www.themorning.lk Late City VOL 01 | NO 21 | Rs. 30.00 { MONDAY } MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 LEADING NAMES ‘NOTEWORTHY’ DROPPED FOR WITH FITNESS ISSUES DR. LALANATH DE SILVA AYURVEDIC ‘OUR COVID RESPONSE CENTRES OPENING HAS LACKED PROPER OVERSEAS DECISION MAKING’ »SEE PAGE 16 »SEE PAGE 7 »SEE PAGE 6 »SEE PAGE 11 Madrasa Schools Cardinal refuses to be regulated to meet Ministers z To come under State Ministry of Dhamma z Aimed at promoting z z Schools and Bhikkhu Education religious coexistence No meeting until receipt Govt. delegation hoped BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI under separate departments Religious and Cultural Affairs, of report: Cardinal to reassure Cardinal that fall under the umbrella of and Education. BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE to see it at the beginning of All religious schools in the the Ministry of Buddhasasana, “This decision has been taken February. country, including Madrasas, are Religious, and Cultural Affairs. to provide religious education The Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith State Minister of Coconut, to be registered and regulated Speaking to The Morning on whilst promoting religious has refused a request for a meeting by the Catholic Kithul and Palmyrah Cultivation under the State Ministry of Thursday (18), State Minister co-existence. Nobody wants Ministers and members of Parliament representing the Promotion and Related Industrial Dhamma Schools, Bhikkhu of Dhamma Schools, Bhikkhu extremism. Plans to develop Government, The Morning learnt yesterday (21). Product Manufacturing, and Education, Pirivenas, and Buddhist Education, Pirivenas, and Buddhist the necessary curricula and to Export Diversification Arundika Universities, The Morning learnt. Universities Vijitha Berugoda decide on how these institutions A spokesperson for the Cardinal Ranjith, he would not Fernando said earlier yesterday A decision was arrived at on said that the State Ministry will will be regulated will be made Archbishop’s House confirmed be meeting with any politicians,” that the Catholic MPs, both in Thursday (18) for all religious move forward with a programme in consultation with religious to The Morning that no meeting the spokesperson said. the Government and Opposition, schools for lay students and in consultation with religious leaders representing all religions would take place on 2 March as The spokesperson further were planning to meet the The Archbishop of Colombo, institutions that educate the clergy leaders and experts. This follows a and experts once my Ministry is requested by the Government confirmed that the Archbishop Archbishop on 2 March. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith of all religions to be brought under discussion that took place between handed over this task officially,” delegation. is yet to receive any official “We will request His this State Ministry. The registration the State Ministry and the two said Berugoda. “Until the PCoI report on the communication from the Eminence the Cardinal to keep certainly do justice to the victims of these institutions is currently Ministries of Buddhasasana, Contd. on page 2 Easter Sunday attacks is in the Government regarding the faith in President Gotabaya of the Easter attacks,” he said. hands of His Eminence Malcolm report, despite a written request Rajapaksa as the President will Contd. on page 2 NMRA requests more Planters boycott info on three vaccines wages meeting z Call with Russia about Sputnik on Thursday z Labour Ministry to offer one more meeting BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI yesterday (21), NMRA Chief the Gamaleya Research BY PAMODI WARAVITA The National Medicines Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Institute for epidemiology A spokesperson for the Regulatory Authority Kamal Jayasinghe said that and microbiology regarding Representatives of the Ministry of Labour told The (NMRA) is yet to grant the NMRA has requested the Sputnik vaccine on 25 Planters’ Association (PA) Morning yesterday (21) that approval to the Russian the State Pharmaceuticals February. had not attended the Wages although the Trade Unions (TUs) Sputnik V, Indian Bharat Corporation (SPC) for more “NMRA reviewers have Board meeting on 19 Friday, as and the representatives from Biotech COVAXIN, and necessary research documents requested this discussion convened by the Commissioner the Ministry had been present, Chinese Sinopharm Covid- to recommence the reviewing with the Gamaleya Research General of Labour, where the representatives from the 19 vaccines, as they are still of COVAXIN and Sinopharm Institute for epidemiology objections regarding the Rs. Regional Plantation Companies awaiting additional details on vaccines. and microbiology to direct 1,000 minimum wage for (RPCs) had failed to attend the said vaccines, while the Pfizer He added that a special some questions and get some plantation workers were to be meeting. vaccine is yet to be submitted virtual discussion is to clarifications made to expedite considered, The Morning learnt. Contd. on page 2 for approval to NMRA. be held