Corruption at Sathosa tuesday Bandula calls for 29 september 2020 forensic audit Latest Edition Vol: 09/241 Price : Rs 30.00 By W.K. Prasad Manju

Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardena said, tenders had been called from internationally reputed audit firms to carry out a forensic audit into losses running up to millions in State institutions of the Ministry of Trade and Commerce during the previous United National Front-led regime. He said, he had received information that these losses had been incurred by State institutions such as Sathosa,...

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Challenging 20th Amendment

New Diamond oil tanker 39 Petitions AG’s request to Before SC remand skipper 21 of them 36 intervenient dismissed By Hansi Nanayakkara recently, till charges are filed against him at the Colombo filed yesterday petitions also filed Colombo Chief Magistrate High Court, after he had Mohammad Mihal yesterday been named as a suspect. By Kamal Weeraratna (28), dismissed a request, The Magistrate ordered the made by Attorney General suspect’s passport to be Comedian Twenty-one (21) Special Determination petitions were filed Dappula de Livera, to impounded. Furthermore, he yesterday (28), in the Supreme Court, challenging the remand the Greek Captain of also ordered the Greek proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution, bringing the oil tanker that caught Captain of the oil tanker to Tennison Cooray the total number of petitions filed against the Bill fire off the Eastern seas here support the probe... thus far to 39. passes away Also, 36 intervenient petitions, to make submissions opposed to the 39 Special Famous comedian Tennison Cooray Determination petitions, were also filed passed away aged 68 yesterday (28), with the Apex Court yesterday. while receiving treatment at the Colombo The 39 Special Determination National Hospital, family sources said. petitions are to be perused by a Cooray acted in films and stage five-Judge Bench comprising dramas, in addition to being a screenplay Chief Justice Jayantha writer, film director, and producer. Jayasuriya and Justices He was well known for his comedy roles Buwaneka Aluwihare, in movies such as ‘Re Daniel Dawal Migel’ Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha ‘Cheriyo’,... Jayawardena and...

Story Continued on page 9 Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 Rs 2,000 spot fine Three in Court Pujith tells Easter Attacks PCoI Jamaat-e-Islam for lane law violators for killing leopard SDIG Latheef informed published extremist about impending attacks articles – Witness By Chamara Amarasuriya By Eunice Ruth By Buddhika Samaraweera By Buddhika Samaraweera Director of the Motor Traffic and Road Safety Three persons were produced in the Division of Police, SSP Indika Hapugoda said, a fine Teldeniya Magistrate's Court yesterday Former Commandant of the Special Task Former Chairman of the Jamaat-e- of Rs 2,000 will be imposed on errant drivers who (28), for killing and attempting to sell Force (STF), Senior DIG M.R. Latheef was Islam organisation, Hajjul Akbar flout the road priority lane regulations, which came parts of a leopard. informed about the intelligence on the Maulawi acknowledged that several into effect from yesterday (28). OIC Ududumbara Police, Dushantha possibility of a terror attack, both in writing magazines published by them contained Hapugoda also warned that offenders will be Kaangara stated that on receiving and over the phone, said former IGP Pujith teachings on extremist activities that punished on the spot irrespective of the status or information from the public, they had Jayasundera. would eventually lead to the influence wielded by them. gone to the location of the crime on 24 He testified before the Presidential establishment of an Islamic State. September and arrested the suspects Commission of Inquiry into the 21 April 2019 He said this on 26 September, while Story Continued on page 9 along with the meat and equipment used Easter Sunday bombings, yesterday (28). testifying before the Presidential ... for the killing of the animal. In Sri Lanka, thus far 10 leopards Story Continued on page 2 ACCS set up with NEC permission have died due to illegal human activities. Story Continued on page 9 However,this is the first killing in Anura dismisses Ududumbara. Traders selling Rev Dushantha coconuts over ‘girth Rodrigo next Ranil’s claim Bishop of Colombo By Faadhila Thassim price’ in hot water The next Bishop of MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said, Colombo will be Rev said, the statement made by legal action will be instituted against 56 Dushantha Rodrigo, former Prime Minister Ranil traders in several areas for selling coconuts the Archbishop of Wickremesinghe to the effect that above the stipulated price according to the Canterbury Justin the Anti-Corruption Committee circumference. Welby announced Secretariat (ACCS) was The Government recently set a Maximum yesterday (28). established with the permission Retail Price (MRP) for coconuts according to a Welby was asked by of the National Executive Council nut’s circumference. the Diocesan Council (NEC), is untrue. Accordingly, coconuts with circumference to select its next Testifying before the Presidential Commission of over 13 inches are to be sold at Rs 70 each, Diocesan Bishop in Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to probe political... while nuts with a circumference... accordance with its...

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Continued from page 1 39 Petitions... AG’s request... SDIG Latheef...... Vijith Kumara Malalgoda Gazette Notification was ...launched into the incident by the High Court. He further said that as He added though SDIG Latheef had today (29). Acceptance of the published 24 hours later. The Bill Criminal Investigations Department the suspect is a foreign national and testified before the Commission, saying petitions had concluded by 4 p.m. of the 20th Amendment was and to keep the Court briefed as he does not have a permanent that he had not been informed of the yesterday, explained the Senior tabled in Parliament on 22 regarding any change of residence. residence here, he could abscond Intelligence information over the phone, Registrar of the Supreme Court, September, amidst a cacophony Making submissions to Court, future Court proceedings. this however was not correct. “It could be Pradeep Mahamuthugala. of protests from the SJB-led Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris told the Magistrate that due his idea. But I called him on the phone and Election Commission Member Opposition. Peiris said that the prosecution was to the oil leakage from the tanker, a informed regarding it,” he added. Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole, The petitioners have alleged seeking to file charges against the great damage had been caused to the Jayasundera further said he was United National Party General that certain clauses of the suspect at the Colombo High Court, environment off the Eastern seas as confident that SDIG Latheef would take Secretary Akila Viraj proposed Bill flout a number of for failing to adopt safety methods at well as to the eco system. appropriate action in this regard. The Kariyawasam, former Fundamental Rights (FR) and the time of the blaze, failing to notify The Magistrate responded that he witness also said he had received the Parliamentarian Mangala other provisions assured by the the relevant institutions promptly to does not have the authority to remand Intelligence information on 9 April 2019 Samaraweera, MP Rauff Hakeem, current Constitution. The extinguish the blaze and for his the suspect, as he had appeared in and had forwarded the information to four UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan petitioners, through each petition, dereliction of duty as the Captain of Court on being noticed to do so. He senior Police Officers on the same day. ‘I, as Wijewardene, Samagi Jana have stated that the mooted Bill the ship. also ordered the suspect to appear in the IGP, believed that they would take Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mayantha contains provisions that are He therefore urged the Chief Court when noticed in the future as appropriate action’, the witness said. Dissanayake, the Bar Association seriously prejudicial to the public Magistrate, to remand the suspect till well, after furnishing his address to Meanwhile, the Members of the of Sri Lanka President Kalinga such as the removal of the the prosecution files charges at the the Court. Commission questioned the witness as to Indatissa PC, Sirilaka Janatha provisions allowing for the filing of why he did not instruct the Police Officers Peramuna Attorney-at-Law P. FR petitions against the on actions to be taken on the information. Liyanaarachchi, the Chairman of President, drastically curtailing In response, he said according to the the Sri Lanka Audit Services the powers vested with the EC to reconciliation process at the time and the Commission E.A.D. Prasad file legal action against the political environment, he could not do Prasanna Pushpakumara and the violation of directives issued by Anura dismisses... anything beyond it. When queried if he Sri Lanka Press Institute, were the Commission, the preventing of ...victimisation of public officials added that he was unaware that accepted that he should have discussed among those who had filed the the Presidential Secretariat, the during the tenure of the United Wickremesinghe had produced a the matter with the authorities before Special Determination petitions Prime Minister’s Office and State National Front Government, yesterday Cabinet paper containing his name as allowing the officers to work on their own to yesterday. institutions from being audited (28), he added that Wickremesinghe a member of the Anti-Corruption take appropriate action on the information, The rest of the petitions were and removing the restrictions had in reference to a Cabinet paper, Committee Secretariat. he said he felt that he should have done so filed by Arif Samsudeeen, Ibrahim placed preventing a person with formerly testified at the PCoI that the Chairman of the PCoI, retired after the bombings took place. Lebbe, Adam Lebbe Thuan, Eric dual citizenship from contesting establishment of the Secretariat was Supreme Court Judge, Justice Upali He also said he realised the seriousness Senaratne Balasuriya, D.T. future General Elections or done with the approval of the NEC. Abeyratne questioned if of the Intelligence information and referred Pathmasiri, Dr. Visakesa Presidential Polls. The petitioners However, he noted that there was no Samarawickrama, who was an advisor it to officers under him on the same day he Chandrasekaran, M.K. Jayatissa, have further noted that the discussion of such establishment to Wickremesinghe, wasn’t told of his received it. “Officers had, thereafter, taken A.S. Chulasinghe de Soyza, proposed Bill seeks to reintroduce during any of the meetings of the NEC membership, to which steps to inform security officers of Very Bennett Samarasiri Jayawardena, the provisions allowing the in which he appeared. Samarawickrama said he only Important Persons (VIPs) and the Indian P.D.S. Premasiri Gunathileka and submission of emergency Bills, Dissanayake said he only saw the performed duties as Wickremesinghe's High Commission regarding the S.K.S.H.K. Sooriyarachchi. which were invalidated by the Cabinet paper when assessing the economic advisor and that therefore information. Also, some additional security Previously, 12 petitions in this 19th Amendment to the documents produced to the PCoI by he had no knowledge of his name officers had been deployed to the Indian connection had been filed with the Constitution. They have also the complainant, former Ministry of being included. High Commission, since it was mentioned Apex Court on 24 September and informed the Apex Court that Economic Development Secretary, Samarawickrama appeared before as one of the targets of the bombers,” he it had increased up to 18, 24 through the proposed Nihal Jayathilaka. the PCoI based on a complaint lodged also said. hours later. Amendment, the Government has “If the establishment of the by the former Director of the Sri Meanwhile, the Commission questioned The number of Special deleted the power vested with the Secretariat was done with the Lanka Tourism Development the witness as to whether he had informed Determination petitions increased Commission to Investigate approval of the NEC, then it should Authority at the PCoI, D.S. Jayaweera. the SDIG in charge of the Eastern Province to 39 with the 21 that were Allegations of Bribery or have been approved by the Head of Samarawickrama added that he regarding the information, since Zaharan submitted yesterday. Corruption to probe an incident of the NEC, former President Maithripala wasn’t invited to any Anti-Corruption Hashim, Rilwan Hashim, Shahid and Attorney General Dappula de bribery or corruption sans a prior Sirisena," he added. Committee Secretariat meetings and Milhan, whose names were mentioned in Livera has been named as the sole complaint and that it also When questioned if Dissanayake that he didn’t attend any such the Intelligence information, were from the respondent in these petitions. removes the qualifications needed was the coordinator of the Instant meetings, adding that he only learnt Eastern Province. He replied that he had The petitioners claim that to be appointed as the Auditor Response Committee of the Anti- that he was named as a member of not done so. certain provisions of the proposed General. Corruption Committee Secretariat, he the Committee Secretariat, after he "At that time, I did not remember to Bill of the 20th Amendment The 39 petitioners have also said he had no knowledge of such examined the relevant documents inform him about it. But now I think that it severely violate the Articles of the stressed that the proposed Bill appointment and did not operate as a after he was named as a respondent would have been much better if he had country’s 1978 Constitution. flouts the basic rights ensured by coordinator or attend any meeting as to a complaint filed by Jayaweera. been informed," he said. They call for a two-thirds the Constitution, as well as other the coordinator. Jayaweera, providing statements, Responding to a question from the majority of the Parliament and a Articles of the Constitution and Meanwhile, former MP Malik said Additional Solicitor General Commission as to whether the fact that public referendum to pass the therefore they have moved the SC Samarawickrama, also testifying at Thusith Mudalige and a few other relevant information had been referred to controversial Bill. to deliver a verdict declaring that the PCoI yesterday, said he was members of the Anti-Corruption him as "Top Secret" and was it not his duty The Cabinet of Ministers had the said Bill will require a two- unaware that he was named as a Committee Secretariat continued to to consider it as being more serious, the approved the 20th Amendment thirds majority in the House and member of the Anti-Corruption receive salaries and allowances, even witness said the suspects mentioned in the Bill to the Constitution on 2 a public referendum, ahead of its Committee Secretariat during the after the expiry of the tenure of the information had previously been known September and the Extraordinary ratification. tenure of the UNF Government. He Secretariat. only as extremist lecturers. news tuesday 29 september 2020 A3 SL short of 250 M coconuts SLFP Appoints By Thameenah Razeek However, the shortage of development projects coconuts was among the restricted the expansion of The country is facing a reasons why the CDA had to coconut cultivation. shortage of 250 million impose a controlled price for “No matter what, we will coconuts this year, due to coconuts, so that no black never import coconuts at any Committee to various reasons, including the market will be created. point. Measures are underway weather. Hewavithana said this is an to increase the coconut yield The Coconut Development annual shortage that is from the existing cultivation Authority (CDA) said the created every year based on grounds,” he said. annual coconut yield stands various situations. This Another reason for the Review 20A at around 3,000 million nuts. shortage will prevail till shortage is the consumption Secretary to the State January or February 2021, as by local industries increasing, By Thameenah Razeek reviewing the newly Law Sanjaya Gamage and Ministry of Coconut per the forecast done by the while many are exporting proposed Amendment. Dr. Chamil Liyanage. Development, Tissa Authority. Describing other products using coconut oil The SLFP appointed a The committee comprises A SLFP Spokesperson Hewavithana, yesterday (28), issues, Hewavithana said more than during 2019. committee, to review the Minister Nimal Siripala de said the first closed-door said inclement weather despite inclement weather, “Next year, we will forecast proposed 20th Amendment, Silva, Prof. Rohana meeting of the committee resulted in a low-yield of the construction of various and do the production on a comprising 10 Party Lakshman Piyadasa, will be held today (29) at coconuts this year. buildings and other larger scale,” he added. Members, under the Minister Mahinda 5:00 p.m., to examine the patronage of Party General Amaraweera, Dayasiri basic aspects of the Secretary and Jayasekara, State Minister Amendment. Parliamentarian Dayasiri Duminda Dissanayake, MP The recommendations will Jayasekara. Shan Wijayalal de Silva, be handed over to the Health Committee within PSC The committee is tasked President’s Counsel Faiszer committee appointed by with giving Musthapha, MP Sarathi Prime Minister Mahinda recommendations after Dushmantha, Attorney-at- Rajapaksa. Doctors want Cabinet Paper abolished By Dilanthi Jayamanne decisions taken by the Health 10-month delay of the 2020 Ministry in transferring doctors annual transfer list. The Doctors urged health were compromised by the Difficult Station list has been authorities to abolish the Health Committee, as it had arbitrarily changed with Navy Chief inspects Cabinet Paper submitted by gone out of its way to change blatant disregard for the former Premier Ranil those decisions. He alleged that recommendations of the Health Wickremesinghe to set up a their actions had only served to Ministry, he alleged. Northern Naval Command ‘Health Committee’ within the delay doctors’ transfers and He accused the Health Public Service Commission created a crisis. Committee of flouting even the Navy Commander, Vice Admiral (PSC), so that the transfers of Dr. Fernando noted the North and East list of doctors’ Nishantha Ulugetenne inspected the medical practitioners would be GMOA had collaborated with transfers which is implemented Northern Naval Command on 26 handled more efficiently. the Health Ministry in with the concurrence of the September. Secretary of the Government formulating a policy to ensure Supreme Court. He alleged that He made tours of inspection on the Medical Officers Association that the entire country was Post Intern appointments and Sri Lanka Navy Ship (SLNS) Uththara, (GMOA), Dr. Senal Fernando, provided with an equal service. the transfer list of doctors in Elara, Agbo, Gotaimbara, Kanchadewa said yesterday (28) that The policy is implemented the North and East areas had and Welusumana as well as Coastal Wickremesinghe had submitted through a circular issued by all been changed as a result. Observation Points manned by those the Cabinet paper to have a the Director General of Health However, measures have bases. Vice Admiral Ulugetenne took Health Committee set up Services (DGHS). been taken to bring this part in a couple of special events within the PSC to ensure the The current crisis has situation to the attention of organised by the Command as well. smooth transfer of medical resulted in the Health Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa Speaking to a gathering of officers officers. However, it only Ministry’s inability in and Health Minister, Pavithra and sailors from all bases in the created a dilemma, as the presenting annual transfer Wanniarachchi as well, Northern Naval Command, on SLNS technical and scientific policy lists. There has been a Dr. Fernando said. Uththara, Vice Admiral Ulugetenne stressed that they are to be very vigilant in their duties, keeping the to the standard operating procedures strategic environment in mind. He also (SOPs) compiled, to continue the underlined the importance of the routine operations of the organisation solidification of the divisional system to in an efficient manner. maintain discipline among Naval Having reviewed the ongoing personnel, for the smooth construction work of the new administrative function as well as wardroom complex on the SLNS running the Ship’s routine in Uththara, he also called on SLNS Agbo, accordance with time-honoured Naval Elara, Gotaimbara, Kanchadewa and traditions and customs. While pointing Welusumana for inspection. Vice out the necessity of maintaining a Admiral Ulugetenne was invited to join healthy lifestyle and an appropriate in tree planting campaigns as well. body mass index, he emphasised that He concluded the visit on 27 stern disciplinary action would be September, after inspecting the Naval taken against drug-related offences. He Detachment of Nagathiwanthurei, instructed them to follow COVID-19 which is now administered by SLNS preventive measures further, sticking Welusumana. Women MPs should be heard in Parliament – Dr Harini Amarasuriya

By Anuradha Herath comparison to their male counterparts. She said the voice of women MPs National People’s Power National List should not be suppressed unlike in Parliamentarian Dr. Harini the past and warned that such actions Amarasuriya said the time has come would prove to be counter-productive for the voice of female people’s to both the Government and the representatives to be heard within the Opposition. chamber of Parliament like never Dr. Amarasuriya also remarked that before. it was rather unfortunate to see the She charged that present day plight of women who contribute Parliamentary politics did not give due substantially to the country’s recognition to the voice of female economy being overlooked by MPs in people’s representatives to in the House.

