monday Entire country will be 3 august 2020 Latest Edition given benefits of an Vol: 09/200 Price : Rs 30.00 abundant economy – President

President Gotabaya emphasised that it was says he will important to comprehend build a people-centric the bitter reality of the economy that will be economy following the fully owned by the people COVID-19 pandemic and of this country. strengthening the people The President further instead of fabricating said the objective of the false promises about the Government is to create cost of living. a National Economy for The President made Let’s get UNP will ensure the future that will these remarks during the Will not cut strengthen the local election tour to support entrepreneurs, instead of the Podujana selling national Peramuna in the together to people will have resources and financial Hambantota District, back any assets of the country to yesterday (2 August). foreigners. The President form a Govt with all three meals President participated in the public reliefs given Rajapaksa gathering at the Shopping Complex, Middeniya and a conscience – Ranil inquired about to people requirements in the area. By Thameenah Razeek The gathering was – Sajith organised by SLPP UNP Leader urged candidate, Kapila the public to vote no matter what. – Prime Minister Dissanayake. In Addressing a rally organised by former response to a request to Leader, , Parliamentarian Vajira Leader of the Sri repair the roof of a addressing the final rally Abeywardena in Galle Lanka Podujana building at Middeniya in , said he is yesterday, Peramuna, Prime Maha Vidyalaya... ready to go to prison for Wickremesinghe Minister Mahinda constructing temples. stated that people Rajapaksa, said His full speech: should not stay at he will ensure Dear friends, I went all home in fear of development of the over the country. During COVID-19, since entire country, this short time, I visited their mandate is from Dondra Head every electorate. People needed to form a to Point Pedro gathered around the strong Parliament. under the new ‘Telephone’ daily. As of He also said there Government that will today, an should be a be set up subsequent extremely powerful Parliament to the General large... because Parliament Election. is responsible for The Prime policy making. Minister Therefore, the public requested, should go to the at the final polling booth SLPP and cast their rally... vote wisely.

Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 12 Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 12 TUs call off protest SLPP will win 135 seats – Basil By Thameenah Razeek 135 seats. However, Rajapaksa was Power at Colombo Port optimistic that other candidates PM assures of solutions While insisting that they will allied with them will get the definitely secure victory on 5 mandate to increase the number of hungry rulers August to set up a powerful seats to 150. He predicted that the By Leon Berenger Parliament, Sri Lanka Podujana TNA will get the majority in the Peramuna (SLPP) National other three districts, which are Workers at the Colombo Port called off their protest Organiser, Basil Rajapaksa, Vanni, Batticaloa and Jaffna. unconcerned yesterday morning, following discussions with Prime stated that they have no “Other than those districts, we are Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, a trade unionist said. intention of creating a coalition sure that we will get votes from The discussions, which lasted for at least one hour Government in the future, to get other districts in a higher about people at Rajapaksa’s private residence ‘Carlton House’ in a majority in the House. percentage,” he stated, while Tangalle, ended on a hopeful note, Secretary of the He also stated that except insisting that they will definitely Progressive Workers’ Union Colombo Port (PWUCP), for three districts, the get two-thirds majority in Shyamal Sumanaratne said. SLPP will secure the Parliament. – Anura Kumara majority in all Pointing out the SLPP will lead in Story Continued on page 12 other districts the Election results, Rajapaksa By Anuradha Herath without a opined that the party that comes in doubt, and second will not be able to get even Leader of the Colombo District also will half of the votes that the SLPP gets Team of the National Prison SP Sampayo obtain about in the Election. People's Power, Anura Kumara arrested Story Continued on page 2 Dissanayake, says at the final rally in Handed over to CID for further investigations Colombo that Sri Restarting Valaichchenai Paper Mill Lanka will face By Chamara Cat caught more calamities Amarasuriya if Rajapaksas smuggling drugs Wimal supports return to Former Superintendent of power. the Negombo Prison, Three inmates escape ‘Vision of Prosperity' Anuruddha Sampayo, who had a warrant out against him, was from Kalutara Prison By Buddhika Samaraweera arrested yesterday (2) by a team of Police Officers By Leon Berenger Minister of Small and Medium Business and including the Inspector of Enterprise Development, Industries and Police of Negombo... A cat that was strapped with a pack of Supply Chain Management, Wimal heroin and other banned items was Weerawansa has given a great start to Story Continued on discovered inside the Colombo Magazine President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's 'Vision of page 2 Prison premises yesterday, a senior Prosperity' programme through the official said. resumption of production at the Valaichchenai No COVID-19 threat at Two packets of heroin weighing 1.2 Paper Mill, which had been closed for a long Story Continued on page 12 grams, two phone SIM cards and a time, said Lalith Weeratunga,... polling stations – EC memory chip were also found in a tiny bag, Commissioner General of Prisons Story Continued on page 2 Hambantota will be Bring your own pen if possible T.N. Upuldeniya said. The animal was detected by an alert among four great By Buddhika Samaraweera Prisons intelligence officer positioned at the main entrance, he said. Woman shot Commercial Cities Chairman of the Election Commission (EC), He added the banned items had been Mahinda Deshapriya assured there is no risk of.... handed over to the Borella Police, while – President the Prison Department is conducting an dead in Beliatta Story Continued on page 2 inquiry into the incident. A hunt has been launched for the killer/ Port and Mattala Airport to be killers of a 52-year-old woman, who was found centres supplying services dead with gunshot wounds in the front yard of her house at Dammulla in Beliatta yesterday President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says Shani admitted morning. the Hambantota District will be Police said the woman had died prior to developed as one of ‘Four Multi- admission to the Tangalle Hospital. dimensional Commercial Cities’ that are to Prison Hospital Initial investigations have revealed that the expected to be functioning as By Kumudu Upul Shantha victim was killed while she was asleep, Police International Coordination Centres. said. The motive for the killing is yet to be Colombo, Jaffna and Trincomalee are Former CID Director,SSP Shani Abeysekara has established and the Tangalle Police are the other districts expected to be been moved to the Mahara Prison Hospital under tight conducting further investigations into the developed as ‘Four Multi-dimensional security, sources said. killing. (LB) Commercial Cities’.

Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 A2 Monday 3 august 2020 News

Continued from page 1 Entire country... Cat caught... Hambantota will... “These days there have been a lot of changes insides the The President further ... the President ordered the Army purpose and requested to build a prisons with the tightening of security among other said the Government Commander at that very moment to look garment factory in the area. measures. will build a country that into the matter immediately. The President Rajapaksa was warmly It in this backdrop that the smugglers have resorted to can compete in President also heeded to the request welcomed amidst cheers of the people other methods. international markets made by the public to improve the at the public rally in close proximity However, this is the first time that the smugglers have by establishing a facilities of the Middeniya Hospital. to Beliatta Pradheshiya Sabha used an animal,” Commissioner Upuldeniya further said. "C-shaped economic The Maha Sanga present at the public organised by SLPP candidate, Namal Meanwhile, a massive hunt has been launched for three corridor connecting two rally at Walasmulla Public Playground Rajapaksa. prisoners that broke jail at the Kalutara Prison during the main ports and airports requested the President to form a The President also attended the public early hours of yesterday, Upuldeniya added. while integrating all Pradheshiya Sabha for Walasmulla. The rally organised by candidates Namal He said the prisoners, aged between 23 and 32, who were business zones. rally was organised by SLPP candidate, Rajapaksa and D.V. Chanaka behind identified as heroin addicts and residents of Beruwala and President Rajapaksa Lionel Subasinghe. the Tangalle Municipal Council and Kalutara, were being held on narcotics charges inside the made these remarks The President was also apprised of the spoke to the crowd about their remand jail. during his campaign issues relating to the Walasmulla requirements. They had escaped after scaling the shorter section of the visit to Hambantota Hospital, Bus Stand and the market. This was the last public gathering wall that surrounds the jail, he said. district, yesterday(02) in The crowd also informed the President President Rajapaksa attended in the One escapee was subsequently rounded up at a location support of the candidates of Sri Lanka about the possibility of using a closed islandwide election campaign tour to in Kalutara several hours after the incident, he added. Podujana Peramuna contesting next school(due to the shortage of students) support the SLPP candidates in the Several Police teams had been deployed to arrest the Wednesday’s Parliamentary Election. in Yahamulla for some other productive forthcoming General Election. remaining fugitives, he further said. The President commenced his Hambantota District tour at the public meeting organised by Minister near the Tissamaharama Bus Stop. The President was accorded a grand UNP will... welcome at the meeting and the public gathered at the venue presented their issues He also said there are many to either scold me or to criticise my house should be lifted up by the new He pointed out that if the people to the President. Attending a public gathering political parties that are contesting plans. There are some parties to Government. stay at home without voting, a organised by candidate Harsha Udayakumara the forthcoming General Election, facilitate only the minority. But we Speaking further, dictatorship will be set up, that does at the Lunugamvehera Bus Stop premises, but only two political parties are are here to face the real issues. Wickremesinghe said the economy not fulfil people's needs. the President said that a proper and actually in the battle for power. People should decide whether they in the country is in crisis and the "We assure that when we come to systematic programme will be implemented "The Sri Lanka Podujana are with the Government who is Government has to repay a debt in power, we will set up a system, two provide permanent solutions for the issue Peramuna and UNP are the only two really battling against COVID-19 or September, but the former whereby the economy in people's of drinking water and to the issue of the wild parties that are contesting to form a hiding from it," he stressed, while Government has saved enough house as well as in the country will elephant threat. Government. Other parties are here stating that the economy in the money to settle those. be uplifted," he said. The Maha Sangha extended their blessings for the success of President’s initiatives. The attention of the President was also drawn to the shortages at Hambantota Mahanagapura Maha Vidyalaya and No COVID-19... Wimal supports... Lunugamvehera Maha Vidyalaya. The people presented their issues such as lack of public ... COVID-19 spreading at polling station. He further urged the people ... Senior Advisor to the products. “We should be proud transport facilities for several villages to the stations where the General Election to bring a pen if possible to the polling President. of what we produce in our President and they also requested to provide is scheduled to be held on station. Those who do not bring will He was addressing a function country,” he said. facilities to purchase fertilizers directly from Wednesday as the Election be provided with pens cleaned with held at the Foundation Institute Prof. Raj Somadeva of the stores. A girl child P.G. Pasangi donated a till Commission has taken all the antiseptic liquids, he said. in Colombo yesterday (2) to University of Kelaniya, who with her savings to the COVID-19 Fund. precautions. The National Identity Card, launch the first batch of paper participated in this occasion, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, He said the EC has provided all the Passport, Retirement Identity Card, manufactured at the revived said that Weerawansa's action Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and candidates necessary facilities for all officials to Elderly Identity Card issued by the Valaichchenai Paper Mill. should be followed by all other Namal Rajapaksa and Ajith Rajapaksa were perform election duties and for people to Secretariat for Elders and the "Coming through a period of ministers. Through it, the also present on the occasion. cast their votes in accordance with the Identity Cards issued by the using imported goods for country will be rebuilt, he said. The people gathered at the public meeting health instructions. There is no reason Department of Registration of decades, I am delighted to see the Several guests representing organised by Minister Chamal Rajapaksa at for the people to be scared and all Persons for the clergy can be used for first product of the Valaichchenai the Sri Lanka Printers' the Sooriyawewa Public Market premises necessary facilities have been provided voting. If someone does not have any Paper Mill. Weerawansa deserves Association also attended the requested the President to take steps to to conduct the election following the of these, they can use an identity credit for this. He had the event and they pledged to give eradicate the drug menace from the country. health instructions, he said. card issued by the Grama Niladhari confidence to rebuild it at a time their fullest support to this The President also paid his attention to the Deshapriya also said people must or the estate superintendent of the when plans were afoot to sell this programme initiated by request made by the people of the area to wear a face mask when visiting the area where he resides, he said. factory," he said. Weerawansa in the future. construct a building for Rideegama Maha polling station and added that He also requested people not to Speaking further, Weeratunga Wimal Rupasinghe, Chairman Vidyalaya. A little girl donated a till with her necessary facilities have been stay in polling stations or on went on to say "President of the National Paper savings to COVID – 19 Fund. provided for washing hands at the surrounding roads after casting their Rajapaksa says that everything Corporation, who was present at The President who participated at the public entrance and exit of the polling votes. that can be produced in the the occasion, said that meetings organised by candidate Upul country should be produced in production at the Embilipitiya Sanjeewa Galappaththi at the Hambantota the country and if we do not do paper factory is also planned to beach garden and the candidate Ajith so, we will have to get into debt commence soon. We hope to save Rajapaksa at the Ambalantota Pradeshiya to foreign countries for nothing." Rs 1 billion in foreign exchange, Sabha Grounds engaged in a cordial He also said that the by producing 100 tonnes of paper discussion with the people gathered at the Shani admitted... resumption of production at the at the Embilipitiya factory and venues. Valaichchenai Paper Mill will another100 tonnes at the The President was warmly received by the They added that after revealing that he is having high blood pressure and benefit many families through Valaichchenai factory daily, people when he arrived at the public meetings diabetes, he has been admitted to the hospital on the recommendations of the the jobs created and that within a period of six months, he organised by Minister doctors at the prison hospital. Weerawansa should be given full said. Minister Weerawansa, near the Hungama bus stand, candidate D.V. The Gampaha Magistrate’s Court remanded Abeysekara till 7 August over credit for that. Secretary to the Prime Minister Chanaka at the Ranna Cultural Centre the allegations of fabricating evidence regarding a firearm connected to the He also called on the business Gamini Senarath, and many premises and the candidate Jayantha Mohamed Shiyam murder case involving a group including former DIG Vaas community to prioritise local others were present at the Wanniarachchi at the Weeraketiya Fair Gunawardena. products rather than imported occasion. premises.

Prison SP...... Headquarters after 11 days, near St. As a result of an intelligence operation, S.V.K. Woodler and investigations are being Nishantha Senaratne and Jailor Kalinga Anne’s Vidyalaya in Kurunegala. yesterday a team of Police Officers including conducted under the direct supervision of Kaluaggala of the same prison surrendered When a warrant was issued for the Inspector of Police of Negombo Acting Inspector General of Police, C.D. to the CID and were subsequently arrest of the person named Sampayo, Headquarters S.V.K. Woodler, Sampayo was Wickramaratne and Senior Deputy remanded. several investigating teams from the CID taken into custody. Inspector General of Police in charge of the The suspects are alleged to have provided were deployed to take him into custody The Negombo Magistrate’s Court had Western Province, Deshabandu Tennakoon. facilities, from a refrigerator to alcohol, and an operation was launched. issued a warrant for four persons including Sampayo was handed over to the CID for tobacco products, mobile phones, upmarket Meanwhile, some relatives of his family Sampayo on 22 July in connection with further investigations last night. food,fizz drinks etc to certain inmates, in and a brother of his had been questioned providing facilities such as refrigerators to Arrested on 22 July, handed himself over return for cash handouts. too. certain prison inmates. Three jailors of the to the Headquarters Inspector (HQI) at the Meanwhile, Sampayo had also filed a writ Meanwhile, as a result of President Negombo Prison, who had warrants issued Kurunegala Police Station yesterday petition at the Court of Appeal, seeking an Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordering the Acting against them, surrendered to the CID and afternoon. injunction preventing him from being Inspector General of Police to obtain the have been remanded. They said the interdicted SP was arrested. support of intelligence sectors of the Anuruddha Sampayo was taken into subsequently placed under arrest and was On 30 July, the CID also recorded Security Forces to arrest him, further custody by a team of Police Officers due to be produced before a local Magistrate statements from two siblings of SP investigations commenced with the including Officer-in-Charge of the Negombo some time yesterday evening. Sampayo, to trace his whereabouts, while assistance of intelligence sectors. Police Station, Chief Inspector of Police Earlier, Chief Jailors Sarath Bandara and he continued to evade arrest.

SLPP will win...

