www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 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 31,065,536 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 3,287 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 6,978,931 203,941 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 962,605 INDIA 5,418,681 86,926 BRAZIL 4,528,347 136,565 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 1,103,399 19,418 13 3,088 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 22,655,875 PERU 762,865 31,369 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS186 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 8.30 P.M. ON 20 SEPTEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU Turmeric shortage till Jan BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA the Covid-19 import restrictions put forward by the Government. The present turmeric shortage in Sri Lanka will continue However, the ban was described as for another three months, according to the Department of a means to encourage local farmers A five-storey building had collapsed onto another Export Agriculture (DEA). to cultivate turmeric. building in Buwelikada, Kandy last morning (20) About 1,500 hectares of turmeric PHOTO KAMAL SURAWEERA Speaking to The Morning, DEA According to him, the country’s have been cultivated so far, the DEA Director General Dr. A.P. Heenkenda turmeric demand is 7,500 MT while Director General said, adding that by BUILDING COLLAPSES IN KANDY said the shortage would last until the local production has been around January 2021, they will yield a harvest the massive harvest scheduled to 1,500 MT. Currently, the importation of about 22,500 MT of raw turmeric. arrive in the market next January. of turmeric is banned as a result of Contd. on page 2 HARIN’S STATEMENT ON EASTER ATTACKS Three killed from Catholic Church rejects claim same family BY SARAH HANNAN Kandy caving in and then received a distress call just residents. Later, we were BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA The Archbishop’s House on collapsing on a family past 5 a.m. on Sunday, able to locate the 45-day- Sunday charged that Samagi The adverse weather home and damaging part immediately after which old newborn with the The Catholic Church yesterday Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP experienced across the of an adjacent building as they had deployed a team assistance of the Army (20) rejected statements made Harin Fernando was making island over Saturday (19) well. to the site of the accident. amidst the debris and Buddhist Advisory by MP Harin Fernando to the baseless allegations against His evening through to Sunday Kandy Police Division “We managed to rescue sent them to the Kandy Presidential Commission of Eminence Malcom Cardinal (20) morning resulted in SSP Sudath Masinghe two women first with the Hospital.” Council meets Prez Inquiry (PCoI) probing Easter Ranjith. a five-storey building in told the media that they assistance of the area Contd. on page 2 The Buddhist Advisory Council Sunday attacks. Contd. on page 2 has commended President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for following advice and LNG POWER PLANT EASTER ATTACKS PROBE implementing suggestions of the LEGALISING MARIJUANA Maha Sangha, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said. Tenders for Workshop The member thero of the Council Maithri denies are confident that the policies followed by the President will be second plant by GMOA instrumental in building a fair and virtuous society. The Ceylon Electricity The Government Medical allegations of Board (CEB) is to call for Officers’ Association (GMOA) will ADVERSE WEATHER tenders for the construction be holding a workshop next week of the second LNG power on the pros and cons of legalising plant in Kerawalapitiya next marijuana in Sri Lanka. Affects over month. GMOA General Secretary Dr. offering perks CEB Chairman Eng. Vijitha Haritha Aluthge said the workshop Herath told The Morning that would be held on Monday (28) at In a statement issued Attacks on Friday (18). an ambassadorial role and 3,000 in Sept together with the construction the Organisation of Professional yesterday (20), former The former Defence other privileges. According to the situation of the LNG plant, the tender Associations of Sri Lanka (OPASL) President Maithripala Secretary said the former Former President Sirisena reports published by the Disaster would also be called for the premises. Sirisena denied the President had attempted hopes to address and clarify CEB Chairman Eng. Management Centre for Saturday, 19 Vijitha Herath LNG supply next month. “Our committee appointed allegations levelled against to coerce former Inspector the statements made by September, a total of 3,223 persons Furthermore, he said the specifically for this purpose will him by former Defence General of Police (IGP) Fernando if he is afforded from 879 families were affected by construction of the already tendered LNG power plant be presenting its findings at the Secretary Hemasiri Pujith Jayasundara into an opportunity at the PCoI adverse weather-related disasters for would commence next month. workshop,” Dr. Aluthge said. Fernando at the Presidential claiming responsibility probing Easter Sunday the first three week of September. Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 Commission of Inquiry for the entire travesty and Attacks in the future, the PCoI) probing Easter Sunday resign with the promise of statement added. SANCTIONS ON IRAN EASTER SUNDAY ATTACKS PROBE COVID-19 US reimposes ‘IGP urged to take blame’ SL Consulate in sanctions Former Defence Secretary and other privileges, Fernando former President Sirisena of the Jeddah closed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Hemasiri Fernando says he had not said further. lack of proper conveyance of The Consulate of Sri Lanka in Saudi Arabia, said Saturday (19) evening that the been on good terms with former Giving evidence before the panel information, to which the former which is located in Jeddah, will remain US has reimposed United Nations President Maithripala Sirisena in for the third day on Friday (18), Defence Secretary responded in temporarily closed till 25 September due to a (UN) sanctions against Iran, a move the lead up to the Easter Sunday Fernando said: “Every report given the negative. “I did not attempt to staff member testing positive for Covid-19, the expected to be effectively ignored by terror attacks. to me by the State Intelligence inform the former President of it, Consulate General’s office announced. global allies and adversaries alike. Testifying before the Presidential Service (SIS) was limited to mere since the capacity to understand Contd. on page 2 The latest move is the latest in Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) information devoid of any analysis. it or to explain it any further was the “maximum pressure” campaign probing Easter Sunday attacks, There is no course of action that can not there.” DEFORESTATION against Tehran, one that has left the Fernando also noted that there be taken based on such information. When the members of the US largely isolated. It comes after the had been mistrust between them. They are required by the Police, the Commission asked the witness Over 700 acres administration failed to extend the The former President attempted Criminal Investigation Department if he underestimates the former conventional weapons embargo set to coerce former Inspector (CID), and the Counter-Terrorist President, he replied: “Not of protected land to expire next month under the Iran General of Police (IGP) Pujith Investigation Division. What underestimate. People who were nuclear deal. Jayasundara into claiming I should receive is analysed present during a certain meeting, Over 700 acres of protected land have been responsibility for the entire information.” at which I made a controversial deforested during the last two months, The SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 travesty and resign with the The PCoI then asked the remark, had lied to the President. Former Defence Secretary Morning learnt. promise of an ambassadorial role witness if he had informed Contd. on page 2 Hemasiri Fernando Contd. on page 2 2 the morning FOCUS/NEWS Monday , September 21, 2020 Spotlight on deforestation z Matale MP calls for halt to deforestation z Minister deploys officials to visit all sites BY SARAH HANNAN resulted in farmers gradually encroaching which decreed that under the Land to continue with no regulation. Such number of environmental organisations At a time when we as a country should be working towards into the nearby frost reserve to collect Development Act, any development a decision will not only destroy the in Sri Lanka. Kavirathna said that the achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals firewood or expand their cultivation work that is to take place adjacent or Matale District or the central highlands, country and the world would be ruined (UN SDGs) of 2030, the caring for the environment has become land under the influence of money that within the areas where there are forests, but the entire country’s biodiversity. if the environment was not protected. key. Out of the 17 SDGs, four SDGs – namely, Clauses 6, 10, 13, was offered to them by multinational a permit had to be obtained by the “We do not want to see areas Not forests but private and 14 – are interconnected with the environment. companies. Kavirathna added that Land Commission. It was after this turning into deserts in the name the other state forests in Wilgamuwa, incident that the then United National of development. If we destroy the property Special attention needs to be drawn strong opposition by the people’s side Laggala, Raththota, and bordering the Party (UNP) Government on 1 August environment and not protect it, we The Sunday Morning spoke to the towards the other state forests which which halted such destruction from Knuckles Reserve are under threat by the 2001 brought in the 05/2001 Circular.