‘X-Press Pearl’ fiasco Cardinal to demand Thursday compensation on 3 JUNE 2021 fishermen’s behalf By Sawani Seshadi

Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, said he would be spearheading the struggle E-Paper to institute legal action against the local agents of the MV X-Press Pearl container ship, which caught fire recently, preventing fishermen from earning their livelihoods. He also urged all fishermen to join hands with him to demand compensation from the local agents, as the fire had prevented fishermen from going out to sea. The Cardinal said he cannot allow lies and fabrications to be circulated in the country. He said what the country needs is not a leader that panders to Western interests while being enmeshed in foreign conspiracies, but a transparent leader that looks after the interests of the people of Travel X-Press Pearl this country. The Cardinal charged that the entire vaccination programme had also been politicised by the Government and it has to approach other countries sinks after with a begging bowl, being unable to purchase even the basic vaccines to curb the spread of the virus. The Cardinal urged the Government not to get into Restrictions the habit of selling State assets to fill its barren 11-day firefight coffers, but to use the resources for the good of the people and the Nation. He also implored the Government to swiftly Massive oil spill could institute legal action against the perpetrators of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks without devastate coasts dillydallying. Extended The Cardinal said the new AG has a responsibility to bring those behind the Easter carnage to book Environmental report will and advised the Government to abstain from putting on Media shows to dupe the masses. take months – MEPA Till 14 June By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan By Dilanthi Jayamanne requests for a 21-day uninterrupted The Singapore-flagged X-Press Pearl, which caught fire on 20 For vehicles entering Colombo restriction cycle to control virus May, sank yesterday (2) 9.5km off Colombo Harbour, raising Countrywide travel restrictions, spread. concerns not only of an imminent massive oil spill that could imposed due to COVID-19 pandemic, The islandwide travel restriction was devastate the ocean, marine life and the coastal environment, but Police adopt have been further extended till 4:00 imposed from 21 May to 28 May, with also whether it could block other ships entering the Port of a.m. on 14 June 2021, Head of the a 17-hour relaxation on 25 May. Colombo as the vessel had sunk in the Port’s anchorage. National Operation Centre for However, this period has been twice In an official statement, the ship’s operators, X-Press Feeders, sticker system Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak extended since. expressed regret that efforts to move the ship to deep water failed (NOCPCO), General Shavendra Silva The daily COVID-19 detections have despite salvors successfully boarding the vessel and attaching a By Treshan Fernando said. continued to top 2,000 within the past tow line. The ship’s aft touched the sea floor at a depth of 21 He noted the decision had been number of weeks while the COVID-19 metres yesterday. A special sticker system was introduced yesterday taken following discussions, after deaths toll has fluctuated between 20 The ship sank as the Government was preparing to sue X-Press (2), for vehicles entering Colombo, to prevent vehicles health experts had made repeated and 40 within the same period. Feeders of criminal charges under Sri Lanka’s Marine Pollution from having to undergo multiple inspections Prevention Act of 2008, and civil claims made subsequently as a conducted by Police. penalty for the pollution caused. Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said once The marine experts including the Sri Lankan Navy had tried to Police have inspected a vehicle and confirmed the tow the burnt ship towards deep sea yesterday afternoon in a bid validity of the documents produced by the travellers, to avoid a possible oil slick but aborted the plan as the ship began they will paste a sticker on the vehicle. to sink around 3 pm. The sticker will be valid only for a single day, DIG Despite marine experts trying tirelessly to douse the fire for 11 Rohana noted. This method would ensure that once a consecutive days, the ship sank after water gathered in the aft. vehicle is inspected by Police, it need not be inspected The 186-metre-long cargo ship sank to a depth of 21m off again. Colombo Harbour. According to reports, the ship stuck hitting DIG Rohana said this method is being implemented the bottom of the anchorage. by Police as complaints had been received by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman (SLPA) Gen. Daya public that they were getting delayed as they were Ratnayake claimed that the ship could not be brought under stopped by Police on numerous occasions. control due to cyclonic weather for 39 hours between 24-25 May The stickers would be pasted at entry points to and even the cranes at the Jaya Container Terminal were unable Colombo, at places such as Peliyagoda, Wattala, to operate. “The terminal that could handle 20,000 TEUs could Mount Lavinia, Nugegoda, Wellampitiya. handle only 200 TEUs during that time.” DIG Rohana added that those who provide false However, SLPA says that the disaster at the anchorage will not details will not obtain this sticker and he requested hinder other cargo ships from entering the port. the public to lend their support and cooperate with As of 3 pm yesterday, the foreword area of the vessel remained Police in order to ensure this method is successful. afloat with smoke coming out of cargo holds No 1 and 2. The Govt failed to ensure ship vessel had 322 tonnes of fuel on board when it sank. The X-Press Pearl sailed to the Port of Colombo from Port Hazira, India on the night of 19 May and was expected to enter complied with Int’l laws – JVP CICT terminal on 24 May but caught fire at the Colombo By Treshan Fernando these ships follow the law, he asserted. anchorage. Additionally, the Government has still The vessel carried a total of 1,486 shipping containers among Even if the ill-fated MV X-Press Pearl not revealed the exact contents of the which some contained dangerous cargo such as solid caustic did not reveal the goods it was carrying ship to the public, even after several soda, 25 tonnes of nitric acid, sodium methoxide solution, before reaching Sri Lankan waters, the days, charged Vijitha Herath. cosmetics, methanol, vinyl acetate inhabited and micro plastic responsibility still lies with the Substances such as Nitric acid and pebbles. The ship’s local agent is Sea Consortium Lanka Pvt Ltd. Government for failing to ensure that Mercury can have drastic effects on The ship’s seaworthiness has been questioned as it left the the ship complies with international marine life, claimed Herath. He said Indian port sailing with a chemical leak that was not attended to. laws, claimed JVP Propaganda that when importing fish, many It was reported the ship captain had promptly informed Qatari Secretary Vijitha Herath. European countries inspect the level of and Indian ports but they failed to allow the ship to unload the Expressing his views at a press mercury in the fish, as it is a poisonous cargo in question. conference yesterday (2), he stated the substance. Therefore, he worried that The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) said they ship has caused significant damage to this may cause issues when it comes to are ready to combat the oil leak as of now but don’t know where marine life and caused great distress to exporting Sri Lankan fish. the damage is. “MEPA, SLPA and Mercantile Shipping are fishermen in the island. Herath also said that fishermen in working on assessing the damage caused to the environment but Now, the Government is attempting Negombo are finding it difficult to sell the report would take several months as it’s not an easy task,” a Attending party at five-star hotel to move the ship further out to sea and their fish as people are afraid it may MEPA official told Ceylon Today. it is too late, Herath said and argued contain poisonous substances. He Expert on International Law, Law of the Sea, and Maritime Law that the ship should have been stopped urged the Government to conduct a Dr. Dan Malika Gunasekera said that towing the badly damaged, Thirteen from entering Sri Lankan waters. scientific analysis of the fish and show delicate ship was a colossal mistake and it should have been He noted there are certain the public the truth regarding the carried out after pumping out the massive amounts of oil from international rules that state a ship safety of the fish. the charred ship. XPress Feeders also confirmed that salvors enlarged on bail entering a zone must declare its The Government’s solution to this reported no visible flames aboard the vessel, though smoke was By Hansi Nanayakkara contents and staff details. If a similar entire problem is to provide Rs 5,000 to still seen coming out of the cargo sporadically before the ship disaster occurs in the future, the fisherman affected by the fire. However, sank. Thirteen individuals who were arrested for Government can use the same excuse the impacts of this can have long An inspection team was able to board the vessel on the attending the party hosted by Chandimal then as well, Herath pointed out. lasting consequences for the careers of afternoon of 1 June, and reported the engine room flooded and Jayasinghe and Piumi Hansamali at a five-star hotel If the Government knowingly let this the fisherman, Herath said. there were concerns over the amount of water in the hull and its in Colombo recently, were enlarged on bail yesterday ship in, despite it being rejected by Those working in the entire industry, effect on the ship’s stability. Efforts to make a connection for (2). other foreign ports, then it is a serious such as those who transport and trade towing failed after several attempts due to the tug’s movement The suspects, 11 males and 2 females, were mistake, Herath charged. The concept fish, are also affected, Herath pointed caused by the swell. The operation was aborted for safety produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate of national security has been let go by out. He urged the Government to