“The SLPP will definitely win the Media, Rajapaksa stated they the President followed in the It was stated that the profit imprisonment of Premalal this Election as well. We will need a solid Constitution, which election campaign, giving the from exports has increased to Jayasekara and this situation definitely end this Election with a does not create a split between opportunity to the Public to speak US$ 1,060 on 31 July. does not affect the election at major victory. The UNP will be in the Government and the up rather than speaking to people, When asked why the SLPP did any time. The last time he led in the fourth place and will not win President and to introduce a new addressing the final Media briefing not come up with a new the district was when he was even one district and we hope election system also to remove before the General Election in manifesto for the General imprisoned. I think it will be an that the National People’s Power articles in the Constitution that Colombo, Rajapaksa yesterday (2) Election, Rajapaksa said that advantage this time as well,” he (NPP) will get some number of are contradictory. “The President stated that no President in history people were happy and ready to said. seats in the House, because we should have all the power to gave the chance to express their accept the manifesto released Speaking about the way are disappointed about the fact create a disciplined society for the problems to the President, which during the Presidential Election Election laws were enforced that our Opposition will be either protection of the people of this many did, getting on the stage and and that is why they did not go during the election campaign funny or immature and we need country and to protect national talking on behalf of their parties, for a new one. time period, Rajapaksa said they the NPP to hold some positions in security. We will make some to garner votes. Therefore, the Speaking about minority are happy about the way the law Parliament,” he said. amendments, based on the SLPP is poised to gain a major parties, Rajapaksa said that was enforced and everything It was also said that they need mandate given by the people and victory in the history with the they never addressed those happened legally without any two-thirds majority in the House we will work for the needs of the mandate of the people. parties as minorities and those issue since they are happy. “We to draft a new Constitution, people. Even though our country “For the first time, the President people as minorities in the may have missed some where no conflict will be created has gained independence, there went all over the country without country and they are looking guidelines issued by the health between the Constitution and are issues rising up like lack of addressing the people and to build a mutual authorities to minimise the Executive powers granted under water and infrastructure focused on the problems of the relationship with them in the spread of COVID-19 because the the current Constitution. Even facilities. There are more than people and took the necessary hope that they will help the Public Health Officers were on though the President has the 5,000,000 families that do not steps to provide quick solutions Government to create a conflict- strike,” he said. Executive powers, he does not have access to clean water, while to their problems. The people free Parliament. “Former SLPP Chairman, Professor G.L. have the power to manage 10,000,000 are in poverty,” he were given the opportunity to Parliamentarian Vasudeva Peiris and SLPP General Finance and legislation. said. speak without speaking on any Nanayakkara made a clear Secretary, , Fielding a question posed by Meanwhile, praising the method platform,” he said. statement regarding the participated in the Media briefing. news monday 3 august 2020 A3 Lanka on Fmr SIS Director tells Easter Sunday PCoI Abortion clinic Kuwait ban list Indian couple busted Kuwait has banned commercial flights to 31 ‘high Eleven, including doctor, risk’ countries, including to Sri Lanka, due to the spread of the Covid-19, foreign news agencies said five women held quoting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. A group of 11 persons, including a doctor and five “The countries include India, Pakistan, Egypt, the joined IS women were rounded up following a raid on an Philippines, Lebanon and Sri Lanka, which all have abortion clinic in down-town Nitambuwa on Friday large numbers of expatriates in Kuwait. The list also last week Police said. According to Police equipment includes China, Iran, Brazil, Mexico, Italy and Iraq,” used for abortion, medicinal drugs and a haul of reports said. national identity cards were also seized during the The ban was announced on the same day Kuwait after studying raid conducted on a tip-off. Initial investigations have began a partial resumption of commercial flights. The revealed that the clinic charged a fee of Rs. 40,000 for authorities have said Kuwait International Airport each abortion. The owner of the clinic was also among would run at about 30 per cent capacity from last those taken into custody, Police added. Saturday. The group was scheduled to be produced before a Kuwait, which has recorded nearly 67,000 corona in Negombo local Magistrate sometime yesterday, Police further virus cases and more than 400 deaths, began a five- said. phase plan at the start of June to gradually lift (LB) restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the virus. (LB) Fmr IGP informed of need for common legal system By Buddhika Samaraweera Jayawardena also said that that school Massage clinics was run as a private school and that Arrest Sampayo The State Intelligence Service (SIS), the SIS had taken steps to inform the on 26 July, 2016, submitted a report to relevant authorities that it was feel Police heat before 4 Aug or answer the then Inspector General of Police problematic to issue Visa to students (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara stating that coming to study at the school from 18, including 14 women, held to Court – DSG attention should be paid to the lack of foreign countries. A group of 18 persons, including 14 women, was a common legal system applicable to He also said that during his tenure arrested during separate raids on massage parlours in By Hansi Nanayakkara the maintenance of educational as the SIS Director, it was observed different locations yesterday, Police said. institutions, former Director of the SIS, that students were offered They said the raids were conducted on the so-called Former Superintendent of Prisons Anuruddha Senior Deputy Inspector General of scholarships to study in Middle health clinics in Negombo, Colombo and Thalangama. Sampayo, for whom an arrest warrant has been Police (SDIG) Nilantha Jayawardena Eastern countries such as Saudi The fake health clinics that operated with issued, over providing facilities to some prisoners of said. He said that the report also Arabia through certain embassies, questionable registration certificates from the health the Negombo Prison, should be arrested before 4 contained information about an Indian which also contributed to some issues. authorities were glorified brothels, one senior Policeman August. If not, the Police should come to Court on couple that had joined the Islamic He was testifying before the said. Meanwhile, in a related incident two young women that day and inform the Court why they could not State (IS) organisation after studying at Presidential Commission of Inquiry were rounded up from a brothel in the Metropolis, arrest him, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa an Arabic school located in the probing the Easter Sunday, 2019 Police said. Peiristold media last Friday. Kochchikade area of Negombo. SDIG bombings. (LB) Peiris revealed this at a media briefing organised by the Attorney General’s Department to inform on the Attorney General’s stance on not arresting Sampayo. “It has been 10 days since the Court issued a warrant for this person. Did Sampayo vanish? We COVID-19 infected Proposal to use have no clue where he is. How he is hiding in this small piece of land. That is what we must find. If Sampayo cannot be arrested though there’s a seized cannabis in Police force of 87,000, what message will it send to at Kandaku now 600 the society? According to the status report Yesterday it was expected nine Twenty two warrants have been issued for issued by the National Operations persons would complete their Ayur medicines Sampayo. On 24 July he came to the Aluthkade Centre for Prevention of COVID-19, quarantine at the Army-run Court complex in Colombo and signed an affidavit. the number of COVID-19 infected at quarantine centres and return By Thameenah Razeek How did he do that When his photographs are the Kandakadu Rehabilitation home. Accordingly, there are five displayed in the media, he must have self-confidence Center is 600 and 482 of them are individuals in the Nipuna Boossa Proposals have made to use cannabis, seized in raids, in to come to the Court which issued the warrant and rehabilitating inmates and 66 are Quarantine Centre and four in the Ayurvedic medicines, the Excise Department said. sign an affidavit without fear. Isn’t there a problem staffers. Hotel Dolphin Quarantine Centre. The Proposals have been forwarded after officers of the with this system? As of yesterday (2), no COVID-19 About 28,986 people have Colombo Special Operations Unit, at the Sri Lanka Excise Sampayo sends 15 lawyers, including a President’s patients were reported for the past completed the quarantine process Department, arrested three suspects with a cannabis field Counsel, to Court without appearing himself. This 24 hours. and returned home by yesterday cultivated in a fertile area, following a secret raid in the system has given him such strength. So shouldn’t A number of five infected staff and while 2,047 are being quarantined Aluthwewa area of Hambegamuwa. Subsequent we stop this system? 46 relatives and friends of theirs in 34 centres controlled by the Tri- investigations revealed that the three suspects had been That is why we are asking the IGP to unite with us and one associate of the inmate of forces. 1,280 Polymerase Chain cultivating and running the field as a joint venture. to suppress these crimes. You have to do the ground Welikada Prison, who was infected Reaction (PCR) tests were Excise officials found more than 6,545 cannabis trees level duty. We will do the role of the Judiciary. You with the COVID-19 have been conducted on 1 August and overall growing in the field and the value of the cannabis was do the rest for us. We cannot arrest the suspects identified. 160,226 tests have been completed around four million rupees. The plants were on an acre of and bring them to Court. The EK-647 passenger plane was so far. land among the banana plantations that were invisible to the We have to hurry regarding criminal cases in this scheduled to take 330 people from As of yesterday morning, 48 drones and water was supplied for cultivation using electric country. All those cases are delayed. Without media Dubai midnight yesterday, the persons had fully recovered and motors. It is revealed that they were expecting an income of coverage, this case would have already been closed. QR-668 flight, 13 people from Doha were discharged from hospitals. around Rs 3.5 million from the sale of this harvest. But we will not allow that to happen in the future. and the UL-504 passenger plane Out of these, 15 persons have been The three suspects were produced before the Wellawaya That’s why we tell the Police to come and join us. was scheduled to arrive from identified as individuals who Magistrate’s Court and each was fined Rs 5,000 and Rs They had publicly stated that they would London with 22 people. arrived from abroad and the 15,000. The samples required to be produced in Court were assassinate the President, the Secretary of Defence, Arrangements have been made to remaining 33 have been identified then taken and the remaining trees were set on fire and the Commissioner General of Prisons and the direct quarantine operations in as locally identified persons. destroyed at the same time. Superintendent of Prisons in this country using centers controlled by the Tri-forces. (TR) their accomplices outside. How did those prisoners get such courage, strength and confidence? The Police Department plays a significant role in the administration of justice in this country. But that leadership must be given by the frontline. All of Couple busted with one Kg of heroin us are under the law. The Attorney General is also going to the Court regarding cases. The high ranking A couple was taken into custody remaining 500 grams was recovered Police Officers should come forward and give along with one kilogram of heroin at a from a house in Boralesgamuwa that leadership at this moment. location in Belanwilla yesterday belonged to them Police added. Now, we have told the Police Department that afternoon, Police said. The heroin find has a street value of though someone surrenders to the Court they According to Police the bust was some one million rupees, Police said. should be able to find out where he was. Because, made while the pair was travelling in a The detection was made following a this sets a bad precedent. Those who hide them are car. tip-off provided to State Intelligence more dangerous than criminals. We should find and Initially, 500 grams of the narcotic sleuths, Police added. punish them regardless of their positions,” he said. was recovered from the vehicle and the (LB) TNA cheating the voters By Naalir Jamaldeen – Velayutham The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) area live in 200-foot houses like line Jaffna District Chief Candidate houses with poor facilities, according to Ganeswaran Velayutham yesterday (02) Velayutham. Except for the five storey said that during his visit to the housing complex constructed by Late Gurunagar area in Jaffna the under- President Ranasinghe Premadasa a sin- privileged residents lamented that gle housing project was not implement- despite many politicians representing ed in the North, Velayutham noted. them in the Parliament they receive step Velayutham said that after listening to motherly treatment. the grievances of underprivileged com- Velayutham claimed that those who munity of Gurunagar, he contacted draft plans to construct a fully equipped Sajith Premadasa and he pledged the Municipal Council Building at the housing apartment projects can be Urban Council ground failed to think of brought to the North obtaining financial constructing a housing scheme for the assistance through World Bank and poor people in the neighbourhood. other donor countries. Velayutham said that the residents of Velayutham lamented that instead of this area told him that with high hopes obstructing the housing projects that they cast their valuable votes to the were brought to the North the TNA could (TNA) but they have allowed those housing projects and won’t commit that mistake again. the underprivileged folk in the province The poverty - stricken people of this might have benefited.

T56 ammo found near Negombo Jail At least 13 rounds of live T56 The Police were led to the thicket ammunition was found in close vicinity following a tip-off, they said. of the Negombo Prison yesterday, Police Prison officials along with the local said. They said the find was made in a Police have launched an investigation bamboo thicket behind jailors’ quarters. into the incident. (LB) A4 monday 3 august 2020 column Key Issues in Sri Lanka’s One Horse Electoral Race By P.K.Balachandran Government before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged The 5 August 2020 Sri Lankan genocide. The moderate TNA has Parliamentary Election are likely to be demanded federalism and a partly a one-horse race with the ruling SLPP international judicial mechanism to being streets ahead of its rivals in adjudicate cases of human rights popular estimation. Nevertheless, the violations during the war. Election campaigns of the various But, none these of demands is parties have thrown up key issues acceptable to the ruling SLPP. The which will determine what Sri Lanka SLPP, which is explicitly pro-military, will be like in the immediate and considers the demands anti-national mid-term future. and sacrilegious. The UNP and SJB The SLPP’s unassailable position is are for more devolution but only partly because of the splintered under a unitary constitution. While opposition and partly because of the Tamil parties insist that foreign President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s intervention is a must to solve the success in containing COVID-19. ethnic question, SLPP considers it Given the manifest failure of the anti-national. The UNP and SJB are previous Yahapalana Government the on paper for a mixed Lankan- UNP led by former Prime Minister international judicial system but not Ranil Wickremesinghe and the SJB, in reality as their conduct in power led by the former Housing Minister showed. Therefore, there is a Sinhala- Sajith Premadasa, is on a weak Tamil divide on the ethnic issue. wicket. The Muslims do not demand The SLPP is hoping and working for had manifestly failed to prevent the M.A. Sumanthiran, these parties the Sinhala-Buddhists’ fears about a territorial autonomy but want their a two-thirds majority to bring about Easter Sunday carnage, despite might be game for amending some of violent Islamic resurgence. Muslim communal and religious rights vital and far-reaching constitutional getting accurate intelligence from the dysfunctional aspects of the 19A. leader Rishad Bathuideen was hauled protected. They also seek a place in changes. But this is not easy to attain India. As per 19 A the IGP too cannot It is also said that when it comes to up before the investigating agencies the political High Table. But the under the present Election system. appoint, transfer or sack officers even the crunch, the SLPP will get some against the plea of the Election majority Sinhala-Buddhists and the However, as in 2010, the Government though he has first-hand knowledge UNP, SJB and some Muslim MPs to Commission that the probe be SLPP look upon these demands as a could make for any shortfall by of the candidates’ capabilities and cross over to its side to enable it to get postponed until after the Election. prelude to Islamic exclusivism, getting opposition MPs to crossover. performance. the two thirds majority required for Meanwhile the regime refrained from separatism and even terrorism, The on-going poll campaign has One of the major grievances against the constitutional amendment. appointing any Muslim to the especially after the Easter Sunday thrown up critical issues which could the 19A is that it ties the hands of the Cabinet, which, for the first time in bombings in 2019. The Muslims are determine Sri Lanka’s future. Executive President, who is directly Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim the history of post-independence Sri not voicing their demands stridently elected by the people. It also curtails Issues Lanka, does not have a Muslim. but it is no secret that they will not Empowered Executive the powers of the Prime Minister who The Tamils’ demand for a federal vote for the SLPP. Presidency enjoys majority support in an elected The SLPP had won the November constitution with maximum It is expected that a post-poll SLPP Parliament. Thus the 19A negates the 2019 Presidential Election devolution for a united Tamil- regime will try to consolidate its The SLPP’s predilection for popular mandates of the President comfortably without the vote of the dominated North and East, has been Sinhala-Buddhist voter base by centralisation with a strong and Parliament. minority Tamils and Muslims. The summarily rejected by the SLPP. In primarily servicing the latter’s Government in Colombo with an As the experience of the 2015-2019 party depended primarily on its fact, the SLPP proposes to revisit the material, political and ideological elected Executive President at the Yahapalana Government showed, the appeal to the Sinhala-Buddhist India-inspired 13th, amendment needs. head is well known. Prime Minister 19 A is bundle of confusion and majority. This time too, it is banking which created elected provincial Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is contradictions as regards the powers on the same strategy. After winning council with a modicum of autonomy. Ticklish Foreign Policy spearheading the SLPP’s campaign, is of the President, the Prime Minister the Presidential Election, many SLPP leaders have been saying that Issues calling for a new constitution without and parliament with one institution expected President Gotabaya powers could be delegated to the 19th Amendment (19A) which made to over-ride the other. Rajapaksa to reach out to the Tamils grassroots level local bodies rather There are sharp differences between curtails the powers of the President The SLPP wants the 19A severely and Muslims for the sake of national than provincial councils. The utter the SLPP and the opposition on and gives significant powers over amended if not scrapped. There could unity and efficient governance. But he failure of the TNA to run the Northern foreign policy. The SLPP is publicly recruitment, promotion, transfer and be a proposal to revive the 18th has kept up the divide in the belief Provincial Council meaningfully is confronting the U.S. and the Western dismissal to a number of Independent Amendment (18A) which Mahinda that it will give him a similarly good cited as an example of the failure of Bloc on land issues in the proposed Commissions. Rajapaksa had inducted in 2010 dividend in the Parliamentary Provincial Council. Millennium Challenge Corporation For example, the Public Service when he was President. The 18A Elections. Compact, and the question of alleged Commission is vested with the power scrapped the 17th Amendment (17A) Since it was in his interest to go for Tamil Revivalism war crimes. The incumbent regime is of appointment, promotion, transfer, of 2001, which had introduced the early Elections, he brushed aside the The SLPP’s outright rejection of their also at odds with India on Indian disciplinary control and dismissal of Constitutional Council and opposition’s plea that in view of the long-standing demands has resulted investments and projects such as the public officers, subject to the Independent Commissions to curb the threat from COVID-19, the polls in the Tamils pitching their demands Eastern Terminal in Colombo port provisions of the Constitution. powers of the Executive Presidency should be postponed indefinitely and high. All Tamil parties have made a and the Trincomalee oil tanks. But Since the introduction of the which was then with Chandrika that the dissolved parliament should federal constitution with maximum the UNP and SJB are for a more Constitutional Council and the Kumaratunga. The 18A replaced the be resurrected. However, the devolution to a unified North and East accommodative approach on these Independent Commission in 2001 by Constitutional Council by a President’s tough measures to contain as their principal demand. But the issues. While the SLPP is undoubtedly the 17th Amendment, every Parliamentary Council thus COVID-19 using the military helped Tamil Peoples’ National Alliance (TPNA) pro-China, the others are somewhat Government and President has faced transferring power from a non-elected him contain the virus. Thus the led by C.V. Wigneswaran, former Chief wary of Beijing, being basically pro- obstacles placed by these non-elected to an elected body. opposition’s charge of militarisation Minister of the Northern Province, is West. Foreign powers are quietly bodies. The latest to suffer was Any SLPP move to abolish or came unstuck. demanding a UN-supervised observing the Election hoping that the President who severely curtail 19A will be resisted by As part of the same strategy, the referendum among the Tamils on the winning party will be friendly to them could not sack or punish the the UNP and SJB and also the TNA as SLPP regime chose to re-investigate kind of solution they want for the as it settles downs to face the realities Inspector General of Police, Pujith they had been its authors. However, the April 21, 2019 serial bombings by ethnic issue. The TPNA’s manifesto of governing a country amidst the Jayasundara, even though the officer as hinted by TNA’s spokesman, Islamic extremists, thus keeping alive also said that it will drag the Lankan comity of nations.

After embarrassing Archbishop Can the UNP canvass for Roman Catholic and Christian votes?

By Leo Royston Dawson paid a courtesy call on Malcolm religion or nationality, should reject as well. Only then namely ISIS. However, the previous Cardinal Ranjith. these politicians and send them home that the above-mentioned Administration had completely Can the UNP, UNF and newly- Here is one of the senior Cabinet honourably and teach them how to congregation will reconsider you ignored this warning, which had been formed SJB, under the leadership of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs respect the religious leaders of this ‘Sajith’ as a patriotic leader. advised well in advance. Due to this Sajith Premadasa, canvass for Roman and Labour, , country. A statement made by former Premier negligence of the previous Catholic and Christian votes, after who paid a courtesy call on Malcolm All patriotic citizens of this country Ranil Wickremesinghe at a political Administration, over 300 had lost their causing embarrassment to Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith on 11 July 2020, to will remember and have not forgotten rally in the Gampaha District in the lives, mainly in the Catholic churches Cardinal Ranjith and the respected appreciate him for his brave and the 21 April 2019 Easter Sunday 8:45 Wattala Electorate on 29 October such as in Negombo, Katuwapitiya St. Buddhist clergy? courageous decisions to save this a.m. massacre incident before casting 2019 evening: “Although the UNP/ Sebastian’s Church, Colombo 13, St. Today, the difference between the country on 21 April 2019, almost a their franchise votes. And now UNF won this electorate with a Anthony’s Shrine, in Batticaloa, St. present government and the respected year ago, of a major disaster which followed with the embarrassing marginal majority, it was because of Mary’s Church and also at five- politicians and the shameless could have taken place, and the statements made by the recent the Muslim and Tamil votes and not of tourist hotels of this country. Even as politicians of the previous government country would have been placed with politicians of the UNP/UNF and now the peace-loving Sinhala votes.” of today, the present Administration is very clearly evident. a severe ethnic issue as well. followed by the SJB led by the He had stated that there had been had not been able to ascertain the While the leaders and Cabinet What did the shameless Premadasa group. many lapses during their correct statistical data with regard to Ministers of the present government Yes! And why? Did most of the Administration and as a result the 21 the loss of innocent lives. Also, the appreciate the brave decisions taken politicians do? Roman Catholics, Christians and the April 2019 irreparable damage, killing present Administration is not even by Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the non- Christians did not cast their over 400 humans, as well as victims of aware of the number of disabled, shameless politicians of the UNP/UNF The shameless politicians of the votes to the presidential candidate the incident still lying in their beds suffering in their homes, bedridden. and SJB have insulted and caused previous regime do during their nominated by the UNP/UNF, and was one of their major negligences and Ignoring aspirations of embarrassment. administration the UNP/UNF and SJB knew very well that his defeat was lapses, the former Premier While the entire country as well as except for causing embarrassments, inevitable? shamelessly added. And can this be Roman Catholics, the international community greatly by insulting Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith The unwarranted, embarrassing accepted as well as justified? appreciated Malcolm Ranjith, the as well as embarrassing not only the statements and insults being made by Minister made Christians and others Cardinal appointed for the Asian respected religious dignitaries, but their former Cabinet Ministers from a statement on 2 November 2019 over The former Administration had countries and the Archbishop of also making a path to create time to time against the Buddhism of the electronic Media regarding the failed to consider the aspirations of the Colombo, for the brave decision taken disharmony among each religion. this country and also against Malcolm ‘Millennium Challenge Corporation Roman Catholics, Christians and the on 21 April inhumane attack, calling After insulting and causing Cardinal Ranjith, causing severe Agreement’ and did involve Malcolm other faithful non-Christians when on all Sri Lankans to act in a very calm embarrassment, they are regretting embarrassments did really reject the Cardinal Ranjith, who was totally not appointing the Deputy Minister for and peaceful manner and avoid any and crying over spilled milk for previous administration during last aware and innocent. We, as Roman Christian Affairs and appointed a harm done to human beings in the sympathy from Malcolm Cardinal regime. Catholics, Christians and non- Buddhist due to the vacancy which affected areas as well as the whole Ranjith. What a shame? The embarrassing statement made Christians are highly disturbed and arose on the resignation of the then country. It is highly commendable Do these shameless politicians by Cabinet Minister Harin Fernando condemn this ugly, unwarranted Deputy Minister, , being a even as of today and even the highly deserve the franchise votes of the on a political stage and embarrassed statement. These unethical faithful Roman Catholic from the -respected and honoured Buddhist Catholics, Christians and other Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith will reject statements will no doubt kill the voter Gampaha District. “Instead, appointed clergy and the other religious respected religious dignitaries of this the leadership of the Samagi Jana base of your potential candidate Sajith a Buddhist Member of Parliament, dignitaries of the different country in the forthcoming General Balawegaya headed by Sajith Premadasa. Ranjith Aluvihare as the Deputy congregations do appreciate for his Elections? Surely not. And what is the Premadasa. If Sajith really wants to As per the Media, it is quite evident Minister of Christian Affairs from the bold, wise vision and decision taken to assurance that these shameless convince the Roman Catholics, that from the early part of March Matale District.” The Roman prevent the country being placed into politicians offer to convince the above Christians and the non-Christians, he 2019, there had been over 97 Catholics, Christians and the non- a major disaster once again. mentioned religious dignitaries? It is should remove the memberships of all occasions informed via it that there is Christians analysed this appointment The Leaders and the Cabinet very clear that all peace-loving citizens who had contributed to embarrass a threat to this country by an by the former Prime Minister and were Ministers of the present government of this country, immaterial of their Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith including international terrorist organisation, highly disappointed. focus monday 3 august 2020 A5 Four factions of EROS contesting General Election

