 10,000, 13th consecutive market day to Friday in the ‘Favourable’ business commitment especially improved by one notch to 200 ml sanitizer bottles to the Special Task interbank foreign exchange (FX) market, profiles and a sustained during these trying times the 7th position during the Force carrying out necessary pandemic sources told this reporter. improvement in their non-life that has enabled us to quarter with the growth in control measures, lsunched Viru Abhiman - Friday was also the 25th consecutive underwriting performance, receive this upgrade in GWP.” Fernando further the Rs 1.5 million worth free life cover market day than no trades were executed in while maintaining ratings by Fitch.”Chief stated “the contribution of granted to state sector employees who are in the interbank FX market as a whole due to satisfactory earnings in its Executive Officer of HNBA our Parent Company HNB the frontline battling the COVID-19 CBSL’s/ GoSL’s moral suasion on the ‘spot.’ life insurance operation.” and HNBGI, Prasantha too has helped us in this pandemic during 2020, the donation of Nonetheless, the unsaid market exchange Chairperson of HNB Fernando said, “We are achievement and I am truly facemasks, hand sanitisers, surface rate (MER) has theoretically depreciated by Assurance PLC Group, Rose delighted to announce the grateful to the Bank’s disinfectants distributed among Municipal between Rs 12.25-11.75 (6.53-6.23 per cent) Cooray stated, “This indeed news of this upgrade to all Corporate Management and Councils, Provincial Councils and Town in two way quotes in the calendar year to is another significant our stakeholders. The ratings the members of its branch Councils and necessary government entities Friday and year on year by between Rs achievement for HNB of HNBA and HNBGI have network for all the support just before the lockdown ended giving all the 14.35-14.75 (7. 74-7.95 per cent), thereby Assurance as well as HNB been upgraded by Fitch that they have given us.” assurance that their offices are risk-free causing cost-push inflationary pressure in General Insurance and Ratings upon reviewing the Speaking on the places to return. the event trades were executed even at these demonstrates very clearly to business profiles, the contribution of the team, The Company also adopted easy payment administered prices as Sri Lanka is an the market the singular improved capital position, Fernando stated, “each and schemes and concessions on premium import dependent economy. focus of both companies on and the sustainable every member of the HNBA payments to ease customers during these Friday saw a liquidity appreciation of Rs 3, maintaining and building underwriting performance of and HNBGI teams have trying times. Sri Lanka Insurance mandate 378 million (US$ 16.93 million) led by the their strength and stability. both entities. Further, an played a part in contributing goes beyond Insurance, it is to provide settlement/s of CBSL’s swaps with the HNBA’s Life Fund has upgrade of this nature towards this achievement, I protection to the people of this nation at market and/or GoSL’s dollar sales to and/or exceeded LKR 17.8 billion, demonstrates our am truly grateful and times of catastrophe. swaps with CBSL during trading. HNBGI’s Contract Liabilities consolidated financial thankful to every single one Sri Lanka Insurance was also ranked as Transactions between GoSL and CBSL are stood at LKR 3.5 billion while strength, low business risk of them for rallying around the Most Valuable General Insurance Brand foreign reserves neutral. Conversions are the Total Assets of the Group and solid operational the Group and giving their of the year for the 4th Consecutive year. based on CBSL’s administered ‘spot’ rate on surpassed LKR 32.9 billion performance. Whist thanking best at all times. This Leading the General Insurance Market with 2 Wednesday which was Rs 199.50 to the by the end of the first quarter Fitch Ratings for this upgrade has us all energised, a 20.3% Market share, SLIC General dollar. Consequently net excess liquidity of 2021.” Cooray added, “For recognition and all our excited and invigorated, and Category recorded a staggering Rs 20.1 increased by 5.37 per cent (Rs 5,338 million) our Group, it’s not business stakeholders for being with will, I am sure, further Billion in Gross Written premium in 2020, to Rs 104,803 million at the end of Friday’s at any cost, rather, our drive us throughout our journey, it bolster the drive and passion an unmatchable monthly claim settlements trading. is towards consolidated is with great reassurance I of every team member to do amounting to Rs 665 Million and a Rs 7.9 growth being driven through state that the management of better during these difficult Billion per annum is undoubtedly Sri the focus on key business both entities remain times.” Lanka’s No 1 General Insurance