www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk FRIDAY, JULY 24, 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 15,424,595 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 2,753 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 4,102,147 146,200 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 631,238 BRAZIL 2,231,871 82,890 INDIA 1,257,828 30,058 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 795,038 12,892 11 2,077 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 9,397,642 SOUTH 394,948 5,940 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS665 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 8.50 P.M. ON 23 JULY 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU AFRICA Will free country from drug menace: President ARRIVALS FROM OVERSEAS President Gotabaya Rajapaksa The President made upcoming election. People apprised the President of the Only special assured that he would entrust the future these remarks at a public He heeded the requests made by current status of the Kiribathgoda generations with a country free from gathering organised the public to construct a housing Hospital and issues related to lands, the drug menace. near the Kiribathgoda scheme for the residents in and also requested the President not While several measures are already Shopping Complex Peliyagoda who to halt investigations into the Easter permitted in place to prevent drug infiltration and last Wednesday (22) to are prone to Sunday attacks. distribution, the President emphasised support candidates of the flash floods as Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and that the country will be freed from drugs Sri Lanka Podujana well as to set up a SLPP candidate Sisira Jayakody were persons allowed as it is from terrorism, the President’s Peramuna (SLPP) pumping station present on the occasion. Media Division (PMD) stated. contesting at the in Pethiyagoda. Contd. on page 2 Only special permitted persons suspension of its repatriation such as seafarers are now being programme, amidst a surge in 2020 GENERAL ELECTION MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY ELECTRICITY BILLS allowed to enter the country coronavirus cases, Airport and through its ports, as airport Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) operations have been temporarily Ltd. Chairman Maj. Gen. G.A. ‘Postal suspended by the Government Chandrasiri said. voting earlier this month with the Contd. on page 2 successful’ Concessions The Election Commission (EC) from next yesterday (23) asserted that there was no reduction in postal voting The demolished historic building site in Kurunegala numbers at the general election 2020. PHOTO SAMAN ABESIRIWARDANA Contd. on page 2 EC to meet district month: CEB AG OBTAINS COURT ORDER BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA change, but this will not be the final Access blocked to secretaries decision regarding relief to electricity The Election Commission (EC) has Electricity consumers would receive the concessions consumers, he added. decided to hold a special discussion approved by the Cabinet for their March, April, and May bills A cabinet decision has been taken between the district secretaries from next month, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman recently to reduce electricity bills by historic building and assistant commissioners of Eng. Vijitha Herath said. 25% where electricity consumers have Attorney General (AG) Dappula staff, and their representatives, elections regarding the upcoming consumed between 0-90 electricity units de Livera has obtained a prevention to protect and prevent access to parliamentary election. He told The Morning that the CEB have already paid an extra amount for in the months of March, April, and May. order from the Kurunegala the demolished historic building Contd. on page 2 had already allocated Rs. 3 billion to their bills would receive the benefit in The consumers will be given a grace Magistrate’s Court against the site pending investigations, said provide concessions for consumers. their next bill,” Herath said. period of three months to pay, while there Kurunegala Mayor, Deputy AG’s Co-ordinating Officer State VIOLATING POLL LAW “We have already implemented the He said relief measures that won’t be any disconnections or late fees. Mayor, municipal councillors, Counsel Nishara Jayaratne. programme and the consumers who have already been granted will not Contd. on page 2 Commissioner, Municipal Council Contd. on page 2 Disciplinary action ANIMAL FEED will be pushed: EC PHYSICAL DISTANCING IN BUSES IRANAMADU QUARANTINE CENTRE The Election Paddy and rice Commission (EC) will 126 civilians push for disciplinary Will be inquiries against state officials who have use banned released violated election laws. A gazette notification The gazette, signed by CAA monitored: A group of 126 civilians, who were under Director General has been issued by Chairman Maj. Gen. (Retd.) quarantine at the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) of Elections Saman Sri the Consumer Affairs Shantha Dissanayake, has facility in Iranamadu, have been released upon