Unemployment rate rises amid CoVID

MahINda P. L IyaNage, Galle Cenral special correspondent Sri Lanka’s unemployment rate has risen to 5.5 percent by 2020, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s Annual Report for 2020 has stated. SrI LAnKA’S nATIonAL neWSPAPer I SInCe 1918 The unemployment rate was 4.8 monDAY jUne 07, 2021 I 17 PAGeS I VoLUme - 103 - no 133 rS. 30.00 I reGISTereD AS A neWSPAPer In SrI LAnKA I e-PAPer percent in 2019 and it has risen to 5.5 percent in 2020, the report points out. Moreover by 2020, underem- ployment rate had increased mark- edly and the total number of hours Governments must not hesitate to adopt bold policies to protect human health - President worked had dropped significantly. The Central Bank report also states President Gotabaya Raja- combat the loss of biodiversity, mittee on World Food Security, cial lecture. ‘Climate change is fertilizers and agrochemicals that this is due to the improper uti- paksa emphasised that if we are and enable people to achieve on Friday via video technology. one of the most serious issues enabled a long-needed national lisation of the productive capacity of to preserve the health of our their economic aspirations in The Committee on Food humanity faces. Mitigating its transition to a healthier and the labour force. planet and ensure human health more sustainable ways,’ he fur- Security (CFS), while applaud- impact requires urgent collec- more ecologically sound system The unemployment rate for and sustainability, Governments ther said. ing the President’s decision to tive action from all countries’, of organic agriculture. women, youth and those with the world over must not hesitate The President made these completely eliminate the use the President further said. ‘We are aware that there will higher education qualifications to adopt bold policies. remarks addressing the Agro- of chemical fertilizers, invited President Rajapaksa also said be teething problems during has increased significantly by ‘Such policies should support ecology Event at the 48th Ses- President Rajapaksa to its annu- that the Government’s deci- this transition. To PAGe 2020. 02 ecological conservation, help sion of the United Nations Com- al conference to deliver a spe- sion to ban imports of artificial To PAGe 02 SIxTeen DeAD, Landslide warning for 10 districts 270,912 AFFeCTeD Three missing, five injured The separator tanks containing furnace oil at DUe To BAD WeATher the sapugaskanda Oil refinery managed by shavINI Madhara the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, had over- injured. According to the DMC, people are residing with rela- Army troops were mobilised flowed with the ingress of rain water following At least 16 persons have died, 14 houses have been fully dam- tives or friends. A total of Rs. to Dumbara in Ratnapura, Ara- heavy downpour in the past two days.The Navy while 270,912 people belonging aged and 817 houses partially 74.5 mn has been allocated by nayake in Kegalle and Meeri- and the Coast guard have been able to place to 60,674 families in 10 dis- damaged mostly in the Rat- the National Disaster Relief gama in Gampaha to rescue a floating boom to prevent a further spread tricts have been affected due to napura and Gampaha districts. Services Centre (NDRSC) for people affected by landslides of furnace oil and to skim them through an oil the adverse weather conditions A total of 15,658 people emergency relief purposes for with the coordination of the skimmer, to prevent furnace oil mixed water prevailing in several parts of the belonging to 3,520 families 10 districts. DMC. in the sapugaskanda area drifting into the country for the last few days, have been adversely affected Four people in the same “People in Gampaha, Rat- Kelani river through the Pattivila canal, as the according to the latest update and evacuated to 72 safety cen- family had died after a mound napura, Colombo, Puttalam, current rainfall decreases and the water level from the Disaster Management tres set up to assist the dis- of earth collapsed on to their Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya, Keg- in the Kelani river goes down. The Navy and sri Centre (DMC). placed. Most of these safety home in Aranayake, Kegalle alle, Kandy, Kurunegala and Lanka Coast guard took action to skim the fur- Additionally, the DMC also centers are in Colombo (32), yesterday. Another person has Galle districts have been affect- nace oil exposed to the external environment stated that three people are Gampaha (16), Kalutara (10) died in another landslide in ed by the rains, floods, land- and to prevent further spread. The heiyan- still reported to be missing and Ratnapura (10) districts. Warakapola - Algama area on slides and winds,” the DMC thuduwa area in sapugaskanda was flooded and another two persons are Some 3,397 of these displaced Saturday morning. said. To PAGe 02 due to heavy rains. Pictures by sudath Malaweera. Don’t proceed with resolution on Sri Lanka: Work begins on five new flyovers, rs. 35 bn allocated to SL tells US Foreign Affairs Committee pay rs. 5,000 Sri Lanka, through said that it vehemently four-lane elevated expressway today its Ambassador in opposes the contents allowance - Minister Washington Ravina- of the resolution which tha Aryasinha,called contains allegations Major effort to ease congestion in Colombo, Kandy on the US House For- relating to Sri Lanka eign Affairs Committee that are inaccurate, vaccination happening in (FAC) not to proceed biased and unsubstan- The construction of five new flyovers and four- with H. RES. 413 on Sri tiated, raising grave lane elevated expressway from New Kelani Bridge more than 4,000 centres Lanka moved by Con- suspicion regarding the to Athurugiriya as a part of easing traffic conges- gresswoman Deborah intention of the resolu- tion in the capital and Kandy will be launched by aseLa KuruLuwaNsa and Ross (Democrat/North tion. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today (7). dINuLI FraNCIsCO Carolina) on May 18, The communication The inauguration ceremony is scheduled to be The government has 2021. was accompanied by a held with the participation of a limited number so far spent Rs.286 bil- In a communication addressed detailed analysis of the Resolution, of people as per the health regulations in place in lion on COVID-19 dis- to FAC Chair Representative Greg- which laid out paragraph by para- view of the pandemic. ease control and relat- ory Meeks (Democrat/New York) graph, its prejudicial nature. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will par- ed activities, Cabinet and Ranking Member Representa- It was observed that the proposed ticipate in the ceremony via new technol- Spokesman and Media tive Michael McCaul (Republican/ Resolution which equates the LTTE ogy from Temple Trees, a Highways Ministry Minister Keheliya Ram- Texas), the Sri Lanka Government - proscribed by To PAGe 02 release said. To PAGe 02 bukwella said. He said Rs.80 bil- lion was spent for two tranches of the Rs.5,000 allowance given in the ernor’s Office on Sat- SC orders policemen to pay for youth’s death after assault first wave and Rs.35 bil- urday. SPC ordered Sinopharm’s lion had been allocated The minister said the for that purpose this government is responsi- LaKMaL sOOrIyagOda in lieu of litigation not responsible for the violation. In time. He spoke to the ble for the money spent, The Supreme Court costs. The six respond- his judgment, Justice S.Thurairaja 1 mn doses arrive media after a special whether from Samurdhi has ordered six police ents have been found observed that the petitioner, the moth- discussion held at the or elsewhere. Ishara MudugaMuwa personnel at the Kanda- guilty of murder of er of the deceased, is a poor village Central Provincial Gov- To PAGe 02 ketiya Police Station the deceased, being woman who was expecting to live the A stock of one million doses of the to pay compensation members of an unlaw- rest her life with her son whose unfor- China-produced COVID-19 vaccine, of Rs.300,000 to a ful assembly and they tunate demise caused her shock, loss Sinopharm arrived in Sri Lanka yes- mother of a 17-year-old were sentenced to of care and support. terday. The consignment flown to the deceased son who died death by the Badulla The Supreme Court further ordered Bandaranaike International Airport SLBC Chairman kept at Kandy after being assaulted High Court in a judge- the six respondent police personnel (BIA) and was handed over to the State by police personnel in ment dated January 9, to pay a compensation of Rs.240,000 Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC). checkpoint, seeks police inquiry 2014. 2017. to the four relatives of the deceased This is the largest consignment of The Supreme Court The Supreme Court who accompanied him and who were vaccines purchased by Sri Lanka so far. further ordered the six respondents held that the state had fulfilled its further subject to assault by the errant On two previous occasions, the Chinese aseLa KuruLuwaNsa detained for around two to pay Rs.60,000 to the petitioner obligation, therefore, the state is police officers. To PAGe 02 government provided To PAGe 02 hours. A Police investiga- Although he had tion has been initiated clearly stated that he into the inconvenience was the Chairman of the Appoint Parliamentary Select Committee caused by a police Sri Lanka Broadcasting officer when Sri Lanka Corporation, the police Sajith raises concern over opening Broadcasting Corpora- officer did not allow him to probe ship fire - UNP Leader tion (SLBC) Chairman to travel to Kandy for Yala for foreign tourists Jayampathy Heenkenda close to two hours. shIrOMI abeyasINghe the X-Press Pearl was had arrived in the outer travelled to Kandy from He was unable to aMaLI tised and brought UNP leader and for- anchored at the Colombo harbour of Colombo on the Colombo on duty yester- attend an event sched- MaLLawaaraChChI in corona-infected mer Prime Minister Ranil Port, the damage would night of May 19. Although day May 6. uled to be telecast live Opposition Lead- tourists when all Wickremesinghe yester- have been worse. It could the International Mari- Heenkenda was on by the Sri Lanka Broad- er Sajith Prema- the countries of day called for the appoint- have destroyed all build- time Organization (IMO) his way to Kandy from casting Corporation with dasa yesterday (6) the world closed ment of a Parliamentary ings from the Colombo was notified of the need Colombo on official the Pallekelle Police that criticised the gov- their countries Select Committee to look Port to the Shangri-La for assistance, neither the duties and his official afternoon, he said. He ernment for per- to tourists at the into the fire on the MV Hotel. Government of Sri Lanka vehicle was stopped by has requested the Cen- mitting tourists to beginning of the X-Press Pearl ship. Making a special state- nor MEPA requested inter- a Chief Inspector at the tral Province Senior enter the country corona disaster in “If the explosion ment, the former Prime national assistance, Wick- Kadugannawa roadblock DIG to conduct a formal while it is facing a the world. had taken place when Minister said that the ship remesinghe said. To PAGe 02 and the Chairman was inquiry into the matter. critical episode in Then, when the the COVID-19 pan- second wave began, demic. Premadasa noted that the government brought in such relaxation of quarantine Ukrainian tourists. laws might cause a third wave. These tourists were allowed Sub Inspector killed, 7 serious in Watawala van mishap Issuing a statement, the to blatantly violate quarantine Opposition Leader observed, rules and travel across the coun- aseLa KuruLuwaNsa turned on a footslope on the OIC of the Hatton Police Minor three relatives of the deceased transferred to the Nawalapiti- “Opening tourist destinations try without any restraint. Add A Hatton police Sub Inspec- Hatton- Colombo main road in and Various Complaints Unit. in the vehicle. ya District Hospital for fur- including Yala to foreign tour- to that, this government gave tor was killed, and seven oth- Watawala. In addition to the police offic- The driver of the van and ther treatment. ists under that tourism bubble irresponsible, reckless answers ers were seriously injured when The deceased has been identi- er who died in the van at the all its occupants were injured The COVID casualty was hand- system may turn into a major when questioned upon this the vehicle that guarded a van fied as Sub Inspector Bennett time of the accident, there were and were admitted to the ed over to the Army in Kandy by error. This government adver- move. To PAGe 02 carrying a COVID body over- Kumarasinghe 51, who was the three Hatton police officers and Watawala Hospital and later the police. To PAGe 02 DN page 2 news monday, june 7, 2021 sri Lanka committed to all don’t proceed with... From Page 01 sixteen dead,... From Page 01 the US since 1997 and named by the FBI in 2008 as “among the most dangerous and deadly extremists in the world” - to an BmIsTeC initiatives - President ‘armed independence organization’, exposes the resolution’s ori- gins and purpose. The Resolution encourages separatism and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday that Sri Lanka for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation questions even the nature of the Sri Lanka State, by references to would remain committed to all initiatives of the Bay of Bengal (BMISTEC). ‘Traditional Tamil Homelands’. This not only misrepresents estab- Initiatives for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Coopera- “We take great pride to be one of the founder members of lished historical facts, and present-day realities, but also contrib- tion (BMISTEC). this prestigious initiative way back in 1997.As the Current chair utes to supporting the dismemberment of Sri Lanka, which is the Issuing a message to mark the 24th Anniversary of the of the BIMSTEC, Sri Lanka convened eight core BIMSTEC ultimate goal of the LTTE and its supporters. organization, the President encouraged the BIMSTEC member Meetings including the 17th BMISTEC Ministerial Meeting The resolution’s willful ignorance of the USA’s own security states to continue to deepen the cooperation to address the during which member states collectively finalized the concerns about the LTTE and its front organizations and efforts region’s challenges and to seize the many opportunities for BMISTEC Charter, Rationalization of sectors and Sub Sectors at glorification of terrorism, will give inspiration to rump ele- The Nattandiya Divisional Secretariat made shared progress. Although the BIMSTEC represents 22 per of BMISTEC , MoU on mutual cooperation between Diplomatic ments of the LTTE and its numerous front organizations within arrangements to relocate those affected in cent of the world’s population, it only contributes 4 per cent of Academies / Training Institutions of BMISTEC Member States the US and across the world, as well as to other terrorist organiza- flood prone areas due to the overflowing of the world GDP. Therefore, I strongly encourage Member States with a view to adopt at the 5th BMISTEC summit. The Secre- tions. Observing that the USA had been “a consistent defense Hamilton canal. Residents said the flood is to continue to deepen the cooperation to address the region’s tariat has commendably supported and facilitated the process partner of Sri Lanka, including in Sri Lanka’s war against terror”, caused by clogging of garbage and poor main- tenance of the Hamilton Canal. Picture by Mihira challenges and to seize the many opportunities for shared pro- under the BMISTEC framework to achieve this outcome. I wish the Sri Lanka Government said “the resolution which is at signifi- Wijesekera, Marawila group corr. gress, the message said. Excerpts from the message: “I consid- to take this opportunity to convey that Sri Lanka is considering cant variance with stated U.S. policy, across Administrations - er it a great privilege to convey greetings and best wishes of the hosting the 5th BMISTEC summit in the latter part of the both Democratic and Republican, may lead to an erroneous con- Meanwhile, the National Building Research the Government and the people of Sri Lanka on the happy year depending on the mitigation of the spread of the COVID- clusion that the House supports armed acts to achieve political Organization (NBRO) has issued landslide occasion of the 24th anniversary of the Bay of Bengal Initiative 19 pandemic and ease of travel restrictions in Member States.” goals. This would undermine the US Administration’s own foreign warnings for Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kal- policy foundation of being rooted in democratic values, and nega- utara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matale, Matara Rat- tively impact the warm bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and napura, and Nuwara Eliya districts. The the USA”. National Building Research Organization has It was asserted that the Sri Lanka Government, having strug- requested the people living in high-risk areas gled for nearly 30 years to defeat LTTE terrorism, consistent with to move to safer areas. Colour stickers for vehicles entering Colombo today its constitutional duties to protect its citizens regardless of race, Level 3 Evacuation alerts have been issued religion, language, caste, sex, political opinion or place of birth, for Bulathsinhala, Agalawatta, Palindanu- The Police Department will introduce eleven sticker cate- The private sector involved in providing essential services launched a humanitarian operation to protect and liberate all Sri wara, Matugama and Ingiriya in the Kalutara gories of different colours for vehicles engaged in essential will get Purple while a light brown colour sticker for the peo- Lankans. The communication also outlined the measures taken by District, Eheliyagoda, Ayagama, Kiriella & services from today. Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said ple working in the import, export, manufacturing and indus- the Government since the defeat of terrorism in May 2009, to Kalawana in the Ratnapura District, Ambaga- this sticker system will be introduced to ensure that people tries sector, He said that yellow stickers for essential sup- address the needs of 300,000 internally displaced who had been muwa in the Nuwara Eliya District, and involved in essential services travel without hassle. He said plies, red for essential delivery services, orange for media and used as human shields by the retreating LTTE, to rebuild and Galigamuwa, Mawanella, Kegalle, Yatiyanto- this novel system in place from today will be in force until communications institutions, white for work related to immi- develop infrastructure in the conflict affected areas and to restore ta, Ruwanwella, Deraniyagala, Bulathko- travel restrictions are lifted. A green sticker will be pasted on gration and emigration, black sticker for humanitarian causes livelihood opportunities to many, including to over 12,000 ex- hupitiya, Dehiowita, Rambukkana, Aranay- vehicles of Health services while, the light blue colour for the (funeral, medical examination etc) and gray colour sticker is LTTE combatants - also comprising 596 child soldiers, who were ake and Warakapola in the Kegalle district. three Armed Forces and Police vehicles. for pre-cooked food and delivery services. rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society. The Meteorological Department mean- while forecast more showers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces From Page 01 From Page 01 and in Galle, Matara, Nuwara-Eliya and Governments must not... sC orders policemen... Kandy districts. Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Uva and Eastern These include constraints in supporting the aspirations of the set the tone not only for the agroecol- Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Sisira provinces during the evening or night. Main- domestic production and supply of State in terms of food security in the ogy side-event but the whole CFS48 de Abrew, Murdu Fernando and S.Thurairaja held that first ly fair weather will prevail elsewhere. The organic alternatives, as well as long term. consideration of policy convergence respondent D.M. Abeyrathna, second respondent D.P.K Gamage public were requested to take adequate pre- adverse public perceptions arising The President expressed confi- around agroecology report. Your and third respondent S.M.R.P. Kumara, the Police Constables in cautions to minimise damage caused by tem- from the ban’, the President dence that Sri Lanka’s this initiative statement leads the way in their the Kandaketiya Police station and the fourth respondent S.J.M. porary localised strong winds and lightning added.‘However, as leaders, it is our will inspire other Governments to implementation and sets the trend for Jayasundara a Civil Defence Force officer, fifth respondent D.M. during thundershowers. responsibility to take decisive action take similarly bold action for the bet- national action,” Wijeratna who belongs to the Reserve Staff attached to the The Disaster Management Centre urged despite the challenges we will face. If terment of their citizens. “I think your statement will be Kandaketiya Police station and the sixth respondent R. P. the public to take immediate action to pro- we hesitate to make decisions, essen- On behalf of the organizers of the picked up widely beyond CFS as a Somarathne a Sub Inspector have violated the Fundamental tect their lives and property in the event of a tial initiatives such as this will always CSF48 Agroecology event, Chief Sci- world-leading initiative to take cli- Rights of the deceased, guaranteed under Article 11 ,12 flood, especially due to the added risk of the remain confined to the realm of dis- entist Dr. Fergus L. Sinclair in an mate change seriously and transition (1),13(1) of the Constitution. COVID-19 pandemic. cussion’, the President said. appreciation letter commended the to more sustainable food systems In her petition Kanda Udage Mallika of Meegahakiula said The President said the decision statement made by the President. based on agroecological principles. her son Sandun Malinga’s death was the result of being assault- taken by Sri Lanka to ban imports of “I was deeply impressed with the These decisive and practical actions ed by four police personnel at the Kandeketiya Police Station on artificial fertilizers and agrochemicals bold statement that you made and the that Sri Lanka is taking will be a bea- May 7, 2014. The mother stated that from the time her son left unemployment rate... From Page 01 will pave the way for a greener econo- clear rationale that you put forward con to others,” Dr. Sinclair said in the school he helped the family by obtaining agricultural produce to my and a healthier society, whilst for them. This opening address will letter. sell at the various markets in Badulla. She stated that on May 7, Underemployment had largely increased by 2014 her two sons had finished their evening meal and accom- 2020, and the total number of hours worked panied her brother and a few other relatives to purchase a three- had dropped outstandingly. Female unem- work begins on five new flyovers,... From Page 01 wheeler at Ketawatta. The mother stated she received a tele- ployment rate has increased from 7.4 percent phone call informing her that Kandaketiya police personnel in 2019 to 8.4 percent in 2020. The male Highways Minister Johnston Fernan- It is 16.4 km in length and estimated and counted together with the branch were seen taking her children and the relatives to the police sta- unemployment rate has increased from 3.3 do said that the implementation of the cost is Rs 134.9 billion. The construc- flyover the total width would be 12.90 tion after assaulting them. percent in 2019 to 4 percent in 2020, accord- project was a manifestation of the gov- tion would be done by the China Har- meters. The width of the branch-flyo- She stated that at the police station she saw her relatives and ing to the Central Bank. ernment’s commitment to realising the bour Engineering Company in 36 ver from Kandy to Peradeniya would her two sons who appeared to have been assaulted by the The report states that this is mainly due to visions and policies of President Gota- months. The elevated expressway will be 6.40 meters. In addition it is police. Malinga had complained to his mother that Sub Inspec- the adverse effects of the COVID pandemic. baya Rajapaksa’s ‘Vistas of Prosperity start from the New Kelani Bridge and planned to construct the underway tor Somaratne and other officers had assaulted him and that he and Splendour’ in line with plans for run through Kolonnawa, Rajagiriya, enabling two or three vehicles at once was suffering from severe chest pain and pleaded with his moth- sustainable development. This year’s Buthgamuwa, Battaramulla, Koswatte, and it comprises a 30 meter long four- er to rub his chest. Rs. 35 bn allocated... From Page 01 budget made special emphasis on find- Pothuarawa, Hokandara to the Outer lane iron bridge from Peradeniya to She said she realised that her son was in a critical condition ing solutions for the traffic jams in Circular Expressway. There would be Kandy. The project is envisaged to be and pleaded with SI Somaratne to take them to hospital but he Rambukwella said that while vaccination pro- main cities, the minister said adding inter-exchanges at Orugodawatte, Raja- completed in 28 months. had shouted at her and said that neither did the Meegahakivula grammes were being implemented in more that as a part of easing traffic conges- griya, Koswatte, Hokandara and at Length of the Flyover at the Justice Hospital DMO take any note of the serious health condition of than 4,000 locations across Sri Lanka, some tion Colombo and its suburbs and Dematagoda connecting the Baseline Akbar Mawatha would be 207 meters. her children and that of her relatives. were trying to point out shortcomings in three Kandy, five new flyovers and an elevat- Road. There would be another inter- It would be 8.4 meters in width. The The mother stated that there was willful negligence by the or four centres and insinuate that the entire ed expressway from the New Kelani exchange linking the elevated express- flyover at the Uttarananda Mawatha DMO and that the police had told the Magistrate the suspects vaccination programme was a failure. He invit- Bridge to Athurugiriya would be con- way to the Outer Circular Expressway will be 396 meters in length and 10.4 were arrested on suspicion for hunting treasure. Subsequently, ed people to think critically about how fair it is structed. at Athurugiriya. meters in width. The flyover connect- the Magistrate had given a remand order and they were remand- to condemn the whole vaccination programme Flyovers would be constructed at The Flyover at Kohuwala junction ing the two aforementioned flyovers ed for 14 days. She stated that the Magistrate didn’t inquire for trivial issues. Kohuwala junction, Getambe Junction, will be constructed with the financial would be 310 meters in length and 6.9 whether the suspects were assaulted and neither were they The Minister said that no country in the an overpass near the Slave Island Rail- aid from the Hungarian government at meters in width. Total cost for the allowed to inform the Magistrate about the police torture. The world has controlled this pandemic within a way Station to Justice Akbar Mawatha, a cost of Rs.2,648 million. The over- three aforementioned flyovers is esti- mother stated that according to her elder son they were only specific framework and that the government is Uttarananda Mawatha and another fly- head bridge would be of 217.30 meters mated at Rs. 5,270 million. It is admitted to hospital after the death of her younger son. fully committed to implementing the health over connecting two overhead bridges. in length and 9.4 meters in width over- planned to be completed in 12 months The respondents in their statement of objections had stated sector’s recommendations for disease control. A flyover will be constructed across arching a four-lane road connecting and construction work of the flyovers that at their time of arrival to the scene, there was a commotion He said that when the first dose of the Sputnik Beira Lake and Slave Island to the Bala Nugegoda and Kalubowila controlled will be done by Maga Engineering. taking place between the parties and further said they only used V vaccine was given, some media outlets had Dhaksha Mawatha and another con- by traffic signals. The project is envis- The Flyover across Beira Lake and minimum force to separate them and had questioned them later. made a great effort to create a buzz among the necting Chittampalam A. Gardiner aged to be completed in 22 months. the Slave Island Railway Station con- However,as per the Post-Mortem Report (PMR) of the people about the second dose. He also added Mawatha. Cabinet approval has been The Flyover at Getambe junction necting Bala Dhaksha Mawatha and deceased, the deceased had several injuries including blunt that even though the media outlets exerted granted for these projects. will be constructed with financial aid Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha is forced head and chest injuries involving the brain, heart and their best in provoking citizens, they kept con- The four-lane elevated expressway from the Hungarian government at a planned to be completed in one year. It lungs. The Supreme Court held that as per this evidence it is fidence in the government and got themselves from the New Kelani Bridge to Athuru- cost of Rs. 9,451 million. It would be will be 360 meters in length and 11 clear that the injuries were not due to a ‘commotion’ or a result inoculated. giriya is planned to reduce huge traffic 396.70 meters in length and its branch- meters in width. The total construc- of the use of ‘minimal force’ but due to heavy attacks possibly as Central Province Governor Lalith U.Gamage, congestion created by vehicles coming flyover would be 285 meters in length. tion cost is estimated at 2,730 million described by the mother of the deceased. Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthga- from the Southern Expressway to The width of the flyover would be cov- rupees and the work is to be complet- Attorney Lakshan Dias with Shafnas Shamdeen appeared for mage, State Minister Jeevan Thondaman and Colombo and those from Battaramulla, ered in three segments. The main flyo- ed by the Access Engineering PLC. the petitioners. Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Tennakoon several other government and health officials Kaduwela and Aturugiriya to Colombo. ver would be of 9.40 meters in length appeared for the Attorney General. were present at the meeting

