SRI LANKA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER I SINCE 1918 FRIDAY JUNE 25, 2021 I 32 PAGES I VOLUME - 103 - NO 149 RS. 30.00 I REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER IN SRI LANKA I LATE CITY ★ PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS Treasury Board to monitor LP Gas buying - Minister NATION TODAY President Gotabaya Rajapaksa SLFP won’t support NCM against Minister Gammanpila will address the nation at 8.30pm LP Gas will be purchased with This will put an end to all alleged noted. He was responding to a ques- but also many essential commodi- today, the President’s Media Divi- the intervention of the Government corruption, irregularities and com- tion by a journalist at a press confer- ties including gas. sion said. It will be simultaneously in the future, Environment Minister missions in the purchase of gas. ence at the Ministry on Wednesday. However, we, as a ministerial sub broadcast by all television and radio Mahinda Amaraweera said. Therefore, these companies will be “The relevant suppliers have committee appointed to prevent channels. “These activities will be carried out able to save a lot of money that has requested the Government to increase of gas prices, took a num- by a high level board of the Treasury. gone out of their companies,” he increase the prices of not only fuel ber of alternative steps. TO PAGE 02 Poson Presidential Pardon for 93 prisoners Ex-MP Duminda Silva, 16 LTTEers get reprieve AMALI MALLAWAARACHCHI and AMILA PRABATH WANASINGHE Former MP Duminda Silva was released from the Welikada Prison after receiving a Presidential Pardon yesterday (24). The former Parliamentarian was jailed for life in 2016 after the Colombo High Court found him guilty of the murder of former MP Bharatha Lak- shman Premachandra, a verdict which was later affirmed by the Supreme Court. Premachandra’s wife Sumana Premachandra took TWO COMMITTEES TO RECOMMEND REVISIONS to social media expressing her disappointment regarding the release of ex-MP Silva. TO PAGE 02 SECURITY CONCERNS TO BE ADDRESSED PROMINENCE FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS Police strict on MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN human rights.Minister Sabry told He clearly explained that chang- to meet the national security be taken into consideration to quarantine law breakers Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC, the Daily News yesterday that es or annulment of the PTA will requirements as well as interna- strike a balance. said the Government will review the three-decade old PTA will be be considered by the Government tional security obligations,” Sabry “It will not act unfairly and Court action to the Prevention Terrorism Act either revised or repealed depend- in line with the national security said, pointing out that the nation- unnecessarily to affect the rights determine punishment (PTA), to cope with new political ing on an anticipated report from concerns of the country. al interest of protecting human of the people and would maintain and technological developments, the two Committees that are to “We want a balanced Act in rights and security of the people the freedom and liberty of the Those who were arrested yesterday the rising incidence of crime and be appointed by the Cabinet of keeping with human rights in terms of the Constitution and citizens of Sri Lanka at all costs,” for breaking quarantine regulations will the growing need for enhanced Ministers. requirements of the country and international obligations will also he added. TO PAGE 02 not be given police bail and will be directly produced before Courts of Law, Police Spokesman Senior DIG Ajith Rohana said. He said movable property, such as AstraZeneca, Pfizer vaccines vehicles, of those arrested, would be seized and produced before Court and the immovable property, such as shops, of those arrested would be effective against Delta sealed. TO PAGE 02 COVID-19 variants-study COVID-19 vaccines made by AstraZeneca and the Pfiz- er-BioNTech, alliance remain President switches on broadly effective against Delta and Kappa variants of Mihintala - Lake House the COVID-19 causing virus, which were first identified in India, according to a scientific study, underpinning a Aloka Pooja continued push to deliver the shots. TO PAGE 02 AMILA PRABATH WANASINGHE, Anuradhapura Additional Corr. Online GCE A/L result re-scrutiny The Lake House Aloka Pooja event applications upto July 10 of the State Poson Pinkama at the historic Mihintale Rajamaha The Examinations closing date of applications The State Poson Festival and the Lake House Mihin- Viharaya held for the fifty-ninth time will end Department has called is July 10. tala Aloka Pooja were inaugurated last evening by Presi- today (25). applications for the re-scru- It stated that the recom- dent Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the presence of Most Ven. The Mihintala-Lake House Aloka Pooja was tiny of results of the GCE mendation or signature of Dr. Walawahengunuwewe Dhammarathana Nayake Thera, held according to the advice of the Chief Advanced Level Examina- the school Principal is not Chief Incumbent of the Mihintale