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan Rajee alias Nesadurai Thirunesan workshop. He joined EROS in 1985 who were quietly watching all these represent EROS and the Eelavar passed away in 2005. When Rajee aged 15 and was close to LTTE issues cropping up, formed the Democratic Front (EDF). The well-known Eelam passed away, a general meeting was leader K.V. Balakumaran. EROS Democratic Front, also Having witnessed this fraud to Revolutionary Organisation (EROS), announced by senior members of When Prabaharan had abbreviated as EDF. take over the leadership of EROS, now on the democratic path, is split EROS across Europe and Canada. A fraudulently changed the Raji (the son of Shankar Rajee), who into four factions and contesting the meeting took place in Zurich with registration of the General Secretary EROS Democratic Front has been representing EROS actively upcoming Parliamentary Election, the intention of forming an interim of the EDF from Balakumaran’s The EROS Democratic Front is led and politically since 2005, formed amidst a battle within them over the leadership committee. This meeting name to his name, no one could by Rajendran based in Kalmunai, the EROS Democratic Progressive party symbol and the name. was also attended by Prabaharan challenge it legally, as most senior who was a former General Alliance (EROS-EDPA) to counter The former militant group and from Batticaloa, who later fled the EROS members were based abroad. Committee member of EROS. He the claims by Prabaharan and the some of its factions are contesting in country. From 2007, up until 2015, both also works closely with Jeevan Sha, Thushiyanthan group to bring the the Parliamentary Elections or Prabaharan was also close to Rajanathan and Thushiyanthan who is based Upcountry, who runs other factions of EROS together, supporting party alliances in this . The Eelam worked as ‘one team.’ In 2015, (EROS Malayagam), which has namely the EROS Democratic Front General Election, namely; the People's Democratic Party (EPDP) Thushiyanthan severed ties with merged with the EROS Democratic led by Rajendran and Sha, including Eelavar Democratic Front (EDF) lead were not keen in the resurrection of Prabaharan and started to use the Front. Sha also has close links to the faction led by Raviraj and by Rajanathan Prabaharan, EROS and it’s political wing the EROS organisational name, the UNP and Tamil Progressive Rajanayagam. supported by the Raviraj/Arulappu Eelavar Democratic Front (EDF), including the EDF Party name Alliance. "Their cases are pending in the Rajanayagam faction (Jaffna/ which would eventually lead up to independently, from his hometown Simultaneously in 2015, a person Courts and copies of the fraudulent Vavuniya), the Thushiyanthan group its political revival in Local and in Vavuniya. named Raviraj tried to form a political documents are also in the custody of faction (Poonthotam, Vavuniya), the Parliamentary Elections due to the Both the Prabaharan faction and party. Raviraj worked very closely Rajanayagam and Raviraj, which I EROS Democratic Front (EDF) led by popularity and respect EROS has Thushiyanthan factions competed with Eliyathamby Pararajasingham have desperately tried to obtain to Rajendran (Kalmunai) and the EROS amongst the Tamil-speaking people and contested in Local and (alias Para Master), who was a former expose them all," said Raji. Democratic Progressive Alliance of the North and East and Parliamentary Elections both EROS MP. Raviraj is now contesting (EROS-EDPA) led by Nesan Shankar Upcountry. together and independently since under the Eelavar Democratic Front Plough symbol Raji. Amongst these factions, the It is alleged that shortly after the 2010, claiming to represent ‘EROS,’ banner in the Jaffna District. He is The Election Commission granted only collective representative of EROS general meeting in Zurich, which was false, as they never had now working hand in hand with interim permission for Prabaharan, EROS is the EROS Democratic Prabaharan clandestinely forged the backing of EROS senior Prabaharan and Rajanayagam based Rajanayagam and Raviraj to use the Progressive Alliance (EROS-EDPA). documentation, claiming that a members, including founder in Kannady, Vavuniya, also a Plough symbol of EROS and the A general meeting will be announced meeting took place in Zurich and members, Raji told . parliamentary candidate. Eelavar Democratic Front for this before the end of 2020 after the Prabaharan was supposedly In 2011/12, Prabaharan met Rajanayagam is the younger Parliamentary Election. Parliamentary Elections, warning all appointed as General Secretary of Arular Arudpragasam alias Arular (a brother of Arudpragasam. Meanwhile, the Thushiyanthan fraudulent factions to either merge the Eelavar Democratic Front (EDF). founder member of EROS) in Zurich. Rajanayagam was an EROS member faction have sided with the EPDP, with the EROS-EDPA or not be allowed These documents were filed at the Rajanathan Prabaharan and Arular and well-wisher and was associated the EROS Democratic Front led by to use the EROS organisation’s name Election Commission in Colombo hatched a deal and Arular was with EROS in the mid-80s. In Rajendran is aligned to the TNA in and bring the organisation to disrepute without the knowledge of any senior appointed as the so-called 2018/19, Rajanayagam was the North and East and the Tamil for individuals own selfish and vested or founder members of EROS. “Chairman of EROS.” appointed by the EROS Democratic Progressive Alliance in the personal agenda, Ceylon Today learns. Prabaharan also did not want the The fact is Arular had left EROS in Front and Eelavar Democratic Front Upcountry area support plantation EROS-EDPA, led by Nesan Shankar registered General Secretary of the 1980 and was a founder member of factions as an interim General politicians Digambaram and Raji, said that they are seeking to Eelavar Democratic Front (EDF) the EPRLF. He then left the EPRLF Secretary of the Eelavar Democratic Radhakrishnan. remove Rajanathan Prabaharan as namely K.V. Balakumaran, a former and worked closely with the LTTE, Front. This was challenged by Raviraj, Rajanathan Prabaharan the current General Secretary of the senior leader of EROS, who had PLOTE and the EPDP, where he was Prabaharan and the Thushiyanthan and Arulappu Rajanayagam and Eelavar Democratic Front and involuntarily joined the LTTE in stationed at the EPDP office in 2005. faction in the Courts, as they both others are contesting in Jaffna and convince the Election Commission to 1990, from claiming his position Arular was thrown out of the EPDP were competing to take over the EDF Batticaloa on the Eelavar grant the EROS-EDPA full use of the someday. office shortly afterwards, for and EROS. Democratic Front platform and not “plough symbol” and synonymous to The leader of the EROS communicating with LTTE leader During the last Presidential in support of the TNA. EROS. ‘Thushyanthan Group,’ led by Prabakaran. Election, the Thushiyanthan faction The EROS-EDPA, led by Raji, is Shankar Rajee Saravanabhavan Thushiyanthan Back in London, Arular was is alleged to have fraudulently not contesting the Parliamentary from Vavuniya, now living in estranged from his family, became signed an MoU with the Sri Lanka Election, as their plan is to contest EROS has been split into four Norway, works as a driving unwell and passed away last year. Podujana Peramuna, whereby in the forthcoming Local and factions since its leader Shankar instructor and runs a car mechanic In 2015, some EROS members Thushiyanthan himself claimed to Provincial Council Elections. Have a green thumb for marriage

By R.S. Karunaratne partner changes and the others resists. Happy and thrice happy are they Many marriages go who enjoy an uninterrupted union, and Reinvent marriage whose love, unbroken by any on the rocks simply Psychologists advise couples to complaints, shall not dissolve until the because the reinvent their marriage from time to last day. - Horace time. Many of us do it without If an emotionally compatible man spouses do not realising it. For instance, your wife and a woman marry, they will have a make an attempt to was first a girlfriend, then a bride, a lasting relationship. A garden has to be colleague, a mother, a grandmother tended lovingly to reap a bountiful provide enough and a mother-in-law. If the husband harvest. A gardener has a knack for can adjust himself to such changes, making plants grow. We say such loving and caring there will be eternal harmony in the people have a green thumb. Similarly, enrichment to keep family. some husbands and wives have a No gardener will allow the first sign green thumb for marriage. Without it alive. In addition of blight to go unchecked. Similarly, this skill, no marriage will bloom and we should not ignore minor irritants in flourish. “The analogy is correct,” says to food, we need marriage. The resentment can escalate Selma Miller, a New York City marital emotional support over time, leading to separation or therapist. According to her, an divorce. The best way to tackle minor intimate relationship such as marriage to nurture growth. irritants is to discuss them using faces the same challenge nature puts After marriage, a common sense. After settling a minor to all things: Grow or perish. issue, a husband can give a small gift Fortunately, all of us have the ability spouse desires the to his wife, who will in turn treat him to make a marriage bloom and to a sumptuous meal. flourish. However, some of us do not comfort of physical When a wife asks her husband not make use of this ability and make a closeness – a hand to watch too many films on television, mess out of marriage. All gardeners do she is really asking him, “Why don’t not have a green thumb. Similarly, all clasp or an you pay more attention to me?” This is married people do not have a green embrace. Each a temporary crisis which can be thumb for marriage. The reason may settled easily. Each time a couple be attributed to karmic forces or partner needs a overcomes a problem, it strengthens kismet. their marriage. They learn how to As rational beings, we cannot leave sympathetic resolve differences amicably. everything to fate. We must try to listener change our fate by following a few Maintain distance basic principles. In the first place, like A gardener does not put plants too a plant, marriage too needs a or whisper sweet nothings. They think Marital happiness depends largely close together for obvious reasons. nourishing environment. On their that their love life is over. There is on mutual self-disclosure of hopes Spouses should also maintain some wedding day, both husband and wife Lateral nothing to prevent you from and goals, concerns and values. For distance in their lives. Each person are full of euphoria thinking that each expressing your love to your spouse that matter, most married couples do has certain things that cannot be successive day will be full of happy occasionally. When this does not not know their partners well. More shared. By being alone occasionally events. But marriage is not going to be happen, marriage becomes a dull, than men, women are bundles of your sense of self will grow. Like birds, such a happy journey. Life is full of thinking uninspiring affair. Then one partner to emotions. They have to be supported each one of us needs room to spread ups and downs and we have to face the marriage may wish to find love emotionally. A kind word, a pat on the our wings. them stoically. elsewhere. Such extramarital affairs back or even a smile can please them. Husbands do not like to hear all emotional ground in which a marriage will ruin their marriage. Marriage partners should discuss kinds of complaints when they return Familiarity is rooted. Many marriages go on the their problems openly without home from work. A wife should wait According to some people, our love rocks simply because the spouses do Have fun expecting quick responses. A growth- until he unwinds. I recently asked a for each other begins to fade after not make an attempt to provide Married couples can have fun producing conversation may continue friend the secret of her success in marriage. This is because too much enough loving and caring enrichment together without allowing the pressures for days, weeks, months, or even growing roses. “There’s no secret,” she familiarity tends to beget contempt. If to keep it alive. In addition to food, we of daily life turn their marriage into a years. said. “I have to keep tending them, you wish to enjoy the bliss of need emotional support to nurture series of dull chores and worries. A gardener knows how to adapt otherwise they’ll die.” The same kind marriage, you have to find ways and growth. After marriage, a spouse Husbands and wives should remember himself to changing seasons. Couples of commitment is essential for means to add lustre to marriage at desires the comfort of physical the things they did when they were can do likewise. Everything is in a flux marriage. regular intervals. I know of a husband closeness – a hand clasp or an lovers. Visiting friends, going on and nothing will remain the same I remember the words of French who used to write a letter to his wife at embrace. Each partner needs a pleasure trips, and staying at a hotel far forever. Therefore, a change in either actress Simone Signoret (1921-’85) each wedding anniversary telling her sympathetic listener. However, due to away from home can break the of you can be a potent catalyst for who said, Chains do not hold a of the times that have meant the most economic problems, one spouse may monotony of life and renew their bond growth. The first few years of marriage marriage together. It is threads, to him and of the growth of his love be compelled to work abroad or away of marriage. We also have to admire our are relatively trouble-free. But with hundreds of tiny threads which sew over the years. from home. This can lead to spouse’s efforts and ideas. Open the arrival of children and people together through the years. That A gardener has to enrich the soil unhappiness in marriage. criticism will lead to bitter feelings. grandchildren we are compelled to is what makes a marriage last – more with minerals and nutrients. After a few years of marriage, Everybody wants to hear something change our attitudes and approaches. than passion or even sex! Similarly, a spouse has to nourish the spouses do not exchange loving words pleasant from their partners. No marriage can flourish if one [email protected] A6 monday 3 august 2020 Editorial

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Parliament of Sri Lanka Right Thinking of Prime Minister Sri Lanka will be the third country in the world after South Korea and Singapore to go for a Parliamentary Election on Wednesday (5 August) this year despite the COVID-19 threat which still By Maj. Gen. (Retd) innocent Kashmiris in the remains a big threat to humanity with several Muhammad Saad Indian illegally occupied countries having even coming forward to Khattak Jammu and Kashmir through reintroduce a lockdown period to deal with the Kashmir - fake encounters and other intended second wave of the pandemic. The Indian Illegal pretexts, it is simultaneously As far as Sri Lanka is concerned President Occupation of Jammu and changing the Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s farsightedness in dealing Kashmir (IIOJK) completes its demographic structure of with the pandemic right from early stages of the 365 days under one of the 365 Days IIOJK through the domicile COVID-19 problem which started from Wuhan most brutal, draconian and laws by settling thousands of Province in China had safeguarded the Sri inhuman military sieges the Indian citizens in the disputed Lankans from getting infected with the deadly modern world has territory with a sinister design disease to a great extent. ever witnessed. Under the of disempowering and So, now with the total relaxation of the gazing eye of a so-called Under Siege disenfranchising the Kashmiri lockdown period Sri Lankans will go for voting to civilised world the killing, people in their own land. All elect their representatives to the ninth Parliament injuring, raping and already marooned community. terrorism spanning over 16 these draconian and on Wednesday (5). destruction of a defenceless Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s years claiming hundreds and repressive measures in the Unlike in the past the Parliamentary Election community continues historical address to the UNGA thousands of innocent Sri Indian Illegally Occupied campaigns were carried out in a manner paying unabated and the powers that in September last year shaking Lankan lives. In Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir and more attention to preventing the COVID-19 be, turn a blind eye for meager the conscience of international India continues to sponsor against other ethnicities threat. economic interests as those community proved as a terror groups like Tehreek-e- continue in mainland India Instead of holding big rallies, pocket meetings being killed and maimed are catalyst for the world bodies, Taliban Pakistan, Jamat-ul- while the world watches. were arranged by political parties in various parts the children of a lesser God. forums, and global civil society Ahrar, and ISIS for Pakistan, through its of the country to prevent large gatherings of On 5 August 2019, the not only to condemn but undertaking terrorist acts in political and diplomatic people, in order to fall in line with health sector fascist Modi Government asking India to revert to its pre Afghanistan and Pakistan to support, will continue to guidelines. decided to abrogate Articles 5 August 2019 status and sabotage the latest Afghan sensitise the international Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing 370 and 35A of its release the 8 million peace process that it sees as a community, exposing India’s a gathering of professionals in Kandy a few days Constitution, ripping apart its imprisoned Kashmiri people diplomatic failure and at a blatant violations of UNSC ago had appealed to the countrymen to elect international through its deployment of over tangent to her regional resolutions, Geneva intelligent and dedicated representatives to the obligations under the UNSC, a million security forces aspirations. With Pakistan, Convention, international law, Parliament to take forward the country in the Geneva Convention, violating personnel. India callously apart from the forcefully bilateral agreements, inhuman future. its own Constitution by ignored these calls from the changing status of IIOJK, the repression, and demographic Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who was depriving the Illegally international community. already tense relations are changes in IIOJK. All mediums elected to Parliament at a very young age has Occupied Jammu and On the regional level, India, further accentuated through including print, electronic and completed five decades in the supreme democratic Kashmir of its special status due to its very same action regular violations along the digital space will be utilised to institution occupying all positions reaching the under its very own continues to remain embroiled Line of Control (LOC) targeting shake international conscience pinnacle of the regime twice as President. Constitution. The with China along the Line of innocent civilians living along to step forward and stand up Therefore, the Prime Minister’s appeal to elect international community, Actual Control that has the LOC. The bilateral for justice and human rights in only the dedicated and intelligent representatives various international already claimed scores of lives deteriorating politico/ IIOJK before the inferno gulfs to the ninth Parliament to be formed could be organisations including UN of Indian soldiers. The diplomatic and security the region and beyond leading considered as the timely appeal to the and OIC, individual countries, situation remains relations surely harbour a live to unbearable consequences. countrymen for a civilised lot of representatives, Congresses, Parliaments dangerous and explosive until possibility of a dangerous Pakistan has always stood by entering Parliament with a vision of serving the raised their voices but none this day. With Nepal, India escalation between not two but and will stand by the people of people whom they represent with dedication. followed by meaningful remains at loggerhead through rather three nuclear powers in Kashmir as we do not consider Previous Parliaments had witnessed the unruly tangible measures against the its forceful occupation of the region. While spending all them separate from Pakistan. behaviour of several Parliamentarians which had perpetrating State - India, Nepalese territory that Nepal its precious efforts and Every Pakistani knows that the even led the Police to intervene and control the hence falling on deaf ears. has rejected. Bhutan resources to isolate Pakistan Kashmiri nation is suffering situation. Where the COVID-19 continues to remain hostage to both regionally and globally, because of their love and desire When Sri Lanka gained Independence from stressed the countries Indian hegemony where the India herself stands isolated to merge IIOJK into Pakistan. colonial rule seven decades ago the Westminster healthcare systems and a country is unable to follow its seriously impacting her moral, How can Pakistan remain system prevailed in Parliament with almost all the worldwide emergency was independent foreign policy as political, and democratic indifferent to its own people – representatives remaining as exemplary declared to contain the deadly per the aspirations of its credentials. Never was the the people of Jammu and legislators with their intellectually rich sound pandemic, India instead of people. The Citizenship state of India globally seen Kashmir? It is a national speeches and the views expressed towards attending to its collapsing Amendment Act and other with such a negative lens in its resolve that Pakistan will leave developing the country. healthcare system ignoring border and water issues have 70 years of history. Sane no stone unturned to help However, the present Parliamentary system hundreds and also forced a friendly country political, intellectual and Kashmiri people to get their with a significant number of representatives thousands dying, continued to like Bangladesh to reconsider secular wizards within the right of self- hardly found with anyone thinking intelligently use it as an opportunity to its status of a rather client country are painfully determination. However, and the sad state of affairs would have made tighten its grip over occupied state, looking outwards concerned about the global, Pakistan is patiently looking at Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to make a territories through improving its relations with regional, and domestic stature international players to play fervent appeal before a gathering of professionals undertaking controversial other regional countries much of a country once seen as the their roles. Time is running out to elect the intelligent and dedicated legislation and to the dismay of India. With Sri biggest democracy of the as India is not listening to representatives to the Parliament. repression of Lanka, India continues to have world. It all stands a part of voices of peace. Not only the Prime Minister but even various an uneasy friendly terms devoid history. (The writer is the High civil society organisations have expressed their of genuine mutual trust and While the world hasn’t Commissioner of Pakistan to views strongly on the need of electing deep-hearted cordiality given moved beyond verbal Sri Lanka) Parliamentarians with good educational its dubious role during the rhetoric, the Indian state background as well as with unblemished record Island’s battle of survival continues to martyr in their social standing. against LTTE As far as the new Parliament is concerned, it will be faced with the challenges of reviving the country’s economy from the adverse situation which emerged due to COVID-19. So, in every way the new Parliament is expected to pay more attention towards how best the country’s economy could be rebuilt with proper strategies in place. As the monstrous COVID-19 is creating setbacks even to big economies around the world with the closure of air and sea ports, medical experts as well as sociologists throughout the globe remain in a state of being unable to predict the end of the pandemic. Therefore, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has made a timely appeal to elect intelligent representatives who could serve with dedication and play a dynamic role reconstructing the country’s battered economy with a broader outlook and the voters should also ensure that the right people at the right place to take forward the country. Jammu and Kashmir column monday 3 august 2020 A7 A Most Important Election Indeed! Double Shuffle Duping By Shivanthi Ranasinghe Therefore to finance the 2015 Presidential Election they had to The much awaited General Sirisena had offered scrape their coffers and could not Elections is before us. We have a new afford the impending General set up in the sense that the two the premiership to Election. It was a simple and plausible traditional main parties have each Premadasa a explanation. It was an open secret split up into two factions. The UNP that the UNP headquarters, Sirikotha, breakaway faction is the Samagi Jana number of times but was struggling to pay even their utility Balawegaya. The Sri Lanka Freedom each time he bills. This served to stop further Party which transformed to the United speculation to the motive behind the People’s Front Alliance by combining protected scams. with a number of satellite parties split up five years ago. Subsequently the Wickremesinghe’s US taxpayers’ USD 300 M UPFA breakaway faction reconciled position. He had not However, this explanation is a tad forming a new party, Sri Lanka difficult to accept for two reasons. The Podujana Peramuna, under the even been diplomatic first because it does not explain the Pohottuwa symbol. reason why the 2016 bond scam took Yet, it is an uneasy truce. Some in his efforts. place and the second being the regime members like Sirisena recalled the change engineered in 2015 was very and openly ask well funded by foreign Governments. voters not to caste a preference to embarrassment he According to a slip made by then US those who betrayed the party and had to face when State Secretary John Kerry, the US country. Their bitterness is clearly spent at least USD 300 million of the visible, both having stood fast against Is the UNP split simply a gimmick to garner votes? Premadasa double American taxpayers’ money to install the Yahapalana Government and even the Yahapalana Government. risked persecution. opponents in a bid to discredit them. Sajith Premadasa never lets his crossed him and This then begets the question “why This appeal is not made in the vain However, there is a difference audience forget that none of the bank exposed his intent to was the Central Bank robbed twice attempt to gain preferential votes over between the infighting within the robbers are with his party. However, within 13 months?” The answer lies each other in the same camp. The Pohottuwa and the cat fight between this hardly exonerates Premadasa or Wickremesinghe with the results of the bond scams. resentment is palatable against those the UNP and the SJB. The likes of those in the SJB from the crime. The Unlike in other corruptions where the who have now meekly crawled over to Ranatunga and Ranasinghe can reason being, they never objected to it without giving effect of the fraud is just once, here the Pohottuwa to protect their own afford to denounce the newly joined while they were together. Today, Sirisena any prior the effect continues to increase political career. It is however up to the once erstwhile members for they are Premadasa’s proud lieutenants are throughout the bond’s lifespan. Thus, voter to decide whether the time is standing on the moral high ground of Bathuideen and Hakeem - both warning the interest rates that originally were in right to put a stop to these never having strengthened the accused of assisting the Easter single digits immediately shot to two opportunistic politicians, who jump Yahapalana hand. Therefore, they are Sunday bombers. Had they not joined digits. A country’s interest rate is the from one end to the other for self innocent of all the transgressions SJB, no doubt Premadasa would Premadasa double crossed him and indicator for a lender to decide crucial serving purposes and in the process committed by the Yahapalana boast that his clean party is not exposed his intent to Wickremesinghe information. A high interest rate means jeopardise the entire country. Government from which the country entertaining any of the terrorists or without giving Sirisena any prior that the country’s repayment capacity is still reeling. In fact they played a extremists. warning. might be lower. This means, lenders Conning the voter decisive role to roll back the Premadasa especially cannot Therefore, it is not possible for would insist on shorter repayment The UNP split is still fresh and Yahapalana carpet. absolve himself from the bond scam Premadasa to now dissociate himself durations. Higher interests would also therefore the two factions seem too scandals. In October 2018, from the crime. It is interesting how deter investors. Thus the bond scams angry with each other to see eye-to- Birds of a feather Maithripala Sirisena sacked he conveniently ignores this while were an effective way to sabotage Sri eye over anything ever again. Udaya On the other hand, neither the UNP Wickremesinghe from the those who committed the crime might Lanka’s national economy. Gammanpila however believes that nor the SJB have that luxury as both premiership. One of the reasons that not be with him, those who tried to Whether it was to the fund the this is simply an act to deceive the these factions can never absolve led to this sacking was apparently whitewash it have followed him to General Election or to sabotage the voters. The hardcore UNP had been themselves from the sins committed this crime, though the scams took form his new party. They are known economy the point is that Premadasa long disillusioned by Ranil during the Yahapalana Government. place in 2015 and 2016 and no as the “Footnote Kalliya (gang)”. never did protest. Instead, he valiantly Wickremesinghe, especially for his Wickremesinghe pointed out that discernible action was taken against Sujeeva Serasinghe even wrote a played his part to protect the alleged role in the infamous Central those who are standing with it. With the sacking of book to say that no wrong doing was Yahapalana Government. The only Bank bond scams. However, some of Premadasa to the likes of Patali Wickremesinghe, the Yahapalana committed. He was only somewhat reason he now attempts to distance the voters may still prefer Ranawaka, Rishard Bathuideen, Rauf Government toppled. silenced when it came to light that himself from the crime is for self Wickremesinghe to Sajith Premadasa, Hakeem and are not one of the main culprits, Arjun preservation. In a sense, this Election is who comes across as shockingly from the UNP, how then does Takes two to Tango Aloysius has paid him a number of a most challenging one. Sri Lanka is immature and very silly. Therefore, Premadasa claim the hardcore UNP However, proponents of the large payments. Though the revelation unwittingly caught in the vortex of according to Gammanpila, this are with him, is Wickremesinghe’s Yahapalana Government quickly submerged almost immediately after perhaps the largest geopolitical struggle so-called split is simply a gimmick for rhetoric question. However, it was rallied the troops and had surfacing, the fact remains that for regional dominance. The only way to Premadasa to garner votes that will none other than Wickremesinghe who Wickremesinghe reinstated. Serasinghe too benefited from the safeguard our sovereignty is to not come Wickremesinghe’s way and allowed these politicians to assume Premadasa was among those who crime. It was not only Serasinghe who strengthen our economy. Therefore, the vice verse. Either way, the voter is the UNP garb. Having allowed them to celebrated it the most. During the thus benefitted. It is still not clear the voter should not let the petty being entertained by the quarrels grow on UNP soil for years, having drama it came to light that Sirisena reason for the 2016 bond scams to accusations politicians are hurling between the four factions of the two depended on them for UNP’s survival, had offered the premiership to take place. However, the purported against each other distract them from parties. This only serves to highlight it is now difficult to dissociate them Premadasa a number of times but motive for the scams in 2015 was the real threats that are before Sri the immature nature of Sri Lankan from the UNP. The only reason for each time he protected allegedly to fund the then upcoming Lanka. The voter must thus identify politics. Rather than articulating their Wickremesinghe to remember they Wickremesinghe’s position. He had 2015 General Elections. who will and will not allow Sri Lanka to vision, policies and plans of are not part of the traditional party is not even been diplomatic in his The UNP then floated the theory be manipulated for the benefit of foreign implementation, each of these because they are not standing with efforts. Sirisena recalled the that after 20 years in the Opposition nations. politicians are attacking their him now, but with his biggest rival. embarrassment he had to face when the Party was badly placed financially. [email protected]