brand. B8 CEYLON FT MONDAY 7 JUNE 2021 CORPORATE Ceylon Shipping Corporation Celebrates Golden Jubilee The jewel in Sri Lanka’s commercial shipping industry is her National Carrier, Ceylon Shipping Corporation, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary on 6 June, 2021. Established in 1971 under the Shipping Act, the Ceylon Shipping Corporation, under the guidance of the First female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Srimavo Bandaranaike and led by Minister of Shipping and Tourism, P.B.G.Kalugalla, paved the way for Sri Lanka to enter the global shipping sphere – a milestone in the annals of the country’s history. The first vessel, Lanka Rani and the subsequent fleet; Lanka Sagarika, Lanka Devi, Lanka Shanthi, Lanka Rathne and Lanka Keerthi were Through the pioneering effort,which CSC took on the reigns for the service The aquisition of the vessels, Ceylon mission of CSC. The future of the purchased with the support of the provided extensive services, Sri Lanka which also provided RO/ RO ramps Breeze and Princess were utilised to industry has been carved through the German Shipping magnate, Vnimar was attracting more ships to her port. and fork lifts and other state-of-the-art transport charcoal for the Lakwijaya acquiring of the two ships by the then Gesselshaft GMBH of Hamburg. While The ensuing years spurred the equipment , heralding a new era of Electricity in Puttlam. The ships were President, Mahinda Rajapaksa in the acquisition of Lanka Kalyani and industry towards a growth trajectory as technological usage in the country’s also used for commercial purposes addition to the extensive commitment Lanka Kanthi were made through the Sri Lanka formed ties with Singapore’s shipping industry. during the onset of the southeast and support by Minister Rohitha sponsorship by the government of container line, Neptune Orient Lines During his tenure as Minister of monsoons. Abeygunawardena who was the China. Subsequently, the corporate (NOL) in increasing the container Commerce and Industry, the late Apart from its dual functionalities, erstwhile Minister of Port and Navy merger of the Ceylon Shipping shipments to Europe. Container Minister Lalith Athulathmudali the ships which belonged to CSC and the current Minister of Ports and Corporation and the Lanka Tankers Ltd transportation to Europe grew rendered an extensive albeit pivotal functioned as a Maritime University, the present Chairman of CSC, was instrumental in acquiring the oil exponentially from a once-a-month five- service to the progress and providing a yeomen service to the Sri Attorney-at-Law, W.S.Weeraman. tanker, ‘Tammanna’. ship operation to a bimonthly operation sustainability of the industry as a Lanka Navy. With new strategies in place to During the years 1970-77, on board Neptune Sapphire and whole. Despite persistent challenges, As a force to contend with, CSC has minimise the traffic congestion by spearheaded by the visionary, Neptune Emerald with a competitive the corporation faced severe blow, yet continued to flourish in competition creating water-based transport for the P.B.Karadawela, Chairman of CSC and advantage as South Asia’s exclusive the fifth Executive Presdient, Mahinda with larger privately owned shipping people to generating foreign exports Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping container operator. Rajapaksha took bold steps in lines, flying the Sri Lankan flag and imports and more, the national and Tourism, the Sri Lanka maritime Gearing for the future, Colombo Port reviving the floundering corporation, worldwide. Alluding to the broad carrier, CSC bears a great industry made giant strides by rapidly established the Aust-Iran Service which did not own any ships, to being vision of President, Gotabaya responsibility in fulfilling the role gaining new frontiers such as the offering specialised services for the owners of its largest fleet during Rajapaksa into building Sri Lanka as entrusted to it in reviving the establishing of the Colombo Dockyard. container vessels. As the Sole Agent, his rule. a maritime hub is the vision and maritime industry of the country. Dialog Retail Analytics Dankotuwa, most loved Solution launched homeware brand Dialog Enterprise their customer/visit or facilitated with an Intrusion Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC, tableware – one with remarkable pandemic. At Dankotuwa, we recently launched the behaviour to make Detection feature that renowned for its luxurious and whiteness that radiates a sense have always taken pride in our Dialog Video Surveillance decisions that positively monitors and automatically elegant porcelain tableware, was of pristine beauty, Dankotuwa heritage and have earned respect based Retail Analytics impact sales and enable detects any physical amongst the ‘best of best’ Porcelain continues to win the amongst