Providing safe drinking water by 2030 PUCSL puts out consultation paper By Eunice Ruth regulator for water services on 25 September in the Southern Province, A consultation paper was put out by with the participation of more than the Public Utilities Commission of Sri 200 water consumers, Government Lanka (PUCSL), titled ‘Provincial officials and industry-related Council cooperation for a coordinated, stakeholders submitting more than national approach to provide safe and 40 drinking water-related issues in affordable drinking water for all by Southern Province and solutions for 2030,’ to ensure coordination among the issues. multiple suppliers and entities such An official of the PUCSL noted the as the Department of Irrigation, which PUCSL plans to visit every Province to controls water resources, to meet the listen to the stakeholders on drinking national policy objectives. water-related issues and to provide PUCSL Chairman, Professor Kithsiri solutions. Also, she said the first Liyanage, said it is necessary to create discussion regarding this was held in the proper conditions for investment the North Western Province in early in modern water services and their September 2020, to recommend proper maintenance and distribution. policy advice to the Government. Quality must be raised and gaps in The PUCSL has so far received service provision closed. In Sri Lanka, more than 200 stakeholder the need for water is rising rapidly and submissions on drinking water- the objective of conducting this is to related issues and solutions to the address all the issues of the public issues, while the next drinking water- and other stakeholders. related discussions are planned in A public consultation on water the Central Province and Eastern issues and solutions was conducted Province in October 2020, she by the PUCSL and the designated added. A4 tuesday 29 september 2020 news

To check blood pressure of train commuters President’s utterances Health Ministry holds free clinic The Ministry of Health has clinic had been organised to organised a free clinic aimed mark the 2020 World Heart at checking the blood Day. pressure of train commuters They noted during this now circulars – Handunnetti yesterday (28), today (29) clinic, valuable health and tomorrow (30) opposite instructions will also be Instead of circulars, these conduct the procurement the Colombo Fort Railway given to those who visit it days, what President process,” he added. Station from 9:00 a.m. to concerning how to lead Gotabaya Rajapaksa says is He further pointed out that 4:00 p.m. each day. healthy lives devoid of becoming a circular, JVP the 20th Amendment The Ministry stated this contracting various illnesses. Member Sunil Handunnetti empowers the President to said. appoint the Auditor General He said the 20th and removes the requirement Amendment completely that he be a qualified person. weakens the appointment of “It does not matter whether N&E Tamil Parties object to Govt activities the Auditor General and the the person is qualified or not. audit process and deprives A Colonel can also be the Parliament of its financial Auditor General. The people Hartal a flop control. should oppose the 20th He was speaking at a JVP Amendment which creates Media briefing on 27 this whole backdrop of September in Colombo. legitimacy to rob the people as life goes on “The 20th Amendment and their money. abolishes the independence of If there is a conscience, the Parliament to appoint the ruling party Parliamentarians Auditor General and deprives should oppose this. We urge the Parliament of its powers, statements have been important thing is the removal religious leaders, scholars, by removing State institutions prepared according to the of the Procurement intellectuals, businessmen, that are subject to audit. An appropriate standard. But Commission from the 20th artists and the Media as well audit also examines the under the new 20th Amendment. The procurement as the owners of the Media financial statements of a Amendment, 117 State process follows procedures institutions, and the Buddhist corporation or a board, as well companies have been removed such as the Government clergy to speak up for this as whether those financial from the State audit. The next calling for tenders on how to country,” he further added.

Property and Boy who developed land registration allergy gets donation A boy, who developed an Production, Supply and By Naalir Jamaldeen Periyaneelavanai, allergy after consuming Regulation, Sarath Wijekoon, and Farook Shihan Ondachchimadam, to go digital medication which had been said yesterday (28) that State Karaitivu, Sainthamaruthu, posted to him by his clinic, Minister, Professor Channa Despite the hartal Maligaikadu, Ninthavur, during the COVID-19 crisis Jayasumana had acted as the campaign organised by all Attappalam, By Eunice Ruth feature within the course of earlier this year, received Rs mediator to obtain this Tamil political Parties in the Sammanthurai, next year with the 100,000 from generous donation for 16-year-old Northern and Eastern Mawadippalli, To improve the property partnership of the Bank of donors Dilip Herath and Dr. Lenin Niroshan from Provinces yesterday (28) Sawalakkadai and Central and land registration Ceylon, after implementing Prassanna Ratnayake to Wawahena, Mirigama. He was expressing their objection Camp areas had been system, the Information and and monitoring the system continue receiving treatment. attending a clinic at the Base against the activities of the opened. Communication Technology in all 45 offices, he added. Spokesman for the State Hospital, Mirigama. Government, the day-to-day The schools in the District Agency (ICTA) has developed Subramaniyam further Minister for Pharmaceutical activities in the Ampara functioned as usual. a cloud based system which noted that normally for the District took place as usual The movements of people could enter, update, register quality assurance process of without any hindrance. had also been increased and transfer data using a land registration, it will take The hotels, textile shops yesterday by a considerable digital platform. 59 days but that by using and other business level. Vehicular movements The Programme Head of this system, it can be done establishments remained including public transport ICTA, Gavashkar within five days. Also, he open and roadside vendors services took place Subramaniyam noted that added the system will help to were seen actively engaged smoothly. this project will be reduce all paperwork and in their business in many The Police jointly with the implemented in Colombo by manual work in the Land areas in the Central Camp, Navy and the Army had been December 2020 and that by Registration Department. Kalmunai, Sawalakkadai engaged on duty to provide January 2021 it is expected “In Sri Lanka, there are and Sammanthurai Police protection to those who visit to be implemented in all 45 150,000 commercial limits in the Ampara cities for the purpose of land registry offices. The properties which are District. purchasing goods. pilot project was already registered under the People were seen actively Vegetable businesses at completed in February in the Colombo Municipal Council engaged in usual the Kalmunai Public Market Homagama Division Land and we are currently purchasing activities. and on the suburbs of Registrar’s office and the working to digitalise Popular supermarkets, Kalmunai took place. study of the process, system everything in those shopping centres, However, the business development and software properties also,” he added. pharmacies, banks, filling activities in certain areas development part was done He noted that, this system stations and other business had dropped and remained with some additional will reduce the risk of fraud establishments in the deserted owing to poor improvements, he added. So and data manipulation as District including in public attendance. far, we have scanned and the encrypted data cannot updated about 45,000 be edited, and also, using documents to this digital this system, everyone can system. fulfill their purposes without It is expected to add the even visiting building online fund transaction premises. Army set for colourful 71st Anniversary The Army turns 71 on 10 October, a day occasion, the Commander on behalf of the during the ceremonies at both places, before which is also recognised as the Army Day. Army presented a financial contribution to 1,500 coconut lamps are lit surrounding Founded on 10 October 1949 as the the development of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi the Kirivehera Dagoba premises, the same Ceylon Army, forming its first regular force complex to the Atamasthanadhipathi (prelate evening. SL and Maldives agree under the command of the Earl of Caithness, of all eight sacred places). A special 'perahera' (pageant) with Kavadi Brigadier Roderick Sinclair through the In Anuradhapura tomorrow, Lieutenant dancers of the Army will adorn the Army Act, No. 17 of 1949, it established its General Silva, together with several senior sequence of religious programmes at to draft resolution own Military Academy in Diyatalawa officers would symbolise the Army’s concern Kataragama, before the offer of the 'pooja' afterwards. and goodwill towards injured war heroes and the invocation of blessings on Army Regarding local fishermen in Brigadier Anton Muthukumaru assumed under recuperation at the 'Abhimansala-1' flags take place on the same evening at the the mantle of office, as the first Sri Lankan wellness resort by awarding special gift Devala premises with the participation of Maldivian jails Commander of the then Ceylon Army. The parcels to each of those differently-abled war the Army Commander. Army to-date has been under 22 heroes before joining the inmates for an Likewise, Army members of the Christian By Paneetha Secretary Indu Ratnayake. Commanders. It has expanded with 24 anniversary lunch treat. faith will gather at the St. Thomas' Church Ameresekere At the meeting Razzak, Regiments with combat arms, support arms Organised by the Army Buddhist in Kotte on 6 October for a special mass to expressed his and support service arms. Association, the customary overnight 'pirith' bless the Army, organised by the Army A number of local disappointment at Sri Lanka Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva of the chanting ceremony, is to be attended by Christian Association. A symbolic fishermen are languising in imposing a ban on Maldive Gajaba Regiment has been serving as the 1,000 Army personnel, representing all contribution to the Church development is Maldivian jails due to fish and dry fish imports to 23rd Commander of the Army since 18 islandwide formations, on 1 October at the also to be presented at the same occasion. poaching, the Fisheries Sri Lanka. Razzak requested August 2019, in addition to his office of the Sri Jayawardenepura Army Headquarters On the eve of the forthcoming 71st Army Ministry said on 26 Devananda to remove these Chief of Defence Staff. (HQ) complex where the Army Commander Anniversary, memories of war heroes in September. import restrictions. The Army as the country's most-sought as the Chief Guest is expected to carry the contemporary times will be refreshed and To resolve this situation, Devananda said that he after service provider and the defender of the relic casket and invite the monks for commemorated with flowers on 7 October Fisheries Minister Douglas would speak to the President nation, is currently engaged in a multitude of chanting. The offer of the 'heel daana' at the Battaramulla War Heroes’ Devananda had a meeting to get this ban lifted, which nation-building tasks, community-oriented (breakfast) and alms (saangika daana) to 71 Monument by hundreds of Army soldiers, with Maldivian High he attributed to COVID-19. welfare projects, search and rescue efforts monks, on 2 October culminates that headed by Lieutenant General Silva, Commissioner Omar Abdul It was also agreed to during natural disasters, national segment of the programme at the Army HQ. amidst rhythmic beats of traditional Razzak at the Ministry office exchange and transfer emergencies, infrastructure development On 3 October, the Hindu religious drums. in Colombo on 26 knowledge between the two assignments, and the construction of roads, observances, organised by the Army Hindu The climax of the 71st anniversary with September. countries in respect of playgrounds, schools, among others. Association gets underway at the Sri commemorative ceremonies will reach the The two parties agreed to technology relating to the The chain of commemorative events and Ponnambalam Vaneshwar Kovil at Colombo Galle Face Green on the Army Day on 10 resolve this issue by drafting marine and fisheries sectors ceremonies, the precursor to the forthcoming 13 where a special 'Abhishekam' ritual would October, amid a mammoth gathering of a resolution to the and other know-how, where 71st Anniversary of the Army and the Army bless Army flags. invitees, headed by Commander-in-Chief of satisfaction of both the opinions of fishermen of Day begins this year, giving place to the Islamic prayers to bless the Army the Armed Forces, President Gotabaya countries, The drafing was both countries would also be veneration of the relics of the Buddha, meanwhile are scheduled to take place on 4 Rajapaksa who has been invited by the entrusted to Ministry taken into account. respectively at the Kandy Sri Dalada October at the Jumma Mosque in Colombo Army Chief to receive the salute during the Maligawa yesterday (28), the Anuradhapura 3, following preparations, put in place by the special anniversary Guard of Honour as Jayasri Maha Bodhiya tomorrow (30) and the Muslim Association in the Army. All Muslim the occasion's Chief Guest. Kataragama Kiri Vehera on 5 October. officers and other rankers would participate The landmark 71st Army Anniversary In Kandy, yesterday, the offering of the in this prayer session. Symbolic donations Day parade in Colombo, organised with a Buddha pooja, alms and 'ata pirikara' to 71 are also to be made towards the development column of more than 2,000 troops, members of the Buddhist clergy, 'pirith' of those two sacred places on the same including Colour Squads, Presidential chanting and the invocation of blessings occasions. Truncheons, the President’s ‘Rana symbolically on all the Army flags made up The Kataragama Kiri Vehera premises and Parashuwa’ (Hatchet), the Presidential the initial ceremony of the Army anniversary. the Devala precincts on 5 October will Colours, and the Mascot of the Light The routine and colourful flag blessing remain adorned with Army flags and Infantry, is set to commence with flag- ceremony at the Anuradhapura Jaya Sri illuminations for the conduct of religious raising and other formalities. A formal Maha Bodhi precincts has been fixed for ceremonies for the same purpose with dinner for all ranks on 11 October at tomorrow, with the participation of the Army elaborate segments. The 'gilanpasa and Panagoda brings the anniversary Commander as the Chief Guest. On the same muruthen poojas' (offerings) are to be made commemorative events to a culmination. news tuesday 29 september 2020 A5

Easter Sunday PCoI Fund for CP drastically Ruwan does not recall Zaharan’s arrest being discussed reduced – Kavirathna By Buddhika Samaraweera documents shared by Jayawardena at the National Security Council Samagi Jana Balawegaya Matale There is no money to develop them. Former State Intelligence Service meetings with regard to arresting District Parliamentarian Rohini The Council needs money to uplift Director (SIS), SDIG Nilantha Zaharan, Wijewardene said he does Kavirathna alleged that the funds education in Wilgamuwa and Naula. Jayawardena never informed, during not recall any such matter being approved for the Central Provincial Now, the Council does not have the weekly Intelligence review discussed. Council for 2020 has been reduced money to put in tiles. meetings that I attended, that NTJ "I was not invited to attend the drastically when compared to 2019. They do not give money to develop Leader, Zaharan Hashim should be Intelligence review meetings between She claimed that the Central small scale industries such as arrested, said former State Minister December 2018 and April 2019. Province received Rs 32,975 million traditional cane, brass and silver of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene. Also, during the meetings I attended, in 2019 and Rs 1,637 million in industries in Matale. I challenge the He was testifying, on 24 I noticed that there were certain 2020. four Government MPs from the September, before the Presidential issues between the former Director She was addressing a meeting held Matale District to build roads in Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) of the Terrorism Investigations at Laggala, Kirioya on 27 September. Dambulla and Wilgamuwa tanks are Dambulla, Matale and Rattota. All probing the 21 April 2019, Easter Division, ex- DIG Nalaka de Silva “The Sri Lanka Podujana drying up. There is no money in the funds have been given to the South, Sunday bombings. and Jayawardena with regard to Peramuna politicians from Matale Council to do something for it. In Moneragala, Kurunegala and When an Additional Solicitor Intelligence related information," he and Kandy are silent over this. The Rattota, roads are being destroyed. Gampaha,” she further claimed. General showed him several further said.

