HIGHLIGHTS Govt Ready To Provide WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 Infrastructure To LATEST EDITION Expand Businesses VOL: 10/011 PRICE : Rs 30.00 – President In Sports Shanaka cameo takes Dambulla Viikings to victory A captain’s knock by Dasun Shanaka has tightened Dambulla Viikings grip on the Lanka Premier League after a 28-run win over PAGE A10 Colombo Kings in the seventh... A16 38 test COVID-19 positive in Mahara death toll rises to 11 Divulapitiya Sources of 20 cases 21,000 Tablets to Treat Psychosocial yet to be identified BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE, KUMUDU UPUL SHANTHA AND M.A.P. DEEN (AMPARA CORRESPONDENT) Disorders at Prison Infirmary A total of 38 people tested positive for COVID-19 during random PCR tests conducted in Divulapitiya on 28 November, health sources said. Police suspect Medical staff Only 9 prison 22,363 vacancies Contacts and the source of 15 of the 38 were identified. However, the source of 20 are yet to be tablets can be used as at Prison to be officers to control for Prison officers identified. Nearly 35 contacts of the 38 infected have been quarantined. alternatives for drugs investigated 3,000 rioting inmates islandwide There were three-wheeler drivers and people who worked in shops among those tested, so it would not be difficult to trace other contacts, they said. BY SHIRAN RANASINGHE, positive for COVID-19. METHMALIE DIssANAYAKE, Elsewhere, addressing a Media Story Continued on PAGE 2 CHAMARA AMARASURIYA AND briefing, Police Spokesman, DIG KUMUDU UPUL SHANTHA Ajith Rohana said it was revealed that 21,000 tablets to treat The death toll in the Mahara psychosocial disorders were O/L Exam Prison unrest on 29 November stocked at the Mahara Prison evening and 30 November rose to infirmary. He said an 11, when three more inmates investigation would be carried out postponed – GL admitted to the Ragama Teaching to determine as to why such a Hospital succumbed to injuries large number of tablets were yesterday (01). stocked in the infirmary. “It is BY KRISHAN PATHIRATH Meanwhile, Director of the said that these tablets could be JAYASURIYA Hospital Dr. Shelton Perera said used as alternatives for drugs they had to stop conducting PCR such as heroin. The medical staff Education Minister, Professor tests on 60 inmates temporarily, at the Prison will be investigated G.L. Peiris, said yesterday (1) in as they had started to behave in as well,” he said. Parliament, owing to the an aggressive manner. inmates were under the influence injuries sustained,” he said. Furthermore, DIG Prasad COVID-19 outbreak in the “We had to take this decision as of drugs. A total of 114 inmates When PCR tests were carried Ranasinghe and CID Director, country, a decision had been there were suspicions that some had been admitted to hospital for out on 50 inmates, 38 tested Nishantha de Soyza visited... taken to postpone the GCE Ordinary Level Examination, Story Continued on PAGE 2 which was scheduled to commence on 18 January 2021. Cremation of COVID-19 dead Causing Rs 1.2 B loss Mahara Prison Story Continued on PAGE 2 SC dismisses Five Agri Ministry Unrest Committee Ranjan de Silva murder FR petitions filed Officers suspended Police Spokesman wants out Main suspect Agriculture Minister, Mahindananda by 13 groups Y ULOCHANA AMIAH OHAN AND Aluthgamage, said steps had been taken to B S R M RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY arrested in Abu Dhabi BY KAMAL MAHENDRA suspend with immediate effect the services WEERARATHNA of five officers, for allegedly causing a loss of BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK approximately Rs 1.2 billion to the Police Media Spokesman, DIG Ajith A three-Judge Bench headed by the Government during 2018-2019 in the Rohana, who was included in the five- The main suspect, in the murder of Dehiwala- Chief Justice, yesterday (1), dismissed the fertiliser distribution process. member Committee, appointed by Mount Lavinia Municipal Councillor, Ranjan de Silva, Fundamental Rights petitions filed by 13 These officers include three Assistant Minister of Justice, President’s Counsel was arrested in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. groups including former Minister Rishad Directors, who at the time served at the M.U.M. Ali Sabry, to look into the Mahara De Silva was the father of cricketer Dhananjaya de Bathiudeen, against the Government’s Fertiliser Secretariat and two Development Prison unrest, yesterday (01) declined Silva. decision to cremate the bodies of those Officers. being a member of the committee, citing Police Spokesman, DIG Ajith Rohana, said the who die of COVID-19, including those of The Agriculture Ministry has taken this conflict of interest. main suspect, Dharmasiri Perera, was arrested by Muslims. step following investigations into several The incident at the Mahara Prison on Interpol on 29 November and Interpol had informed charges, including the preparation of... 29 and 30 November has so far resulted its Sri Lankan branch regarding the arrest. Story Continued