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, SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 For verified information on the Quarantine Unit COVID-19 TOTAL CASES TOTAL CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any 0112 112 705 ACTIVE CASES of the following authorities CASES IN Epidemiology Unit Health THE WORLD 25,987,062 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 3,092 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 6,263,906 189,114 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 862,709 BRAZIL 3,952,790 122,681 INDIA 3,810,625 66,871 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 1,005,000 17,414 12 2,883 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 18,260,039 PERU 657,129 29,068 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS197 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 8.40 P.M. ON 02 SEPTEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU DUMPING UNSORTED GARBAGE IN KARADIYANA Ban temporarily relaxed z Waiting for a proper mechanism z Waste management agreement in final stage BY SARAH HANNAN “Garbage from seven local to use the present site to collect the (Pvt.) Ltd. (FWM). The Morning councils is dumped at the unsorted garbage,” WMA Director contacted the project office to The Western Province (WP) Waste Management Authority Karadiyana waste disposal site. Nalin Mannapperuma told The inquire on the progress of Phase (WMA) said the decision to ban dumping of unsorted We are yet to adapt a method to have Morning. 1 of their initiative which was waste to Karadiyana was temporarily relaxed until a separate sites to dispose segregated In 2017, a waste-to-energy project stalled due to a delay in completing proper mechanism is introduced to process the garbage waste. Until we find a suitable was initiated at an adjacent site documentation. that gets collected. alternative, we will have to continue by Fairway Waste Management Contd. on page 2 Sri Lanka’s air All smiles! New Water quality best in South Asia Act in the Surpassing its competitors in South Asia, Sri Lanka’s air quality level has risen to number one on the 2020 works Environmental Performance Index The Minister of Water Supply Vasudeva (EPI) published by researchers at Yale Nanayakkara stated that a Water Bill will be and Columbia universities recently. drafted to protect water resources, establish responsibility and ownership of protecting water PCOI ON EASTER ATTACKS catchment areas, designate the areas around the streams as reserve areas, and ensure that the people have the right to access clean Hakeem water for consumption. Minister of Water Supply summoned Contd. on page 2 Vasudeva Nanayakkara tomorrow PROPOSED 20TH AMENDMENT The Presidential Commission of Cabinet gives Inquiry probing the Easter Sunday In commemoration of the 69th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), a special pooja took place at the Bellanvila attacks has informed Raja Maha Viharaya yesterday (2) with the participation of party Leader Maithripala Sirisena, General Secretary Dayasiri MP Rauff Hakeem Jayasekara, party memebers, and well-wishers the okay to appear before its PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE MP Rauff Hakeem Police Unit. The Cabinet of Ministers General (AG) yesterday said the NEWLY ELECTED MP PREMALAL JAYASEKARA SJB TO FORM AN ALLIANCE yesterday (2) granted approval proposed piece of legislation does 12 TOURIST VILLAGES to the proposed 20th Amendment not require a referendum and to the Constitution. could be enacted following two- Project Court to decide Samagi Jana The 20th Amendment was to be thirds approval from Parliament. Sandanaya in gazetted last night. The Attorney Contd. on page 2 completion in MP’s fate NEW POLITICAL PARTIES BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA Yapa Abeywardena told The four months Morning that it would be the making A sum of Rs. 18.96 million has been The judiciary would have decided by the courts. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Interviews for allocated to complete the development to decide the fate of convicted “There is a court National Organiser MP Tissa of 12 tourism villages. felon MP Premalal case currently Attanayake said that establishing Sources at the Ministry of Tourism Jayasekara on ongoing with regard the Samagi Jana Sandanaya is vital said the 12 locations are in the Districts whether he to this matter. It is to ensuring the supporting parties are registration of Kurunegala, Matale, Mannar, can attend up to the courts and given a fair chance to deliver on the Interviews have been called to general election work has Kandy, Badulla, Ampara, and Kegalle. Parliament. Parliament has no promises made to their voter bases. register new political parties for been completed,” Election Speaker of hand in the matter.” “We are a recognised political 2020, The Morning learnt. Commssion (EC) Chairman