reasons. Bandara Nelumdeniya. the Government, he went on to say. provide a fair compensation to all When the case was taken up, the Fort Police had The relevant ministers had a affected by this disaster and to invest made an appeal to direct the suspects to quarantine responsibility to find out information in resources to prevent such disasters through the prison. regarding any ships that enter Sri in the future, without having to rely on However, the Additional Magistrate said such an Lankan waters and to ensure that foreign countries. order has to be issued by either a Public Health COVID-19 quack doctor, Inspector or the Director General of Health Services and ordered to release them on personal bail of assistant arrested Rs 100,000 each. Attorneys Manju Sri, Thisara Chamara and Amila After decision to seal liquor stores By Jayasinghe - Colombo Indika represented the accused. The Fort Police Station had conducted investigations into an alleged Piliyandala Police said they had arrested a quack doctor and incident concerning a birthday party organised at a Price of arrack skyrockets his assistant, after they had gone to a house in Kahapola to treat five-star hotel in the Galle Face area on 30 May By Upatissa Perera the black market in Gampaha, a COVID-19 patient. night. After the decision taken by the Colombo and Maharagama in the Police seized the vehicle used by the suspects, which had a On 31 May, the Fort Police arrested Jayasinghe Excise Department to seal all liquor past few days. medical badge on it. A few medical instruments were also and Hansamali, who were produced before the Fort outlets in the country in view of the According to Excise Department recovered. Police said following complaints received by the Magistrate and released on bail. ongoing travel restrictions, a bottle sources, liquor had been sold at Kesbewa Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Samanthika Wijesundera, Later, six persons were arrested by Fort Police on of arrack, which had been sold at Rs exorbitant prices on the sly, in the regarding a group claiming to cure COVID-19, information was 1 June for attending the party. In addition, seven 1,600, had been sold at prices wake of the travel restrictions, and passed on to the Police, leading to the arrests. more individuals were taken into custody earlier ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 in before liquor stores were sealed. Police investigations had shown that the quack doctor had yesterday. charged between Rs 11,000 and Rs 13,000 for treatment. A2 THURSDAY 3 JUNE 2021 NEWS

Patient influx straining Kosgma Divisional Hosptial Pregnant Mothers COVID-19 operations shifted with Complications to Homagama to Get Jab – FHB By Dilanthi Jayamanne the COVID-19 jab to pregnant The Director of the FHB said Outbreak (NOCPCO), General and Dilini Madushanki women as well, owing to their the infrastructure of all COVID- Shavendra Silva, said when vulnerability. There have been 19 treatment hospitals in the administering the Sinopharm Pregnant mothers with seven deaths so far within a country was being upgraded to vaccine in 12 districts from 8 complications and in life- span of one month, starting from cater to pregnant mothers who June, authorities would threatening situations will be 6 May 2021. She said, however, contract coronavirus. Under prioritise pregnant women, By Sandeep the medical staff and prioritised when administering that the FHB was in the process such circumstances, a pregnant those above 60 years of age, Tissaaratchy classified as either a the COVID-19 vaccine, Director of drafting the circulars in this mother with the viral infection in and public sector employees. symptomatic or high-risk of the Family Health Bureau connection. Jaffna or Badulla will not have to He said inoculation against After inspecting the individuals. Patients who (FHB), Dr. Chithramalee de Silva “We are currently unable to travel all the way to Colombo for COVID-19 would take place in Kosgama Divisional showed no symptoms said. administer the vaccine to all treatment, but could go to the Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Kegalle, Hospital yesterday (2), were then transferred to Speaking to the Media at the pregnant mothers due to the facility closer to home, she Trincomalee, Hambantota, the State Minister of intermediate centres. Health Promotion Bureau (HPB), shortage of the COVID-19 jab. said. Ampara, Badulla, Batticaloa, Primary Health Care, Fernandopulle focused Dr. Silva said the Steering Only the pregnant mothers with Head of the National Monaragala, Anuradhapura, Epidemics and COVID- on the medical staff’s Committee on Vaccination (SCV) life-threatening complications Operations Centre for Puttalam and Polonnaruwa 19 Disease Control, Dr. safety and their risk of had taken the decision to give would be inoculated initially.” Prevention of COVID-19 Districts from 8 June 2021. Sudarshani contracting the virus Fernandopulle decided to from patients, when she relocate COVID-19 spoke with the Hospital’s operations to the chief medical officer. Homagama Hospital. The Minister decided to The Kosgama hospital, relocate operations to the which was the primary better equipped SL to get 2M Sinopharm doses interchange for COVID- Homagama Hospital after 19 patients in Colombo, observing the hard work By Dilanthi Jayamanne produce the Sinovac jab locally. faced many challenges put in by the Kosgama “The public can expect Sinovac to – Prof. Jayasumana due to the increasing hospital’s doctors and China will send more vaccines be added to the list of coronavirus number of patients medical staff. to Sri Lanka within the next six jabs in the coming months.” The vaccine for Sri Lanka as well. institutions which had claimed testing positive for the Dr. Fernandopulle days, State Minister of Production, State Minister said that Sri Lanka He stressed that all institutions that they would obtain the virus. extended her deepest Supply and Regulation of also entered into agreement with manufacturing the coronavirus AstraZeneca vaccine from private Patients from different appreciation for their Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa the Russian Gamaleya Research vaccine have stated that they sector institutions in Dubai, Abu parts of the Colombo tireless efforts and Jayasumana said. Institute (GRI) to purchase 14 would only deal with an appointed Dhabi, France, Canada etc. District were brought to commitment in the fight Addressing the Media at the million doses of the Sputnik V jab. State institution to provide their “But having discussed with the the hospital, assessed by against COVID-19. Government Information “SPC will be informed as to when vaccines. “There would be no Cabinet, we issued stipulations Department, Prof. Jayasumana it would receive the first batch of dealings with the private sector,” that the mother company said that manufacturers of the the Sputnik V vaccines and how he said. producing the vaccine should Sinopharm vaccine confirmed much would be dispatched by Fielding questions regarding the attest for its originality, that 1 million doses will be today (3). The country received Oxford Astra-Zeneca maintenance of its cold chain after U.S.-Lanka dispatched on 6 June and another 15,000 doses as a pilot COVISHIELD vaccine he said that purchase and vaccine quality.” million on 9 June. The country consignment while another that the country had taken a He said that although a few relations report will receive a total of 2 million 50,000 doses of the jab reached decision to stop administering the private sector organisations had doses of Sinopharm vaccine Sri Lanka last week,” he said. jab when India’s situation became come forward to act as go-between within six days this month. The SPC has also entered into critical and retained a certain and had continued with handed to President He said, that the consignment agreement with Pfizer–BioNTech. amount for the second dose. “We negotiations, most others had Pathfinder Foundation thereby the challenges, was part of the 13 million doses They have pledged around five had a total of 1,264,000 doses in dropped out following the and Asia Society Policy opportunities and that Sri Lanka had purchased million doses of the jab, out of hand and used a few over stipulations. Some of them had Institute handed over the priorities that may through the State which the country would receive 925,000.” He said efforts to obtain nothing to do with the report on Sri Lanka-U.S. impact the U.S. – Sri Pharmaceuticals Corporation 300,000 to 400,000 doses by July the vaccine from other countries pharmaceutical industry but were Bilateral Relations to Lanka bilateral (SPC). The country has already 2021. He said that Pfizer – that produced it such as the UK involved in businesses related to President Gotabaya relationship. received 1.1 million doses of BioNTech had pledged to provide and South Korea had been to no plywood, shipping, transport Rajapaksa at the The discussions Sinopharm. There were also five million doses before the end of avail. Also there were negotiations services etc. Presidential Secretariat broadly focused on discussions to obtain the second the year. with countries that had ordered The Government insisted that yesterday (2). economic relations Chinese COVID-19 vaccine He said that the preliminary vaccines three times more than the vaccines price too could not be The Pathfinder covering trade, Sinovac as well. There have been round of discussions had been they required. increased as there were price Foundation in investment, science and discussions in this regard. Also completed to obtain the Johnson Prof. Jayasumana said that regulations for purchasing collaboration with the technology cooperation; Sri Lanka was scheduled to and Johnson single dose COVID there had been local private sector vaccines. Washington-based Asia strategic and security Society Policy Institute cooperation; and political held a virtual meeting in and common values. January, 2021 to pursue The report handed over improved bilateral to Rajapaksa by the relations between the Chairman of the U.S. and Sri Lanka. foundation, Bernard Post offices to The objective of the Goonathilaka consists of COVID pushes over initiative was to provide the vital areas of the the U.S. administration relationship between the with a better countries with reopen today 500,000 into poverty understanding