HIGHLIGHTS Derogatory remarks about Archbishop WEDNESDAY 24 june 2020 Sajith should LATEST EDITION take action VOL: 09/173 PRICE : Rs 30.00 against Harin In Sports – Gammanpila Ten Pakistan PAGE A4 players test positive for COVID-19 Karuna says unwell to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that seven more cricketers give statement to CID have returned positive tests for Covid- 19, taking the total count to ten ahead PAGE A2 of their England tour. A16 Former Intelligence Director says Rifkhan Bathiudeen Harin stoops helped Zahran so low – Asgiriya Anunayaka BY K.L. SURAWEERA AND NADEEKA flee to India DAYA BANDARA Anunayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter, Ven. BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA Vendaruwe Upali Thera, has vehemently condemned the remarks made against the Rifkhan Bathiudeen, brother of former Minister Rishad Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Bathiudeen, helped National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ) Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, by former MP Leader, Zahran Hashim, to flee to India by sea, a former Harin Fernando. Intelligence Director said. He said the Buddhist clergy would It was also revealed that Rishad Bathiudeen had worked never condone the actions of closely with Zahran’s extremist organisation. Fernando, who had caused severe He made this statement on 22 June, when he testified pain of mind to Archbishop Ranjith, before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the through his remarks made while Easter Sunday Bombings on 21 April 2019. addressing an election rally of the The witness also disclosed that the intelligence unit he had Samagi Jana Balawegaya in worked with had informed former Chief of National Intelligence Service Polonnaruwa recently. The monk (NIS), Sisira Mendis and former State Intelligence Service (SIS) noted that at a time when people of Director Nilantha Jayawardena on nine occasions regarding the different faiths live in close harmony extremist statements and actions of Zahran. and understanding with each other, “Since the speeches of Zahran that were circulated on social media Fernando’s criticism of a religious leader were very similar to Islamic State (IS) views, I urged relevant personnel shows the extent to which politicians to take legal action immediately in that regard,” he added. would stoop to win an election. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Politicians must Insulting Cardinal PCoI on Political Victimisation Boasting of JVP Leader puzzled not defame Harin by summons atrocities is religious leaders apologises BY FAADHILA THASSIM heinous – Wimal Leader of the JVP, Anura Kumara Suggests questioning Karuna – Fr. Fernando Dissanayake, requested Chairman of the Former MP Harin Fernando yesterday Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) BY NABIYA VAFFOOR BY RUWANTHA (23) sought on the Political Victimisation of Public NITHULGASPITIYA forgiveness from Servants, Upali Abeyratne,... Any person who the Archbishop of was a member of a Head of the Catholic Bishops Colombo, His militant or terrorist Conference of Sri Lanka, Rev. Eminence Malcolm outfit has a right to Fr. Winston Fernando, said Cardinal Ranjith reform. However, if politicians should never strive and the Catholic such an individual to defame religious leaders, in community, for is attempting to order to cover their own any pain of mind boast about past shortcomings. that had been atrocities and He said that he vehemently caused by him, project them as condemned the disparaging... through the heroic acts, such remarks where he acts cannot be Story Continued on PAGE 2 had distorted the condoned and word ‘Archbishop’, while referring to His Story Continued on PAGE 2 should be Eminence. considered extremely heinous, Minister He made this statement at a Samagi Jana Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday (23). Banks to freeze ‘drug Balawegaya meeting in Badulla yesterday. To permit a solar power plant Minister Weerawansa further said that Fernando also said the remark that the if the intention of Karuna Amman was to money’ accounts Archbishop had engaged in politics was his Politician of former get votes of people in the North and the personal view and averred that it was not East by boasting that he killed ... BY RANMINI GUNASEKARA the standpoint of his party, the Samagi regime took Rs 500M Jana Balawegaya. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Acting IGP, C.D. He noted that he was prepared to seek bribe - CEB Chair Wickremaratne has given forgiveness from the Archbishop, if his instructions for banks to freeze recent comments had caused any pain of BY SAUNDARYA WELLABODA all accounts related to drug mind. Two more money. All bank accounts that He added that he had cultivated the habit A politician of the former United National have received any amount of of expressing his views in an outspoken Front-led Government, had taken a Rs 500 leopards caught money through drug-related and forthright manner from his parents million bribe from a company to grant transactions, are to be frozen and emphasised that he was not afraid to permission to build a solar power plant, in snares – DWC under