Tourism service providers to get COVID jabs IRANGIKA RANGE Tourism service providers will be inoculated against COVID soon under a special programme. The COVID vaccine will be given to those engaged in tour- ism industry, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said. SRI LANKA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER I SINCE 1918 This is part of the plan drawn SATURDAY JULY 3, 2021 I 16 PAGES I VOLUME - 103 - NO 156 RS. 30.00 I REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER IN SRI LANKA I LATE CITY ★ up with hopes of resuming tour- ism activities which have been adversely affected by the pandem- ic, under ‘new normal’ conditions. Ranatunga said the revival of the tourism sector is one of priori- ties of the government. “In doing so, we propose this special vac- AMENDMENT TO CESS ON EXPORTS IN PARLIAMENT SOON cination programme, with the sup- The Ministerial Consultative cable to the export of goods was published by Trade Minis- the Trade Minister on Cess The Ministerial Consulta- Rohana Dissanayake, Nalin Fer- port of Health Authorities. We aim Committee on Trade agreed on under the Sri Lanka Export ter in an Extraordinary Gazette under Section 14 (1) of the Sri tive Committee met under the nando and Marjan Faleel were to safeguard industry stakeholders Thursday to present to Parlia- Development Act. Notification dated January 21, Lanka Export Development Act chairmanship Trade Minis- present at the meeting. This and work towards the revival of ment an Order containing an This Order under the Sri 2021.The Special Gazette Noti- No. 40 of 1972 will amend the ter Bandula Gunawardena in order is due to be presented in the tourism industry,”he added. amendment to the Cess appli- Lanka Export Development Act fication No. 2210/9 issued by Cess applicable to exports. Parliament on Thursday. MPs Parliament for approval. Schools with less than 100 to begin this month - Minister 2,000 centres with Internet facilities ASTRAZENECA VACCINES ASSURED FOR SECOND DOSE TV Channels dedicated to education MORE HOSPITALS TO GIVE VACCINES Education Minister Prof.G.L.Peiris said they hope to launch a practical programme BIGGER VACCINATION COVERAGE BY SEPTEMBER to reopen schools with less than 100 children in July as an initial step. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has September in a systematic manner fol- required amount of AstraZeneca vaccines The reopening would be instructed health officials to vaccinate lowing the receipt of vaccines that have for the second dose. Accordingly, the done in line with the recom- all people aged over 30 in the Western been ordered. President instructed the health officials mendations of the health sector, Province before July 31. The President gave these instructions to make proper arrangements to provide Minister Peiris told at a press So far, 60% of the people in this age at a meeting held at the Presidential Sec- the second dose of the AstraZeneca vac- briefing held at the Education Ministry in Battara- category in Colombo, 47% in Gampaha retariat yesterday morning (2) with the cine to all those who have received it as mulla yesterday (2). and 34% in Kalutara Districts have been Special Committee on COVID-19 Control the first dose. He further said that in order to facilitate the given the first dose of the vaccine. on the vaccination drive and future opera- Specialist Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, school openings, based on a discussion with Presi- President Rajapaksa emphasized the tions. member of the Special Committee on dent Gotabaya Rajapaksa, it was decided to imple- need to inoculate a higher percentage of The President expressed confidence COVID-19 Control, said the World Health ment a mandatory vaccination programme for all people in all parts of the country before that Sri Lanka would soon receive the Organization (WHO) TO PAGE 02 teachers. It is expected to open 2,962 schools in July com- prising 1,439 schools with less than 50 students, and 1,523 schools with between TO PAGE 02 Projects worth US$ 5 bn in construction sector this year Over 72% in elders’ LAHIRU FERNANDO The mag- nitude of the homes jabbed for foreign invest- ments in the construction COVID - State Minister sector is expect- ed to increase Seventy two per cent of the up to US$ five billion from US$ senior citizens living in elders’ three billion with the develop- homes have been vaccinated ment plans made under Prime by now, Primary Health Care, Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Epidemics and Covid Disease Urban Development and Hous- Control State Minister Dr. ing Ministry Secretary Sirinimal Sudharshani Fernandopulle Perera said the Urban Devel- said. opment and Housing Ministry “The government is focus- together with the Urban Devel- ing on giving priority to the opment, Coast Conservation, vaccination to the elderly pop- Waste Disposal and Community ulation in Sri Lanka to protect them from the high Cleanliness State Ministry has risk of COVID-19 virus,” Dr. Fernandopulle said. implemented a strategic plan to The State Minister added that the government is increase the number of foreign paying close attention to this issue. investments the country will “Accordingly, 72% of the senior citizens living receive within this year. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa virtually opened the Kapuduwa Interchange of the Southern Expressway and an Underpass in elders’ homes in Sri Lanka have been vaccinated This was revealed at a pro- opposite the Peradeniya Hospital at a ceremony held at Temple Trees yesterday. The total project cost is Rs. 572 million. The Prime by now, the Minister said, adding that the goal is gress review meeting held at the Minister also virtually inaugurated the construction on the Maritime Facilitation Centre at Lotus Road, Colombo.Speaker Mahinda to make it 100% as soon as possible. The Minister Urban Development and Hous- Yapa Abeywardena, Ministers Johnston Fernando, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Keheliya Rambukwella, Dullas Allahapperuma and stated this at a discussion held at the Health Min- State Ministers Nimal Lanza and Kanchana Wijesekera were present. Picture courtesy Prime Minister’s Media Division. ing Ministry recently. TO PAGE 02 istry TO PAGE 02 EU apprised of measures to meet commitments in reconciliation Another 1 mn Sinopharm Sri Lanka has apprised the rorism Act, No 48 of 1979, with the Cabinet within three months. European Union (EU) of progress the study of existing legislation, Toward this end, the Officials Com- in specific areas of reconciliation, past practice, and international mittee was appointed on June 24, COVID vaccines arrive as part of its regular engagement best practices.” with senior representation from and dialogue with the organiza- The EU was informed of the the Ministries of Justice, Defence, ISHARA MUDUGAMUWA tion, the Foreign Ministry said on decision made by the Cabinet of Foreign Affairs, Public Security; Another consignment of Thursday night. Ministers on June 21 to appoint and the Attorney General’s Depart- China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 “Accordingly, the Foreign Min- a Cabinet Sub-committee and an ment, the Legal Draftsman’s vaccine arrived in Sri Lanka istry on June 25, informed the EU Officials Committee to assist the Department, the Sri Lanka Police, Minister Ministry Secretary yesterday. of action underway to revisit pro- Cabinet Sub-Committee, to review and the Office of Chief of National Dinesh Prof. Jayanath Production, Supply and Regu- visions of the Prevention of Ter- the PTA, and to submit a report to Intelligence. TO PAGE 02 Gunewardena Colombage. lation of Pharmaceuticals State Minister Prof. Channa Jaya- sumana said a flight carrying one million doses of the Sin- opharm vaccine landed at the None can match Basil Rajapaksa’s skills - SLPP Engineers Bandaranaike International Air- port (BIA) in Katunayake early The unloading of vaccines at the BIA. MAHINDA ALUTHGEDARA People’s Front Basil Rajapaksa, SLPP said Basil Rajapaksa has a strong organi- morning yesterday. TO PAGE 02 Picture by T.K.G.Kapila,Katunayake Corr. There is no one in the Opposition who Engineering Front President and Cey- zational strength and pointed out that the can match the organizational strength of lon Electricity Board Chairman Engineer Opposition has no such ability like what the National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath stated yesterday. Herath Basil Rajapaksa posseses. TO PAGE 02 Payment made: Accused in UNP to recoup digitally under D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case released SJB Alliance will field Common DILSHAN THARAKA D.A.Rajapaksa Museum Thotawatte and Namal Former Land Reclama- and Memorial in Medamu- Balalle. five member committee tion and Development Cor- lana was built using public Deputy Solicitor General SHIROMI ABEYSINGHE Candidate for Prez in 2025 - MP poration, Chairman Prasad funds amounting to Rs.33.9 Dileepa Pieris appearing on UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has M.P.KUMARA, tion will be brought under Harshan de Silva and five million. behalf of the Attorney Gen- appointed a Five Member Committee to Kotadeniyawa group corr. a wide alliance named the others were released yes- The case was taken up eral informed court that expedite the reorganizing Samagi Jana Balawegaya Samagi Jana Bala Sandan- terday by the Colombo before the Trial-at-Bar he would not be conduct- process of the party. National Organizer MP Tissa aya. This is aimed to contest Permanent High Court- Bench comprising High ing evidence on the charges This committee comprises Attanayake yesterday said for the next Presidential elec- at-Bar from a case filed Court Judges Champa filed against the accused Party Deputy Leader Ruwan that all forces in the Opposi- tion in 2025 TO PAGE 02 over an allegation that the Janaki Rajaratne, Damith under TO PAGE 02 Wijewardene, TO PAGE 02 DN page 2 NEWS SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2021 New laws to end child labour - Minister FR filed seeking order to IRANGIKA RANGE consent.“Although most people gal. Especially, drug addicted par- these remarks at a special discus- the use of children as a source of prosecute those responsible Labour Minister Nimal Siripala think poverty is the cause of child ents send their children to work sion held at the Labour Ministry.