Intermittent showers Angoda Lokka’s mother, sister grilled By Nabiya Vaffoor been acquired through heroin security forces are currently trafficking and extortion and investigating the death of the expected – Met Department Four associates, including three pieces of land in the name underworld drug kingpin. the mother and the sister, of of the sister. The two women Meanwhile, the Meegoda the notorious underworld figure had been interrogated for over Police arrested two suspects By Naalir Jamaldeen after 2:00 p.m. He the island will receive ‘Angoda Lokka’, who is reported five hours. The duo had also with five grams of heroin in instructed the residents of showers or thundershowers. to have died in India, had been been questioned with regard to Harakada and three grams of The Meteorology those areas to be vigilant, as The wind speed is expected to summoned to the Western property in the name of Angoda Crystal Methamphetamine (Ice) Department, yesterday (28), there are possibilities of be from 25 to 35 kilometres Province - South Crimes Lokka’s mistress, who is in Batawala on 26 September. predicted that intermittent heavy winds and lightning per hour (kmph) from the Division on 26 September. currently abroad. The Police suspect that this duo showers may occur in the strikes adding that they South Westerly direction. They had been summoned to ‘Angoda Lokka’ was might be involved in the drug Central, Sabaragamuwa and should refrain from going out The wind speed will be from record their statements on 11 presumed to have been killed racketeering of ‘Angoda North Western Provinces and during such occasions and to 45 to 50 kmph in the deep plots of land, believed to have while in hiding in India. India Lokkka’. the Matara and Hambantota avoid using electronic items, and shallow seas from Districts. especially mobile phones. Puttalam extending to While commenting on the He predicted that showers Kankesanturai via Mannar current atmospheric or thundershowers may and from Hambantota conditions, Senior occur in the seas from extending to Pottuvil and Ashraff championed Muslim identity – Sumanthiran Meteorologist, Mohammed Puttalam extending to during such occasions, the Saliheen said many places in Hambantota via Colombo seas of those areas will be By Naalir Jamaldeen commenced his political the Eastern, Uva and Central and Galle. fairly turbulent. The seas of and Farook Shihan Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi Provinces may experience He said certain places of other areas will also be fairly journey with his own political (ITAK) is the only Party which showers or thundershowers other sea areas surrounding rough, Saliheen added. ideologies. has recognised the individual TNA Parliamentarian, M.A. Sumanthiran made these rights to self-determination of Sumanthiran said the late observations on 27 September, Muslims and further claimed Minister M.H.M. Ashraff was while speaking at the 20th that he is not aware of any determined that the Muslims Memorial Day ceremony and other parties giving such should live with their own commemorative oration of the recognition to Muslims. The Challenging 20 A impact on AG, identity at national level. Founder Leader of the Sri constitution of the ITAK He added that Ashraff Lanka Muslim Congress, stresses the equal rights and Parliament, public finance realised the need for unity and Ashraff, held in Sammanthurai. self-determination of Muslims, a united Sri Lanka and Sumanthiran claimed the Sumanthiran said. Auditors file Special Determination petition

By Ruwan Laknath 2007 (as Amended) in which “We are doing this to Jayakody the Government or a public ensure the people’s rights,” corporation or local he emphasised. The Sri Lanka Audit authority holds fifty per Previously, the SLASA had Service Association (SLASA), centum or more of the in writing sought meetings comprising auditors, shares of that company with the President and the including executive grade including the accounts Premier to discuss subject level officers of the Auditor thereof.” related aspects in the 20th General’s (AG) Department, The change proposed Amendment. yesterday (28) filed a Special under the 20th Amendment On 9 September, in a letter Determination Petition in the in this regard is to repeal the addressed to representatives Supreme Court challenging said Article to remove the of religions, the President, aspects in the proposed 20th Office of the Secretary to the the Premier, Ministers, Amendment to the President, the Office of the Parliamentarians, civil Constitution. Secretary to the Prime society activists, trade union The Association will Minister, the CC, and leaders and heads of media challenge the Bill on two especially the companies institutions, the SLASA had grounds, noted its Secretary, registered or deemed to be noted that the 20th R.M.P.A. Janaka while registered under the Amendment would limit the speaking to Ceylon Today. Companies Act, in which the powers afforded to the One ground concerns Government or a public Parliament with regard to changes proposed to Article corporation or local the control of public finance 154(1) of the Constitution authority holds 50 per and limit the scope of the which deals with the duties centum or more of the AG. and functions of the Auditor shares of that company, The 20th Amendment has General and presently holds including the accounts proposed the removal of the that “The AG shall audit all thereof, from being audited ASC and in this regard, the Departments of the by the AG. SLASA noted that the 20th Government, the Office of “The 19th Amendment to Amendment however, does the Secretary to the the Constitution introduced not provide for an President, the Office of the Article 154(1) which appropriate institutional Secretary to the Prime empowered the Parliament framework and body within Minister, the Offices of the concerning control over the Parliament to fulfil the Cabinet of Ministers, the public finance and thereby duties of the ASC. The Judicial Services guaranteed the people’s SLASA has also pointed out Commission, the supremacy by allowing them that they oppose the removal Constitutional Council (CC), to know about the financial under the 20th Amendment the Commissions referred to performance of companies of the power vested with the in the Schedule to Article through the process of AG to audit State entities. 41B (the Election auditing. Therefore, if this Janaka said that they :HHN Commission, the Public power of the people is to be wanted Articles 153 Service Commission, the curtailed through the 20th (including 153A to 153 H) National Police Commission, Amendment, a referendum is and 154 which dealt with the the Audit Service required as otherwise it is AG, the ASC (its Commission [ASC], the unconstitutional,” said constitution, meetings, Human Rights Commission, Janaka. powers and functions, the Commission to The other basis for influencing or attempting to Investigate Allegations of challenging involves a influence a decision of the Bribery or Corruption, the discrepancy that has been ASC or any officer of the Finance Commission, the observed concerning Articles State Audit Service being Delimitation Commission 154 and 148 of the considered an offence, and the National Constitution, the latter immunity from legal Procurement Commission), which currently holds that proceedings, costs and the Parliamentary the Parliament shall have expenses, appeals to the Commissioner for full control over all matters Administrative Appeals Administration, the pertaining to public finance. Tribunal, and being Secretary-General of Janaka added that if the AG answerable to the Parliament, local authorities, does not conduct audits, Parliament) and the duties public corporations, then the Legislature receives and functions of the AG, business and other no audit reports concerning which were introduced by undertakings vested in the the entities not being the 19th Amendment to Government under any audited, with the final result remain as is and for the written law and companies of such being that the amendments and deletions registered or deemed to be Parliament will thus not proposed to the said Articles registered under the possess complete authority under the 20th Amendment Companies Act, No. 7 of concerning public finance. to be removed. A6 tuesday 29 september 2020 Editorial

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Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) Chairman Jayampathy Molligoda said on Friday that three things spurred the current level of high prices that Sri Lanka tea enjoys in the world market today. Speaking at the 126th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA) held at a Colombo hotel, he said that they were (a) The automation of the over 100 year old Colombo Tea auctions, (b) Drought which has impacted tea production in both India and Sri Lanka, (c) Tea attributed as being a health beverage, globally. Molligoda said that the automation of tea auctions, replacing the traditional out crier system, took place because of COVID-19 in March of this year. The SLTB Chairman further said that because of automation, that also assured the trickle down effects of good tea prices, benefiting the small grower to the tea plucker as well. These gains have to be looked at in the context that Sri Lanka tea operates in an environment of low productivity and high costs compared to its competitors, he said. The SLTB Chairman further said that refuse tea, known by the industry as ‘BM Fannings,’ in fact was a gold mine. He however, said that an infinitesimal minority in the trade, comprising not more than two to three per cent, were trying to undermine this part of the industry. Molligoda said that a similar percentage of a minority of tea factory owners were involved in adulterating Sri Lanka tea. He however assured the trade that the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has zero tolerance of such acts of misdemeanour committed by so few in the trade. He also said that steps are being taken to amend the country’s ‘2003 intellectual property law’ so that ‘Ceylon Tea’ will have a global identification by being recognised worldwide as a ‘Geographical Indicator’ (GI), backed by the Geneva based World Trade Organisation (WTO). Molligoda added that the SLTB is in a Rs 550 million campaign with the dual purpose of promoting Sri Lanka tea globally and to provide quality, drought resistant plant material to the tea plantations. He said that the industry includes two million, who live Meaning of 200,000 on this trade, 421,000 small growers and a total of 705 factory owners which also encapsulate Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) as well, and 310 exporters. The industry plans to grow the tea sector to be a US$ three billion industry by 2030, while simultaneously increasing the volume of local tea production to 350 COVID-19 Deaths million kilos annually, by then. The industry, in this By ALEXANDER engagements. to spare more Americans this quest, has got global support from buyers of Sri Lanka FRIEDMAN Since WWII, fewer than fate: Wearing masks, practising tea in the West, led by London based purchasers of Sri 200,000 US troops have died in Those 200,000 people social distancing, and isolating Lanka tea.Tea is Sri Lanka’s fourth largest foreign COVID-19 has now killed all wars combined. Think about cannot be saved. But the infected can save thousands exchange earner. 200,000 people in the United that for a moment. All who lost the next 200,000 still of lives. As individuals, we must There are three factors from Mollligoda’s speech that States. Many Americans – their lives in the Korean War, use credible sources to educate this editorial would focus on. They are automation, tea as including US President Donald the Vietnam War, the first and have a chance. And ourselves and others about the a health beverage and marketing refuse tea. Trump – play down the figure second Persian Gulf Wars, the that is almost exactly right thing to do. We must then SLTB Chairman in his speech said that because of by focusing on victims’ age and almost two-decade-long war in put our knowledge to use and automation Sri Lanka has got good auction prices comorbidities (which include Afghanistan, and the 20-year- how many are at risk behave selflessly in the interest translating to better export value and prices for the small common conditions such as long “War on Terror” number of dying by the end of of the common good. time grower and higher earnings to the tea plucker. diabetes and hypertension) and fewer than those who have this year: experts But it’s not up to individuals Automation allows for greater transparency, from emphasising that they do not quietly perished from COVID- alone. US leaders have a plucking, to auction prices, benefitting all stakeholders, personally know anyone who 19 since February. predict that, on current responsibility to encourage – and from the plucker to the exporter in the supply chain. has died from COVID-19. They Leading causes of trends, more than even enforce – such behaviours. In the wider picture, former Telecom Minister Harin seem unwilling to recognise the 378,000 Americans Likening stay-at-home orders Fernando told this newspaper when he was in power, magnitude of the grief and death aimed at protecting public health that, due to the non-automation of Customs, GoSL was devastation that the pandemic will have died from to slavery – as US Attorney losing revenue to the tune of US$two million daily. has caused. And not only war casualties COVID-19 by 1 General William Barr recently With GoSL facing a revenue shortfall, complemented Americans’ desensitisation to are dwarfed by COVID-19 January 2021. If did – is not only grotesque; it is by wider budget deficits, Sri Lanka cannot afford this the pandemic’s skyrocketing deaths. Fewer than 200,000 an insult to all who have died status quo to continue. It’s hoped that Budget 2021 death toll vindicates Joseph Americans die each year from regulations are eased during this pandemic. would address this shortcoming by mandating the Stalin’s famous observation: the vast majority of the significantly – an US leaders must also fund digitisation of Customs. “One death is a tragedy; a country’s leading causes of high-frequency testing with The other factor was Molligoda referring to refuse tea million is a statistic.” The death, including accidents entirely possible shortened result times. And as a gold mine. This is in contrast to what the Chief danger of this approach, of (169,936), lung disease outcome, especially they must do a better job of Guest at the CTTA AGM, Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh course, is that it relieves (160,201), stroke (146,383), given current educating the public on the Pathirana said. He said that it was alarming to find the Government of its obligation to Alzheimer’s (121,404), diabetes efficacy and safety of rise in refuse tea, in factories manufacturing tea. act – opening the way for far (83,564), and vehicle collisions desensitisation – that vaccination, so that when a The Tea Control Act (TCA) defines ‘refuse tea’ as ‘fluff, more COVID-19 deaths. So it is (37,000). Only heart disease figure could exceed COVID-19 vaccine becomes mature product (not obtained in sweepings, red leaf, worth taking a moment to put and cancer kill more Americans 445,000. That is more available, this deadly outbreak stalk or any other being made tea) the process of this statistic into perspective. in an average year than COVID- can be brought to a swift end. manufacture of tea.’ Currently it’s illegal to export refuse Let’s start with some scale. If 19 has killed in just eight than all US military Americans cannot just sit back tea. However, refuse tea extracts which are used to make 200,000 people stood on one months in 2020. casualties in WWII. and let COVID-19 kill another value added ‘instant’ tea is legal. Meanwhile, there is another’s shoulders, they Yes, 200,000 dead is a 200,000 of their countrymen – or lobbying to make the export of refuse tea legal. would form a structure that statistic. One can visit any national tragedy. even another 1,000. To However, CTTA Chairman Jayantha Karunaratne said would extend nearly within number of COVID-19-tracking Those 200,000 people cannot paraphrase poet Dylan Thomas, that they are against refuse tea exports. “But what we are reach of the International websites, and see the numbers be saved. But the next 200,000 we and our leaders must not go lobbying is to have the enabling environment to attract Space Station. tick up in real time. But we still have a chance. And that is gentle into that good night. All of instant tea manufacturers to set-up shop in Sri Lanka Rarely has a single event – must not forget that each time almost exactly how many are at us must rage against the dying of for export purposes. Currently, Sri Lanka’s instant tea even a protracted war – that number rises, someone risk of dying by the end of this the light. market is dominated by only three exporters, Unilever, produced such a massive has lost their mother, father, year: experts predict that, on Alexander Friedman, a Hayleys and another small time tea manufacturer in number of US casualties. In sister, brother, son, daughter, current trends, more than co-founder of Jackson Hole Galle,” he said. World War I, US military deaths grandparent, friend, neighbour, 378,000 Americans will have Economics, is a former Chief Meanwhile, the third point made in Molligoda’s speech totaled 116,516 – just over half or colleague. And someone has died from COVID-19 by 1 Executive Officer of GAM was the health attributes of tea which has led to the the current COVID-19 death lost their life. January 2021. If regulations are Investments, Chief uplift of its exports. While the health aspect of tea needs toll. As for World War II, Not all deaths from COVID- eased significantly – an entirely Investment Officer of UBS, to be promoted, it would also do well for GoSL to digitise between June 1944 and 8 May 19 could have been avoided. possible outcome, especially Chief Financial Officer of the Customs which would lead to enhance revenues overall, 1945, 104,812 US troops were But the absolute number of given current desensitisation – Bill & Melinda Gates while simultaneously having in place the enabling killed in action in the European deaths need not have reached that figure could exceed Foundation, and White environment to attract instant tea manufacturers, theatre of operations. That the level it has. The death of 445,000. That is more than all House Fellow. globally, to invest in Sri Lanka. includes D-Day, the Battle of 200,000 people from COVID-19 US military casualties in WWII. (Courtesy-www.project- the Bulge, and many more in the US was a preventable Action can and must be taken syndicate.org) Column Tuesday 29 September 2020 A7 Holding Nations and the UN ‘Hostage’

