www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2020 For verified information on the Quarantine Unit COVID-19 TOTAL CASES ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any 0112 112 705 of the following authorities Epidemiology Unit CASES IN 0112 695 112 THE WORLD 64,384,940 Health Suwasariya Govt. coronavirus hotline PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 25,410 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS 0113071073 Bureau Service USA 14,113,824 277,026 If showing symptoms COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0117 966 366 1,490,614 INDIA 9,520,407 138,416 BRAZIL 6,388,526 173,862 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD 18,304 RUSSIA 2,347,401 41,053 124 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 6,984 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] 44,649,659 FRANCE 2,230,571 53,506 THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 10,00 P.M. ON 2 DECEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU NEW COVID-19 DETECTIONS COVID-19 SPREAD BUREVI CYCLONE TOTAL CASES Cyclone hits North and East The Government directed Govt. urged to relevant authorities to take necessary action to minimise the damage from the cyclonic 21,594*Stats updated as at 10.00 p.m. on 2 December storm “Burevi” which made COVID-19 landfall in Mullaitivu last expedite PCR testing night (2). across the Eastern Coast of Sri The Department of Lanka between 7 p.m. and 10 z No delays in PCR testing process: z Govt. should introduce rapid Meteorology warned that the p.m. last night. Two more deaths Health Services DG antigen testing: GMOA cyclone was expected to blow Contd. on page 2 Two more Covid-19-related deaths were reported last night, raising the BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA total deaths in Sri Lanka to 124. ENTERTAINMENT TAX HIKE The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Guidelines to pvt. sector yesterday (2) urged the Health Ministry to expedite the Covid- on antigen testing 19 testing process by increasing the number of tests and WPC Revenue promptly issuing test results without any delay in order to The Ministry of Health on Tuesday (1) issued a set of guidelines for private control the spread of the coronavirus within society. sector institutions on carrying out rapid GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando Dept. unaware antigen tests to diagnose Covid-19- GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando was reported. positive cases. told The Morning that the PCR testing He stressed that in addition to the should take immediate steps to BY SARAH HANNAN process was still slow, in spite of it antigen and PCR tests conducted to introduce antibody tests as well. of a decision over the increment being nearly a year since the first patient detect Covid-19, the Government Contd. on page 2 The Western Provincial of entertainment tax for the 9 in Wellawatte housing Council (WPC) Department year 2021. complex infected ALL SMILES of Revenue said it was unaware Contd. on page 2 A total of nine persons at the Lakmuthu Sevana apartment complex POWER SECTOR REGULATOR at Mayura Place , Wellawatte tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday (1), Wellawatte Police Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Kapila Wijemanne said. PUCSL to close? BY LAHIRU POTHMULLA several other institutions, informed sources said. CCC disinfected after The Government has President’s Secretary decided to take steps to Dr. P.B. Jayasundera staffer tests positive close the Public Utilities informed the Finance A staff member of Colombo City Commission of Sri Ministry Secretary of Centre (CCC)’s hotel construction Lanka (PUCSL) and the decision in a letter team tested positive for Covid-19, the President’s management said. absorb its staff to the Secretary Dr. P.B. dated 1 December. Ministry of Power and Jayasundera Contd. on page 2 UK-approved vaccine for use next week MICROFINANCE SECTOR The UK has become the first country Laws will be amended: Shehan in the world to approve the Pfizer/ BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, paving BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA were as high as 170%, the way for mass vaccination, BBC we found out,” State reported. Some microfinance Minister of Samurdhi, companies had given loans Household Economy, State Minister Duminda Dissanayake and MP Tissa Vitharana at a media briefing held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in out at interest rates as high Microfinance, Self- Isolated zones Colombo yesterday (2) PHOTO SAMAN ABESIRIWARDANA as 170%, The Morning Employment, and learnt. Business Development from police areas SECONDARY EDUCATION REFORM “Some of the interest Shehan Semasinghe Asha de Vos named 2020 rates are very high and State Minister told The Morning. to GS divisions ADB approves unfair. Some interest rates Shehan Semasinghe Contd. on page 2 Efforts would be made to minimise Sea Hero of the Year the size of the isolated zones from police $ 400 m Sri Lankan marine biologist recognised around the globe FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT FOR SRI LANKANS areas to grama niladhari divisions, Army Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a