appoint Parliamentary... From Page 01 sajith raises concern... From Page 01 He proposed that a Parliamentary Select Committee be immedi- Meanwhile, countries around the world ing priority to foreigners by classifying Sri ately appointed to inquire into the fire on this ship. “There is a pos- have taken the most responsible measures Lankan citizens as second-class citizens? sibility of appointing members and appointing a Select Committee for the safety of their citizens.” What guarantee can be given to the govern- this week when Parliament meets. Accordingly, the Committee may “What is the meaning of bringing in tour- ment that it is trying to import the con- meet in the first week of July to present a preliminary report on the ists while the travel restrictions and lock- stantly changing new corona varieties that environmental and economic damage caused by the ship fire. down are taking place all over the country? are spread all over the world and that it is He said that the people have a right to know how the ship caught What is the purpose of the government giv- not so?” Premadasa questioned. fire and why it could not be extinguished. Also, the people have a right to know what steps we will take next regarding the ship. We urge the government to expedite this,he said. On the 20th of May our crew entered the ship. There they sI killed, 7 serious... From Page 01 learned that there was a fire in the container containing the chemi- cals stored on the ship. By May 25, the Marine Environment Pro- tection Authority (MEPA) had informed the International Maritime The van was travelling in front of the direction. The van driver being treated at Organization (IMO) that this area was in danger. vehicle carrying the COVID casualty and the Nawalapitiya Hospital will be taken to The Marine Environment Protection Authority warned that there was attempting to overtake a lorry that was court by the Hatton Magistrate’s Court, is a risk of fire damaging the marine environment. This is referred travelling in the Watawala area. Police said after recovery, Watawala Police said. to as a “Tier II” disaster. This means that if Sri Lanka finds it diffi- the van had overturned when the driver The postmortem examination of the cult to control the fire, it may need outside help. lost control of the vehicle while attempting deceased Sub Inspector is scheduled to be Why did the government not enforce the existing laws between to avoid a container vehicle travelling from held today (7) at the Atala Pindeniya Pub- May 20 and May 25? That is the most important question. In such Colombo to Hatton coming in the opposite lic Cemetery in Kegalle. a situation the National Disaster Council can be convened under the Disaster Management Act. It has the potential to gather and declare a state of disaster in the coastal region. This National Disaster Council could be formed with the partici- From Page 01 pation of 20 Ministers including the President and the Prime Minis- sPC ordered sinopharm’s... ter and the Opposition Leader and five Members of the Opposition. The National Council could have met and taken decisions on behalf 1.1 million doses of Sinopharm vac- The first dose of the Sinopharm vac- of the Coast Guard. But no one made such a decision.If it had been cines to Sri Lanka as a donation. cine has been given to 953,480 people declared that there would be a national disaster, we could have Production, Supply, and Regulation of after it was rolled out among Sri Lan- obtained foreign assistance to put out the fire. As the fire spread we Pharmaceuticals State Minister Prof. kan nationals on May 8. A total of got help to put out the fire from India. By then the fire was out of Channa Jayasumana said the consign- 64,986 individuals have received the control because the notification to India had been delayed. Europe ment will be distributed among 12 dis- first dose of the Russian Sputnik V vac- and East Asian countries have the greatest knowledge about the tricts to administer the second dose to cine. fires of such a chemical ship.Why didn’t we think about the damage eligible persons and also to vaccinate The total number of confirmed cases to our future economy and the damage to the environment from residents in high-risk areas. of coronavirus reported in the country this fire? The government and the Marine Environment Protection According to Health Ministry’s Epi- reached 202,357 by yesterday and 1,696 Authority should have thought about these matters. demiology Unit statistics, the first dose COVID-related fatalities reported in the There is a risk of destruction of the coral reef around Colombo in of the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine country since the pandemic began. the Sri Lankan seas due to the mixing of nitric acid with seawater. had been given to 925,242 individuals Meanwhile,166,132 persons have It is because of the coral reef in Colombo that we survived the tsu- and the second dose of the same vac- recovered and 34,569 persons are under nami disaster. cine given to 343,805 persons. medical care. MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 ADVERTISEMENTS page 3 DN Dn page 4 news Feature Monday, June 7, 2021

The X-press pearl on launch day three months ago.

The X-press pearl on fire.

Beach clean-up by sri lanka navy. AAnyA WipulAsenA offi- Pictures by Aanya Wipulasena and Sri Lanka Navy t is a few minutes past seven in cials the morning. T.A. Chandana, know- 38, sits on an abandoned fish- ingly let Iing boat and watches salvors the ship and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) into the together with the Indian Coastguard Colombo (ICG) trying to save what is left of a Port, despite large container ship and avoid an oil the dangers spill. posed. The sinking MV X-Press Pearl, a “In response to container ship registered in Singa- a request made by pore, poses a huge threat to the the Criminal Investiga- country, especially to marine life. In tion Department (CID) case of an oil spill, experts warn, from the SLN to transfer the outcome can be devastating. an investigation team to the This is predicted to have a domino aforesaid location, in order to effect on everything else for decades obtain seawater samples, conduct to come. on-site monitoring and investigate This is the second time within a the impact on the marine environ- year that a ship has burned in the ment due to the ship’s fire, the vicinity of Sri Lanka – the first Navy was involved in the facilita- said. being the MT New Diamond, a Very tion,” it stated in a press release. His busi- Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) in “Incidentally, the Sri Lanka Coast ness has September 2020. On this occasion, Guard Ship Samudraraksha trans- dropped by more a small oil slick occurred but the ferred a 14-member investigation than 60 percent. incident was managed without any team which included officials from The mobile fish sellers, long-term impact. The location of the ship mishap the Government Analyst’s Depart- especially those on push bicycles A few metres from the Dikowita ment to the location, for their ongo- and motorcycles, have cut their pur- Fisheries Harbour, where Chandana Authority (MEPA) Chairperson ing investigations,” it added. chases at least by half of what they take a long sits on the boat, the beach is Attorney-at-Law Dharshani Lahan- Meanwhile, insurers and owners previously bought from wholesalers time to recover. swamped with microplastic pellets dapura said they have reason to of the vessel have agreed to make like Azeez. “We have even reduced He said the area where the ship washed ashore from the ship which believe that most of the cargo an interim payment for the cost the prices,” he said. When asked if sank was an ecologically sensitive was engulfed in a blaze for days on including the fuel was consumed by incurred since the ship caught fire. he sees an end to their issue, he area. An oil spill of any size will end. the fire. As for the ship’s cargo, Rob Hawes, said “God only knows.” have a direct impact on marine and “I come here every morning and Colombo Harbour Master Cap- head of marine at US-based claims This is the second time consum- bird species that inhabit coastal watch the ship burn. Look at these tain Nirmal Silva said at a media management firm Crawford & Co., ers shied away from buying fish. areas. plastics. I have never seen anything briefing that under the National Oil estimates the cargo loss from the Last year a Covid-19 outbreak in “Maximum efforts should be like this before,” Chandana said as Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCOP), fire aboard the X-Press Pearl con- the Peliyagoda fish market caused made in such a situation,” he said. he stamped on a few pellets with his the MEPA and other agencies are tainership to be between US$ 30 panic among consumers. It also Microplastics are another issue toes. on standby in case of an oil spill. million and US$ 50 million, with reminds consumers of the time they the marine ecologist is worried It is a sorry sight. Plastic bottles The ICG too will maintain a pres- insurers facing hull and machinery, avoided fish after the 2004 Boxing about. “An oil spill together with and wraps littered the beach, and ence. liability and cargo insurance claims, Day Tsunami. microplastics will have a greater the pellets only seemed to aggravate S&P Global reported. The London This time, the Government has adverse impact in the long term,” the pollution. y.A. Azeez An ongoing P&I Club provided the protection imposed a fishing ban in and he warned. SLN officers worked tirelessly day and indemnity cover for the around the area where the ship’s Microplastics by absorbing the and night to clean the beaches were 25 tonnes of Nitric Acid, investigation X-Press Pearl, which caught fire on waste is known to have affected toxins in oil and other HNS (Haz- which were once pristine and reportedly 50 tonnes of Sodium An extensive investigation into May 21 near the Colombo Port. marine life. But there are fears that ardous and Noxious Substances) in attracted tourists in their thousands Methoxide solution, another 50 the incident is underway, with local more fishermen from Negombo to the cargo could poison fish if they pre-pandemic. Under a scorching tonnes of Sodium Methoxide, 850 and foreign expertise. On June 4, Twin disaster for Galle could be affected, as the consume them after mistaking them sun clad in hazmat suits, they col- tonnes of solid Caustic Soda, and the SLN said it was facilitating a debris had washed away as far as for food. lected the pallets and other ship other dangerous cargo along with team of State officials who were con- fishing community that Southern coastal town. debris into bags before transporting cosmetics and some confectionaries. ducting the investigation into the Fear-stricken consumers have lim- Fisheries Minister Douglas An apology them elsewhere to be disposed of There were about 300 metric tonnes fire-stricken vessel. In addition to ited the consumption of fish after Devananda said they have identified under internationally accepted of fuel in the vessel too, for its own probing how and why the fire origi- most of the chemical-based cargo around 12,000 people affected by Shmuel Yoskovitz, CEO of norms. use (propulsion). nated, the Sri Lankan Government spilled into the sea and started to the ban to varying degrees and X-Press Feeders, the Singapore- The three-month-old MV X-Press Marine Environment Protection is keen to know whether any local wash ashore. 3,993 others who are indirectly based container shipping group Pearl reported a leak in one of its “I haven’t bought fish in weeks. dependent on fishing. He said an that owns the fire-stricken MV 1,486 containers on May 20. Soon a How do we know that the fish is allowance of Rs. 5,000 is given to X-Press Pearl, apologized for the fire broke out on board and the safe?” S. Priyangika who lives with those affected, in line with the Gov- incident. cyclonic conditions that wreaked her husband in Boralesgamuwa ernment’s granting of the Rs. 5,000 “I would like to express my deep havoc in the Indian Ocean at this asked. Her plan is to not buy fish allowance to those who have lost regret and apologies to the Sri Lan- time aggravated the fire on May 24. for some time till they are assured their livelihoods as a result of the kan people for the harm this inci- An explosion on board further that the local fish is safe for con- Covid-19 pandemic. dent has caused to their livelihood complicated matters, setting off a sumption. Until then, she will only and to the environment of Sri bigger conflagration. Nothing that buy canned fish. Fragile marine Lanka,” he said. was done later helped the situation Y.A. Azeez, 42, does not believe He said the salvors were monitor- until the rear part of the vessel sank that the fish are affected. He is a life at risk ing the wreck to ensure that debris on June 2 while it was being towed fish seller at the Peliyagoda fish The ‘man-made’ marine disaster and any possible oil spill will be to the deep sea by a tugboat from market. A father of four, Azeez has is predicted to have devastating detected and handled accordingly. the Dutch firm SMIT. The forward to sell his fish to feed his family. effects on marine life. Marine ecolo- “To assess the real situation, we part is still floating at the time of “This is a really bad time for us. gist Dr. Kamal Ranatunga said in will need to wait for the wreck to writing. People are not buying fish because case of an oil spill, the effects will settle on the seabed and then see Among the ill-fated ship’s cargo The sinking X-press pearl. Only one part of the ship is now visible above the water they are afraid it is poisoned,” he be long term and the country will what really can be done,” he said.

The X-press pearl being towed out to the deep sea. An indian Coast Guard ship helps to douse the fire. A mangled container from the X-press pearl that had washed ashore monday, june 7, 2021 news page 5 DN Twelve schools in Kandy upgraded to National Level ASELA KURULUWANSA State Minister Amunuga- said. He said that the prin- The Education Ministry ma said that the Ministry cipals should prepare a has approved to upgrade had taken steps to estab- project report on the needs 12 schools in the Gangawa- lish 1,000 National Schools of their school and submit ta Korale Electorate in on the instructions of Pres- it to the Ministry, includ- Kandy to National Schools ident Gotabaya Rajapaksa ing information about the under a programme to to address the high level of need for teachers, build- establish 1,000 new competition for popular ings and other infrastruc- National Schools, State schools. ture. Minister Dilum Amunuga- He said that although The State Minister said ma said. the previous government that these new schools will Katugastota St. Antho- had implemented a 'Near- be placed at the same ny's College, Viharamaha lege and Sarasavi Uyana est School is the Best standards as the National Devi Girls’ College, College will be upgraded to School' programme, it was Schools and the number of Hemamali Girls’ College, National Schools. not properly implemented. students at them will be Seethadevi Girls College, He was speaking to the “The Government will not increased. Swarnamali Balika Vidya- media after a discussion at launch projects to deceive He said that Central laya and Wariyapola Sri the Kandy District Secre- parents and children,” he Governor Lalith U. Sumangala College, St. Syl- tariat Auditorium recently said. Gamage had given his full vester's College, Vidyartha to discuss the conversion The Government would support in converting the College, Peradeniya Cen- of schools into national provide facilities to schools schools under the Central tral College, Lumbini Royal schools in the Central that would be converted Provincial Council into College, Berrewaerts Col- Province. into National Schools, he National Schools. No need of compensation to run Minister instructs country – State Minister Shehan to expedite relief AmiLA PRAbAth WANASiNghE, He was speaking to the media Anuradhapura Additional Corr. on Saturday. for flood affected State Minister Shehan Semas- The State Minister said that inghe yesterday said an assessment on the that the Government environmental pollu- in Gampaha does not run the tion caused by the country with the Xpress Pearl Vessel is iRANgiKA RANgE funds from compen- being carried out and Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga sation for damages steps will be taken to yesterday instructed officials to expedite caused by the ships obtain compensation flood mitigation measures to restore the or flights to the coun- in due course. normal livelihoods of the flood affected in try. The government is the Gampaha District. He said the Oppo- ready to spend USD He advised the sition should not 300 million to vacci- officials to give pri- make statements nate the entire eligi- ority to mitigate regarding obtaining ble population and floods especially in compensations as such state- therefore, it is not targetting residential areas and ments put the country into dis- such a compensation, the State expedite the relief repute. Minister said. efforts. The Minister said that taking steps to remove obstacles that block estuaries, Navy rescues lakes, rivers and dams is very impor- tant. 66 flood victims The people in 422 The Navy has deployed 33 ha District. The troops provided Grama Niladhari.Divisions in Gampaha relief teams in the Western, relief and saved five more per- have been affected due to floods so far. Southern, Sabaragamuwa and sons in Bulathsinhala in the Kal- Instructions have been given to provide Northwestern Provinces for the utara District. These 66 persons relief for them. people affected by the floods. were shifted to safe locations. Around 39,742 families have been affect- They have rescued 66 more per- The Navy has sent 33 teams ed. Two persons had died and one person sons including children and to the flood-risk areas in the was injured. The Government has allocated women, affected by the floods in Gampaha, Kalutara, Colombo, Rs.9,020,000 to provide relief for the flood several areas in the Gampaha Rathnapura, Galle, Matara and affected in Gampaha, the Minister said. and Kalutara Districts and pro- Puttalam Districts for flood vided them relief. relief operations. Navy personnel rescued 61 Eleven more Naval relief persons including children and teams are on standby as and women in Ja-Ela in the Gampa- when a need arises.

