Cannot sell flour above controlled price -Minister FRIDAY 2 july 2021 CAA to take LATEST EDITION VOL: 10/145 PRICE : Rs 30.00 legal action In Sports Bakery Owners won’t Switzerland Take on increase prices Spain today BY W. K. PRASAD MANJU AND BY The 16th edition of the European NABIYAVAFFOOR Championship, Euro 2020, began on 11 June with matches in 11 major State Minister of Co-operative Services, Marketing cities across Europe - for the first time Development and Consumer Protection, Lasantha in the 63-year history of the Alagiyawanna told Ceylon Today the Serendib Flour tournament. A14 Mills (SFML) will not be allowed to increase the price of a kilo of wheat flour by Rs 18, while a controlled price has been given. He added that an agreement had been reached with the Bakery Owners’ Association not to increase the price of any bakery product, including bread. Alagiyawanna pointed out that due to selling wheat flour at a higher price than the controlled price, without the permission of the Consumer Affairs Authority, legal action will be taken against the Serendib Flour Mills and the initial stages of this procedure had already commenced. He said a kilo of wheat flour has to be sold at Rs 87 and it cannot be sold at a higher price than that. Accordingly, Serendib Flour Mills should sell a kilo of wheat flour at Rs 87 and if they do not do so, legal action will definitely be taken against the Company. The Serendib Flour Mills had held a discussion with the All-Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association yesterday (1) regarding the price increase of wheat flour andMinister Alagiyawanna said it was decided to take legal action against the Company for the unauthorised price increase. Story Continued on PAGE 2 30 June records Nurses’ Strike highest number of jabs on single day Cripples State Hospitals BY SANDUNI GAMARACHCHI Demands include fairness in promotions and status Sri Lanka ramped up the COVID-19 inoculation BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE Union (PSUNU) and the All Medical Officers received their to work for 20 years to receive drive on 30 June, recording the highest number of Ceylon Nurses’ Union (ACNU) first promotion after a lapse of this promotion. He said fairness vaccinations rolled out in a single day. A nurses’ strike in the State launched a two-day nurses’ two years. However, nurses were should prevail in the two health Accordingly, 170,995 coronavirus jabs in total health service crippled the strike yesterday (1), demanding awarded their Grade II promotion service categories. have been administered, State Minister of services of several hospitals. fairness in promotions given to only after 10 years of service. Thereby, nurses should receive Production, Supply and Regulation of The Government Nursing them. Also, doctors received their their Grade II promotions in five Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana said. Officers’ Association (GNOA), the GNOA Chairman, Saman second promotion after a lapse of years and their Grade I As many as 91,759 people received the first shot Public Service United Nurses’ Ratnapriya, yesterday (1) said nine years, whereas nurses had promotion in 12 years, he said. of China-developed Sinopharm vaccine, the Epidemiology Unit’s COVID-19 immunisation Story Continued on PAGE 2 progress report showed. Meanwhile, 79,236 were fully vaccinated as they were administered the second dose of Sinopharm Attack on Wildlife Officers IAI signs $50M To cover up actual jab on Wednesday. contract to upgrade situation in the country Maj General Govt showing a Sri Lanka’s Kfirs political drama allowed bail BY SULOCHANA RAMIAH MOHAN 2,000 Trishaws using Gammanpila Major General Mohan Rathnayake, The Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) General Officer Commanding, 21 Division stated on its official website that it had and Basil for Police HQ, who was arrested yesterday (1) recently signed a contract worth USD 50 morning over his involvement in a brawl million with Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry – Bakeer Markar Over 2,000 three-wheelers were distributed to the with a team of Wildlife Department to upgrade Kfir combat aircraft for the Sri Police by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at officials in the Habarana area on Friday Lankan Airforce. BY NABIYA VAFFOOR Temple Trees yesterday (1).This was with the aim of (25), was granted bail in two sureties by The deal includes replacing the aircraft’s strengthening their duties and ensuring national the Kekirawa Magistrate. basic avionics with the advanced 4+ security. The Kekirawa Magistrate on 30 June generation fighter aircraft avionics in Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP The distribution of three-wheelers to Police had ordered the arrest of Major General order to integrate advanced radar, Imthiaz Bakeer Markar said the stations Islandwide was initiated on President Rathnayake. sensors, communication systems, and Government is showing a political drama Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Manifesto which emphasised The Wildlife Officers had complained to new helmets, the Press release