Foreign interference in the Elections Again! Judge Not Lest Ye be Judged By Sugeeswara These are two instances of Eastern provinces of the imperial mindset. These neo Senadhira biased propaganda on the eve country. Such visits are blatant colonials want Sri Lanka to of an important Election in Sri attempts to harass and become dependent on the The West blatantly interferes Lanka. intimidate Sri Lankan civil West, submissive and docile. by continuing to threaten us society,” the AI statement said. Amnesty International directly and subtly by Canada militarily Any country has a right to asserts that ‘a campaign of fear deploying strategies in different nipped the FLQ inquire into the activities of has intensified since the 2019 guises. The proxies of the LTTE NGOs to ascertain if the funds Presidential Election, and has in many countries in North Canadian Premier Trudeau have been properly used and cast a shadow over the 2020 America, Europe and the has conveniently forgotten whether there are any hidden Parliamentary Election Pacific renewed their anti Sri about the separatist movement agendas detrimental to campaign as well’ is a Lanka propaganda by in his country, the Front de national interest. More baseless accusation. organising events to mark the libération du Québec (FLQ stringent controls have been Furthermore it could be 1983 Black July anniversary. Québec Liberation Front) applied to NGOs in almost construed as blatant These events were aimed at which posed a major challenge every country, including India, interference in the launching a campaign of when his father Pierre Trudeau Pakistan, Nepal and forthcoming General disinformation on the eve of the was the Prime Minister. The Bangladesh. Elections. General Elections slated for 5 Marxist-Leninist terrorist Sri Lanka is once again faced The AI has called upon the August. Reflecting the overly movement FLQ, founded in the The tragedy of the First Nations is they do not control important with blatant external United Nations, as well Sri wish of Western countries to early 1960s, conducted a blocks of swing votes in Metropolitan areas interference in its domestic Lanka’s partners and foreign interfere in Sri Lanka’s internal number of attacks between political process, an act donors, to immediately call for affairs, officials and politicians 1963 and 1970, which totaled yet to come forward to tremendous injustice of his inadmissible to any sovereign full respect, protection and of some countries too over 160 violent incidents, remember the horrific events witting or unwitting neglect of state. The extremists in Tamil fulfillment of the human participated in the events including several killings and that have gone through over what we have to learn from Diaspora ranging from rights of all Sri Lankans, and organised by the Tamil causing injuries to many more. four centuries of blood-letting, Canada's own history, and so-called Tamil Transitional particularly to halt the Diaspora’s Eelam-lobbies. As a Sri Lankan analyst in murder and treaty cheating in what injustices need to Government to various eelam reversal of fragile gains in the In a surprising statement Canada pointed out the FLQ North America. Unfortunately, remember on Black July. organisations continue their protection of human rights in issued on 23 July, Canadian was militarily nipped in the that process occurs even today, Interfereing AI attempts to create a public recent years. This is an Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bud by Trudeau Sr. But Sri though in a different guise, as opinion against Sri Lanka with indirect call by the AI to Sri said, “Today, we remember the Lanka had to face a protracted one may see from the economic statement the ultimate objective of using Lankan voters to cast their horrific events of Black July in war due to the misguided “good and civil conditions endured by the West as a cat’s paw to get vote to the political parties Sri Lanka and honour the offices” of foreign powers who the people of the ‘First Nations’. The Amnesty International publicity for their fund favoured by the West. memory of its victims. In July had no clear understanding of However, the tragedy of is that (AI) statement also questioned collections. The funds are used In the past too there were 1983, anti-Tamil pogroms the actual situation in Sri they do not control important the Government decision to for creating stability in Sri many instances of foreign swept across Colombo, Sri Lanka. Mr. Trudeau's Black blocks of swing votes in streamline Non Governmental Lanka as a first step for the interference in Sri Lankan Lanka, following decades of July statement shows that Metropolitan areas, as is done Organizations (NGOs). “A probe long-term goal of reviving Tamil elections. There were allegations unrest and rising tensions in Canada does not know the by the ethnic groups that Mr. into NGOs registered under the terrorism. The Eelam lobby of foreign funding to certain the country.” actual situation in Sri Lanka or Trudeau has so readily previous Government has wants to create a climate of parties and selected politicians Last week, Amnesty how best to deal with Colombo. responded to, in his “Black commenced. In the months insecurity artificially to provoke by foreign governments and International stated, “The Sri People of the First July” message,” he pointed out. following the November 2019 a violent situation that will organisations. The voters must Lankan Government should The Sri Lankan community Presidential Election, a number provide justification for be wary of these foreign end the targeted arrests, Nations in Canada called upon Mr. of organisations reported visits external intervention. agendas and cast their votes intimidation and threats Trudeau to correct this historic from intelligence officers who The attitude displayed by freely keeping in mind the best against the lives and physical “Mr. Trudeau has rushed to lacuna, review the history of sought details of staff, most Western envoys based in interests of the country and the security of lawyers, activists, remember the Black July in Sri Canada, the European programs and funding, in Colombo toward the people of need to safeguard the human rights defenders and Lanka, ever since he became occupation of North America, particular, organisations in Sri Lanka and their leadership independent and sovereignty of journalists”. the Prime Minster, but he has and understand the the war-affected Northern and is a reflection of the old Sri Lanka. A8 monday 3 august 2020 focus

People applaud the new concept enunciated by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to visit every He inspected the town and village, listen to their garbage recycle grievances and provide solutions People overwhelmed to them. machine The new concept introduced in manufactured by place of public rallies is instrumental in minimising waste Vikum Sampath of resources and the negative Dimbulgashena, a by President’s visits impact on the environment resident of the area. caused by the use of posters, banners and cutouts. People are The machine can of the view that it is a great separate 15 tonnes to their villages consolation to see the President get the ground reality as well as of waste into metal, solve many problems plastic and carbon engaged in a cordial discussion regarding the need of amending immediately. with the people gathered at the the Co-operative Societies Act as People made these remarks and recycle within venue. He instructed well as the requirement of while engaging in discussion with an hour. The President Rajapaksa was Minister Prasanna appointing competent officials to the President during his election machine can presented a felicitation certificate the Co-operative Commission. campaign tour, for the second by the Commercial Industries Ranatunga to look The President was warmly time, in Gampaha on Thursday prevent the spread and Progressive Workers Union in into the difficulties welcomed by the people gathered (30). of odour using a recognition of his at the public meeting organised The President was requested by service to upgrade faced by cab driv- by candidate Upul Mahendra chemical component the people at the meeting, the Gampaha ers as a result of near the Varana Rajamaha organised by former State and the entire Wickrama- Viharaya, Attanagalla when he Minister Nimal Lanza at the rachchi Easter Sunday arrived at the venue. Wellapitiya Grounds in Negombo, process is monitored Ayurvedic People also requested the to take measures to halt the through cameras Institute as a attacks and clo- President to limit the immigration destructions caused to the fully-fledged sure of the Airport of Indian labourers and to provide Negombo lagoon and surrounding university the opportunity to acquire mangrove marshland and to Ranatunga at the weekly fair fulfilling the in the wake of technical knowledge and develop the lagoon. ground in Udugampola. promises COVID-19 equipment for those who are The President engaged in He inspected the garbage given in engaged in traditional gold and cordial discussion with the people recycle machine manufactured by ‘Vistas of pandemic silver crafting. at the gathering organised by Vikum Sampath Dimbulgashena, Prosperity Responding to a request by the candidate Ananda Harischandra a resident of the area. The and gathered at the public meeting students at the meeting, in Katana. machine can separate 15 tonnes Splendour’ organised by the candidate organised by candidate Milan He instructed Minister of waste into metal, plastic and National Policy at the Jayathilaka at the public car park Prasanna Ranatunga to look into carbon and recycle within an Framework. Gampaha Town requested the in Kirindiwela, the President said the difficulties faced by cab hour. The machine can prevent The President to enact stern laws to a school bus will be provided to drivers as a result of Easter the spread of odour using a people prevent child abuse. The public travel between Kirindiwela and Sunday attacks and closure of chemical component and the at the scene extended their the Defence College. the Airport in the wake of COVID- entire process is monitored appreciation to the President for He also paid attention to the 19 pandemic. through cameras. creating an opportunity to elect request of granting permanent People requested the President During this tour, Senura intellectuals to the Parliament. employment to a group who have to put in place a proper Prabhashwara, a 5th grade When President Rajapaksa completed 25 years of service at mechanism for garbage disposal student of Bandarawatta arrived at the public meeting the Road Development Authority and protect the Muthurajawela Parakrama Maha Vidyalaya, held at the Veyangoda Old in the Western Province. wetland. It was also proposed to contributed to the ITUKAMA Bus stop premises, candidate The President, who joined the the President to extend the COVID-19 fund by presenting his Priyantha Pushpakumara public meetings organised by allowance paid to kidney patients till to the President. presented the Veyangoda candidate Vernon Gunathilake at in North-Central Province to other The President who participated Town Development Plan to the Dekatana, engaged in a districts as well. at the public meeting organised him. cordial discussion with the people The President was accorded a by candidate Lakshman The Chairman of the gathered at the venue. grand welcome at the meetings Gunawardena, at the Gampaha Attanagalla Co-op Society Minister Prasanna Ranatunga organised by Minister Prasanna Municipal Council car park, apprised the President was also present on the occasion.

President President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reiterated that no room will be left for anyone to destroy the historical heritage of the country The President or to cause damage to places of requested the pubic pledges to worship. A comprehensive programme gathered at the will be designed in order to venue to extend preserve the heritage of Wellassa their support to whilst protecting places of preserve worship of all faiths, President form a strong and Rajapaksa said addressing a stable Parliament to public gathering organised by candidate Wimaladasa accomplish promis- Galgamaarachchi in Wellawaya, es in ‘Vistas of Wellassa Monaragala on Friday (31). People at the venue requested Prosperity and the President to protect temples Splendour’ National of historical value from treasure Policy Framework hunters. successfully heritage Agriculture in the area could be further enhanced by Weekly Fair premises when he to the President. rehabilitating tanks scattered arrived at the venue. The President responding to a across the district including The research paper compiled meetings organised by candidate accomplish promises in ‘Vistas Responding to the issues raised request made by a group of Buduruwagala and Bathala Ara, by Geologist Athula Senaratne of and of Prosperity and Splendour’ by the people there, he said that students when he arrived at the they pointed out. University of Peradeniya was candidate Sumedha G. National Policy Framework the government will take steps Madulla Madhya Maha At the gathering organised by also handed over to the Jayasena, at the Monaragala successfully. to speedily provide solutions for Vidyalaya, to develop their Play candidate Padma Udayashantha President. Weekly Fair premises, engaged President Rajapaksa, the issue of shortage of drinking Ground, instructed the at the Butala weekly fair venue, Books titled ‘Wellasse Sihala in a cordial discussion with the attending the public meeting water and lack of agricultural Commander of the Army to the President was requested to Handa’ and Atheetha Urumaye people gathered there. organised by candidate water consumption in the area. immediately take steps to fulfil set up a Presidential Task Force Anagata Mudrawa written by President Rajapaksa, Kumarasiri Rathnayake, at the President Rajapaksa further this task. on preserving the historical candidate Udayashantha and responding to the issues faced Dobagahawela Weekly Fair said that he will also apprise the President Rajapaksa also said heritage of Uva Wellassa too. the report containing solutions by the pepper cultivators, said premises, promised the people Telecommunications Regulatory that he will take steps to People commended the for human-elephant conflict that a comprehensive strategy that he would implement the Commission regarding the non- broaden the Nelumwewe decision of the President to compiled by the Shasheendra will be implemented to uplift the Kumbukkan Oya water supply availability of telephone signals. Kandiya Road and to fill the establish an investment zone in Rajapaksa Youth Forum was pepper trade which has scheme as a solution to the Shasheendra Rajapaksa vacant minor staff positions at Monaragala. presented to the President. collapsed as a result of the drinking water issue of the area. promised to fulfil the request the The President said measures A collection of 36 seeds re-export of pepper. The President was warmly made to build an Assembly Hall Hospital. will be taken to commence endemic to Wellassa was also The President requested the welcomed by the people to the Madulumini Primary He also attended the meeting pumpkin and watermelon based presented to the President. pubic gathered at the venue to gathered at the public meeting School. A replica of a Wellassa organised by candidate Vijitha by-products and to promote The President, who extend their support to form a organised by Shashi customary sword made by L.A. Berugoda at the Cultural Centre pepper and orange cultivation. participated at the public strong and stable Parliament to Ramanayake at the Madulla Keerthipala was also presented in Bibile. opinion/Appreciation monday 3 august 2020 A9 Times are changing