\ PURCHASING OF CORRUGATED CARDBOARD BOXES

Sri Lanka Energies (Pvt) Ltd is calling bids for supplying Corrugated Cardboard Boxes for the injection moulding manufacturing plant at Industrial Zone, Galigamuwa, Kegalle. The tender documents could be obtained from the Factory at Lot No. A 11, Industrial Zone, Galigamuwa, Galigamuwa Town or obtain the e-copy from 7 June 2021 on the payment of a non-refundable fee of Rs. 10,000.00. Duly completed sealed submissions should be handed over to the same offi ce on or before 14.30 hrs, 29 June 2021. General Manager SRI LANKA ENERGIES (PVT) LTD T/P: 0112-186 286 / 0703-716 211 (Kasunka) [email protected]

\ PURCHASING OF TORSION SPRINGS Sri Lanka Energies (Pvt) Ltd is calling bids for supplying Torsion Springs for the injection moulding manufacturing plant at Industrial Zone, Galigamuwa, Kegalle. The tender documents could be obtained from the Factory at Lot No. A 11, Industrial Zone, Galigamuwa, Galigamuwa Town or obtain the e-copy from 7 June 2021 on the payment of a non-refundable fee of Rs. 5,000.00. Duly completed sealed submissions should be handed over to the same offi ce on or before 15.00 hrs, 29 June 2021. General Manager SRI LANKA ENERGIES (PVT) LTD T/P: 0112-186 286 / 0703-716 211 (Kasunka) [email protected] DN page 6 edIToRIaL monday, june 07, 2021 STay Safe by obSeRvIng m onday, j une 07, 2021 The rules are for LawS and everybody he ordinary people cannot be left with the impres- sion that they bear the brunt of the travel restric- heaLTh advIce Ttions while the rich and the powerful get away, and do their business as usual. If the daily wage earner feels he or she suffers while those in powerful positions do not make an iota of sacrifice, that does not bode well for the continued viability of our social contract. There has been apprehension in some circles that BY NADIRA GUNATILLEKE though the Government is committed to maintaining the integrity of Covid control, the police have in some ast week we read and heard instances been partial in tackling violations of restric- news stories about how tions on the streets, and in public spaces. travel restrictions were vio- lated and how the law was If the allegations being made in some media that law L applied differently to different viola- enforcement has indeed been openly partial are cor- tors of these restrictions. But the most rect, that should call for a serious reappraisal of the alarming news was about rapidly role of some uniformed personnel. If the reports are increasing COVID-19 cases in Sri accurate, in several instances, President Gotabaya Lanka in the middle of strict travel Rajapaksa had to personally intervene to ensure that restrictions imposed islandwide since individuals are treated without fear or favour despite May 26. Travel restrictions were there even before that but they have been their social standing or background. made stricter since May 26 according These issues are never supposed to end up at the to the recommendations made by the Always wear a mask – or two Presidential Desk. It is lamentable that there have health experts with the intention of been instances in which law enforcement has been breaking the 14-day cycle of COVID- ple or artistes. The standard of some flagrantly partial towards prominent persons. This too 19. so-called ‘artistes’ in Sri Lanka is very is not a blot on the police. The majority of the men in No matter what the Government low and they expect publicity no mat- uniform are doing a thankless job with admirable integ- and the health authorities do, the num- ter what they do and where they go. ber of COVID-19 patients is increasing In the middle of all these the Epide- rity, under trying circumstances. at an alarming rate and it has exceeded miology Unit still does not release Thus there is a greater responsibility that the few per- 3,000 per day on many days. No mat- accurate and updated data on the sonnel who were out of line have to bear for any under- ter how strict the travel restrictions COVID-19 situation in Sri Lanka. mining of the rules pertaining to restrictions when both are, more and more people and vehi- According to the GMOA what is print- society at large and law enforcement had in the main, cles come into roads day by day with ed opposite all boxes on forms that stuck to the rules. This is important, because ordinary fake or real identity cards and letters should be filled with crucial data on on letterheads. It seems that only the the COVID-19 situation in Sri Lanka is folk have shouldered a tremendous burden. It is not Government and the health authorities ‘Not Available’. The GMOA showed merely the daily wage earner who has been subject to know the gravity of the situation and the daily COVID-19 Situation Report tremendous stress and strain under a regimen of limi- follow health guidelines while the peo- to the media issued with ‘Not Availa- tations on personal freedoms. ple do their best to escape from the ble’ printed opposite the boxes which The sick and elderly have suffered too. Even though law and roam around the country with should be filled with important data there are arrangements for such individuals to obtain family members, friends or colleagues such as the number of over the age of their medicines, to channel doctors, etc., that process for no reason. Some people look like 60 individuals vaccinated so far, etc. caged animals waiting to come out. The GMOA questions why the Sri is not all that easy to contend with, and it is clear that According to the Government Medi- Lankan Epidemiology Unit cannot some persons have been disadvantaged to a point cal Officers’ Association (GMOA), 54 Clandestine parties have been held amidst travel restrictions. implement a scientific vaccination pro- where their health may have been endangered. This percent of COVID-19 deaths in Sri gramme based on WHO and local may not be commonplace, but there are enough inci- Lanka were reported during the last using a standard (with over 75 percent It is funny to see how some people guidelines if Bhutan can vaccinate 65 dents to underscore the fact that the people have been month (May) and the country is head- alcohol) hand sanitizer whenever soap call themselves ‘artistes’ and expect percent of the country’s total popula- shouldering a very heavy burden. ing for a huge disaster if people behave and water are not available, keeping at the law enforcement officers and judg- tion within two weeks. The GMOA Under no circumstances should the playboys and like this and this disorganized vaccina- least a two-metre distance from anoth- es to offer them special treatment just stated that 90 percent of COVID-19 tion programme implemented by the er person and staying at home when- because they call themselves ‘artistes’. deaths can be prevented through a obnoxious abusers of the power of office be tolerated Epidemiology Unit continues giving a ever possible. The other main issue is The ordinary people of this country do properly planned vaccination pro- when there is so much being sacrificed for the benefit false sense of security to the vaccinat- that vaccination takes time to develop not care about them at all and they gramme. As a trade union, the GMOA of society at large by the average man or woman on ed people while actually accelerating immunity in the body. This period can have more important issues such as did not stop there. It submitted a spe- the street. the spread of COVID-19. be as long as several weeks. This how to find money to buy medicine cial report to the President last week There have been countries in which Health Ministers Vaccination is not a special permit immunity does not come like instant and food, how to protect their jobs, with such a plan. have publicly apologized for breaking their Govern- or a licence to roam around the coun- noodles. Unfortunately, people always how not to get COVID-19 while travel- Usually trade unions demand vari- try with family members, friends or look for instant results. ling by public transport and working ous things and no trade union offers ment’s lockdown rules. Powerful State advisors have colleagues. This is because vaccination People are looking for a way to inside small inside air conditioned solutions. This is why all the other made cringeworthy explanations in certain European prevents people from dying or being come out from their homes and roam offices, how to go to a hospital for trade unions become unpopular day by countries for their alleged breach of Covid control pro- admitted to an ICU due to COVID-19 around the country no matter how other health problems, etc. They do day in Sri Lanka while the GMOA tocols. Here, there has not been any such significant and they can get infected with COVID- much the Government and the health not want to see or hear about these wins the hearts of the people and the spectacle of embarrassing violations – or mea culpas 19 even after two doses of any vaccine. authorities try to educate them on the so-called ‘artistes’. People can live Government. What all the other trade – by elected officials and their immediate confidants. The vaccines do not prevent a person gravity of COVID-19. If this negative without them. They are not essential. unions should do is come up with But the people should not feel that in secret, the power- from infecting another person with trend continues, Sri Lankan people Sometimes ordinary people’s origi- attractive and practical solutions with- COVID-19. A vaccinated person can will die just like the way Indian people nal identity cards and official letters out causing trouble. ful may be getting away with rule breaking because infect another vaccinated or non-vacci- are dying on the roads without medical issued by their bosses look suspicious Defeating COVID-19 is a collective there is no accountability for their actions, compared to nated person with COVID-19 if they do care. There will be beds, ICUs, oxygen, to some police officers because the effort. But unfortunately in Sri Lanka various other countries that demand strict compliance not follow the simple health guidelines etc., but there will be the same number police officers come across many fake the contribution of people is lacking from everybody. Politicians and those who hold high introduced by the Government and the of doctors, nurses and the other health identity cards and letters. Such inno- while the health sector and the Gov- public office need to lead by example. health authorities in March last year to professionals to look after them. They cent ordinary people cannot even think ernment are pushing forward. Sri Lan- That is the only way to keep Covid numbers down. The prevent COVID-19 infections. cannot be in more than one hospital at about birthday parties thrown at five kan people are used to ignoring every- people should, as they do now, feel that it is a burden The simple health guidelines which the same time. The people should not star hotels. They are thinking and wor- thing, acting selfishly and blaming the anyone can follow at any time without be stupid to expect their astral bodies rying about removing the mask to have Government for everything. But it will they bear for the larger interests of society when they any problem or a high cost are wearing to come and care for them while they their meagre lunch at the air condi- not work this time with COVID-19 stay home. But, if that compact they make with each a standard surgical or more advanced are in duty in one hospital. Health staff tioned offices. The worst affected because it is the people who will die. other and with law enforcement is in jeopardy due to (KN 95) face mask, washing contami- cannot be created by performing workforce is from garment factories COVID-19 will reach us all today, the behaviour of a few, that would not only be sad, it nated hands with soap and water or magic. It takes years to do so. where they are forced to sit almost tomorrow or one day in future no mat- would also be dangerous. touching each other and work for ter whether we are vaccinated or not. People sense they are seeing the light at the end of the hours inside air conditioned environ- The real vaccination process will be The vaccination drive has to be streamlined. ments. When one worker becomes available in another few months, in a tunnel. They are aware that there is a steady supply of COVID-19 positive they pray because year or two when the scientists dis- vaccines even though there may have been hiccups in they exactly know who the next victim cover a magic vaccine similar to the the supply process, as expected. They have decided is. But they cannot abandon their jobs vaccine available for Polio, etc. All cur- that their compliance is worth the sacrifice as there and stay at home because they have to rent COVID-19 vaccines need to pass would be better days ahead. feed their families. all relevant stages and reach the final That sort of optimism should not have to be devalued Sri Lanka does not need laws if they stage to achieve 100 percent success. because some people feel they are more equal than are being implemented according to Then such a vaccine should be pro- the sex (male or female), gender, pop- duced in the world and reach Sri others. Those who flout the control protocols are ularity, economic strength, the number Lanka. It will take a long time. Until exposing themselves to greater risk of being infected of important contacts one has, etc. then it is the duty of all Sri Lankans to by the rampaging virus, and at least that knowledge The law should be the same for all no protect themselves and not infect oth- should keep these people at home, with their children matter whether they are ordinary peo- ers with COVID-19. and their dogs or stuffed toys, while being surrounded by familiar creature comforts. Yet, there is obscene impatience. Some feel the need to feel superior – greater than the hoi polloi, and much more powerful than everything including the virus. Most ordinary folk look at the transgressions of the busybodies with a measure of detached good humour. They assure themselves that the rule breakers are to be pitied because they suffer from the uncontrollable itch to control, and probably are mentally imbalanced too. But there are others who feel understandably angry. A few of the indignant feel the need to get even, by breaking the rules themselves. That is the danger in ignoring the antics of the errant. The rules are for eve- rybody and that, particularly these days, should be the first, second and third ironclad principle of law enforce- ment.

THOUGHT fOr THe day

We may brave human laws, but we cannot resist natural ones. - Jules Verne A Security Forces bus waits to take people to quarantine centres. Monday, June 7, 2021 oPInIon page 7 Dn

Thalif Deen he United Nations has been in the forefront of an ongoing bat- tle against the growing hazards T of Climate Change, including the destruction of different species of plants Battle agaInst and animals, the danger of rising sea-levels threatening the very existence of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and the risks of oceans reaching record tempera- tures endangering aquatic resources. But that battle was temporarily under- ClIMate Change and mined last year by a devastating pandemic which brought the world to a virtual stand- still. “The COVID-19 pandemic put paid to many plans, including the UN’s ambitious plan to make 2020 the “super year” for but- tressing the natural world,” UN Secretary- General Antonio Guterres warned last the CoVId PandeMIC month. That ambition, he pointed out, has for a real transformative change, “one in only one decade because effective and now been shifted to 2021, and will that allows us to live in equitable and complete ecosystem restoration is a process involve a number of major climate- sustainable systems for all.” that can take various decades. related international commitments, What is missing, she said, is politi- But it is very important that we have this including a plan to halt the biodiver- cal will, adequate allocation of resourc- goal that will guide the efforts to avoid fur- sity crisis; an Oceans Conference to es and an inclusive decision-making ther ecosystem degradation and start resto- protect marine environments; a global process that will lead to change the ration efforts of already degraded ecosys- sustainable transport conference; and status quo that took us to this point. tems. the first Food Systems Summit, aimed “We need our world leaders to I think that one of the most important at transforming global food produc- address the root causes of the multiple risks that could prevent the UN helping the Assessment Report on Land Degradation tion and consumption. ecological crises that we face today: world reach this goal is the misuse of resto- and Restoration a key tool for policymakers “The fallout of the assault on our the Unsustainable way we extract, ration related concepts, such as offsetting, and stakeholders to understand the extent planet is impeding our efforts to elim- produce, consume, and dispose of net zero/no net loss approaches, and Nature- and complexity of land degradation world- inate poverty and imperiling food things, and the Unequal way the ben- based solutions. wide and take informed, appropriate action security,” Guterres declared. efits and damages of all these eco- Without appropriately defined safeguards to address the drivers of land degradation In an interview with IPS, Professor nomic activities are distributed, as for biodiversity and human rights, the and develop restoration strategies. Luca Montanarella, Co-Chair of the cited in the Youth Manifesto #ForNa- wrong implementation of ecosystem resto- The key messages in the assessment, as 2018 Assessment Report on Land ture.” ration strategies can promote further per- well as the proposed ambitions and strate- Degradation and Restoration spon- “As young people, we can play mul- verse monoculture, offsetting and green- gies for addressing land degradation, and sored by the Intergovernmental Plat- tiple roles in this global campaign: by washing schemes. possible actions and pathways, should be form on Biodiversity and Ecosystem spreading the word and getting more Countries and companies who want to be reflected in the outcomes of the Post 2020 Services (IPBES), told IPS the cur- people to join and support this global considered implementers of the Decade Global Biodiversity Framework and on the rent hazards are well known, and the youth movement, by demanding bold should follow strong safeguards to ensure implementation of the UN Decade on Eco- extent of the destruction is by now actions from our decision makers, or that the quality of the restoration efforts system Restoration. fully documented in many independent sci- opposite direction. The highest increases in by leading the change by example, making matches the quantity in the area within the They should also be taken into account in entific assessments from the major science- unemployment rates are among women and use of the potential that young people have restoration policies and projects. the development of national targets and policy interfaces, like the Intergovernmen- young workers, he noted. to bring innovative solutions to the table as IPS: What are your thoughts on the commitments related to combating land tal Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), IPBES Mirna Inés Fernández, a member of the transformative education and promotion of findings of the Land Degradation and degradation and restoring ecosystems. I and others. Steering Committee of the Global Youth intergenerational equity,” she said. Restoration Assessment by IPBES? come from Bolivia, a country that has lost The devastating effects and the close Biodiversity Network (GYBN) and co- IPS: The UN points out its Decade on Montanarella: The Land Degradation more than five million hectares of an interlinkages with human health, he argued, founder of its Bolivian chapter, Kaaijayu- Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) aims and Restoration Assessment of IPBES, that endemic eco-region ‘The Chiquitano For- “are now fully understood and visible to all GYBN, told IPS the continued degradation to prevent, halt and reverse the degrada- I had the honour to co-chair jointly with my est’ due to forest fires in 2019. of us following the COVID-19 pandemic. It of the global environment has been so dev- tion of ecosystems on every continent colleague Prof. Robert Scholes who sadly After these fires, different actors have is now time to act.” astating to the earth’s ecosystems “that our and in every ocean while it can help to passed away few days ago, clearly indicates developed various approaches to restore He said the UN’s thematic plans to “Reim- generation has seen the birth of concepts as end poverty, combat climate change and the way forward and especially highlights the devastated ecosystems. Sadly, many of agine, Recreate and Restore” degraded eco- the Anthropocene and the Planetary Bound- prevent a mass extinction. How feasible the social and participatory dimension of these initiatives lack a solid scientific basis systems is the key solution, but it needs to aries.” is this goal? What would prevent the UN land degradation. and could do more harm than good, includ- be implemented consequently. There is a “Children and youth are the ones to face from helping the world reach this goal? Land is the basis of our existence on this ing introducing invasive species, making high risk to fall back to business-as-usual the biggest mental health impacts related to Montanarella: Ecosystem restoration planet and needs to be protected accord- space for monoculture plantations or chang- solutions that will be not solve the problem, ecological grief and anxiety, because we needs to go hand in hand with large social ingly. Consumption habits and micro- as ing the structure of the forest. he declared. realize that the loss of species and ecosys- inclusion programmes that will assure well as macroeconomic developments are This is why efforts like this assessment “The young generation is the one that can tems have reached levels that threaten the employment and sustainable livelihoods to the key drivers of land degradation and that provides the best available science and save this planet, if properly empowered to biosphere integrity and our life support the global population. Otherwise, it will be therefore need to be addressed if we want to expertise on land degradation and restora- do so. Are we ready to transfer some of the systems.” doomed to failure. reverse the current negative trend. tion, are crucial to be shared among the decision power to them?” he asked “And we don’t see enough political will to Fernandez: The goal of the UN Decade We can do a lot, starting from our indi- implementers of land restoration strategies The first signals from the consequences reverse this situation,” she warned. on Ecosystem Restoration is quite ambi- vidual lifestyles and dietary habits. and the ones combating land degradation at of the COVID-19 pandemic are going in the The world is ready and in desperate need tious and will be very difficult to be reached Fernandez: I consider that the IPBES the national levels. (IPS) Lab Leak Theory and Anti-China Mania MargareT KiMberley manage to conduct an investiga- ost virologists still tion? The Chinese would be foolish believe that COVID-19 to cooperate and inevitably that is far more likely to lack of cooperation would be used M have originated natu- against them. The end result would rally, but the US espionage and be a kangaroo court and the verdict disinformation agencies disagree. would be guilty regardless of any It has suddenly become popular evidence presented. to say what was once whispered by The sudden respectability grant- just a few people. Politicians and ed to this theory also exposes the the corporate media have now con- collusion which regularly takes vinced millions of people that the place between the Democratic COVID-19 virus was created by Party and big tech social media experimentation gone awry. platforms. Facebook admitted that The COVID-19 virus was first any mentions of the lab leak theory observed in late 2019 in Wuhan, were being censored until recently. China, which is the location of the Big tech works hand in hand with Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). the liberal establishment and The question is whether gain of The Wuhan institute of Virology together they decide what informa- function research on bat viruses tion should and should not be dis- may have accidentally caused the tration plays a role by continuing seminated. pandemic. Dr. Anthony Fauci, who Dr anthony fauci with former US President Donald Trump the Trump administration attacks Of course media censorship only was all but canonized due to his on China. The ‘China is malevolent’ increases cynicism and makes the public conflicts with Donald says it was not and others disagree. COVID-19 is far more likely to have trope inevitably leads to dubious public more likely to believe just Trump, is now viewed as a villain Yet the disagreement has been originated naturally. In addition, theories that are given undue cre- about anything. Facebook’s admis- because the National Institutes of given short shrift in favour of sensa- tests of waste water in Spain, Italy dence. sion is proof that the current con- Health funded research which took tional headlines, political one and Brazil indicate that the virus The US attempt to contain Chi- troversy is the result of a politicized place at WIV. It isn’t clear whether upmanship, and blatant Sinopho- may have existed outside of China na’s prowess is never far from the process. that research can be classified in bia. before it was observed there in surface and any claims of lab leaks From the beginning of the the gain of function category. Fauci Most virologists still believe that December 2019. The evidence from should be taken with a grain of salt. COVID-19 crisis we have been Spain dates back to March 2019. A report that three WIV scientists admonished to “trust the science.” These reports show the complexity became ill and sought medical care The Coronavirus If the lab leak theory has gained of a true medical mystery. Any evi- at the same time comes from any credibility it is only because the dence of a Wuhan lab leak is cir- unnamed and unknown intelligence upend the lives of people all over accusations have returned and been cumstantial at best and most scien- sources. Scepticism is warranted the world is understandable. But amplified by bad actors. Most tists have not changed their hypoth- when the corporate media act like that is no reason to have amnesia experts in the field of virology have esis of a natural origin. scribes for the surveillance state. about how the state works and who not changed their minds about nat- There are other dynamics going It is important to remember that serves its interests. Joe Biden ural origin being the most likely on here. Dr. Fauci has lost some of COVID-19 origin is not the first ordered an investigation of COVID- explanation. Unless or until new his lustre because of his ties to big communicable disease mystery. 19 origins which would be con- evidence is presented, that is the pharma and the fact that he owns The deadly hemorrhagic fever ducted by intelligence agencies. Of science that should be trusted. drug and vaccine patents. He is which came to be known as Ebola course, none of the lab leak aficio- (Eurasia Review) now a far less popular figure. was first observed in the Demo- nados bother to mention that the (Margaret Kimberley’s Freedom Republicans eager to rehabilitate cratic Republic of the Congo and World Health Organization (WHO) Rider column appears weekly in BAR Trump grilled Dr. Fauci during Sen- Sudan in 1976. After thousands of is the appropriate entity to investi- (http://www.blackagendareport.com), ate testimony and reignited the cases and years of research its ori- gate and should be permitted to and is widely reprinted elsewhere. inclination to believe the worst-case gin still remains unknown. finish its work without political She maintains a frequently updated scenario. The desire to understand a dis- interference. blog as well as at http://freedomrider. getting the ebola vaccine in the Democratic republic of the Congo Of course the Joe Biden adminis- ease which continues to kill and to In any case, how would the CIA blogspot.com.) DN page 8 news feature monday, june 07, 2021 investment Forum 2021 begins today sri Lanka – the ideaL

