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What has 2020 taught travel protect yourself from covid-19 influencers? active cases total cases thursday, december 24, 2020 38,638 tokyo 2020 Rupee RecoRds highest depReciation in six months »see page 3 deaths recovered budget Rises to Rs. 2,929 billion »see page 7 8,572 184 29,882 the above statistics are confirmed up until 9.30 p.m. on 23 december 2020 »see page 5 source: health promotion bureau buRial of covid-19 dead covid-19 east containeR teRminal Experts Committee to make final call Deaths rise to 184 One more Covid-19 death was reported last night (23), bringing the total deaths in Sri Lanka to 184. adani stake to Lalith Weeratunga to z President directs committee headed by Health Minister to decide oversee vaccine imports President’s Chief Advisor LalithWeeratunga has been assigned to oversee the co-ordination process of importing the Covid-19 vaccine. increase later? z Cabinet also UN support to obtain vaccine calls on Experts <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">z Clause in MoC </li><li style="flex:1">z Original stake </li></ul>With several countries having started Covid-19 vaccination, the United Nations (UN) has assured Sri Lanka its support for procuring, distributing, and administering the vaccine. Committee to decide co-cabinet spokesman and mass media minister keheliya worries trade unions expected to be 49% Rambukwella by maheesha mudugamuwa led to the matter being referred The Government is yet to take to the Expert Committee once a final decision on the issue of again, according to Co-Cabinet allowing burials for Muslims who Spokesman and Mass Media die of Covid-19, as the discussions Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. by dinitha Rathnayake India's largest port developer Adani Group is the frontrunner to become the partner of the ECT of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), with SLPA having shares of 51% and Adani holding 49%. Therefore, the unions have expressed concern that the Government could rely on this clause to increase Adani’s shareholding long after signing the agreement to make the company the majority shareholder. People asked not to resist testing trade unions attached to the colombo port are agitated over a clause in the memorandum of contract (moc) of the east container terminal (ect) which leaves room for the government to increase the shareholding of its private partner following the signing of the partnership agreement. The Police yesterday (23) requested people leaving the Western Province not to express any resistance when the authorities conduct rapid antigen tests at exit points of the Province. held at the recent Cabinet meeting Contd. on page 2 cRemating covid-19 dead MPs hold protest outside Borella cemetery Contd. on page 2 All seven continents hit by virus Several MPs of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday (23) took part in a silent protest held outside the Borella Cemetery and urged the Government to end mandatory cremation of Covid victims’ bodies. TUs seek meeting with President Coronavirus has reached the Antarctic continent, 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 forward to holding discussions with the The unions also pointed out that Ports Authority (SLPA) as well. President regarding the East Container operations in the ECT can be carried Contd. on page 2 Rapid antigen testing areas revealed SJB MPs Rajitha Senaratne, Public Health Inspectors’ Union of Sri Lanka Secretary M. Balasooriya yesterday (23) announced the 11 locations where random antigen tests are being conducted for those leaving the Western Province. sJb leader sajith premadasa ‘Burial is our right’ samagi Jana balawegaya (sJb) supporters and groups of muslims protested against the forced cremation of covid-19 victims in colombo yesterday (23) Kumara Welgama, Mujibur Rahuman, Mano Ganesan, Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickramaratne, (centre) at the silent protest held outside the borella cemetery yesterday (23) and Kabir Hashim took part in have allowed burial of Covid the demonstration. Ganesan said many countries victims except for Sri Lanka. 582 more discharged after recovery Contd. on page 2 pcoi on easteR attacks The Ministry of Health yesterday (23) said that another 582 patients who previously tested positive for Covid-19 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals within the last 24 hours. photo PRADEEP DAMBARAgE Over 1,500 statements recorded Public asked not to visit The Special Police Unit of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks said it recorded statements from over 1,500 witnesses so far. Sri Pada in Jan The public has been requested to refrain from engaging in pilgrimages to Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) in January 2021, said the Nuwara Eliya District Secretary. see full stories on page 2 cuRbing dRug Rings Measures to be The five-member Presidential Commission was appointed by then-President Maithripala former president maithripala sirisena strengthened in 2021 Sirisena on 21 September 2019. Operations to curb drug rings will be further strengthened next year, according to Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne. Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 destRoying floRa mahaRa pRison clash Enact laws to punish culprits: Cardinal electRicity bills Postmortem report Relief period for tourist hotels submitted to court Archbishop of Colombo Government should take necessary Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has said steps to formulate a programme to laws should be enacted to severely protect forests in accordance with punish those who destroy the flora the Constitution itself. Laws should seveRe lightniyng The relief period to settle electricity bills for the year 2020 for hotels registered under the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has been extended. Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma said yesterday (23) that the extension is until 31 December 2021. The report of the experts’ yesterday (23). The decision Advisor issued committee on the postmortems regarding the disposal of the of another four inmates who remains is expected to be died during the Mahara Prison delivered on 30 December, unrest was submitted to the according to media reports. The Department of Meteorology warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places over the island. Accordingly, several places in the Sabaragamuwa and Western Provinces and in the Galle, Matara, and Nuwara Eliya Districts are expected to be affected by this weather condition. in the country. be enacted to severely punish those The Cardinal expressed these who destroy the flora in this country. views during a courtesy call If the ecosystem of the country by Foreign Minister Dinesh could be protected by doing so, our Gunawardena at the Cardinal’s water resources would be in great official residence on Tuesday (22). demand, during future world water “Our country is being deforested shortages,” the Cardinal stated. Contd. on page 2 Wattala Magistrate’s Court Contd. on page 2 Full report on 30 Dec challenging Z-scoRe SC dismisses petitions The complete report of the by retired High Court committee appointed to look Judge Sarojini Kusala into the unrest at the Mahara Weerawardena and consists Prison is expected to be of Chief Legal Advisor handed over to the Minister to the Ministry U.R. De of Justice on 30 December. Silva, Additional Secretary A five-member committee to the Ministry Rohana was appointed by the Hapugaswatte, Police Media Minister a day after the Spokesperson DIG Ajith incident to investigate Rohana, and former Prisons and hand over a report Commissioner Gamini containing recommendations. Jayasinghe. Contd. on page 2 on a large scale. It has to stop and the Contd. on page 2 anusha pelpita The Supreme Court last morning (23) ordered to dismiss the petitions seeking an interim injunction to suspend the admission of students to engineering and physics faculties in universities based on the Z-scores recently published by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The petitions were taken up before the Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, S.Thurairajah, and Yasantha Kodagoda. Contd. on page 2 New secretary to Industries Ministry Senior Sri Lanka Administrative OfficerAnusha Pelpita has been appointed as the new Secretary to the Ministry of Industries. anusha pelpita The committee is chaired Contd. on page 2 His appointment will be in effect from 1 January 2021. mechanism to Reduce veggie pRices not practical, say veggie farmers The special mechanism practical. 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 important is to introduce new when it goes to the consumers, by the vegetable Karunaratne said the price solution as the vegetables would all places would be the same,” farmers, who controlling system is not practical be purchased at the price that is Karunaratne explained. acff president namal karunaratne claim it is not for vegetables and what’s most given by the Government. But Contd. on page 2 the morning Tuesday, December 24, 2020 2news people to control the pandemic. If a person tests positive, he or she will be sent to a treatment centre and their close contacts will be ordered to undergo quarantine. Therefore, we request the people not to express any resistance,” he said. Lalith Weeratunga... The decision was taken during the daily meeting of the Covid-19 Committee held at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (22), the President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement. Accordingly, Weeratunga is expected to hold talks with relevant officials with regard to importing the vaccine to Sri Lanka following a thorough study. All seven... The Chilean Army has reported 36 cases at its Bernardo O’Higgins Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. The 36, 26 of whom are military personnel and 10 maintenance workers, have been evacuated to Chile. Target groups for inoculation will be determined based on requirement and priority, the PMD added. The news comes just days after Chile’s Navy confirmed three cases on a ship which had taken supplies and personnel to the research station. The news means that Covid cases have now been recorded on all seven continents. The Sargento Aldea arrived at the research station on 27 November and sailed back to Chile on 10 December. Three of its crew tested positive upon their return to the Chilean Naval Base in Talcahuano. Chile’s Navy said