y pecial orrespondent for Kashmir B A S C far flung villages with the mainstream, connecting millions of people to better Today, more old men and women are opportunities and prosperity and There has been happier, more children have smiles on transform Kashmir into a sought after a phenomenal their faces and more women feel secure destination for tourists as well as and taken care of in the Kashmir valley entrepreneurs. rise in and other parts of the new union territory. Kashmir’s reincarnation scholarships for Lives of lakhs of old and young, men has begun students across and women, across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, have been In Srinagar, a significant all spectrums. transforming for the better by development work in progress has been innovative and diligently-implemented an additional block with a state-of-the- For instance, programmes adopted by the new union art medical facility at Lal Ded Maternity students from territory. These include schemes for Hospital. The project, estimated to cost old age pension, merit scholarships for Rs 132 crore, will benefit hundreds and poor families, students, supplementary nutrition for thousands of women and children minorities, lactating mothers and pregnant across the Union Territory. This is the women, and for keeping thousands of only medical facility of its kind in the economically children safe and healthy staying at region specialising in gynaecology and public and private orphanages. In child care. The main features of this -backward addition, all the residents can reap the addition to the hospital are 82 inpatient classes, manual benefit of a comprehensive and free beds, 49 floating beds, 6 modular OTs, medical health insurance. The result 3 wards, state-of-the-art medical scavengers and has been a phenomenal rise in the equipment. sweepers are happiness index in the region which New bridges and roads are key has been in the news for violence all features of the new image of Kashmir. benefitting from these years. In addition to these, another 170,000 There has been a phenomenal rise in Seven vital road projects have been Ever since the erstwhile State was persons, of which 85,000 are from scholarships for students across all taken up on a priority basis. These various reorganized as two Union Territories Kashmir, have been added to the list of spectrums. For instance, students roads will connect far-flung villages and scholarship (UT), one that of Jammu and Kashmir beneficiaries this year. from poor families, minorities, communities to the mainstream. Work and another of Ladakh, on 5 August Those who have not been covered economically backward classes, on three new bridges in Jammu schemes 2019, a flurry of new social welfare under the scheme have been included manual scavengers and sweepers are division and more than Rs 160 crore schemes have been pursued with in the National Social Assistance benefiting from various scholarship worth of development projects, funded diligence by the respective local Programme (NSAP), a centrally schemes. There has been a 250 per by the World Bank, are underway. In authorities. The union territory sponsored scheme where pension is cent increase in such students with North Kashmir, Gogjidaji Bridge, being (Udhampur), besides, steel decked foot celebrates the first year of its directly credited to their individual over eight lakh students in the union built at a cost of more than Rs 6 crore, Bridges over Anji Nallah at Sukhal foundation on 5 August this year. bank accounts. More than 150,000 territory, of which 5.5 lakh are from the will connect Sopore via Tarzoo- Ghati (Reasi) and a steel truss Bridge Majority of the beneficiaries include persons have benefitted from this valley. Till date, about six lakh Naidkhai to Sumbal Bandipore. Over over Betar Nallah (Poonch) senior citizens, young students, women scheme. The beneficiaries have been students have been awarded pre and 30,000 people will benefit from this Other key infrastructure projects and orphans. Even transgenders can given an additional Rs 500 per person post matric scholarships. connectivity. Upgradation work is in which are expected to benefit local now avail of pensionary benefits from in addition to their regular pension this Special emphasis in terms of aid and progress of Amberpora-Haritar Road, communities include the construction this year. year. These beneficiaries include assistance has been given to children costing Rs 8.03 Cr in Baramulia of a Rs 12.5 crore composite market More than eight lakhs of people have widows and persons with disabilities. living in institutional care. During the District which will connect villages of centre building for whole chain activity benefited from pensions distributed The number of beneficiaries is being Covid pandemic, local authorities have Amberpora, Akhanpora, Haritar and of silk at Govt Silk Factory Raj bagh under the Integrated Social Security increased by another 1.30 lakh which been quick to procure masks, sanitisers Rabi Gaon and benefit a population of Srinagar. This building is being Scheme (ISSS) scheme. In the Kashmir will benefit a large number of widows, and hand wash items for children with about 60,000. In South Kashmir work constructed using the traditional division, their numbers total 320,000. senior citizens and physically special grants. A special committee has has begun on the construction of Rs architectural design and with the use of challenged persons in the union also been set up to monitor the health 9.22 crore worth of renovation of the traditional materials like Devri stone. territory. The number of such of these children and ensure easy Govt. Degree College, Bijbehara and The building will also be equipped with beneficiaries now stands at 742,950. access to medical care and healthy also on the upgradation of Rs 4.98 the latest equipment like Twister and Perhaps one of the most significant nutrition. crore Halmulia-Panchpora Kralkot other preparatory equipment for silk Ever since the developments benefitting the whole of In addition, children of age group 0-6, Road. yarn processing. The construction of a erstwhile State union territory has been the decision to lactating mothers and pregnant women These projects will generate greater Rs 2 crore building for whole chain provide free health insurances to all the were being given supplementary employment opportunities for skilled as activity of wool processing along with was reorganized residents. Under the scheme, more nutrition during the lockdown. well as unskilled workers besides the restoration and repair work for than 1.25 crore people can draw Likewise, a special helpline (No. 112) creating a sense of partnership among Govt. A Woolen Mill at Bemina costing as two Union various benefits. has been set up to help women affected the communities participating in the Rs 2.4 crore is also in execution. Territories (UT), The beneficiaries of the scheme get a by domestic violence and other distress project. Efforts are also on to upgrade the skills free health insurance cover of Rs five situations. Their number is over 6.5 The entire State is witnessing top of artisans associated with traditional one that of lakh per family per year on floater basis lakh. Besides, special funds have been tarring or macadamisation of all major handicrafts of embroidery and paper- Jammu and and there would be no restriction on provided for providing rice for three and minor roads on a war footing. mache. Two handicraft clusters at family size, age or gender. They will months. These roads include 11000-km fair Noorbagh (embroidery) and Zadibal Kashmir and have access to 20,853 (public and Surely, times are changing in the weather roads. (paper-mache), will help more than another of private) hospitals across the country valley and for its people. In the Jammu Division, a similar 1250 artisans in the areas of product and avail benefits with facility of inter- Transformation of Kashmir impetus to road construction is visible. development, design innovations, Ladakh, on 5 State portability. About 159 (public and Work is progressing on tue colour schemes, managerial training private) hospitals in the union territory underway up-gradation work on 18.29 Km and artisan owned associations and August 2019, a are empanelled at present. The Sidhra-Surinsar Road, 11-km Tutan Di development of market linkages for flurry of new insurance will cover 1,469 medical The first green shoots of a new Khuie to Khade-Madana Road, 10 km marketing of finished products. surgical packages/procedures Kashmir rising from the abyss of Malini Chakraborty Road, 10.15 Business worth a crore has been social welfare including life consuming diseases, such violence are becoming visible in the new Km-Chirala Link Road; 27-km Gulati to generated in both clusters till date. Two as cancer and kidney failure. highways, state-of-the-art hospital Shahdra Sharief Road via Gambir Gali, more artisan clusters for revival of the schemes have Treatment for oncology, cardiology and facilities, educational institutions and 5-km Devi Mai to Ohli Mandir Road and wool cottage industry in Bandipora been pursued nephrology related illnesses will be resorts coming up in different parts of 4.25 km Anji-Panasa Road (Reasi). The district and Willow Wicker Cluster in covered from day one, including high- the union territory. project includes construction of four Ganderbal district are also being taken with diligence by end diagnostic procedures during Many high-profile projects, long vital bridges in remote parts of the up. hospitalization. The beneficiaries can delayed first by violence and then by Jammu Division-Katheel Ganjoo to These projects, besides providing the respective also avail of 3-days pre-hospitalization the Coronavirus epidemic, are now Barsoa Motorable steel Bridge over employment to local youth, will local authorities and 15 days post hospitalization underway with great speed and Ghordi Nallah and Barsoa to Patri transform the face of Kashmir like expenses. determination. These projects will link Bridge over Barmeen Nallah never before.

Appreciation Lalitha Constantine, a lady to her fingertips

Lalitha Constantine, nee enjoyed travelling and meeting world leaders like the Queen of Goonesinha, was born on 1 people of different cultures England, Prince Philip, Rajiv October 1925. She was one of those throughout her life. Gandhi and several Heads of rare women, a lady to her fingertips. She learnt Indian dancing under Commonwealth countries who I had the privilege of knowing Sunil Dutt and went on to visited the President at President’s Lalitha from the time I was a young participate in the Cultural Pageant House. girl, as her family and my mum and Ballet together with Keerthi Sri Lalitha was devoted to her family, her sisters were good friends from Karunaratne and other dancers on and her daughters Yasmin and the time they were girls. Despite the Independence Day in 1948. She was Srianthi and son-in-law Johannes fact that I belong to her daughter’s interested in arts and culture. She will feel her loss sorely. She enjoyed generation, I counted Lalitha as one studied the piano under Mary going out, entertaining her of my dear friends. I enjoyed her Billimoria, enjoyed all types of numerous friends, loved music and company and cherished her good music from Classical, Latin ballroom dancing, and was regularly qualities, one of which was the fact American to Popular music, and featured in the fashion pages by that she never ever spoke badly loved going to concerts and musical Keerthi and Yrol. about anyone. If she disliked shows. She was fluent in French A very liberal minded person, who someone, she just avoided them. and Spanish. She was always moved with the times, Lalitha was The daughter of A.E. Goonesinha, politically alert, enjoyed reading and kind, resilient and strong. She was former Labour Leader, Mayor of did word puzzles right upto five not only a mother, but a friend you Colombo, MP, Minister and days before her passing away. could talk to about everything. Ambassador, Lalitha travelled with Lalitha was a member of the staff One of the last women of an era her family to Indonesia in 1952 at the Non-aligned Conference in and generation that is fading away, when her father was Ambassador in 1976 and was in charge of I will miss Lalitha as will all her Indonesia and later Burma. In Reception/ Public Relations at numerous friends. Gentle and 1959, she went to Vienna and President’s House from 1977 until gracious and a Lady at all times, Moscow as a member of the 1989 (during President J.R. Lalitha is someone who should be Ceylonese Delegation to participate Jayewardene’s tenure). She had an emulated by all. in the World Youth Festival. Lalitha exciting and fulfilling time meeting Anusha David a10 monday 3 august 2020 column Glancing Back at Madagal of July 1983 By Shiam Vidurupola interpreted by generations to come, in different ways. Daybreak in Madagal, Jaffna was I drove down from Jaffna to always a breath-taking sight, as if all Colombo on 26 July to visit the two the colours of a paint box was mixed surviving soldiers receiving treatment and splashed against the sky. On the in the military hospital. The drive was 23rd day of July, the sea was calm, bizarre as roads were deserted due to encouraging the lazy waves curfew. People were left helpless concealing the coral beds to lap the without public transport. Leaving shores. The year was 1983 and the Jaffna town, I noticed an elderly Tamil troops of ‘Charlie’ Company, 1st gentleman with a small brown 'Ford' battalion the Sri Lanka Light Infantry suitcase stranded on the roadside and (SLLI) had just taken over duties in offered him a lift to Colombo. the peninsula. They were busy Somewhat taken aback at first, he training under the shades of Palmyra later agreed and sat between me and trees. The day looked usual, not a the driver. Talking to him along an hint of the terrible events which were eight-hour drive I came to know that to unfold later that day. he was Dr X, the senior surgeon at a Approaching dusk turned the sea private nursing home in Colombo restless and the crimson sky was where he had been practising for over rapidly turning dark. The whole camp two decades. Shockingly, his family paused for the bugle call of the Last too was seriously affected by the Post, which incidentally drives all the communal violence with his house set dogs in the neighbourhood into an on fire in Wellawatta. Our eerie howl. Beyond the canine howls conversation was dominated by his the descending darkness was contributions to generations in dominated by the chirps of stridulating obstetrics and gynaecology, helping crickets. Later that night twelve new life to see the light of the world. I soldiers from my platoon and two was the listener as my profession did soldier drivers were preparing with me not interest him, and his wealth of for a night mobile patrol. Two vehicles, experience was truly fascinating. As a Jeep and a twelve-ton truck were we neared Colombo, the smoke from allocated; this was the minimum burnt properties was evident and requirement for a night patrol in frankly it was utterly shameful. In accordance with fresh orders,due to parting, we exchanged contact details the increasing threat from separatist and on seeing my name he stood for a rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil brief moment and said "I remember Eelam (LTTE). this unique surname, I was the doctor The company Sergeant Major in charge during your birth.” Here we checked every man and his equipment the patrol, while returning from emotions were high as the reports radio contact with the patrol was lost. were standing on a deserted roadside down to the last detail, such as coffee Gurunagar, had been ambushed, came in. Losing my fellow comrades Private A mentioned in a concerned with smoke rising with the smell of flasks to last the long night ahead. passing through the village of and friends was one of my most voice that it would be his last patrol, destruction from arson. Enthusiasm was evident, as soldiers Thinnaveli. The LTTE had blasted a traumatic experiences. Coping with but failed to explain why. Sergeant T Dumbfounding was the fact that by prefer activity beyond the confinement culvert targeting the leading Jeep, emotions of complete despair, grief and the two soldier drivers were sheer coincidence a Sinhala Soldier of camps. Around 9.45 pm just after which in turn obstructed the truck and strange guilt, I remember asking ‘attachments’ from other Companies had met the Tamil Doctor who had the final radio clearance for following behind. An ambush had myself, why Vas? It should have been for this deployment, and otherwise brought him into the world. I felt departure, the Company Commander been sprung from both sides of the me. It was a sleepless night for would have not lost their lives. Lance privileged and honoured to bring him rushed up to my vehicle and directed road from positions fortified by everyone, through which I have Corporal P, a brilliant boxer and four safely to his family, as on that day me to ‘stand down’ to work with him parapet walls. Strategically learned to cope. In the many years of others in the patrol had completed both of us had lost so much but had on documentation and the patrol was disconnected power lines placed the experience to follow were the five years of regular service and had found a unique connection and a reluctantly handed over to my close whole area in darkness except of witnessing and accepting the opted to leave the army for marriage, sense of common identity in that comrade in arms - Vas, who was an course for the street lights, which devastating realities of war and its new ventures etc. but agreed to deploy moment. It was also the least I could officer very dear to me. Vas was a exposed the soldiers. Surely beyond miseries. Coping with the loss of a on one final venture with their do for a man dedicated to a noble sound officer with whom I had the walls it was a ‘black July’ night, brother officer and men of whom I had colleagues of the platoon. Privates W profession. trained, worked, wined, dined and from where gunfire and hand spent most of my time was stressful and R, had joined the platoon fresh The conflict which escalated that laughed so much, and my soldiers grenades rained onto the soldiers. enough. Then again, asking myself out of recruit training. Lance Corporal day, took a twenty-six-year toll on the knew of our comradery and shared Charging or fighting into the ambush how I would face their families and P was not the driver on duty that day, character of and its people. trust, as they set out along the was not an option. The officer and the heart rending tales they related, but virtually fought himself into the The war maybe over, but it still seems Madagal – Keermalai road. three soldiers in the Jeep had fought were extremely harrowing and patrol to be with his colleagues. Such to be lingering amongst and within Later into the night around 11.30 back and killed the LTTE leader of the tormenting experiences that linger decisions and occurrences remain an the communities. To date, working as pm, the patrol suddenly went off radio ambush and others. Eventually, within me to this day. Memory also unexplained mystery, to this day. part of humanitarian emergency contact. Immediately all stations trapped in the ambush the soldiers drags me back to my first day in SLLI That July night was pivotal in responses in complex conflicts in adapted emergency protocols to were helpless, and the nation had to when my Company Commander Maj changing the history of the country. It multiple countries, I continue to contact the patrol and failing to bid good bye to 13 good men who had (kalu) Asoka J, told me ‘if you ever was the first time a large number of witness human interest pitting man receive a response, the SLLI battalion taken an oath to her security and lose a man, you and the State shall servicemen were killed in action in a against man attributing to protracted headquarters in Palaly dispatched sovereignty. look after his family forever’; military single incident. As the news of the conflicts and misery. search and tracking patrols. No It was later revealed that during the gospel from a (very respected) deaths spread, countrywide communal Then again, I can take my mind back soldier, monitoring communications onslaught two soldiers, corporal P and company commander to a subaltern riots broke out. Events which followed thirty-seven years to Madagal; walk to in the Jaffna peninsula that night, private Shad managed to scale the between whom the age gap would be instigated by multiple factors and the beach front and gaze at the sea, shall ever forget the shocking news parapet wall and merge into the around fifteen years, in those days. actors snapped the strained cords staring at the ocean beyond, watching that followed, when the searchers darkness. Though bleeding profusely Strange occurrences of that day which had sustained earlier conflicts waves lap over the beach shore, its reported that the patrol had been from gunshot injuries they managed lingered in my mind; it was my patrol between the Sinhala and Tamils white froth coaxing trying to comfort ambushed. The lifeless bodies of 13 to make their way to the Sri Lanka with my men but Vas was nominated communities, also affecting other the golden sand. But then from soldiers lay strewn at Thinnavely on Transport Board (SLTB) bus depot at at the last moment. Vas had bought communities. The years that followed nowhere, I am interrupted by a bugle the main highway along the Jaffna – Kondavil to call in emergency an alarm clock just for the Jaffna were full of agony dominated by hurt call of the Last Post, reminding of fallen Palaly road. reinforcements and assistance. deployment, which stopped ticking and mistrust. The subsequent violence men and women, for whom the grieving It was subsequently reported that Back at the base in Madagal exactly at 11.45 pm, around the time and its implications would be of those left behind, will never end. August – A month of many events August, usually in Sri Lanka, is a hardly ever seen by the public. The come in this month. Watching CNN month of July ceremonies, American in turn treated him with News, one sees that schools are particularly peraheras, spilling respect and dignity. He tried hard to asked to reopen by the US over, such that once in a while even coax easy treatment of the Japanese President, somewhat contrary to the Dalada Maligawa Perahera with by the Heads of the Allied Forces, medical advice. The President as is devale processions parade the but Churchill, we believe, was his wont, went too far in streets of Kandy in August. The determined to extract maximum threatening to cut federal financing next most important festival, the reparation from puliverised Japan, to schools that do not reopen. He Kataragama festival too, though notwithstanding the dastardly use of was stymied by Democrat governors scheduled for the July Poya often is nuclear bombs in Nagasaki and who proclaimed this does not apply celebrated in August, This time we Hiroshima. Within this issue we since the local states finance their are sadly disinterested, as all the must remember J.R. Jayewardene schools. splendour and attraction of the making Sri Lanka favoured even now For us in Sri Lanka, August this processions have been severely by Japan. He pleaded at a major year is a most important and vital curtailed by the COVID-19 conference that Japan be month. Elections and the formation pandemic. rehabilitated and not punished too of a new Parliament are in the offing Birthdays are another milestone severely. He defended the Nation by in a week’s time. Some even have marked in the eighth month of the quoting the Dhammapada, declaring gone to the extent of making it a year as in all others. Napoleon hatred was not diminished or ‘turning point’ Election that will Bonaparte’s birthday is 15 August, eliminated by hatred, but by love vitally impact on the future of the 1769. This date along with Rajiv and fellow-feeling. Thus Japan, like island. One tends to agree with this Gandhi’s on 20 August 1944, are the proverbial Phoenix, rose from its assessment. If a party gets a two indelibly marked in my mind. And ashes to become prosperous. thirds majority it may endanger to think young and handsome and Geographically, in the Northern true democracy. A very powerful so charismatic a man as Rajiv Emperor of Japan– Hirohito - in the hemisphere, the beginning of Government can very well say ‘pooh’ Gandhi was mercilessly presence of US Commander, General autumn is considered approaching to the general public, and forgetting assassinated by a woman LTTE The Way It Douglas MacArthur on board the and it is officially said to begin on 1 they are the true deciders of how a suicide bomber who now asks for USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. It is said September. In our country and the country should run, may rule it as release from a South Indian jail. Was Emperor Hirohito took the entire region of South Asia, the South they please and for their sole Internetting, one finds so many blame for the war in the East West monsoon is in full swing with benefit. God forbid such an event is celebrities who mark their proclaiming his armed personnel limitations to fishing. It also gets a fervent prayer on the lips of birthdays this month. To mention Another momentous incident had resorted to arms for his sake much cooler, the interim between people who are not politically but a couple: Barack Obama – registered in the mind is VJ Day – and thus he was prepared to be the searing heat of February committed and have the nation’s 4/8/1961; Bill Clinton – Victory in Japan, which was on 15 taken war prisoner. MacArthur was, through May and the distinct fall in good at heart. We will wait and see 19/8/1946; great humanitarian August 1945 when Japan it is said, greatly impressed by his temperature towards the end of the and hope the just hope and philanthropist Warren Buffet – surrendered to the Allied Forces and admission while he was an Emperor year. materialises. 30/8/1930. the surrender signed by the then treated like a god in Japan and School holidays at normal times (Kumari) Focus Monday 3 august 2020 A11

Nikini Full Moon Poya Day falls today All Bhikkhus Must Emulate Buddha! Sri Lanka has the second highest incidence of alcohol induced cirrhosis in the world