RaNjiv GooNawaRDeiNa nvestmentthem from achieving high destinationhas gone viral and there has been an ri Lanka has the levels of productivity and oversubscription of investor partici- potential to be human development capital. pants from around the world, who the Paradise on Having a sophisticated work- have shown a great interest in invest- S Earth. You might force gives you several ing and looking at Sri Lanka as a be surprised to find out options from creating a potential destination for investment. that many of the wealthi- financial centre of excellence Interest has been derived from est nations are also the to establishing artificial intel- Europe, America, Asia and the Middle smallest countries in the ligence and development of East. world. technology, which are crucial for an The link to join the Investment If you ask the average person to economy to succeed. Forum is HTTPS://INVEST-SRILAN- identify which are the richest coun- Undoubtedly the current circum- KA.LK. tries in the world, they might consider stances with the Coronavirus are The format is very much in line only certain large economies. General- affecting every economy. As govern- with the World Economic Forum in ly, the large economies that might be ments across the world have placed Davos. Webinar Investment Forum considered are predominantly those in their citizens on lockdown, downloads 2021 will be hosted from June 7 to the Western Hemisphere. However, of conferencing call apps have taken June 9. This will be a three-day virtual that’s not the case according to the off to record highs, and the companies event, jointly organized by the Board International Monetary Fund Report behind them have seen their share of Investment (investment promotion on future projections of 2021 com- prices rise. The rest of the global organisation of Sri Lanka) Chairman piled in October 2020. stock market is financially haemor- Sanjaya Mohottala, in collaboration rhaging. With the Corona crisis affect- with The Ceylon Chamber of Com- The iMF Report ing the whole world, all the economies merce (Premier Business Chamber in are affected and the consequences are The Sri Lanka Sri Lanka) Chairman Dr. Hans The report analyzes 12 countries severe. This has transformed how Investment Forum Wijayasuriya, and the Colombo Stock from the Western Hemisphere, two most employees work, rather than in Exchange Chairman Dumith Fernan- from the Middle East, and five from the normal manner of previously 2021 will showcase do. Southeast Asia. Asia is coming up in working from one’s office. Due to the to the world, the rankings and this number will Coronavirus, it’s become a trend now Sri Lanka the rising star increase in the next 20 years. Can Sri to work from one’s residence. The fact Sri Lanka’s Lanka join the ranking list? The is that the majority of the people have Sri Lanka is a growing economy and answer to that fundamental question access to internet facilities where they attractiveness as an is among the emerging markets of depends upon the policies which are can carry on their normal business investment Asia, making it an attractive invest- deployed now so that Sri Lanka could using the Internet connectivity, as ment destination. Sri Lanka’s GDP per achieve exponential growth in 20 they did when they were working destination. capita, currently 2-3x of South Asia’s years. Sri Lanka could learn from from the office complex. average, is expected to double over the other countries, like Luxembourg (the In view of the fact that there is to the company’s demand that grew next 10 years. Sri Lanka is set to wealthiest nation in the world) how high-speed Internet connectivity, now, exponentially during the COVID-19 become a knowledge-driven economy they achieved success. more than ever, people are trying to pandemic in 2020. The market is with three times the growth expected Precisely what does it mean when engage in and conduct business as expected to grow substantially. in the number of graduates by 2025. we say a country is ‘wealthy’, especial- normal with the use of social media The conference call market consists Sri Lanka plays a prominent part in the Belt and Road initiative ly in an era of growing income ine- platforms and conferencing platforms. of video conferencing software and its The Colombo Stock Exchange is the quality between the rich and the poor, These and other activities are related services by entities (organiza- premises; by enterprise size into small Galle Face Green. The land reclama- fastest-growing stock market in the in modern society? While Gross achieved, which they normally would tions, sole traders, and partnerships) and medium enterprises, large enter- tion work had been completed as of region. It experienced a 70 percent Domestic Product (GDP) measures have not considered as a norm. Pres- that enable users in different locations prises; by end-use into corporate, edu- January 2018. increase in new investor registrations the value of all goods and services ently, people are using Zoom and to conduct face-to-face meetings with- cation, media and entertainment, gov- Comprising 269 hectares, Port City in 2020, along with zero capital gains produced by a nation, dividing this alternative platforms on a regular out the necessity to move from one ernment and defence, and others. Colombo is a new city development and zero dividend withholding tax for total output by the population number basis. place to another. Video conferencing built as an extension of the existing foreign investors. would be deemed to reflect the true The global conference call apps could increase performance, save Thinking outside the box Colombo Central Business District. The Sri Lanka Investment Forum value rather than a fiscal number. A market is expected to substantially time, minimise travel costs, and facili- The new city will comprise five main 2021 will showcase to the world, Sri better way of determining how rich or increase from US$ 7.87 billion in 2020 tate collaboration. The service-based Countries and economies have to urban precincts or districts, namely Lanka’s attractiveness as an invest- poor a country is would be by looking to US$ 16.03 billion in 2021. The video conferencing system is not lim- start thinking outside the box to be International Island, Island Living, ment destination. The key priority sec- at how the population is, relative to change in growth trend is mainly due ited to deployment into the Cloud, on- successful, one cannot rely on the old Central Park Living, Financial Dis- tors presented in the forum will another and distribution per individu- way of doing business as being the trict, and The Marina. include Manufacturing with value al, per population. only norm. What has become the International Island will be a com- addition for exports, Information and The rationale is all to do with the norm is that which was unusual or mercial and leisure destination featur- Communication Technology, Hospitali- fact that certain countries which are unconventional, but now innovative, ing a resort and theme park, conven- ty and Tourism, Agriculture and Food small have an abundance of either and we must become acclimatised to tion and exhibition centre, healthcare Processing, Construction Infrastruc- highly skilled human capital or natural our new environment of the ‘New and education facilities, as well as a ture and Logistics, and Capital Mar- resources and their populations are Normal’. We will not be successful waterway park. kets. It will also focus on the Colombo relatively small; when you use the unless we constantly innovate, evolve The Island Living district will fea- Port City, an international business above formula to do the calculation, our technological knowhow and our ture villa-style residences and public and service hub with attractive fiscal which takes into account inflation manpower in that manner. parks, including the Malwathu Park. A incentives to make it comparable to rates and the cost of local goods and We have to be the pioneers moving city beach will run along the southern the likes of Dubai, Hong Kong, and services you get a more accurate anal- forward in this unprecedented period edge of the district. The Central Park Singapore. ysis of a nation’s average standard of of time and currently, Sri Lanka is at Living district will include open The event featuring sessions and living. The resulting figure is what is the helm of such transformation with blocks, public parks, and pavilions. presentations by senior government called Purchasing Power Parity the current government in place with The Financial District will offer leaders, top leaders of public and pri- (PPP), which is often expressed in US a large majority in Parliament. The Grade A office space and serve as a vate companies, global experts, invest- dollars to allow comparisons between government has come up with an retail destination. The Marina pro- ment bankers, and advisory firms, different countries. innovative idea to restart the economy vides access to the sea and includes aims to attract multinational corpora- by organising a major global webinar public parks and water features. tions, high net worth individuals, Luxembourg success story to showcase the best of the best that Canal quays and boulevards across direct and portfolio investors including Sri Lanka can present to international all districts will serve as meeting sovereign wealth funds, private equity With a population of 613,894, investors. points and viewpoints. The develop- funds, development finance institu- ranked number one for a consecutive Free Trade Zones in Sri Lanka Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, ment is protected from rising sea lev- tions. number of years Luxembourg has governments and corporations would els and high waves by a 3km-long off- Prospective investors will have the been the wealthiest country in the participate in major conferences, cost- shore breakwater. opportunity to access information on world, per capita, with a highly-skilled ing them a fortune. Hosted in differ- Sri Lanka is one of the first coun- FDI projects, listed companies, and population, enjoying a high standard ent parts of the world, like for tries in the world to take advantage of private equity placements, acquire of living. Through investing in its pop- instance, the World Economic Forum technology in a conference video facili- first-hand knowledge about the policy ulation, Luxembourg made the transi- in Davos and that type of activity has ty to hold a global webinar Investment framework and legislative landscape tion from a resource-based economy come to a halt. Conference attracting global investor for investing in Sri Lanka and to inter- into a sophisticated human capital audiences, using the above technology act with government agencies, state- investment economy. Therefore, Port City Colombo Project which has made its reality for the owned enterprises, industry leaders, becoming a major Financial Centre for audience to participate without mov- global investors, and peers. large private banking, its finance sec- The whole idea is to compete with ing from their current location. (The writer is Chairman of International tor is the biggest contributor to its the best of the best in the world and According to social media, the event Consultants, London, New York and Tokyo) economy. Historically the economy due to Sri Lanka’s geographic location relied predominantly on the resource- which makes it an ideal climate to based type of economy which focused have such a financial hub because on coal exports and iron ore. when you compare the recent develop- The discovery of significant ments in the Middle East, people’s reserves of iron ore in the mid-19th most common grievance is that it is century changed Luxembourg’s for- fairly cultureless, with a multitude of tunes almost overnight. Mines and shopping aisles, lack of green habitats factories sprung up, and the country’s and nothing else, surrounded by hos- lucrative steel industry was born. By tile landscape, and unbearably hot in the end of the 19th century, Luxem- the summer months. bourg had become one of Europe’s In comparison to Hong Kong, leading steel producers. How Port City will look on completion recent changes in legislation and social unrest have made major inves- Sri Lanka has the potential tors think again of operating from Hong Kong. Due to this situation, a This is where Sri Lanka could come lot of the main institutions are looking in with a high level of literacy and at alternative destinations to conduct Colombo, the gateway to South asia educational attainment levels which their business. have risen steadily after independence Sri Lankan legal structure is very in 1948. Today the youth literacy rate similar to English law and it makes it stands at 97 percent. The government easy for international investors to has given high priority to improving engage and do business without too the national education system and much difficulty, unlike certain parts of access to education. the world like the Middle East or the The biggest resource a country Far East where things can be extreme- could have is its population, human ly challenging. capital, and if you could develop that, In another few years, Sri Lanka then you can definitely become a should be on the rankings list espe- major player like the rest of the small cially with the brand-new infrastruc- nations. ture development, the Colombo Inter- With the development of human national Financial City which is a spe- capital, most developed countries cial economic zone and International have exceeded expectations; even the Financial Centre. It is currently under fact that a large number of these coun- construction on reclaimed land adja- tries lack natural resources be that cent to the most iconic and most pres- mining or oil and gas, it hasn’t limited Port City envisaged gateway tigious real estate in the island, the interior rendition of Port City monday, june 7, 2021 9

Litigation against Sri Lankan parties will happen as usual within Port City Dinesh Perera tioned in the act. On a pro- the Port City commission scope for the SEC to regu- Advisors, investment man- workers are expected to Naomal Goonewardena and Thulci Aluwihare Litigation against or from cedural front, it is expected would act as a single-win- late investment banking. agers, investment analysts, remain unchanged. Sri Lankan parties with that regulatory bodies will dow for investors but that The current legal frame- and financial planners.” As the objective of the al from the cabinet and for 15 hectares. The first entities within the Port City open offices in Port City to the commission would work does not put under It is expected that it will bill is to encourage foreign finally parliament. phase of the project is is expected to follow the improve the ease of doing have to defer decisions to the purview of the SEC be easy for an investment investment into Sri Lanka CHEC Port City Colom- expected to be complete in current status quo. Employ- business. the relevant regulator. large groups of capital bank to establish itself there is no scope for an bo Assistant Managing 10 years with over 70 hec- ment laws for Sri Lankan Nithya Partners Lawyer Goonewardena was market players. This is within Port City. It is entity to raise funds Director Thulci Aluwihare tares developed. citizens are also expected to Naomal Goonewardena speaking on June 3 to the likely to change shortly. expected that Banks of Sri domestically for their noted that over 100 hec- Aluwihare said, “Our be the same as it is within said, “Litigation for dis- CFA Society of Sri Lanka Goonewardane said, “The Lankan origin will estab- investments in Port City tares are currently availa- sales velocity will not be the rest of the country. The putes with Sri Lankans in a virtual conversation new SEC act talks about lish offshore banking cen- from domestic banking ble in the Port City for what it is like in Dubai 10 legal framework that is will have to happen as on the Port City Commis- regulating market interme- tres in Port City. Laws channels. construction. There are years ago but the interest expected to change is those normal.” Goonewardena sion Bill. Under current diaries that are not regulat- surrounding the hiring and Strategic Development currently commitments for in Sri Lanka remains that are explicitly men- further emphasized that Sri Lankan law there is no ed. Corporate Finance retirement benefits for Projects will need approv- mixed-use developments good.”

Lankem returns to Profit after FY 2014/15, Group Revenue increase by 14% Bourse continued Lankem Ceylon PLC organizations having to “The company closed initiatives that were imple- due to the accommodative stated that “For the first posted a strong Q4 per- change their strategies the financial year on a mented by restructuring monetary policy intro- time after FY 2014/15 the formance for the FY putting a huge strain on high, achieving a revenue the operation at our manu- duced by the Central Bank company has reported a winning streak 2020/21 recording a Pre- operating models. of Rs.3.4 Bn in compari- facturing plants. This has of Sri Lanka to support Profit Before Tax of 36Mn Tax Profit of Rs.229 mil- Despite these challenges, son to Rs.2.9Bn achieved resulted in a drastic reduc- the revival of economic signaling a positive lion against a Loss of the Company was able to in the previous year, tion of operational losses activity. The savings by momentum for the future The Colombo bourse surpassed the Rs.185 million as report- change their strategies recording a growth of while the ongoing busi- way of interest cost of of the company,” Goone- physiological barrier of 7,500 levels ed in 2019-20. The com- accordingly ensuring the 18%. Commented Suren ness restructuring has Rs.106Mn for the year is a wardene concluded. and increased by 233.9 points WoW pany achieved a quarterly right product mix was Goonawardene, Manag- greatly supported compa- mere 18% reduction com- Lankem Ceylon as a and closed at 7,516.2 while more liquid revenue of Rs.1 billion available at the right time ing Director, Lankem ny performance. This pared to the previous Group which comprises of S&P SL20 also gained 90.8 points recording a growth of to meet seasonal demand. Ceylon PLC. resulted in the EBIT of the financial year. Further- hospitality, packaging and WoW and reached 3,046.5. The aver- 78% in comparison to the As a result, Paint and “The Gross profit of company closing at more, the debt moratorium distribution clusters posted age daily turnover during the week same period as last year. the Crop Protection divi- Rs.827Mn is an increase Rs.521Mn against extended to the private a revenue of Rs.17.6Bn came to LKR2, 874.4 mn whilst aver- These results were sions of the Company Yala season resulting in by 46% compared to Rs.66Mn reported in sector by the government/ recording a growth of age daily volume stood at 96,896.7k achieved amidst the were able to meet and the Company achieving a 2019/20. The improve- 2019-20”. Central Bank enabled the 14% against the previous shares. Covid -19 pandemic deliver exceptional per- Gross Profit of Rs.260Mn ment in margin is a result The reduction of inter- corporate sector to sustain FY with better than Foreigners were net sellers for the which disrupted markets, formance in meeting sea- for the quarter versus of optimizing the sales est rates has immensely cash flows in an extremely expected results reported week recording an outflow of including global supply sonal demand for the Rs.138Mn the previous mix in addition to the contributed towards challenging year. from the distribution sec- LKR784.6 mn. Total foreign purchases chains. These resulted in Avurudhu Maha and year. stringent cost management improved liquidity, mainly Goonawardene further tor. stood at LKR1, 215.7 mn whilst aggre- gate foreign selling was LKR431.1 mn. Foreign activity was evident in Com- mercial Bank, John Keells Holdings, Hayleys, Ceylon Tobacco and Hatton HDCC, SCORE provide essentials National Bank (Voting & Non-Voting). Moreover, LOLC Holdings, Com- Abans displays impressive profit, revenue mercial Bank, Nestle Lanka, Commer- cial Leasing, Expolanka Holdings, to Hambantota COVID 19 hospital Commercial Bank and LB Finance and posts Rs. 2.5 bn PBT, a 189% growth remained as the top positive contribu- On a request by tors to the ASPI during the week. Off- the Hambantota Dis- board transactions were witnessed in Abans PLC recorded a especially in Q3 and Q4, with trict Chamber of Commercial Bank, John Keells Hold- remarkable Profit Before strong YoY revenue growths of Commerce (HDCC) ings and Royal Ceramics during the Income Tax (PBT) of Rs. 2.5 40% and 56% respectively. the USAID-Social week. billion in the completed Leveraging off the IT prod- Cohesion and Rec- (Courtesy Softlogic Stockbrokers) Financial Year 2020/2021 ucts portfolio and diverse brand onciliation Activity which was a 189% growth offerings, laptops and smart- (SCORE) project over last year. This excep- phones took top honours with donated essential tional achievement displayed an increase in performance of health equipment to the strength of the Abans 145% and 101% respectively, the Hambantota brand name, despite stiff as the need to work from home General Hospital’s competition and contracting and online learning require- COVID 19 treat- market conditions preceding ments created unprecedented ment center. Dr. V G the Covid-19 pandemic. demand in the IT and smart- S C Ubesekara, the HDCC, SCORE and Hambantota COVID 19 hospital Abans PLC was able to reor- phone markets. Director of Hamban- officials at the donation ganize company strategies, Redeploying resources to tota COVID 19 branch out into rapid digital- strengthen delivery and installa- treatment hospital, ization to meet customer tion capability, the kitchen and the Director General of Social Development Alli- liquid (5L), boots (rub- needs, and employ carefully home appliances segment expe- the HDCC, Tilar ance. The USAID-Social ber), cover shoes dispos- crafted cost management rienced gains as families were Nadugala, Operations Cohesion and Reconcili- able, thermometer, bed strategies, to defeat the forced to stay home and prepare Manager of the HDCC, ation Activity (SCORE) sheets (single bed white) extremely volatile and meals at home, store more gro- Ajith Liyanage and few project has been initiated and mosquito nets were uncertain business atmosphere of strategies that came about after ceries for longer, and enjoy the other key health officers to support multiple relief among the donated the past year and emerge victori- meticulous observation, skill and best entertainment together. participated in the Event. efforts with the objective items. ous in terms of financial perfor- planning by the management These noteworthy achieve- M Supun Nanayakka- of strengthening the safe- “I am thankful for the mance. team, to enable the company to ments only further solidify Abans ra, Community Participa- ty of those in frontline timely support of Several challenges were posed secure leadership positions in PLC’s dominance in the consum- tion Specialist of the health services and pro- SCORE, these items are in the business market, especially many of the market segments. er durables market, and the com- USAID-funded Social vision of immediate very much essential to due to the Covid-19 epidemic, as This resulted in Abans PLC pany looks forward to expanding Cohesion and Reconcili- relief to the COVID 19 make sure the safety of a series of unforeseen risks, loss- growing its revenue by Rs. 5.8 into new products and services in ation Activity (SCORE) positive patients. the frontline staff of the es and concerns arose in terms of billion to Rs. 37.8 billion for the order to continue meeting cus- project, assisted by Glob- KN95 masks, disposa- COVID 19 treatment profit, capital and sustainability financial year 2020/21, which tomer needs and expectations to al Communities support- ble surgical mask, face center of the Hospital,” of the relevant businesses. was an 18% growth over last overcome the continuing tough ed the financial donation shield (disposable), cov- said Dr. V G S C However, Abans PLC beat the year. The Quarterly Revenue of market circumstances due to the along with S. Rasika eralls (disposable), cov- Ubesekara, Director of odds by implementation of smart Abans saw an incredible rise, ongoing pandemic in the country. Shantha De Silva, Exec- eralls (reusable), surgical Hambantota COVID 19 utive Director Sahana glove, hand sanitizing treatment hospital. Sri Lanka Insurance “Most Valuable and Strongest Brands 2021” - Brand Finance