all of those who had embarked on the trip to the Antarctic had been given PCR tests, and all the results had been negative. Furthermore, a decision has been taken to collect data on high-risk groups and locations including estates, apartment complexes, and dormitories. The meeting was also attended by Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, State Minister of Covid Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, MP Madhura Withanage, Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, airport and aviation officials, and members of the Covid-19 Committee. MPs hold... Rahuman urged the Government to and regulations. The President has withdraw the mandatory cremation. the power to make a decision in this “We plead with the Government to regard,” he said. listen to the voice of the people,” De Silva said he joined the silent he said. protest to urge President Gotabaya Meanwhile, Hashim said this Rajapaksa to reconsider the decision issue was a sensitive one and that to forcefully cremate Muslims dying the Government has the capability of Covid. “As a Buddhist, I believe to allow burials for Covid victims. we need to follow the middle path “The Government can do this based on scientific evidence,” he under local and international laws said. UN support... Participants of the silent protest held outside the Borella Cemetery yesterday (23) This pledge was made yesterday (23) during The Bernardo O’Higgins Research Station is a meeting between Prime Minister Mahinda one of four permanent bases which Chile has Rajapaksa and a UN delegation comprising in the Antarctic and is operated by the Army. Photos PradeeP dambarage Resident Co-ordinator Hanaa Singer, World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative Dr. in Latin America with more than 585,000 Razia Pendse, and United Nations Children’s confirmed coronavirus cases. Fund (UNICEF) Representative Tim Sutton. “We are fully committed to support Sri August that it was scaling back its research in BuwanekaAluwihare said, with the consent of Chile is the sixth worst-affected country other party will have a 49% stake in the ECT, but the Government could mislead everyone In addition, heavy showers of above 100 mm by using this clause.” SC dismisses... Delivering the verdict, Presiding Judge Advisory... The British Antarctic Survey announced in are likely at some places as well. Sumanarathna added that if the Government There may be temporary localised strong tries to sell this to theAdani Group or any other winds during thundershowers, the advisory company, the trade unions have lined up all port Lanka in these challenging times,” Singer said. the Polar South because of coronavirus. The UN delegation and Sri Lankan officials agreed that vaccination at such a mass scale the majority of the judges, the bench decided (BBC) to dismiss all the petitions. The petitions were filed by 42 students who had passed the GCE Advanced Level examination held in 2019 under the new syllabus. read further. The general public has been urged to take employees to oppose it and safeguard the port. The Trade Union Collective to Protect will require a whole-of-government approach to ensure Sri Lanka’s preparedness for the delivery and administering of the vaccine once it arrives. Rapid antigen... the Hanwella Butterfly Bridge, the Ingiriya adequate precautions to minimise damages Colombo Harbour East Terminal held a meeting caused by lightning activity. on Tuesday (22) with Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abegunawardena to get a clear idea about the Cabinet memorandum and committee appointed to evaluate the MoC. According to the Collective’s Convener Accordingly, testing will be done near Not practical... “In many countries, we are seeing a dangerous Katakadolla Bridge, Helagolla Rock in second wave of Covid-19,” Prime Minister Nittambuwa, near the Giriulla Bridge, the Dompe Rajapaksa said. “It seems that vaccines will Samana Bedda Bridge, near Kochchikade be the only measure that can bring an end to Garden, the Badalgama Makandura Bridge, Experts Committee... “The Government cannot even monitor the prices of rice, sugar, and onions, for which the He told Th e Mor n i n g that the Cabinet did not prices have been gazetted. How is it going to take a final decision at this week’s meeting and Sanjaya Kumara Weligama, the discussion was monitor the prices of vegetables? There are a the Expert Committee will look into the matter. not particularly productive, and the Collective <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">this pandemic.” </li><li style="flex:1">near the Bentara Bridge, in the Kinniyawala </li></ul>number of vegetable varieties, and before the vegetables come to the consumer, it passes from Health Ministry told Th e Mor n i n g that a final meeting directly with President Gotabaya Meanwhile, on Tuesday (22), sources at the had requested the Minister to grant them a InApril this year, a global collaboration called Junction, near the Avittawa Bridge, and near “Access to Covid-19 ToolsACT-Accelerator” the Kalawana Saman Devalaya. middleman to middleman. There are at least six decision would be taken at the Cabinet meeting. Rajapaksa. was established “to accelerate the development,

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