our customers for the Solution in partnership their companies to forecast intrusion on the premises. homeware brand for the year hearts of millions. simple reason of maintaining with Microsoft and Zone and plan their marketing In these cases, it generates 2021. The ‘Best of the Best’ Commenting on their international quality standards 24x7 (Pvt) Ltd. initiatives, enable better an alarm to alert the brands in Sri Lanka is a regular achievements Dankotuwa in every product we manufacture This superior staff planning, improve relevant authorities and research conducted and Porcelain PLC Chief Executive and at everything we do. surveillance system is a employee well-being and divisional key stakeholders. compiled on an annual basis by Officer Channa Gunawardana Therefore it’s certainly secure, AI-driven, video sales and evaluate the This solution requires no Brand Finance and published by stated, “The last financial year encouraging to see Dankotuwa analytics solution that will company’s Return on special hardware units and LMD. saw the resilience of the being acknowledged for the assist enterprises in Investment (ROI). can be easily integrated Globally recognised for its Dankotuwa Porcelain brand as it values the brand espouses”, unlocking insightful data It outputs real-time with the existing customer luxurious and elegant porcelain weathered the COVID-19 Gunawardana added. to better drive their analytical data such as cameras whilst further business decisions. Occupancy Count, Age offering Enterprise This Dialog Retail Classification, Gender customers a Pay-As-You- Analytics Solution provides Identification and many Use option as a result of its Dialog Enterprise more meaningful insights. collaborative efforts with People driving change sees CTC customers with actionable In addition to this, the Microsoft as “Infrastructure data to better understand solution is further As A Service (IAAS)”. achieveing IWS Phase 1 Certification Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC, manner. When embedded, it However, the team was Bold and which introduced IWS (Integrated enables a business to attain Fast in how they approached Work Systems) in 2015, breakthrough results through these challenges, working to find successfully obtained IWS Phase 1 100% people ownership and the right solutions. We started Fairfirst Agents certification in May this year, and involvement. Through capability our IWS Journey in 2015 and one of the underlying factors that building under the principle one of the underlying factors we became the focus was ensuring ‘Learn -Do-Teach’ to give more focused on was ensuring ownership and buy in at all levels empowerment and ownership to ownership and buy in at all levels Leading Industry With – people driving and being the our people which results in a – our people driving the change. I change. step change in how operations believe this is the fundamental Speaking on this momentous are carried out. reason behind our success.” achievement, Alexander Ugarte, “The IWS framework became Nedal Salem, Chief Executive Highest Pass Marks CTC’s Operations Director said, an invaluable tool for us to Officer of CTC, speaking on the “We could not have achieved this enhance our skills. It not only certification, said “The agility, At the 2021 Sri Lanka without the passion and strengthened our theoretical and resilience of each person in Insurance Institute dedication of our people. Our knowledge, but also built our our operations is to be Examinations, held by the talented employees have always ability to convert what we learnt commended as we achieve this Sri Lanka Insurance been our biggest strength, and into practice. This helped us to important milestone. I am Institute (SLII), Fairfirst this is the culmination of all their operate the machinery more extremely happy with this Agents have been leading hard work. This great achievement efficiently. Being given ownership outcome and very proud of how the General Insurance was only possible thanks to the to drive this from the front they worked together, never industry with best results persistent work and during this boosted our confidence and taking their eyes off the end by recording a pass rate of journey we were able to continue brought us close to our targets,” goal. They have truly embodied 100% compared to the moving forward, looking for said Samitha Chandrasekara, our ethos and shown that their industry average of 55% in solutions and working as one Equipment Owner. winning spirit, will always April. This industry team towards success. CTC’s IWS Manager Udara triumph over adversity. I take beating pass mark for IWS is a comprehensive Viduranga stated, “Our journey this opportunity to extend my Fairfirst Agents comes on business transformation model was not an easy one, especially heartfelt thanks to every single the heels of the Company that