Asha de Vos was recognised for her work on Sri Lanka’s Commander and National Operation $ 400 million loan to support the Government as “2020 Sea Hero of the resident blue whales, a gifted Job opportunities in Japan Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head Lt. Gen. of Sri Lanka in transforming its secondary Year” by Scuba Diving researcher with natural star Steps are being taken by the employment opportunities for Sri Shavendra Silva said. education system to align with the demand magazine. power, evidenced by her TED Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Lankans in Japan. for highly skilled and agile workers who can The magazine said de talks and numerous awards. Employment (SLBFE) to provide Contd. on page 2 compete in the rapidly changing global economy. Vos is a marine scientist Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 SEE FULL STORIES DIGITISING JUDICIAL SYSTEM AG REPORT ON MAHENDRAN ON PAGE 2 MAHARA PRISON CLASH Project launched says Minister Statement in P’ment TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION Minister of Justice Ali system. Sabry stated yesterday (2) in This was said in response Govt. awards Eight dead inmates Parliament that a programme to a question by Samagi afterwards: Sabry has been launched by the Jana Balawegaya MP Hesha Minister of Justice Ali Sabry by MP Lakshman Kiriella in Chinese company Covid-19-infected Judicial Service Commission Withanage. said a report on the extradition Parliament yesterday (2), the China State Construction Engineering Out of the 11 inmates killed during the to digitise the entire judicial Contd. on page 2 status of Arjuna Mahendran is Minister said he requested from Corporation Ltd. (CSCEC) was awarded Mahara Prison clash, eight tested positive for due within the next few days the AG a report on Mahendran’s the contract to construct a tunnel as part Covid-19 in the postmortem PCR test, stated COPE from the Attorney General (AG). extradition. of the 95.86 km North Central Province Ragama Hospital Director Dr. Shelton Perera Responding to a question Contd. on page 2 Canal Project. yesterday (2). Annual reports made Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 BUWELIKADA PROPERTY COLLAPSE compulsory Building owner gets bail New minister Unrest brought Committee on Public institutions should submit their Enterprises (COPE) Chairman annual reports to Parliament The owner of the building released on bail by the Kandy under control Prof. Charitha Herath informed within the stipulated time that collapsed in September Magistrate’s Court, The Morning for prisons Secretary of Defence Maj. Gen. (Retd.) secretaries to the ministries period. in Buwelikada, Kandy, killing learnt. Sri Lanka Podujana Kamal Gunaratne said the tense situation at in writing that all government Contd. on page 2 three from the same family, was Contd. on page 2 Peramuna (SLPP) the Mahara Prison was brought under control. MP Lohan Ratwatte He said this in response to a question was sworn in as the raised by Minister Chamal Rajapaksa at SRI LANKA COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS State Minister of the Consultative Committee on Defence in Prison Management Parliament on Tuesday (1). Of the 2,500 and Prisoners’ inmates currently in the Mahara Prison, ‘Psychiatric drugs don’t cause violence’ Rehabilitation before 189 were identified as being infected with The Sri Lanka College of Sri Lanka College of have an adverse impact on those College of Psychiatrists on Tuesday President Gotabaya Covid-19 and arrangements were made to Psychiatrists rejected claims made Psychiatrists President Dr. Gihan who seek psychiatric medicine. (1) said the drugs used in Sri Lanka Rajapaksa yesterday (2), provide them with the necessary facilities. by several parties that the Mahara Abeywardena told The Morning: We released a statement to clarify are also used all over the world the President’s Media Meanwhile, nearly 100 detainees who Prison unrest was influenced by “Psychological disorders are and prevent the circulation of such and have been brought under the Division said. were granted bail were also sent home psychiatric drugs that induce largely stigmatised in present false reports.” guidance of regulatory authorities. MP Lohan following PCR testing, the Defence aggression. society, and these false claims could The statement issued by the Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 Ratwatte Secretary said. 2 the morning NEWS Thursday, December 3, 2020 km long tunnel from Koduruwawa to places on planning and analytical work. that did not comply with the council Watch of America, a few lucky Guidelines to... CCC... Namalpura via the conserved forests “As tariff and connected regulatory building regulations. Sri Lankan students will not be The World Health Organisation In a statement, it said necessary steps and sanctuaries in Girithale and Hurulu, work is within the Government’s It was on 20 September that the confronted with those same narrow (WHO) recently included rapid antigen were taken to keep all associated staff as part of the Mahaweli Water Security purview, certain relevant provisions building collapsed when the load-bearing choices.