EAT, DRINK, PLAY HILTON LAUNCHES ALL-DAY CLUB PROTECT YOURSELF FROM Covid-19 ‘SUNSET Blu’ ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 33,736 INFLATION UP 0.5% FROM IS THE ‘SUMMER OF 36’ DEATHS RECOVERED OCTOBER: DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN CRICKET’S 8,964 CENSUS AND STATISTICS LOWEST POINT? THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP 176 28,682 »see PAGE 3 »see PAGE 7 UNTIL 7.00 P.M. ON 21 DECEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU »see PAGE 5 NEW COVID-19 DETECTIONS RS. 1,000 DAILY WAGE FOR ESTATE WORKERS TOTAL CASES Monday deadline for final decision z Pay or handover company to Government: Minister Minister of Labour Nimal Siripala Monday (28). The instructions were given the increase in wages. would justify paying them the gratuity 37,407*Stats updated as at 7.00 p.m. on 21 December de Silva yesterday (21) instructed the by the Minister after considering the The EFC is of the opinion that at the end of their service. relevant authorities to take the final submissions made by both parties during plantation workers should be given an Accordingly, the employers proposed COVID-19 decision on increasing the minimum the discussions with the Estate Workers' additional target of 2 kg of leaves daily, that every employee should be daily wage of estate workers to Rs. 1,000, Leaders' and Employers' Federation of and also stated that these employees had required to work 180 days a year. Minister of Labour 400 cops in civvies to as per the 2021 Budget proposals, by next Ceylon (EFC) representatives regarding not carried out enough daily work that Contd. on page 2 Nimal Siripala de Silva monitor buses COVID-19 VACCINE BURYING COVID 19 VICTIMS Police officers in plain clothes have been deployed to inspect public transport buses, said Police Media Govt. to announce decision Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana. z Decision only after Cabinet discussion Visitors to N’Eliya Government in z Expert Committee need PHI certificates findings before Cabinet Visitors arriving in Nuwara Eliya must submit The final decision on the a certificate of a Public Health Inspector (PHI) burying of Muslims who die of confirming that they are not residents of a Covid Cabinet Spokesman talks with Russia Covid-19 will be announced today Keheliya Rambukwella high-risk area, stated the Nuwara Eliya District z Discussion on getting Sputnik V z Final decision after discussion (22), following the discussions on according to Cabinet Spokesman Secretary yesterday (21). vaccine: Minister Jayasumana with Russian envoy in Sri Lanka the Expert Committee’s findings at Keheliya Rambukwella. yesterday’s (21) cabinet meeting, Contd. on page 2 ‘Taking precautionary BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA measures will help lift isolation’ The Government will hold a key discussion next week with SL MIGRANT WORKERS Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday (21) the Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka to take the final decision noted that the length of time an area is placed under over bringing down the Sputnik V vaccine to prevent Covid- isolation will depend on the conduct of its residents. 19, according to State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Half of returned Several European countries Supply, and Regulation Prof. Channa Jayasumana. State Minister workers to go back Minister The discussion is scheduled to Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the ban flights from UK Prof. Channa take place between State Minister Maldives Yuri Materiy. BY PAMODI WARAVITA “Fifty percent of the 14,000 Several countries in Europe have banned entry for Jayasumana Prof. Jayasumana and Russian Contd. on page 2 Approximately half of the migrant workers who have flights carrying passengers from the UK, as the nation 14,000 migrant workers who come back want to go again,” deals with a unique new variant of the coronavirus returned to Sri Lanka due to Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign strain, as reported by European media. the Covid-19 pandemic have Employment (SLBFE) Deputy MAKING A LIST, CHECKING IT TWICE expressed their interest in going General Manager R.K.K.M.P. Silent demonstration abroad again for employment Randeniya told The Morning opportunities, The Morning yesterday (21). held against cremations learnt. Contd. on page 2 A group of people representing different religious beliefs staged a silent protest outside the Borella Cemetery, against the cremation of a 20-day-old baby that died from Covid-19. Won’t register social 415 more recover in Sri Lanka The Ministry of Health said yesterday (21) that media users: Minister another 415 patients who previously tested positive z Foreign digital operators to be registered for Covid-19 have recovered and were discharged from the hospital within the last 24 hours. Mass Media Minister Keheliya In a statement, the Minister Rambukwella yesterday (21) said the statement circulating SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 said the Government has been with regards to the social media considering registering foreign regulation has been portrayed RAPID ANTIGEN TESTING digital operators and not social in a garbled manner where the media