leads to end to end business in the past year with the member of our operations recording a pass rate of transformation in a phased-out challenges brought on by COVID. team.” 73% compared to the industry average of 67% in Anil Fonseka – National Head of Manjari Kumarage - Head of March and a pass rate of Agency Sales Force Management, Human Resources, Fairfirst 82% compared to the Fairfirst Insurance Insurance industry average of 78% in ComBank supports healthcare sector January. in Sri Lanka, SLII endures Agents success and future SLII operates as the its commitment to Agents to progress with More than 16 Government only accredited body to pursuing professional fairness.” hospitals and Medical Officers of licensed Insurance Agents excellence. Anil Fonseka – National Health (MOH) offices around the in Sri Lanka. In this light, Commenting on the Head of Agency Sales Force country have received medical they are the sole success of the agents, Management, Fairfirst equipment and personal educational body forged Manjari Kumarage - Head Insurance said, protective gear, to date, under with several affiliations of Human Resources, ‘Congratulations to our an initiative implemented by the including, The Chartered Fairfirst Insurance states, Agents for their Commercial Bank of Ceylon in Insurance Institute of ‘We at Fairfirst focus on commitment and optimism response to the COVID-19 London and the Insurance attracting and nurturing in helping us be the best. pandemic. Institute of India to offer a the quality of our Our organisation challenge The donations made by the broad range of recognised employees. As a company is to support and empower Bank’s CSR Trust to ensure the qualifications at that is driven by fairness, I talented individuals and safety of caregivers, enhance the Certificate, Diploma and am very pleased to say that convert them into business quality of healthcare Advanced Diploma levels with such outstanding leaders. I believe that a experienced by patients, and and oxygen concentrators. in Peradeniya, National Hospital for Insurers. With a results and on a company’s best awards are help curb the spread of the virus The beneficiary hospitals of Sri Lanka in Colombo, the mission of enhancing the consecutive basis, proves its people as they are the include Personal Protection include the District/Base Lady Ridgeway Children’s efficiency, progression and true to our core values of ones to bring fairness in Equipment (PPE) kits, KN95 face Hospitals in Tissamaharama, Hospital in Colombo, the MOH general development empathy, authenticity, our dealings in turn masks, surgical masks, hand Homagama, and Teldeniya, offices in Matale and Puttalam, among personnel engaged transparency and social emphasizing what the sanitizers, Slit lamps, pulse General Hospitals in Kandy and and the Sri Lanka College of or employed in insurance responsibility. I wish our company stands for.’ oximeters, multipara monitors Kegalle, the Teaching Hospital Internal Medicine. SPORTS MONDAY 7 JUNE 2021 A9

India tour of Sri Lanka Asian Zonal Hybrid Chess C’ship - Day 5 Suryakumar the SL players have good day National Chess Champion Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage, one of the overnight leaders, guy to watch drew his game against higher rated International Master Mohammad Minhaz Uddin from Bangladesh, to score a total 4 points out of 5 games. Only Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman of out for: Prasad Bangladesh scored a point Former India chief selector Prasad also explained what and stayed in the lead with 4 MSK Prasad has picked separates the current crop of ½ points. Level with Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage Mumbai Indians superstar cricketers from the previous Ranindu on 4 points are Suryakumar Yadav as the batch of the 90s. Prasad three players from player to watch out for in the highlighted Suryakumar’s Bangladesh - Grandmaster upcoming Sri Lanka series. At a sensational batting debut in Enamul Hossain, time when the Virat Kohli-led the T20Is against Eoin International Master Abu Team India will be busy playing Morgan’s England. After Safin Shakil and New Zealand and England in missing out on a chance to bat International Master Hasan the longest format of the game, in his debut match, Paharang Mehdi. the Indian think tank will make Suryakumar showcased his FIDE Master Susal de the most of India’s world-class batting brilliance by scoring a Silva played a beautiful bench for the Sri Lanka tour. crucial half-century (57) game to beat the higher The Indian selectors are against England in his second rated Biswas Subrota (2268) tasked to assemble a second- international appearance for in the 5th round, and now Susal de Silva string squad for India’s tour of the Kohli-led side. has 3 ½ points out of 5 Sri Lanka, which will feature “The skill level back then was