of the recommendations to ground situation further develop bilateral Plans have been made to payments, public aid and for prevailing in Sri Lanka relations. (FT) reopen post offices from the distribution of – Finance Ministry today (3) to carry out pharmaceutical products. essential services, Ariyaratne said that those Postmaster General Ranjith visiting post offices can use Annual Report Ariyaratne said yesterday (2) payment cards and IDs as BY Paneetha Ameresekere tourist arrivals during the COVID- Ban on fishing from Post offices Island wide passes during the travel 19 pandemic. will reopen for elders' restrictions. (ST) It is estimated that over 500,000 Further, marine fish production Panadura to Negombo people have been pushed into significantly declined by 21.3 per poverty as a result of the COVID-19 cent to 326,930 mt which accounted By Faadhila and Aquatic Resources pandemic; recording an increase in for 76 per cent of total fish Thassim also suspended vessels the USD 3.20 poverty rate from 9.2 production in 2020, compared to entering from the per cent in 2019 to 11.7 per cent in 415,490 mt recorded in 2019 led by The Department of Negombo lagoon. Transport contracts 2020, the Finance Ministry’s 2020 the COVID-19 Pandemic. Fisheries and Aquatic Wijesekera added that Annual Report said. Additionally, the Marine Fishing Resources has imposed a preventive measures are Further, production of Thriposha and Marine Aquaculture sub sector ban on fishing activities being taken to protect the 6.7% in 2020 due declined by 51 per cent in 2020 contracted by 21.7 per cent in 2020, from Panadura to lagoon and the compared to 2019 due to supply compared to the contraction of 5.5 Kochchikade and surrounding areas and to chain issues including shortage of per cent in 2019. Negombo, with contain the damage from to COVID maize and soya beans; the main Meanwhile, the construction immediate effect, until any debris from the By Paneetha to 3,906 million km, ingredients in Thriposha industry contracted by 13.2 per cent further notice. vessel or in the case of an Ameresekere respectively in 2020, it said. production. in 2020, compared to a 4.0 per cent State Minister of oil leak. “Vessels fishing Additionally, Additionally, potato production growth in 2019 owing to the closure Ornamental Fish, Inland in and around the area The transport subsector, accommodation, food and fell by 35.9 per cent to 65,085 mt in of construction sites during the Fish and Prawn Farming, and high seas are also for the first time after 10 beverage service activities 2020 from 101,600 mt in 2019, egg lockdown and curfew periods and Fisheries Harbour informed of possible years contracted last year, sub-sector contracted production declined by 10.3 per delays associated with raw material Development, Multi Day debris and have thereby shrinking by 6.7 per cent in significantly by 39.4 per cent cent to 1,869.7 million in 2020, importation arising from COVID-19 Fishing and Fish asked to be vigilant” he 2020, compared to a 1.4 per in 2020 compared to a 4.6 compared to 2,084.2 million eggs in induced shocks. Exports, Kanchana added. cent growth in 2019, Finance per cent contraction in 2019. 2019, the Ministry said. Total cement supply and imports Wijesekera stated this Meanwhile, Media Ministry’s 2020 Annual This was exclusively due to Also, the number of cattle, swine, of building materials declined by measure was adopted as Secretary of the Ministry, Report said. the worldwide travel poultry and goats slaughtered in 11.5 per cent and 31.4 per cent, the salvage company Nuwan Gammanpila This contraction was led by restrictions imposed by many 2020 fell by 54.5 per cent, 4.7 per respectively in 2020 and real estate involved in the MV stated that a ‘No Fishing the decline in air transport countries as a response to cent, 3.5 per cent and 11.0 per cent, activities contracted by 1.2 per cent X-Press Pearl has Zone’ was declared from (35 per cent), water transport the COVID-19 Pandemic respectively, due to lower demand in 2020, compared to a 2.4 per cent indicated that the vessel Panadura to Ma Oya on (19 per cent) and land together with domestic travel for meat with the cessation of growth reported in 2019. is sinking. The 31 May in view of the MV transport (six per cent) owing restrictions. Department of Fisheries X-Press Pearl fire. to international and local Tourist arrivals declined by mobility restrictions and the 73.5 per cent to 507,704 drop in tourist arrivals due to persons in 2020 compared to the COVID-19 pandemic, the arrivals of 1,913,702 persons report said. in 2019, resulting in the Considering air transport, substantial drop in earnings Gammanpila, Norway Ambassador passenger km flown by from tourism to USD 682 SriLankan Airlines million in 2020 from USD discuss ‘Green Hydrogen’ significantly fell by 76.5 per 3,607 million in 2019. This cent to 3,641 million km in was reflected in the decline in Minister of Energy Udaya Hydrogen' in Sri Lanka from Owitigama, Director General 2020 due to international room occupancy at graded Gammanpila and Norwegian renewable energy sources, of the Petroleum Resources travel restrictions. Passenger hotels registered with the Sri Ambassador to Sri Lanka which are expected to Development Secretariat and km operated by Sri Lanka Lanka Tourism Development Traine Gernley Eskedal met become the world's top eco- Saliya Wickramasuriya, Transport Board and Sri Authority (SLTDA) falling to a virtually recently. friendly energy sources in Advisor to the Petroleum Lanka Railways also declined low 15 per cent occupancy The focus of the discussion the future. Resources Development by 32.2 per cent to 9,725 rate in 2020, from to 57.1 per was on the commencement of The discussion was also Secretariat. million km and 46.6 per cent cent in 2019. a project to produce 'Green attended by Surath (TR) NEWS THURSDAY 3 JUNE 2021 A3

Gampaha District Cabinet Earlier said Vaccine General Hospital ICU gets… Vital Medical Equipment Not Necessary – Rajakaruna donation from CDB Govt has abandoned the public Ventilators, monitors and equipment worth Rs 10 million to combat Covid-19 By Nabiya Vaffoor for vaccines at that time and they would just a single dose, when the order them when they feel that there is an manufacturers of Sputnik V vaccine have SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna said the actual need for them. Now we are going said that the second dose of the vaccine is Government has abandoned the public through a crisis where we cannot get the necessary. when they are desperately requesting for vaccine doses on time,” he stressed. The same thing happened with the the COVID-19 vaccine. He further claimed that the Government AstraZeneca vaccine, where more than “We were scornfully looked down upon is trying to get away from their 600,000 people are still waiting for the by the Cabinet of Ministers when we responsibilities of providing the vaccines second dose, added Rajakaruna. earlier urged the Government to order the by forcefully taking signatures from the He expressed these views, yesterday (2) vaccine. They told that there was no need public that they are okay with receiving at a media briefing.

SLT-MOBITEL donates ICU beds Citizens Development Last year CDB donated Rs Business Finance PLC 10 Mn towards developing a lauded as one of the Top Ten quarantine centre in view of Corporate Citizens for being prepared for a to Kandy General Hospital Sustainability in Sri Lanka, possible spike in COVID has come forward to donate cases in Sri Lanka. The SLT-MOBITEL, the National ICT, Rs 10 million worth medical funds for the centre were Telecommunications and Mobile Services equipment urgently presented to Army Provider, donated fully equipped Intensive required by the Gampaha Commander General Care Unit (ICU) Beds to the Kandy General District General Hospital Shavendra Silva, the Head Hospital recently, as part of its continuous including ventilators and of the National Operation efforts to help Sri Lanka combat the global monitors for its Intensive Centre for Prevention of pandemic. Care Unit, in addition to Covid 19 Outbreak The endeavour was facilitated in other vital equipment. (NOCPCO). collaboration with the Kandy City Centre With a triple bottom line Since the outset of the Management and the donation included approach integrated into its pandemic, CDB has ICU beds, personal protective gear (PPE) business strategy, CDB is continued to look into the and other medical equipment to help very aware of its social welfare of the community support healthcare workers to treat responsibility as a leading understanding that the patients with cutting-edge medical corporate, towards the impact of the crisis is not solutions. wellbeing of the Nation. The limited to businesses alone. Mobitel has previously donated medical Company immediately A National campaign on facilities to both the private and public responded to the urgent safety awareness was health sectors, and is committed to request made by Dr carried out by the Company, empowering healthcare personnel with Priyantha Illeperuma, and monetary support was superior digital connectivity solutions to Director of District General extended to the National carry out their duties in a safe and hassle Hospital Gampaha for effort to combat the COVID- free manner. medical equipment for the 19 pandemic. In addition to In addition, Mobitel introduced the ICU. The company also this, every branch set out to ‘Daana Paaramitha’ campaign in lieu of donated, syringe pumps, find deserving families from Vesak to help communities that were SLT-MOBITEL officials handing over the newly equipped ICU Bed to Kandy General Hospital, infusion pumps, Multipara their respective area to accompanied by Thusitha Wijesena, Chairman of Kandy City Centre affected due to COVID 19. Both Pre-Paid monitors, and Modified provide them with essential and Post-Paid customers can simply donate and in return, SLT-MOBITEL will match all to distribute dry rations, medical supplies Scuba diving masks to aid household items in the time via SMS by simply typing ‘YES’ and send it public donations and will double the funds and relief kits to Sri Lankan communities the hospital in its efforts of dire need, ensuring no to 255. For every SMS Rs 50 will be charged collected. The funds collected will be used in distress. against the pandemic. one was left behind.