Sri Lanka Insurance tops the rank- counts and hassle- free claim experi- ing in many aspects in the recently Awarded Most Loved Insurance Brand ence, simplified fast track claim and published Brand Finance report on settlement processers. Sri Lanka’s most valuable and During the year 2020 Sri Lanka premium payments to ease the cus- Sri Lanka Insurance Motor Plus, strongest Brands 2021 edition. Sri Insurance has been in the forefront in tomers during these trying times. redefined the motor insurance experi- Lanka Insurance tops the list as The aiding and supporting Covid relief Sri Lanka Insurance was also ence by introducing customized Most Loved Financial Brand of the initiatives. Sri Lanka Insurance ranked as the Most Valuable General motor insurance products to cater to year, The Most Loved Insurance donated Rs 5 Million to the Covid Insurance Brand of the year for the unique needs of customer segments Brand of the Year and the Most Valu- relief fund, donation of 10,000 num- 4th Consecutive year. in the motor insurance market. able General Insurance Brand of the ber of 200 ml sanitizer bottles to the Leading the General Insurance Motor Plus Loyalty Rewards is the year. Sri Lanka Insurance is moving Special Task Force carrying out nec- Market with a 20.3% Market share, one and only Rewards scheme forward proving it’s prowess to be essary pandemic control measures, SLIC General Category recorded a attached to a Motor Insurance in this awarded these three prestigious titles launched Viru Abhiman - the Rs. 1.5 staggering Rs 20.1 Billion in Gross country and provides attractive dis- for the 4 the consecutive year. million worth free life cover granted Written premium in 2020, an counts from life-style stores ranging Sri Lanka Insurance was estab- to the state sector employees who are unmatchable monthly claim settle- utmost customer convenience during from leisure, clothing, to repair cen- lished in 1962, with the aim in taking in the frontline battling Covid 19 ments amounting to Rs. 665 Million this pandemic period, which includes tres and motor accessories. the message of protection through pandemic during 2020 and donated and a Rs 7.9 Billion per annum is expansion in online premium pay- Sri Lanka Insurance also services Insurance to every corner of the many essentials to the needy. undoubtedly Sri Lanka’s No 1 Gener- ment gateways, multiple payment the Education Ministry initiated nation, and to date the company has The Company also adopted easy al Insurance brand. methods, 0% easy payment schemes “Suraksha” School Children Insur- focused on this core element of pro- payment schemes and concessions on Sri Lanka Insurance introduced for customers, tie- up with motor ance covering 4.5 million student viding protection for all. many innovative processors to ensure repair service providers with dis- population in the country. 10 BuSIneSS monday, june 7, 2021 NEWS

Dialog Enterprise Launches Fitch upgrade HNB Assurance, ‘Dialog Retail Analytics Solution’

HNB General Insurance Ratings Dialog Enterprise, the corpo- ingful insights. In addition to rate solutions arm of Sri Lanka’s this, the solution is further facili- Reaffirming the strength and stability premier connectivity provider, tated with an Intrusion Detection of HNB Assurance PLC Group, Fitch Dialog Axiata PLC recently feature that monitors and auto- Ratings upgraded the ‘National Insurer launched the Dialog Video Sur- matically detects any physical Financial Strength Rating’ (IFS) of both veillance based Retail Analytics intrusion on the premises. HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and its Solution in partnership with In these cases, it generates an fully owned subsidiary HNB General Microsoft and Zone24x7 (Pvt) alarm to alert the relevant Insurance Limited (HNBGI) from Ltd. authorities and divisional key ‘A(lka)’ to ‘A+(lka)’ citing stable out- This superior surveillance sys- stakeholders. looks. tem is a secure, AI-driven, video This solution requires no spe- The Rating Actions Commentary analytics solution that will assist cial hardware units and can be issued by Fitch on June 3, 2021 states enterprises in unlocking insight- easily integrated with the exist- “The upgrade reflects the insurers’ ful data to better drive their busi- ing customer cameras whilst fur- improved capital position, as measured ness decisions. ther offering Enterprise custom- by strong regulatory risk-based capital This Dialog Retail Analytics ers a Pay-As-You-Use option as (RBC) ratios. The ratings also take into CEO, HNBA and HNBGI – Prasantha Fernando, COO, HNBA Lasitha Wimalaratne and COO,HNBGI Sithumina Jayasundara Solution provides Dialog Enter- a result of its collaborative account the insurers’ ‘Favourable’ busi- prise customers with actionable efforts with Microsoft as “Infra- ness profiles and a sustained improve- 32.9 BN by the end of the first quarter of Chief Executive Officer of HNBA and The Life Insurance business posted a data to better understand their structure As A Service (IAAS)”. ment in their non-life underwriting per- 2021.” “For our Group, it’s not business HNBGI, Prasantha Fernando shared his remarkable 51% growth in GWP achiev- customer/visitor behaviour to Whilst greatly enhancing a formance, while maintaining satisfactory at any cost, rather, our drive is towards thoughts stating, “The ratings of HNBA ing LKR 1.6 BN and the General Insur- make decisions that positively premise’s security detail with its earnings in its life insurance operation.” consolidated growth being driven and HNBGI have been upgraded by Fitch ance business recorded a GWP of LKR impact sales and enable their high-quality surveillance, the Chairperson of HNB Assurance PLC through the focus on key business funda- Ratings upon reviewing the business pro- 1.6 BN marking a 27% growth. companies to forecast and plan Dialog Retail Analytics Solution Group, Rose Cooray stated, “This indeed mentals and a prudent outlook to risk files, the improved capital position, and It is noteworthy to mention that the their marketing initiatives, ena- will enable enterprises to make is another significant achievement for underwriting.” the sustainable underwriting performance market rank of HNBGI has improved by ble better staff planning, profitable business decisions and HNB Assurance as well as HNB General “This rating upgrade augurs well for of both entities. one notch to the 7th position during the improves employee well-being improve productivity with the Insurance and demonstrates very clearly the soundness of strategies that have Further, an upgrade of this nature dem- quarter with the growth in GWP.” and sales and evaluates the com- latest, cutting-edge, fully auto- to the market the singular focus of both been crafted for both companies as well onstrates our consolidated financial “The contribution of our Parent Com- pany’s Return on Investment mated AI-driven solution. companies on maintaining and building as for the capability and business acumen strength, low business risk and solid pany HNB too has helped us in this (ROI). more information, could be their strength and stability.” of the Management Teams. This will no operational performance.” achievement.” “This upgrade has us all It outputs real-time analytical obtained from, https://business. “HNBA’s Life Fund has exceeded doubt fortify our position in the market Fernando added “I am happy to note energized, excited and invigorated, and data such as Occupancy Count, dialog.lk/products-services/secu- LKR 17.8 BN, HNBGI’s Contract Liabil- as a solid player and further infuse confi- that the Group recorded a Gross Written will, I am sure, further bolster the drive Age Classification, Gender Iden- rity-surveillance/dialog-retail- ities stood at LKR 3.5 BN while the dence in the mindset of key stakeholders Premium (GWP) of LKR 3.2 BN for the and passion of every team member to do tification and many more mean- analytics-solution/ Total Assets of the Group surpassed LKR to transact with both the Companies.”. first quarter of 2021. better during these difficult times”. Just In Time Group celebrates 25 years milestone Microsoft to power Sri Lanka’s first Just In Time Group (JIT) try,” remarked Chrishan Mendis creation through technology be which started in 1996 with hum- – CEO of JIT who has been it to our customers or from them ble beginnings by visionary ICT with the company for 23 of the to their customers. We place virtual investment forum leader Jit Warnakulasuriya who 25 years. great emphasis on what we have had a vision for the Company. From Supporting the Real maintained with our customers real-time conversations and con- JIT started modestly with just Time Gross settlement system of in terms of relationships and As official technology partner tent. Microsoft Teams reached four employees from selling the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to embracing and enhancing tech- 115 million daily active users in Compaq computers from a base- the implementation and mainte- nology, and to that end, most of Microsoft will be the official including high-net-worth indi- October 2020, reflecting the con- ment office and today has firmly nance of the National Payment our key customers are returning technology partner for the viduals and institutional inves- tinued demand for Teams as the established itself as a reputed system at LankaClear (Pvt) Lim- customers It is indeed with nos- upcoming Sri Lanka Investment tors. lifeline for remote and hybrid Group with over 400 staff. JIT ited to the Digital Banking sys- talgia and pride that I look back Forum 2021 and Microsoft The event will discuss the work and learning. provides systems integration, tem at People’s bank, our list is over all that we have achieved Teams will become the platform macroeconomic landscape in Sri Hasitha Abeywardena, Coun- (SI) network and infrastructure endless. It has been a steady and and our impact on the nation’ CEO of JIT - Chrishan Mendis of choice to host the country’s Lanka and will highlight all try Manager, Microsoft Sri solutions, hardware, outsourcing resilient journey for JIT. It takes JIT’s core strength is being received to date. “Unfortunate- first-ever virtual investor forum. major projects and ventures open Lanka and Maldives said: “For- IT professionals, professional something special for a business instrumental in designing pur- ly, we aren’t able to celebrate Microsoft Teams, the hub for for direct investment while also eign domestic investments are at services, information security to keep its doors open success- pose driven solutions for com- our momentous occasion due to team collaboration, will help featuring the investment case for the heart of economic growth services and maintenance and fully for a quarter of a century, plex IT needs of their customers the pandemic situation. bring in investment opportunities CSE-listed companies. and can help Sri Lanka graduate support services, for the Bank- especially in a rapidly evolving and delivering them successfully However there is never a bet- to the attention of potential The Government of Sri Lanka to the upper-middle income ing, Government and Telco sec- and competitive industry like with agility and flexibility. “And ter time to acknowledge and investors across the globe. set a target of USD 2.5 billion in country status as per the World tors. ICT and that is exactly what JIT what’s even more exciting is appreciate the people who The first-of-its-kind virtual foreign direct investments for Bank and such initiatives by key Today, JIT is still going has proven to be – Steady and that JIT is gearing up for their helped us get to where we are investment forum will be pow- 2021. The investment could play institutes of the Country are wel- strong, as a fully Sri Lankan Resilient.” next chapter, through organic today.” ered by Microsoft Teams and led a significant role in helping the comed. Owned company. “Along our JIT is known as a trailblazer growth and acquisitions.” JIT JIT has long been playing a by the Board of Investment of country drive accelerated eco- It is an honour to have this journey, we continued to do in the local ICT arena with solu- has strengthened its business silent role in supporting the Sri Lanka (BOI), Colombo Stock nomic growth and development investment forum be hosted on things no one else had done tions and services which have and are looking forward to country’s essential services Exchange (CSE), and the Ceylon by bridging the gap between Microsoft Teams. We will con- before and played a significant empowered institutions to revo- growing their new expansion delivering some of the nations’ Chamber of Commerce (CCC). domestic savings and invest- tinue to invest in our greatest role in the industry. Today we lutionize their business and plans in order to provide their critical systems and they look Microsoft will be extending its ment. assets—our people and technolo- are the backbone of critical sys- industries. customers with the same best of forward to continuing the same technology expertise by conduct- The Microsoft Teams live gy—so that people and organiza- tems and solutions in the coun- “We firmly believe in value breed solutions and support into the future for the Nation. ing exhibitor training sessions, event will create an entirely new tions in every industry stay agile setting-up and managing the experience for participants and resilient in this new era.” Microsoft Teams live events across different time zones. The Microsoft is committed to from 7-9 June 2021.According event will further create more advancing a future that is for to a joint statement from BOI, opportunities and insight into everyone. National Chamber CSE, and CCC: the event is how the Microsoft Teams plat- More information can be expected to attract investment form can be used, apart from obtained from: https://www. interest from around the world, video conferencing and creating invest-srilanka.lk DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA to host Webinar on ISSUE OF TREASURY BILLS “Doing Business Market rises on strong interim results Rs. 51,000 million Treasury bills are to be issued through an with Japan” auction on 09th June 2021 – Acuity Stockbrokers The details of Treasury bill issues are as follows: Maturity Period 91 Days 182 Days 364 Days Total A webinar on “Doing Business The Bourse ended the week with Japan” organized by the on a positive note this week ISIN* LKA09121I105 LKA18221L106 LKA36422F100*** National Chamber of Commerce of with ASPI increasing by 233.96 Amount Offered (Rs. Mn) 10,000 23,000 18,000 51,000 Sri Lanka will be held on Thurs- points (or 3.19%) to close at Maximum yield rate for day, 17 June 2021 from 10.00 a.m. 7,567.38 points, while the S&P 5.21 acceptance (%)** onwards via Zoom. SL20 Index also increased by Date of Auction : 09th June 2021 The objective of the Webinar is 90.76 points (or 3.07%) to close to create awareness on current at 3,046.47 points. Date of Settlement : 11 th June 2021 Bilateral Trade Opportunities and LOLC Holdings was the high- th Date of Issue : 11 June 2021 Challenges for Sri Lankan Export- est contributor to the week’s Closing date and time of bid submission : Wednesday 09th June 2021, at 11.00 a.m. ers in the Japan Market turnover value, contributing Minimum amount of a bid : Rupees fi ve million (Rs. 5,000,000/-) and multiples of Sanjiv Gunasekera, Ambassador- LKR 1.98Bn or 13.77% of the Rupees one million (Rs. 1,000,000/-) there onwards. Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan, total turnover value. Royal Bids are invited from the Primary Dealers in Government Securities. Bids should be made only Prof. Sampath Amartunga, Chair- Ceramic followed suit, account- through the electronic bidding facility provided byZ the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). man-University Grants Commis- ing for 8.13% of turnover (value The CBSL may accept a higher or lower amount than the offered amounts for each maturity by sion-Sri Lanka (Who won the of LKR 1.17Bn) while Lanka reallocating amounts between the maturities, depending on the market conditions, but without Award of the Japanese Emperor Walltile contributed LKR exceeding the total amount on offer at this auction. “The order of Rising Sun” and a 0.76Bn to account for 5.29% of resource person from the Japanese the week’s turnover. The general public is invited to purchase Treasury bills from the following Embassy in Sri Lanka would be the Total turnover value amount- Primary Dealers or any other Licensed commercial banks. Keynote Speakers and Kapila J ed to LKR 14.37 Bn (cf. last Kumara, First Secretary week’s value of LKR 5.30Bn), Acuity Securities Ltd 2206297 NSB Fund Management Co. Ltd 2425010 (Commercial)-Embassy of Sri while the daily average turnover Bank of Ceylon 2541938 People's Bank 2206783 Lanka in Japan and Anoma Prema- value amounted to LKR 2.87Bn Capital Alliance Ltd. 2317777 Sampath Bank PLC 2305842 tilleke, Director Market Develop- (62.55% W-o-W) compared to ment-Sri Lanka Export Develop- last week’s average of LKR Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC 2332319 Seylan Bank PLC 2456340 ment Board will be the Resource 1.77Bn. Market capitalization First Capital Treasuries PLC 2639883 Wealth Trust Securities Ltd 2675096 Persons. meanwhile, increased by 3.20 % * International Securities Identifi cation Number The webinar will be moderated W-o-W (or LKR 103.59 Bn) to ** The yield rates of 91 day and 182 day maturities will be decided below the level of 364 day maturity at by Anura Warnakulasooriya, Depu- LKR 3,340.95 Bn cf. LKR the auction. ty President-National Chamber & 3,237.37 Bn last week. *** New holiday treatment for Treasury Bill maturities applies, i.e. effective from 2022, in the event the Managing Director-Midaya Ceram- Liquidity (Value & Volume) Group contributed 15.96% to the Net Foreign Position maturity falls on a bank holiday, payments will be made on the immediate following business day. ic Co. (Pvt) Ltd. Capital Goods Industry Group weekly turnover. The Food, Foreign investors were net Target Group would be the was the highest contributor to Beverage & Tobacco Industry sellers this week with a total net

M.Z.M. Aazim National Chamber Members and the week’s total turnover value, Group dominated the market in outflow amounting to LKR 0.78 Superintendent / Registrar of Public Debt. business community interested in accounting for 29.47% (or LKR terms of share volume, account- Bn relative to last week’s total doing business with Japan, includ- 4.24Bn) of market turnover. ing for 25.88% (or 125.38 Mn net outflow of LKR 0.39 Bn ing Exporters and Importers. Industry Group’s turnover was shares) of total volume, with a (-101.4% W-o-W). Issuing Offi ce Registration could be done driven primarily by Royal value contribution of LKR Total foreign purchases Public Debt Department through, https://docs.google.com/ Ceramic, Lanka Walltile and 1.42Bn. The Capital Goods decreased by 25.1% W-o-W to CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3aSLIFDSz JKH accounted for 61.25% of Industry Group followed suit, LKR 0.43Bn from last week’s 30, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 01. Mbj7kyw1EKaCenqTR29_8a4IyE the sector’s total turnover. adding 18.45% to total volume value of LKR 0.58Bn, while OC_2F3ZdnWKg/ Diversified Financials Industry (89.41 Mn shares) while Materi- total foreign sales amounted to Telephone: +94-112477011, Fax: +94-112477687 viewform?usp=sf_link or email: Group meanwhile accounted for als Industry Group contributed LKR 1.22Bn relative to LKR Web: www.cbsl.gov.lk [email protected]. 20.95% of the total turnover 16.59% (80.39 Mn shares) to the 0.97Bn recorded last week value while Materials Industry weekly share volume. (25.9% W-o-W). Monday, June 7, 2021 page 11

david diop anna Moschovaki

aditha dissanayake he book is frightening – reading it, you feel you are being hypnotised,” says Hughes-Hallett, Chair of judges, at the Booker International Prize 2021. “Your emotions are all jangled up, your mind is being opened to new thoughts. It is an extraordinary piece of narrative, very powerful, very compelling. The protagonist is accused of sorcery and all of “Tus, we judges, did feel this book had somehow put a spell on us. It is that hypnotically compelling.” Explaining further in an interview with the BBC, Hughes-Hallett added, David Diop’s “At Night All Blood Is Black” is “a story about war, but also about love, the comradeship of those young men who fight together and the extraordinarily intense relationships that are formed by people who are risk- ing death alongside each other. It is also a story about language – the protago- nist does not speak much French, so it is a story written in French, which we read in English, about a man thinking in Wolof. Diop has done something very clever in creating a kind of incanta- tory language that somehow conveys that sense of what it is like to think outside your own language, as it were.” Thus, David Diop created history by becoming the first French novelist to win the International Booker Prize for translated fiction for his novel, At Night All Blood Is Black. This also happens to West, and Maria Stepanova’s In Memo- be his first novel translated into Eng- ry of Memory, translated from Russian lish. Diop, the author of two novels, and by Sasha Dugdale. his translator Anna Moschovakis, split Hughes-Hallett said Diop won by the £50,000 annual prize, which goes to “majority decision” among the judges, the best author and translator of a work who also included Guardian journalist translated into English. and author Aida Edemariam, novelist At Night All Blood Is Black follows Neel Mukherjee, historian Olivette the story of a Senegalese soldier fight- Otele, and poet and translator George ing for France in the first world war. Caroline D. Laurent of the Harvard Szirtes. “I do not want to go further The topic in itself is rather dishearten- University summarizing the plot says, than that, as all six shortlisted authors ing when one realizes more than a cen- Diop’s novel centers around Alfa Ndi- were fantastic and I think it would be tury after the First World War, litera- aye, a Senegalese tirailleur (infantry- very invidious to go any further than ture produced in the West continues to man) and the main narrator of the to say that Diop’s book and Moschova- give prominence to themes based on novel (he uses the first-person pronoun kis’ translation were seen by a major- their wars and how their colonialism ‘I’ in most of the text). He fought on ity of us as the outstanding book.” affected others. Proving my point, France’s side – and on French soil – dur- Diop and Moschovakis were Hughes-Hallett said that many of the ing World War I. announced as the winners in a virtual books submitted this year, including The novel starts with the narration celebration live streamed from Coven- Diop’s, examined colonialism or migra- of a traumatic event that the African try Cathedral on Wednesday night. Pre- tion, “which is of course the sequel to soldier has witnessed: the long and vious winners include South Korea’s colonialism. That story about people painful death of his best friend, Madem- Han Kang and Polish Nobel laureate moving around the world, maybe being ba Diop. The traumatic event directs Olga Tokarczuk, with winning authors welcomed by their new host countries Alfa’s vengeance, which could also be enjoying an astronomical increase in or maybe being kept out, is one that a perceived as self-punishment. He kills sales after the prize. lot of the authors wanted to address.” German soldiers in a similar way, “I am at once flattered and I sort of Though one might feel it is high time reproducing and repeating the trau- feel as though I am living in a dream the West moved away from stories matic scene. He then cuts one of their — a waking dream,” said Diop. Trans- based on the two world wars, facts hands off and keeps it with him. lator Anna Moschovakis quoted writ- The Star Tribune summed up the pleasure to be had from this novel.” gleaned from an article in the Guardian This results in Alfa being sent to a er and translator John Keane to affirm book by saying “Though short, it is an Though tastes may differ, I would reveals, approximately 135,000 Senega- psychiatric hospital where doctors the principle of cultural diversity that impressive, propulsive read, one that rather not immerse myself in such a lese tirailleurs fought in Europe, with attempt to cure him. It deals with the is central to the International Booker. searingly evokes the terrors of trench blood-bath just for the beauty of the 30,000 killed. Diop was inspired to concepts of war neurosis and shell “What does it mean to be together warfare, the relentless loss of life, and language that cloaks horrible mutila- write the book by his Senegalese great- shock that appeared then (what we without being the same, to fully the irreparable damage inflicted on the tions, especially when it refers to an grandfather’s silence about his time in now refer to as post-traumatic stress accept the idea of difference,” she human soul.” event that took place long before any the war. “He never said anything to his disorder). said. Hughes-Hallett too, acknowledging of us were born. wife, or to my mother, about his experi- The form of the novel associates ele- Diop’s At Night All Blood is Black the violence in the book said that she It also remains to be said, that when ence. That is why I was always very ments of an inner monologue as well was described by the British poet hoped the violence would not put off the Booker announced, “All the judges interested in all the tales and accounts as a testimony. This allows the reader George Szirtes, the 2015 International prospective readers. “You can read the read all the 123 books written in doz- which gave one access to a form of to see, through the perspective of a Booker winner and current Interna- last act of King Lear when the bodies ens of languages entered for this year’s intimacy with that particular war,” colonial subject, the horrors of war. In tional Booker judge, as “savage, won- are piling up on stage and still be prize before a shortlist of six was Diop said in an interview with the BBC. this sense, Diop writes a nuanced text: derful, perceptive, unforgettable. responding not just to the horror but announced in April,” they do not men- Born in Paris in 1966, to a French he describes the violence perpetrated Meanwhile, talking to the New York the great beauty of the language,” she tion whether they read the original mother and Senegalese father, Diop and experienced by all sides. Alfa Ndi- Times Diop said, “This powerful medi- said. text of the translated books too. If they spent his childhood in Senegal before aye becomes a symbol of the ambiva- tation on the French colonial experi- “This book does what the best poet- do not know what the original author returning to study in France, becoming lence of war and its destructive power. ence was an attempt to use literature ry does, entering the reader’s con- wrote, can their decision, based solely a professor of 18th-century literature at In spite of the violence or perhaps to “mov[e] people before they turn to sciousness at a level that bypasses on the translated text which might be the University of Pau. Since it was pub- because of it, At Night All Blood Is rational explanations of history.” Add- rationality and transcends the subject totally different from what the original lished in 2018, At Night All Blood Is Black was picked as the winner of the ing a comment of their own the New matter. So yes indeed, you are reading author said, and which might be Black has been a bestseller in France International Booker from 125 submit- York Times revealed,”More than a cen- about horrible mutilations and a sol- ‘domesticated’ to borrow Lawrence where it was shortlisted for 10 literary ted books. Diop made the six-book tury after World War One, a great new dier going mad … but all the same, the Venuti’s term to match the views of prizes and won the Prix Goncourt des shortlist last month alongside books African writer is asking these ques- whole tragedy relies on this dichotomy, English readers be crowned as the best Lycéens. Its translations have also won including Benjamín Labatut’s When We tions in a spare yet extraordinary novel of the awfulness of what you are being translation, 2021? Over to you, Hughes- Italy’s Premio Strega Europeo and the Ceased to Understand the World, trans- about this bloody stain on human his- told and the beauty of how it is being Hallett. Netherlands’ Europese Literatuurprijs. lated from Spanish by Adrian Nathan tory,” expressed. So there is a great deal of [email protected] TOWN COUNTRY page 12 & DN moNDay, juN e 07, 2021