games. Starting with French twin white-ball series between similar to what we have now. Defence, Winawer, he the Islanders and the Men in But the confidence levels of the outplayed his opponent from Blue. Prasad, who has been on boys today are five times more the Kings side. He stays in the hot seat before, expects than what we had then. Simple the third bunch with three Mumbai Indians batsman example: first ball, other Bangladeshi players. Suryakumar to be India’s go-to Suryakumar Yadav, gets an Buddhika Amarasinghe man in the white-ball series opportunity to play in a T20I also had a good day to beat against the Islanders. The game, smashes one of the best Ahmed Mahatabbudin Asian giants will be without the bowlers in the world for a six. (2035) of Bangladesh, and services of skipper Virat Kohli Or Ishan Kishan, the way he now has 3 points. and his deputy Rohit Sharma deliver the goods against Sri Khan (named standby for the blasted the opposition Results of 5th Round: C.B. Amarasinghe in the Sri Lanka white-ball Lanka. UK tour). He has been (England) on debut,” Prasad Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage series. “Suryakumar Yadav is the excellent in the IPL, and it added. Prasad asserted that he (2203) drew Minhaz Uddin (Bangladesh - 2268) Prasad feels Indian guy to watch out for. Ishan and would be unfortunate to see won’t be surprised if India’s Mohammad (Bangladesh - A.A.C.B. Amarasinghe youngsters and remaining Sanju also have a great him miss out on playing in second-string side manages to 2278) (1873) beat Mahtabuddin seasoned campaigners in the opportunity at hand. I would either series,” Prasad was upstage Sri Lanka in their den. Susal de Silva (2085) beat Ahmed (Bangladesh - 2035) Indian Premier League (IPL) will have also loved to see Avesh quoted as saying. (Agencies) Biswas Subrota (IR)

BCB Oliveira powers investigating bio-bubble to third career win Portuguese rider Miguel Marquez (Honda) and Italian breach Oliveira held off a late surge from Valentino Rossi (Yamaha-SRT) Frenchman Johann Zarco to win retired after crashes. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has the Catalan MotoGP on Sunday. Zarco, who has still to win in the started an investigation on a biosecure Australian Jack Miller took MotoGP class, moved through bubble breach during a practice session of third after championship the pack late in the race but was the ongoing Dhaka Premier League (DPL). leader Fabio Quartararo was hit not quite able to catch the This is the first such reported incident with a three-second penalty for smooth-riding Oliveira. since the tournament started on 31 May, straying off the track a few laps “The last two laps I tried to with match venues and four team hotels from the end. catch Miguel,” said Zarco. “But coming under the Board’s biosecure “Everything was so hard: tyre he was also controlling well. I bubble. management, keeping cool when was not close enough to try to The incident reportedly took place on Fabio was putting the pressure attack him.” Friday, during Mohammedan Sporting on me for so many laps,” said The race was the first this Club’s training session, when Oliveira, who rides for KTM. season to allow fans, with a captain Shakib Al Hasan was having a “I kept it really cool when he crowd of 24,000, 20 percent of batting session at the indoor facilities of overtook me. I saw my chance on capacity permitted. the Shere Bangla National Stadium in the straight and overtook him Miguel Oliveira celebrates on the podium After crossing the line, Oliveira Dhaka. The BCB is investigating the entry back. It was the perfect race.” raced to the stands to collect a of an outsider although the identity of the Both Quartararo and Miller led Nice also finished the race Miller climbed to third, Portuguese flag. person remains unknown. briefly, but both had problems barechested, after unzipping his overtaking his Ducati team- “Thank you to all the fans “We are disappointed to note this on a warm Catalan afternoon. jacket, pulling out his chest mate, Italian Francesco Bagnaia, here. Everything has been incident,” Kazi Inam Ahmed, the Chairman Frenchman Quartararo was protector and discarding it. who was seventh on Sunday. amazing this weekend with the of Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis penalised three seconds for Quartararo remains top of the Spanish title holder Joan Mir public back in the grandstand, (CCDM), said. “Both the CCDM and the going way off the track on rider standings, but Zarco (Suzuki), who started 10th on and it feels good to be back to BCB have taken this very seriously. The his Yamaha at the chicane four (Ducati satellite team Pramac), the grid, finished fifth, while normal,” said Oliveira. health and safety of our teams, players, laps from the end. The rider from cut the gap to just 17 points. multiple world champions Marc (Agencies) and officials are most important to us. We have invested a significant amount of funds and efforts to make sure the BSE (bio-security environment) protocols are in place including the best possible accommodation and logistics. This incident is being looked into and necessary Zidansek action and further precautionary measures will be taken. The tournament’s Disciplinary Committee is supposed to investigate the storms into incident. The BCB said before the tournament that any breach could mean a fine, suspension, and even point French Open QF deductions for the club. The DPL is taking place during the latest phase of lockdown, which began on 5 Tamara Zidansek became the first woman from April. Bangladesh is experiencing a second Slovenia to reach the singles quarter-finals of a wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with 43 Grand Slam on Sunday with a 7-6(4) 6-1 victory deaths and another 1,447 positives cases over unseeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea at the in the last 24 hours. French Open. The pair traded breaks in the first The BCB though remain hopeful that the two games of a tight opening set on Court Suzanne tournament can finish this time, after it Lenglen before Zidansek raised her level in the was postponed in March 2020. For that, tiebreak to take advantage in the match, when an the Board has pulled out all the stops, error-prone Cirstea hit a forehand wide. including shortening the tournament to World number 85 Zidansek had never been T20 format and paying for the biosecure beyond the second round at a Grand Slam before bubble of all 12 teams and match officials, this year’s tournament in Paris, but it was 2009 who are put up in four five-star hotels in Roland Garros quarter-finalist Cirstea who showed Dhaka. The cost of the bubble is in excess signs of nerves at the start of the second set. of Taka 7 crore (USD 825,230 approx). The 23-year-old Zidansek became more Bangladesh’s first-class competition, the aggressive as Cirstea struggled to move freely National Cricket League, also remains because of an ankle issue and raced ahead 5-0 postponed since April this year. before closing out the victory in 86 minutes. (Agencies) Zidansek will face 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova or Spain’s Paula Badosa in the last eight. (Reuters) A10 MONDAY 7 JUNE 2021 SPORTS 2022 World Cup qualifiers SL Suffer Heartbreaking Defeat Despite Wazim Double Sujan and Co. give SL belief to dream big with historic effort against a top ranked team Wazim Razeek celebrates after netting his second goal

By Mustaq Sydeen easy,” said the Lebanese coach post out firing on all cylinders, while the result, although I’m very sorry the thrilling encounter. making a few changes. M. Fazal and because we were very close to get the Football on the rise Sri Lanka may not have a further Both sides spent the early moments Kavindu Ishan made way for Dilon de deserved point. We made some in Sri Lanka role to play in the ongoing 2022 getting a measure of each other, but Silva and M Aakib. The Changes paid defensive mistakes in the first half World Cup Qualifiers, but despite Sri Lanka were the first to make immediate dividends when Razeek that cost us quite cheap goals Inclusion of 19-year-old debutant Dilon making a premature exit, head inroads when Wazim Razeek sent the netted home from the spot after he unfortunately,” said Sri Lanka de Silva (UK based player), Marvin coach Amir Alagic should be looking ball between the Lebanon goalkeeper’s was fouled in the box, just after the tactician Amir Alagic after the boys’ Hamilton (UK based player) and Wazim to the future with confidence after legs to put the underdogs ahead in the hour mark, to pull Sri Lanka back into brilliant effort. Razeek (German based player) to the his side showed great courage 10th minute, courtesy a brilliant the game. However, in what proved to be a squad boosted Sri Lanka’s attack and during Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at the through ball from former skipper Sri Lanka with one goal deficit kept memorable game, Alagic’s boys not took the game into a different dimension, hands of 93rd ranked Lebanon. Kavindu Ishan. on pressing hard and were almost only proved their capabilities, but also where they played some eye-catching ‘Valiant’ is the word to best But the islanders failed to cling to rewarded when Razeek was inches gave a reminder to the Sri Lankan football which was a treat to watch. describe Sri Lanka’s efforts on a day the lead, as Lebanon produced the away from pulling one back, when his football fans that everything is not Ceylon Today learns inclusion of these which will be etched in the memory perfect response. They equalized in free-kick from a narrow angle hit the lost, and they have every right to foreign recruits can actually contribute a of the country’s football fans for the very next minute when Mohamad woodwork. dream big. And given the way they lot to the National team due to their ages. Wazim Razeek, the hero for Sri Haidar’s in-swinging free-kick from With 15 minutes of play left, Sri stood toe to toe against a team way versatility on the field. Recruiting such Lanka with two goals (one in each the right was headed home by Joan Lanka gave their best shot in the final ahead of us - both in the ranking and talent will be a much faster route to half), almost took his team over the Oumari. 