Probe cause UNP questions Harbour of ship’s fire Master’s actions The UNP yesterday (2) then is why this ship was brought - Amaraweera questioned whether the Harbour to Colombo. The Harbour Master Master had reviewed the is the one who allows a ship to documents pertaining to the enter a port. Only after completing Punish those who material being carried by MV the checklist the Harbour Master allowed it to enter X-Press Pearl and performed an comes to a conclusion. It should inspection of the ship’s defects also be stated how much oil and SL waters and weaknesses before letting it water the ship contains. If there anchor in Sri Lankan waters. are any flaws aboard the ship, Thameenah Razeek UNP Chairman Vajira they should be reported too. Then Abeywardena also queried, if the it’s a matter of determining Investigations should be conducted communication channels between whether it happened here,” he into the cause of the fire on the MV the authorities were efficient, why stated. X-Press Pearl, and those who allowed they didn’t notify the Marine He went on to add that the ship to enter Sri Lankan waters, Environmental Protection container ships like this catch fire Environment Minister Mahinda Authority before the disaster. around twice a month throughout Amaraweera said, adding that action German Embassy via Alleging that all of these the world, but that in a scenario should be taken against those situations demonstrate that the like this, the Government should responsible, regardless of their status. Harbour Master purposely have acted wisely. The Minister said even if billions of WHO donates allowed the ship to catch fire in He added that the country rupees can be obtained as order to obtain compensation, might have gained economically if compensation, the damage caused by Abeywardene stated the UNP the fire had been put out and the the ill-fated MV X-Press Pearl cargo condemns the Government’s ship and its contents had been carrier could not be reversed. facemarks to actions in this regard. saved. He also stated he does not believe “What we’ve been arguing since (TR) anyone could ever fully compensate for the damage to the valuable marine and Health Ministry soil eco systems caused by the ship. He stated the Government is paying close The German Embassy recently prevention and control in health attention to the damage caused by the handed over a consignment of face facilities and in delivering ship’s fire and several decisions had masks to the Ministry of Health, community services. Devipuram woman been taken during discussions with the through the World Health During the handover, Tietze President. Organisation, to help with Sri stated that Germany is delighted He was speaking at a press Lanka’s COVID-19 response. to lend a helping hand to Sri injured in garbage conference held at the Ministry of A total of 924,000 surgical face Lanka and support its battle Environment yesterday (2). masks, was jointly handed over by against COVID-19 and is hopeful concealed bomb explosion “At the moment, authorities are Claudia Tietze, Head of Press and that this timely contribution will focusing on preventing an oil spill if the Culture of the German Embassy, reach its intended beneficiaries in By Naalir Jamaldeen now undergoing in-patient ship sinks. As a result, the President and Dr. Olivia Nieveras, Public the coming weeks. treatment. When the injured has emphasised that priority should be Health Administrator for WHO Sri Dr. Olivia Nieveras noted that A woman in Devipuram in woman was igniting the given to taking further steps according Lanka, to Dr. Asela Gunawardena, wearing masks is one of the most Pudukudirippu Police garbage which had piled up to the experts’ opinions,” he said, Director General of Health powerful tools to preventing the Division sustained injuries close to a Palmyrah tree in her adding that if an oil spill occurs and no Services for the Ministry of Health. spread of COVID-19, along with when a bomb in a pile of land the bomb had exploded. action is taken to prevent it, the Dr. Asela Gunawardena physical distancing, hand hygiene, garbage exploded, the Following the incident the ecological consequences will be welcomed the substantial and other social measures. Pudukuduirippu Police said Pudukuduirippu Police disastrous. donation from Germany and She added that with an ‘all of yesterday (2). examined the land have However, because several shipwrecks expressed confidence that the society approach’, Sri Lanka will Following the incident the commenced a search have occurred in Sri Lankan waters in masks will be efficiently be able to reduce the spread of injured woman who was operation in the neighbouring a short period of time, the Government distributed by the Medical COVID-19, protect vulnerable rushed to the Regional area to find out whether there has prioritised securing all of the Supplies Division to health groups, and build back better. Hospital, Pudukuduirippu is are more hidden explosives. facilities and equipment that the workers to strengthen infection (TF) country requires to prevent future shipwrecks. As a result, while some have discussed seeking compensation for the damage caused by the Pearl Express fire, the Minister of Four more COVID fatalities in Batti, total reaches 32 Environment has stated that preventing potential environmental By Naalir Jamaldeen District by COVID-19 within the victims and total COVID-19 have been detected with COVID- damage is more important than last 24 hours. deaths have increased to 32 in 19 in the district. In last week seeking compensation. Regional Director of Health Dr. Mayooran said that one the district. 957 COVID-19 patients were As a result, he stated that this Services of Batticaloa District person from Arayampathy MOH He said that 23 persons died in detected and 1,008 patients incident is more than just another Dr. Nagalingam Mayooran Division and three persons from the Batticaloa District alone in have completely recovered and occurrence, and that all those yesterday (2) said that four the Kattankudy MOH Division the third wave of COVID-19 returned to their homes, Dr. responsible should be punished. persons died in Batticaloa were among the COVID-19 pandemic while 2,790 persons Mayooran added. A4 THURSDAY 3 JUNE 2021 COLUMN An Alternative to Baiting China

By Uditha Devapriya wants from wherever. That is not so. As Isabella Weber, Hao Qi, and Port City, Xpress Pearl, vaccine Sinophobia is a dish Zhongjin Li in a timely essay to rollout fiascos, and ‘Chinese Jacobin (‘China Is Not the Enemy – colonialism’ are making the rounds best served with left- Neoliberalism Is’) have pointed out, these days, and the Opposition’s liberals. Thus the JVP the fact that China was able to milking mileage from them, taking the combat the COVID-19 pandemic on Government to task and grilling MPs has joined the battle; home soil faster than most other and officials over every little policy countries, and could lock up its detour. Thus the SJB wonders barely four years after workshop for months on end without whether Port City will be manned and it sent a congratulatory suffering much economically, did not managed by foreign officials; when mean it could cut itself off from President Rajapaksa appoints seven missive to Comrade Xi dependence on the rest of the world: Sri Lankans drawn from the private Jinping for having indeed, its reliance on German and sector and legal profession, one of its Japanese imports of key machine MPs complains that they aren’t good transformed Chinese parts for the manufacture of enough. Don’t expect these guys to meltblown cloth, a crucial material for tell us who they think are good society in an all-round filters, and its unprecedented enough: if they do, they would COVID-19 has unmasked Americas Sinophobia way, Anura Kumara mobilisation of poor migrant workers, probably have to eat their words when indicated the integration into world they come to power and fail to put Followers of this Minister and of the English, but by the Sri Lankan State. Dissanayake wonders neoliberalism of a society that still them in these posts. As for Chinese Government he served, who allege hasn’t been able to eradicate colonialism, every time China crops that democracy in the country is Experts wax eloquent whether this same inequalities. Why is this point up, opposition liberals take to Twitter, dying because of its present leaders, We also have experts and academics Comrade will turn important? Surveying the history of Facebook, even Instagram , asking would be intrigued as to how our telling us that the Chinese path is not underdevelopment, the sociologist “Why?” Well, why not? democratic credentials start to shine the way to go; thus one writer waxes Sri Lanka into a Christopher Chase-Dunn noted as the Sinophobia is a dish best served the minute a descendant of a Lankan eloquent on China’s ‘failed model of centralised single party definitive characteristic of modern with left-liberals. Thus the JVP has prince attends an innocuous Vesak socio-economic development.’ This, in imperialism the existence of joined the battle; barely four years Day festival some 5,000 miles away. a country that eradicated extreme administration inequality in the periphery and of after it sent a congratulatory missive Then there’s that hullabaloo over poverty a decade ahead of the United relative equality in the centre. Given to Comrade Xi Jinping for having certain brands packaging their National’s Sustainable Development such a distinction, can China transformed Chinese society in an all- products in Chinese. Here it’s Goals for 2030; a country that lifted world market dominated by the centre seriously be considered ‘imperialist’? round way, Anura Kumara Colombo’s Twitterati who are up in more than 770 million people out of to the exclusion of a so-called Columnists, politicians, academics, Dissanayake wonders whether this arms, wondering why their favourite poverty over the last half-century, ‘traditional’ economy. In the world and activists, from right and left, tell same Comrade will turn Sri Lanka consumer brands are not in Sinhala rounding up to more than 70% of market today, this process, through the world that Sri Lanka is turning into a centralised single party and Tamil. Do they ask the State to global poverty alleviation. A two-part which raw material extraction from into an Oriental colony. Businessmen administration, while Vijitha Herath rap these corporations? Do they ask article on the topic, authored by the periphery and industrial do not, for obvious reasons: they alleges that a certain businessman us to switch to local varieties, which Shiran Illanperuma and Vagisha production in the centre dovetail with know who the rising power is in the will bring in garbage (he uses the do not package in such dreaded Gunasekara (“Sinophobia and China’s one another, continues to impoverish world order today. Yet none of these more sanitary term urban waste) from languages? No: they excoriate the development model”, available online) the Third World (which Samir Amin experts tell us why we are turning into China while pretending to import companies, and allege those quotes relevant statistics and much once called the ‘Fourth World’, as a colony, and what we can do to stop organic fertiliser. companies are in cahoots with the more to arrive at the obvious opposed to the ‘Third World’ of East falling into those much vilified debt Government. But of course they are; conclusion: that those who speak of Asia). Today we no longer call it traps and strings of pearl. Needlessly