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 31, 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 17,300,954 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 2,814 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 4,590,809 154,364 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 672,369 BRAZIL 2,556,207 90,212 INDIA 1,632,422 35,712 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 834,499 13,802 11 2,333 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 10,789,545 S. AFRICA 471,123 7,497 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS470 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 7.30 P.M. ON 30 JULY 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU REGULATING NON-BANKING FINANCIAL SECTOR CB to amend Finance Leasing laws BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA with the recommendations of the the Finance Leasing Act in line with In addition, he said that awareness Police on the legislation are already committee appointed to look into the the committee’s recommendations,” programmes were also being being carried out. Some dates have The Central Bank (CB) is in the non-banking financial sector. Central Bank Director – Legal & prepared to educate authorities such also been scheduled to educate process of formulating amendments to “We have already begun preparing Compliance Sirikumara Kudagama as the Police as well as journalists. journalists on the sensitivities of PUBLIC SECTOR the Finance Leasing Act in accordance amendments that are to be made to told The Morning. “Awareness programmes for the the subject.” Corruption will IRD RECORDS LARGE NUMBER OF CHEQUE RETURNS VOTING RIGHTS OF PEOPLE IN QUARANTINE be eradicated: EC urged to President President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assured that all forms of corruption, malpractices, Cheques and irregularities in the Government will be strictly follow eliminated and that an efficient public service will be established in the country to serve all citizens. Contd. on page 2 guidelines The Government Medical Ministry has already issued INQUIRIES ON PRISON OFFICERS worth Rs. 3 b Officers’ Association (GMOA) guidelines and the EC should yesterday (30) urged the strictly follow those. Officers will Election Commission (EC) to "If the EC is following those strictly adhere to the guidelines guidelines, we don't have any be transferred: issued by the health authorities issue with regard to letting those while facilitating people in who are in quarantine centres Commissioner returned quarantine centres vote, as those people also BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA When asked about the actions on 5 August to have the right to vote," BY SARAH HANNAN the Department took to collect that vote at the general Dr. Kannangara said. Cheques totalling a value of around Rs. 3 billion that have money, the Commissioner General election. He also noted that Recent investigations into prison officers been given to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), have said he was giving targets to officials GMOA Vice strict measures should allegedly aiding inmates to conduct contraband been returned from 2016 till date due to various reasons, IRD as a measure to collect those taxes. President Dr. be followed during operations within prison premises prompted a Commissioner General Nadun Guruge said. “In some cases, the cheques are Sagara Kannangara voting, transporting record number of transfers within the Prison being returned when the wrong PINs told The Morning ballot boxes, and even Department where officers under investigation He told The Morning that the of 2,600 cheques have been returned were mentioned, and the Department, that the Health when counting those are to be transferred to other prisons. cheques have been returned mainly within the first six months of this by correcting or giving new PINs, votes. Contd. on page 2 due to insufficient funds in payees’ year and the IRD had successfully has collected most of those cheques,” GMOA Vice President Contd. on accounts. According to him, a total collected around 2,900 cheques. Guruge added. Dr. Sagara Kannangara page 2 POLICE VIOLATING POLLS LAWS Demanding their dues REPATRIATION OF SRI LANKANS Over 40,000 registered Disciplinary for repatriation action will be More than 40,000 Sri large number of expatriates Lankans have registered to waiting to return. pushed: Police be repatriated in the coming “I think the number is Disciplinary action will be taken against police weeks, The Morning learnt. 