www.themorning.lk LATE CITY VOL 01 | NO 08 | Rs. 30.00 { WEDNESDAY } WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021 INTRA-TEAM FACTIONALISM EMBLEMS OF HURTS LANKA UNITY NOW AGAIN HYDRAS OF ALIENATION? DHARSHAN MUNIDASA CERAMIC STOCKS BRIDGES CUISINE PLUMMET AFTER BETWEEN BOUNDARIES IMPORT RELAXATION »SEE PAGE 16 »SEE PAGE 11 »SEE PAGE 7 »SEE PAGE 5 No new quarantine No space for Colombo cases centres to be set up z Abandoned buildings wanted z No resources to open BY PAMODI WARAVITA and physical resources to do BY PAMODI WARAVITA due to the lack of space Morning yesterday (2), new centres Despite instructions by Minister of Labour Nimal Siripala de so,” SLBFE Media Spokesman at the existing centres. State Minister of Primary Silva, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Mangala Randeniya told The The Government The alarming rise in the Healthcare, Epidemics, and z No respite for migrant is unable to establish new quarantine centres for repatriated Morning yesterday (2). is actively seeking number of patients from Covid Disease Control Dr. workers migrant workers due to the lack of human and physical Minister of Labour de Silva abandoned buildings Colombo has led to the Sudarshini Fernandopulle resources available for the purpose, The Morning learnt. requested the SLBFE to use that could be converted launch of this urgent search confirmed that space is z Funding available for their current assets of Rs. 14 into Government-run by the National Operations running out at the existing “The SLBFE is not in a discussions with the National billion to establish exclusive “intermediate treatment Centre for Prevention intermediate treatment new centres position to take a decision Operation Centre for Prevention government-run quarantine centres” to house of Covid-19 Outbreak centres for asymptomatic regarding the establishment of Covid-19 Outbreak centres for repatriated migrant asymptomatic Covid-19 (NOCPCO), The Morning patients from Colombo. z SLBFE can’t proceed of new quarantine centres (NOCPCO) Task Force revealed workers in all nine provinces. patients from Colombo, learnt. Speaking to The Contd. on page 2 without Task Force for migrant workers since that there aren’t sufficient human Contd. on page 2 YOU REAP WHAT YOU GROW... Huge demand Emotional intelligence into school curriculum for vaccine from z New programme to be piloted next year BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE Learning Promotion Secretary frontliners An emotional intelligence Dr. Upali Sedara said that the learning programme is due to role of emotional intelligence is z Health Ministry struggling be introduced to the school important on both academic and education system of Sri Lanka, personal levels. to cater to requests beginning with a pilot project The pilot project would in 2022, The Morning learnt. commence using 100 schools and BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE 19.“We have an increased demand Speaking to The Morning, State it would be fully implemented in A sharp rise in demand for the for the vaccine from health workers Ministry of Education Reforms, 2023, Dr. Sedara further said. Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield who work for various institutes Open Universities, and Distance Contd. on page 2 vaccine has been observed among including universities and a demand frontline workers and non- from frontline workers who are healthcare workers partaking in helping in the prevention and control Covid-19 prevention measures, of Covid-19. We have difficulties The Morning learnt. in catering to this demand,” Dr. Speaking to The Morning Gamage said. yesterday (2), Ministry of Health According to Dr. Gamage, this Epidemiology Unit consultant is because the vaccine is being epidemiologist Dr. Deepa administered to more than 95,000 In lieu of World Wetlands Day yesterday (2), as well as the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year, a Gamage said the Ministry is facing frontline workers and therefore the ceremonial sowing of seeds was carried out at the Environment Ministry premises in Battaramulla, difficulties in catering to the high quality, safety, and efficacy of it under the patronage of Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera PHOTO ESHAN DASANAYAKA demand among health workers who has been proven. are to be vaccinated against Covid- Contd. on page 2 SETTIKULAM INCIDENT Special centres for Dr. Neville Army shoots infected O/L candidates Fernando in man felling BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI (1) that these centres will be based critical condition Special examination centres in locations where special Covid- Dr. Neville Fernando has been admitted to Wilpattu trees are to be established for GCE 19 treatment centres are already the National Hospital of Infectious Diseases Ordinary Level (O/L) examination established for patients. (IDH) as he has tested positive for Covid-19. BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE candidates who test positive for “If a student tests positive Hospital sources confirmed that he is in a A civilian sustained injuries when troops Covid-19 during the examination between 1 and 10 March, we