the Prevention of Money seek public forgiveness for his comments claimed Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Laundering Act, along with all concerning the Archbishop. Chairman Vijitha Herath. BY RANMINI GUNASEKARA tangible and intangible assets of these suspects, said Western Province (North) SDIG Story Continued on PAGE 2 Two more leopards have been found Deshabandu Tennakoon. caught in snares at the Helboda Estate He said this at a Media conference at Police in Nuwara Eliya yesterday (23), said the Headquarters yesterday. Limiting of non-essential imports Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC). Story Continued on PAGE 2 The two leopards were reportedly a Many sectors can commence mother and her cub, and whilst the female leopard had succumbed to its injuries, the cub had survived and is Constitutional production – President currently undergoing treatment in the care of DWC officials. Council meets today With the limiting of imports of several non- Speaking to Ceylon Today, DWC essential items, the opportunity is now open Spokesperson Hasini Sarathchandra Filling vacancies high on agenda to commence production in many sectors, said that henceforth, strict legal action President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. will also be taken under the Fauna and A Constitutional Council (CC) meeting is The current challenge before industrialists Flora Protection Ordinance against the scheduled to be held at 6 p.m. today at the Speaker’s is to win the domestic and global market, the owners of estates or premises where residence, under the patronage of its Chairman and President observed. snares have been set up. former Speaker, Karu Jayasuriya. The President made these remarks during a “Previously, we took legal action Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika discussion with the members of the Inter- against the suspects who have set up Dassanayake said Prime Minister Mahinda Ministerial Task Force on Industrial and snares. But now, we have decided that Rajapaksa and other members of the CC are slated Enterprise Development held at the we will take strict legal action against to attend the meeting. Presidential Secretariat on 22 June,... the owners of the estate or the... Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE 2020 NEWS COVID-19 prevention programmes PPP with Rakna Arakshaka CASA breached PHIs threaten health regulations BY FAADHILA THASSIM – Avant Garde head Chairman of Avant Garde, Nissanka Senadhipathi, stated that the public- that companies registered under private partnership with Rakna CASA could still operate and provide to withdraw Arakshaka Lanka Limited for ship services other than providing isolation crew changes in Sri Lankan ports facilities to seafarers. The Public Health Inspectors Union Wanniarachchi that they had been lockdown regulations (including during the COVID-19 pandemic has Senadhipathi further noted that of Sri Lanka (PHIUSL) threatened to forced to resort to strict trade union Election guidelines), and the been entered into because the Ceylon CASA has also written to the Ministry withdraw from all COVID-19 action due to the failure of the latter compilation of the necessary legal Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) of Health requesting for the transfer of prevention programmes from next to grant relief to them for most of the provisions to empower them further dealing with such transfers has ships crew on bulk basis to which the Monday, 29 June if their demands issues faced by its officers when under this Ordinance. breached health regulations imposed Ministry replied stating that such were not met by then. performing their official duty. They had explained that since by the Ministry of Health. Addressing approval cannot be granted given the Submitting a letter to the Ministry Among the three main issues March up to June this year, the a Media briefing held yesterday (23), COVID-19 situation. He also added of Health, the PHIUSL has warned highlighted by the PHIUSL have been PHIUSL had held several rounds of he added that CASA had ignored the that another shipping agent had that they would also withdraw from the resolving of issues pertaining to discussions with the subject Minister standard operating procedures for admitted two sea marshalls to Lanka duties targeting the 5 August General the appointment of Inspectors related aimed at finding solutions to pressing setting up and maintenance of safe Hospitals due to an alleged sickness Election as well as dengue prevention to the Quarantine and Prevention of issues faced by its officers, but house for seafarers. These operating without the knowledge of the Navy. He programmes with effect from Monday Diseases Ordinance, No. 3 of 1897, lamented that such talks had been to procedures require that isolation added that this was an extremely (29). the legalization of health guidelines no avail, thus forcing them to resort premises be spacious enough to dangerous act, since had the two The PHIUSL has observed in its concerning the reopening of to trade union action to win their just accommodate a minimum of 100 individuals been infected with COVID- letter sent to Minister Pavithra workplaces and the lifting of the demands.