40,000-plus, as far as I know. officers who act contrary to election laws and Sri Lanka Bureau of The most recent numbers regulations, Police Elections Secretariat Head Foreign Employment Media would be with the task force in Senior DIG Priyantha Weerasuriya said. Spokesman R.K.K.M.P. charge of the matter,” he said. The DIG pointed out that all police stations have Randeniya said there was a Contd. on page 2 been informed of the laws and regulations pertaining to the forthcoming parliamentary election. Contd. on page 2 EDUCATION MINISTRY DECIDES Relief for Grade 5 TRANSPORTING NARCOTICS scholarship exam Police arrest The Ministry of Education has the current 45 minutes to an hour. decided to add 15 extra minutes Speaking at a press conference DS officials to the time duration given for on Wednesday (29), Minister Two officials from the Kelaniya and students to answer the first of Education Dullas Kolonnawa District Secretariats have been question paper of the Alahapperuma said this arrested while transporting 250 g of crystal Grade Five Scholarship measure was taken to methamphetamine, also known as “ice”. examination this year. provide relief for students The Police said that the car in which the The time set to answer who were unable to attend suspects were transporting the drugs has the first question paper school for over four months also been taken into custody. The arrests The Inland Revenue Services Union staged a protest in front of the Inland Revenue Department in Colombo yesterday (30) will be extended from due to the Covid-19 were made in the Pattiya Junction area in demanding immediate payment of the Inland Revenue incentive outbreak. Peliyagoda. PHOTO ESHAN DASANAYAKA Minister Dullas Alahapperuma Contd. on page 2 TRANSPORTING HAZARDOUS WASTE FR ON SUSPENSION AND TRANSFER DENGUE ANTIGEN, FBC TESTS CAA sets maximum price Court issues Shani The Consumer Affairs Authority July 2020, the maximum price for the (CAA), through an extraordinary NS1 antigen test for dengue with report withdraws gazette, published the maximum price generation would be Rs. 1,200, while the of laboratory tests for the dengue antigen maximum price for the FBC test with conditional order and full blood count (FBC). report generation is marked at Rs. 400. The Colombo Magistrate’s The Court had accepted that on 11 July 2020. The contents petition Accordingly, with effect from 29 Contd. on page 2 Court has issued a conditional the gully bowser containing the of five of these gully bowsers order on the case filed by the chemical waste was dangerous have already been dumped into Former Criminal Centre for Environmental to human life and issued an the sea. Investigation Department SL MIGRANT WORKERS Justice (CEJ) against the order from the High Court. During the investigation, (CID) Director SSP Shani dumping of hazardous The gully bowser is to be officers of the Marine Abeysekara has withdrawn waste from a factory at the kept in police custody until it Environment Protection his fundamental rights (FR) Thousands lose jobs Seethawaka Industrial Estate is released. Authority (MEPA), the Special petition challenging the in Avissawella, into the sea A press release issued by Task Force (STF), the Police, decision taken by the National Nearly 10,000 Sri Lankans working in the Meanwhile, the Bureau stated that it is near the Madampitiya Pumping the CEJ stated that about and the Environmental Police Police Commission (NPC) Middle East and other countries have lost their ready to provide all the necessary facilities Station. 10-12 gully bowsers carrying detained the remaining gully to suspend and transfer him Former CID jobs, according to Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign to repatriate migrant workers who wish to The Magistrate's Court on hazardous waste were to be bowsers and kept those in following the 2019 presidential Director Employment Deputy General Manager and return to Sri Lanka. Monday (27) had issued a smuggled into the sea near the police custody. election. SSP Shani Abeysekara Spokesperson Mangala Randeniya. Contd. on page 2 conditional order in this regard. Madampitiya Pumping Station Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS Friday , July 31, 2020 GMOA ISSUES 10 GUIDELINES REOPENING SCHOOLS New schedule Electing suitable from 10 August The Ministry of Education has decided parliamentarians to resume academic activities at all government schools from 10 August, The Government Medical Officers’ 6. A person who will stand against following government-imposed holidays Association (GMOA) has issued the agendas of pharmaceutical due to the Covid-19 outbreak. a 10-point guideline to help the mafia, imported milk powder However, only Grades 5, 10, 11, 12, and public elect responsible and companies, and agrochemical 13 will be allowed to attend school on all five suitable candidates to Parliament and other multinational company weekdays. on 5 August at the general election. mafias. Grades 1, 2, and 3 will have school for only 7. A person who could work in unison one day per week. It has also been decided The Association said it was essential to elect with professionals while respecting their that schools will be reopened according candidates who focus on policies pertaining professional opinion and be sensitive to to the number of students in the school.