By Chandra Edirisuriya 1895, was seen by the British rulers as a direct attack on their regime It would do well to ponder further, which were rented out taverns to get on Mind and its States, as explained revenue for Government coffers. At by the Buddha according to the that time, there were 2,038 taverns. scholarly work ‘The Buddha’s After the Temperance Movement Explanation of the Universe’ by C.P. agitation, there was a drastic drop to Ranasinghe, my teacher at my alma 190. mater Ananda College, Colombo in the Neither the Sinhala Buddhist 1950s, to mark this year’s Nikini Full leaders other than S.W.R.D. Moon Poya Day. Bandaranaike, Sir D.B. Jayatilake, Determination of Planes Professor Dr. G.P. Malasekara and a few others nor the Buddhist clergy of Life except, the monks of the Vidyalankara Pirivena such as Ratmalane On entering, seeds of purity charge Dhammaloka, Kiriwattuduwe the evolution current with strength Pragnasara, Yakkaduwe Pragnarama and power; the seeds of defilement and a handful of others from various wither it and weaken it. The evolution parts of the country had any idea of current, existing in each material the pioneer service rendered by being, carries a mixture of both Anagarika Dharmapala, Piyadasa forces, the variation in different Sirisena, Walisinghe Harischandra proportions being the only difference. and others in the Buddhist and On the strength of the evolution national resurgence movements current depends, the nature of the leading to Independence. structure of the abode each unit of All the above-mentioned lay and mind is able to construct and live in, religious leaders realised the need to at each of its wayside halts. If the save the people of Sri Lanka from the evolution current in a particular unit evil habit of drinking alcohol of mind is adequately strong to inculcated in them by the sustain a human frame, it settles and Portuguese, Dutch and British develops to be a human being; if the imperialists and were active in the strength is only sufficient to be an Temperance Movement. However, all animal, it settles and develops to be the political leaders who wielded an animal; and if the balance of power after obtaining freedom from strength is what is necessary to Buddha at Gal Viharaya, Polonnaruwa British rule in 1948, except S.W.R.D. develop into an insect, it settles into Bandaranaike, entirely forgot about life as an insect. in morality, faithlessness in faith’ and hatred and ignorance. Kheman is proportions in Sri Lanka, at the the Temperance Movement. He was Because the balance of the selfishness in generosity as security from the bonds of sense present time. “The annual per capita bold enough to close the liquor bar accumulated forces with the evolution mentioned in the Commentary) – this desires (kama), becoming (bhava), consumption of alcohol, both pure for Members of Parliament and current in our mind was sufficiently is the Highest Blessing. false views (ditti), and ignorance and illicit, by males of Sri Lanka has Senators no sooner he became Prime powerful to sustain us in a human Much learning Bahushshrutha (avijja)} – this is the Highest Blessing. been estimated to be a staggering Minister in 1956, “demonstrating his frame for a period, at the moment of literally means ‘much learning.’ This To them, fulfilling matters such as 16.2 litres. This incidentally, is the saintly ways” as was said by J.R. our conception in this world, we have term conveys the same idea as these, everywhere invincible, in every highest per capita alcohol use among Jayewardene, only to be reopened in been born as human beings. So long conveyed by the word ‘erudition’ in way moving happily – these (the the SAARC countries. Alcohol 1960 by his wife. as the force which made our English. In the ancient days, one’s above-mentioned Thirty-eight dependence and abuse is a major My father, as a Head Master of conception as human beings remain education was judged by what one Blessings as mentioned in the health and social problem in the Government Mixed Schools, had been in us, we shall remain to grow as had memorised from oral teaching. Commentary) are the Highest island, often destroying our active in the Temperance Movement human beings, and when this force is Here ‘much learning’ refers to Blessings (Cp Professor Rhys Davids’ countrymen in the prime of their lives. in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and exhausted we shall be dead. During knowledge of the Dhamma, perfect Buddhism, p. 125, and Woodward’s About 23,000 alcohol related deaths took the lead in cutting down kitul our human life, various seeds of both handicraft (The Commentary ‘some Sayings of the Buddha, p. 56). occur annually in Sri Lanka or about flowers to prevent the villagers from purity and defilement have entered mentions that handicrafts are of two The Fifth Precept 65 people die daily due to alcohol drinking toddy. After he retired in the our evolution current, and the kinds, namely the harmless crafts of abuse,” says Dr. Hewapathirane. late 1950s, performing his duty as a balance of force remaining with us at householders, such as those of the The Fifth Precept in Buddhism is “Urbanisation, westernisation, and layman, he bought the monthly present is different. The force which goldsmiths, jewellers, etc., and the “I undertake the training-precept to the availability and affordability provisions for a man who had made our conception as human crafts of homeless ones such as abstain from alcoholic drink or drugs appear to contribute to the upward neglected looking after his properties beings is also consumed and, stitching of robes etc.), a highly that are an opportunity for trend in the sale of alcohol,” Dr. and had been distilling illicit liquor to therefore, we have not produced trained discipline {Vinaya, i.e., heedlessness.” (Pali: Surāmeraya Hewapathirane goes on to say. It is wean him away from the practice and human thoughts in us and if we have discipline in thought, word and deed. majjapamādatthānā veramanī significant to note that all these three thereby inducing him to find not done human acts during the The Commentary speaks of two kinds sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi). factors were enhanced following the employment. course of our human existence, we of discipline – the discipline of the It is said that alcoholic drink was so-called opening of the economy after The sole responsibility falls fully have little prospect of being reborn as householder which is abstinence from discovered by Man in a chance 1977 when age-old indigenous values and squarely on the Buddhist clergy human beings. the ten immoral actions, and of the happening. A pre-historic man at the were abandoned. in discouraging the people whom they Mangala Sutta homeless one, which is either the hunter-gatherer stage of human Sri Lanka has the second highest come into contact with from drinking non-transgression of the seven kinds existence had to walk long distances rate of cirrhosis in the world, which is liquor. A Buddhist monk, also called In the Mangala Sutta, the Buddha of offences, enumerated in the game hunting and looking for food 55 per 10,000. Sri Lanka is second a Buddhaputhra, ought to have spells out the Blessings. It was Pathimokka, or the observance of the such as edible fruits and leaves and only to Moldova, a Nation of Vodka tremendous influence over the laymen translated into English from Pali by four divisions of Sila (morality)} and due to the heat of noon he was feeling drinkers, Sri Lanka Medical and cannot shirk the duty imposed on Ven. Narada Thera of Vajiraramaya, pleasant speech – this is the Highest thirsty, perspiring and was almost Association (SLMA) President and him to save his devotees from evil. The Bambalapitiya, Colombo, and I Blessing. dehydrated. On seeing water Deputy President of the Temperance Chief Incumbent and other monks studied it in his ‘A Manual of The support of father and mother, accumulated in a tree-hole, he quickly Movement, Dr. Anula Wijesundara must have a close connection not only Buddhism’ being a textbook in the the cherishing of wife and children, drank it. He felt greatly relieved of says. Dr. Wijesundara says in Sri with the laymen who visit the temple, mid 1950s at my alma mater. and peaceful occupations – this is the tiredness and longing for water, but Lanka, around 18,000 men die but also with those who do not do so On one occasion, the Blessed One Highest Blessing. on closer inspection saw grains of wild annually from alcohol related diseases but badly need guidance in their lives was dwelling at the monastery of Liberality, righteous conduct, the wheat and barley fermenting the and 40 per cent of Sri Lankan males by visiting their houses. There are no Anathapindika in the Jetha Grove helping of relatives, and blameless water and birds and other creatures consume alcohol. The per capita shortcuts for bhikkhus to attain the near Savaththi. Now, when the night actions – this is the Highest Blessing – who had drunk it out of thirst like him consumption of alcohol in Sri Lanka Supreme Bliss of Nibbana. All of them was far spent, a certain deity, whose this is the Highest Blessing. fallen unconscious around the tree. is 3.5 litres, which is the highest must emulate the Buddha! surpassing splendour illuminated the To cease and abstain from evil, “Today, about 9 million or an among the SAARC countries. Per Agga Mahapandita and Abhidhaja entire Jetha Grove, came to the forbearance with respect to estimated 40 per cent of the capita consumption among males Maharatthaguru Sangharaja presence of the Blessed One and, intoxicants (i.e., total abstinence and population of Sri Lanka consume alone is 7.4 litres. The Government’s Balangoda Ananda Maithreya (1896- drawing near respectfully saluted Him not merely temperance) and alcohol and 99 per cent of them are annual public health expenditure on 1998) Maha Thera, truly followed the and stood on one side. Standing thus steadfastness in virtue – this is the males. Those consuming alcohol daily diseases related to alcohol Buddha and, is considered a he addressed the Blessed One in Highest Blessing. number more than 4 million. The consumption is Rs 140 billion. Bodhisatva or Buddhankura. He verse: Reverence (i.e., to Buddha, alcohol market includes pure alcohol Addressing a Media seminar and a attended Ananda College, Colombo Many deities and men, yearning disciples, teachers, parents, elders such as hard liquor, mainly arrack workshop held at the SLMA from 1919 to 1922 when he became a after good, have pondered on etc. as mentioned in the and beer and illicit liquor or kasippu. Auditorium in Colombo to mark the teacher there and rose to be the Blessings. {According to the Commentary), humility, contentment, Illicit alcohol accounts for most of the World No-Alcohol Day, she said Professor of Mahayana Buddhism in Commentary, Mangala means that gratitude and opportune hearing of alcohol consumed in the country. cirrhosis was the sixth leading cause 1958, Dean of the Faculty of Buddhist which is conducive to happiness and the Dhamma (for instance, when one Studies done in 2013 reveal that illicit of death and the fourth leading cause Studies in 1963 and Vice Chancellor prosperity. Etymologists derive the is obsessed with evil thoughts, as alcohol or kasippu accounts for as of hospitalisation in Sri Lanka. of Vidyodaya University in 1966. I as a term from three syllables Man (woeful mentioned in the Commentary) – this much as 65 per cent of the total Dr. Wijesundara said that annually student there from 1959 to 1963 state), ga (going), and la (cut), and is is the Highest Blessing. volume of alcohol consumed in Sri the Government earns Rs 143 billion observed that he used to walk from explained as “that which obstructs Patience, obedience, sight of the Lanka,” says Dr. Daya from tobacco and alcohol taxes. But the university initially at the ways to states of misery.”} Pray tell Samanas (those who have calmed Hewapathirane. the direct and indirect costs of alcohol Maligakanda, Colombo and later at me the Highest Blessing. their passions), and religious Likewise, heroin, morphine, and and tobacco related diseases in Sri Gangodawila to his temple at The Blessed One answered him discussions in due season – this is the other opiates trace their origins to a Lanka are Rs 209.03 billion. The Balangoda and from Gangodawila to thus: Highest Blessing. single plant—the opium poppy. profit of Distilleries Company of Sri Maligakanda to attend University Not to associate with fools, to Self-control, the holy life, perception Cultivation of the plant dates back to Lanka (DCSL) after paying excise duty Senate Meetings held there at first, associate with the wise, and to honour of the Noble Truths, and the the earliest years of human was Rs 7.7 billion in 2011 and it has following in the footsteps of the those who are worthy of honour – this realisation of Nibbana – this is the civilisation, and opium use was well declined to Rs. 6.5 billion, she noted. Buddha. He did not draw his salary, is the Highest Blessing. Highest Blessing. known in ancient Mesopotamia. The Temperance Movement in Sri but entrusted it to a Board of Trustees To reside in a suitable locality (i.e., He whose mind does not flutter by Opium was used by some even in our Lanka was also a front line to be spent to distribute stationery any place where Bhikkhus, contact with worldly contingencies country half a century ago. organisation in the National and other requisites to schoolchildren Bhikkhunis, Upasakas and Upasikas (the Eight Loka Dhammas constitute The narcotic drug has been used both Independence Movement. Most of the in need. I was also fortunate in having continually reside, where pious folk gain and loss, honour and dishonour, recreationally and as a medicine for early officers of the Movement were as my Visiting Lecturer in Modern are bent on the performance of the ten praise and blame and happiness and centuries. Today, the amount of pioneers in gaining independence and Ceylon History the first Director meritorious deeds, and where the pain), Sorrow-less, Stainless, and narcotic drugs detected oftentimes is “the Temperance Movement was General of Education of the country Dhamma exists as a living principle Secure {Asokan, Virajan and Kheman so much that one is led to wonder identified as the foundation for the W.M.A. Warnasuriya, his pupil at as mentioned in the Commentary), to – Each of these expressions refer to whether rotti is made of it! independence struggle and many were Ananda, who said that Buddha’s First have done meritorious actions in the the mind of the Arahant. Asoka, is However, serious note has to be killed.” The “Sura Virodhi Vyaparaya” Sermon and the Communist past, and to set oneself in the right freedom from sorrow, Virajan is taken of the fact that alcohol and drug against alcoholism launched by Manifesto (1948) were the two great course (i.e., setting one’s immorality freedom from the stains of lust, abuse has assumed epidemic Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala in discourses in Mankind’s history! A12 Monday 3 august 2020 world/News

Melbourne, Australia New Delhi, India Australia’s Victoria declares disaster Sets curfew to curb COVID-19 A paramedic tends to a worker, who consumed bootleg liquor, Australia’s second-most cases of unknown origins have inside a government-run hospital (Reuters) populous state of Victoria forced the new restrictions, declared a state of disaster on which will be in place for six After 86 die Sunday and imposed a nightly weeks, officials said. curfew for the capital “The current rules have Melbourne as part of its avoided thousands and Indian Police crack harshest movement thousands of cases each day, restrictions to date to contain a and then thousands of people resurgent COVID-19. in hospital and many more down on moonshine Melbourne, Australia’s tragedies than we have seen. second-largest city already But it is not working fast suppliers under a re-imposed six-week enough,” Victoria Premier People wearing protective face masks walk along a street in Melbourne stay-home order, has struggled Daniel Andrews told a televised after it became the first city in Australia to enforce mask-wearing in Indian Police raided fatalities were linked. to rein in the disease, with briefing. public as part of efforts to curb a resurgence of COVID-19 (Reuters) rural hamlets and made Punjab Police have so far record numbers of infections of A curfew from 8:00 p.m. to arrests to break up a arrested at least 25 people the new coronavirus reported 5:00 a.m. every day will be The sweeping new Supermarkets will remain bootlegging cartel on and conducted more than last week. implemented from Sunday restrictions limit the time open, and restaurants, already Sunday, after 86 people 100 raids across three On Sunday, Victoria reported evening in Melbourne, barring Melbourne residents may closed for dining in, will be died from consuming districts, seizing hundreds 671 infections, one of its the nearly five million people in spend on outdoor exercise and able to continue with their illegally-produced alcohol of litres of liquor from highest, and seven COVID-19 the city from leaving their essential shopping. All schools takeaway and delivery this week in the villages and road-side deaths. High numbers of houses except for work or to will move to remote learning services. northwestern state of eateries, the state’s Police community transmissions and receive or give care. from Wednesday. (Reuters) Punjab, officials said. Chief Dinkar Gupta said on “We have conducted raids Saturday. at more than 30 places A government official said today and we have detained some of the seized liquid was six more persons,” Dhruman denatured spirit, which is Douala, Cameroon H. Nimbale, a senior Police typically used in the paint Officer in Punjab’s Tarn and hardware industry. Taran District, told Reuters. Deaths from illegally- Suspected Boko Haram militants kill 13 Nimbale said the first produced alcohol, known Suspected militants from Islamist group grenade into a group of people inside a camp the attack said that 2 wounded also died, death occurred on locally as “hooch” or Boko Haram killed at least 13 people and for displaced people in the commune of bringing the toll to 15. Wednesday, but Police “country liquor,” are a wounded eight others in a grenade attack in Mozogo near the Nigerian border in the Far Boko Haram has been fighting for a were only alerted on regular occurrence in India, northern Cameroon on Sunday, a security North region, said Mayor Medjeweh Boukar. decade to carve out an Islamic caliphate Friday, and then launched where many cannot afford source and a local official told Reuters. Boukar was informed by locals that 13 based in Nigeria. an investigation to branded spirits. The unidentified assailants threw a had died. A security official who confirmed (Reuters) determine whether the (Reuters)

Continued from page 1 Let’s get... Will not cut...... wave of people have been created around They cut the relief provided to pensioners. The , held in Tangalle town yesterday (2) evening,to that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was able to the ‘Telephone’ across the country. I would increase in salaries granted to government vote for the leadership that is prepared to work make successful decisions to control the like to tell you all that this wave of people will employees was removed. The Rs.15,000 which and has shown the ability to work, and thus COVID-19 pandemic using the Army and be transformed into a wave that will gain was paid to staff was cut. As of now, this support the task of developing the country. Health sectors of this country should be victory throughout the country at the Election government is taking salaries of elders too. Prime Minister Rajapaksa, who asked the people appreciated. The Prime Minister also said on on 5 August and that the ‘Telephone’ together They reduced by exactly half, the special rate to go to the polling booths early in the morning on this occasion that the cooperation and support with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya will achieve of interest granted to elders. Today, people election day, said further that firstly the franchise the people provided should be recalled with a very special victory. That means on 6 have no way of living. There are people in this should be used and initially to mark a cross gratitude. August, the Government of the Samagi Jana country who are hungry. Today, businesses opposite the Pohottuwa symbol of the Sri Lanka The need for a Parliament that supports Balawegaya with a mind and heart will come have collapsed. Trading and sales have Podujana Peramuna and secondly to give President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is acting with into existence in this country. become inactive. People do not have money. preferential votes to three candidates of choice by commitment towards building the country, has Some people are slinging mud at us. Others What is the solution for this? The Pohottuwa is each voter. arisen at present. are mocking us. Still some others are making not providing a solution to that. The Prime Minister also said similar to what was Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa requested fraudulent allegations against us. Today, the price of crude oil has sunk to the done by his previous Government,such as further that people should vote for the Sri Lanka A proper reply will be received through the very bottom. It has decreased drastically. But providing all people in the country with Podujana Peramunato be able to set up a court of the people to all that mud, all those this government has decided that they will not electricity,a programme will be implemented Parliament and appoint a Cabinet which has the insults and all false allegations. change the price of fuel for a period of 12 subsequent to setting up the new Government to ability to implement the ‘Saubaghyaye Dekma’ I made a decision as the Minister of Culture months. It is a decision made by the Cabinet. provide drinking water facilities to all people. Programme, which received the approval of the of the previous government and carried out We will reduce the price of fuel within twenty He also mentioned that at a time when most people at the Presidential Election, to achieve all development work at places of religious four hours. leaders of the world were destitute, the fact of these tasks. worship, which no one else had ever done. We Sincere friends, from today go and visit the repaired and renovated all three churches entire district and every village, put in effort which were destroyed in the Easter Sunday and ensure the victory of the Samagi Jana Attacks within the strength of the Army. We Balawegaya. Ensure the victory of the carried out new development work in those as ‘Telephone.’ I promise all of you that once the well. In the midst of the Election, our Samagi Jana Balawegaya achieves victory, Power hungry... Opposition has prepared a false report. It and a government is established, within mentions that money was misused. We built twenty four hours the price of fuel in this He said: case obtain two-thirds majority. They are trying to temples and other places of worship where country will be reduced. It was said that the The lives of the people of this country are not as get the people’s signature for a blank cheque. other religions were concerned. We built bills for March and April would be cut, didn’t valuable as the greed for power these rulers have. Prior to people voting for the Government, they Dhamma Schools. All of these constructions the Pohottuwa say that? When you see the That is why they tried to hold an election amidst have to tell the people which part of the were carried out by government construction electricity bill you feel utterly comforted! They the COVID-19 pandemic. It was prevented due to Constitution they are going to amend. companies of the State Engineering deceived everybody. The fraud was done when the thoughtful decision made by the Election In 2010, twenty parliamentarians who were Corporation, and together with them. That they came to the National Channel of the Commission. If not, there was a likelihood of a elected by UNP members got together with the programme was carried forward together with country. But I would like to mention to all of massive disaster occurring. We thank the Election Rajapaksas and ensured two-thirds majority. We all government institutions. Now, it is being you that we will definitely ensure victory for Commission. When the date of the Election was remind you once again that the same thing will said that money has been misappropriated. the ‘Telephone’ in this time’s Election. We will being postponed, ministers and parliamentarians happen in the future. Therefore, if a struggle is to Friends, I am someone who does not even take set up a government of the Samagi Jana of the Government became thoroughly excited. be launched against this spoilt, smelly politics we a sip of tea from the Ministry. We put in a lot of Balawegaya. We will make sure that electricity They began attacking the Election Commission request the people of this country to vote for the effort and dedication and carried out our consumers who paid the bills for the two continuously. What they wanted to do was to hold Compass and to send in a larger number of services. I would like to say that these months that the Government said will be cut, the election in a hurry, before the people became Parliamentarians from the National People's fraudsters will be given a proper reply by the will be returned that money. I will promise you aware of the actual nature of President Gotabaya. Power to Parliament. people of this country at this General Election. that today. This Government commenced the election After 5 August, the situation in the country will Friends, I am not scared to go to prison, Friends, there are poverty-stricken people in campaign in the hope of obtaining two-thirds worsen considerably. Just think of what subsequent to constructing temples. this country. There are many people who live a majority. What did this government do on behalf of happened during these past two or three days. With our victory, a new concept will be destitute life. Until the economy of the country farmers during the past eight months? What did Ever since this government came to power, they generated. That will be the Grama Rajya – returns to normal, our government will pay a they do to raise the standard of agriculture? What were in pursuit of Shani Abeysekera. During the Nagara Rajya concept. Through this concept, relief of Rs 20,000 each to those people which I did they do for workers abroad who lost their jobs time he was the Director of the CID, he took into every village, sub-village, every city and sub- promise. Premadasa does not lie. When due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for employees custody a large number of criminals in the city in the country, which wins will be subject Ranasinghe Premadasa commenced Jana in free trade zones? Due to this pandemic, people country and filed legal action against them. It was to development. Saviya, people from the Opposition said the who engaged in various businesses and earned an Shani Abeysekera who carried out investigations Dear friends, there is a tragic message I have same thing, but he carried it out. I will say here income were deprived of it. What did they do for into these criminals who engaged in crime during to relay to you today as well. That is that our that the most destitute families in society can them? Who will accept the responsibility of all this? the Rajapaksa era. From the day these people Opposition is preparing to send home be paid a sum of Rs 20,000 monthly. I would There is no talk about these things on the came to power, they were preparing to take approximately five hundred thousand like to remind you all that this promise is being platforms of Gotabaya and Mahinda at all. Neither revenge from him. We ask Police Officers of this government workers. There is preparation to given by none other than Premadasa’s son. are they heard on the platforms of Ranil and country, if a certain investigation was conducted cut the salaries of government employees who The work of the previous government began Sajith. The Government is now muttering about according to the responsibilities of duties will remain, too. Friends, I would like to ask towards the end, only. We hope to begin two-thirds majority all over the place. assigned to them, and another government comes you whether 6.9 million people gave this working from the beginning itself. We will If the Government is asking for two-thirds and imprisons the Officer who conducted this government a mandate to cut the salaries of grant the reliefs that have to be given. We will majority to amend the Constitution they have to investigation, whether such a culture should be government employees. To cut their salaries? strengthen the people. We will provide people tell the people, which part of the Constitution they encouraged in our country. Is such a culture good What did they do as soon as they came in? with the strength they need. will be amending. These people cannot in any for this country?