By N Sathiya Moorthy Tuesday said instances of intimidation, harassment and surveillance continue, With his pre-recorded appearance in including threats to families of the UN General Assembly, President disappeared persons in Sri Lanka. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has become the Speaking for the Group, UK’s first Sri Lankan leader to use International Ambassador for Human technology more than ever to reach out Rights, Rita French, in her statement to to the rest of the world. Though the Council said, said that they immediate floor reactions could not be ‘continue to hear concerns about an gauged because of this process, caused increasingly difficult operating by the global COVID-19 pandemic, it environment for civil society and has also underlined the issues on human rights groups in Sri Lanka’. which the world should be expending French also served notice on Sri Lanka, more time, money and energy – but was the Rajapaksa leadership in particular: not doing. “Next March, the Council will consider “At a time when the world is facing a an important report by the High common and an unrivalled threat, the Commissioner, on human rights, ‘United Nations We Need’, I am certain, reconciliation and accountability in Sri will place due emphasis on the Lanka”. sovereign equality of States, respect for Specifically, it will consider the steps territorial integrity and non- taken to implement resolution 30/1, interference in their domestic affairs”, but the “Government of Sri Lanka has President Gotabaya told UNGA. “We been clear to this Council that it no expect the United Nations will place longer supports resolution 30/1. The due emphasis on non-interference in Core Group, once again, reiterates its domestic affairs of other States,” he profound disappointment at this added. development”. Ambassador French As agreed upon by member-nations took on record the Government’s pre-COVID-19 last year, the UN statement on ‘continual commitment to marked its 75th anniversary with a one- fostering reconciliation, justice and day, high-level meeting of the General peaceful coexistence among Sri Lanka’s Assembly on Monday, 21 September “No country is held hostage to the interests of a few”- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa diverse communities’, but was quick to 2020. The theme for the day said it all: add, “such processes previously have ‘The Future We Want, the UN We Need: done directly or through the arms of two years, and ending in March 2022. regrettably proven insufficient to tackle Reaffirming our Collective Commitment the United Nations. They were clear that a new President impunity and deliver real to Multilateralism”. In his address, Shooting from the hip and a new Government would be in reconciliation”. President Gotabaya said that he firmly place by 2019-20, and that there were According to Ambassador French, believed that partnerships fostered From the day Gotabaya Rajapaksa greater chances of the Rajapaksas “This Council will want to pay between Member-States and the UN became President and his SLPP under returning to power. particular attention to how the new continued at their best when no Prime Minister and brother Mahinda Does it meant that the post-30/1 approach, will differ from these country is held hostage to the interests Rajapaksa, a predecessor by two terms, UNHRC process at least was aimed at previous attempts and put the victims of a few. obtained an unmatched and even more targeting the Rajapaksas in office rather of conflict at its heart…The future of In this context, he said that it was the unassailable two-thirds majority in the This time round, than even the Sri Lankan State and the the Independent Commissions responsibility of the UN to assist and Parliamentary Polls this year, it was he was addressing Nation’s armed forces. After all, including the Office on Missing Persons support processes of democratically- clear which way his Government would independent of internal, domestic and Office on Reparations will be elected Governments to bring about handle the UNHRC 30/1 Resolution. A the UN and the squabbles, the previous Government particularly important,” she said. sustainable solutions for needs of their week or so after he obliquely told the General Assembly had greater credibility with the West people. Also, those democratically- Nation in his maiden Independence and also the Nation’s Tamil minorities Battle ready elected Governments (alone) Day address not to push Sri Lanka to a even more particu- and their mainstay TNA polity (of the The Sri Lankan team at the UNHRC understood the pulse and needs of corner, Foreign Minister Dinesh larly, that the par- times) than the Rajapaksas or any other has since given a point-by-point their people the best. Gunawardena told the UNHRC that the may have had at any point in time. rebuttal to High Commissioner President Gotabaya also reiterated country was walking out of the ent should not let If the idea was to beat the iron when Bachelet’s observations in her that Sri Lanka was committed to follow resolution, co-sponsored by the earlier the ward be a it was hot, the UNHRC and the Core bi-annual report to the Council. But a neutral foreign policy with no Government of the Sirisena- Group should have got what they with both the UNHRC chief and the affiliations to any particular country or Wickremesinghe duo. hand-maiden of a wanted then, not stopping with Core Group having served notice to Sri power bloc. Read with other parts and As a no-nonsense army veteran who select few mem- celebrating the relatively lesser Lanka on what to expect in the aspects of the address, the President did not mince words, Gotabaya has initiative of the Wickremesinghe upcoming March session, it may be was possibly telling the ‘international been shooting from his hip on the ber-nations. There dispensation in terms of the ‘Office of time for Colombo to look at its options community’ that their perceptions of UNHRC process and the unilateral and is nothing to read Missing Persons’ and the like. Even on and get battle-ready, if that is where it Sri Lanka’s China relations under the one-sided approach of the West and this score, the earlier Rajapaksa- leads the nation, too. Rajapaksas should not be a cause for more so the UN affiliates in his earlier between the lines created institutions like the LLRC and It will then be interesting to see them to hold the Indian Ocean island- speeches. This time round, he was in this. The the Paranagama Commission did more where the mainline political Opposition Nation ‘hostage’. addressing the UN and the General work, seeking more support and in the country stands. At the height of In a pointed reference to the role of Assembly even more particularly, that President was tell- cooperation from the West, to identity the post-war UNHRC sessions, terrorism and attended war-crimes the parent should not let the ward be a ‘missing persons’ hiding in those Wickremesinghe and company, then in issues used to target the country, hand-maiden of a select few member- ing the world body nations, as citizens and with aliases in the Opposition, could look the other President Gotabaya, said without nations. not to push Sri many cases (possibly). way when President Mahinda naming the latter: “Sri Lanka, having There is nothing to read between the Rajapaksa’s Government made things experienced separatism and terrorism lines in this. The President was telling Lanka beyond a Taking it forward easier for them, by simply declining to for nearly three decades, condemns all the world body not to push Sri Lanka point In her report, High Commissioner engage with the UNHRC, which terrorist acts in the strongest possible beyond a point. Two, it should also let Bachelet referred, ‘among other Colombo said, was pre-disposed to and terms, be it domestic or international. select nations to use it as a tool and developments’ to the ‘the proposed 20th pre-determined, too. In spite of its elimination from the Sri forum to push a few others (especially a Amendment to the Constitution’, which It is not unlikely that the Gotabaya Lankan soil, the international network select few from the Third World) in to a the friendly regime of the Sirisena- she said, ‘may negatively impact on the Government may seek to bring in the of this terrorist outfit remains, pushing corner (and expect them not to react, in Wickremesinghe duo earlier, for action independence of key institutions, Opposition SJB, led by Sajith its ruthless ideology and influencing the only ways that they could). on the commitment. including the National Human Rights Premadasa, and other political parties certain Capitals to spread its baseless Incidentally, the UK has replaced the Commission’. She wanted the like the JVP on board. While the lies and propaganda.” Reneging on commitments US, the original sponsor of the original ‘surveillance and intimidation of Rajapaksas seem to have decided on He added: “We are hopeful that no In her bi-annual report to the resolution in 2012. As if out of the blue, victims, their families, human rights their overseas strategy – and their State will tolerate activities of this UNHRC earlier in the month, High the US walked out of the UNHRC one defenders, journalists and lawyers tactics alone may remain to be fine- international network which continues Commissioner Michele Bachelet said fine morning – no questions asked. should cease immediately’. tuned – the UNHRC may provide them to espouse and propagate violent that the Sri Lankan Government was What kind of lessons that such a In fine diplomatese, the High an opportunity to corner the domestic ideology under different guises and ‘swiftly reneging on its commitments to behaviour on the part of the world’s Commissioner sought to ‘encourage the ‘Opposition’, instead. manifestations.” Translated, it meant the Human Rights Council since it single-most power nation give in their Council to give renewed attention to Sri (The writer is Distinguished the West should shut down the shops withdrew its support for resolution own conduct vis-a-vis the UN and other Lanka, in view of the need to prevent Fellow and Head-Chennai Initiative, of pro-LTTE Diaspora groups before 30/1.’ True as it may be, given the international organisations – and their threats to peace, reconciliation and Observer Research Foundation, the preaching human rights and war crime official Sri Lankan position, it is own international commitments? sustainable development’. Taking off multi-disciplinary Indian public- probes to Colombo – not that as a anybody’s guess why the UNHRC and Instead, in instalment, they gave the from where High Commissioner policy think-tank, headquartered in sovereign State, Sri Lanka would have also the ‘Core Group’ of nations that previous Government time in Bachelet left, the self-appointed Core New Delhi. email: sathiyam54@ suffered such interference, whether sponsored the resolution, did not press instalments, the last one extending full Group on Sri Lanka at the UN on nsathiyamoorthy.com) The Weird Beard Authority By Shanika Pitigala in my younger days when I was not fish altogether, expect for a very few hear, workers are alarmed or worried beards to be a little scary, but does it that good looking to even attract a alarmingly similar habits such as when their boss has a beard, probably mean that men without beards are not As most of what I write started the bearded wild boar. However, I realised being a spendthrift. those childhood scary stories of the bosses?. It is funny when men say, ‘oh other day during a family birthday that the question had never actually Anyway, coming back to beards and man with a beard who abducts you I grow this beard because I cannot party, this weird conversation (as left me even though I consoled myself bearded men, I have seen many a and takes you to the dry fish sellers. show my authority’ but to think of it, it weird as it can get during a family thinking I am attracted to bearded posts on social media that say when a Now going back to this weird beard isn’t funny at all. The question is, does dinner), about beards sprang up. men because my father always had a man is clean shaven he looks rather story, most bearded men I know are of that beard play a main role in Since I am this crazy beard lover since beard, from the youngest days that I younger than his biological age. And the view that an un-kept, unshaven authority, like most Naval Officers and my younger days, it became rather an remember. many believe that a beard could make beard would give the scares to any their well-maintained beards. Well I interesting conversation. Talking of my younger days, my a man look older than his actual employee working under them. I know must say, every time I see a sailor I was much teased by my mother always says that the one thing biological age. for sure that infants are really scared of collared man with a beard, the only classmates for my very rare liking that differentiated other men from my Keeping all this aside, I have heard a beards but grownups? I wonder authority that I remember is captain towards bearded boys rather ‘men’ in father to me was his beard, and million stories of how people are whether every man wants to have a Haddock in adventures of Tin-Tin. their words. They used to say that anyone who had a similar beard scared of bearded people and that beard to prove the saying ‘men without I guess the beard does have some men with beards weren’t as handsome (rather un-kept), I end up calling them most men with beards look weird, beards are not real men’ is wrong. I also authority after all, maybe it is the as they think they are but for some thaththi. Funny I thought, and funnier rather they are criminals or some know of boys now turned men who attraction after all, whether the beard unknown reason I always enjoyed when I remember this story and I try to creepy guy, at least that was a console really tried hard to grow beards, just is grey, white or black, I myself must beaming over a bearded face and I relate things, well my husband has a for most parents, to show their kids because they didn’t want to be teased. confess that I fell for a boss with the actually gave it much thought as I beard not as ‘kept’ as my father’s beard this weird guy with a beard and say he However, this phenomenon that most un-kept beard. Well, most men had given it the night before. Why was but stands close. Oh, now you must be was a kidnapper and the stories would employees can be tamed with a beard who governed Sri Lanka never had I so attracted to men with beards? thinking that I call my husband add on. But as of recently, with the sounded a little creepy, but thinking of beards, but I think they settled for a This was a question that haunted me thaththi oh no, he is quite a different stories of offices that we hear, rather I the odds, even I find bosses with moustache. A8 tuesday 29 september 2020 column

Foreign Funds, Friends & Foes The Special Session and Its Aftermath By Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha next day I had to go to London where with no understanding of pressures several media interviews had been mounting internationally till in The West wanted negotiations about arranged. August 2011 the New York Times our text, which we were happy to On the 4th, almost as I landed I had claimed the Ministry finally admitted engage in, Dayan going to the an interview with the Daily Telegraph, what everyone else had known all meetings with the Indian and the and later the Guardian and BBC along. Pakistani Ambassadors to support Radio, with a Television interview in The Times said that we him. The latter Zamir Akram had between for a Sri Lankan expatriate ‘acknowledged for the first time that arrived the previous year and followed channel. But I went that evening to civilian casualties occurred in the his predecessor Masood Khan in Eton to stay with my friend John final phase of its 26-year war against being a good friend of ours. The Harrison, for I wanted some relief Tamil Tiger rebels, but called the Indian Ambassador Gopinathan had from the situation. The next day I had deaths unavoidable.’ My 2009 arrived very recently but he too interviews with the Economist and the Guardian interview shows this was immediately became one of our Daily Mail, before escaping to Oxford not true. But the Peace Secretariat strongest allies, as his predecessor though there too I had to make a was gone and defence of the country Swashpawan Singh had been, and presentation for the Sri Lanka Society at an intellectual level left to those was scathing about something Pillay in the garden of the Oxford Union. who understood neither logic nor the had said at the March session. But the next day was entirely free, intelligence of those ranged against The Western delegation was led by for seeing old friends and walking them. the Germans, the British being far too round the Meadows, and next day wily to put themselves forward. Dayan back in London I was also able to see UNHRC annual workshop said his supporters were deeply old friends though before that were I had lunch that day with the committed, and at one stage spoke to Indian Ambassador Gopinathan Pakistani Ambassador Zamir Akram meetings with those of the diaspora, journalist Tom Abrahams whose each other in a language he could not Sinhala and Tamil, who were parents had been at the Indian High understand – Urdu – and told him not reason being that I had been invited sympathetic to the Government. Then Commission in Colombo and become to accept a change he had thought he to the wedding of an old friend in I went back to Geneva for more good friends of my parents. And then would. Hamburg on the 30th. So, the day I learnt a lot intense interactions. that evening I went to San Remo for Meanwhile we were also talking to after the Sesssion, 28 May, I flew to then about the the annual workshop organised by other countries, and managed to get Hamburg, bought myself a couple of Intense interactions the UNHRC which Kalin had invited the whole hearted support of both the opera tickets for when I got back, and rules in place to The first of these was disappointing, me to attend. I was lucky enough to Brazilians and the South Africans, then took a train to Copenhagen, to for it was with Mohan who told me the drive down with him from Nice for we which swayed other countries in those use these two days to look up our protect the Secretary of Defence was angry with had taken the same flight. continents. Indeed Uruguay which Danish family friends, whom we knew displaced, and I me because I had told the Guardian I participated in the seminar for two had signed the requisition for a from Canada in the fifties and with that between 3000 and 5000 civilians full days, but had to leave on the third special session ended up voting with whom I had stayed on my way to believe we had died. I had also made it clear that for Dayan wanted me back in Geneva. us. Oxford in 1971. adhered to them much of this was because the Tigers It was a fascinating experience, not Since a text could not be agreed on, Finn and Lene were older now, so I used them as human shields, and it least because it made clear to me how the West moved amendments but the stayed in a hotel but called to make and those who was clear that I was denying that we comparatively lucky we, and our Cubans moved a procedural motion arrangements for the next couple of had been culpable. displaced, were. that these not be taken up, and that days, having confirmed nothing had suffered It was sad then that, if indeed The West was fussing about us was carried. Dayan had made a previously given we had not been sure from the Tigers Gotabaya Rajapaksa had expressed keeping them detained for a long time brilliant speech at the beginning of how things would go in Geneva. I anger, Mohan did not advise him to but it was clear they cared nothing the session, and he insisted I make pottered about that evening, and next ended up far read the full article and also point out about those who had been made the closing address, given how morning went to the Thorvaldsen better off than that going into denial would serve no refugees for decades because of experienced I was by now in getting a Museum I had found so fascinating purpose. Perhaps he was too arbitrary Western interventions, as lot into the short time allowed. He told 38 years earlier. Then I had lunch many victims of obsequious to argue or possibly had happened with the creation of me later that Mohan had expected to with Lene and Finn, and then went to war over the wanted to cut me down as a threat to Israel. speak at the end, and had written up the house of their eldest daughter his dominance. Back to Geneva a speech – most inappropriate for one Barbara, who had spent some time in world needed to respond to what was said – Sri Lanka when she was young, Civilian casualties I learnt a lot then about the rules in and that probably contributed to his working at the Prithipura home. I had Because of the fatuous approach, place to protect the displaced, and I irritation with us. supper there with the family, early as when finally in 2011 the Ministry believe we adhered to them and those My speech went well and, when the was their wont, before heading back became great friends. granted that civilian casualties had who had suffered from the Tigers vote was taken, we won handsomely into town for another restful evening. I had lunch the next day with Andre occurred, it was seen as having been ended up far better off than many with 29 countries supporting our The next morning Barbara brought and that evening saw ‘Attila’ at the forced to admit what everyone knew. victims of war over the world. resolution, a much greater number her oldest child whom I had missed Opera, and the next day the The impression given was that the I got back to Geneva on the 11th, than the Americans ever got for the the previous day to see me for tea at ‘Meistersingers’. I did little else during more we were attacked, the more we relieved there was no immediate crisis resolutions against us in subsequent the hotel, and then I took the train those two days, for I needed the would admit faults but I think Dayan had sensed years. back to Hamburg. The reception that relaxation. It was silly of Mohan to subscribe to something of what was going on, I was so tired then that I refused evening was a grand affair, and I was the technique he thought Gotabaya namely a feeling in Government that Mahinda Samarasinghe’s suggestion delighted to see Jack’s cousin there, Regular Council session Rajapaksa wanted, perhaps thinking he should no longer play a dominant that we go out to dinner, which again Andre von Grafenried, Swiss On 2 June then I went back to after Dayan’s easy victory in Geneva role since he had served his purpose. may have been taken amiss. Instead I Ambassador to Sri Lanka in the Geneva, and went after lunch with the that we were impregnable, that of the But there was nothing to discuss, so went to Dayan’s to collapse over a nineties. I had not at Oxford taken Minister to hear him speak at the ostrich, namely burying one’s head in having attended the sessions over two bottle of wine and a very light supper. very seriously Jack’s claims about his Palais in the High Level segment, and the sand, hoping the problem would days, spoken at a Sidebar arranged by noble Swiss relations, and did not then met Philip Alston and another go away. It didn’t and things got Amnesty, spoken about the UPR and Hamburg to Denmark particularly want to call the Rapporteur. The next day I responded worse. written a couple of articles, I went The regular session of the Council Ambassador when he told me his to two sets of rapporteurs at the An easy position to defend soon back to Colombo on Saturday 13th. I was to begin the following week but I cousin had been appointed, but soon Palais, and prepared a response to after the war became impossible as was not to be in Geneva again with did not go back home in between, one after that Andre called me and we NGOs, but I could not deliver it for the the country dug its head in deeper, Dayan. Swedish Solution? By Michael Gregson presumably immune survivors in the worrying resurgence of COVID-19 population grows high enough, the infections because many people seem Right wing politicians – especially spread of the disease slows down to have set aside months of caution in the UK and US – praise Sweden for because encounters between the in favour of full-on social life once supposedly letting COVID-19 rip infected and the susceptible become again. while it makes a priority of the rare. Avoiding lockdown may Though still with a COVID-19 economy and personal liberty. But conceivably have helped with this. caseload much lower than in many Sweden has a fatality rate of 58.1 per other European countries, Sweden 100,000 and saw Gross Domestic Rapid herd immunity has recorded a gradual rise in new Product (GDP) fall by 8.3 per cent in Sweden’s chief epidemiologist, infections in recent weeks. Prime the second quarter alone, worse on Anders Tegnell, has insisted the aim Minister Stefan Lofven said Swedes both counts than Denmark, Finland was not to achieve rapid herd had recently become too relaxed and Norway. immunity, but to slow the spread about heeding anti-COVID-19 Unlike most of Europe, Sweden enough for health services to cope. guidelines. never instigated a lockdown, The crisis was ‘a marathon, not a “The caution that existed in the preferring to rely on social sprint’, he has repeatedly said, spring has more and more been distancing. This resulted in a very arguing Sweden’s approach may replaced by hugs and parties, bus high death rate compared with that prove more sustainable than trips in rush-hour traffic, and an seen in its Nordic neighbours; 58.1 lockdowns. And the Scandinavian everyday life that, for many, seems to per 100,000, where the rate in country could ‘provide lessons for the return to normal. What we do right Denmark is 11.1, in Finland 6.19 global community,’ admits a senior now, we will be glad of later. What we and in Norway 4.93. It is not clear World Health Organisation official. do wrong now, we will suffer for that this high death rate bought Dorit Nitzan, the WHO’s regional later,” Lofven said. Sweden any immediate economic emergency director for Europe, said Is Sweden’s COVID-19 strategy worth it? He urged Swedes to adhere to advantage. Its GDP fell in the second Sweden’s focus on sustainability over social distancing and good hygiene quarter – in much the same way as time, citizen engagement and make it effective’. gyms stayed open; masks have not standards, warning the government GDPs did elsewhere. voluntary compliance was interesting Unlike many countries, Sweden been recommended. was ready to introduce stricter It is possible that by accepting so because ‘this is the time we all have closed colleges and universities for Big questions remain, however, measures if needed to curb the many deaths upfront Sweden may to learn to live with this virus’. the over-16s, but kept schools for about the Swedish approach, which spread of the virus. see fewer of them in the future, for But Nitzan stressed there was no younger pupils open. The country has been bitterly contested by some As the pandemic drags on, Sweden two reasons. One is the phenomenon ‘one size fits all’ solution and every also banned gatherings of more than within and outside Sweden. While and much of the world – including Sri known, in a rather macabre piece of approach should be based on 50 people, and urged those over 70 polls show most Swedes back it, Lanka – seems to be suffering from jargon, as ‘harvesting’. Those most situation and context. If the WHO and in at-risk groups to self-isolate. critics have accused Tegnell and creeping COVID-fatigue. Social likely to succumb do so early on, was keen to learn more from Sweden, Otherwise, the country’s 10 million Sweden’s public health agency of distancing is disappearing and many reducing the number of deaths seen it was because it saw the country as people were asked, not ordered, to stubbornly ignoring both scientific people are no longer bothering with later. The other possibility is that one that had ‘adapted its response to respect physical distancing and work evidence and some WHO masks – maybe a sharp increase in Sweden will benefit from a level of its people’s behaviour and from home if possible, which most recommendations. cases will remind them why the herd immunity: once the number of background, and leveraged that to did. Shops, bars, restaurants and Some areas of Sweden are seeing a precautions are so important. news tuesday 29 september 2020 A9

