www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk Maintain Distance, Stay Safe TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk TOTAL CASES For verified information on the Quarantine Unit COVID-19 TOTAL CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any 0112 112 705 ACTIVE CASES of the following authorities CASES IN Epidemiology Unit THE WORLD 6,310,891 Health Suwasariya PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 1,643 Promotion 0112 695 112 CASES DEATHS Ambulance DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 1,841,698 106,281 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 374,732 BRAZIL 514,992 29,341 RUSSIA 414,878 4,855 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD SPAIN 286,509 27,127 11 811 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 2,870,911 UK 274,762 38,489 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS821 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 11.30 P.M. ON 1 JUNE 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU LOCUSTS INVADE FARMS IN KURUNEGALA WHEN TOURISTS ARRIVE IN THE COUNTRY No quarantine, only PCR tests BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA negative PCR test was a prerequisite for tourists to be allowed into the country, but that No quarantine procedures will be followed they would not have to endure a quarantine Govt. urged to for tourists arriving in the country, but process. rigorous PCR testing is to be carried out “A negative PCR test when applying for before and after their arrival. a visa is a must. Once they arrive, they Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism and have to take another PCR test here as well. Aviation Siripala Hettiarchchi said that a Contd. on page 2 prevent spread REOPENING TOURISM INDUSTRY PM sworn into z Pest attack feared to z Farm in Kurunegala z Endemic species, be worst than ‘sena’ raided by locusts under control: Govt. Small tour late Thondaman’s BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA to the AIFF, and the locust Outbreaks have been reported groups expected portfolio attack was only reported from from Gujarat, Rajasthan, As swarms of locusts raided a farm in Mawathagama, Mawathagama in Kurunegala. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was Kurunegala, panic gripped farmers urged the Meanwhile, Department of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar in August yesterday (1) sworn into the ministerial Government to take immediate steps to control the Agriculture Director General Pradesh. Last week, the Delhi Sri Lanka is to reopen international tourism portfolio of Livestock and Rural Community pest attack as they claimed it could be worse than the M.W. Weerakoon said measures Government issued an advisory by initially allowing small tour groups to travel Development which was formerly held by have already been taken to contain to farmers to spray pesticides and the country by August, The Morning learnt. late Arumugam Thondaman. “sena” caterpillar. the spread of locusts. keep a possible attack at bay. Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism and Rajapaksa was sworn in as the Cabinet Speaking to The Morning, the country. However, he noted that the Meanwhile, experts have Aviation Siripala Hettiarachchi told The Minister of Social Empowerment and Estate All Island Farmers Federation “This can be even worse than the locust found in Mawathagama is warned of huge crop losses if Morning that it had been decided to allow Infrastructure Development before President (AIFF) National Organiser sena caterpillar and this is similar to endemic and not the desert locust the swarms are not stopped by only small tour groups to enter the country Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Namal Karunaratne warned the the Indian locust,” he noted. which is already destroying June when the monsoons will lead for tourism at the beginning. Secretariat yesterday. Government to control the pest However, there was no crop cultivations across India and to a new season of sowing rice, Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 attack before it spread around damage reported as yet, according Pakistan. sugarcane, cotton, and other crops. GENERAL ELECTION SL records 11th Seas the day! Covid-19 death Health guidelines The 11th death from the Covid-19 virus was recorded yesterday (1), the to be finalised Ministry of Health said. The formulation of health Occupational Health, and Food Safety The deceased was said to be a guidelines for the upcoming general Unit Deputy Director General Dr. 45-year-old male who had arrived election are to be finalised in the next Lakshman Gamlath said that the final in the country from Kuwait. two weeks, The Morning learnt. draft was currently being amended. Ministry of Health Environment, Contd. on page 2 Rain in seven provinces FR PETITIONS ON ELECTION zRough seas towards the northwest SC order on With the southwest monsoon condition gradually spreading proceeding today over the country, the Department of Meteorology forecasts showers The Supreme Court (SC) at 3 p.m. at-Law Charitha Gunaratne, the