TUs call off... He added that 16 trade union on 31 July, demanding that the ECT yesterday were very successful, and Thousands of port workers from 23 complex and the Police were later leaders were present at the talks and come under the purview of the Sri we were convinced that there would trade unions across the political deployed for crowd control. both sides agreed that other options Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and be a permanent solution to this divide participated in the protest Subsequently, on Saturday, the should be explored instead of handing sought an assurance either from festering issue. campaign. Activities at the Colombo Police obtained a Court order over the East Container Terminal President Gotabaya Rajapaksa or the The PM also provided some valuable Port came to a near standstill, after preventing the workers from (ECT) to an Indian operator. Premier towards this end. “The advice towards this end as well,” the protesters blocked all the key obstructing the access roads towards The workers launched their protest discussions held with the PM Sumanaratne said. roads leading to and from the the port facility. monDAY 3 august 2020 b13 GoSL’s FVMP Debt Passes Rs 300B Inflationary FVMP debt up Rs 12.14B By Paneetha Ameresekere maintaining radio silence about its interventions in the market. Government of Sri Lanka’s ‘Spot’ trades are settled after (GoSL’s) demand-pull inflationary two market days from the date of face value money printing (FVMP) transaction. GoSL’s FVMP debt is debt increased by Rs 12,142 equal to the FV of CBSL’s T Bills million as its overall FVMP debt and T Bond holdings. Money passed the Rs 300 billion mark Printing (MP) is CBSL’s sole and after a lapse of 16 market days to mandated authority. MP is Rs 309,846.45 million at the end exercised to meet GoSL’s of Friday’s (31) trading. monetary commitments in the Consequently, GoSL’s total absence of adequate revenue and FVMP debt, both inflationary and increased GoSL expenditure. Macroeconomic projection updates non-inflationary, increased by However, if MP ends up in the 6.47 per cent (Rs 18,764.76 hands of GoSL only, without million) to Rs 309,846.45 million ‘once more’ being passed on to CBSL denies by Friday over Thursday (30). As middle rate of the benchmark dampened import demand. CBSL, for instance as settlement the Central Bank of Sri Lanka ‘spot’ as at 4 p.m. on Wednesday Nonetheless, in the calendar to buy the required dollars to (CBSL) bought the ‘more’ (29) which was Rs 181.735 year to Friday, the ‘spot’ has meet GoSL’s foreign debt media reports expensive longer tenure Treasury million to the US dollar. depreciated by between 2.39 per servicing commitments from the The Central Bank of Sri Lanka, in a statement, (T) Bonds in GoSL’s FVMP debt In related developments, due to cent-2.35 per cent (Rs 4.34-Rs former, then, that causes claimed that media reports about it projecting a ‘spree’ on Friday, the State’s money printing, market’s net 4.26) in two way quotes, leading demand pull inflationary sizable contraction in GDP and a large expansion in money printing borrowing costs excess liquidity increased by 9.01 to cost-push inflationary pressure. the fiscal deficit for 2020 are totally false, and (BCs) increased by 139.53 per per cent (Rs 12,142 million) to Rs pressure, as Sri Lanka is an The market is avoided to meet intended to mislead the public. cent (Rs 1,331.41 million) to a 146,911 million by Friday (31). import dependent economy. GoSL’s foreign debt servicing The statement reads: positive (+) Rs 377.17 million on In the foreign exchange market, The CBSL, the steward of the commitments for fear that that Several media reports have been brought to the Friday. the ‘spot’ strengthened for the country’s foreign debt and of its would weaken the rupee, thereby notice of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) in Meanwhile, GoSL’s foreign debt second consecutive market day foreign reserves, is not causing cost push inflationary which certain macroeconomic projections are servicing costs and the return of on Friday, this time by one and transparent in its transactions pressure as Sri Lanka is an erroneously attributed to the CBSL. swaps to local banks saw the two cents in two way quotes to be with the market and also with the import dependent economy. The CBSL has not released to the public any country’s foreign reserves poorer trading at Rs 185.64/66 to the GoSL, in that it expects reporters MPBCs are prorated to the update to its macroeconomic projections since the by US$ 36.44 million (Rs dollar as at 4 p.m. The pyrrhic to make arithmetical calculations weighted average yields (WAYs) publication of the CBSL Annual Report in April 6,622.76 million) on Friday. strengthening of the ‘spot’ is due to trace its interventions in open fetched in secondary market 2020. Given the conditions of uncertainty created Conversions are based on the to exchange controls which have market operations, by trading of T Bills and T Bonds. by the COVID-19 pandemic, frequent updates to macroeconomic projections are required, and the CBSL has continued to monitor standard indicators of economic activity as they become available. It has been using unconventional indicators as CIMA CXO forum well on a real time basis in its analysis and policy Vidullanka takes guidance. However, a key input required for a broad-based Deliberates revision of macroeconomic projections of the CBSL second major leap in Africa constitutes the estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first-quarter of 2020, to be published Vidullanka PLC has taken sustainable electricity in Vidullanka ensured that all building by the Department of Census and Statistics. Once its second leap in Africa by Africa. This new hydropower project activities were these estimates become available, the CBSL will commissioning the 6.5 MW project will facilitate access to successfully concluded in a publish its revised macroeconomic projections. As Bukinda Small Hydro power electricity in remote areas.” smooth, fluid manner sustainable such, the CBSL categorically states that media Project in Uganda. Due to the global travel throughout the time of the reports about the CBSL projecting a sizable Vidullanka PLC’s CEO, restrictions, the core global pandemic. contraction in GDP and a large expansion in the Riyaz Sangani said, “The plant engineering team stationed in This newest addition to businesses fiscal deficit for 2020 are totally false, and intended will help generate clean Uganda carried out the tasks Vidullanka’s energy portfolio Two thirds of transformation exercises to mislead the public. electricity, ushering in a new using remote monitoring will increase the total plant fail though senior business leaders feel era of socio-economic potential technologies and other capacity owned by company to digital transformation is a key imperative, and development in remote communication media while 36.25MW, with a cumulative said to Artificial Intelligence Academy areas. Vidullanka is about to partnering with the clean energy exceeding Co-founder Lin Gong-Deutschmann commission its second hydro management team in Sri 100GWh annually to the addressing Chartered Institute of Wednesday’s Treasury Bill Auction power in Uganda and will Lanka and its suppliers national grids of Sri Lanka and Management Accountants (CIMA) in Sri continue to develop clean and dispersed worldwide. Africa. Lanka’s annual CXO Forum held on 24 July. CBSL Inflates This year’s CXO forum was built on the theme ‘Visionaries: Building sustainable administered business for Sri Lanka’s future’, focusing on laying the cornerstone for resilient businesses, thriving on the strong grip of maximum WAYs big data, green economy and managing investor climate. after 12 Weeks The panel was composed of Co-founder Artificial Intelligence Academy, Gong- By Paneetha Ameresekere Deutschmann, Motivational Speaker and Leadership Coach Prakash Iyer, Head of The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) for the first Brand Marketing of Cinnamon Hotels and time for 12 weeks has administratively upped the Resorts Dileep Mudadeniya, Senior maximum weighted average yields (WAYs) that the Director/Country Head for Sri Lanka and market can quote for all three tenures on offer at Global Head of Investment Research the weekly Treasury (T) Bill auction to be held on Acuity Knowledge Partners Chanakya Wednesday (5). Dissanayake. The maximum WAYs that the market can be The session was moderated by Chief quoted for Wednesday’s auction are 4.67 per cent Economist of Ceylon Chamber of for the 91 day maturity, 4.76 per cent (182 day Commerce Shiran Fernando. maturity) and 4.94 per cent (364 day maturity), New Council of Management and Executive Committee Speaking during the event, Gong- respectively. These administered WAYs are up Deutschmann spoke extensively on the seven basis points each for the 91 and 182 day key role played by digital transformation maturities and eight bps for the 364 day maturity, SLIM elects new president in building future proof organisations. The week on week respectively, compared to their pandemic has accelerated the need to maximum administered WAYs at last week’s Celebrates Golden Jubilee have a ‘bold’ re-look at transforming auction. The Sri Lanka Institute of also held many honorary Strategy, Softlidz Solutions corporates digitally by absorbing trending Meanwhile, in the weekly T Bill auctions held in Marketing (SLIM) held its positions including Treasurer, Private Limited, Charaka arenas such as machine learning, big data the interim period, beginning with the weekly T Bill 50th Annual General Meeting Secretary and Vice President Perera - Executive Director at and robotics. She explained that having a auction of 13 May 2020, CBSL began giving on 26 June 2020 at Marino of the Council of Management Fuchsia Retail S.A. (Private) clear digital transformation agenda in the administered WAYs that the market could quote at Beach Hotel, adhering to of SLIM. Limited, Nuwan overall corporate agenda coupled with a these auctions, generally lower than the WAYs health and safety guidelines Other members appointed Thilakawardhana - Manager holistic approach encompassing fetched immediately preceding weekly auction or at given by the government. included Thilanka Marketing at Union Bank, adequate/right resourcing and building least matching the WAYs fetched at the immediately Roshan Fernando was Abeywardena, as the Vice Asanka Perera - Chief the employees’ digital capabilities play a preceding weekly auction. officially elected as the new President – Projects, Nuwan Executive Officer at pivotal role in success. However, CBSL began with its administered President and will spearhead Gamage, Vice President- Arugambay Beachwear (Pvt) Bringing in the importance of having the WAYs regime much earlier, i.e. 17 weeks ago the institute as its 42nd Education, while Chinthaka Ltd, Niyas Mohamed Shiraz crisis-resilient leadership qualities, Iyer beginning with the weekly T Bill auction of 6 April President in their 50th year of Perera, and Gayan Perera, -Assistant General Manager presented seven strategic leadership 2020, where the way of the 364 day maturity was existence. A new Council of were appointed as the Sales and Marketing at notions to be prioritised. capped at seven per cent, before its administered Management and an Secretary and the Assistant Fentons Limited, Asela .C. Chanakya Dissanayake shared live WAY regime encompassed the remaining two Executive Committee were Secretary respectively. Dr. Gunasekara -Manager Brand examples of how Acuity Knowledge tenures as well, five weeks later, beginning with the also elected at the meeting. Jayantha Dewasiri was Development at Metecno Partners executed resilient business weekly T Bill auction of 13 May 2020. Roshan Fernando is a appointed the Treasurer for Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Channa continuity despite the pandemic impact. The reason behind CBSL changing its pitch member of SLIM as well as the year 2020/2021. Jayasinghe - Senior Manager While acknowledging that continuous beginning with Wednesday’s auction had its the Chartered Institute of The new Executive - Brand Development at capital injections in the western genesis at last week’s T Bill auction, where CBSL Marketing (CIM)-UK, and Committee comprises ten Kelani Cables Plc and Dr. hemisphere has kept the capital market was able to sell only 30.29 per cent (Rs 11,963 holds a Diploma in Business experienced marketing Thesara Jayawardane - momentum up and running, he million) of the original issue (Rs 39,500 million) at Management, an Advanced professionals: Manthika Senior Lecturer and Director highlighted on how the digital investments its administered WAYs of 4.60 per cent for the 91 Diploma in Business Ranasinghe - Head of Business Research Unit at made in yesteryears have now become day maturity, 4.69 per cent for the 182 day Management and a MBA from Business Development Faculty of Business, handy in business continuity attempts. maturity and 4.86 per cent for the 364 day the Institute of Chartered (Global Shopping) at University of Moratuwa. Chanakya also reiterated the need to ‘fight maturity, respectively. Financial Analysis University Kapruka.com, Sathika The newly elected President the compulsion to absorb protectionism’ The WAYs eventually fetched at last week’s of India. He also holds a Wickramasinghe - Category Roshan Fernando expressed and to embrace open economic policies auction were 4.59 per cent for the 91 day maturity, Postgraduate Diploma in Manager Insights and his gratitude to the members and regional integration, to exemplify Sri 4.68 per cent for the 182 day and 4.86 per cent for Marketing from SLIM. Roshan Velocity at Fonterra Brands and Past Presidents for the Lanka’s competitive advantage. the 364 day maturity, respectively. holds the titles of Certified Lanka, Dr. Dilhan S. confidence placed in him to Despite the immediate significant Meanwhile, the total amount of T Bills on offer at Professional Marketer (Asia) Jayatilleke - Head of lead the institute. He pledged impact experienced by Sri Lanka’s major Wednesday’s auction is Rs 35,500 million, the and Practising Marketer Business Development and to continue the good work service offering i.e. tourism sector, Head of second largest parcel on offer at a weekly T Bill conferred by the Asia Marketing, Arogya Life initiated during the past years Brand Marketing of Cinnamon Hotels and auction after last week’s offer of Rs 39,500 million, Marketing Federation and Systems Lanka Private and to uplift the marketing Resorts Dileep Mudadeniya spoke since the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) began SLIM respectively. Apart from Limited and General Manager fraternity of the country with positively on the recovery prospects issuing T Bills 97 years ago in 1923. The CBSL is chairing various project - Business Development, new initiatives, strategic highlighting several measures on the steward of GoSL debt. committees at SLIM, he has Marketing & Corporate moves and activities. re-imagining Sri Lankan tourism. b14 Ceylon ft monday 3 august 2020 advertorial SLT, Epic Technology launch‘Helaviru Digital Economic Centre’ Sri Lanka Telecom and Epic etc.) and Agro-produce platformin SLTiDC, ensuring agriculture sector. Technology Group launched exporters, and provide an easy reliability and security backed Speaking at the launch, SLT the ‘Helaviru Digital Economic and secure channel to carry by professional support. group Chairman Rohan Centre’ Online Platform, a first out their trading activities. In Additionally, users can Fernando stated, “The ‘Gralgo Spices for South Asia on 31July 2020. addition, diverse service experience SMS and e-mail ‘Helaviru Digital Economic Helaviru Agro-produce and providers such as Transport & facilities along with IVR Centre’ will be a great boon to Commodities Trading Platform Delivery Service providers, facilities and call centre the farming and agricultural is a Cloud-based Digital Fertiliser Suppliers, Plants & support. sector, which is one of the from Ceylon’ to Marketplace that facilitates Seeds Suppliers, Auxiliary Users of this facility can leading trading platforms in trading activities (buying & Products and Services apply for financial support our country.” selling) of Agriculture and Suppliers, Agro-Insurance from People’s Bank and Bank “Epic is proud to have European market Farm Produce and Providers, Banks and of Ceylon, the strategic conceptualised the ‘Helaviru Commodities among diverse Government Institutes too will partners of the platform. Digital Economic Centre’ Gralgo Spices from been waiting in anticipation stakeholders on a seamlessly be connected to facilitate the In future, Helaviru hopes to Platform and we are delighted Ceylon, which ventured for premium spice products connected supply chain. main stakeholders and their create a central database of to have a partner like SLT to into promoting Sri Lankan and we see this in the The Helaviru Platform will commercial transactions on agriculture sector operationalise the project. We home grown organic spices products launched by Gralgo create an ecosystem of digitally the Platform, thus will stakeholders’ behavioural are certain that with this in the local and global Spices.” connected Agro-producers revolutionise the Agriculture statistics, commercial partnership, Helaviru will markets, was launched “Our products are Non- (Farmers & Growers), small sector in Sri Lanka. activities and transactions, revolutionise the agriculture recently. Genetically-Modified scale collectors, wholesalers, SLT as a partner will join which could be used for sector in Sri Lanka,” said Gralgo Spices from Organisms (Non-GMO), and retailers, large consumers Epic to operationalise the predictive analysis, trend Executive Chairman of Epic Ceylon claims to be a fully we look at exporting premium (supermarkets, food Helaviru Digital Economic forecasting and critical Technology Group, Dr. Nayana biodegradable and an spices, especially regarding processing industries, hotels, Centre, while facilitating the decision making in the Dehigama. exclusive product, which cinnamon and the 100% has broken a long felt need biodegradable packaging will in the spice industry. decay in the environment Gralgo Spices from within 6-8 weeks. There is a Ceylon mainly targets vacuum in the Sri Lankan organic Black Pepper,Ceylon market regarding Cinnamon, and Chili Pepper biodegradable packaging, ‘Derana - spices that have endless especially for spices and we demand locally and are aiming at filling that gap, START UP internationally. keeping in mind the greater Chief Delegate of German global demand for same,” 2021’ to Industry and Commerce in said Gralgo Spices From Sri Lanka Andreas Ceylon Managing Director, encourage Hergenrother said, “We have Gayanaka Senarathne. budding entrepreneurs Huawei Nova 7i In a bid to encourage a culture of entrepreneurship among Sri Lanka’s youth, Derana START launched in fresh UP 2021, an entrepreneurial TV show, has commenced its Caroline Jurie (Mrs. World 2020) and her husband Nishantha Deepal (on left), exchange agree- search for interested applicants. ments with Stasshani Jayawardena (Director- Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC), Manjula Skyline Grey A tripartite partnership Dahanayake, (Group CEO-Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC), Waruna Madushanka, (Promotions and PR Manager - Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC), Hemanthi Bulathwatte,(Company Secretary and between YouLead, USAID’s Legal Officer- Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC). Huawei recently days of its launch. Its youth skill development and introduced the Skyline Grey trademark design enhanced entrepreneurship programme edition of the Huawei Nova the attraction and now we together with the TV Derana 7i in Sri Lanka,extending have come up with the network and a Jordanian Caroline Jurie appointed the colour choices for its much-awaited Skyline Grey nonprofit organisation, Derana lovers. colour variant providing START UP 2021 seeks to create When Huawei first more individual choices. ” a culture of entrepreneurial job launched Nova 7i with Nova 7i has access to creators while promoting Ambewela Ambassador colours such as Sakura Huawei AppGallery, which entrepreneurship among youth Pink, Midnight Black and features a wide collection of across . Ambewela recently turned out for over 16 Officer, Lanka Milk Crush Green. apps and the newly According to statistics, less appointed Caroline Jurie, years. Foods (CWE) PLC said, Peter Liu, Country Head introduced Petal search, than 5% of Sri Lankan youth the winner of the Mrs. The latest Ambewela “This association of Huawei devices, Sri which allows users to who complete a technical course World title in 2020, as media campaign will reinforces the connection Lanka commented, “Nova 7i download millions of apps of study go on to start their own their official brand feature Caroline Jurie as between motherhood and is a favourite among smart directly from Huawei App business. ambassador. ambassador, role model, milk. We achieve this phone users and it cranked Gallery or from third party Derana’s new project has been Ambewela is known for and advocate for the through one of the best- up record sales within a few app providers. started to right this wrong by their dairy products such Ambewela Brand. run dairy operations in this competitive new TV as fresh milk, non–fat Commenting on their the world. This includes programme. milk, flavoured milk, new brand ambassador, sustainable farming and By attracting youth to share yoghurt butter, and Manjula Dahanayake, the very best animal care what could be potentially cheese which has been Group Chief Executive practices.” ground-breaking ideas to the Enterprise Analytics masses, it is hoped a culture of entrepreneurship will be ties up with Acumatica introduced here. Derana START UP 2021 is calling for applications from to equip SMEs with entrepreneurs below the age of 35 who have an innovative ERP Solutions product or service with business operations not exceeding over Enterprise Analytics, a authorised service partner 24 months. leading provider of for IFS, which is a global Applicants may represent any technology-based business ERP solutions provider and gender, ethnicity or religion and solutions, recently a reseller, implementation can hail from any one of the 25 partnered Acumatica, a partner, support service districts across Sri Lanka in leading Cloud ERP platform, provider for Automation order to keep the applicant pool to extend Enterprise Anywhere, world’s leading as diverse as possible. In Resource Planning (ERP) Robotic Process Automation addition to individual solutions to the growing (RPA) vendor. applicants, school level and SME sector in Sri Lanka. Acumatica focuses on group applications are also Both Enterprise Analytics providing ERP solutions to invited to participate. Following and Acumatica claims to be mid-market, including the deadline for applications, all driven by the shared vision manufacturing, applications will be screened to to empower SMEs with distribution, retail and find the most suitable Cloud ERP solutions and E-commerce, construction entrepreneurs. this partnership enables sectors and so on. Through A sum of USD 21,000.00 is Enterprise Analytics to its worldwide network of available for the best three expand its services in the partners, Acumatica entrepreneurs for business ERP domain. provides a full suite of expansion. Enterprise Analytics, integrated business headquartered in Sri Lanka management applications helps customers leverage including finance, Global Lifestyle Lanka business intelligence and distribution, project expand market reach with accounting, Customer Protecting those protecting us its years of expertise and Relationship Management innovative technological (CRM) as well as separate Police officers are country. On the advice of Chaminda Saranguptha solutions. In addition to field service, commerce, always at risk of getting Deputy Inspector General and Community Police this recent partnership, manufacturing and infected with COVID-19 of Police Western Province officer in charge CI Enterprise Analytics is an construction editions. as they serve on the – South Kapila Weerasingha by Global forefront of the war Kadupitiya and Nugegoda Lifestyle Lanka Head of against the virus and as Sector Head Pradeep Operations Solamuttu such we need to care for Rathnayaka and under Sivarajah. their safety. the supervision of Also present at the As a part of their Nugegoda Sector OIC for event was Financial ongoing CSR (Corporate promotions P.R. Kuruppu Controller GLL Derrick Social Responsibility) a sanitising cubicle as Jeyakumar and Network projects Global Lifestyle well as a battery operated Compliance Department Lanka has come forward backpack sanitising assistant manager of the to disinfect and sanitise sprayer was handed over company, Nishan police stations across the to HQI Mirihana Police Fringler. SPorts Monday 3 august 2020 A15 Arsenal beat Chelsea for 14th FA Cup trophy