Jayasundera tells Easter Attacks PCoI Ban on import of motor vehicles NTJ operated with impunity Govt must find Due to Police Dept being in the dark By Buddhika whereabouts, Jayasundera said Magistrate’s Court on Samaraweera both the SIS and the CID Mohideen. The CID first had to should be held responsible for execute the arrest warrant and alternative National Thowheed Jamath it. produce him in Court without (NTJ) Leader Zaharan Hashim Jayasundera also said the using him as an informant,” he By Anuradha Herath and his followers could operate SIS was out of his control and said. He also said the CID could – ICEU President without the fear of getting that he could not point out any not use a suspect who was The President of the Inter-Company persons who had been employed in arrested due to the Police shortcomings of the Intelligence supposed to be arrested as an Employees Union (ICEU), Wasantha businesses related to the import of various Department being in the dark information forwarded by the informant, without executing Samarasinghe said since the Government goods and items had been laid off. He regarding their Islamist SIS to his office the particular arrest warrant. has decided to curtail the import of motor opined that of this number, some 150,000 extremist activities, said former “The duty of any officer or When Commission Members vehicles, then they should also implement had been engaged in the sale of IGP Pujith Jayasundera. institutions is not over until a questioned the witness as to a mechanism to meet the demands of the motorcycles, motorcars and three- Jayasundera was testifying particular task is completed, so why he, as the IGP, was not able public for vehicles in the domestic market. wheelers. before the Presidential the SIS also should have to execute the arrest warrants He warned that if not, the public will be He also added that those who had Commission of Inquiry into the informed the relevant officials on Zaharan and his followers, forced to purchase second hand vehicles drawn a monthly salary of Rs 100,000 bombings on 21 April 2019, that the CID did not take steps Jayasundera said, as the IGP, at the price of a brand new one in the before the emergence of the pandemic Easter Sunday, yesterday (28). to arrest him.” he could not perform every duty local vehicle market. had been compelled to make ends meet When Commission Members Commission Members also at the Police Department. Samarasinghe alleged that in the wake of with a modest monthly salary of Rs questioned him regarding the questioned the witness Jayasundera added that “the the COVID-19 pandemic, some 300,000 10,000 since. failure of the CID to arrest regarding the CID’s use of IGP should be accountable for Army Mohideen, one of the ‘Army Mohideen’ as an the proceedings of the entire hardcore followers of Zaharan, informant, while there was a Police Department and all Police despite the State Intelligence warrant issued for his arrest. Officers under the IGP have to Service (SIS) having given “There was an arrest warrant bear the responsibility for information on his issued by the Batticaloa arresting a person.” SJB MP urges suspect Sarah to be brought down from India

By Anuradha Herath He said as a Catholic he was supportive of the action being instituted by the SLIATE to be Degree awarding Institute Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. present Government to disclose the Kavinda Jayawardena has urged identity behind last year’s carnage on President Gotabhaya awarding Institute. Commission, Senior Prof. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take Easter Sunday. Rajapaksa has given The President had advised Sampath Amaratunga. measures at State level to bring down the The SJB MP also urged the President to instructions to turn the Sri the Secretary Ministry of Sources said the President suspect known as ‘Sarah’ from India prosecute all those behind the Easter Lanka Institute of Advanced Education, Prof. Kapila Perera has urged the provisions in while she is alleged to have been involved Sunday attacks irrespective of the Technological Education and Chairman of the the Universities Act No. 16 of in last year’s Easter Sunday terror political clout wielded by them or their (SLIATE) into an Degree University Grants 1978 to facilitate the process. attacks. status in society.

Testifying before PCoI Case against Narco dealing PNB men Aware of Islamist extremist Seized Pistol belonged to the Army - DSG

By Hansi Nanayakkara Prison. He then noted that till this teachings - Fmr IGP The prosecution was represented firearm was located from the Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa by Peiris and senior officers from Balapitiya area in 2020, it has still Would have impact on reconciliation Peiris yesterday (28) informed the Criminal Investigations to be found where it had lain in Colombo Chief Magistrate Department. the ensuing period since 1996. Mohammad Mihal, that The prosecution told Court that The prosecution also told the process during tenure of UNF investigations had revealed that a from the probe conducted into Court that the investigators would pistol which had been recovered suspect A.D. Manjula, who had also need to ascertain how a By Buddhika Samaraweera 2019 Easter Sunday bombings from among five firearms seized allegedly distributed the stock of weapon belonging to the Army had yesterday (28). from the possession of a suspect, illegal drugs at Balapitiya, after it come to be possessed by illegal I, as the Inspector General of Jayasundara said although he who is detained on charges of had been transported there from drug peddlers. Police (IGP), was aware that had received information with heroin trafficking, had turned out Matara by the suspect PNB Attorney-at-Law Ajith Pathirana, extremist activities and teachings regard to the activities of Islamist to be a weapon belonging to the officers, it had come to light that appearing for the 13 suspect PNB of Islamist extremists would have extremists by the end of 2018, he Army. Manjula had possessed 11 kilos of officers, said that he would need an impact on the reconciliation could not share information since He made this submission to heroin, three pistols and two Type- more time to make submissions, to process during the tenure of the he was prevented from attending Court, when the case pertaining to 56 rifles and that they had also the Chief Magistrate, concerning a United National Front-led the National Security Council (NSC) the 13 Police Narcotic Bureau probed the numbers of the seized previous request made by the Government, but higher officials meetings by former President (PNB) officers, having maintained firearms. defence to enlarge the defendants differed in their opinion regarding Maithripala Sirisena. links with big-time illegal drug Peiris informed the Court that it on bail. this, said former IGP Pujith He also said he was not able to peddlers, was taken up. has been revealed that a pistol had The Magistrate ordered the Jayasundara. ascertain what was discussed at The 13 suspect PNB officers were belonged to the Army and it had defence to make the necessary He was testifying before the the NSC meetings and could not not produced in Court due to been issued to the Jaffna Security submissions to him on 7 October, Presidential Commission of Inquiry even send a senior official to attend health reasons and are currently Forces Command on 31 December, and further remanded the (PCoI) investigating the 21 April the NSC on my behalf. detained at the Angunkolapelessa 24 years ago. suspects till 12 October.

Continued from page 1

Comedian Tennison... Three in...

... ‘Peralikarayo’, ‘Somy Boys’, and Similar incidents had previously Officer of the Department of Wildlife public and estate owners. Presently, public to help preserve the animals in ‘Weda Bari Tarzan’. taken place in Bogawantalawa, Hatton Conservation, Hasini Sarathchandra we are conducting several awareness the country by communicating with The final rites will be held on 1 October and Nawala, he added. Kaangara said added they have cleared several programmes to make the public aware the Department immediately to report at the Methodist Church, Moratumulla, parts of the remains were given to a snares in estates which caused animal in order to prevent these animal incidents of a similar nature using at 3:30 p.m. veterinarian for testing. Publicity deaths, with the help of both the deaths, she added. She urged the relevant hotlines (1992 and 1991).

Jamaat-e-Islam... Rev Dushantha... Traders selling...... Commission of Inquiry into the have been published in the magazine. ... Constitution, when they found ... between 12-13 inches gazetted that no importer, bombings on 21 April 2019 Easter The Commission also said of the themselves unable to do so last month. He are to be sold at Rs 65, and producer, distributor or Sunday. magazine's call for the killing of non- did this in his capacity as the Metropolitan nuts with circumference trader will be allowed to The Commission drew the witness’ Islamic followers in a dialogue between head of the Church of Ceylon. below 12 inches are to be sell or offer/display for attention to several articles in a two children. When queried if learning Welby said, “I am pleased to announce sold at Rs 60. sale the listed items, above magazine published by the about such matters could lead that Rev Rodrigo is to be the next Bishop of The Government the new MRP. organisation. One of those articles children and students to engage in Colombo. I congratulated him personally by stated, an Islamic State can only be extremist activities, the witness telephone on 25 September and am glad to built through Jihad and bloodshed. It admitted the same. declare my support for him publicly also said, if one hopes to establish an The witness also said the aim of the yesterday. Please accept my apologies that it Islamic State without conducting JI, which is active in countries such as has taken me a little time to understand the Rs 2,000 spot... Jihad, it is a daydream. Pakistan and Bangladesh, was to build needs of the Diocese, and to identify the When queried if it was appropriate an Islamic State and that the Sri qualities that will be needed in its next According to Police, errant regulations, some 1,200 had for a magazine published by a religious Lankan JI's aim was not to do so since Bishop. I am confident that Rev Rodrigo will drivers were made to attend attended it. He noted that organisation to include such material, the majority of Sri Lankans are non- find the strength he will need to lead and training classes held by further classes to educate he said, he accepted that it was Muslims. If we as the Muslims wish to reconcile this lively Church at such a time as them on 26 September to 600 more drivers who had inappropriate. do something, we should wait for the this in united witness to the love of Christ brief them on the flouted the priority lane The magazine also warned, until an permission of the majority to do it, he amid all the social, ethnic, religious and importance of following the regulations would be held in Islamic State is created and an Islamic added. cultural diversity in the communities that road priority lane the coming weekends. way of life is established around the Then the Members of the will be in his care. I have sought and world, all must be committed to Commission questioned him as to why obtained from Rev Rodrigo his assurance defeating whatever obstacles that they publish in their articles the facts that he will give urgent priority to enabling came along their way. Various pertaining to the establishment of the the Church of Ceylon to take its proper place incidents that took place in certain IS in other countries if it is not their as a fully independent province in the life of Bandula calls... countries had been mentioned in the intention to establish an Islamic State the wider Anglican Communion”. said magazine as examples and the in this country. In response, the Rev Rodrigo said: “The Church of Ceylon ... Lanka SATHOSA, and which he termed as Commission drew attention to that witness said, such issues were Diocese of Colombo in all its richness and Cooperative Society. ‘highway robbery’ sans a too. included in the magazine since they vibrant faith is called upon to witness as it Gunawardena insisted forensic audit. The magazine was published in 1990 were current issues. has done through the past 175 years as a that to get to the bottom of He noted that following and the Members of the Commission The witness also said according to community that will strive to be obedient to these losses, a forensic the forensic audit, the questioned whether he, the then his personal view, Halal certification is the gospel in its walk of faith and service in audit has to be conducted. losses incurred will be Chairman of the organisation, was not needed for a country like Sri Lanka the days to come. Our people who are so He added, as the losses divulged to the country and aware that such articles were since Muslims are not the majority. diverse live side by side and strive to bring had been caused in a subtle warned that those published in it. In response, he said he Although Halal is necessary for meaning to every moment and we are truly manner, it would be responsible for the massive was aware of it. He also stated, Muslims, he added the issuance of blessed to be part of that life-giving impossible to get to the acts of fraud will be duly between 10 and 15 such articles may certificates, is not needed. diversity.” (Agencies) bottom of the corruption prosecuted. a10 tuesday 29 september 2020 world Armenian, Azeri forces clash again, at least 21 reported killed

Armenian and Azeri forces servicemen had been killed and more Under international law, Nagorno- exchanged fierce fire for a second day than 100 wounded after Azerbaijan Karabakh is recognised as part of on Monday (28) over the territory of launched an air and artillery attack. Azerbaijan. But the ethnic Armenians Nagorno-Karabakh, with the sides Nagorno-Karabakh also said it had who make up the vast majority of the accusing each other of using heavy recovered some territory that it had population reject Azeri rule. artillery amid reports of at least 21 lost control of on Sunday, and said They have run their own affairs, with deaths and hundreds of people being Azerbaijan had been using heavy support from Armenia, since Nagorno- wounded. artillery to shell areas. Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan The clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry said in a conflict that erupted as the Soviet Azerbaijan, the heaviest since 2016, Armenian forces were shelling the Union collapsed in 1991. have rekindled concern over stability town of Terter. Although a ceasefire was agreed in in the South Caucasus region, a China and Russia urged both sides 1994, after thousands of people were corridor for pipelines carrying oil and to show restraint. killed and many more displaced, gas to world markets. The clashes have spurred a flurry of Azerbaijan and Armenia frequently The two former Soviet republics have diplomacy to defuse the reignited accuse each other of attacks around clashed periodically in a decades-long tensions between majority Christian Nagorno-Karabakh and along the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a Armenia and mainly Muslim separate Azeri-Armenian frontier. breakaway region that is inside Azerbaijan. Russia called for an Pipelines shipping Caspian oil and Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic immediate ceasefire and another natural gas from Azerbaijan to the Armenians. regional power, Turkey, said it would world pass close to Nagorno- Azerbaijan’s President declared a support Azerbaijan, its traditional ally. People attend a meeting to recruit military volunteers after Armenian authorities Karabakh. partial military mobilisation, and his declared martial law and mobilised its male population following clashes with Armenia’s ambassador to Russia At least 200 people were killed in a Foreign Minister said six Azeri civilians Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno - Karabakh region in Yerevan, Armenia, said on Monday Turkey had sent flare-up of the conflict between had been killed and 19 injured since 27 September 2020 (Reuters) around 4,000 fighters from northern Armenia and Azerbaijan in April 2016. the fighting began. Interfax news Syria to Azerbaijan, Interfax news At least 16 people were killed in agency quoted an Armenian Defence Armenians had been wounded. more of its soldiers had been killed. It agency reported, an accusation denied clashes in July. Ministry representative as saying 200 Nagorno-Karabakh reported that 15 had said on Sunday (27) 16 of its by Baku. (Reuters)

Dubai, United Arab Emirates The Hague, Netherlands Gone in 60 sections? Suspect in downing of flight MH17 UK artist hopes to raise denies any involvement millions with giant canvas

British artist Sacha Jafri, who partnered with UNICEF and UNESCO looking to raise up USD 30 million from selling a painting and donating them to children’s charities, stands on the giant canvas at The Atlantis hotel in Dubai, UAE, 20 September 2020. (Reuters) Dubai, United Arab Emirates Judge Hendrik Steenhuis attends the hearing in trial of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in the high-security British artist Sacha Jafri aims to raise with what they’re going through right courtroom of the Schiphol Judicial Complex, in Badhoevedorp, Netherlands (Reuters) more than USD 30 million for children’s now,” Jafri told Reuters. charities by creating the world’s largest “I wanted to put a call out to the children One of four suspects on trial for are all still at large and three are doubts the prosecution’s scenario canvas painting and auctioning it off in 60 of the world, to basically give them a the 2014 downing of Malaysia being tried in absentia. that MH17 was hit with a sections. chance express themselves emotionally.” Airlines Flight 17 has denied any One defendant, Oleg Pulatov, Russian-made BUK missile. The piece, titled ‘The Journey of The canvas, which will tour the UAE, involvement with firing or has instructed a lawyer to defend “Our client does not know what Humanity’, will measure just under 2,000 has required over six months of work with supplying the missile allegedly him. Under Dutch law, Pulatov’s happened. What he does know is square metres when it is completed and 1,200 gallons of paint and 1,000 brushes. used in its destruction, a lawyer trial is not considered to take that he did not see any BUK benefit UNICEF, UNESCO, Global Gift The artist said he would use said in court on Monday (28). place in absentia because he has rocket,” Ten Doesschate said. Foundation, and Dubai Cares in an philanthropic connections cultivated over MH17 was flying from chosen to be represented by She added that her client would example of creative fundraising during the 25 years to try to raise more than USD 30 Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur counsel. be willing to testify in the case but COVID-19 pandemic. million at a time when the coronavirus has when it was shot down by a “He did not contribute and he that agreement had to be reached Jafri, who was staying in the United devastated the global economy. missile fired from territory held was not involved. What’s more, about how that would be Arab Emirates when a coronavirus “We pray and we hope that’s going to be by pro-Russian rebels during he did not and does not have any possible. Pulatov, who lives in lockdown was imposed, will incorporate the case. And if not, whatever comes is so fighting in eastern Ukraine, knowledge of how and why MH17 Russia, is the subject of an contributions from children around the welcome,” says Maria Bravo of the Global international investigators say. was downed,” Pulatov’s lawyer, international arrest warrant. world into the work being painted in a Gift Foundation. All 298 people on board were Sabine ten Doesschate, told the Monday’s hearing is still ballroom at Dubai’s luxury Atlantis resort. “At this moment anything helps truly. killed. Hague District Court sitting in a procedural and a date for the The themes are connection and We had to cancel all our galas this year. After an investigation lasting high-security courtroom near start of the case on its merits has isolation. We had to create new ways to fundraise.” nearly six years, four defendants Schiphol airport. not been set. “Children do not have the tools to deal (Reuters) went on trial in March. The men She added that Pulatov also (Reuters)