critical condition. opened fire at him near Wilpattu National period, The Morning learnt. will make arrangements for them Dr. Fernando is the Founder of the Dr. Park in Settikulam while he was cutting Commissioner General of to sit for their exams from their Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital and trees, The Morning learnt. Examinations Sanath Pujitha treatment centres. the controversial South Asian Institute of Speaking to The Morning, Military told The Morning on Monday Contd. on page 2 Technology and Medicine (SAITM). Spokesman Brig. Nilantha Premarathna said that the Police and the Army are jointly investigating the incident which took place SLPP disappointed in last Monday (1) evening. SI tries to “He was in an area where people usually don’t go as there is thick forest cover. Wimal Weerawansa Contd. on page 2 shoot OIC BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI should have acted in accordance. BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna So we are disappointed,” SLPP COVID-19 CASES A reserve sub-inspector (SI) attached (SLPP) has expressed the party’s General Secretary and Member to the Kuliyapitiya Police Station “disappointment” in the actions of Parliament (MP) Sagara ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES has attempted to shoot an officer of Minister of Industries Wimal Kariyawasam said. in charge (OIC) of the same police Weerawansa for working against He was responding to a question station, The Morning learnt. Speaking the unity within the governing raised by a journalist at the SLPP 65,344 to The Morning yesterday (2), Police party with regard to the East press conference on Monday (1) as Spokesperson Deputy Inspector General Container Terminal (ECT) issue. to whether Weerawansa’s attempt to DEATHS RECOVERED of Police (DIG) Ajith Rohana said the SI “Minister Wimal Weerawansa is leave the Government was behind was arrested after his attempt to shoot also a member of the Cabinet and the Government’s decision to 5,978 323 59,043 an OIC of the Administration Division the governing party. change its stance on granting a SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU of the police station. We have governing party 49% share of the ECT Terminal to THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 8.50 P.M. ON 02 FEBRUARY 2020 Contd. on page 2 meetings, cabinet meetings that foreign countries. function with a certain unity. He Contd. on page 2 42 www.themorning.lk { NEWS } Wednesday, February 3, 2021 Youth To Lead backs SEEKING TO RETAIN PARLIAMENTARY SEAT MP Imthiaz’s youth politics proposal Youth To Lead, a youth proposed that not less than Ranjan files writ in advocacy group in Sri Lanka 25 percent of total candidates which has a special focus on nominated for local, provincial promoting youth political and parliamentary elections shall participation, has submitted be youth between 18 and 35 years proposals to increase youth of age. participation in politics to SJB The other proposed suggestions MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar today. of the Organisation are; The Court of Appeal The Organisation’s composition of not less than 25 Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Ranjan Ramanayake filed a writ of “Article 89(d) applies only to offences Co-convenor Sachinda Dulanjana percent of youth nominations of prohibition application before the Court of Appeal, seeking the issue for which the punishment is prescribed said it was a pleasure to handover total candidates to be not more of a writ of prohibition restraining and/or prohibiting the Parliament in a written law. The Secretary General their ideas and suggestions than 50 percent male and 50 Secretary General from acting or taking steps on the basis that he has of Parliament did not take any step to increase youth political percent female. vacated his Parliamentary seat. concerning Sri Lanka Podujana participation in Sri Lanka in “Not less than 25 percent of Ramanayake has also prayed for the the Election Commission and/or the Peramuna MP Premalal Jayasekara, who both qualitative and quantitative the youth quota to include a issue of an interim order until the final Commissioner General of Elections of was convicted of murder and imposed aspects to MP Markar who has percentage for the representation determination of this application. the vacation of his Parliamentary seat. the death sentence by a High Court,” initiated the discussion of a 25% of differently-abled youth in The Parliament Secretary General Citing Article 89(d) of the the petition reads. youth quota for candidacy in respective electoral areas. and the Attorney General (AG) have Constitution, which, dealing with the “Therefore, if the Secretary General upcoming elections. “The ethnic composition of the been named as the first and second disqualification to be an elector/voter, of Parliament takes any such steps, he “We would like to invite you respective electoral area to be given respondents in his petition (CA Writ holds that "if he is serving or has during would be acting illegally and unlawfully, all to join hands with us to make consideration when deciding the Application Number 52/2021).