Arsenal skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice to help his side secure a 2-1 win over 10-man Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday for a record- extending 14th crown in the competition - and a spot in next season’s Europa League. Victory at an empty Wembley Stadium earned Mikel Arteta his first trophy as Arsenal Manager, after he left his role as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City to replace Unai Emery in December. With the contest locked at 1-1, Gunners striker Aubameyang danced past the opposition defenders before finishing with his left foot in the 67th minute to ensure that Arsenal salvage European action from a difficult domestic season after finishing eighth in the Premier League. Chelsea had struck in the fifth minute when Christian Pulisic collected Olivier Giroud’s fine flick-on inside the penalty area and tucked the ball past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from close range. Arsenal drew level from the penalty spot through Aubameyang in the 28th minute after Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta was booked for bringing down the Gabonese moments earlier. Chelsea, who were forced to take off Azpilicueta and Pulisic due to serious-looking injuries, were reduced to 10 men after going 2-1 down when Mateo Kovacic collected his second yellow card of the game for a very soft foul on Granit Xhaka. Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and teammates celebrate with the trophy (Reuters)

Bairstow bashes bowlers Auckland win to England win by keep title hopes alive

Finlay Christie scored an four wickets early try in each half as the Auckland Blues beat the Otago Highlanders 32-21 in their Aotearoa clash in Dunedin on Sunday to keep the race for the domestic title still alive. The Blues’ victory moved them to 22 points, two behind the table-topping Canterbury Crusaders. Leon Macdonald’s side, however, have just one fixture remaining - the final match of Nick Kyrgios in action (file pic) the domestic competition which is against the Crusaders Australia’s Kyrgios on 16 Aug. at . The Crusaders host the Highlanders next Sunday. withdraws from U.S. Open The Blues had not won in Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has lives, for all of you. It’s my Dunedin since 2011 and they withdrawn from the U.S. Open decision.” raced to an early 12-0 lead and again criticised some of Kyrgios had no problems with tries to number eight his fellow professionals for with the USTA scheduling the and scrumhalf their decisions to ignore health tournament or players Christie. advice during the coronavirus competing if they chose, “so The Highlanders, however, pandemic. long as everyone acts responded with a Josh Ioane Kyrgios follows compatriot appropriately and acts safely”. penalty and co-captain Ash and women’s world number The 25-year-old said he Dixon’s try to get back to Jonny Bairstow in action one Ash Barty, who withdrew recognised that lower-wage 12-10 before a controversy from the 31 Aug. – 13 Sept. employees at the event, such as that could have overshadowed Jonny Bairstow’s quick-fire 82 in half as many deliveries tournament earlier this week. restaurant staff, cleaners and the game. proved enough to help England beat Ireland by four wickets in “I will not be playing this locker room attendants, needed With the Highlanders on the second of their One Day Internationals at Southampton year at the U.S. Open,” Kyrgios the tournament to take place. attack, Blues’ flanker Dalton on Saturday. said in a video on social media The world number 40, Papalii made an intercept of a Bairstow’s innings laid the foundation for a second victory on Sunday. however, also took another loose pass and ran 60 metres in three days over the Irish, sealing the series win with one “It hurts me at my core not shot at some of his fellow for a try. game left to come on Tuesday. to be out there competing in players, with whom he has Referee Mike Fraser, however, Ireland, who won the toss and chose to bat, scored 212-9 in one of the sport’s greatest been involved in a running reviewed the moment before the their 50 overs, with newcomer Curtis Campher again top- arenas - Arthur Ashe Stadium. battle over the last two months intercept and overturned the try scoring. England replied with 216-6 in 32.3 overs. “But I’m sitting out for the after they chose to play in a and penalised the Blues’ prop Finlay Christie of the Blues Sam Billings (46 not out) and David Willey (47 not out) saw people, for my Aussies, for the Novak Djokovic-organised Karl Tu’inukuafe for being runs away to score a try during England home after a mid-innings collapse gave the visitors a hundreds and thousands of exhibition event in Europe. offside. the round 8 Super Rugby glimmer of hope against the world champions. Americans that have lost their (Reuters) (Reuters) Aotearoa Bairstow passed 3,000 ODI runs in a demonstration of power hitting that threatened to end the match early, before chasing a wide ball from Josh Little and edging through to wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker. But after he departed at 131-4, Little also removed England skipper Eoin Morgan second ball without scoring and vice- Lowry scores 33 as Raptors cruise past Lakers captain Moeen Ali for a duck three balls later. But there were no more breakthroughs and England made it Kyle Lowry had 33 Caruso finished with 11. A 9-2 run sparked by home with 105 balls to spare. points, 14 rebounds and The Raptors beat the Kuzma’s 3-pointer and a Ireland were again slow to get going and lost their first four six assists, leading the Lakers for the 11th basket inside by James wickets for 44 runs in just 16 overs. But they built Toronto Raptors to a 107- consecutive time. They pulled the Lakers within partnerships after that with Harry Tector and Tucker putting 92 victory over the Los haven’t lost to Los Angeles 72-70 heading into the on 34 runs for the fifth wicket, and Campher and Simi Singh Angeles Lakers on since 30 Nov. 2014. fourth quarter. 60 for the seventh wicket. Saturday at The Arena Toronto (47-18) used a The Lakers trailed by as Campher was eventually out for 68, getting a thick edge to near Orlando. 10-0 run in the fourth much as 13 in the first half Saqib Mahmood’s delivery and being caught in the deep by Lowry hit 5 of 9 quarter for a 93-83 lead before rallying for a 44-41 Adil Rashid. 3-pointers and 8 of 16 after a dunk by Anunoby lead at the break. Both The 21-year-old South African-born all-rounder, who shots from the floor. OG and a 3-pointer by Van clubs struggled offensively qualifies to play for Ireland through an Irish grandmother, Anunoby had 23 points, Vleet with 4:52 left. Los in the first half. Los Angeles scored 59 not out on his ODI debut on Thursday, when making 8 of 9 shots, and Angeles (50-15) sliced the shot 39 percent to 35.7 England won the first game by six wickets. Pascal Siakam contributed margin to seven before percent for Toronto from the There was a late flourish again from Ireland’s No. 8 Andy 15 points and nine Toronto pulled away. floor. The Lakers managed 4 McBrine who made 24, losing his wicket to the last delivery of rebounds for the Raptors. The Raptors opened the of 18 on 3-point attempts the innings as Reece Topley finally got some reward on his Fred Van Vleet had 13 third quarter on a 22-6 compared to 5 of 19 for the return to the England team after a four-year absence. points and 11 assists. surge for a 63-50 Raptors in the first half. Adil Rashid was the best home bowler with 3-34. LeBron James led the advantage after a bucket Overall, the Raptors The last match of the series is again at Southampton. Lakers with 20 points and by Lowry at 4:36. The converted 42 percent of Brief scores: 10 boards. Kyle Kuzma Lakers cut the gap to six their shots to 35.8 percent Ireland: 212/9 (50) (Curtis Campher 68; Adil Rashid 3-34, chipped in 16 points, but on two occasions, but a for the Lakers. Toronto Saqib Mahmood 2-45) Anthony Davis managed 3-pointer by Van Vleet put made 14 of 34 3-pointers, England: 216/6 (32.3) (Jonny Bairstow 82, David Willey 14 points on 2-of-7 the Raptors up 70-61 with while Los Angeles hit 25.6 47*, Sam Billings 46*; Joshua Little 3-60) Toronto Raptors handles the ball against the shooting. Dion Waiters 1:51 remaining in the percent. (Reuters) Los Angeles Lakers added 12 points, while Alex third. (Agencies) A16 monday 3 august 2020 sports

West Indies and Sri Lanka tours Proteas postpones both tours indefinitely South Africa men’s tours of the West Indies permitting, and travel permitting. Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka have been postponed also [postponed]. I expect that once things get indefinitely, CSA Director of Cricket Graeme up and running our men’s team - I would say Smith has confirmed. The tour of the from November onwards - if all goes well it will Caribbean was originally slated for July-August be a really busy period for South African comprising two Tests and five T20Is, and the cricket, probably playing in times that we one of Sri Lanka had three ODIs and as many haven’t played before and trying to cram in a lot T20Is scheduled for June, but both were of the missed tours.” postponed earlier because of the Covid-19 Even though Covid-19 cases aren›t as high in pandemic. Sri Lanka and the West Indies compared to Cricket West Indies Chief Executive Johnny other parts of the world, the rising threat in Grave had recently said they were looking at South Africa has shut their international September to host South Africa for either five borders. It meant five South Africans couldn’t T20Is or two Tests, but there is a slim gap make it to the Caribbean for the CPL starting between the CPL - ends on 10 September in 18 August and the participation of all South Trinidad - and the IPL, which is set to start on African players, barring Imran Tahir, in the IPL 19 September in the UAE. Smith said in a press also remains uncertain. Tahir had been in conference on Saturday their players ‘will be Pakistan for the PSL in March when many needed’ at the IPL, which ended the possibilities international borders started closing and is the of the bilateral series happening soon. only South African set to play in the CPL. “West Indies has been postponed indefinitely. Whether it›s the men for the IPL or the women We are struggling to find a time with the IPL for the tour of England, they will all need being fitted in,” Smith said. “It looks like our Government permission to get out of South players are going to be needed from the Africa. beginning of September, Government- (Agencies)

BCB looking to add Hamilton limps to record British T20Is to Lankan tour GP win after late puncture The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) point in the new discussion which Lewis Hamilton limped across the is looking to prepare their squad ahead started after the suspension of ICC T20 line for a dramatic British GP of the three-match Test series in Sri World Cup,” BCB Cricket Operation victory ahead of Max Verstappen Lanka by organizing a practice match Chairman Akram Khan told Cricbuzz after a remarkable finish to the race with the BCB’s High-Performance (HP) on Saturday (1 August). saw both dominant Mercedes suffer unit in the island nation ahead of the According to BCB officials, there is a punctures in the closing stages. series. Although nothing has been chance that they wouldn’t have to stay Mercedes were in a league of their confirmed as yet, three T20Is are likely in quarantine for 14 days, which would own before the last three laps, but to be included if insiders are to be allow the Bangladeshi cricketers to use Valtteri Bottas’ tyre blow-up was believed. the cricketing facilities. However, that followed by race leader Hamilton’s Citing lack of preparation caused by won’t allow them to play practice on the final lap and, in the Covid-19 pandemic, BCB and Sri games against local sides, as the SLC extraordinary scenes, the home Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced earlier will not permit their cricketers to come favourite only just managed to drive that they have decided to postpone in contact with the tourists before the his car across the finishing line. Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka to a 14-day period. Hamilton lost so much time that mutually-planned later date. Hence, BCB is expected to send their Red Bull, distant third for the Bangladesh were scheduled to play HP team over to help the players in the majority of the race, will actually be three Tests in July that would be part Test squad make the most of the ruing an opportunity missed after of the ICC Test Championship, but ‘a quarantine period by playing practice pitting Verstappen late on to get the conducive environment’, as per the games among themselves. The HP unit fastest lap. BCB, had still not been achieved. was once supposed to travel to Sri If they hadn’t have done so, However, now they are thinking of Lanka in September 2018 for a series, Verstappen - who finished only restarting cricket with this rescheduled but that eventually got shelved as the five seconds behind Hamilton at Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the race on the podium with the tour, and a decision in this regard is SLC was not ready to bear the the chequered flag - would likely trophy expected to come soon as the cases in expenses of the series. have had the most surprising of Sri Lanka are under control. SLC earlier proposed that when they wins. entirely - meaning the six-time the late drama. And Mercedes “Talks between BCB and SLC are host Bangladesh for a three-match “I’ve definitely never experienced world champion now has a weren’t the only team who provided going on about the new schedule and Test series in July, they will also host anything like that on the last lap, potentially crucial 30-point lead in it. hopefully everything will be finalized the HP squad for two four-dayers and my heart nearly stopped,” said the F1 2020 championship. McLaren also suffered a late soon. Earlier, we were only scheduled five 50-over matches during the same Hamilton. “I was just praying to get Hamilton also has a seventh puncture with Carlos Sainz, who to play a three-Test series. We’re also period, but that didn’t go to plan owing around and not be too slow. I nearly Silverstone victory, and is just four was running fifth for most of the trying to add some [shorter-version] to the pandemic. didn’t get around the last few wins off Michael Schumacher’s all- race, following Bottas outside the matches and we have included that (Cricbuzz) corners.” time record of 91. points. That lifted Daniel Ricciardo In another boost to Hamilton, Charles Leclerc finished an in the Renault up to fourth, and Bottas’ puncture and forced pit- admirable third for Ferrari - his Lando Norris to fifth. stop dropped him out of the top-10 second podium of the season - after (Agencies)

Inaugural Sri Lanka Women’s Chess Grand Prix 2020 Sachini Ranasinghe emerges champion

Former National Women’s Chess Final Ranking Champion (WIM) Sachini Ranasinghe of Nf3 Chess Club Rank Player Points emerged champion of the Inaugural 1 WIM Sachini Ranasinghe(Nf3 Chess Club) 9.5 Sri Lanka Women's Chess Grand 2 WFM Dinushki Premanath (University of Moratuwa) 8.0 Prix 2020 held at Chess Federation 3 WCM Tharushi Niklesha (Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo) 8.0 of SL Headquarters yesterday. The first sporting event for women 4 WIM Nelunika Methmani (University of Sri Jayewardenepura) 8.0 after the Covid-19 outbreak among 5 Ashvini Pavalchandran (Wycherley International School Colombo) 7.0 the best women chess players in the 6 Sandeepani M. Tharushi (Devi Balika Vidyalaya Colombo) 6.5 country was conducted by the Chess 7 Prasansa Premanath (Girls High School Kandy) 5.5 Federation of Sri Lanka from 25 July to 2 August with a total prize 8 Janandani Abeysinghe (Mahamaya College Kandy) 5.5 Thilan makes first money of Rs 70,000/= and trophies 9 Oneli Weerawardena (Lyceum International School, Ratnapura) 3.5 on offer. 10 Sayumi Gamage (Musaeus College Colombo) 3.0 Sachini earned 9.5 points in 11 11 Sayumi Vimansa Piyumanthi (Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda) 1.5 rounds. She beat WFM Dinushki class debut in England Premanath, WCM Tharushi 12 Nemindi Linaya Ramanayake (Asian Grammar School Colombo) 0.0 Niklesha, Oneli Weerawardena, 22-year-old Thilan Walallawita made his Ashvini Pavalchandran, Prasansa She lost against champion of the first class debut in England when he turned Premanath, Nemindi Linaya tournament WIM Sachini out for Middlesex on Saturday (1) in their Ramanayake, Janandani Ranasinghe and Sayumi Gamage, match against Surrey at the Oval. Abeysinghe, Sayumi Vimansa and drew against Sandeepani The England domestic cricket season kick Piyumanthi and Sayumi Gamage in Tharushi and Tharushi Niklesha. started on Saturday (1) day with 18 teams. the first 10 rounds, and lost only to WCM Tharushi Niklesha of Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Sandeepani M. Tharushi in the 11th Vishaka Vidyalaya Colombo was eighteen county teams have been divided round. She drew against Nelunika third with 8.0 points. She beat into three groups of six. Methmani in the 6th round. Sayumi Vimansa Piyumanthi, The left hand batsman and left arm WFM Dinushki Premanath of Sayumi Gamage, Oneli orthodox spinner is a past student of Leeds University of Moratuwa was second Weerawardena, Ashvini International School, Panadura and the with 8.0 points. She beat Oneli Pavalchandran, Prasansa elder son of Ajith Walallawita, a former first Weerawardena, Ashvini Premanath and Nemindi Linaya class cricketer who turned out for Panadura Pavalchandran, Prasansa Ramanayake in 7 rounds. She lost SC. Premanath, WIM Nelunika against Sachini Ranasinghe and Thilan was awarded the best upcoming Methmani, Nemindi Linaya Janandani Abeysinghe, and drew schoolboy cricketer of the year of the Ramanayake, Janandani against Dinushki Premanath and Middlesex cricket club in 2014. Abeysinghe and Sayumi Vimansa Sachini Ranasinghe posing with the WIM Nelunika Methmani. (IR) Thilan Walallawita Piyumanthi in 7 rounds. trophy (IR)

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