between the the approval process.” Speaking to The Morning NMRA and experts from Contd. on page 2 TRINCOMALEE OIL TANKS UNHRC support: Union to write to Gammanpila today India plays hard to get BY PAMODI WARAVITA JSS CPC Branch President harbour would not be given BY PAMODI WARAVITA Lanka’s request for support at the The United National Party Ananda Palitha said that the to India. Although the Government of crucial UNHRC session, where a (UNP)-affiliated Jathika Sevaka letter would state the union’s “The ocean surrounding Sri Lanka officially sought the resolution against Sri Lanka will Sangamaya (JSS) will hand over position for ensuring that the the harbour may be called the support of India last week for the be presented. a letter today (22) to Minister Trincomalee oil tanks would ‘Indian Ocean’, but it belongs United Nations Human Rights Earlier last week, Foreign of Energy Udaya Gammanpila, be in the hands of Sri Lanka to Sri Lanka,” said Palitha. Council (UNHRC) session set to Ministry Secretary Prof. Jayanath regarding the 99 oil storage in the future. It was reported last week that commence from today (22), India is Colombage had stated that tanks in Trincomalee, following At a press conference held Gammanpila had said the oil yet to respond, The Morning learnt. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had contradictory claims about the yesterday (21), Palitha urged all tanks would be “reacquired” A Foreign Ministry official told sent written requests to multiple tanks last week. unions and stakeholders to unite by the Government. The Morning that as of Saturday heads of states for their support. Speaking to The Morning, to ensure that the Trincomalee Contd. on page 2 (20), India has not responded to Sri Contd. on page 2 COVID-19 CASES Weddings to remain at 150 guests ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE change of plans was due to requests by 19 in the country. Multiple Covid-19 Health authorities have decided to many professional groups who depend outbreaks have been linked to wedding maintain the maximum number of heavily on the wedding industry for receptions,” said Dr. Fernandopulle. 79,734 people at a wedding at 150 despite their livelihoods. However, she added that this decision earlier plans to reduce it to 50, The “Due to the protests of various is subject to change at any time. DEATHS RECOVERED Morning learnt. groups the Government decided to The Collective of Suppliers for Speaking to The Morning, State maintain the upper limit at 150 guests. Wedding ceremonies industry had 5,000 445 74,299 Minister of Primary Health Care, The Government (initially) decided initially protested against the decision SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 9.45 P.M. ON 21 FEBRUARY 2021 Epidemic, and Covid Disease Control to impose restrictions on weddings in of the health officials. Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said the view of the current spread of Covid- Contd. on page 2 42 www.themorning.lk { NEWS } Monday, February 22, 2021 ‘ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION’ Huge protests in Thera sends letter of Myanmar despite killing of two protestors Huge crowds marched in demand to top officials Myanmar yesterday (21) to denounce a military coup z in a show of defiance after Ven. Elle Gunawansha holds them responsible BY PAMODI WARAVITA the bloodiest episode of the As such, Gunawansha Thera said (willful neglect to carry out direction campaign for democracy the A letter of demand has been sent by the Jathika Sampath that they hope to take legal action of, or obstruction of, investigating previous day, when security Surakima Chairman Ven. Elle Gunawansha Thera to two top against the officials in the coming officer, & c.) of the Bribery Act forces fired on protesters, officials appointed to protect the environment, holding them weeks. could be used to take legal action killing two, Reuters reported. responsible for the alleged environmental destruction taking Specifically, Gunawansha against them. The global news service place in the country today. Thera alleged that if the officials Gunawansha Thero said added that the military has have been unable to carry out that many alleged incidents of been unable to quell the The Department of Wildlife Speaking to The Morning, their responsibilities as stated in environmental harm in the recent demonstrations and a civil Conservation (DWC) Director Gunawansha Thera said that the the Flora and Fauna Protection past have prompted this action. disobedience campaign of General (DG) Chandana letter had been sent since the DWC Ordinance, No. 16 of 1937, then When contacted by The Morning, strikes against the coup and coup has created so many that have condemned the coup Sooriyabandara and the Conservator DG and the Conservator General Sections 112 (concealing a design DWC DG Sooriyabandara said that the detention of elected leader obstacles,” said Ko Pay in decried the violence against General of the Forest Conservation of Forests have proved unable to to commit an offence which it is his he has not received the letter yet. Aung San Suu Kyi and others, Yangon. “That’s why we protesters.