SEE FULL STORIES Parliament Contd. on party according to the Election “We have already called for Mahinda Deshapriya told The ON PAGE 2 Mahinda Speaker of Parliament MP Premalal page 2 Commission. MP Tissa interviews and the process Morning. Mahinda Yapa Jayasekara Contd. on page 2 Attanayake has begun, now that the Contd. on page 2 CONTINUOUS ERADICATION PROGRAMMES Covid-19 threat not over Decline in for SL: Army Commander dengue cases Despite a visible relaxation (NOCPCO) Lt. Gen. Covid-19 and are behaving like ADVERSE WEATHER of the health guidelines Shavendra Silva said. it never happened. The Epidemiology imposed to combat the spread The Army Chief told The The truth is that the virus Unit records a of Covid-19 in Sri Lanka, the Morning that the increasing is still affecting people and Landslide considerable threat of the virus entering number of Covid-19- is very much there,” he said. reduction in cases society is very real, Army positive patients among the “We are repatriating of dengue being Commander and Head of Sri Lankans repatriated to stranded Sri Lankans because warning reported during this the Presidential Task the country is indicative of they have a right to return to year in comparison Force of the National the risk of the virus entering their country, but the number of to 2019. Operation Centre society if health guidelines infected persons are increasing issued Contd. on page 2 Army Chief Lt. Gen. for Prevention of are not followed. among them.” The National Building Research Shavendra Silva Covid-19 Outbreak “People have forgotten about Contd. on page 2 Organisation (NBRO) has issued a Level CAUSE OF KANDY TREMORS 2 (Amber) landslide early warning for parts of the Galle and Kalutara Districts. The warning states that since the rainfall within the past 24 hours has exceeded 100 mm, if the rains continue, people living in Pressure of limestone fractures the following areas are alert to the possibility The suspected cause of the second tremor “It is suspected that the pressure released Udaya De Silva told The Morning. compared to the initial tremor felt on 29 of landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cut in the Kandy District was the fractures and from the limestone cavities, which dissolve However, he said that the investigations August. failures, and ground subsidence, being ready cavities in the limestone situated near the very easily, and the movements within the are still ongoing. The confirmed causes of both tremors to evacuate to a safe location if the need arises. Victoria Reservoir, according to the Geological Victoria Reservoir resulted in this minor He further stated that the second tremor in are expected to be revealed within the next Contd. on page 2 Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB). tremor,” GSMB Senior Director – Geology the Pallekele area was extremely localised two days. 2 the morning NEWS Thursday, September 3, 2020 BY MEERA SRINIVASAN A shortage of turmeric, a key ingredient in Sri Lankan cuisine, has sparked concern Turmeric shortage sparks among consumers about supply amid soaring costs in recent months, after the Government decided to restrict imports in the wake of the global coronavirus concern in Sri Lanka pandemic. z Spice sold for five times the capped price in black market While the Government has capped the maximum retail price farming community cannot be acute shortage of turmeric in the view, the current focus on local (MRP) of turmeric powder at Rs. reversed”. To control foreign coming months. Sri Lanka produces production is welcome as it shines 750 a kg, traders point to a black exchange parity rates and to get about 2,000 tonnes of processed or the spotlight on local agriculture. market where the spice is sold for rid of high debt burden on farmers, dehydrated turmeric a year, a report But regaining self-sufficiency may almost five times the price. The imports should be restricted, in the local weekend newspaper The take time. Sri Lankan Navy has also busted he said, according to a media Sunday Times said. “In the case of turmeric, it will attempts to smuggle in turmeric by statement issued by his office. The flavourful spice is used in be early next year by the time our sea. Last week alone, authorities In April, a month after everyday cooking in Sri Lanka in production grows enough to meet recovered nearly 1,500 kg of dried coronavirus (COVID-19) hit Sri a range of regional dishes from 60-80% of our demand,” he told turmeric in Norochcholai, some Lanka, the Government announced the hodi or sodhi (stew), a staple The Hindu. 150 km north of capital Colombo, a ban on non-essential imports side dish with string hoppers, Meanwhile, importers and on the island’s western coast. to cope with the strain on the hoppers, and pittu to dal eaten traders point to a growing black Despite the shortage and reports country’s foreign reserves as with rice and curry.