SaviNg mR BaNkS More than just a spoonful of sugar...

RuwiNi jayawaRDaNa cademy award winning artistes Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks lock horns Ain John Lee Hancock’s ‘Saving Mr Banks’ which tells the story of how the popular fantasy musical ‘Mary Poppins’ came onto grumpy and difficult to please. With- the wide screen. out the agreement fully signed, she Thompson gives life to P L Travers, wants to have full control over the pre the persnickety author and creator of production of the film. A countless ‘Mary Poppins’ who has been flown scenes are dedicated to show Travers to LA to grant Walt Disney Pictures flinging insults and shutting down the rights to make a movie out of her every idea that Disney’s writers and no-nonsense nanny. Though Disney lyricists put forth. She claims that has promised his daughters to bring singing is ‘frivolous’ and that she can- the story onto the silver screen, Trav- not bear the idea of animations being ter visits them and takes matters into on a role which demands the best of confuses the viewers but can be a ers has kept him at arms length by not projected in her movie. She even her hands promising that all will be her talents in years and carries the film barrier to their enjoyment as well. granting him the rights of her tale. wants the colour red to be out of the well in the family. This is basically on her shoulders with grace, adding Delicately presented and brilliantly The film picks up at the start of this picture. All her thoughts are influ- where Mary Poppins originated from layers of class to the production. acted ‘Saving Mr Banks’ presents tug of war in 1961 when, upon her enced by melodramatic flashbacks. but as the story proceeds we realize Tom Hanks does a fine job in breath- the theme of overcoming the past to agent’s insistence, Travers unwillingly The film bounces back and forth that the film is not centered around ing life to the legendary Walt Disney. embrace an uncertain future. succumbs to the idea allowing Disney into the past and present from the the origin of the main character of the Though the film actually belongs to As one of Disney’s hottest proper- to proceed with his task. Travers’ Australian settings and harsh experi- ‘Mary Poppins’ tale after all. It is much Thompson, Hanks takes to his role like ty of the past, the flying nanny turns entrance to USA and her welcome at ences of Traverse’ childhood to the more complicated and emotional. It is a pair of cozy slippers. 50, the Mouse House has paid a fit- Walt Disney Studios is hilariously making of ‘Mary Poppins’ the movie. not about Travers’ creative differences Paul Giamatti portrays the role of ting tribute to the production with presented at the beginning of the It reveals that Travers grew up her father ends up nearly getting with Disney but more about her inter- the doughy chauffeur Ralph and B.J. ‘Saving Mr Banks’. The irony of the movie signifying what is in store for charmed by the imaginative atten- fired from his job due to his addiction nal struggle with her past. Novak and Jason Schwartzman step production is that in saving Mr the audience. As the story proceeds tion of her banker father. The family to alcohol, the episodes turn gloomy Thompson does wonders in portray- into the shoes of the songwriting Banks from being portrayed in nega- we realize that things get better. This had to move from their comfortable because he falls desperately ill. Unable ing the sourpuss-faced Travers. Sherman brothers with ease. Colin tive light in the ‘Mary Poppins’ is no serious biography or movie home in the city to the outback to bear the situation any longer Trav- Though she is annoying and particular Farrell charms as Travers’ father but movie, Traverse ends up saving her- relating a past incident but a produc- where Travers’ parents gradually ers’ mother nearly commits suicide about the silliest details at times, his act gradually turns monotonous. self as well. This is a novel twist to tion scattered with wit and humour. distance themselves from each other and only survives when her daughter Thompson presents the bitter spinster One of the few short comings in the behind the scenes story relating While all the other characters are because her father takes to the bot- beckons her back to her senses. In the in a surprisingly likable manner. ‘Saving Mr Banks’ is that the flash- that a spoonful of sugar does indeed cheery and hospitable Travers remains tle. After a couple of scenes in which midst of this chaos their mother’s sis- Thompson has finally laid her hands backs seem overused. This not only help the medicine go down. Swift to mark big screen Foster to receive Pathmaraj return honorary Palme d’or no more

eteran Hollywood actor and mersby, ‘Panic Room’ and ‘Flight- Renowned film filmmaker Jodie Foster will plan’. producer, exhibitor Vreceive the honorary Palme Foster made her directorial debut and a head of A dis- d’or at the 2021 Cannes Film Festi- in 1991 with ‘Little Man Tate’. tribution circuit in val, the organisers announced on A total of seven of her films, as Sri Lankan Cinema, Wednesday. Foster will be a special actor or director, have screened at G R Pathmaraj has guest of the opening ceremony on the prestigious film extravaganza. passed away. July 6 to collect her award, which “I am flattered that Cannes He was the Man- recognises artistic career achieve- thought of me and I am very hon- aging Director of ment and a commitment to major oured to be able to share a few Cinemas Ltd., a pio- issues. words of wisdom or tell an adven- neering film produc- The 58-year-old actor said Cannes ture or two with a new generation tion company in local cinema. rammy-award acclaimed 2015 film holds a special place in her career of filmmakers,” she added. His father the late K Gunarathnam was winning singer ‘Joy’, starring Jennifer spanning over five decades. She first Festival President Pierre a pioneering film producer and a major GTaylor Swift is Lawrence. attended the film gala in 1976 as a Lescure said “Foster contributor In building the local film all set to make a return The upcoming feature teenager with ‘Taxi Driver’, which has provided the industry. to the big screen with also stars Robert De ultimately left with the Palme d’Or, team with an Gamini Hall was the film releasing filmmaker David O Rus- Niro, Mike Myers, Timo- the highest prize awarded at the fes- amazing gift center established by Gunarathnam as the sell’s next project. thy Olyphant, Michael tival. by coming to first distribution circuit in Sri Lanka. The singer will be the Shannon, Chris Rock, “Cannes is a festival to which I celebrate the With the production of ‘Sujatha’ in latest A-lister to come Anya Taylor-Joy, Andrea owe so much, it has completely return of the 1953, the Sri lankan local commercial film on board the project that Riseborough, Matthias changed my life. My first time on the festival on the industry was established and scaled new already boasts of an Schoenaerts and Ales- croisette was a defining moment for Croisette. heights. ensemble cast featuring sandro Nivola. me. Showcasing one of my films here Cannes Film Pathmaraja was the youngest son of K Christian Bale, Margot It remains to be seen if has always been a dream of mine,” Festival was Gunarathnam who produced many films Robbie, John David the tide will finally turn said Foster in a statement. cancelled last including ‘Radala Piliruwa’, ‘Deewarayo’, Washington, Rami for Taylor with this big- A child prodigy, the actor is best year in the ‘Dosthara’, ‘Sandeshaya’, ‘Wana Mohini’, Malek and Zoe Saldana. screen return. The singer known for her Academy Award win- wake of the ‘Weera Wijaya’, ‘Allapu Gedara’, and Although plot details last appeared in ‘Cats’. ning turns in ‘The Accused’ and coronavirus ‘Athma Puja’. are being kept under The 2019 musical adapta- ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, along pandemic. Pathmaraja produced the movie ‘Sala- wraps, it is said that the tion of Andrew Lloyd with other notable titles like ‘Som- PTI muthu Pinna’ moving the Cinemas legacy film is based on Russell’s Webber’s long-running forward. original idea. The unti- stage show, sadly didn’t Pathmaraja managed the Lido Cinema tled film is also said the work well with the audi- hall, Borella, Kingsley cinema hall, Kota- director’s first feature ence and was slammed by hena, and many other theaters. Lido cin- since his critically critics. ANI yami ties the knot ema was one of the main local film releas- ing centers and Kingsly cinema holds t was quite a pleasant URI director Aditya Dhar on new photos surfaced on helping her slip into an historical value as the first conversational surprise for fans of Friday. While the fans of the social media that take us anklet. In the photo, Yami is movie ‘Kadaunu Poronduwa’ was initially IYami Gautam as the actress are still trying to get inside the rituals of the nup- seen covering her head with released in it. kareen’s size actress shared a photo from over her stunning and inti- tials with both their families. a red veil and smiling as she Pathmaraj holds the ownership of the her intimate wedding with mate wedding with Aditya, The actress, who is known to gears up to marry Aditya. In movie ‘Nidanaya’,which is considered as zero pizza keep her personal life pri- other photos from the man- the best film ever produced in Helawood vate, reportedly tied the knot dap, we can see the couple cinema. areena Kapoor with Aditya in Himachal performing the wedding ritu- He was the Managing Director of Cin- Khan made Pradesh. als in the presence of their ema Entertainment Ltd which was formed Kheadlines when The new photos from loved ones. with three pioneering film companies in she flaunted her iconic inside Yami and Aditya’s Seeing the new photos, the Sri Lanka. He was a loving companion to ‘zero figure’ look in YRF’s wedding rituals showcased internet could not stop gush- film artistes and was a devoted character action flick Tashan. While how the nuptials took place ing over the ‘simplicity’ with for the betterment of the f lm industry. Bollywood actresses were in the presence of their close which the Vicky Donor He studied at the S. Thomas College, always extremely fit, it and immediate family mem- actress went ahead and tied Mount Lavinia. He was 70 years old at the was Kareena who took bers. In one of the photos, the knot with her beloved. A time of demise. He was a father of three. things to a whole new Yami could be seen sitting on fan commented and wrote, “I level and started the zero the floor with her feet out liked the simplicity set by figure trend in the coun- and her sister could be seen her.” Pinkvilla try. topped off with diced In fact, the term size chicken, red chillies, baby zero became such a trend corn, onions, and low-fat across the country that a cheese. pizza joint in Delhi even While ideally, you named a pizza after it. wouldn’t want to binge on ‘Thor 4’ filming wraps The pizza was a healthier pizza during a diet, how- alternative to other ever, if you are extremely options on their menu tempted then a slice or and thus the name ‘size two of the size zero ilming has wrapped - who also plays fan favourite “Thank you to all the cast zero’. The size zero pizza wouldn’t be the worst on the latest Thor Korg, a softly-spoken Kiwi and crew who made this had a thin crust and was idea. Filmfare film in Australia, the rock monster. another incredible Marvel Fmovie’s star Chris Hemsworth wrote: “That’s journey. Buckle in, get ready Hemsworth has revealed. a wrap on Thor Love and and see ya in cinemas!!” Hemsworth has been film- Thunder, it’s also national Thor: Love And Thunder ing the new instalment in the don’t flex day so I thought will be released next year as Marvel franchise Down Under this super relaxed photo was part of the fourth phase of the and stars as the God of Thun- appropriate. Marvel Cinematic Universe der himself Thor. “The film is gonna be (MCU), and features Tessa Telling fans the news on bats*** crazy off the wall Thompson and Natalie Port- social media, he posed for a funny and might also pull a man reprising their roles as blue steel-esque photo on set heart string or two. Lots of Valkyrie and Jane Foster next to director Taika Waititi love, lots of thunder! respectively. Sky News monday, june 7, 2021 news page 13 DN Vaccination programme is successful State Minister calls - State Minister Nimal Lanza Rural Roads and Other doing a great job in con- Infrastructure State Min- trolling the pandemic and ister Nimal Lanza said their sacrifices should be on Russian Ambassador that despite the allega- appreciated,” the State tions by the Opposition, Minister said.“From the h.L SuNiL ShaNtha, the vaccination pro- beginning, the Opposition Kalutara Central Special Corr. gramme is being carried said that the COVID pan- Women, Child Development, Pre-schools and out successfully and the demic would put the coun- Primary Education, School Infrastructure and interest and confidence of try in a difficult position School Services State Minister Piyal Nishantha the people in it are impor- and destroy its economy. De Silva called on Russian Ambassador in Colom- tant to control the COVID Therefore, they try to bo Yuri Materiy at the Embassy last week. pandemic. spread false propaganda The State Minister discussed matters regard- The State Minister was among the people. It ing the development of the school system, devel- addressing a recent media cials,” the State Minister shows the bankruptcy of opment of children and women in Sri Lanka and briefing in Wattala. said. the Opposition,” the State the progress of higher education in the country. ‘’Controlling the “The Government will Minister said. The State Minister made a request to the Rus- COVID pandemic has complete the vaccination “Even during the war, sian Ambassador regarding the Sputnik Vaccine become the Government’s before the end of the year. the Opposition said that and the Ambassador said that following a discus- first priority. Its success Today the Opposition is the war could not be won. sion with the Russian Government, the Sri Lan- will be a victory for our expecting an increase in But the war ended and kan Government will receive the expected num- health service. We will COVID patients and peace was restored. ber of the vaccine in the near future. facilitate vaccination and deaths. That is why they Today, the Government is The State Minister told the media that the bi- essential services to the criticise vaccination. If controlling the pandemic lateral discussion was ended very cordially and public despite traffic the Good Governance effectively. We will the long lasting, historical relationship between restrictions. Criticism by Government was in power, strengthen the economy the two countries was strengthened through the the Opposition of the the country would have and ensure that the people meeting. measures taken in this been another Vishala. The will not be oppressed,” State Minister Piyal Nishantha De Silva and Russian ambassador yuri Materiy exchanging mementos. regard is a blow to the health services, the Armed State Minister Nimal morale of the relevant offi- Forces and the Police are Lanza said. sLTB incurs Rs. 2331m loss last year MahiNDa P. LiyaNage, Galle Central Special Corr. 31,233 million in the same year, a Central Bank The total number of running and passenger suspect arrested with gun, The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has report revealed. The expenditure in the last year kilometres of SLTB buses has decreased by 28.4 incurred a Rs. 2,331 million loss last year dur- was Rs. 33.565 million. However, the SLTB had per cent in 2019 and 32.2 per cent in 2020, the ing the COVID pandemic, the Central Bank recorded a Rs. 1.557 million profit and a Rs. Central Bank stated in its report. stated. 43,490 million revenue in 2019. The expendi- The SLTB had operated 5,048 buses in 2019 The SLTB revenue has decreased to Rs. ture was in 2019 was Rs. 41,933 million. and 4,045 last year, the reported stated. distilling equipment SivaM PackiyaNathaN, Batticaloa Special Corr. The Special Task Force (STF) in Koola- eight autopsies on CoVId deaths at KTH vadi in the Valaichche- nai Police area arrest- MahiNDa P. LiyaNage, Galle Central Special Corr. Assistant Judicial Medical Officer Samadi Makuluwa and a woman from Gintota Maha- ed a suspect along Post mortems on eight COVID deaths had Dandeniyaarachchi said that they died of Hapugala had died at their residences. A resi- with a gun, 200 litres been conducted on last Saturday, Karapitiya COVID pneumonia. dent of the Akmeemana Medical Officer of of goda and illicit liq- Teaching Hospital (KTH) Judicial Medical The 81-year-old father of six who died at the Health Division had died at home. uor distilling equip- Office sources stated. COVID Medical Treatment Centre at the Boossa The deceased at the Karapitiya Teacfhing ment. Of them, four had died at their residences, Naval Base was a resident of Panapitiya, Hospital had been identified as a 44-year-old The suspect and the three at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital and Karandeniya. An 83-year-old mother of four father of two of Kaduruduwa, Wanchawala, a goods were handed one at the COVID Treatment Centre at the from Tellambura, Nakiyadeniya had died at 90-year-old resident of Kalegane, Galle and an over to the Valaichche- Boossa Naval Base, the sources said. home. A 75-year-old woman from New Lane, 89-year-old woman from Milliduwa, Galle. nai Police on Saturday. the seized distilling utensils. CoVId Treatment PuCsL thanks Centre opened in Vakarai blood donors SivaM PackiyaNathaN, Batti- caloa Special Corr. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) expresses its gratitude for the great interest A COVID Treatment Cen- and support showed by the people. tre was opened at the Vakarai in donating blood to meet the national need during Base Hospital on Friday by this COVID pandemic. Over 500 pints of blood have Eastern Province Health Ser- already been supplied for national need. vices Director Dr. A.R.M. The PUCSL has organised 12 blood transfusion Thowfeek along with Batti- camps islandwide in a month at the request of the caloa Regional Director Dr. National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) with the Nagalingam Mayooran. assistance of islandwide electricians, civil organisa- This is the fifth COVID tions of the electricians and the public. Five of the Treatment Centre in the donation camps have already been completed and region and the others have steps are being taken to host the remaining camps in been located in Karadiyanaru, this month. aethiyamalai Police arrested a suspect along with a gun on Saturday on a tip off. the Valaichchenai, Kattankudy The PUCSL held its first blood donation camps in gun was hidden in his residence, police said. the suspect was to be produced in and Periyakallar. the Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura and Rat- courts. Picture by Sivam Packiyanathan, Batticaloa Special Corr. On the opening day of the centre. napura Districts where blood was urgently needed, and over 800 blood donors participated in these camps. Over 500 pints of blood were donated as required by the Blood Transfusion Centres at the first five camps. The camps are held adhering to the health guide- Free relief programmes lines and the registering of blood donors, providing them with a time slot to attend the camp and permis- sion to travel during the travel restrictions were car- ried out online with the support of the Blood Bank. PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said that at to combat CoVId the end of May, the National Blood Transfusion Cent- The Art of Living Foundation Sri Lanka has the ‘Open up in Lockdown’ meditations with er requested PUCSL assistance in obtaining blood for initiated several free relief programmes to com- Gurudev. This year Gurudev has put together a national need and with the assistance of the Electri- bat COVID-19 virtually, which will include a special set of breathing exercises and medita- cians’ Organizations, which have been established in session on specific breathing techniques to tions that will help boost lung capacity, improve various parts of the country, the camps were organised improve lung capacity, building immunity and immunity and provide deep relaxation to the expeditiously. a guided meditation by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi mind. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar said that in “In less than 10 days, the first five camps were Shankar in Sinhala, Tamil and English. these challenging times, all must be brave and organised in the main districts that desperately need The Art of Living has been helping people in kept their strength and faith intact. the number of dengue patients is increasing with rains in Batticaloa and therefore, the blood. We donated nearly 500 pints of blood to those Batticaloa Municipal council (BMc) has taken measures to eliminate dengue breeding their issues with stress and more with such Three types of programmes will be offered camps, depending on the needs of the Blood Transfu- grounds in the area yesterday. Of the 25 km long drains, five km have been cleared with programmes for many years now. The organisa- three days. Immunity boost and Prevention heavy machinery. Picture by Sivam Packiyanathan, Batticaloa Special Corr. sion Centres in each district. Our goal is to donate tion also has been coming up with different and Programme for normal people, Home Isolation 2,500 pints of blood to the blood bank,” he said. new exercises and sessions regularly and the Care Programme for the people affected by the “Seven more special blood donation camps will be most recent one is amid the coronavirus- virus and a Post COVID rehabilitation pro- held in the Ratnapura, Kandy, Polonnaruwa, Gampa- induced lockdown in the county where many gramme to get relieved from the post COVID ha, Jaffna and Mullaitivu Districts this month. We will have been forced to be at home. symptoms. A regular practice can result in bet- continue to support to organize and supply blood as As wave of COVID-19 rages on, the sessions ter health. He said that yoga postures and navy, Coast Guards prevent major needed in the future,” he said. will provide the much needed spiritual and breathing exercise must be practiced after “The PUCSL expressed its gratitude and apprecia- emotional comfort in these times of abject fear, consulting a doctor and under the supervision tion for the great interest and participation in donat- grief and uncertainty, with many people having of a trained teacher. oil hazard in sapugaskanda ing blood. lost their near and dear to the pandemic. Last For more details: 0776079220, 0767194545 year, millions around the globe benefitted from and Email – [email protected]. The separator tanks containing furnace oil at the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery under the Cey- lon Petroleum Corpora- tion (CPC) overflowed in the heavy rainfall. The Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard removed the furnace oil from the environment to prevent the oil from spreading on June 4. Heiyanthuduwa in Sapugaskanda was flood- ed in heavy rains and the Navy personnel and coast guards collecting the ‘One competition in One School’ was recently held at the Foreign Language School of the overflowed furnace oil in the overflowing oil. yunnan university in china under the theme, “My university Life”. the Department of Sin- Sapugaskanda could have hala Language Studies at the yunnan university’s School of Foreign Languages was estab- been mixed in the Kelani Therefore, the Navy skimmer since the oil a family of seven escaped when a rock fell on their lished in 2020 as a model. there are about 20 chinese students studying Sinhala as their River through the Pattiv- and Coast Guards placed could have an adverse house in elagipitiya near Samasarakanda in aranayake main subject and four teachers are in charge of their studies. Sugath Ratnayake is the first ila Canal as the rainfall a floating component to impact on the water dis- yesterday. the area has been demarcated as a high risk Sinhala Language teacher at the university and the other three teachers are graduates in decreases and the water prevent the furnace oil tribution of the Ambatale area after the earthslip in 2016. Picture by Pradeep Sinhala Language from the university of Foreign Studies, Beijing. level of the Kelani river from spreading and and the Biyagama Water Kumara, Aranayake Group Corr. subsides. removed the oil with a Treatment Plants. DN page 14 FEATURE MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 THE AGE OF THE

