Responsibility for fuel price hike We Thoroughly TUESDAY 15 june 2021 Condemn E-PAPER Blaming People from WP who received Jab in Galle Udaya Chief Magistrate Eight SLPP Gen Secy constituent has pushed Orders List be parties of Govt towards an Govt issue unnecessary Given to Police statement crisis Galle Chief Magistrate Harshana Health Service and the Controller of Kekunawela yesterday ordered the the Unawatuna Drug Store to hand Those affected by the Director of the Southern Province over to the Galle Crimes Unit a Health Service and the Controller of complete report containing the precise the Unawatuna Drug Store to submit amount of vaccines that had been fuel price hike must be to the Galle Division Crimes Unit, a provided to the drug Store, the amount detailed list of names, of those from the of vaccines that had remained as given concessions Western Province (WP), who had been excess as well as the CCTV camera given the AstraZeneca vaccine on 5 footage of the incident. BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK and 7 June. He also ordered the relevant The Magistrate also ordered the telecommunication firms to submit a Director of the Southern Province complete report of telephone ... Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Justice Obeysekera X-Press Pearl fire US$ 40M sought as sworn in as SC Judge interim compensation BY FAADHILA Court was previously former High Court BY FAADHILA THASSIM THASSIM approved by the Judge, Shashi Mahendra Parliament Council upon was sworn in as a Court The Attorney General has said President of the Court a proposal made by of Appeal Judge. These an interim compensation of US$ of Appeal, Justice Arjuna President Rajapaksa to appointments were also 40 million has been sought from Obeysekera was sworn in fill in the position that approved by the the MV X-Press Pearl operator for as a Supreme Court fell vacant following the Parliament Council. the costs and losses incurred from Judge before President retirement of Supreme The decisions were X-Press Pearl 20 May to 3 June, State Minister, Gotabaya Rajapaksa at Court Justice Sisira de taken at the Parliament Kanchana Wijesekera said. the Presidential Abrew. Council meeting held on He added the compensation Secretariat yesterday Meanwhile, Court of 8 June at Parliament skipper granted bail claimed is to cover the expenses (14). Appeal Judge Priyantha under the patronage of incurred to control the fire that The appointment of Fernando was sworn in Speaker of Parliament BY HANSI NANAYAKKARA broke out in the ship, the loss of Justice Obeysekera as a as the new President of Mahinda Yapa daily income faced by fishermen, Judge of the Supreme the Court of Appeal and Abeywardena. Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta the cost for damages caused to fishing gear, cost incurred yesterday (14) released on bail, in a personal bond of Rs to clear the shores and the cost incurred to carry out 2 million, the Captain of the fire-ravaged X-Press Pearl investigations between 20 May to 3 June. cargo ship, who was arrested by the CID and produced in He added that while this is only an interim Court. compensation, further losses and costs incurred will be Judge Thotawatta also ordered the passport of the assessed for future claims. This statement was made Captain to be impounded and handed over to the following a discussion, pertaining to the legal steps to be custody of the Court. adopted in claiming compensation for the MV X-Press The accused Captain, a Russian national, has been Pearl fire, held yesterday (14) at the Ministry of Justice charged with dereliction of duty. under the patronage of Minister of Justice Ali Sabry. DSG Madawa Tennakoon represented the prosecution The Minister stated an alternative procedure has been on behalf of the AG while Sarath Jayamanna PC adopted for external parties to inform of the damages appeared for the accused. Further proceedings of the caused by way of the fire and that a special unit will be trial were then deferred to 1 July. The case filed in this established for this purpose. regard at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court is due to He added that steps have also been taken to seek be called today. (Pic by Sajeeva Chinthaka) assistance of international experts in relation to claiming compensation and that thereby three specialists from the United Nations are due to arrive in the country with the due course. Fuel Price hike Sajith demands Govt reverse decision Sale of liquor online BY NABIYA VAFFOOR Supermarkets not given Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has demanded Rs 7,500 for health workers the Government to reverse its decision to increase fuel permission – Excise Dept prices. Y AADHILA HASSIM Issuing a special statement, Premadasa alleged the B F T in COVID-19 treatment Government members are trying to save themselves saying the increase in fuel prices was not a collective The Excise Department states that misinformation has BY