on 30 June using Udaya Gammanpila and Basil the need to maintain a strong transport system for the Police that they were positioned at the stated. Rajapaksa, to cover up the actual Police stations. Minneriya National Park on 23 June night The upgrade process will also include situation in the country following a tip-off regarding an attempt... refurbishment and skills training for... He claimed that the Sri Lanka Story Continued on PAGE 2 Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has failed to Story Continued on Story Continued on reach a common agreement regarding its PAGE 2 PAGE 2 next Presidential candidate. ‘Don’t fire workers during pandemic’ He said that currently there is a Minister orders Govt using PTA debate within the SLPP to determine PM advises business whether its next Presidential candidate tough action will be MP Namal Rajapaksa or SLPP owners to secure jobs to crack down on National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa. against errant Cops “People don’t care whether they have... The need to protect workers and ensure job opponents – JVP security during COVID-19 was highlighted by Prime BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK Story Continued on Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on 30 June at Temple BY TRESHAN FERNANDO PAGE 2 Trees during a discussion on issues faced by the Sri Lanka Apparel Brands Association (SLABA) and the Minister of Public Security, Rear Admiral The JVP yesterday (1) accused the To detect minor Sri Lanka Retailers Association (SLRA). (Retired) Dr. Sarath Weerasekara has Government of using the Prevention of directed the IGP to take strong action Terrorism Act (PTA) to apply pressure on its earthquakes against errant Police Officers. political opponents. It has been ordered to conduct a special JVP politburo member Bimal Rathnayake Victoria Dam to get inquiry and take disciplinary action against claimed Sri Lanka does not need any not only the Police personnel who misbehave “special laws,” and called on the 10 seismometers and commit felonies, but also their Government to repeal the PTA. BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK supervising officers. Speaking at a Media briefing organised by Police Spokesman, SDIG Ajith Rohana,... the JVP, he said new Cabinet Papers... The Geological Survey and Mines Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Bureau (GSMB) will install 10 new high- frequency seismometers near Victoria Reservoir to detect minor earthquakes. Story Continued on PAGE 2 From last year, a number of small Farmers will benefit from Rs 80B saved earthquakes measuring about 2 on the Richter scale have been reported on in fertiliser import ban – President several occasions in Kandy, Digana, Decisions on Teldeniya, and Kundasale. The GSMB Do not reverse the Farmers’ insurance Attention Farmers’ unions has decided to install ten high-frequency MMDA taken sans decision to ban stalled during to increase allowed signing seismometers provided by the German chemical fertiliser ‘Yahapalana’ farmers’ contracts up to Government at ten locations in and consultation – ACJU – farmers resumes today pension Rs10M around the Victoria Reservoir following this. All Ceylon JamiyyathulUlama (ACJU), while Farmers’ representatives have urged President After the minor earthquakes, Minister stating that the Cabinet of Ministers has made Gotabaya Rajapaksa,on behalf of 1.1 million of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera decisions pertaining to the Muslim Marriage and farmers across the island, not to reverse steps appointed an expert committee to Divorce Act (MMDA) without taking into taken to promote organic fertiliser. prepare a scientific report on the matter. consideration the opinions given by Islamic religious They highlighted that it was their absolute duty Despite the fact that those earthquakes and civil organisations, called on the Government and responsibility to return to traditional farming had no effect on the Victoria Reservoir, and the Minister of Justice to re-evaluate such methods and provide the people with a non-toxic the committee report stated that a decisions. healthy diet. They added that citizenry will be... thorough investigation was warranted. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Nurses’ Strike... The nurses also demanded a five- said the risk allowance that was numbers of the nursing staff and Kandy, Teaching Hospital Peradeniya, Cancer Patients, would continue day work week like all other State currently being paid to only a section approving the amendments to the Base Hospitals,16 nursing schools, service. services employees, staff category of nurses should be paid to all Service Minute. and 248 Medical Offices of Health Meanwhile, the strike caused recognition, and 1/80 for each hour nurses. Ratnapriya said nurses in 1,103 were engaged in the strike.However, untold hardship to warded patients of overtime that they do. At present, The GNOA President also stressed health institutions including the nurses at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital and those coming for treatment to the they are only paid 1/60 per hour.