10 minutes in a determined effort to experience - Sri Lanka will take a leap making progress in the international line against a strong Lebanon team, Lebanon doubled their lead in the make a comeback, but all their efforts forward on the big stage of World arena in the future. who had to work hard for their 17th minute when Mohamad Kdouh to find the back of the net failed as the Football in the not-too-distant future. In the recent past, countries such as victory. headed Hussein Zein’s cross from the Lebanese defence absorbed the With zero points from five matches, Asian champions Qatar and China have “First, the Lebanese team must right wing to the top corner. Just pressure and clung on to their lead Sri Lanka will remain in fourth spot in drafted players of foreign nationalities work mentally because most of our before the first half, Joan Oumari desperately. Group ‘H’, headed by Son Heung- into their squads and achieved success. players are down. They thought they scored his second goal to give Lebanon “As I said before, this is a warm-up min’s South Korea, who have 10 Following a similar route Sri Lanka’s could win this game against Sri a comfortable 3-1 lead at the end of game before the SAFF Games and to points from four matches, while National squad would naturally be Lanka easily; that’s the big mistake the first half. see which level we are at. To be Lebanon is in second place with 10 strengthened in the years to come. they made. Nothing in football is Into the second half, Sri Lanka came honest, I don’t care too much about points.

Ahead of England tour Federer withdraws from French Players refuse to sign contracts Open with Wimbledon in mind Sri Lanka’s limited-overs tour their “first priority is to play for but also criteria such as Former world number one rest.” Tournament director of England, due to start later our country” and that they leadership and professionalism. Roger Federer, who is Guy Forget said: “The French this month, has been thrown would continue to do so “even if They feature increased targeting a record 21st Grand Open is sorry to see Roger into doubt after an escalation in Sri Lanka Cricket refuse to pay bonuses, particularly for Slam title at Wimbledon, Federer withdraw from the the dispute between Sri Lanka us at all”. winning series, but impose withdrew from the French tournament but he put up a Cricket (SLC) and the players. Contracts have been offered to significant pay cuts on many Open on Sunday, a day after great fight last night. All 24 members of the squad 24 players, down from the 30 players. winning a tough third-round “We were all delighted to see announced on Friday are among who previously had deals. In SLC says the new match, opting to save himself him back in Paris, where he the 36 signatories of a statement addition to improving their own arrangements are intended to for the grass-court season. played three top-level released on Saturday which pay and conditions, the 24 want incentivise good performances, “After discussions with my matches. We wish him all the explains their refusal to sign more of their colleagues to be with the team having won just team, I decided that I should best for the rest of the new central contracts. retained. one of their last eight series in withdraw from the French season.” Seven-time Grand The deadline set by SLC for “Because of problems with the all formats, but they have been Open today,” Federer said in Slam champion Mats the contracts to be signed transparency of the ratings denounced by the players’ a statement released by the Wilander said Federer’s passed on Thursday, and with system devised by SLC, the lawyer for being ‘unfair and French Tennis Federation. decision made sense as the no resolution there are likely to players will not sign,” the opaque’. “After two knee operations eight-time Wimbledon be temporary contracts put in statement said. “In addition, the Aravinda de Silva, the former and more than a year of champion had more chance place to cover the tour, a device players have decided they will Sri Lanka captain who now rehabilitation, it’s important to succeed on grass. which has been used since the not sign the contracts until works at SLC and helped to that I listen to my body and Switzerland’s Roger Federer “It proves that it’s a long- previous central contracts players