W. K. PRASAD MANJU It is reported further that the decision and the subject minister is the only one who been circulated that permission has been granted to Government has taken this decision to should be held responsible for it. Supermarkets to sell liquor through their online delivery A decision was taken at the Cabinet appreciate the services rendered by The Government must sort out its internal issues and services. It added the department has not granted such meeting held yesterday (14) under the everyone in the health sector and to reverse the decision to increase the fuel price. They permission. patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda encourage them to continue to do so. should stop being jokers, he stressed. Deputy Commissioner of Excise and Spokesman Kapila Rajapaksa to pay a special monthly In addition, it was decided to raise the He also criticised the proposal to import luxury Kumarasinghe told Ceylon Today although several allowance of Rs 7,500 to everyone in the retirement age of nurses in service in vehicles for MPs, saying that his party would never requests have been made for permission to sell liquor health sector directly connected to State hospitals to 63. The previous age approve using public funds to import luxury vehicles through online delivery services, following the decision COVID-19 prevention activities. specified for retirement of nursing staff when the country is struggling with a pandemic. taken by the Department to seal all liquor stores, no All persons in the health sector who was 60 years. "The SJB condemns the proposal by the Government policy decision has been arrived at to grant permission. were at risk when treating COVID-19 Minister of Health Pavithra to provide MPs with vehicles at the taxpayers’ expense. He added that Supermarkets will not be permitted to patients while attempting to bring the Wanniarachchi presented the Cabinet We urge the Government to ensure that public funds are sell liquor through their online delivery services while pandemic under control are due to be papers for both proposals. utilised to provide vaccines for all Sri Lankans. Public liquor sale outlets will remain sealed until travel paid Rs 7,500 monthly for three The Cabinet meeting was held last funds should be invested in promoting a prosperous and restrictions are lifted. Liquor sales outlets island wide months. evening at the Presidential Secretariat. developed country," added Premadasa. were sealed from 1 June. A2 TUESDAY 15 JUNE 2021 NEWS If fully vaccinated, Navy, Coastguard nab KG shows negative PCR test… Home-quarantine smugglers off Point Pedro for Dual citizens, Sri Lanka Navy personnel yesterday (14), leading to the suspects. Pedro and Achchuveli, aged seized 237.5 kg of Kerala interception of a suspicious The operation led to the between 28 and 29 years. repatriates – Dr. Herath cannabis (KG), worth over Rs. dinghy heading towards the seizure of about 237.5 kg of The suspects, drugs and 71 million along with three shore loaded with two sacks of drugs. It is suspected that the dinghy will be handed over to BY DILANTHI that overseas returnees suspects and a dinghy in a KG. contraband was transported the Kankesanthurai Police for JAYAMANNE will be permitted to mingle special operation conducted in After questioning the to the dinghy at the onward legal action. The Navy with society only after a the seas north of Point Pedro. suspects, the Navy and international maritime and Coastguard are currently A home-quarantine second PCR test The operation was carried Coastguard swept the sea area boundary line. conducting additional period would be permitted conducted after the out by the Northern Naval and found six more sacks of KG The suspects have been searches. for repatriates and dual quarantine period shows a Command in the early hours thrown overboard by the identified as residents of Point (NV) citizens returning to Sri negative result. Lanka who have been fully The Deputy Director vaccinated and indicate a General said that the negative PCR test report, Health Ministry would Deputy Director General have to include Pakistani Mangoes Mercantile Investments assists (Disaster Management administering the gifted to diplomats? and Response), Dr. coronavirus vaccine to Hemantha Herath said. children into the National Army’s battle against COVID Responding to questions immunisation programme Foreign Affairs Ministry during a Media briefing only after assessing all the held in Colombo, Dr. data from ongoing rejects claims Herath said that measures research. would be taken to “There is ongoing In response to queries from the media regarding quarantine repatriates in research as to which age the gifting of Pakistani mangoes to foreign a hotel where an group the vaccine should dignitaries, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, Spokesperson on-arrival PCR test will be be given to, about its for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that no such conducted.