and digital platform true meaning is not conveyed. Local health officials collected In areas with few swabs and blood samples to test users. Contd. on page 2 for Covid-19 in Maulana Watta, positive cases Dematagoda yesterday (21) HEALTH PROTOCOLS AT AIRPORTS A special programme to conduct Random PHOTO Pradeep Dambarage Rapid Antigen Tests (RRATs) in BIA to process arrivals Colombo, especially in areas where no DUTy-free SHOPPING or few Covid-19 No Covid cluster within two hours patients have been For passengers who The Airport Management wait at the premises for two hours reported, has been at CPSTL: Minister Services of the Bandaranaike while Covid-19 health screening launched by the Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila International Airport (BIA) procedures are conducted. health authorities, Colombo Municipal completed quarantine yesterday (21) rejected allegations made by assured that passengers arriving Contd. on page 2 according to Council (CMC) Chief Duty-free services will be Accordingly, purchasing goods the Opposition that another Covid-19 cluster in Katunayake will only have to Colombo Municipal Medical Officer of available at the Bandaranaike at the duty-free shopping mall at was being created through Ceylon Council (CMC) Health Dr. Ruwan International Airport (BIA) for the BIA will be allowed from 21 Petroleum Storage Terminals Wijemuni Chief Medical passengers who have completed January 2021. Ltd. (CPSTL) at Kolonnawa. Officer of Health Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni. their mandatory quarantine period. Contd. on page 2 Addressing a news briefing Contd. on page 2 held at the Ministry, the KANDY TREMORS post-obserVATIONS Minister said the Opposition State Minister Dr. Sudarshini REOPENING SCHOOLS was trying to create an Fernandopulle (centre) conducted unwarranted fear of a an emergency inspection of the Term commences Foreign experts expected in Jan BIA premises yesterday (21) Energy Minister Covid cluster. 11 Jan, except in WP BY SARAH HANNAN Udaya Gammanpila Contd. on page 2 School activities for grades one to five will commence on 11 January 2021 in The State Ministry for REOPENING AIRPORTS schools across the island, except for those Mahaweli Zones, Canals, in the Western Province and isolated areas. and Settlement Infrastructure Govt. urged to be This commencement date for the first Development is looking to bring term of 2021 was announced by Minister down an international team of State Minister Siripala Gamlath transparent in plans of Education Professor G.L. Pieris, who experts to certify the stability of (third from left) recently met the The United National Party (UNP) is concerned engineers in charge of the Main also noted that preschools would open on the Victoria Dam, as well as other Dam and Reservoir Operation about the Government’s decision to open borders the same date. major reservoirs in the country. Centre of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli to tourists in the New Year, as the recent days Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 Authority at Polgolla have seen an increase in the number of cases reported throughout Europe, with many countries WHO TO SUPPORT SRI LANKA choosing to re-impose lockdowns in the lead-up to the New Year. Booster shot for primary healthcare Contd. on page 2 zStrategic plan to obtain Covid-19 vaccines discussed ILLEGALLY IMPORTED TURMERIC The World Health Organisation’s STF raids 1,950 kg (WHO) Resident Representative to Sri An individual was arrested with 1,950 Lanka has extended its fullest support to kg of illegally imported dried turmeric in the State Ministry of Primary Health Care, Mattakkuliya. Epidemics, and Covid-19 Disease Control The arrest was made by the officers of the in improving primary healthcare facilities Police Special Task Force (STF) based on a and the country’s immunisation programme. WHO Resident Representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Razia Pendse (second from left) in tip-off received by them. Contd. on page 2 discussions with State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle (centre) recently Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS Tuesday, December 22, 2020 pieces of white cloth in protest. he said. 400 cops... “We are a group of young women activists For passengers... No Covid... This is in stark contrast to the 400 or 500 These police officers have been directed and lawyers who united to protest against the However, this will only be applicable “They are attempting to prevent workers who left the country daily before to inspect the behaviour of the drivers, and forced cremations that occurred recently,” for passengers who have completed their workers from reporting for duty, disrupt the pandemic. whether buses are following the quarantine stated human rights activist Amalini De Sayrah. mandatory quarantine period after entering the distribution of essential commodities When contacted to obtain further rules and regulations. “In accordance with the health regulations the country between 1 September and 16 such as food and medicine in the country, information on the safety of workers going Accordingly, nearly 400 officers have been and social distancing, the group of 30 people, December this year.