on PAGE 2 in the deaths of 11 prisoners, injuries to While stating that three suspects are in custody in Story Continued on PAGE 2 inmates and officers, and damage to connection with the murder, DIG Rohana said the property. main suspect had fled the country after committing the crime. Grand Hyatt project Mahara Prison Unrest Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Rs 30B loss due Govt will prevent AG indicts Negombo No Parliament staff to cancellation repetition – Ali Sabry Prisons Supt BY SHIRAN RANASINGHE BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND BY HANSI NANAYAKKARA affected so far – Secy Gen METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE Secretary General of Although the Grand Hyatt project was to Attorney General Dappula de Livera Parliament Dhammika commence by 2016 under the Sino Lanka Justice Minister, yesterday (01) filed indictments before Dasanayake yesterday (1) said it (Pvt) Ltd agreement, since the agreement M.U.M. Ali Sabry PC, the Negombo High Court against seven has not been confirmed that any was cancelled during the last Government’s yesterday (1), pledged accused, including the former member of the Parliament staff tenure, Rs 60 billion had been spent on the the Government would Superintendent of Prisons Anuruddha has tested positive for COVID- project which could have been completed take all possible steps Sampayo. 19. with just Rs 30 billion. to prevent unrests, like AG's Coordinating Officer, State He said a Parliament staff Steps had been taken during the what occurred in the Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said the member who was suffering from Yahapalana Government to cancel the Mahara Prison, in the Attorney General had filed indictments fever was recently hospitalised. agreement signed with Sino Lanka (Pvt) Ltd future. against Sampayo, four senior Prison After conducting a Rapid for the project in question and to give the “This incident should officials and two inmates. Antigen Test, it was found that project to several other companies. Since not have happened. On he was not infected with COVID- the other companies involved took legal behalf of the Story Continued on 19. He had been sent home... action against Sino Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, it was Government, I express PAGE 2 ordered to pay a sum of Rs 1.8 billion. our sorrow about this,” he said. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Jaffna Uni disciplinary Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 report leak Releasing suspects on bail Students and AG instructs IGP to 21 Judges appointed to Superior Courts lecturers baffled develop action plan Six to SC, 14 to CoA BY SULOCHANA RAMIAH MOHAN BY METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE A total of 21 new Judges were appointed to the Court of Court of Appeal), Kumudini Students and lecturers of Jaffna appointed to the Superior Appeal. The new President of Wickremasinghe, Anthony University are in a quandary as to how Courts, namely, the Supreme the Court of Appeal was also Lalith Shiran Gooneratne, the Disciplinary Committee Report, on Attorney General Dappula de Livera has written to Court and the Court of Appeal, sworn in before President Janak de Silva, Arachchige the recent clash between the second- IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, informing him to take were sworn in before President Rajapaksa at the Presidential Achala Uthpalavarna year and the third-year Arts Faculty immediate steps to develop an action plan and to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretariat. Wengappuli and Mahinda students, was leaked to the Media, implement it, to release remand prisoners on bail by yesterday (01). Court of Appeal Judges, Abeysinghe Samayawardhena mainly to the Tamil news portals, with 7 December, in order to reduce prison congestion Six Judges were appointed to Justices A.H.M. Dilip Nawaz were sworn in as Supreme their names, University registration islandwide. the Supreme Court, while 14 (outgoing President of the Court Justices. numbers, and personal details. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 21 Judges appointed.... 21,000 Tablets... Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Supreme Court and the Court of ... the Prison premises yesterday Welikada Prison has only 10 officers Front-led government to fill Arjuna Obeysekara was sworn in as Appeal has remained static since 1978. to commence investigations into the on night guard duty where nearly vacancies, however, due to political the new President of the Court of Although the necessity to increase the unrest. They were given special 3,000 prisoners are housed. influence, those interviews were Appeal. Menaka Wijesundera, D.N. number of Judges in the Superior security by the Prisons Department. Meanwhile, at present, there are abruptly halted. Samarakoon, M. Prasantha de Silva, Courts has been mooted several times It is also reported that only nine 22,363 vacancies for Prison officers. It is learnt that the State Minister M.T.M.