Undesirable? collusion between corporations and China’s ‘failed development model’ colonialism; we call it neo-colonialism. echoing propaganda from Western Herath, of course, doesn’t utter a Government has been ongoing, and don’t talk about how the Bretton Scholars from Andre Gunder Frank sources, they can’t seem to go beyond word about the ill-effects of chemical thriving, since at least 1977. Why the Woods institutions have experimented to Robert Brenner have written about yellow-baiting China and accusing the fertilisers, or why such businessmen sudden uproar and concern now? with economic shock therapy in the how neo-colonialism and its Government of selling everything to it. would want to capitalise on the Facebook is flooded with Chinese developing world, heightening discontents promote development in History has taught us that the way moment and import organic varieties. posts, courtesy of Sri Lanka’s inequality and contributing to the one hemisphere and forward, the only way forward for an Nor does he question the neoliberal thriving, discontented middle-classes. destruction of its social infrastructure underdevelopment in another; independent country, is to engage in base governing Port City Google Translate does the job for while doing little to give the bulk of its combined, this process becomes the production and manufacture, superstructures the world over. Far them: type in nonsense in one people a better deal. ‘development of underdevelopment’ reducing our dependence on the rest from it: for these left-liberals, Port language and you’ll get nonsense in Academics tout the imperialist/ (quoting Frank). S. B. D. de Silva in of the world. This does not mean City is undesirable only because it another. Well, it’s always good to learn colonialist bogey when it comes to his The Political Economy of removing ourselves from that world; it involves Chinese largesse. a language other than one’s own, be it China. But what is imperialism and Underdevelopment explores the just means rethinking our priorities, China-Sri Lanka relations go back Chinese or Swahili. The question isn’t what is colonialism? More pertinently, specific colonial and neo-colonial shifting to factories and centuries, preceding even the Zheng what language, however; it’s why now. what is not imperialism and what is experience of Sri Lanka, and Asoka ‘machinofacture’, building an He episode of the 15th century. Why, Why think China requires every not colonialism? Like fascism, Bandarage in the second edition of industrial ecosystem from our then, write entire columns on Zheng country it gets involved with to learn another word thrown around by Colonialism in Sri Lanka devotes the resources. S. B. D. de Silva wrote He now, as one academic has, and Mandarin? Because the Brits did the scholars and academics, these have last chapter to it. For details on the extensively on this; we should read wonder whether history will repeat same with English, apparently. But connotations, very specific ones, contexts within which such terms can him more. In any case, it’s time we itself? When the Embassy in Beijing – then the Brits didn’t do the same: by outside which they lose relevance. and cannot be deployed, these two stop wondering whether we’ll turn not the Chinese here, but the Lankan 1948, less than five percent of this Colonialism includes not just studies are essential reading. into a satellite, and engage with there – summons a 19th generation country could operate in their annexation, but also transfers of reforms that can set us free. Will our descendant of a Sinhalese prince language here. It took ‘independence’ resources, destruction of home Neo-colonial? neoliberals and left-liberals busily involved in that particular episode, to raise that figure; more than seven industries, subjugation of entire To call China colonial, even neo- badmouthing China heed the call, our former Foreign Minister asks the decades on, it has come up to a not- sectors to the colonial centre or colonial, is to assume that it though? country to clear off, explaining that so-unhealthy 15%, owing to policies metropole, and the incorporation of a monopolises the world market and The writer can be reached at Sri Lanka is a thriving democracy. set in motion, not by the colonising so-called ‘modern’ economy into a can summon resources whenever it [email protected]

Yes, I observed sil this Vesak too something go wrong with my TV set, so and promised to keep the eight no listening to good programmes of precepts unbroken. This is after bana preaching and discussions, My several decades of observing sil in domestic had hers but I decided to May since as a kid too I did it, with my Lockdown Sil read, meditate and listen to preachings mother. In those long gone days sil via YouTube and Zoom. The Servants was observed in the home mostly, and of the Buddha conducted two sessions temples visited in the evening for in the afternoon and Ven Olande pooja. Later there came to being Then last year came Ananda had his preachings and other meditation centres and halls in programmes come across virtually. temples that accommodated observers the COVID-19 Considering previous and present of the eight and ten precepts. Vesak poya days, although being My siblings and I were educated in pandemic. It was the together with others who were in sil Christian schools and had our first time in very and listening to a monk who preached religious ‘education’ very informally at seated before an audience was home. A temple close by – the one just many years that I missing, I probably gained more in beyond the junction of George E de solitude and concentration of mind. Silva Mawata, (previously Halloluwa observed sil at home. I Did I observe sila; achieve Samadhi; Road) with Peradeniya Road in did not do too badly. and gain panna? Yes to piety. My mind Katukelle was ‘our ‘ temple; the was not distracted with the usual Dalada Maligawa gone to for worship My more significant distractions of friends telephoning, more infrequently. Just before Vesak acts were not reading unpalatable news and day Mother would ask for volunteers watching alarming conflicts in various to observe sil with her. None were watching any parts of the world. I was totally cut forthcoming! Thus I was conscripted, off from even wasting one thought on being the youngest who had no entertaining TV COVID-19. No absolute alarm at recourse to rights. programmes and rising numbers of those infected and Then came marriage – a rather dead. This last contributed in large hedonistic period of life – and children My generation was luckier than my taking only a cup of measure to maintaining peace of which meant full time devotion to mother’s for true meditation of plain tea as my mind and one-pointedness and caring for them. Once they were THE WAY Samatha and Vipassana came to enjoying the joy of mindfulness. young boys, the desire to be more prominence. Centres with ten and evening meal Panna or insight? Knowledge was religious in the true sense of the word IT IS more days resident meditation gained from what I read and bana came upon me. I am sure it was programmes were built. Temples in Chandakitti in charge. and Buddhist talks I listened to. True initiated and weighted by finding that Colombo had sil programmes where Then last year came the COVID-19 insight is not so easily reached. More life was given to periods of dukkha. practice what the Buddha preached those having taken higher precepts pandemic. It was the first time in very diligence, more time spent on seeking The physical could be borne and as interpreted by wonderful monks could stay the entire day. Narada many years that I observed sil at it, more shedding of all negatives like camouflaged if not eradicated by such as Ven Madihe Pannaseeha Dharmayatana in Colombo 7 home. I did not do too badly. My more mild desires and likings, is needed. diversions such as friends, reading, Thera, Bhikkhunis Ayya Khema and conducted excellent poya day significant acts were not watching any We oldies are without vanity to a movies et al. But the emotional and Vayama and Ven Bhikkhus Bodhi and programmes with facilities provided entertaining TV programmes and large extent, jealousy and all that, mental stress caused by Brahmawamso. Ven Narada and like large halls, chairs, clean toilets taking only a cup of plain tea as my but yet, I for one am far from disappointments, distress and marital Piyadassi Theras were excellent and breakfast, lunch and afternoon evening meal. detachment and thus, much more disharmony needed an emotional and monks listened to as children and tea provided by dayakayas and served This year too a severer wave of the determination and endeavour are mental remedy. And thus the turning young adults, gone by the time I by members of the youth organization pandemic confined us all in our needed. to religion and actually putting to turned more to being religious. of the temple with the excellent Ven homes. I had the misfortune of having – Kumari world thursday 3 june 2021 A5

Beijing, China WHO approves Sinovac shot Israel’s Lapid The World Health people that need them Organization (WHO) said on quickly,” he told a briefing. Tuesday (1), it has approved Branded CoronaVac in a COVID-19 vaccine made by some regions, it is the eighth Sinovac Biotech for vaccine to win such a WHO emergency use listing, listing to combat COVID-19 paving the way for a second and the second developed by Chinese shot to be used in a Chinese company, after the enlists Gantz poor countries. 7 May approval of a shot A WHO emergency listing developed by State-backed Moves closer to unseating Netanyahu is a signal to national Sinopharm. regulators of a product’s While a third Chinese Israel’s opposition leader Keeping the door open to safety and efficacy and will vaccine, produced by moved closer to unseating them, Israel’s longest-serving allow the Sinovac shot to be CanSino Biologics, has Prime Minister Benjamin leader, who was first elected included in COVAX, the submitted clinical trial data, Netanyahu on Wednesday (2), Prime Minister a quarter- global programme providing no WHO review has been and forming a new century ago, says he is still vaccines mainly for poor scheduled. government after agreeing capable of forming the next countries, which faces major Sinovac said that it had terms with several parties government. supply problems due to supplied more than 600 including one led by Defence Deals have also been curbs on Indian exports. million doses of its vaccine at Minister Benny Gantz, a reached with the left-wing The WHO’s independent home and abroad as of end- spokesman said. Meretz and centre-left Labour panel of experts said in a May and over 430 million During a 12-year run in top parties as well as with former statement it recommended doses have been office, Netanyahu has been an defence minister Avigdor Sinovac’s vaccine for adults administered. often polarising figure at Lieberman’s nationalist over 18. There was no upper The endorsement is a big home and abroad. An end to Yisrael Beitenu party, a Lapid age limit as data suggested it boost for Sinovac’s vaccine his tenure may bring reprieve spokesman said. is likely to have a protective after data in clinical trials from domestic political The United Arab List was effect in older people. showed a wide range of turmoil, but major shifts in also negotiating to join the The WHO’s technical efficacy rates. Israel’s foreign policy appear coalition. If it does, it would advisory group, which began The WHO said results less likely from the staunch be the first time in