London, United Kingdom Jerusalem, Israel As COVID-19 as outbreak spreads Israel doubly deserted on Yom Kippur Govt eyes tougher during holiday, COVID-19 lockdown restrictions for England

The British Government is mulling tougher restrictions in England to tackle a swiftly accelerating second wave of the novel coronavirus outbreak, possibly outlawing more inter- household socialising, a junior Health Minister said on Monday An Israeli woman walks in the closed market as Israel imposes a second nationwide COVID-19 (28). lockdown amid a rise in infections ahead of Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv, 27 September 2020 “We don’t want to bring on new (Reuters) restrictions but of course we keep a constant eye on what is going on In ordinary times Yom Kippur brings order for many synagogues, the first with the COVID rate,” Junior much of Israel to a standstill, as businesses widespread curbs on the houses of worship Health Minister Helen Whately told close and roads empty for the holiest day in during Yom Kippur since Israel’s founding Sky News. “We were looking at the Jewish calendar. in 1948, according to a spokesman for the what we might be able to do.” But the world has looked very different Chief Rabbinate. The Times newspaper said this year, so deserted highways in city “At this period of atonement and ministers were preparing to enforce centres have become something of a forgiveness, I would like to ask this of all a total social lockdown across familiar sight, even on days other than citizens of Israel,” the head of the pandemic much of northern England and Shoppers queue to enter a TK Maxx store in Brixton amid the spread of religious holidays when. taskforce, Ronni Gamzu, said in a letter potentially London. The paper said COVID-19, in London, 27 September 2020 (Reuters) Israel entered its second-wave lockdown quoted by Israeli media. all pubs, restaurants and bars on 18 September after a surge of new cases “And my apologies to everyone in Israel - would be ordered to shut for two answer on the report that pubs transmission.” had hospitals worrying about the strain on security, traditional, religious or ultra- weeks. would be closed. She said pictures from the admissions. The country of nine million religious – for the holiday period that will be Asked about The Times report, “This is the moment when we weekend, after pubs were ordered people has logged at least 1,441 deaths constrained this year.” Whately said the country was at a have an opportunity – we have a to close early which showed crowds from COVID-19. Closures were also imposed on entry and really serious point and so COVID- choice for the country – to get this of young revellers outside pubs, Health Ministry directives that prayers be exit from the occupied Palestinian 19 had to be brought under back under control,” Whately said. were “worrying”. held in small, socially-distanced groups Territories, as during most Israeli holidays. control. She did not give a direct “We have to break these chains of (Reuters) outdoors spelled an effective shutdown (Reuters) tuesday 29 september 2020 b11

PPA ideal for mini hydro power industry Not a Single Mini Hydro PPA Signed in the Past 5 Years

By Rajiesh Seetharam possibility to lose the whole amount a developer invested in getting the initial Not a single Power Purchasing Agreements approvals. Entrepreneurs wouldn’t be (PPA) has been signed by Ceylon Electricity interested in investing in hydro power –SHPDA Board (CEB) with mini hydro power industry, thus, leading way to non – generators for the past five years, due to renewable energy like coal and oil fuelled Uganda.” various disagreements between the CEB, plants. Even the banks won’t fund projects Unlike the Solar and wind power project, Public Utility Commission of Sri Lanka if there is no projected return on Hydro power is complicated and stressful, (PUCSL) and Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy investment. Thus, the first come first served like finding the ideal location (where most Authority (SLSEA), stated Small Hydro Power system, which prevailed from 1996 to 2015 sites are found in rural locations with poor Developers Association (SHPDA) Secretary should remain as other systems wouldn’t infrastructure), environment feasibility and Group General Manager of WKV group of suit the Hydro power industry,” stated Peiris studies and getting approvals. Thus, first Companies, Thusitha Peiris. He claimed that “In the last five years, local come, first served basis is ideal for signing First Come, First Served basis is ideal for investors have spent more than Rs 2.2 billion PPA for Hydro projects states SHPDA approving Power Purchasing Agreements getting the approvals from various committee member and Power Resources Monday Markets (PPA) from hydro power projects, he said. authorities for their Hydro power projects. Director Warna Dahanayake. Speaking exclusively to Ceylon FT, Peiris Their investment is now idle for the past five “Due to delays of five years to sign PPAs, noted that mini hydro power industry was years. If the SPPA is signed for the these from 2016 to 2021, water from Sri Lankan successfully moving ahead from 1996 to 2016 projects, Sri Lanka would receive over Rs Six rivers reached the ocean without generating Shares cross on the first come first served basis standard thousand million in investments, permanent power, on the other hand it led to pollution tariff rate and SPPA. Even the World Bank jobs would be provided for more than a due to power generated by non-renewable 6,000 points took the Sri Lankan Hydro projects as a role thousand and temporary and indirect jobs energy while also being a drain on foreign model. fpr more than four thousand people.” exchange due to coal and oil imports,” By Mario Andree “A developer needs to spend a huge “In the mini hydro power sector, 65% is Dahanayake said. amount in getting initial approvals from local value addition, only 35% is imported He further stated that PUCSL and SEA The Colombo Stock Exchange continued to post various authorities. If, PPA’s are offered on machinery. Industry came to a stand-still for should intervene strongly to expedite the gains as the benchmark index rose for the third an open bidding tender process instead of the past five years, forcing many developers to process of granting approvals to renewable consecutive session on Monday (28) to record a first come first served basis, there is a focus on other countries like Ruwanda and energy power generators. near nine-month high with the index jumping beyond the 6,000 points barrier on a high turnover despite continued foreign exits from the Bourse. The benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) With Inflationary Pressure gained a staggering 2.89 per cent (169.16 points) Remittances continue to close at 6,028.20 points, its highest since 6 January, while the more liquid S&P SL20 gained to improve CBSL’s Quest to Maintain 0.55 per cent (13.64 points) to close at 2,495.72 points. The daily turnover at the CSE stood at Rs By Mario Andree from US$ 553.7 million a year Low Rates Challenging 1.89 billion on Monday (28), lower than Rs 2.4 earlier. billion recorded the previous day. Sri Lanka’s largest source of In March this year, the By Paneetha Ameresekere specified. Nearly 217.72 million shares changed hands on foreign exchange, worker country earned US$ 492.1 However, in respect of the Monday (28) during 23,355 trades. Shares of 270 remittances, which had come million from worker Caught in a dilemma of other two tenures on offer at companies were traded, of which 128 emerged as under serious threat due to the remittances, down 13.9 per cent Government of Sri Lanka’s today’s T Bill auction, namely the winners as against 66 losers. COVID-19 pandemic affecting from US$ 571 million a year (GoSL’s) high borrowing 91 and 182 day, their MAYs have Foreigners were the biggest sellers on Monday the global economy, has shown ago. commitments and the need to been fixed at 4.51 per cent and (28) for the 52nd consecutive session. Net foreign a growth for the third In February this year, the maintain a low interest rate 4.64 per cent, respectively, outflow during the day amounted to Rs 79 million, consecutive month in August country saw worker remittances regime amidst inflationary consonant with the weighted as foreigners sold shares worth Rs 117 million as this year. increase 5.4 per cent to US$ pressure, made worse by parlous average yields fetched for these against purchases worth Rs 38 million. According to data released by 527.3 million from US$ 500.5 private sector credit growth led two tenures at last week’s T Bill Top five gainers during the day were Bukit the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, million a year ago. by uncertainty; Central Bank of auction. Darah, Carsons, HNB Finance (non-voting), worker remittances increased The country started this year Sri Lanka (CBSL), for the first In related developments, CBSL Hunters and Good Hope. 28.2 per cent during August on a positive note, with worker time after three weeks, increased yesterday (Monday, 28 Top five losers were Blue Diamonds (non- this year to US$ 664.5 million remittances increasing 6.5 per the maximum administered yield September) announced that it voting), Mullers, Softlogic Capital, CIC and compared to US$ 518.2 million cent to US$ 581 million in (MAY) that the market may will release its next monetary Namunukula. last year. January, compared to US$ quote for the 364 day risk free policy outlook next month, on 16 However, cumulative earnings 545.3 million a year earlier. Treasury (T) Bill at October. CBSL’s current, from worker remittances during With migrant workers today’s(Tuesday, 29 September) overnight borrowing and lending the first eight months of this returning to Sri Lanka due to Rs 40 billion T Bill auction, by a rates from and to the market are year declined 1.5 per cent to fear of the pandemic, and some nominal one basis point to 4.89 at 4.5 per cent and 5.5 per cent Inflation ‘Kills’ US$ 4.34 billion, compared to as a result of losing per cent. respectively. US$ 4.41 billion a year ago. employment, the future of In the immediately preceding But with islandwide inflation T Bond auction In July this year, worker remittances seems to be two weekly auctions, this MAY higher than its policy lending remittances increased 12.2 per uncertain. Worker remittances was fixed unchanged at 4.88 per rate, i.e. at 6.2 per cent, it’s likely By Paneetha Ameresekere cent to US$ 702.1 million have been Sri Lanka’s largest cent. that CBSL will keep its policy compared to US$ 625.7 million foreign exchange earner and the Today’s increase in the May of rates unchanged, like what it did Rising yields demanded by the domestic last year. country’s balance of payments the 364 day T Bill on offer, comes after its last monetary policy market due to inflationary pressure saw Central In June this year, worker has been highly dependent on in the backdrop of CBSL’s failure meeting held last month (August) Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) being able to sell only remittances increased 6.7 per the income generated by in the immediately preceding two despite sluggish private sector 43.58 per cent (Rs 32,688 million) of the original cent to US$ 572.5 million migrant workers. auctions to sell the totality of the credit growth in the backdrop of issue of Rs 75,000 million at yesterday’s risk free compared to US$ 536.6 million The sector is also one of the parcels offered, namely Rs 40 uncertainty. Treasury (T)Bond auction. last year. largest employment providers to billion each, due to the market’s CBSL is the steward of GOSL However, due to a combination of foreign In May this year, worker address the unemployment and abhorrence of the low MAYs debt and of its foreign reserves. interest in shorter tenure T Bills, coupled with remittances declined 23.2 per poverty issues prevailing in the domestic uncertainty that also led to the demand cent to US$ 431.8 million, country; however, Sri Lanka of the same, aided Government of Sri Lanka’s compared to US$ 562.1 million has been witnessing a declining (GoSL’s) money printing borrowing costs earned a year earlier. trend in the number of (MPBCs) to fall by 18.77 per cent (Rs 127.98 In April this year, worker departures for foreign million) to Rs 553.70 million, despite an increase remittances amounted to US$ employment over the last few Travel Agencies’ role in in GoSL’s non-demand pull inflationary face 375 million, down 32.3 per cent years. value (FV) MP debt by Rs 5,000 million; thereby on the whole increasing its FVMP debt by 1.55 domestic market limited per cent to Rs 327,056.41 million yesterday. By Anjali Caldera – SLAITO President In other negative developments, market liquidity during trading steeply decreased by Rs IMF Media says all relevant When promoting the business 22,550 million (US$ 149.57 million) yesterday, to the domestic market, unlike led by the settlement/s of Central Bank of Sri conditions for RFI being assessed the accommodation sector, the Lanka’s (CBSL’s) swaps with the market role of the travel agent is limited, underlined by the return of US dollars by the as we can only provide tour former to the latter and/or GoSL’s foreign debt SL in no hurry to packages with transport, said Sri servicing commitments yesterday. Conversions Lanka Association of Inbound are based on the middle rate of the benchmark obtain money from IMF Tour Operators (SLAITO) ‘spot’ as at 4 p.m. on Thursday which was Rs President Maahen Kariyawasan. 184.20 to the dollar. By Paneetha they are not in a hurry to receive Speaking exclusively to Ceylon Consequently, market net excess liquidity fell Ameresekere this money. We have no urgency FT, Kariyawasan also said, the by 11.93 per cent (Rs 22,550 million) to Rs to obtain this money so we can hotels seem to have captured the Maahen Kariyawasan 166,418 million yesterday. In complementary The International Monetary wait till October (next month), domestic market with discount negative developments, the benchmark ‘spot’ Fund’s (IMF’s) Mission Chief to that’s when a sovereign bond of prices, complimentary services, that market.” declined for the second consecutive market day Sri Lanka, Masahiro Nozaki, on US$ one billion matures, and value added services etc. He also highlighted the fact, yesterday, led by continued foreign exits from the 24 September, replied an it’s then that the situation may Usually during the off-peak that there are a number of places financial markets due to uncertainty, this time electronic mail query made by become critical for us to obtain season in the industry, the same that locals haven’t visited in the by 10 cents, to be trading at Rs 185.25/35 to the Ceylon Today as to whether Sri the IMF money. The urgency process takes place. But the country; well-known places like US dollar in two way quotes as at 4 p.m., market Lanka’s request for relief from arises only in October when we locals usually don’t travel with Jaffna and also lesser known sources told this reporter. In the calendar year the IMF’s Rapid Financing have to honour a maturing one the travel agents within their own tourist attractions. Thus, it is to yesterday the ‘spot’ has fallen by Rs 3.95 Instrument (RFI) was being billion dollar sovereign bond, till country, unless on a pilgrimage required to market these places (2.18 per cent) in two way quotes, thereby delayed because the IMF first then we can wait. The $700-800 tour. among the locals, create causing cost-push inflationary pressure as Sri wanted to see Sri Lanka’s million requested by Sri Lanka Kariyawasan insisted, but attractive packages for them to Lanka is an import dependent economy. budget proposals for 2021, due is equivalent to 100 per cent of during recent times, they have confidence with the travel Meanwhile, CBSL, the steward of the country’s in November 2020. Nozaki, in the island’s eligible quota, local understood that there is a certain agents. debt and of its foreign reserves, is not an e-mail forwarded by the sources added. Negotiations for market for travel agents among “One of my colleagues handled transparent in its interventions in daily open IMF’s Media Division, in this relief package known as the locals as well. “Thus, we should 10,000 local tourists during the market operations, underlined by keeping mum Washington DC, said: “We are RFI have been going on, the target the right people.” last three months. Hence, this in regard to the causes for the changes in market assessing all relevant conditions sources added. Payments from As per the Annual Statistical market seems to be growing. New liquidity due to such actions. on their (Sri Lanka’s) request for the RFI come as a bullet Report 2019, issued by the Sri products should be brought into ‘Spot’ trades are settled after two market days an RFI, taking account of the payment and not in tranches. Lanka Tourism Development the domestic market as we from the date of transaction. CBSL deals in ‘spot.’ new Government’s policies and Also, the payments are not Authority (SLTDA) 1,441,462 Sri usually do with the international GoSL’s MPBCs are prorated to the weighted efforts to address the daunting wholly made to the Central Lankans travelled overseas; market like sailing boats, whale average yields fetched in secondary market economic challenges posed by Bank of Sri Lanka for balance of spending more than billion watching, more adventure tours trading of T Bills and T Bonds. GoSL’s FVMP debt COVID-19. We continue to payments support, but may be dollars. “There is a capital, thus, etc. People are ready to spend is equal to the FV of CBSL’s T Bills and T Bond engage with the Sri Lankan channelled directly to the we should capture that market money on these, especially the holdings. authorities and are considering Treasury for budgetary support. as it will take a long time for them youth. Thus, our main focus MP is CBSL’s sole and mandated authority. the full set of options for RFI facilities generally come to travel overseas due to the should be to make the locals MP is exercised to meet GoSL’s monetary engagement.” with no interest charged and are border restrictions still in aware with these and get them commitments in the absence of adequate Meanwhile, local sources in payable over 10 years with a progress because of COVID-19. used to these types of tours.” revenue. negotiations with the IMF said, five-year grace period. We clearly have the potential with Pic by Akila Jayawardana B12 Ceylon FT tuesday 29 september 2020 news

LOLC, first Sri Lankan UNIDO, BOI showcase company recognised with SL to Japan UNIDO (ITPO) Tokyo hosted a appointed government, Sanjaya webinar on ‘Investment Mohottala, Director General, the CIO 100 Award Opportunities in Sri Lanka’s BOI, introduced the new targeted Export Processing Zones (EPZ)’ strategic sectors for foreign with the Board of Investment of investments. LOLC’s Conrad Dias amongst 11 CIO Hall of Fame inductees Sri Lanka and the Embassy of Sri Introducing the Katunayake, Lanka in Japan with the support Mirigama, and Hambantota EPZs LOLC Holdings PLC has into business technology of Japan External Trade as potential locations for been listed among 100 leadership also announced Organization (JETRO). Japanese investments, honourees for 2020, the 2020 CIO Hall of Fame Yuko Yasunaga, Head of Prasanjith Wijayatilake, amongst a list of esteemed inductees. UNIDO (ITPO) Tokyo, commenced Executive Director, Investment global organisations at the Conrad Dias joined the programme creating a Promotion, elaborated on annual CIO 100 Awards. LOLC Group as its group positive sentiment towards the investment opportunities in Meanwhile, Conrad Dias, CIO back in 2006, when investment environment in Sri manufacturing auto components, LOLC’s former Group Chief the company was only Lanka. pharmaceutical products, Information Officer and engaged in a single line of Highlighting Sri Lanka’s medical devices, electric and current Director/CEO of business (financial strategic location Charge electronic components as well as LOLC Finance PLC and services) with just 17 d’Affaires, Embassy of Sri Lanka the logistics sector. Director LOLC Holdings branch locations in the in Japan, Chandana Weerasena’s The webinar concluded with PLC was selected as one of country. As the group CIO, introductory speech, detailed a emphasis on the years of mutual the 11 CIO Hall of Fame Conrad spearheaded the number of reasons encouraging trade and investment between inductees for 2020 out of a The LOLC Group Technology team with the CIO 100 Award entire technology and the Japanese business Japan and Sri Lanka dating back pool of global CIOs. business transformation in community to consider Sri Lanka to 1971, highlighting Japanese The CIO 100 Awards using technology in novel IDG’s (International the group that is now as an Investment destination. contributions to multiple sectors, celebrates 100 ways to deliver innovative Data Group’s) CIO, the spanning across both local Presenting the key macro which is a solid foundation to organisations and the and ground-breaking executive-level IT media and international economic priorities of the newly attract more FDI from Japan. teams within them that are solutions to customers. brand providing insight operations.

