COVID-19 Regulations Toughened
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Failure to arrest Bathiudeen AG tells CID DIG to FRIDAY 16 october 2020 uphold rule of law LATEST EDITION VOL: 09/254 PRICE : Rs 30.00 BY HANSI NANAYAKKARA Attorney General (AG), Dappula de Livera has given instructions In Sports to the DIG in charge of the CID, to take measures to always uphold Sri Lankan-Venezuelan the rule of law and to act in a manner in which the public could couple in action place their implicit trust in them, in Poland rather than acting in a manner that would result in the trust Sri Lanka and South Asian record being lost. holder of the women’s Marathon, This was said by the AG’s Hiruni Keshara Wijayaratne, made Coordinating Officer, State yet another unusually long journey to Counsel Nishara Jayaratne,... Gdynia Poland on... A16 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Using Intel Units to trace COVID-19 infected National Security COVID-19 not jeopardised – Army Chief Regulations Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva said the use of Intelligence Units to detect COVID-19 infected persons throughout the country will in no way leave National Security in jeopardy. “Ensuring national security does not mean soldiers being deployed at strategic places, Toughened brandishing firearms. There are several aspects to national security. Some of those aspects are food security, power security, political protection, war security, environmental security and cyber security. Minister signs Authorities enabled What the Army does is to look into aspects such as the security side of things. Health protection also Special Gazette to prosecute violators falls under national security. Fine not exceeding Facemask a must Rs 10,000 and/or when entering six months in jail work places Shops, pharmacies in curfew areas open today from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE who violate regulations on health safety measures for COVID-19 prevention. Minister of Health and Indigenous Medical Media Spokesman of the Ministry, Viraj Abeysinghe Services, Pavithra Wanniarachchi yesterday (15) said, accordingly, the public would have to adhere to signed the Special Gazette, which would allow the maintaining the one-metre social distance and to relevant authorities to take legal action against those wear the facemask while in public places. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Killing of Kotte IP Dias Padmasiri Once A/L Exams are over Bathiudeen seeks Temple monks testifies in Court: LPBOA threatens order preventing arrest Accused indicted Did not consider to suspend bus BY KAMAL WEERARATNE after eight years Mahindananda’s services inherited property All Ceylon Makkal Congress MP Rishad BY HANSI NANAYAKKARA BY EUNICE RUTH Bathiudeen, yesterday (15), filed a writ petition of 174 acres, tea through his lawyers at the Court of Appeal, seeking Colombo High Court Judge Damith Private bus services an order preventing his arrest by the CID on the Thotawatta, yesterday (15), served factory as assets around the country orders of Acting IGP Chandana D. Wickramaratne. indictments to an accused who was will be suspended The petitioner has named eight persons, including produced before him, on charges of after 6 November, Wickramaratne, the DIG of the CID and its Director, committing the murder of two resident Rs 3.9M in question once the A/L Exams as respondents. Buddhist monks at the Kotte Raja Maha paid off in three months are completed, said The writ petition which was filed through the Vihara Temple. President of the Gowrie Thavarasa law firm, has urged the Court to The accused was identified as M.A. Lanka Private Bus convene either today (16) or on 19 October. Suresh Chanaka. No misappropriation of Owners’ Association The Attorney General has indicted funds had occurred (LPBOA), Gemunu Story Continued on PAGE 10 Chanaka on charges of murdering Wijeratne. Buddhist monks Ven. Boralesgamuwe BY HANSI NANAYAkkARA He explained that due to the current Gunaratne Thera and Ven. Pitigala Jinasiri COVID-19 threat, passengers are not Arresting Bathiudeen Thera, after having colluded with the Retired IP of the using public transport as earlier and Harsha Manju Sri Manikeerthi (now CID, Dias Padmasiri, that it is causing a massive loss. deceased), on 30 March, eight years ago. giving testimony “In the last few days, after monitoring CID informs the Speaker before Colombo High passenger movements, we have reduced Court Judge Adithya the number of buses by 60 per cent,” he BY W.K. PRASAD MANJU Patabendige, as a added. witness, said Violating COVID-19 guidelines The CID has informed Speaker of Parliament, yesterday (15) that Story Continued on Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, yesterday (15) that though details had PAGE 2 they are taking steps to arrest All Ceylon Makkal Clubgoers fined come to light that Congress MP Rishad Bathiudeen. Minister of Agriculture Sirisena tells Easter The CID has informed this to the Speaker in Mahindananda Attacks PCoI keeping with the tradition of briefing the Speaker Rs 1,500 each Aluthgamage, who before any MP is arrested by them. had functioned as the BY AMILA ABEYRATNE President of the Sri IP