in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, today (2) is to announce whether it will Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), Central, North Western, and Southern grant leave for the fundamental rights journalist Victor Ivan, and the Samagi provinces. (FR) petitions filed challenging the date Jana Balawegaya (SJB) filed FR set by the Election Commission (EC) petitions challenging the date for Former Minister Ajith Mannaperuma along with parliamentarians S.M. Marikkar and Hirunika Premachandra visited for the general election, it is learnt. the general election set by the EC. the Mount Lavinia beach to inspect the washing away of sand which was allegedly caused due to improper steps taken to fill the coast Seven parties including Attorney- Contd. on page 2 Trains and buses PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE increased The Ministry of Transport CCCRM DENIES ALLEGATIONS CHAMPIKA ACCIDENT CASE IN 2016 Services Management this week issued directives to the Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) and Sri Lanka ‘Only beach phase washed away’ AG instructs CCD to Transport Board (SLTB) to increase the number of trains and buses to The Department of Coast been washed away. Defending the beach nourishment arrest former Police OIC facilitate travel for people returning Conservation and Coastal As told to the media by CCCRM programme, the CCCRM denied The Attorney General (AG) involving former Minister Patali to work and are accessing essential Resource Management (CCCRM) Director General B.K. Prabath the allegations of failure of the has instructed the Director of the Champika Ranawaka, which took services. denied the allegations levelled Chandrakeerthi, the cost of the entire project, also claiming that Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) place in 2016. against the controversial million- Mount Lavinia beach stretch was the Government fund spent for the to obtain a warrant and arrest the Ranawaka, who was a minister at rupee-worth beach nourishment around Rs. 110 million, and the Mount beach stretch has not gone former Officer in Charge (OIC) the time, was involved in an accident SEE FULL STORIES programme claiming that only the total cost of the project was Rs. to waste. of the Welikada Police Station on in Rajagiriya where a motorcyclist ON PAGE 2 beach phase of Mount Lavinia had 890 million. Contd. on page 2 charges of fabricating false evidence was critically injured. in the case filed over the accident Contd. on page 2 ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE REVELATION BY NISSANKA Assassination plot revealed DILAPIDATED BUSES z Former Navy Chief Ravindra z Digital evidence submitted to Pvt. bus owners Gunawardena accused commission backing allegations It was revealed at the Presidential Senadhipathi told the PCoI that former State and were able to scare off the seek assistance Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) Navy Commander Admiral Ravindra assailants,” he told the Commission. zLPBOA requests compensation/loan to repair probing political victimisation Wijegunawardana had sent naval He said this assassination attempt during the former Government that officers to carry out a hit on him. had been carried out due to his BY SARAH HANNAN Association (LPBOA) President a former Navy Chief had attempted to “On 31 December, he sent two opposition and activities against the Gemunu Wijeratne, speaking to assassinate the Avant-Garde Chairman of his naval security officers with moves to dismantle his maritime Private buses are yet to resume The Morning, said that since the in addition to more evidence coming a 9 mm gun each to my residence security operations by state actors as operations as bus owners are buses were left stationary for over to light. in Kotte. Fortunately, my personal well as his objections to the seizing of burdened with gathering funds to two months, it would result in dead Avant Garde Maritime Services (Pvt.) Avant Garde Maritime Services bodyguards, who are also former the floating armory M.V. Mahanuwara repair their buses. batteries and corroded engine parts. Ltd. CEO Major (Retd.) Nissanka Senadhipathi (Pvt.) Ltd. Chief Executive Officer military personnel, were armed by the Navy. Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Contd. on page 2 PHOTO LALITH PERERA (CEO) Major (Retd.) Nissanka with weapons legally given by the Contd. on page 2 2 the morning OPINION/NEWS Tuesday, June 2, 2020 BY COL R. HARIHARAN by such conduct, Modi did not mince words when he drew Xi’s attention to Even as nations are in the the incident in his statement at the end midst of fighting Covid- of the talks. And Xi took note of it. 19, Indian and Chinese Simmering standoff Former Foreign Secretary and troops have been locked Ambassador to China Nirupama Rao in an eyeball-to-eyeball fellow at the Institute of International that generally pass for the LAC. This summed up the present situation in her confrontation in eastern Relations of the Shanghai Academy of makes the present standoff in Ladakh tweet on 25 May: “Given absence of Ladakh for nearly three weeks.