President Quite Confident About Debt Repayments
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www.themorning.lk Late City VOL 01 | NO 26 | Rs. 30.00 { MONDAY } MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 A blackout? CRICKET WEST INDIES’ ‘EMERGING MARKETS TV RIGHTS STILL NOT OUR PRIORITY’ SOLD FOR ASIA! A CHAT WITH SL PREFERS SWAP AUTHOR FACILITY WITH G.A. MATHUPEMA CHINA OVER IMF »SEE PAGE 16 »SEE PAGE 11 »SEE PAGE 7 »SEE PAGE 6 12 Lankan fishermen Continue with arrested in Myanmar President quite investigations into z Ambassador Prof. Nalin de Silva seeks diplomatic intervention confident about Sarah: Easter PCoI BY THE MORNING NEWS DESK Myanmar into chaos in early BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI Sarah is the wife of the Sri Lankan Ambassador to February. For three weeks since The Presidential Commission Katuwapitiya St. Sebastian Myanmar Prof. Nalin de Silva then, huge crowds have taken to the debt repayments of Inquiry (PCoI) probing Easter Church bomber Atchi has formally requested diplomatic streets across the country, calling for BY OUR POLITICAL EDITOR Sunday attacks of April 2019 has Mohomadu Mohomadu Hasthun. intervention to obtain the release of Aung San Suu Kyi’s release and the to settle its debt this year. recommended that investigations The report notes that Abdul 12 Sri Lankan fishermen detained restoration of civilian rule. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has expressed “It’s not a question of be continued into Pulasthini Cader Fathima Hadiya, the wife in Myanmar amidst the political Speaking to The Morning confidence in meeting Sri Lanka’s debt obligations in whether you have $ 1 or $ Mahendran, alias Sarah Jasmine, of National Thowheed Jama’ath upheaval in the country, The yesterday (28), Ministry of Foreign 2021, despite skepticism among economists, rating 25 to repay. What is needed is The Morning learnt. (NTJ) Leader Zahran Hashim, Morning learnt. Affairs Secretary Admiral Prof. agencies, and the Opposition. the ability to repay. We have The report notes that two had testified that following The arrests were made a couple of Jayanath Colombage said the “I am absolutely confident The Morning yesterday (28). given a very firm assurance witnesses had testified to the the attack in Saindumaradu weeks ago by the Marine Police in Foreign Ministry is working on that we can repay our debt this Speaking to us last week, that we can repay and the PCoI that Sarah, who was on 26 April 2019, she lost the Ayeyarwady region, Mandalay, negotiating the release of the year, which is approximately State Minister of Money amount of foreign currency initially believed to have died consciousness, and when she although the reasons for the arrests fishermen. However, he stated that $ 4.5 billion. I follow our and Capital Market and reserves that we have is in the explosion and shootout in regained consciousness, she were not clear. it is proving difficult as the military revenue streams and the State Enterprise Reforms sufficient to do that,” he said Saindumarudu on 26 April 2019, could faintly hear a female voice A power grab by the Myanmar government is in power and the inflows and outflows, so Ajith Nivard Cabraal in response to our question on was seen alive and that she had much like Sarah’s. military and the detention of the country is in turmoil. my confidence is based on too reiterated that the debt repayments. subsequently fled to India. Contd. on page 2 country’s civilian leadership plunged Contd. on page 2 statistics,” he said, speaking to Government is in a position Contd. on page 2 CROSSING CHOPPERS Wildlife officers unhappy with ‘Gama Samaga Pilisandara’ BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE in the clearing of forests by villagers R.A.S.S. Ranawakaarachchi said Many wildlife officers are in the relevant area, The Morning that after the President’s discussions unhappy with President Gotabaya learnt. with villagers, some farmers attempt Rajapaksa’s “Gama Samaga Speaking to The Morning yesterday to clear large parts of forest areas Pilisandara” (Discussion with (28 February), All Island Wildlife by misinterpreting his directives. Villagers) programme, as it results Guard Officers’ Union Chairman Contd. on page 2 All health measures in place for O/Ls today BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI Indian Air Force and Indian Navy teams arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (28) to participate in the 70th anniversary of Sri Lanka Air Force. Pictured is a preview of the aerobatic display by advanced light helicopter ‘Sarang’ The GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) PHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM examination is set to begin today (1) with all safety measures in place. The exam will go on till 11 March for 622,352 candidates who applied for the 2020 O/L examination, out of which PUCSL to consider CEB’s 423,746 are school applicants. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (28), Commissioner General of Examinations emergency power request Sanath Pujitha said that the Ministry of Education had allocated funds to provide BY PAMODI WARAVITA PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake when inquired as to the specifics of the necessary protective equipment and told The Morning yesterday (28). these terms. sanitising facilities to examination centres. The Public Utilities Commission of Rathnayake also said that the request However, when we contacted CEB “The Ministry of Education has allocated Sri Lanka (PUCSL) will be holding a for the purchase of emergency power Chairman Eng. Vijitha Herath, he Rs. 50,000,000 to provide necessary board meeting next week regarding by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said the CEB had not made such a sanitation equipment to all 4,513 centres the purchase of emergency power, was received last week. request from the PUCSL recently, in all nine provinces, and the centres The Morning learnt. He added that the purchase of but noted that the demand for power have already received this necessary “A board meeting is scheduled for emergency power would be on much increases by approximately 5% each equipment.” early next week to seek approval for more favourable terms this year than year. Contd. on page 2 the purchase of emergency power,” it was earlier, but refused to elaborate Contd. on page 2 COVID-19 CASES UNHRC ‘informal consultations’ ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES on Sri Lanka kicks off today 83,094 The United Nations Human The informal consultations Sri Lanka that took place last week, Rights Council (UNHRC) will begin on “promoting reconciliation, many western countries, including DEATHS RECOVERED “informal consultations” on Sri accountability, and human rights in the UK and Canada, criticised the 3,683 Lanka with the Permanent Missions Sri Lanka” are scheduled to continue human rights conditions in Sri Lanka, 471 78,947 of Canada, Germany, Malawi, until 10 March. whereas most Asian countries such as SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 10.00 P.M. ON 28 FEBRUARY 2021 Montenegro, North Macedonia, and At the interactive dialogue sessions Pakistan supported Sri Lanka. the UK today (1). on the High Commissioner’s report on Contd. on page 2 42 www.themorning.lk { NEWS } Monday, March 1, 2021 Man selling heroin to factory President wants workers arrested A man who has allegedly produced before the Maligakanda provided heroin to the labourers Magistrate today (1). of a factory in Wellampitiya has Meanwhile, a 24-year-old suspect teacher vacancies been arrested by the Grandpass was arrested from Rukmalgama Police yesterday (28). along with 16 kg of cannabis and Police found 40 g of heroin from 54 g of ICE. The suspect would be the possession of the suspect who produced before the Homagama is being interrogated and is to be Magistrate. Woman arrested for using filled immediately President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ‘witchcraft’ on 9-year-old has instructed the respective authorities to immediately call z Child dies afterwards for applications to fill the long- standing vacancies for maths, A woman has been arrested by had treated the victim with an oil science, English, and computer the Biyagama Police on charges and then had caned her in order technology teachers in schools. of using “witchcraft” on a nine- to get rid of “evil forces” that had The President said that new year-old girl who died afterwards, possessed her. recruitments will be made for existing Police Media Spokesman DIG The girl had become vacancies in priority subjects on the basis Ajith Rohana said yesterday (28). unconscious after the beating of eight years of compulsory service He said the mother of the girl, and was pronounced dead on in the same school to which the initial who is from Meegahawatta, had admission to the Biyagama appointments were made. taken her to a treatment centre Hospital. The President expressed these views operated by the suspect after the The postmortem examination during the 12th “Discussion with girl fell ill last night. The woman is to be conducted. Villagers” programme on Saturday (27) at the Kivulekadawala School premises in the Kivulekadawala Grama Niladhari Division, Gomarankadawala Divisional Police jeep collides Secretariat in the Trincomalee district. The President addressing the villagers during the ‘Discussion with Villagers’ programme The President, on his way to Kivulekadawala College to participate not imposed any conditions regarding library facilities in all the schools in the to each Pirivenas in the Trincomalee with three-wheeler in the Discussion with Villagers the matter. areas where he attends for the Discussion District and to develop playgrounds and programme, inquired the people gathered Prior to the commencement of the with Villagers programme, the President’s infrastructure facilities for students of z on roadside about the issues they face Discussion with Villagers session, Media Division said. The President all Piriven colleges in the island. Two killed and three injured in the area while casually engaging in President declared the “Smart Classroom” presented sets of books to schools The President instructed the officials Two persons were killed and identified as the 48-year-old driver conversation with them.