Israel’s meeting on 5 May, made the showed it prevented U.S. ally. history that an independent decision after reviewing the symptomatic disease in 51 Yair Lapid, a centrist tasked Arab party becomes a member latest clinical data on the per cent of those vaccinated with forming the next of the Government. Sinovac vaccine’s safety and and prevented severe governing coalition after the A source involved in the efficacy as well as the COVID-19 and conservative Netanyahu failed Lapid-led talks said the company’s manufacturing hospitalisation in 100 per to do so in the wake of an proposed new government practices. cent of the studied inconclusive 23 March would try to retain consensus WHO Director-General population. election, has until midnight by avoiding hot-button Tedros Adhanom The WHO’s separate (2100 GMT) on Wednesday to ideological issues such as Ghebreyesus welcomed the Strategic Advisory Group of present a final slate. whether to annex or cede move, calling the vaccine Experts (SAGE) had said Lapid, a 57-year-old former occupied West Bank territory safe and effective and noting previously that vaccine TV host and author, has yet to that Palestinians want for a its easy storage requirements efficacy in multi-country clinch a deal with his main State. make it suitable for low- Phase III clinical trials partner, nationalist Naftali Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Yesh Atid party, delivers a statement If Lapid misses Wednesday’s income countries. ranged from 51 per cent to Bennett, who would serve as to the Press before the party faction meeting at the Knesset, Israel’s deadline - marking the end of “It’s now crucial to get 84 per cent . premier first under a proposed Parliament, in Jerusalem, Israel, 31 May 2021 (Reuters) a 28-day Presidential these lifesaving tools to the (Reuters) rotation between the two men. mandate to put together a Lapid’s Yesh Atid party and of democracy and Israeli other rightists negotiating coalition - Parliament will Gantz’s centrist Blue and society”. with Lapid, saying they were have three weeks to agree on a White said in a joint Gantz would remain endangering Israel’s security - new candidate. statement they had “agreed on Defence Minister in the new an allusion to efforts to curb Should that fail, Israel will Melbourne, Australia the outlines of the cabinet, the parties said. Iran’s nuclear programme and hold another election, its fifth Government and core issues Netanyahu, 71, has sought manage ever-fraught in some two years. Victoria State extends relating to the strengthening to discredit Bennett and two Palestinian ties. (Reuters) COVID-19 lockdown Abuja, Nigeria President threatens rebels amid rising violence in southeast People who promote armed gangs have carried out It referred to the 1967-70 insurrection in Nigeria face a a series of killings of Police civil war fought over the “rude shock”, its President officers, prompting a Police secession of an area in warned on Tuesday (1), raising operation in May. Nigeria’s far southeast called the possibility of a fierce Nigerian authorities have Biafra that killed one million crackdown on rising violence blamed those attacks on a people. in the southeast that has banned separatist group, the “Those of us in the fields for included arson attacks on Indigenous People of Biafra 30 months, who went through A woman walks past a “Stay Safe Melbourne” sign on a mostly- empty city centre street on the first day of a seven-day lockdown as police station and electoral (IPOB), and what police call its (that) war, will treat them in the State of Victoria looks to curb the spread of COVID-19, in offices. armed wing, the Eastern the language they understand. Melbourne, Australia, 28 May 2021 (Reuters) Security forces are already Security Network. But the We are going to be very hard grappling with criminal gangs IPOB has repeatedly denied sooner than later,” Buhari, Australia’s Victoria State acquired coronavirus cases, in the northwest who carry out involvement. The statement who served in the army against on Wednesday (2), extended had been scheduled to end mass kidnappings for ransom, issued by the office of the secessionists, was quoted a COVID-19 lockdown in Thursday night. It will now a decade-old Islamist President Muhammadu as saying. State capital Melbourne for end on 10 June. insurgency in the northeast, Buhari, who previously led On Monday (31 May) the another week in a bid to The State reported six new and piracy in the Gulf of Nigeria as a military ruler in streets of towns across the contain the latest virus locally acquired cases on Guinea off Nigeria’s southern the early 1980s, said “a rude southeast were quiet and outbreak, but eased Wednesday, versus nine a coast. shock” awaits “those bent on businesses were shuttered Nigerian President Muhammadu restrictions in other regions. day earlier, taking the total Electoral offices and police destroying the country after the IPOB urged people to Buhari speaks during a news The lockdown, imposed on infections in the latest stations have been burned through promoting stay at home to commemorate conference during a visiit to 27 May, after the State outbreak to 60. down in recent months across insurrection, and burning those who died in the war. Pretoria, South Africa, 3 reported its first locally (Reuters) the southeast, a region where down critical national assets”. (Reuters) October 2019 (Reuters)

Hong Kong, China June 4th museum temporarily closes over licensing probe Hong Kong’s June 4th Hong Kongers will not forget coronavirus restrictions to Museum, dedicated to 4 June,” the statement said. ban the vigil for the second commemorating the victims The Alliance “hopes Hong consecutive year this year. of China’s 1989 crackdown Kongers will continue to be Authorities have warned the on pro-democracy protesters wise, flexible and determined public that taking part in an in and around Beijing’s to commemorate 4 June unauthorised assembly Tiananmen Square, said on legally, safely, peacefully, raises the risk of up to five Wednesday (2), it would rationally in their own way, at years in prison, while temporarily close due to a a suitable time and place, “advertising or publicising” licensing investigation. such that the truth will not illegal rallies may lead to up The museum said in a be forgotten.” to 12 months. statement that officers from The inspection raises Commemorations are the Food and Environmental concerns over freedom of particularly awkward for Hygiene Department (FEHD) speech in Hong Kong, which Beijing this year, as the entered its premises on traditionally holds the largest Communist Party celebrates Tuesday (1), claiming it had 4 June vigil in the world to its 100th anniversary. not obtained a public commemorate the Asked whether a vigil entertainment venue licence crackdown. Mainland China would violate the security and was potentially in breach bans commemorations and law, Hong Kong leader Carrie of regulations. heavily censors the topic. Lam said only that it was FEHD said in a statement After Beijing set the important to show respect to its probe was launched after financial hub onto an the Party. it had received a complaint authoritarian path with its The museum reopened on that the venue operated imposition of a sweeping Sunday (30 May) after without a licence. national security law last closing for renovations for The museum, opened a year, fears have grown that several weeks. decade ago and run by the Electronic candlelights are displayed at the June 4th Museum, which commemorates the 1989 Tiananmen such vigils - which typically The Alliance’s chairman Hong Kong Alliance in Square crackdown, as it reopens in Hong Kong, China, 30 May 2021 (Reuters) draw tens of thousands - Lee Cheuk-Yan is in jail Support of Patriotic would not be allowed any accused of participating in Democratic Movements of legal advice, and close until safety of staff and visitors. political situation, the more. an unauthorised assembly. China, said it would seek further notice to protect the “Facing the current difficult Alliance deeply believes that Police have cited (Reuters) b6 thursday 3 june 2021

From 2018 to 2021 Land Prices in Western Province Increase By 74% The Western Province (except Colombo Municipality area) overall land price values have – Report increased by 74% from 2018 to cities experiencing triple digit 2021, annual Land Price Index appreciation during the 4 years. released by LankaPropertyWeb In Colombo this was recorded stated yesterday. in Angoda, Kolonnawa, Hanwella, The company also revealed Peliyagoda, Wellampitiya, that, on an annual basis, the Hokandara and Homagama. increase in average land prices While in the Kalutara district, between 2018 and 2021 was 15% triple digit land price increases (Annual Effective Rate). As a were seen in Ingiriya and Email: [email protected] result, if an investor were to Wadduwa. In the Gampaha invest in property and hold it for district Kelaniya, Dompe and 4 to 5 years, his initial Kadawatha showed similar investment would multiply Source-Central Bank of Sri Lanka and LankaPropertyWeb patterns as well. Wednesday Markets largely over time. Besides the increasing trend in When compared with the from Kolonnawa, Hanwella, (183%), which had the 3rd prices, lands in certain parts of fluctuations in interest rates for Peliyagoda and Wellampitiya in highest land price fluctuations the country still remain quite fixed deposits, these values are a the Colombo District. Cities such from 2018 to 2021. The data affordable and under a price of major contrast proving further as Kelaniya, Dompe and further revealed that on an less than Rs 1 million. However, NFOs up the profitability of the real estate Kadawatha in the Gampaha annual average basis the these lands also experienced an industry in the country. District showed price increases increase in land prices in the appreciation of over 100% per Between the first quarters of as well, providing further former between 2020 to 2021 perch since Q1 of 2018. Rs 25.4B 2019 to 2021, fixed deposit rates evidence to the changing patterns was 69% while the latter was at Hanwella in the Colombo have reduced from 11.41% to of Sri Lankan property buyers. 4%. district and Dompe in the By Paneetha Ameresekere 6.29% while the land price Among these cities, however, With the changes in Gampaha district showed hikes acceleration in the Western what topped the list in infrastructure taking place of 168% and 156% during the 4 The Bourse’s net foreign outflows (NFOs) in Province slowed down from 22% fluctuation during the four years across the Western Province, years with an annual average the calendar year to yesterday (2) increased to in 2019 to 18.56% in 2021. This was Ingiriya in the Kalutara people’s motive to shift towards rate of 39% and 37% respectively, Rs 25.40 billion, complemented by it’s long- is especially significant given that District. The land prices in the the suburbs of Colombo and in the ‘under 1 million per perch’ suffering NFOs for the 88th market day in the in most countries across the city had experienced a 246% other parts of the province has segment. A highlight in this data review period due to sustained uncertainty, with world, the real estate market has increase from 2018 to 2021. This continuously risen over the is that lands in Homagama also yesterday’s figure being Rs 42.75 million. experienced major downturns is an annual average increase of years. Budget proposals towards fall into this category of ‘Under Yesterday was also the 9th consecutive with the spread of COVID-19. 