Inadequate chemical fertiliser TUESDAY 29 JUNE 2021 LATEST EDITION Amaraweera VOL: 10/142 PRICE : Rs 30.00 In Sports apologises KJP still believes fearless cricket is to farmers the way forward After a humiliating T20 series defeat at the BY KRISHAN JAYASURIYA hands of England, visiting skipper Kusal Perera (KJP) still believes fearless cricket is Environment Minister the only way forward if Sri Lanka are to Mahinda Amaraweera says he bounce back and return to winning ways. fully understands the present A16 predicament of farmers who are greatly inconvenienced due to the unavailability of chemical fertiliser and said he would like to seek their forgiveness for their plight. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Sirisena denies getting ministerial Leaked picture which appeared on social media shows Niroshan Dickwella portfolio (left) and Kusal Mendis (right) roaming the street at night Danushka Gunathilaka BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK Former President and SLPP MP Following bio bubble breach Maithripala Sirisena, yesterday (28), rejected claims that he will be sworn in as a Cabinet Minister. Sirisena said he never requested a ministerial portfolio or any other position from the Government. Mendis, Dickwella, Story Continued on PAGE 2 Duminda’s Danushka Suspended pardon lawful Must take strict action against the three cricketers – Namal BY MUSTAQ SYDEEN Danushka Gunathilaka were suspended from bubble in Durham on Sunday night. – Kariyawasam all forms of cricket and ‘flown back to Sri The team, already in the spotlight after being Vice-captain Kusal Mendis, wicket keeper Lanka with immediate effect’, after the trio whitewashed by England in the 3-match T20I BY FAADHILA THASSIM batsman Niroshan Dickwella and opener were found breaching the team’s bio-secure series, found themselves in further trouble... The special Presidential Pardon Story Continued on PAGE 2 granted to former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva, who was convicted and sentenced to death over the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Work begins on 39-Acre President, PM Premachandra, was not contrary to law, SLPP General Secretary, will decide Basil’s Sagara Kariyawasam said. Colombo Bird Park Story Continued on PAGE 2 Construction work began on the Parliament entry Colombo Bird Park yesterday (28) under the patronage of State – Tennakoon Replacing Kuruvita Minister of Urban Development, BY FAADHILA THASSIM Coast Conservation, Waste PS member Disposal and Community The decision pertaining to whether SLPP Cleanliness Dr. Nalaka Godahewa. National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa will enter A statement by the Ministry of Parliament will be made by President Gotabaya Court Urban Development and Housing Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that, according to President and Basil Rajapaksa himself, and although there Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Vision of is no particular timeframe for such decision to be restrains SLPP Prosperity initiative, several made, it is imminent, SLPP MP Premitha Bandara projects have commenced in... Tennakoon said. Gen Secy Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 BY HANSI NANAYAKKARA Colombo District Court Judge Aruna Aluthge Delta variant Ranjan yesterday imposed an injunction, effective till 12 July, preventing SLPP General Secretary, National List MP, Sagara Kariyawasam from replacing surfaces in Kuruvita PS member S. Ratnasiri with another. admitted to Judge Aluthge also issued notice on both Kariyawasam and Minister of Water Supply Kahathuduwa BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE AND X-Press Pearl disaster Vasudeva Nanayakkara, who have been named as hospital JAYASINGHE – COLOMBO respondents, to make submissions in this COrrESPONDENT BY KUMUDU UPUL SHANTHA 185 Marine creatures connection to Court. The Court issued the injunction on the SLPP Yet another patient suspected to be Former SJB MP Ranjan Ramanayake, wash ashore General Secretary having perused a petition filed by infected with the Delta variant of COVID- who is an inmate of the Angunakolapelessa BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK Kuruvita PS member Ratnasiri. 19 has been detected in Kahathuduwa. Prison, after being convicted by the Through his petition Ratnasiri has charged that Informed sources from the Medical Supreme Court on a Contempt of Court Over 160 turtles, 5 whales, and over 20 dolphins he had been removed from his post for having Officer of Health (MOH) Office of charge last January, has been admitted to have washed up on beaches as of yesterday (28), berated the Minister concerned during an event held Kahathuduwa, said the patient diagnosed the Karapitiya Hospital following an causing a massive ecological imbalance, Ceylon in Kuruvita on 20 May last year. with COVID-19 on Sunday (27) from... ailment in his knee. Today learns. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 TUESDAY 29 JUNE 2021 NEWS For First Time after 84 Days COVID recoveries beat new cases ‘3-days-in-a-row’ BY PANEETHA AMERESEKERE COVID recoveries of 333 on Sunday yesterday. showed that there were 39 COVID-19 at 5 April 2021 stood at, total number (27) and 296 on Saturday (26), The last time this phenomenon, for deaths registered; while the number of deaths recorded on that day (two There were more COVID-19 respectively. at least three consecutive days, was hospitalised and/or awaiting (2)); total number of deaths registered recoveries than new patients for the Yesterday saw 1,867 new COVID- seen 84 days ago where for four hospitalisation was 29,425; number since the first case was detected first time after 84 days for three 19 cases recorded, while, however, consecutive days to 5 April, of total deaths recorded since the first (581); total number of new cases consecutive days to yesterday (28), recoveries, at 2,251being greater recoveries outnumbered new cases, case was detected on 27 January detected on 5 April 2021 (141); Epidemiology Unit (EU) data showed. than that number. Therefore, on a with the respective recovery figures 2020 (2,944); total number of discharged/recovered (355); total Statistics showed that on a net net basis, 384 recoveries were on a net basis being 83 on 2 April confirmed cases since the detection number hospitalized as at 5 April basis there were 384 COVID-19 registered yesterday, or, to put it 2021, 109 (3 April), 161 (4 April) and of the first case (253,618) and (2,292); total number of confirmed recoveries yesterday. Monday’s another way, recoveries outnumbered 141 (5 April) respectively. recoveries (221,249); respectively. cases as at 5 April (93,436) and success follows the registration of net new cases by a figure of 384 As at yesterday, the data further Those commensurate numbers as recoveries (90,563); respectively. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ...after a video and pictures of Mendis Rajapaksa on his official twitter said Sri and Dickwella, casually roaming Lanka Cricket officials must take strict around in a marketplace, emerged on action against the three cricketers who social media (Gunathilaka was not seen Mendis, Dickwella... violated Covid rules in the UK. in the video, but the three are believed Early indications from SLC are that The players had supposedly returned drubbing in England. “Opportunity & time can be invested to have stepped out together). the Board is viewing the breach as a to their rooms around midnight and are As the hashtag #unfollowcricketers into youngsters to represent the “The decision to recall the players was serious offence and will likely impose not believed to have jeopardised the began to trend on Facebook on Sunday, country, in an attempt to revive taken by the Executive Committee of severe penalties. Gunathilaka, in bio-secure bubble of the others in the thousands of fans boycotted the #Srilanka cricket. However, playing Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) based on the particular, has a history of poor touring contingent. Facebook pages of vice-captain Kusal with a lack of intent & poor discipline Manager’s Report on the matter,” read behaviour, having been suspended for Meanwhile, disgruntled cricket fans Mendis, opener Dhanushka should not be tolerated. @OfficialSLC an SLC statement. “The three players an indifferent attitude towards training have launched a campaign to shun Gunathilaka and many more who are must take strict action against players will be suspended from all forms of in 2017, and violating curfew in the their team on social media after they part of the England series. who violate these rules!” the Sports cricket until completion of the inquiry.” middle of a Test in 2018. slumped to a dismal Twenty20 series Meanwhile, Sports Minister Namal Minister tweeted. Work begins on... Amaraweera apologises... ...Colombo to attract both land in Madiwela for the project. prepared a successful plan to He stated the President had opted received sufficient stocks of fertiliser domestic and foreign tourists. These The Park is built to protect the combat COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. to halt the import of chemical for the Yala season and this had projects were said to include wetlands and to maintain its direct In 2020, the combined revenue for fertiliser to force the farmers to use compounded the issues. wetland parks, urban forest parks connection with the Diyawanna Sri Lanka was Rs. 1,380 billion and organic fertiliser, from the onset of The Minister added though the and urban agricultural parks. Oya, the Ministry statement went from that 60 per cent was spent on the Maha season. fertiliser issue had been discussed The Colombo Bird Park is one on to say. relief and the remaining 40 per cent Amaraweera agreed however that thrice by the Cabinet they had still step, the Ministry stated, in an “The Colombo Bird Park is being was used to pay public servants, scores of farmers had still not not been able to resolve it. overall plan to attract tourists to Sri built for the benefit of the future,” Godahewa explained. Lanka. The laying of the foundation State Minister Godahewa said at the He claimed that great stone was held yesterday in the event.