Nishantha’s Lanka Freedom Colombo Fort Magistrate Priyantha Labour Congress (SLFLC), had possessed probes backed by Liyanage, yesterday (15), ordered a fine of 174 acres of tea and coconut estates, LTTE sympathisers Ranil admits Rs1,500 each to be paid by four women which had been bequeathed to him by his and three men who were produced in parents, such information had not been BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA Court, on the allegation that they engaged considered during the probe that was ACCS paid DSG in a malicious activity which could result conducted against him by the CID. in the spread of the COVID-19 virus, by He said the accused Minister had Most of the being in a club without wearing face obtained the sum in question, Rs 3.9 investigations Thusith Mudalige masks. million,... conducted by Inspector of Police BY FAADHILA THASSIM (IP) Nishantha Silva of the Criminal Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Investigation admitted that payments of over Rs 33 million were Department (CID), made to the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat Bathiudeen learnt of his who fled the (ACCS) from February 2015 to July 2017, from the country last year, Prime Minister’s Office. were influenced Testifying before the Presidential Commission of imminent arrest on radio – CID and supported by Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to probe political certain non- victimisation of public officials during the tenure of Abandoned vehicle and fled governmental the United National Front (UNF) Government organisations yesterday (15), he said payments were made through BY CHAMARA AMARASURIYA Puttalam-Chilaw Main Road and fled. (NGOs) affiliated the Prime Minister’s Office, in accordance with the He had arrived in Colombo from Puttalam with the LTTE, former President set financial regulations. The CID has uncovered during with an escort vehicle on 13 October. He had Maithripala Sirisena said. Chairman of the PCoI, retired Supreme Court investigations that when former Minister been listening to a private radio channel on He was testifying before the Judge, Justice Upali Abeyratne, questioning Rishad Bathiudeen had heard the news that the vehicle radio while travelling, CID sources Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Wickremesinghe based on a document, queried as to he would soon be arrested,on his vehicle said. the bombings on 21 April 2019, Easter whether he was aware that the payment of... radio, he had abandoned the vehicle on the As soon as the former Minister heard the... Sunday, on 14 October. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 10 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER 2020 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Did not consider... COVID-19 Regulations... ... as a loan after having nor the officials of the through the sale of his duty Those who violate the with COVID-19 infections being Minuwangoda. In his letter, he followed the due procedure, SLFLC had lodged any free permit which he had gazetted health safety measures treated by the Hospital noted that the information while the probe had complaints to that effect been entitled to as a would, upon conviction by a including those suspected to provided to the media regarding revealed that Aluthgamage and noted that only Janatha Parliamentarian or through Court, be imposed a fine not have contracted the Virus. Of the current status updates had repaid the said sum Vimukthi Peramuna a loan amounting to Rs 10 exceeding Rs 10,000 and/or a them however, only 75 had directly affected the COVID-19 within a 90-day period. He Politburo Member million from the Bank of term of imprisonment of six tested positive for COVID-19. control and prevention opined that it was obvious Wasantha Samarasinghe Ceylon branch situated at months. The Hospital initially specified mechanism. The data should to him that there had not had lodged a complaint, in the Parliament complex. In addition, the Gazette that it could cater to 130 not affect the public, he said, been any misappropriation that connection, with the The witness said that he specifies the entry to and COVID-19 patients, they said. stressing on the need for it to be of funds during the CID. He then informed the now cannot either maintenance of businesses and Responding to questions, channeled to the mass media transaction. Court that the plaintiff remember or recall clearly workplaces. Accordingly, a sources said that currently the only through authorised offices The witness made these Samarasinghe, had lodged a as to whether the accused facemask should be worn when ICU of the Hospital was being once approved by the Health submissions, to Justice written complaint with the Minister had sold the duty entering a business or a newly constructed and that if a Secretary. Patabendige, while giving CID on 30 January, five free permit or whether he workplace while the person necessity arose, where a patient Although in his letter, he testimony in the case filed years ago, urging the CID, had sold a second hand should on all occasions have required ICU care, steps would identifies Chief Epidemiologist against Aluthgamage, who to probe the incident based vehicle.