WHAT HAS 2020 TAUGHT PROTECT YOURSELF FROM TRAVEL Covid-19 INFLUENCERS? ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020 38,638 RUPEE RECORDS TOKYO 2020 DEATHS RECOVERED HIGHEST DEPRECIATION BUDGET RISES TO 8,572 IN SIX MONTHS RS. 2,929 BILLION THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP 184 29,882 »see PAGE 3 »see PAGE 7 UNTIL 9.30 P.M. ON 23 DECEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU »see PAGE 5 COvid-19 EAST CONTAINER TERMINAL BURIAL OF COvid-19 DEAD Deaths rise to 184 Experts Committee One more Covid-19 death was reported last night (23), bringing the total deaths in Sri Lanka to 184. to make final call Lalith Weeratunga to Adani stake to z President directs oversee vaccine imports committee headed President’s Chief Advisor Lalith Weeratunga has by Health Minister been assigned to oversee the co-ordination process to decide of importing the Covid-19 vaccine. increase later? z Cabinet also UN support to obtain vaccine calls on Experts With several countries having started Covid-19 z Clause in MoC z Original stake Committee to decide Co-Cabinet Spokesman vaccination, the United Nations (UN) has assured and Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella Sri Lanka its support for procuring, distributing, worries trade unions expected to be 49% BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA and administering the vaccine. led to the matter being referred BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE India's largest port developer Adani Group is the The Government is yet to take to the Expert Committee once People asked not to frontrunner to become the partner of the ECT of the Sri a final decision on the issue of again, according to Co-Cabinet Trade unions attached to the Colombo Port Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), with SLPA having shares allowing burials for Muslims who Spokesman and Mass Media resist testing are agitated over a clause in the Memorandum of 51% and Adani holding 49%. Therefore, the unions die of Covid-19, as the discussions Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. The Police yesterday (23) requested people of Contract (MoC) of the East Container have expressed concern that the Government could held at the recent Cabinet meeting Contd. on page 2 leaving the Western Province not to express any Terminal (ECT) which leaves room for the rely on this clause to increase Adani’s shareholding resistance when the authorities conduct rapid Government to increase the shareholding of long after signing the agreement to make the company CREMATING COvid-19 DEAD antigen tests at exit points of the Province. its private partner following the signing of the the majority shareholder. partnership agreement. Contd. on page 2 MPs hold protest outside All seven continents Borella cemetery hit by virus Several MPs of the Samagi Coronavirus has reached the Antarctic continent, TUs seek meeting with President Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday which had so far been free of Covid-19. Port trade unions said they are looking Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port. out by other employees of the Sri Lanka (23) took part in a silent protest forward to holding discussions with the The unions also pointed out that Ports Authority (SLPA) as well. held outside the Borella Cemetery Rapid antigen testing President regarding the East Container operations in the ECT can be carried Contd. on page 2 and urged the Government to end mandatory cremation of Covid areas revealed victims’ bodies. Public Health Inspectors’ Union of Sri Lanka ‘Burial is our right’ SJB MPs Rajitha Senaratne, SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa Secretary M. Balasooriya yesterday (23) announced Kumara Welgama, Mujibur (centre) at the silent protest held the 11 locations where random antigen tests are being Samagi Jana Rahuman, Mano Ganesan, Harsha outside the Borella Cemetery Balawegaya (SJB) de Silva, Eran Wickramaratne, yesterday (23) conducted for those leaving the Western Province. supporters and groups of Muslims protested and Kabir Hashim took part in have allowed burial of Covid 582 more discharged against the forced the demonstration. victims except for Sri Lanka. cremation of Covid-19 Ganesan said many countries Contd. on page 2 victims in Colombo after recovery yesterday (23) The Ministry of Health yesterday (23) said that PCOI ON EASTER ATTACKS PHOTO Pradeep another 582 patients who previously tested positive DambaraGE for Covid-19 have recovered and been discharged Over 1,500 from hospitals within the last 24 hours. Public asked not to visit statements recorded Sri Pada in Jan The Special Police Unit of The public has been requested to refrain from the Presidential Commission engaging in pilgrimages to Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) in of Inquiry (PCoI) probing into January 2021, said the Nuwara Eliya District Secretary. the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks said it recorded statements SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 from over 1,500 witnesses so far. CURBING DRUG RINGS The five-member Presidential Measures to be Commission was appointed by then-President Maithripala