who have performed well create the proposed new pay not rush back into pondering whether to term project for him to come expired last October. in past years are looked after structure, said last week that competition,” the 39-year-old participate in the second back. For me, that’s good There is little time for fairly.” players “should get into the Swiss added. week of the claycourt Grand news because it shows he’s significant negotiation, with the The proposed contracts middle and play positive cricket Federer, who has hardly Slam as his season goal was going to be around for a bit squad due to depart in the early implement a new pay structure, and start winning games for played in the last 17 months Wimbledon, the grass-court longer,” Wilander, a tennis hours of Wednesday morning, with players categorised not only the country rather than because of a knee injury, major starting on June 28. expert for Eurosport, said. though the players stated that according to their performances, complaining.” suffered physically in his “We go through these “Obviously, he got the four-set, late-night victory matches... we analyse them matches that he needed and over German Dominik highly and look on what’s he wanted. The main period Koepfer on Saturday and next and we’ll do the same for him over the years is the decided to end his Roland tonight and tomorrow,” he grass-court season –- he Garros campaign ahead of said. “Because I need to obviously enjoys all the Grand Sergio Perez wins Azerbaijan GP what would have been a decide if I keep on playing or Slams and different surfaces punishing fourth-round not, or is it not too much risk but grass comes so naturally Verstappen and Hamilton crash match against Italian Matteo at this moment to keep to him and that’s where he Berrettini. He had said after pushing or is this just a has had the most success. Sergio Perez won a dramatic gung-ho move on Perez for the Saturday’s match that he was perfect way to just take a (Reuters) Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Max win, only to run down the escape Verstappen crashed out from road at the opening corner in a the lead with just five laps plume of tyre smoke. remaining following a horror tyre “I am so sorry, guys,” said the failure at 200mph, and Lewis world champion. Hamilton threw away second Sebastian Vettel rolled back Hassan smashes women’s place to finish 15th. the years to drive from 11th to Verstappen looked poised to second to claim Aston Martin’s race to the flag following a slow best result of their return with 10,000 metres world record pit stop for Hamilton. Pierre Gasly third for Alpha But a terrifying rear-left Tauri. Dutch long-distance runner Tokyo Games, blowing away puncture sent the Red Bull Hamilton’s late mistake means Sifan Hassan broke the the competition and sprinting driver out of control and into the Verstappen remains four points women's 10,000 metres world solo across the line with her concrete wall on the right-hand ahead of the British driver after record on Sunday, clocking arms outstretched in side of the start-finish straight. the opening six rounds. 29 minutes 6.82 seconds in a celebration. "Wow, to run this Verstappen was able to walk Hamilton started from second Continental Tour meeting on world record here today in away from the high-speed crash, before taking the lead at the home soil in Hengelo, World Hengelo is something I could kicking the tyre which had beginning of the third lap when Athletics said. only dream of," the Ethiopian- failed, with the safety car he roared past pole-sitter Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana born Hassan said. Sergio Perez celebrates deployed. Charles Leclerc on the start- held the previous record of "It's the perfect confirmation The race was then suspended asked of Formula One’s tyre finish straight. 29:17.45, set at the 2016 Rio of the hard work we've put in on lap 49 of 51 after Red Bull supplier, Pirelli, after Lance Verstappen and team-mate Olympics, but Hassan shaved getting ready for Tokyo. I am Sporting Director Jonathan Stroll also suffered a high-speed Perez followed suit on laps seven more than 10 seconds off that so happy to share this record Wheatley urged FIA Race Chief blowout on lap 31. and eight to put the pressure on mark. Hassan is the reigning in front of my Dutch fans." Michal Masi to red-flag the event The drivers were permitted to Hamilton, who had been unable world champion having won Hassan also holds the fearing another devastating take on fresh rubber for what to build a gap in a Mercedes gold in Doha in 2019 and the record for the mile, one-hour puncture. was effectively a two-lap race, which has largely been off the 28-year-old set down a event and five-kilometre road Indeed, questions will now be before Hamilton launched a pace this weekend. (Agencies) marker before next month's race (Reuters)