ELECTRIC CAR IS HERE Tesla Model 3

JUSTIN ROWLATT to the very nerdiest of nerds. EVs are on the shallow e are in the middle of the biggest sloping bottom end of the S here.For the internet, the revolution in motoring since Henry graph begins at 22:30 on 29 October 1969. That’s when Ford’s first production line started a computer at the University of California in LA made turning back in 1913. contact with another in Stanford University a few hun- And it is likely to happen much dred miles away.The researchers typed an L, then an O, moreW quickly than you imagine.Many industry observers then a G. The system crashed before they could com- believe we have already passed the tipping point where plete the word “login”. sales of electric vehicles (EVs) will very rapidly over- Mercedes Benz EQS A decade later there were still only a few hundred whelm petrol and diesel cars.It is certainly what the computers on the network but the pace of change was world’s big car makers think. the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles gives impetus to the accelerating. Jaguar plans to sell only electric cars from 2025, Volvo process. In the 1990s the more tech-savvy started buying per- from 2030 and last week the But what makes the end of the internal combustion sonal computers. British sportscar company engine inevitable is a technological revolution. And tech- As the market grew, prices fell rapidly and perfor- Lotus said it would follow suit, nological revolutions tend to happen very quickly. mance improved in leaps and bounds - encouraging more selling only electric models Look at the internet.By my reckoning, the EV market and more people to log on to the internet.The S is begin- BANDARAWELA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL from 2028. is about where the internet was around the late 1990s or ning to sweep upwards here, growth is becoming expo- And it isn’t just premium early 2000s. nential. By 1995 there were some 16 million people AMENDMENT TO THE PROCUREMENT NOTICE brands. Back then, there was a big buzz about this new thing online. By 2001, there were 513 million people.Now General Motors says it will with computers talking to each other. there are more than three billion. What happens next is Bids are hereby invited by me, the Chairman, Procurement Committee of the Bandarawela make only electric vehicles by Jeff Bezos had set up Amazon, and Google was begin- our S begins to slope back towards the horizontal. Municipal Council from citizens of Sri Lanka and institutions including registered 2035, Ford says all vehicles ning to take over from the likes of Altavista, Ask Jeeves The rate of growth slows as virtually everybody who companies for the leasing of the toilet system at the Main Bus Stand in Bandarawela for a sold in Europe will be electric and Yahoo. Some of the companies involved had racked wants to be is now online. period of 1 ½ years from 01.06.2021 until 31.12.2022. by 2030 and VW says 70% of up eye-popping valuations. We saw the same pattern of a slow start, exponential its sales will be electric by For those who hadn’t yet logged on it all seemed excit- growth and then a slowdown to a mature market with Amended Dates and Times 2030. ing and interesting but irrelevant - how useful could smartphones, photography, even antibiotics. I. Issue of Bid Documents - Up to 3.00 p.m. on 29.06.2021 This isn’t a fad, this isn’t communicating by computer be? After all, we’ve got The internal combustion engine at the turn of the last greenwashing.Yes, the fact phones! century followed the same trajectory. II. Receiving of Bids - Up to 1.00 p.m. on 30.06.2021 many governments around the But the internet, like all successful new technologies, So did steam engines and printing presses. And elec- III. Opening of Bids - Immediately after 1.00 p.m. on 30.06.2021 world are setting targets to ban did not follow a linear path to world domination. It tric vehicles will do the same. didn’t gradu- In fact they have a more venerable lineage than the 02. Further, if the abovementioned dates have to be amended again owing to unavoidable ally evolve, internet. circumstances, such amendments will be published in https://facebook.com/ giving us all The first crude electric car was developed by the Scot- municipalcouncilbandarawela social media site of the Bandarawela Municipal time to plan tish inventor Robert Anderson in the 1830s. Council. ahead. But it is only in the last few years that the technology Chairman, Procurement Committee Its growth has been available at the kind of prices that make it com- was explosive petitive. Bandarawela Municipal Council and disrup- The former Top Gear presenter and used car dealer Park Road, Bandarawela. tive, crushing Quentin Willson should know. He’s been driving electric Tel. No. 057-2222275 / Fax No. 057-2222875 existing busi- vehicles for well over a decade. 28.05.2021 nesses and He test-drove General Motors’ now infamous EV1 20 changing the years ago. It cost a billion dollars to develop but was way we do considered a dud by GM, which crushed all but a handful almost every- of the 1,000 or so vehicles it produced. thing. And it The EV1’s range was dreadful - about 50 miles for a BANDARAWELA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL followed a normal driver - but Mr Willson was won over. “I remem- familiar pat- ber thinking this is the future,” he told me. AMENDMENT TO THE PROCUREMENT NOTICE tern, known He says he will never forget the disdain that radiated to technolo- from fellow Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson when Time frame of the procurement notice published in the Dinamina, Thinakaran and Daily gists as an he showed him his first electric car, a Citroen C-Zero, a News newspapers of 17.05.2021 for the selection of a construction contractor for the S-curve. decade later. construction of a hall for the provision of funeral service facilities for the Bandarawela It’s actually “It was just completely: ‘You have done the most Municipal Council has been amended as follows. an elongated unspeakable thing and you have disgraced us all. S. Leave!’,” he says. Though he now concedes that you Amended Dates and Times The idea is couldn’t have the heater on in the car because it deci- I. Issue of Bid Documents - Up to 3.00 p.m. on 29.06.2021 that innova- mated the range.How things have changed. Mr Willson II. Receiving of Bids - Up to 2.00 p.m. on 30.06.2021 tions start says he has no range anxiety with his latest electric car, III. Opening of Bids - Immediately after 2.00 p.m. on 30.06.2021 slowly, of a Tesla Model 3.He says it will do almost 300 miles on a IV. Validity period of Bid Security - Up to 31.10.2021 interest only single charge and accelerates from 0-60 in 3.1 seconds. V. Pre Bid Meeting - at 2.00 p.m. on 21.06.2021 “It is supremely comfortable, it’s airy, it’s bright. It’s just a complete joy. And I would 02. Further, if the abovementioned dates have to be amended again owing to unavoidable unequivocally say to you now that I would never circumstances, such amendments will be published in https://facebook.com/ ever go back.” municipalcouncilbandarawela social media site of the Bandarawela Municipal We’ve seen massive improvements in the Council. motors that drive electric vehicles, the comput- Chairman, Procurement Committee ers that control them, charging systems and car Bandarawela Municipal Council design.But the sea-change in performance Mr Park Road, Bandarawela. Willson has experienced is largely possible Tel. No. 057-2222275 / Fax No. 057-2222875 because of the improvements in the non-beating 28.05.2021 heart of the vehicles, the battery. The most striking change is in prices. Just a decade ago, it cost $1,000 per kilowatt hour of battery power, says Madeline Tyson, of the US-based clean energy research group, RMI. Now it is nudging $100 (£71). That is reckoned to be the point at which they start to become cheaper to buy than equivalent internal combustion vehicles. But, says Ms Tyson, when you factor in the cost of fuel and servicing - EVs need much less of that - many EVs are already cheaper than the petrol or diesel alternative.At the same time energy density - how much power you can pack into each battery - continues to rise. They are lasting longer too. Last year the world’s first battery capable of powering a car for a million miles was unveiled by the Chinese battery maker, CATL.Companies that run big fleets of cars like Uber and Lyft are leading the switchover, because the savings are greatest for cars with high mileage.But, says Ms Tyson, as prices continue to tumble, retail cus- tomers will follow soon. How fast will it happen? The answer is very fast. Like the internet in the 90s, the electric car market is already growing exponentially.Global sales of electric cars raced forward in 2020, ris- ing by 43% to a total of 3.2m, despite overall car sales slumping by a fifth during the coronavirus pandemic. That is just 5% of total car sales, but it shows we’re already entering the steep part of the S. By 2025 20% of all new cars sold globally will be electric, according to the latest forecast by the investment bank UBS. That will leap to 40% by 2030, and by 2040 virtually every new car sold globally will be electric, says UBS. The reason is thanks to another curve - what manufacturers call the “learning curve”. The more we make something, the better we get at making it and the cheaper it gets to make. That’s why PCs, kitchen appliances and - yes - petrol and diesel cars, became so affordable. The same thing is what has been driving down the price of batteries, and hence electric cars. We’re on the verge of a tipping point, says Ramez Naam, the co-chair for energy and envi- ronment at the Singularity University in Califor- nia. He believes as soon as electric vehicles become cost-competitive with fossil fuel vehi- cles, the game will be up. (BBC)

Ford F-150 Lightning monday, june 7, 2021 sport page 15 dn When sri Lanka made their odi debut at 1975 prudential World Cup Chris dhambarage SCOR E CARD Sri Lanka began their campaign towards SRI LANKA achieving International Cricket Council Fall: 1-5, 2-5, 3-16, R. Fernando 4-21, 5-41, 6-41, 7-42, (ICC) Test status when they made their One c Murray b Julien ...... 04 8-48, 9-58 Day International (ODI) debut in England B. Warnapura BOWLING: Andy Rob- c Murray b Boyce ...... 08 erts 12-5-16-2, Bernard on this day (June 7), exactly 46 years ago. A. Tennekoon Sri Lanka captained by Anura Tennekoon Julien 12-3-20-4, Keith c Murray b Julien ...... 00 Boyce 8-1-22-3, Lance Gibbs made an inauspicious start to their goal of D. Heyn 4-0-17-0, Vanburn Holder 1.2-0- achieving international recognition as they c Lloyd b Roberts ...... 02 2-1 M. Tissera were beaten by the ultimate champions West c Kallicharran b Julien .... 14 WEST INDIES Indies by nine wickets in the fourth match of D. Mendis R. Fredericks c Murray b Boyce ...... 08 c Warnapura b de Silva ... 33 the Prudential World Cup at Manchester. D. Murray The Sri Lankan batsmen were all at sea A. Ranasinghe b Boyce ...... 00 not out ...... 30 against the fearsome West Indies’ fast bowl- M. Pieris A. Kallicharran ing attack as they folded up for just 86 runs c Lloyd b Julien ...... 03 not out ...... 19 T. Opatha Extras: (b2, lb1, nb1, w1) 05 in 37.2 overs after they were invited to bat TOTAL: (one wicket, first by Clive Lloyd. b Roberts ...... 11 S. de Silva 20.4 overs) ...... 87 The three-prong pace attack of Andy Rob- c Lloyd b Holder ...... 21 Fall: 1-52 erts, Bernard Julien and Keith Boyce played L. Kaluperuma BOWLING: Tony Opatha 4-0- havoc with the Sri Lankan batting line-up not out ...... 06 19-0, Mevan Pieris 2-0-13-0, the sri Lanka world Cup squad Extras: (b3, lb3, nb3) .... 09 Somachandra de Silva 8-1-33- under favourable conditions at Old Trafford 1, Lalith Kaluperuma 6.4-1-17-0 while sharing nine wickets between them. TOTAL: (all out, 37.2 overs) 86 No doubt, it turned out to be a fire of bap- tism for the Sri Lankans as they made a determined effort to make an impact on the Peiris all fell cheaply in the space of seven run international stage for the first time against s. heavy odds. All-rounder Ranasinghe of course, was only The Sri Lankan openers Ranjit Fernando 18 at that time and was the second youngest and Bandula Warnapura just could not give player of the 1975 World Cup after Pakistan’s their side a good start even though the latter Javed Miandad who represented the country held on well for a total of 54 deliveries for his at 17. eight runs. Sri Lanka collapsed to 42 for seven at one Warnapura, who struck the first boundary stage and they were in real danger of being for Sri Lanka in ODIs, was not prepared to bowled out for under 50 runs in this 60-over surrender meekly as the solid right-hander bat- contest. tled for more than one hour before he was However, the Sri Lankan tailenders batted fourth out with the score at 21. with more purpose as they contributed a valu- bandula warnapura plays a shot Man-of-the-Match Julien did the early dam- able 42 runs with number 10 Somachandra de age by removing the wicket-keeper batsman Silva making a top score of 21 inclusive of two offered a catch to Warnapura with the West Ranjit Fernando and Tennekoon for a four-ball boundaries. Indies total at 52. duck as Sri Lanka slumped to five for two at The right-hander, who was better known for Thereafter, wicket-keeper batsman Deryck that stage. his leg-breaks, played a crucial innings with Murray and diminutive left-hander Alvin Kal- Thereafter, David Heyn survived for 12 the bat facing 54 deliveries before he was last- licharran completed the formality while add- deliveries before he became Roberts’ first vic- man out against the seam of Vanburn Holder. ing 35 for the unfinished second-wicket to tim while Michael Tissera held on for 35 deliv- De Silva then went on to make his presence register an emphatic victory. eries before he was dismissed for a stubborn felt on the field by claiming the only wicket of The Sri Lankan opening bowlers Tony Opa- 14 runs, which included one boundary. the West Indies’ innings with his eight overs tha and Mevan Pieris were far too expensive The introduction of Boyce into the attack costing him 33 runs. and were taken off early while off-spinner brought further disaster to Sri Lanka as Left-hand opener Roy Fredericks smashed Lalith Kaluperuma bowled an economical sri Lanka skipper anura tennekoon (right) and Duleep Mendis, Anura Ranasinghe and Mevan four boundaries during his 38-ball 33 before he spell of 6.4 overs for 17 runs. somachandra de silva in action west indies Captain Clive Lloyd during the toss npC to form 30-member pooL for asian para Games susantha basnayake - a taLented CriCketer and LeveL-2 CoaCh Upananda JayasUndera, cricket coaching He was able to pro- Kandy Sports Special Correspondent career in 2004 at duce some outstand- dhammika difficulties but all para throw F46 event at the Rio Paralympic Susantha Pushpakumara Basnay- Thalatuoya Central ing cricketers who ratnaweera athletes are really deter- Games in 2016.” ake is an past pupil of St. Anthony’s College and from represented Sri The National Para- mined,” he commented. “This time also we are expecting College, Katugastota and a fine 2006 to 2010 he Lanka in the Under- lympic Committee “Finding sponsor- medals according to their standards at cricketer and Level-2 cricket coach coached Vidyartha 15 Team on the tour (NPC) is set to form a ships for these athletes world ranking. Priyantha once again with a huge amount of experience. College, Kandy. of Malaysia. 30-member pool while are always a big issue as reached the qualification mark while He represented the school Under- From 2010 to 2012 While coaching at targeting the Asian most of them are from Samitha Dulan has qualified from the 13, 15, 17 and 19 as a right-hand he became the Head St. Anthony’s, he also Para Games in 2022. the Army who are javelin throw F44 event.” top-order batsman and right-arm Coach and helped his started coaching the This was disclosed by affected because of the “The previous NPC officials headed medium-pace bowler and his high- team to become the St. Anthony’s Girls’ the newly-elected Presi- war,” he said. by Major General Rajitha Ampemohot- est score was 124 against St. Anne’s Best Cricket Team in School Team in 2016. dent of the NPC Lt. “However, Pradeep ti maintained a 16-member residential College, Kurunegala. the Central Province. He helped St. Colonel Deepal Herath. Sanjaya won the 400m pool at Torrington in preparation for His best bowling figures were six Under his coach- Anthony’s Girls’ Meanwhile, three T46 Bronze Medal at the Paralympic Games. We have to wickets for 44 against St. Bene- ing, Ruwan Bandara susantha basnayake School Team to athletes from track and the London Paralympic continue with that and give all facilities dicts’ College, Kotahena. He was a of Vidyartha became (pic by Upananda become champions for field, one each from Games in 2012 while to the athletes.” member of the All-Island champion the Best Batsman Jayasundera) over 10 years at the archery and rowing Dinesh Priyantha Her- “I think para athletes have a big issue Under-15 Team of 1996. from the outstation Inter-District Girls’ have already qualified ath won the Bronze with no domestic level competitions After leaving school, Susantha scoring 1,190 runs. In addition, Cricket Tournament organised by for the Paralympic Medal in the javelin for them to gain experience,” he represented the Tamil Union Keshan Gamage became the Most the Department of Education. Games from August 24 Lt. Col. deepal herath lamented. Under-23 Cricket Team from 2001 Popular Outstation Cricketer. That team became third at the to September 5 in (npC president) “We have already planned to conduct to 2002. He also represented Kandy Susantha joined St. Anthony’s as All-Island Girls’ Cricket Tourna- Tokyo, Japan. the Para Athletic Nation- CC and the Kandy YCC as an all- a junior cricket coach and helped ment in 2017. He is a qualified The NPC President al Championship in rounder and his highest score in the Under-13 Team to become All- umpire as well and he had the said that they hope another 3-4 athletes March/April next year club cricket was 86 against Chilaw Island champions in the Division opportunity to follow a three-day would qualify for the Paralympic and we also have an Marians. One Tournament in 2018 while the cricket coaching programme con- Games direct or through the wildcard idea to conduct bad- His best bowling was six for 64 Under-15 Team became Division ducted by Les Lanham. system. minton, powerlifting, against Lankan SC. He started his One All-Island champions. “We have a problem in competing at rowing and shooting international events due to the pan- competitions for para demic but rower Mahesh Jayakody athletes.” completed the qualification at the “The main idea is to recent Asian and Oceania Qualifier in form a national pool in Tokyo,” he stressed. preparation for the atapattu advanCe in “We are already planning for the Asian Para Games with next Asian Para Games. Last time Sri the assistance from the Lanka won 15 medals at the Jakarta Sports Ministry,” he Women’s t20i rankings Para Asian Games and next time we concluded. want to win more medals,” he empha- NPC office-bearers dhammika ratnaweera and 85 T20s and is the most expe- sised. for 2022/2023: Sri Lanka’s Chamari Atapattu rienced player on the Sri Lanka Herath is no stranger to the Paralym- President: Lt Col. has reached seventh place among Team. pic Committee. He was a former para Deepal Herath. Secre- all-rounders in Women’s Twenty20 She has scored 2,625 ODI runs badminton player from 2010 and later tary: Col. Bandula cricket after the latest update of the with an average of 31.62 and has he was appointed Executive Member Bandara. Vice-Presi- International Cricket Council scored five centuries and 14 half- of the NPC. dent’s: Brig. Dananjaya (ICC) Player Rankings. centuries, which is the highest He was also the Head of Sports of Aludeniya and Priyan- The 31-year-old left-hander is number of ODI centuries and fifties the NPC. He is a very active official tha Pieris. currently in 12th position in the by a Sri Lankan Women’s cricketer. having already toured several countries Treasurer: Dilini One Day International (ODI) bat- She also holds the record for the as Manager of the Sri Lanka Paralym- Wariyapola. Assistant ting list and she is also in the 14th highest individual score of 178 not pic Team. Secretary: Rasanjalee position in the T20I batting list. In out against Australia in the last “I know what kind of difficulties we Pathirage. Assistant addition, Atapattu is in 18th place World Cup and this was the first had those days as a player. Compared Treasurer: Nalani in the list for all-rounders in ODIs. century by a Sri Lankan at the with the able athletes we have more dinesh priyantha herath (bronze medallist) Ranasinghe. Atapattu has played in 84 ODIs Women’s World Cup. Chamari atapattu iswan omar - a ‘Giant amonGst men’ in rugby administration hafiz marikar he may not have been a ‘prop’ and later played as a third-row for- Club and later played for Kandy Rugby Foot- tions rather than orders. He was a strong The Janaza burial of the legendary ruggerite the biggest player on ward. ball Club and led Kandy RFC. believer in attacking rugby, with the attitude Iswan Omar took place in Kandy at the the field he was a giant Some of his teammates were Ajith Abey- In 1973, when Kandy SC and Kandy RFC that if a team had possession of the ball it Katukelle Jumma Mosque Burial Grounds on amongst men on the ratne, Shafie Jainudeen, J. K. Furlong, Irwin amalgamated, he rejoined Kandy SC and led should be able to attack, regardless of the posi- Saturday. field of rugby adminis- Howie, Tikiri Marambe, Ajith Kobbekkduwa, the side in 1975. tion on the field. Omar passed away on Friday at the Perad- tration. Gamini Udugama, Mohan Balasuriya, Alex He was a fine player and a good leader. That He also handled the whistle. His son Harris eniya Hospital at the age of 71 years. He was also Secre- Lazarus, Jadi Dissanayake, S. B. Madawela, year Kandy SC lost in the Clifford Cup semi- played for Trinity first as a scrum half in the He left his wife Sithy and son, Harris. tary of Sri Lanka Mohan Samarakoon, Y. S. Ping, Palitha Samar- finals to Air Force SC in extra time. Under-17 side and while playing for the Under- Omar served the rugby community as a Rugby (SLR). He was asekara, B. Shanhikumar, N. T. B. Dissanay- From Kandy SC, he took up planting and 17, he was invited to play for the senior team player, coach, referee, and administrator on respected around the ake, Stephen Paul, Anil Siriwardena, Mahen- joined Uva Gymkhana Club, Dimbulla ACC, as a third-row forward and ended up as num- many levels and he was a former player, coach, country in the field of dra Talwatte, Ranjan Nadarajah, Rafi Ismail, Kelani Valley, and Dickoya MCC and also ber eight and led the side in his last year win- referee and administrator, and was actively rugby. Mark Sunderalingam, Prince Nayagam, Dud- played for the Up-country. ning the Bradby Shield. involved in the game. Omar started his ley Dissanayake, M. Affif and Georgi Tilla- After chucking up planting, he returned to He led the Sri Lanka Under-19 Team and He was a former Secretary and Vice-Presi- iswan Omar rugby at Trinity Col- karatne. Omar was awarded colours in 1967 Kandy SC again and became a Committee later the Sri Lanka Under-21 Team. While at dent and Administrative Manager of Kandy lege under the guid- and the ‘Lion’ in 1969 when he was the Vice- Member, Secretary and one time was Admin- school, he played for Kandy SC and was one of SC and was behind the success of Kandy SC’s ance of Hilary Abe- Captain. As a schoolboy in 1969, he was istrative Manager and was the Chief Organiser the finest third-row forwards. He led Kandy international sevens tournament and was also yaratne and first played for the Under-15 side invited to play for Kandy SC along with Jainu- of the Singer-SriLankan Airlines International SC in 1999 and under his leadership they won the President of the Central Province Rugby as a prop forward and as a second-row forward deen and Fredrick Prince in the Clifford Cup Rugby Sevens for 10 years. He coached St. the Inter-Club Sevens for the first time beating Football Union (CPRFU). for the Under-17. Knock-Out that year. Anthony’s College, Kandy SC, and Kandy CR and FC 12-5 in the final. Harris also led the He played a massive role in Kandy SC rugby. He then played from 1967 to 1969 for the He also played for the Combined Schools Women’s Team. His coaching style was said to Sri Lanka Team at the Rugby Asiad and served He was forward in his playing days and while senior team. For the senior side, he started as Team. Then he crossed over to Kandy Lake involve quiet words with players and sugges- in the Executive Committee of SLR. monday, june 7, 2021 page 16