strengthened in 2021 Sirisena on 21 September 2019. Former President Operations to curb drug rings will be Contd. on page 2 Maithripala Sirisena further strengthened next year, according to Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne. DESTROYING FLORA Contd. on page 2 MAHARA PRISON CLASH ELECTRICITY BILLS Enact laws to punish Relief period Postmortem report culprits: Cardinal for tourist hotels submitted to court SEVERE LIGHTNING Archbishop of Colombo Government should take necessary The relief period to settle electricity Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has said steps to formulate a programme to The report of the experts’ yesterday (23). The decision bills for the year 2020 for hotels registered laws should be enacted to severely protect forests in accordance with committee on the postmortems regarding the disposal of the under the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Advisory issued punish those who destroy the flora the Constitution itself. Laws should of another four inmates who remains is expected to be Authority (SLTDA) has been extended. The Department of Meteorology warned that in the country. be enacted to severely punish those died during the Mahara Prison delivered on 30 December, Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning The Cardinal expressed these who destroy the flora in this country. unrest was submitted to the according to media reports. said yesterday (23) that the extension is are likely to occur at several places over the island. views during a courtesy call If the ecosystem of the country Wattala Magistrate’s Court Contd. on page 2 until 31 December 2021. Accordingly, several places in the Sabaragamuwa by Foreign Minister Dinesh could be protected by doing so, our Contd. on page 2 and Western Provinces and in the Galle, Matara, Gunawardena at the Cardinal’s water resources would be in great and Nuwara Eliya Districts are expected to be official residence on Tuesday (22). demand, during future world water CHALLENGING Z-scORE Full report on 30 Dec affected by this weather condition. “Our country is being deforested shortages,” the Cardinal stated. The complete report of the by retired High Court Contd. on page 2 on a large scale. It has to stop and the Contd. on page 2 SC dismisses petitions committee appointed to look Judge Sarojini Kusala The Supreme Court last morning (23) into the unrest at the Mahara Weerawardena and consists ANUSHA PELPITA ordered to dismiss the petitions seeking Prison is expected to be of Chief Legal Advisor an interim injunction to suspend the handed over to the Minister to the Ministry U.R. De New secretary to admission of students to engineering and of Justice on 30 December. Silva, Additional Secretary physics faculties in universities based on A five-member committee to the Ministry Rohana Industries Ministry the Z-scores recently published by the was appointed by the Hapugaswatte, Police Media Senior Sri Lanka University Grants Commission (UGC). Minister a day after the Spokesperson DIG Ajith Administrative Officer Anusha The petitions were taken up before incident to investigate Rohana, and former Prisons Pelpita has been appointed the Supreme Court bench consisting and hand over a report Commissioner Gamini as the new Secretary to the of Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, containing recommendations. Jayasinghe. Ministry of Industries. S.Thurairajah, and Yasantha Kodagoda. The committee is chaired Contd. on page 2 His appointment will be in Anusha Contd. on page 2 effect from 1 January 2021. Pelpita MECHANISM TO REDUCE VEGGIE PRICES Not practical, say veggie farmers The special mechanism practical. important is to introduce new when it goes to the consumers, launched by the Speaking to The Morning, post-harvest technologies to store the prices would vary and no Agriculture Ministry All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation vegetables and stop wastage. guarantee can be given by the has been criticised (ACFF) President Namal “Price controlling is never a Government that the prices at by the vegetable Karunaratne said the price solution as the vegetables would all places would be the same,” ACFF President farmers, who controlling system is not practical be purchased at the price that is Karunaratne explained. Namal Karunaratne claim it is not for vegetables and what’s most given by the Government. But Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS Tuesday, December 24, 2020 people to control the pandemic. If a person tests Lalith Weeratunga... positive, he or she will be sent to a treatment centre and their close contacts will be ordered to The decision was taken during the daily undergo quarantine. Therefore, we request the meeting of the Covid-19 Committee held at people not to express any resistance,” he said. the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (22), the President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement. Accordingly, Weeratunga is expected to All seven... hold talks with relevant officials with regard to The Chilean Army has reported 36 cases at importing the vaccine to Sri Lanka following its Bernardo O’Higgins Research Station on a thorough study.