51% with a 109% increase housing development plans, Rs 1 million’. The land price data market day that the bourse has suffered NFOs. During the last four years, a between 2020 and 2021. highway construction projects showed a fluctuation of 103% In the 96 market days that the bourse has growing demand for land in the The record of Ingiriya was and transportation convenience from 2018 to 2021 and an seen in the calendar year to yesterday, it has suburbs was also witnessed with followed by Angoda (195%) that of non-durable products like annual average of 26.62% enjoyed net foreign inflows in only eight, price increases being reported ranked 2nd and Kolonnawa vegetables, has led to certain (Annual effective). translating to the fact that it has suffered NFOs in 91.67 per cent of the market days that have transpired in the calendar year to date. Further, NFOs from the bourse, in the calendar year to yesterday, year on year, have increased by 108. 11 per cent (Rs 13.19 billion) Equity Research with the bourse, in the period 1 January 2020 to Largest T-Bill 2 June 2021, having had suffered only a mere Rs 12.20 billion NFOs. Analysts Bias in Stock Last year, in the 207 market days that it saw; the bourse suffered NFOs for a record 188 Auction Fails (90.82 per cent) of those days. Further last year Recommendations the bourse also suffered a record Rs 50.94 By Paneetha Ameresekere million), compared to the original billion worth of NFOs due to sustained parcel of Rs 8,000 million on offer By Ishara Gamage value to increase by double uncertainty. An all too familiar refrain was for sale, was finally sold to the digits within a week? It is worth Consequently, the benchmark ASPI fell by seen at yesterday’s weekly market at an unwritten maximum With ongoing restrictions on noting nothing of such immense 0.19 per cent to 7,436. 55 points, while the more Treasury T-Bill primary auction administered yield (MAY) of 5.15 tile imports, Sri Lanka’s tiles magnitude that can boost a sensitive S&P SL20 Index declined by 0.05 per as well, where, the total issuance per cent, up, two basis points and sanitary ware firm’s value by such amounts cent to 3,000.92 points on a Rs 2.14 billion of a record Rs 51,000 million (bps) week on week (WoW) to manufacturers have shown a has transpired within the last turnover and on a share volume of 75.68 million Treasuries, saw only 0.5 per cent yesterday, leading to the hefty increase in profits and few weeks in Sri Lanka. Another yesterday. (Rs 100 million) of the original continuance of a distortion in the margins, market analysts said. lacuna in this report that some SEC Directive ‘long term’ 364 day (one year) T market where GoSL borrows Royal Ceramic (RCL) and objective investors have pointed The Securities and Exchange Commission Bills sold to the market from a ‘short’ to repay maturing ‘long Lanka Tiles (TILE) both of which out is that while the target (SEC) in a recent directive to the Colombo Stock total of Rs 20,000 million of this term’ (182 and 364 day are quoted in the Colombo prices for subsidiary companies Exchange (CSE) in respect of the inability of tenure originally up for sale due maturities) debt. Stock Exchange (CSE) have (LWL and TILE) have increased listed companies to release their annual reports to the market consistently asking In respect of the 182 day more than doubled their by double digits, the target price and financial statements in terms of the listing for higher yields led by a maturity, that saw only 47.41 per FY2021 profits. for the holding company (RCL) rules of the CSE under the prevailing situation combination of sustained cent (Rs 10,905 million) of the Hence it is no surprise that has remained constant. relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic directed the uncertainty and inflation. original parcel of Rs 23,000 tile and some associated Analysts say that apart from it to allow an additional period of one calendar On the other hand Central million ultimately sold to the construction fabrication stocks owning TILE, RCL also produces month to listed entities which are required to Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL)/ market. Consequently, on the have now become new choices Tiles under the “Rocell” brand. submit the following financial statements on or Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) whole, yesterday’s low returns of the investing public. The RCL group effectively before 31 May 2021: (a) Annual reports wants to maintain an artificially riskless T-Bill auction saw CBSL Brokers, Analysts and holds a monopoly over the local together with the audited financial statements low interest rate regime to being able to sell 60.24 per cent Investors alike are swooning tile sector following the recent for the year ended 31 December 2020 and (b) minimise GoSL’s borrowing costs (Rs 30,723 million) of the original over these “hot picks”. tile import restrictions. They Interim financial statements for the last quarter and to spur growth. parcel of a total of Rs 51,000 Within this context, a well claim that it is incredulous that for entities which financial year ends on 31 In the last 13, weekly T Bill million worth of Treasuries offered known stock broking firm (with the value of RCL should remain March 2021. auctions held thus far, of the to the market yesterday. a large retail client base) had flat while its subsidiaries have ‘Dead’ 23rd Day parcels on offer, in particular the The written MAY fixed by the published a research report on seen significant increases in The benchmark administered ‘spot’s one year and the six months (182 364 day tenure yesterday was 5. the Tile sector (covering Royal their target prices mentioned by understood, but unwritten two-way quotes were day) maturities have not been 21 per cent, up three bps WoW, Ceramic (RCL), Lanka Tiles this report. unchanged at Rs 199.75/200.25 to the US allowed to be fully subscribed synchronising with its weighted (TILE), Lanka Wall Tiles (LWL) This writer has consistently dollar at 4pm for the 11th consecutive market because the market was asking average yield, data, showed. The and Swisstek (PARQ)) recently. highlighted questionable and day to yesterday in the interbank foreign for higher yields than that which unwritten MAY fetched/fixed for However, within the span of biased research and remains exchange (FX) market, with, ipso facto, no trades CBSL was prepared to allow. the 182 day tenure at yesterday’s little over a week, an updated vigilant on attempts to mislead done, led by exchange and import controls, However, the 91 day maturity auction was 5.17 per cent, up tile sector research was the investing public. This sources told this reporter. once more uplift total sales, where three bps, WoW. CBSL is the published this week where writer’s stance is that such Yesterday was also the 23rd consecutive 246.48 per cent (Rs 19,718 steward of GoSL debt. target prices of only selected reports are financial weapons of market day than no trades were executed in the stocks were increased by as mass destruction that create interbank FX market as a whole due to Central much as 15 to 30%. market bubbles, pump and Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL’s)/ Government of Sri The question that many eagle dump schemes and cause loss Lanka’s (GoSL’s) moral suasion on the ‘spot.’ eyed investors are asking is, of investor confidence in the Nonetheless, the unsaid market exchange rate what are the realistic or capital markets and its (MER) has theoretically depreciated by between ComBank named reasonable catalysts for a firm’s intermediaries. Rs 12.25-11.75 (6.53-6.23 per cent) in two-way quotes in the calendar year to yesterday and ‘Best Bank in Sri Lanka’ year on year by between Rs 13.85-14.25 (7.45- 7.66 per cent), thereby causing cost-push The Commercial Bank of BDO Unibank (Philippines). inflationary pressure in the event trades were Ceylon has once again been “We are delighted to win this executed as Sri Lanka is an import dependent declared the ‘Best Bank in Sri important award for the 10th SLT-MOBITEL Invites economy. Lanka’ at the 2021 FinanceAsia time, especially because it is GoSL’s money printing borrowing costs Country Awards, taking its based on an in-depth evaluation Public to Help Communities (MPBCs) decreased for the second consecutive place among global and regional of our performance in one of the market day to yesterday, this time by 0.72 per giants adjudged the best most difficult years in memory,” Affected By COVID-19 cent (Rs 139.29 million) to Rs19, 286.58 million domestic banks in their Commercial Bank’s Managing due to investor preference for the low returns, respective countries. Director S. Renganathan said. Rooted in SLT-MOBITEL’s The endeavour will provide riskless Treasury Bonds and T Bills in This is the 10th occasion that “We are also enthused by the over a decade of history is the health equipment, dry rations secondary market trading rather than lend to Commercial Bank has been fact that the assessment for this common purpose to support and relief packs to the high returns private sector, the engine of bestowed this prestigious year’s award was expanded to and strengthen communities. communities affected by growth, due to sustained uncertainty. accolade by FinanceAsia, which cover sustainability indicators Especially during these COVID-19. Yesterday saw a liquidity appreciation of Rs 1, is acknowledged as the as well as our response to the unprecedented challenging To support these distressed 049 million (US$ 5.26 million) led by the presenter of one of the best- global pandemic.” times, helping those in need is communities, SLT-MOBITEL settlement/s of CBSL’s swaps with the market known and most credible sets of The FinanceAsia Country vital. Marking an important has instituted a fund to which and/or GoSL’s dollar sales to and/or swaps with awards in Asia's financial Awards are based on the season of Vesak this year, SLT- customers can contribute as a CBSL during trading. Transactions between services industry. respective banks’ performance, MOBITEL invites the general meritorious deed. GoSL and CBSL are foreign reserves neutral. Ranked alongside Commercial encompassing key events of the public to join ‘Daana Both Pre-Paid and Post-Paid Conversions are based on CBSL’s administered Bank this year are banks of the year, financial results including Paaramitha’, an initiative Mobitel customers can donate ‘spot’ rate on Monday which was Rs 199.50 to calibre of ICBC (China), DBS profits, NPL ratios, provisioning, conceptualised to support the Rs 50 per SMS by simply the dollar. GoSL’s face value (FV) MP debt (Singapore), Shinhan Bank return on equity, capital communities affected by the typing ‘YES’ and sending it to decreased by Rs 3,165 million and its overall (South Korea), Bank of China adequacy ratios, total assets, pandemic. 255. In return, SLT-MOBITEL FVMP debt by 0.35 per cent to Rs 889,646.17 (Hong Kong), CTBC (Taiwan), loans, deposits, branch SLT-MOBITEL understands will match all public donations million; yesterday, thereby also partially HDFC Bank (India), MCB Bank network, vision and long-term that many families especially and will double the funds mitigating demand-pull inflationary pressure. (Pakistan), The City Bank strategy, market position versus from communities in lower collected. Customers who wish GoSL’s FVMP debt has been over Rs 0.5 trillion (Bangladesh), Public Bank the nearest competitor, income levels are facing to make a bigger contribution for a record 139 consecutive market days to (Malaysia), Bank Central Asia principal sources of profit, and financial difficulties and have the option of sending yesterday. (Indonesia), KBank (Thailand), feedback of stock market enduring severe hardships, multiple SMS messages from Techcombank (Vietnam) and analysts. due to the prevailing situation. the same number. Sports Thursday 3 June 2021 A7

MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings Niluka Latest to Chameera, Perera Qualify for Olympics gain in rankings Sri Lanka fast bowler Dushmantha Sri Lanka’s badminton icon Niluka Karunaratne Chameera and captain Kusal Perera have confirmed to Ceylon Today he has qualified for the made considerable gains in the MRF Tyres 2021 Tokyo Olympics. This is the third time Niluka ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings after has secured a slot in the Olympics. starring in a 97-run victory over Niluka is the second male badminton player after Bangladesh in the final match of their ICC Niroshan Wijekoon to represent Sri Lanka at the Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League Olympics. He was captain of the 2012 Sri Lankan series. Olympic contingent, and in his very first match he Chameera’s career-best haul of five for beat the World No.8 player to advance to the pre- 16, which won him the Player of the Match quarter-finals. Sri Lanka’s No.1 player was once award, has also helped him advance 27 ranked as high as 34th in the BWF World rankings in slots to a career-best 33rd position. The 2013. 29-year-old had started the series in The 36-year-old has had a long run as Sri Lanka’s 72nd position and moved up last week with best shuttler, and was the flag bearer of the 2012 a three-wicket haul in the second match. Olympic contingent in London, even though it was his Perera’s sixth ODI century has lifted him first Olympic Games. Apart from that, he has 13 places to 42nd place in the weekly competed in five consecutive Commonwealth Games update to the men’s rankings, which is from 2002 to 2018. carried out on Wednesdays. This is only Four months ago (in January) Niluka contracted one place shy of the left-handed batsman’s COVID-19 after his younger brother (cricketer) career-best ranking of 41st achieved in Chamika tested positive. Following Karunaratne’s June 2016. positive test, the National Badminton pool was Dhananjaya de Silva is another Sri disbanded, while Niluka had to recover and regroup Lanka player to gain in the rankings, before making plans to conquer his third Olympic slot. moving up 10 places to 85th after a knock This is not the first time Niluka had to face external of 55. He has also progressed two places to circumstances to make it to the Olympics, as in 2015 79th among bowlers and is up seven places leading up to the Rio Olympic Games, BWF suspended to 24th among all-rounders. Leg-spinner the local Badminton body, and Niluka lost several Wasindu Hasaranga has moved up nine opportunities to compete as Sri Lanka’s representative places to joint-51st position. to gain points to increase his world ranking position. For Bangladesh, who won the series 2-1, Overall, 172 shuttlers across five categories, Mahmudullah’s knock of 53 sees him including men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s advance two slots to 36th position, while doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, will Mosaddek Hussain’s innings of 51 has compete at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. lifted him 12 places to 113th in the Considering the talent and potential Sri Lanka rankings. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who possesses, badminton remains one of the best bets for grabbed four for 46, has progressed 12 a podium finish at the Tokyo Olympics for the Sri places to 88th position. Niluka Karunaratne during the 2012 Olympics Lankan contingent. Dushmantha Chameera (ICC)

Djokovic saunters into Hashan Tillakaratne named women’s head coach French Open round two Former Sri Lanka captain knows about Chamari and batter Hashan Athapaththu, but there are World number one Novak Rafael Nadal and Roger Tillakaratne has been other talented girls also. They Djokovic kicked off his French Federer, showed some signs of appointed the new head coach just need to be handled Open campaign with a routine frustration in the second set, of the Sri Lanka women’s properly.” 6-2 6-4 6-2 win against but world number 66 team, SLC confirmed on While Tillakaratne hasn’t American Tennys Sandgren Sandgren was never close to Wednesday. had a chance to link up with on Tuesday in the first men’s bothering him. He took up the role officially his players yet in his capacity match to be scheduled in a The third set was a mere on 1 June and will be as coach in Sri Lanka’s high- night session. With no formality as Djokovic, who contracted up to 31 December performance set-up, he had spectators allowed on Philippe won his only Roland Garros 2021. It is understood that an seen several of the national Chatrier court due to a 9.00 title in 2016, won five games extension is a mere formality, players first-hand. As such, he p.m. local curfew, the Serbian in a row in what resembled a with SLC set to renew several already has a few plans on went through the gears as he training session. contracts at the end of the where improvements can be dispatched his opponent He next faces Uruguay’s year. Tillakaratne will likely be made. seemingly effortlessly. Pablo Cuevas on his way to a in the position for a further two “We need to analyse and Djokovic, who is chasing a potential semi-final to three years. identify what our strengths are. 19th major title and looking to showdown with 13-time His first job will be in One key aspect I’m looking at is narrow the gap to 20-time French Open champion preparing the team for the their fitness. Right now, the girls Grand Slam champions Nadal. 2022 ODI World Cup and are doing their fitness workouts Commonwealth Games on their own, and they’re qualifiers scheduled for early sending us over their video next year. SLC also confirmed clips. So they’re quite keen and that it is looking at arranging committed, that’s a plus point.” ‘one or two’ tours in the next During his playing career, few months. The Sri Lanka Tillakaratne was renowned for women’s team hasn’t played his dogged displays with the any international cricket since bat and his impressive close-in the T20 World Cup last March, fielding. In 83 Tests, he racked owing to the pandemic. up 4,545 runs at an average of “It’s an honour and a 42.87, while his 200 ODIs privilege to work with the brought him 3789 runs at girls,” Tillakaratne told 29.60. Having made his debut ESPNcricinfo. “They’re very of the Sri Lanka Under-19 side looking at popularising the in 1986, he retired from talented and skilful. I’m from 2018 to 2020, is the most women’s game in the country. international cricket in 2004 looking forward to the high-profile appointment for “What they want is to justify and all forms of cricket in challenge.” the post of women’s head the money being put into 2006, before turning his eye Tillakaratne, a World Cup coach. The move, he believes, women’s cricket by the ICC,” towards coaching. winner who was also in charge is a sign that SLC is seriously Tillakaratne said. “Everyone (ESPN)

Football Sri Lanka AGM Stiff battle expected for Presidency Asian Zonal Hybrid Chess C’ship (Day 1) By Mustaq Sydeen before announcing the new date recently. Ceylon Today learns, with players Ranindu and Susal A thrilling battle is expected for the top abandoning the game in alarming numbers post of President at the Annual General due to lack of tournaments, whoever is off to flying start Meeting (AGM) of Football Sri Lanka (FSL) elected to run the office at Wijerama on 7 June, scheduled to be held at the Mawatha will have to step forward and take National Chess FIDE World Chess Cup Sports Ministry Auditorium. necessary action to rejuvenate the game Champion Ranindu 2021 for South Asia, The two contestants are Dr. Manil and make it one of Sri Lanka’s pre-eminent Dilshan Liyanage commenced on 1 June on Fernando, son of former football sports. (Ananda College the Tornelo platform. A total administrator Manilal Fernando, and The biggest problem in the country’s Colombo) and Susal de of 39 players from the South Jaswar Umar, the incumbent Secretary, footballing infrastructure currently is the Silva (Nalanda College Asian countries of who is also a FIFA and Asian Football state of our domestic leagues, and there is Colombo) started off Bangladesh, Nepal, Confederation (AFC) Match Commissioner. Dr. Manil Fernando Jaswar Umar also a lot to be done by relevant authorities confidently with victories Pakistan, Maldives, Bhutan It is reported that Dr. Fernando is the front to work more on the grassroot level and over Pakistanis Awais and Sri Lanka are runner for the post since 42 of the 61 administrators, Dr. Manil Fernando has cultivate a new generation that could put Ahamd and Ur Rehman participating in the event for Football Leagues affiliated to FSL have been at the helm of the Kalutara District Sri Lanka in the upper echelons of Asian Anis. Unfortunately, due supremacy in the region. pledged their support for his candidacy. Football League for the past 10 years, and football. Development at the grassroots to the Swiss Pairing 1st round (Sri Lankan Incumbent President Anura de Silva is is Chairman of FSL’s Medical Commission. level is undoubtedly the most important system, they will be Players): not seeking re-election for the President’s On the other hand, Jaswar Umar has also initiative, and bringing in good coaches for clashing against each Liyanage,Ranindu post, but will contest the post of Secretary expressed confidence that he has a good young players will also play an imperative other in the 2nd round. Dilshan (2203) beat General from Dr. Manil Fernando’s camp. chance of winning the upcoming FSL role in further popularizing the sport. 19 players are sharing Awais Ahamed (Pakistan He has expressed confidence they will election quite comfortably. Also, our players don’t play in foreign 1 point each after the - 1838) secure a comfortably victory on 7 June. “There are 186 votes at this election. I am leagues or at the highest level, and thus falter first round. Buddhika Susal de Silva (2085) “We are 200 percent confident that we sure of getting at least 115 votes - or may be at international level. Compare our Sri Lankan Amarasinghe lost his beat Ur Rehman Zaidi will win this election comfortably. I don’t even more - because I have gone all around team to any other top class international team: first game to higher rated Anis (Pakistan - 1003) think we have a tough challenge; our the country and explained my vision to the the difference in speed, passing and agility is FIDE Master Rahman Syed Mahfuzur Rahman victory is already assured,” said Anura de leagues,” said Umar recently at a media there for everyone to see. Syad of Bangladesh. (Bangladesh - 2213) beat Silva. “When we look at our opposition, they conference in Colombo. The inability to produce a good number of The Asian Zonal Chess Buddhika Amarasinghe have a dull team compared to ours. We The AGM was initially slated to be held on footballers having the quality to change the Championship 2021, the (1873) have well reputed personnel in our camp,” 31 May, but due to travel restrictions course of a match in the international arena preliminary event for the (IR) added Anura de Silva. imposed by the Government the authorities is also what has hurt the National team One of the youngest football had to reschedule the AGM to 1 June, most.