Raja Maha Viharaya. Incumbent of the temple Venerable Dr. Wala- tion 2020 only via online necessary for applications Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Trade Minister Dr. wahengunuwewe Dhammarathana Nayake for both school and private of school candidates due Bandula Gunawardena, ANCL Chairman W. Dayaratne, PC thera on the initiative of Associated Newspa- candidates. to the present pandemic and members of the Board of Directors, MPs, provincial pers of Ceylon Limited Chairman, President’s representatives and several other invitees were present. The The Department said the situation. TO PAGE 02 Counsel W. Dayaratne. ANCL/Lake House Aloka Pooja, held for the 59th consecu- A number of religious programmes had been tive year in collaboration with the Ceylon Electricity Board, is organized on behalf of the State Poson Festival sponsored by telecom provider Dialog. The event was held in accordance with the prevailing health guidelines. The Aloka this time as well. Pooja will be switched on today by Anuradhapura Govern- With the Coronavirus spreading throughout SLPP Founder Basil’s organising ment Agent R.M. Wanninayake. Right: The illuminated Mihin- the country, arrangements were made to hold the tale Maha Seya. (Picture by President’s Media Division) Poson festival following health protection meth- skills needed now - Minister ods without the participation of people. TO PAGE 02 IRANGIKA RANGE Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said Sri Lanka Podu- jana Peramuna (SLPP) Found- Duminda’s pardon:BASL wants Man arrested in Dematagoda with US welcomes er and former Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s organizing skills are President to make public statement over 4kg Cannabis, Rs.5.5 mn prisoner release required by the Government. LAKMAL SOORIYAGODA Economic Revival and Pover- SAMEERA ABEYSINGHE, except Duminda ty Eradication Presidential Task The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has written Nugegoda Group Corr. The United States Force Head Basil Rajapaksa, who left for the United President Gotabaya Rajapaksa requesting to make the public The Colombo Crimes yesterday commended States on May 12 for a personal visit, returned to aware the basis on which Duminda Silva was selected for Division (CCD) arrested the release of prisoners the country yesterday. the purpose of granting a pardon under Article 34 (1) of a man working for lead- detained under the Pre- Ranatunga said that former Minister Basil Raja- the Constitution. The BASL states that it is the right of the ing drug dealers from a vention of Terrorism Act paksa is an excellent organizer. TO PAGE 02 public to know whether the said pardon has been granted house in Kotikawatte of the (PTA), but expressed in accordance TO PAGE 02 Wellampitiya Police Division with a stock of Kerala its concerns over the Cannabis worth over Rs one million and Rs. 5.5 million release of former MP rupees in cash earned through the sale of narcotics. Duminda Silva. Police said the suspect, a 24-year-old from U.S. Ambassador to Wellampitiya was arrested by the Crimes Division on Sri Lanka and Maldives Zoo’s Lioness Sheena also gets COVID-19 Woman with 1kg heroin a tip-off when he was at Gnanawimala Uyana Mawatha Alina B Teplitz in a ANANDA KANNANGARA 11-year-old male lion in Dematagoda distributing drugs. TO PAGE 02 Tweet said, TO PAGE 02 The Lioness named ‘Sheena’ named ‘Thor’ tested was confirmed to have con- positive for COVID-19 arrested from Modera tracted COVID-19, raising the last week. Both of them A woman suspect (25) peddling hero- number of COVID-19 infected are now under medical in was arrested by the Police in Modara animals in the zoo to two, the care. on Wednesday. Dehiwala Zoological Gardens The Lioness was The woman possessing one kilogram Former Philippines President Benigno Aquino dies Department said residing with the and 21 grams of heroin was arrested yesterday. COVID-19 infected lion mals considering the safety of a around 9pm by the Colombo North The former President of the Phil- state media reported. Popularly PCR tests were ‘Thor’. large number of other animals. Division Vice Squad, Police Media ippines Benigno Aquino III died known as “Noynoy,” Aquino was carried out on Steps were immediately If the officials of the zoo had Spokesperson Senior DIG Ajith Rohana Thursday at the age of 61 after the country’s 15th president, serv- the 12-year old taken to isolate the virus infect- followed proper guidelines to said. TO PAGE 02 being hospitalized in Quezon City, ing from 2010 TO PAGE 02 Lioness after an ed Lioness and few other ani- protect animals TO PAGE 02 DN page 2 NEWS FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2021 UNP unhappy over pardon Man hijacks car with girl, robs her of Duminda Silva Treasury Board to monitor... From page 01 MAHINDA P.LIYANAGE Galle Central car had got into the car saying Therefore, the gas sup- sized that the Sri Lanka SHIROMI ABEYASINGHE special correspondent that he wanted to take back his pliers had to accept our Freedom Party (SLFP) will A car that had been hijacked by van and had left the place with The United National Party has questioned recommendations.