Rathnayake told The Authority (CAA) been issued under the completion of the procedure. Morning that the relevant banning the use of powers vested in the CAA by Minister Contd. on page 2 department heads would paddy and rice for the Section 10 (1) (b) (ii) of the be informed. production of animal feed. Consumer Affairs Authority The Ministry of Transport has Contd. on page 2 CAA Chairman Maj. Gen. Act, No. 9 of 2003. explicitly advised buses to only (Retd.) Shantha Dissanayake Contd. on page 2 transport passengers according to Army the number of the seats, and has deployed several monitoring teams Calls to arrest to be deployed on main bus routes manufacturers to ensure that the buses adhere to the guidelines that were issued. Transport Minister ‘blue guns’ Contd. on page 2 Mahinda Amaraweera BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA SMUGGLING ‘ICE’ The Sri Lanka Army is manufacturing what are known as Eight including excise “blue guns” for training purposes, The Morning learnt. Army Media Spokesman officer arrested Brigadier Chandana Eight persons have been arrested in the area of Wickremesinghe said blue guns are Puttalam while in possession of 200 g of “ice”, also meant to be used only during training. "These known as crystal methamphetamine. guns are to be used for training by the special An officer attached to the Department of Excise and forces. They are durable but are not the same four females are among the arrestees, the Police said. as the genuine weapon, so any damage to it Contd. on page 2 would not be costly," he said. 2020 GENERAL ELECTION Contd. on page 2 Nine candidates declare assets and liabilities BY SARAH HANNAN out that the candidates contesting the assets and liabilities. forthcoming parliamentary election The March 12 Movement said that it A total of nine candidates have have the potential to show that they was ready to publicise and appreciate submitted declarations of their are qualified to represent Parliament the asset and liability declarations, assets and liabilities to the March as members of parliament (MPs), and that the candidates would be able Former MPs and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidates Mujibur Rahman and Hirunika Premachandra arrived at the Criminal 12 Movement and Transparency as well as to expose themselves to to reveal themselves to the public as Investigation Department (CID) to lodge complaints against former Minister Wimal Weerawansa, calling for the arrest of International Sri Lanka (TISL). society as being free from bribery transparent individuals. Weerawansa for printing stamps with his picture and using them for mails PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE The March 12 Movement pointed and corruption by declaring their Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS Friday , July 24, 2020 Contd. from page 1 Govijana Seva Centre in Katana, the The Department of Archaeology India-Sri Lanka Concessions... President engaged in cordial discussion then filed a complaint claiming that the Accordingly, about 73% of in-house with the people present at venues. building demolished by the Mayor of electricity consumers will get a direct The President was warmly welcomed Kurunegala is a 13th Century King’s virtual B2B meeting advantage through this relief package. by the people in the area when he Court. Meanwhile, the Public Utilities attended the meetings organised This archaeological site has been listed PHD Chamber of Commerce and the video conference (VC) organised Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), by candidate Indika Anuruddha in under the provisions of the Antiquities Industry of India (PHDCCI) organised a by the PHDCCI on the prospects of the state regulatory body, proposed Divulapitiya and candidate Kokila Ordinance No. 9 of 1940. virtual India-Sri Lanka B2B meeting on 21 business promotion in the South Asian a formula for the CEB and the other Harshani at the Meerigama Bus Stand. A five-member committee was July 2020, in association with the Ceylon region on 1 May, the VC organised provider, Lanka Electricity Company then formed by the Secretary to the Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of by the FICCI on the opportunities for Ltd. (LECO) that can be applied to Ministry of Buddhasasana, Cultural, and Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Indian companies in Sri Lanka in the reduce the bills that became inflated Religious Affairs, under the directives of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), and the Colombo post-pandemic economic situation on when meter readers could not operate EC to meet... Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, to Chamber of Commerce (CCC). 5 May, online interaction between the during the lockdown. EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya look into the incident. High Commission of India in Sri Lanka High Commission of India and the Board LECO has already implemented the said that the relevant meeting will be Chaired by Department of Head of Economic and Commercial Wing Members of Indian CEO Forum in Sri formula and its subscribers have been held on Sunday, 26 July.