Pradeep Edward Elected Automation of 100 Year Old Tea Auction TMC Colombo Chairman Key to current good The Management Club (TMC) Colombo held its 15th Annual General Meeting at Hotel Galadari, Colombo. prices – Tea Board Chair Dr. Pradeep Edward, who counts over 25 years corporate experience Paneetha Ameresekere These gains have to be looked at in (GI), backed by the Geneva based in both local and multinational the context that Sri Lanka tea World Trade Organisation (WTO). companies, in numerous fields, Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) operates in an environment of low He also said that the SLTB is in a with over five years in the capacity Chairman Jayampathy Molligoda said productivity and high costs compared Rs. 550 million campaign with the of a CEO, was elected as the new on Friday (25) that three things to its competitors, he said. dual purpose of promoting Sri Lanka Chairman. spurred the current level of high prices The SLTB Chairman further said tea globally and to provide quality, Edward is a life member of the Sri that Sri Lanka tea enjoys in the world that refuse tea, known by the industry drought resistant plant material to the Lanka Institute of Marketing market today. as ‘BM Fannings,’ in fact was a gold tea plantations. (SLIM), and further holds three Speaking at the 126th annual mine. He however, said that an He said that the industry includes fellowships from the Chartered general meeting of the Colombo Tea infinitesimal minority in the trade, two million who live on the trade; Institute of Marketing – UK, Traders’ Association (CTTA), held at a comprising not more than two to three 421,000 small growers and a total of Institute of Management Specialist Colombo hotel, he said that they were per cent, were trying to undermine the 705 factory owners which also – UK, and an Honorary Fellowship the automation of the over 100-year- ‘quality’ of Sri Lanka’s refuse tea. encapsulate regional plantation from the Institute of Marketing old Colombo Tea auctions; drought Molligoda said that a similar companies (RPCs) as well and 310 Malaysia (IMM). He is also a which has impacted tea production in percentage of a minority of tea factory exporters. Certified Professional Finance Pradeep Edward both India and Sri Lanka and tea owners were involved in adulterating The industry plans to grow the tea Manager and Chartered Marketer attributed as being a health beverage, Sri Lanka tea. He however assured the sector to be a USD three billion from the UK. He holds a Post has been a Judge and Speaker at globally. trade that the Government of Sri industry by 2030, while Graduate Diploma in Marketing / several local and international Molligoda said that the automation Lanka (GoSL) has zero tolerance on simultaneously increasing the volume Business Management and events. He was also awarded the of tea auctions, replacing the such acts of misdemeanours of local tea production to 350 million Finance. Additionally, he holds a Deshamanya Award. At present, he traditional out crier system, took place committed by so few in the trade. kilos annually, by then. The industry, MBA and Ph.D. is Secretary General of The Asia because of COVID-19 in March of this He further said that steps are being in this quest, has got global support A Past President of SLIM, and Marketing Federation (AMF), The year. The SLTB Chairman further said taken to amend the country’s ‘2003 from buyers of Sri Lanka tea in the Pharma Promoters Association of Chief Executive Officer of Lanka that because of automation, that also intellectual property law’ so that West, led by London based purchasers Sri Lanka, and General Secretary Hospitals Diagnostics, and assured the trickle down effects of ‘Ceylon Tea’ will have a global of Sri Lanka tea. Tea is Sri Lanka’s of Sri Lanka Chamber of the Chairman of the Management Club good tea prices, benefiting the small identification by being recognised fourth largest foreign exchange Pharmaceutical Industry, Edward – Colombo. grower to the tea plucker as well. worldwide as a ‘geographical Indicator’ earner.

To institutions fighting COVID-19 VG Printers – strikes Gold at Sri CEAT donates Rs 10M in equipment & PPEs Lanka Print Awards 2020 VG Printers CEAT Kelani Holdings has made a reaffirmed their series of donations of equipment and quality and consumables essentials to the innovation of service continuing battle against the spread of at the Sri Lanka Print COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, supporting key Excellence Awards State institutions to sustain their 2020, winning in two efforts even as the country manages its main categories in the return to relative normalcy. highly anticipated Donations exceeding Rs 10 million in industry. value were presented to six institutions VG Printers won the – the National Institute of Infectious gold Award in the Diseases, Ministry of Health, Sri Marketing Material Jayewardenepura General Hospital category for the NJ and its Postgraduate Medical Training Consultants Centre, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Company Profile and Children, Badulla General Hospital Silver Award in the Vasantha Ramanayeka, Managing Director of VG and the Sri Lanka Police. Prestigious Print printers Pvt Ltd receiving the award Some of the donations made by CEAT to state institutions involved in the battle The items donated included a against the spread of COVID-19 Innovation category, transport ventilator, two infusion for the Thurstan College Annual Dinner Dance Ticket. pumps, a continuous positive airway The Sri Lanka Print Excellence Awards was organized by the Sri Lanka pressure (CPAP) machine, two suction Kits, and Viral Transport Media. the Police. Association of Printers (SLPA), and attracted over 850 entries this year. apparatus units, a bed pan washer, The Company also assisted the In a separate donation, CEAT Kelani The awards were presented under 27 categories, including the new Print reusable as well as disposable Personal National Institute of Infectious recently contributed Rs 02 million Innovation category, in which VG Printers were awarded the first ever Protection Equipment (PPE), reusable Diseases with a new air conditioner towards the cost of construction of a Silver. The event was graced by the Government Printer, Gangani Personal Protection Overalls, Face unit, a new ceiling and electrical repair new 106-bed Army Hospital at Liyanage as the Chief Guest, and Past Presidents of SLAP as Guests of Shields, PCR Test Kits, RNA Extraction work, and donated packs of rations to Pallakele in Kandy. Honour.

Nurturing Future IT Talent Fortude felicitates IIT ‘InfoSchol’ graduates Fortude, a global technology Lanka. knowledge-based economy Sirinanda, Managing Director, solutions provider, recently held a At Fortude, the InfoSchol amongst the global business Fortude said, “We’re grateful to felicitation ceremony to undergraduates were employed community. ‘InfoSchol,’ through have partnered with IIT in congratulate associates from the full-time. Fortude currently its scholarship programme,is providing young talent an Informatics Institute of operates across the Americas, UK, aimed at supporting the Sri opportunity to experience‘work Technology (IIT) upon the India, Sri Lanka, Australia and Lankan economy to meet and culture’, ahead of completing their completion of their degree and New Zealand, with customers exceed local goals and challenges degree. The associates received four-year corporate internship located in more than 20 global of over US$5 Billion IT exports in more than four years of experience with the company. economies. 2022.” He added, “I want to thank whilst completing their degree–a The associates were identified Speaking at the felicitation Fortude for partnering with us to significant advantage over their and recruited to Fortude under ceremony, Dr. Gamini provide our undergraduates a peers who graduate at the same the ‘InfoSchol’ scholarship Wickramasinghe, Chairman, truly global experience which has time. The quality and capability programme, a collaboration Informatics Group said, “We prepared them to be highly seen across the board has been no between the Informatics Group, launched InfoSchol with the hope employable talent, both locally short of excellent- and it’s the Ministry of Education Sri of grooming local talent to drive and internationally.” certainly a partnership Lanka, and Information the ICT industry forward and Also sharing his thoughts at the opportunity we would like to Technology corporates in Sri position Sri Lanka as an emerging felicitation ceremony, Arjuna continue, as Fortude grows.” FT Focus Ceylon FT Tuesday 29 September 2020 B13 Working in Partnership is Key to Fighting Corruption By Mari Elka Pangestu

Corruption has long been recognized as a major impediment to development. From massive theft of State assets to the low-level corruption that erodes productivity and weakens service delivery, corruption steals from “If unchecked, cor- the poor and erodes progress. Corruption takes many forms. It is ruption poses a the foreign company that pays threat to reducing kickbacks or bribes to get preferential treatment, leaving poor countries with poverty and sup- devalued goods or services. It is the porting shared public officer who betrays the people he is charged to assist for financial prosperity as well favours. It is the town that has no as the SDGs.” school or health clinic because local officials have stolen the money that “Countries have would have built them. And it is prescriptions that don’t cure – or could an opportunity to kill – because someone has diluted build clean, them or substituted counterfeit medicines. accountable and This age-long problem keeps transparent gov- evolving and we still find news headlines filled with scandals of ernments by intro- corruption, touching virtually every ducing the highest continent. Once entrenched, corruption is consequences and diminishing context. The world is changing, political space allows for actions to be standards of integ- hard to root out, and focusing only on citizens’ faith in their own becoming hyper-globalised and seeing taken. Even when actions have rity through plug- strict enforcement tends to make little governments. The scope for reformers the advent and penetration of new apparently limited impact, they can progress. In many societies corrupt to make changes can be limited and technologies offers both challenges provide important foundation for ging entry points behaviour is deeply rooted in the social making inroads against corruption and opportunities. future progress. With these ideas in norms and political culture, and the can take a long time. The World Bank’s new report mind, the report will help equip public that allow corrup- incentives to maintain the status quo While some of the principles for ‘Enhancing Government Effectiveness sector officials and civil society with tion to flourish.” are powerful. Corruption can lead to controlling corruption are well known and Transparency: The Fight Against approaches and tools that can be the theft, wastage, and misuse of – transparency and accountability, Corruption’, being released this week drawn upon and adapted to their scarce resources. It can also entrench open government and civil society on the sidelines of the United Nations specific country context. elite privilege and inequality, monitoring, detection and enforcement General Assembly helps to bridge the The COVID-19 pandemic has large amounts of debt. Prudent use of undermining institutions of – the strategies for applying them can gap between a seemingly intractable resulted in large scale emergency scarce resources in a transparent accountability with lasting vary considerably depending on the problem and the need for solutions spending by governments, sometimes manner is critical. that have worked or show potential to without adhering to the regular checks The resources lost to corruption can work. and balances. While speed is be spent on reviving the economy and It highlights the importance of understandable, without proper protecting the poor and vulnerable complementing the traditional controls it exposes governments to a who suffer disproportionately. methods of dealing with corruption variety of corruption risks that may Achieving long-term economic with advanced ones like GovTech, undermine the effectiveness of their growth and shared prosperity requires e-Procurement, Asset and Income responses. The strains placed on the us to work together with our partners Disclosure, and Beneficiary public sector in responding to the in government, private sector, and civil Ownership, which have been used in current situation present enormous society to address corruption and its countries like Somalia, Bangladesh, opportunities for corruption to corrosive impacts. We are committed Colombia, Ukraine and Romania, flourish. to continue to raise awareness globally amongst others. As countries embark on the road to to sustain momentum in the fight Progress is possible even in a more resilient and inclusive against corruption. challenging contexts. Measures to recovery, policy makers face the Mari Elka Pangestu is the control corruption are often challenge of reactivating the economy Managing Director of Development opportunistic, targeting specific areas in the context of huge fiscal stress Policy and Partnerships at the of vulnerability where and when the compounded by the accumulation of World Bank (India Today)

By Arianna Legovini, opportunity to answer Guadalupe Bedoya, Sveta Creating Actionable Information Solving Development Problems questions as the need for new Milusheva, Robert answers arises. For example, Marty and Amy Dolinger the same Waze and Google data that helps us understand Countries often face potential causes of road traffic competing policy priorities for crashes can also be used to their limited resources. Finding Missing Data study how the COVID-19 Achieving many of their goals enforcement policies to reduce lockdown and curfew measures is a tall order, especially when RTCs. By geographically are affecting the city of Nairobi. basic information on where clustering RTCs, for example, After Kenya announced a 7 p.m. the real problem lies is we can start identifying city curfew in March 2020, speed in lacking. Despite the call for a locations at high risk Nairobi, as measured using data revolution back in 2013 By ranking locations by estimated travel times from by the UN High Level Panel on number of RTCs or number of Google, is slowest at 5 p.m. the Post-2015 Development injuries and deaths, we can instead of 7 p.m. as people leave Agenda, most countries do not order sites for road safety earlier to get home. Speed peaks yet have adequate data or investments. Using one year of between 7 and 8 p.m. as people enough analytical capacity to the digitised data in Nairobi, for try to reach their destination by inform their policy agendas. example, we find that 16% of curfew time or soon after. Speed Generating these data can locations alone spread across a is a key risk factor for RTCs. turn intractable problems into meagre 31 km of road Therefore, any changes in speed more manageable ones. experience an astounding 50% could have important Take the case of Sustainable of the crashes . This means that implications for crashes and Development Goal (SDG) 3.6, by focusing our policy efforts on this type of analysis can help which is to reduce road less than 1% of the road agencies quickly react to mortality by half and save 675 network, we can start resolving prevent possible increases in thousand lives a year, many of the road safety issue. No matter crashes. them children and young the resource constraint, When traditional data is not adults. Data on road traffic investing smartly by focusing enough, it is possible to improve crashes is lacking in low- colleagues at the NTSA. These this into a multi-year digitised referenced data is not efforts where the problem is the way we tackle development income countries with official stacks of paper sitting in dataset of over 8,500 Road necessarily easy but the returns most severe holds great promise problems by building a data data estimated to capture only multiple police stations were Traffic Crashes (RTCs) – the first can be high. The team improved for achieving our goals. ecosystem that integrates 17% of road traffic deaths. The not translating into useful and geolocated RTC map of Nairobi. the database of Nairobi To produce an even richer survey, administrative, and new culprits are poorly developed timely information on which Together, we also introduced a landmarks, adapted a natural picture additional data can be data sources, and that administrative data systems policymakers could base life- pilot for digital crash recording language processing algorithm used. Uber and Waze data, complements analysis to that often rely on paper saving decisions. in the Police force. The records to identify crash reports, and available through the support the government’s policy records and data that is not up At the same time, there was a collected under this pilot are geo-located them by developing Development Data Partnership, priorities. This is but one to date. long list of road safety rich with detailed information a new geo-parsing algorithm. To provide information on average among many examples that The pressing need to address recommendations from the on the characteristics and verify the credibility of crowd- speeds on different road show great potential to improve road safety in areas with large 2015 Brasilia Declaration on location of the RTCs. sourced data, for a subset of segments or on obstacles such development outcomes, data gaps led our research team Road Safety on improving Analyzing these data can help tweets we dispatched a as potholes. Weather data can described in the upcoming 2021 to ask: What other data exists regulation, enforcement, classify where and when people motorcycle delivery company to be used to understand driving World Development Report, that decision-makers can use to education, and infrastructure. die in the streets of Nairobi. It the site of the presumed crash conditions and Google Maps Data for Better Lives. make better policies? Can the The magnitude of the task of can help identify the underlying minutes after each new crash data to understand land usage Arianna Legovini is the Head large quantities of privately held implementing these across the causes of crashes and which report was received on Twitter such as pedestrian traffic near of the Development Impact data generated from entire road network and the interventions could be best to confirm validity. educational and health Evaluation (DIME) Department smartphones and social media available resources presented a suited to address them. Encouragingly, a crash had facilities. These data sources at the World Bank. usage offer a solution, taking mismatch. Data did not exist in The detailed Police crash occurred in the stated location can be supplemented with Guadalupe Bedoya is a care to safeguard privacy? a format that would enable reports, however, only covered or nearby in 92% of cases. survey data on infrastructure Senior Economist, In 2012, the Kenya National policymakers to narrow down RTCs with injuries and deaths, This process has produced and road user behavior. In the Development Impact Transport and Safety Authority this problem and identify where not the universe of RTCs in the geo-referenced crash reports case of Kenya, these private Evaluation (DIME) at the (NTSA) faced an empty map of to prioritise interventions. city. New data sources, such as and populated a real time RTC data sources were integrated World Bank. Nairobi, the country’s bustling In 2018, we organised a social media platforms, map of 36,428 crash reports with crash data to understand Sveta Milusheva is an capital city with a 6,200km road workshop with six government provided an opportunity to (and counting). The new data issues such as pedestrian flows Economist, Development network. The National Police agencies who agreed to support supplement administrative data successfully complements versus availability of Impact Evaluation (DIME) at Services (NPS) had thousands a data-intensive solution to and fill in data gaps. administrative data to produce crosswalks, mortality and street the World Bank. of paper reports with Nairobi’s road safety problem. In Kenya, an existing traffic a more complete data set of geo- lighting, or time of day and Robert Marty and Amy information on when, where, The NPS granted our research platform named Ma3Route had located crashes speeding. Dolinger are Research and how crashes occurred. Yet, team access to paper records in posted 870,000 transport- The analysis of the resulting Importantly, setting up high- Analysts, Development they would only manually count the city’s 14 Police stations. related tweets since 2012. dataset can help guide frequency spatially integrated Impact Evaluation (DIME) at total fatalities and share with Working together, we turned Turning tweets into geo- infrastructure redesign and data systems can provide the the World Bank. b14 Ceylon Ft tuesday 29 september 2020 FT Banking