Sports Editor : 011 242 9223 Fax : +941122343694 e mail : [email protected] Fraser-Pryce becomes

(June 7) FOREIGN EVENTS second-fastest CRICKET Netherlands vs Ireland (3rd ODI) at Utrecht TENNIS (Grand Slam, Outdoor, Clay): Woman of all time French Open at Roland Garros Jamaica's two-time Olym- end Florence Griffith-Joyner personal best of 10.70s, set in just wanted to get one more CHESS pic champion Shelly-Ann has run faster. 2012. Fraser-Pryce, who took race in before the national tri- Asian Zonal Hybrid Tournament Fraser-Pryce has become the Griffith-Joyner scorched to more than a year out of the als." FOOTBALL second-fastest woman in his- a world record 10.49s in 1988 sport around the birth of her The result will increase the tory after running 10.63 sec- before retiring less than a year son in 2017, admitted she anticipation for the event at (International Friendlies): onds in Kingston on Satur- later. surprised herself with her the Olympics in Tokyo this Serbia vs Jamaica day. Fraser-Pryce's time eclipses time. summer. Ukraine vs Cyprus The 34-year-old, who also the 10.72s run by American "Honestly, no, I wasn't com- Fraser-Pryce will run at the Andorra vs Gibraltar won world gold at Doha 2019, Sha'Carri Richardson as the ing out here to run that fast," Jamaican Championships streaked clear to win a nation- fastest time in the world this she said. "Thank God that I later in June before setting Faroe Islands vs Liechtenstein al trials warm-up event in year. It is an improvement of finished healthy.” her sights on the Tokyo 100m Germany vs Latvia Kingston. Only American leg- 0.07 seconds on her previous "There was no pressure - I final on July 31. (BBC) Kosovo vs Guinea (World Cup Qualifying – Asia): Guam vs Syria China vs Philippines Nepal vs Jordan Farah misses Tokyo 10,000m qualification time Shelly-ann Fraser-Pryce Australia vs Chinese Taipei in action Iraq vs Cambodia Two-time defending cham- ham was more than 22 sec- and with 15 laps to go, you Iran vs Bahrain pion Mo Farah's hopes of onds short of the required know my face, I was hurting representing Great Britain in time. hard. I had to keep fighting Uzbekistan vs Singapore the Olympic 10,000m seem He said afterwards that he and digging in.” Bangladesh vs India to be over after he fell short was carrying an injury to his Farah has until June 27 to Oman vs Qatar of the qualifying mark in the left ankle. "I'm disappointed dip inside the 27:28s stand- Kyrgyzstan vs Mongolia European 10,000m Cup on with the result," he said. ard for Tokyo. Japan vs Tajikistan Saturday. "The last 10 days haven't Alternatively he could UAE vs Thailand The 38-year-old was eighth, been great but no matter turn his attention to the Vietnam vs Indonesia behind fellow Briton Marc what I achieve in my career 5,000m, an event he also Scott, in a race that doubled it's important I come out and won Gold at both London (World Cup Qualifying - North/ as the Olympic trial. show at the trials.” 2012 and Rio 2016, at the Central America): Farah's time of 27 minutes "It would have been easy British Championships on Belize vs Saint Lucia mo Farah in action 50.54 seconds in Birming- not to show. I dug in deep June 26. (BBC) Liyanage, Uddin share points in fifth-round

Dhammika RatnaweeRa his fourth-round game to International Mas- ter Shakil of Bangladesh after a long battle. National champion Ranindu Liyanage had Sri Lanka’s Buddhika Amarasinghe also to be satisfied with a draw in the fifth-round had a good day as he beat Ahmed Mahatab- of the Asian Zonal Hybrid Chess Champion- budin of Bangladesh to collect three points. ship, which continued yesterday. Amarasinghe will meet the Bangladesh Liyanage was up against a higher-rated FIDE Master Ahmed Shike Nazir in the International Master from Bangladesh sixth-round. Mohammad Minhaz Uddin and after a tough The Bangladesh Chess Federation is con- battle they finally settled for a draw and ducting this event, which comprises nine shared 0.5 points each. rounds. The Sri Lankan players are compet- Liyanage has obtained a total four points ing from the Headquarters of the Chess out of five games while the Grandmaster Federation of Sri Lanka in Gangodawila, Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh scored a point Nugegoda. in the fifth-round and stayed in the lead with A total of 39 players from Bangladesh, 4.5 points after the fifth-round. Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives and Sri Lanka are Buddhika amarasinghe Ranindu Liyanage Susal de Silva Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Susal de Silva lost participating in this event.

Jayden Seales earns first WI call-up Cricket West Indies includes one first-time recent Test series against (CWI) have named a provi- inclusion in the shape of Sri Lanka. sional 17-man squad for the 19-year-old fast bowler The Squad: Kraigg upcoming two-Test series Jayden Seales. Brathwaite (Captain), Jer- against South Africa in St. Seales has played a total maine Blackwood, Nkru- Lucia. of 10 professional matches mah Bonner, Darren Bravo, The provisional squad is but impressed in the recent Roston Chase, Rahkeem expected to be trimmed to Brathwaite XI vs Roston Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, a final 13 today, ahead of Chase XI tour match, tak- Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar the first Test from June 10 ing four wickets. Hamilton, Jason Holder, UNSEEDED to 14. It is the final series in The squad also sees Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, the current cycle of the ICC recalls for Roston Chase, Kyle Mayers, Kieran Pow- World Test Championship Shai Hope and Kieran ell, Kemar Roach, Jayden (WTC). Powell, who were all left Seales and Jomel Warrican. ZIDANSEK Jayden Seales The 17-man group out of the squad in the (iCC) into first Grand Slam quarters Oman in the fray to co-host Slovenia's Tamara Zidansek is the first player to T20 World Cup reach the French Open quarter-finals, beating Roma- nia's Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 in Roland Garros Oman has emerged as a yesterday. potential co-host of the upcom- Unseeded Zidansek, 23, reaches a Grand Slam ing ICC Twenty20 World Cup quarter-final for the first time, and had never previ- alongside the United Arab ously been beyond the first-round in Paris. Emirates (UAE). The world number 85 saved a set point in a tight The Oman Cricket (OC) offi- first set before dominating Cirstea, ranked world cials, including its head Pankaj number 54. Khimji, had a meeting with the "I came out on court prepared and it was a battle," officials of the Board of Control she said on court. for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Zidansek, will play the winner of the match Dubai recently. between 2019 finalist Marketa Vondrousova, of the One of the options on the Czech Republic, and Spain's Paula Badosa. table is to hold the first-round Meanwhile, Roger Federer reached the last-16 of matches in the capital city of the French Open but needed all of his fighting quali- Muscat, with Oman featuring tamara Zidansek ties to scrap his way past Germany's Dominik Koep- plays a shot as one of the sides in the fer on an empty and eerie Court Philippe Chatrier in 16-team tournament. Saturday's night match. After its June 1 meeting, the the Oman Cricket Stadium The 39-year-old 20-time Grand Slam champion was ICC had stated that it's on the ragged at times and lacked his usual zip against the lookout for another venue that Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu T20 World Cup, eight quali- will play the first-round tenacious Koepfer but the eighth seed slogged his could add to the three grounds Dhabi. fying teams - Sri Lanka, Ire- between October 18 and 23 way to a 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 7-5 victory at about in the UAE - Dubai Interna- Oman has two grounds, land, Papua New Guinea, before the Super 12 stage 1.00 a.m local time. (agencies) tional Cricket Stadium, Sharjah both recognized by the ICC. Oman, Bangladesh, Namibia, begins on October 24. Cricket Stadium and Sheikh In the first round of the Netherlands and Scotland - (agencies) MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 ADVERTISEMENTS page 17 DN TENDER AND OTHER ADVERTISEMENTS EXTENSION OF BID DEADLINE DEPARTMENT OF IRRIGATION PROCUREMENT NOTICE AMPARA STANDING CABINET APPOINTED PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE INVITATION FOR BIDS (STATE MINISTRY OF PRODUCTION, SUPPLY AND REGULATION OF PHARMACEUTICALS)

State Ministry of Tanks, Reservoirs and THE CHAIRMAN, STANDING CABINET APPOINTED PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WILL Irrigation Development Related to Rural Paddy Fields RECEIVE SEALED BIDS FOR SUPPLY OF FOLLOWING ITEMS TO THE STATE MINISTRY OF PRODUCTION, SUPPLY AND REGULATION OF PHARMACEUTICALS UNDER MINISTRY OF HEALTH. With reference to newspaper advertisement that was published in Dinamina, Thinakaran and Daily News on 13.05.2021 regarding the above procurement. Due to travel restrictions enforced in the country, the previous bid submission deadline Bid Number Closing Date Item Description Date of Issuing Non-refundable has been amended as follows: & Time of Bid Document Bid Fee per set 1. Bid document can be obtained until 29.06.2021. (LKR) 2. Bid closing date has been extended up to 2.30 p.m. on 30.06.2021 and the bids will DHS/C/S/WW/1/22 29.06.2021 at Face Mask Surgical Disposable 08.06.2021 100,000.00 + be opened soon after the closing of bids. 10.00 a.m. Tie-on Type Taxes 3. The bid security validity period should be 90 days from the new extended closing date (up to 28.09.2021). BIDS SHOULD BE PREPARED AS PER PARTICULARS GIVEN IN THE TENDER DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE TO 4. Other conditions mentioned in the advertisement on 13.05.2021 remain unchanged. PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS ON WORKING DAYS BETWEEN 0930 HOURS AND 1500 HOURS FROM 08.06.2021 AT THE STATE PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION OF SRI LANKA, HEAD OFFICE, “MEHEWARA PIYASA”, 16TH FLOOR, Chairman, Procurement Committee, NO. 41, KIRULA ROAD, COLOMBO 5. THESE COULD BE PURCHASED ON CASH PAYMENT OF A NON-REFUNDABLE Offi ce of the Director of Irrigation, Ampara BID DOCUMENT FEE AS ABOVE PER SET. OFFERS RECEIVED WITHOUT ENCLOSING ORIGINAL PAYMENT RECEIPT 07.06.2021 ARE LIABLE TO BE REJECTED. ALL BIDS SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY A BID BOND AS SPECIFIED IN THE BIDDING DOCUMENTS. “WHEREVER NECESSARY POTENTIAL BIDDER/BIDDERS SHOULD GET REGISTERED IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC CONTRACT ACT NO.3 OF 1987 BEFORE COLLECTING THE BID DOCUMENTS AND ALSO SHOULD GET THE CONTRACT REGISTERED AFTER THE TENDER IS AWARDED.” SEALED BIDS MAY BE SENT BY POST UNDER REGISTERED COVER OR MAY BE DEPOSITED IN THE BOX AVAILABLE PROCUREMENT NOTICE FOR THIS PURPOSE AT ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT IN 16TH FLOOR OF THE STATE PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION OF SRI LANKA, HEAD OFFICE, “MEHEWARA PIYASA”, 16TH FLOOR, NO. 41, KIRULA ROAD, COLOMBO 5, SRI LANKA. Provision of Cleaning Services (2021/2022) BIDS WILL BE CLOSED AT THE HEAD OFFICE OF THE STATE PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION ON THE DATE GAMPAHA WICKRAMARACHCHI UNIVERSITY OF AND TIME MENTIONED ABOVE AND WILL BE OPENED IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. INDIGENOUS MEDICINE BIDDERS OR THEIR AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE PERMITTED TO BE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF Extension of Time Period OPENING OF BIDS. It is hereby informed that time period mentioned in the advertisement relevant to the CHAIRMAN - STANDING CABINET APPOINTED PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE Provision of Cleaning Services to the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous STATE MINISTRY OF PRODUCTION, SUPPLY AND REGULATION OF PHARMACEUTICALS Medicine for the year 2021/2022 published in the Dinamina Newspaper on 21.05.2021 and C/O CHAIRMAN - STATE PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION OF SRI LANKA the Daily News and Thinakaran Newspapers of 21.05.2021 has been amended as follows: “MEHEWARA PIYASA”, 1. Validity Period of the Bid Bond - Up to 05.10.2021 16TH FLOOR, NO. 41, KIRULA ROAD, 2. Site Inspection for provision of services - Between 9.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. on working days until 18.06.2021 COLOMBO 5, SRI LANKA. 3. Pre Bid Meeting - At 10.00 a.m. on 17.06.2021 TEL/FAX : 00 94-11- 2582492/2582495 E-MAIL : [email protected] 4. Issuance of Bid Documents - Between 9.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. on working days until 21.06.2021 5. Closing Date of Bids - Before 2.00 p.m. on 22.06.2021 All other conditions mentioned in the advertisement on 21.05.2021 remain unchanged. It is also hereby informed that if there happens to be any amendment to the above said dates owing to the Covid 19 pandemic situation that prevails in the country, details regarding that will be published in the www.gwu.ac.lk website of the university. Chairman, Departmental Procurement Committee, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Yakkala. 07.06.2021

PEOPLE'S BANK TENDER NOTICE Sealed tenders are hereby invited from reputed Local Suppliers in Sri Lanka for Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of following project.

Last date & Time Description of Value of Bid Date & Time of Tender No. Unit of issuing the Project Security Closing Tender Documents Roof top Solar 20/29 kw - 12 29.06.2021 at 30.06.2021 at P/059/2021 500,000.00 Systems 30/40 kw - 08 3.00 p.m. 2.00 p.m.

1. Tender documents could be obtained from People’s Bank, Supplies Department, 30/101, Kew Road, Colombo 02 depositing Rs. 1,500/- for each tender document to the Account No. 204100120011913 maintained at Head Quarters Branch. Deposits could be made from any People’s Bank branch to the named account. Issuance of tender documents will be made on receiving the scanned copy of the cash paying in slip via E-mail ([email protected]) between 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m from 08.06.2021 to 29.06.2021 as indicated above on working days of the bank. Tender document will be sent upon receiving the deposit slip with company request letter. 2. Perfected tender documents should be accompanied by a Bank Guarantee / Bid Bond from a commercial bank (other than People’s Bank) acceptable to the People’s Bank for above mentioned amounts valid for minimum period of 180 calendar days from the day of opening the tender. Bank Pay Orders/ Bank Drafts (Valid for 180 calendar days from the date of opening the tender) are also acceptable in lieu of Bid Bonds. Cheque drawn by the tenderer will not be accepted. 3. Sealed tenders may be sent by registered post or deposited in the tender box kept at this Department at No. 30/ 101, Kew Road, Colombo 02. Tender will be opened at 2.00 p.m. on the closing date (30.06.2021) as mentioned above. Tenders received after 2.00 p.m. will be rejected and returned unopened. 4. The Bank reserves to itself the right of rejecting any or all bids or cancelling the whole tender and the right of accepting any portion of a tender without assigning any reasons. 5. Further details could be obtained from Chief Manager (Supplies), People’s Bank, Supplies Department, on the telephone nos. given below.

Chief Manager (Supplies) People’s Bank, Supplies Dept, No. 30/101, Kew Road, Colombo 02. Tele. Nos : 2439577/8, 2307326 Fax No. : 2439576 Web : www.peoplesbank.lk