Propagating LANKAQR payments ComBank actively drives CBSL prog

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon was recognised by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL)for its pioneering efforts in enhancing the digital payments landscape of the country, including the launch of ‘ComBank Q+’, the Quick Response (QR) based Payment App certified and launched under LANKAQR. This recognition was bestowed on the Bank at the ‘Mataleta LANKAQR’ event held to commemorate the inauguration by 'Ape Gedara Avurudu' the CBSL of an island-wide awareness campaign to promote cashless payments. Digital Games Commercial Bank is an active supporter of this campaign Thusitha Suraweera, Head of the Bank’s Card Centre, accepting a plaque of appreciation launched to encourage the usage of LANKAQR QR code based on behalf of Commercial Bank from the Governor of the Central Bank Deshamanya digital payments due to the numerous benefits to the public Professor W.D. Lakshman at the event held at the Central Bank’s Matale Regional Office and the economy. HNB FINANCE rewards winners HNB FINANCE PLC and refine our financial SDB bank introduces Bulk NDB Best Speaker Contest Season recently rewarded the product and service winners of their unique portfolio in order to Cash Collection service 05 Concludes Successfully and interactive 'Ape surpass customer Ties up with Certis Lanka Gedara Avurudu' digital expectations. We have no portal, launched to doubt our new direction celebrate the Sinhala will elevate the speed, and Tamil New Year. capacity and cost- The ‘Ape Gedara effectiveness of our Avurudu’ platform was service delivery to support initiated with a vision to the dreams of millions lift the spirits of and give across the country." all Sri Lankans the stated HNB FINANCE PLC opportunity to compete Chief Executive Officer in traditional Avurudu and Managing Director SDB bank recently launched their ‘Bulk Cash folk games and ‘rasa Chaminda Prabhath. Collection’ to offer convenience to its customers. pena’ contests, while All participants had to The all-new doorstep collection service was developed they were confined to compete on an in close coordination with security solutions provider NDB recently held the NDB The grand Finale was contested by their homes due to the interactive, vibrant Certis Lanka, offering clients convenience in securely Toastmasters’ ‘Best Speaker’ Contest six contestants, who were selected by a pandemic-induced, interface with games transferring of bulk physical cash. Season 05 Grand Finale at the BMICH. team of judges led by Toastmaster country-wide lockdown. such as 'Kotta Pora', Already initiated in the Western Region and soon to Vice President, SME, Middle Markets Jagath Lal Wickramasekara. While the "As an institution that 'Kanamutti Bideema', be offered country-wide, the bulk cash collection service and Business Banking of NDB Bank judges selected the ‘Best Speaker’, NDB possesses a firm track 'Lissana Gasa Nagima', is seen as a vital economic service by many of SDB Indika Ranaweera was the Chief Guest employees were given an opportunity to record of fearless 'Aliyata Aha Thabeema', bank’s clients, ensuring the post COVID-19 national and Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) select the ‘Most Popular Speaker’. innovation, we have as well as an Avurudu economy is strengthened. Nisal Weerakoon, Club Growth Yasasthi Ranasinghe was crowned designated this year as Rasa Pena Trivia. The The new facility aims to offer support to SMEs and Director, District 82 was the guest of ‘Best Speaker’ followed by Navodya being crucial to our platform also provided Entrepreneurs who are gradually resuming their honour. Gamage and Damithri Subasinghe as complete migration into a an opportunity for users routine business operations, allowing this vital segment The Keynote address was given by first and second runners-up digital era. We will to sign up for a raffle of the national economy to remain afloat and gradually Dileep Mudadeniya, CEO Cinnamon respectively. Devapriya de Silva continue to invest in draw, for which winners make a full recovery. Life Mall and VP of John Keells Group. emerged as ‘Most Popular Speaker’. initiatives such as this were randomly selected. sports tuesday 29 september 2020 A15

Liam Mourad Nikita Robb

Lakshitha Madushan

A total of 97 surfers, including several foreigners, participated in the Surfing Open/National Championship series finale held in Arugambay over the weekend. Highlights from the Lakshitha Madushan from Weligama SC took the major honours by winning both the Arugambay edition and overall National title with 3,000 points. The event was organised by Lanka Sportreizen (LSR) with the blessings of the Surfing Open/ National Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and Ministry of Tourism and conducted by the Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka. Pix by: Kelum Chamara Championship 2020

Open Winner Asanka Sanjeewa (Sri Lanka) celebrates with the Overall winner Lakshitha Madushan at the award ceremony Trophy Asanka Sanjeewa

Open Women’s winner Nikita Robb (South Africa) David Solomon receives the certificate Lesitha Prabath Lien Uten RR pull off stunning win Singha and Tewatia and Samson hero with the bat Gesto advance Rajasthan Royals (RR) put up a Rahul Tewatia then joined Samson, and sensational show with the bat and while he moved past fifty, KXIP managed to semis created a record for the highest to keep things tight, conceding just 21 successful run-chase in the Indian runs in the next four overs. Singha SC Ambalangoda and Gesto SC Premier League history as they beat RR needed something extraordinary to Ahungalla registered their second win to advance Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by four wickets in push themselves past the finish line, and to the semi-final of the Galle District Invitation the ninth match of the Dream11 IPL Sanju Samson opened the floodgates, Inter Clubs T20 Cricket tournament on Saturday 2020 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on hitting Maxwell for three sixes in the (26). Sunday. 16th over, but departed in the 17th for Singha SC beat Rio SC Ambalangoda by 102 Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul gave 85 off 42 balls, hitting 4 fours and 7 runs and Gesto SC beat South West SC Galle by 1 KXIP a flying start scoring 60 at the end sixes. run. of the powerplay, and completing a 150- RR needed a miracle to score 51 off last On day one, Singha SC beat Zonal CC by 9 runs run stand in the 14th over. While Rahul three overs. But then, Tewatia changed and Gesto beat UBR CC by 73 runs. completed his fifty in the 12th over, gears and how. He went after Cottrell Pragathi SC Balapitiya and Aruna SC Mayank had moved past 80.Hethen and creamed as many as five sixes to Ambalangoda won their matches on day two. completed his first IPL ton, hitting the move to 47 off 29 balls and brought the Pragathi beat Galle CC by 7 runs and Aruna SC final delivery of the 15th over for four. target down to 21 off 2 overs. beat United Southern SC by 5 wickets. While Tom Curran dismissed Mayank While Shami got Robin Uthappa out on Scores (Day Three) after his 50-ball 106-run knock, which the first ball of the penultimate over, (1) Singha SC: 197/5 (20) (Ramesh Mendis 56, included 10 fours and 7 sixes, Ankit Jofra Archer hammered two sixes off the Adeesha Thilanchana 43, Imesh Udayanga 38, Rajpoot got Rahul out for 69 on the final next two deliveries before Tewatia hit one Chamika Sandaruwan 2/34) ball of the 18th over. more to notch up his fifty, bringing down Rio SC: 95/6 (20) (Kasun Tharaka 22, Ramesh RR managed 29 off the last two overs the winning target to two runs. Mendis 2/13, Kavindu Nadeeshan 2/22) as Nicholas Pooran (25* off 8) and Glenn Although he got out on the final ball of (2) Gesto SC: 118 (19.3) (Tharidu Kaushal 44, Maxwell (13* off 9) took KXIP to 223/2, the 19th over and Murugan Ashwin Anil Rideegammanagedara 3/15, Ranmina the highest team score in IPL 2020. bowled a dot and took a wicket off Riyan Hettiarachchi 2/14, M.M. Tharanga 2/17) With 224 runs to win, skipper Steve Parag, Curran hit a four on the third ball South West SC: 117 (19.3) (Hirantha Smith did not waste any time as he hit of the final over to seal a sensational RR Wijesinghe 42, Asela Wewelwala 27, Tharindu two fours in the first over. Jos Buttler win. Kaushal 3/15, G.L. Malcolm 3/26, Thusith was out in the third over and Sanju Brief Scores: Kumara 2/16) Samson joined Smith. KXIP: 223/2 (Mayank Agarwal 106, KL Fixtures (29) Smith brought up his second Rahul 69; Ankit Rajpoot 1/39) Galle CC Vs Rantharu SC successive fifty of IPL 2020 in the ninth RR: 226/6 (Sanju Samson 85, Rahul Balapitiya SC Vs United Southern CC over but lost his wicket in the same over. Tewatia 53; Mohammad Shami 3/53) (IR) A16 tuesday 29 September 2020 sports

Non-agreement on quarantine duration Bangladesh tour of SL postponed once again

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) finally schedule, Bangladesh was planning to negotiating over the 14-day quarantine SLC to reduce the quarantine period to this point [about quarantine]. We have announced that Bangladesh’s tour of travel to the island on 27 September period after BCB President Nazmul seven days, which was not agreed to by informed them that we have to Sri Lanka has been postponed with the first Test starting on 23 Hassan said that Bangladesh will not the health authorities. Not just for the reschedule the tour to a time when (indefinitely) following a stalemate October. go ahead with the tour if the number of Bangladesh team, Sri Lanka is things will improve,” Hassan was quoted between the two Boards over SLC through a media release said: days was not reduced. maintaining this health protocol for as saying by ‘ESPNcricinfo’ on Monday. quarantine rules. “The decision was jointly taken by both The Sri Lankan health authorities everyone who enters the island nation A few high-profile players of the This series was originally scheduled Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and wanted Bangladesh to undergo 14-day during the pandemic, the health potential Bangladesh squad had also for July-August this year. But due to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), after quarantine after arriving in Sri Lanka authorities had stated. tested positive for the virus, while on the the deadly outbreak of the COVID-19 careful consideration of the current with player movements strictly “Any tourist who is entering Sri Lanka other hand, things are slowly turning around the globe, both Boards decided health situation and the health restricted to their hotel rooms, which has to abide by this rule [of 14 days in out to be normal in Sri Lanka with to reschedule it for September- regulations, such as quarantine BCB refused to agree to. quarantine]. They [the SLC] have told us minimal spread of the disease in the last November. According to the current requirements”. The two Boards were In a bid to find a solution BCB urged that they couldn’t do anything about few months.

SLKF imposes 5-year Suwath, Malindu ban on two coaches guide CCC to The Sri Lanka Kabaddi hostel inebriated and Kabaddi or any related comfortable win Federation (SLKF) has behaving in a violent activities. decided to impose a five- manner. A media release from Malindu Maduranga 41 runs before they were year ban on Nuwan SLKF stated that a SLKF stated the coaches and Suwath Mendis put bowled out for 116. Kapila Bandara, the disciplinary inquiry was had come to the sports up a brilliant performance In reply, Malindu former coach of the conducted, and based on hostel on 9 October last for CCC as they recorded Maduranga steered CCC men's team, and Indika the report steps were year and allegedly a 7-wicket victory over to a comfortable victory Sanath Kumara, the taken to impose five-year assaulted the assistant Kandy Customs CC in the with an unbeaten 73 former coach of the bans on the coaches, coach, and subsequently SLC Major Club Youth runs, which enabled CCC women's team, after they and they will henceforth the Federation took (U23) Tournament to reach their target in were found guilty of not be directly or steps to ban them from 2020/21 worked off at 14.4 overs with 7 wickets coming to the sports indirectly involved in their posts. (MS) CCC grounds yesterday. in hand. This was CCC’s Batting first Kandy third win. Customs SC struggled Scores: from the beginning of their Kandy Customs SC: innings, with Suwath 116 (44.3) (Rashmika running through the Madushanka 41, Thimira Customs batting line-up Malshan 31, Suwath picking up 4 crucial Mendis 4/37) Amateur Chess wickets for 36 runs. CCC: 117/3 (14.4) Rashmika Madushanka (Malindu Maduranga 73 was the highest scorer for n.o., Methushan Thilina C’ships from 1 October Malindu Maduranga the visitors with a fighting 2/28) (IR) Suwath Mendis The 7th Sri Lanka National Amateur while 6th-15th will receive Rs. 5,000/= International Rating Chess each. Championships (Open & Women’s) Girls Event 2020 organised by the Chess Federation Champion: Trophy, Gold Medal and of Sri Lanka will be held from 1 to 4 Rs 25,000/= Vardy treble inspires Leicester October at Sanhinda Reception Hall, 1st Runner up: Silver Medal, and Delkanda, Nugegoda. Rs 15,000/= Chess Players who do not have FIDE 2nd Runner-up: Bronze Medal and Title except CM/WCM, all those who did Rs 10,000/= to 5-2 win over Man City not exceed a rating greater than 1999 in 4th-5th: Rs 5,000/= each the last two years and unrated players 6th-10th: Rs 4,000/= each A Jamie Vardy hat-trick and a are eligible to participate. All participants will be provided with superb James Maddison goal A total cash prize of Rs 250,000/= is certificates. steered Leicester City to a stunning on offer with the champion set to receive Entries 5-2 win at Manchester City on Rs 40,000/-, the Trophy and a Gold Deadline for entries is 30 September Sunday and kept them top of the Medal and Rs 40,000/=, 1st Runner-up 2020. Premier League with a maximum the Silver Medal and Rs 25,000/= while For further details contact Erosh nine points from three games. the 2nd Runner-up will receive the Jayasinghe, Chairman -Tournament City looked to be in cruise control Bronze Medal and Rs 15,000/=. Commission - CFSL Tel: 0713775756 after a sublime volley from Riyad 4th-5th will receive Rs 10,000/= each, (IR) Mahrez against his former club gave the home side a fourth-minute lead, as they dominated the first half until Vardy equalised with the first of two penalties. The striker drove his spot-kick No U.S. hangover for Thiem into the top right corner in the 37th minute after he was fouled by Kyle Walker, and then turned the match Jamie Vardy in action as he dispatches Cilic on its head in the 54th, beating when he curled a brilliant shot the icing on the cake for the goalkeeper Ederson at the near from 20 metres into the top left visitors. Austria's Dominic post with a deft touch. corner before centre back Nathan The outcome snapped City's Thiem showed no sign of a Vardy completed his hat-trick Ake pulled one back for City with a 11-match unbeaten home run in hangover from his U.S. four minutes later with a second header. the league dating back to last Open triumph as he penalty, drilling his shot into the With Vardy limping off with a season and it was also their first began his Roland Garros bottom-left corner this time after hamstring strain in the closing defeat in their opening top-flight campaign with an Eric Garcia had hauled him down stages, Youri Tielemans converted home game since a 2-1 loss to impressive 6-4 6-3 6-3 in the area. Leicester's third penalty of the Southampton in 1989. win over Marin Cilic on Substitute Maddison made it 4-1 match in the 88th minute to put (Reuters) Monday. Third seed Thiem, beaten by Rafa Nadal in the last two French Open finals, was handed a tough first round against CFSL election to be held on 6 November the Croatian former U.S. Austria’s Dominic Thiem in action Open champion, but was made things difficult for to damaging effect on the The Carrom Federation of Sri ended in May and arrangements had It is reliably learnt that the posts of straight into the groove Thiem with some heavy claycourt, Thiem Lanka (CFSL) will hold their election, been made to hold the election, but Gen. Secretary, Treasurer, under the roof on Court aggressive tactics but dominated the second set. which was delayed due to COVID-19 had to be delayed for the aforesaid Tournament Secretary, and Asst. Phillipe Chatrier. faltered at crucial The 27-year-old lapsed and objections raised by the reason. Treasurer will be uncontested, and Cilic, who before moments. briefly to trail 0-2 in the Nationalised Services Carrom An Election Committee comprising elections will be held for the posts of Thiem's Flushing Thiem broke the Cilic third but switched on the Association (NSCA) and its affiliates, Dharmasena Kahandawa, Rtd. Addl. President, Vice Presidents, Asst. Meadows win this month serve at 4-4 in the first set afterburners to reel off five on 6 November. Nominations closed DG of Customs (Chairman), Shelton Secretary and 10 committee was the most recent first- and then came from 0-40 games in a row before on 8 September and time was Premaratne, Rtd. Staff Officer of members on 6 November at the time Grand Slam down to seal the opening 40th-ranked Cilic stopped granted till 21 September to raise Survey Dept and D.D.A. Senadira, Duncan White Auditorium of the champion courtesy of his set. Using his powerful the rot. any objections. Rtd. Staff Officer of CMC, was Sports Ministry, Colombo 07. New York title in 2014, single-handed backhand (Reuters) The tenure of the CFSL Committee appointed at the SGM held in 2019. (IR)

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