THURSDAY 13 MAy 2021 LATEST EDITION VOL: 10/125 PRICE : Rs 30.00 120,000 given Eid al-Fitr on COVID jab in two days Friday (14 May) Over 1 M given 1st dose so far Health authorities have vaccinated 120,000 persons in Sri Muslims in Sri Lanka will celebrate Eid Lanka against COVID-19 on Tuesday (11) and Wednesday (12). al-Fitr (Ramadan) festival on Friday (14 May) as the crescent for the new month was Story Continued on PAGE 2 not sighted yesterday, Colombo Grand Mosque announced. New Health From tonight till Monday morning Guidelines issued BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE The Health Ministry yesterday (12) issued Travel Restricted guidelines on the restriction imposed on inter- provincial travel and revised restrictions on permitted functions. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Islandwide Leave home Comes into effect at After Monday, restriction Vaccination 11 p.m. today, ends effective from 11 p.m. programme will according to at 4 a.m. 17 May to 4 a.m. daily continue unhindered last digit of NIC BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE BY SANDEEP TISSAARATCHY A system for individuals to leave their homes, according to the last digit of the Passport, Driving Licence or National Identity Card (NIC) has been introduced from today (13), Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said. Story Continued on PAGE 2 COVID-19 guidelines Story Continued on PAGE 2 for overseas Govt ready to buy paddy above Reports warn COVID death travellers revised surge in September 14-day quarantine irrespective guaranteed price – President Health Sector should of being vaccinated or not The Government is He added that prepared to purchase therefore farmers be strengthened BY SULOCHANA RAMIAH MOHAN paddy above the should not have fear – GMOF guaranteed price, if over such drops in yield BY FAADHILA THASSIM The Government has revised its COVID-19 there is a reduction in while consumers will guidelines for overseas travellers, making 14 days yield and a difference in also receive rice at the The Government Medical Officers Forum (GMOF) quarantine mandatory, irrespective of being income due to the use of existing price. stated that unless the health sector is vaccinated or not, with immediate effect. organic fertiliser, The President made strengthened, Sri Lanka will not be able to face the President Gotabaya this statement during a supposed surge in the number of COVID-19 deaths Story Continued on PAGE 2 Rajapaksa said. meeting held with... expected in September as warned by reports. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Risk of COVID-19 variants entering SL Following token strike by PHIs 27M vaccine doses required Mutants must be 435 arrested for for whole country violating health COVID-19 blocked at any cost control grinds to Less than 10% doses – Chief Epidemiologist guidelines brought down – JVP BY TRESHAN FERNANDO BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE a halt in Galle BY ANURADHA HERATH BY FARHAN NIZAMDEEN - GALLE A total of 435 individuals were arrested JVP politburo member, former MP Wasantha Chief Epidemiologist, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera on 11 May for violating COVID-19 Following a day-long token strike Samarasinghe, charged that though 27 million said every effort should be made to prevent any guidelines, Police Spokesman, DIG Ajith initiated by PHIs of the Galle District vaccine doses are required to inoculate the... mutated variant of the COVID-19 entering Sri Lanka. Rohana said. yesterday (12), demanding solutions to He warned the public that Police are burning issues, several COVID-19 control Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 conducting raids at public places and... activities came to a standstill. Overcoming Pandemic For those travelling for Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 essential duties Commemorating Vesak 2021 Opposition to Long distance trains PM receives three new stamps continue seeking run from today Three commemorative stamps, issued on the occasion of the National Vesak Festival, foreign help BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA First Day Covers and Souvenir Leaflet, were BY NABIYA VAFFOOR presented to Prime Minister Mahinda In spite of its previous decision to operate trains Rajapaksa by Minister of Mass Media The Opposition will continue to reach foreign only within provinces, owing to Government Keheliya Rambukwella at Temple Trees diplomats to seek assistance for Sri Lanka to imposed travel restrictions, the Railways yesterday (12). overcome the current COVID-19 pandemic, Department has now decided to operate a few... This year’s National Vesak Festival was... Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 THURSDAY 13 MAY 2021 NEWS Third wave of COVID-19 pandemic After Station Master tests COVID-19 positive SJB launches prog to Wadduwa Railway Station staffers moved resolve issues of masses BY UPATISSA PERERA The staff of the Wadduwa Railway Station were moved to another BY NIRMANI GUNERATNE commenced under the aegis of Tissa Attanayake, Senior Deputy Vice location, after it was found that its Station Master had tested Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa Presidents MPs Dr. Rajitha positive to COVID-19. A programme initiated by the SJB, at his office yesterday. Senaratne, Kabir Hashim, and Though the issuing of train tickets and the public address system to resolve issues faced by the masses, Among those involved in it were Assistant Secretaries MPs Ashok are non-operational, commuters would still be able to use the who have been affected by the third SJB Chairman, Field Marshal Sarath Abeysinghe and Kavinda station to travel. The station is being disinfected at present. wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fonseka, National Organiser MP Jayawardena. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 PM receives... Govt ready to... Travel Restricted... ...to be held at the historic ...the Presidential Task Force on Creating a BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE the Western Province will also continue. Those Nagadeepa Raja Maha Viharaya in the Green Sri Lanka with Sustainable Solutions to who are getting the vaccine could go to the closest Northern Province. Climate Change, at the Presidential Secretariat Travel restrictions will be imposed throughout MOH office in the area which they live, and Accordingly, paintings of Buddhist yesterday (11). the country, from 11 p.m. today (13) till 4.00 a.m. receive the jab, he said. religious places in Northern and He stated that the use of organic fertiliser will on Monday, 17 May, Head of the National General Silva also said movement restriction Eastern Provinces have been used for pave way for a healthy future generation adding Operation Centre for Preventing COVID-19 was imposed from 11.00 p.m. yesterday (12) till this year’s National Vesak that the promise made by way of the ‘Vistas of Outbreak, General Shavendra Silva said. 4.00 a.m. today (13) as well. commemorative stamps. Prosperity’ Manifesto to drift towards agriculture He said yesterday (12) the provision of essential After Monday, night time travel will be These stamps, on which paintings focused on the use of organic fertiliser, was goods and services could be conducted as usual, restricted daily from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. the of Sapumalgaskada Temple in fulfilled adopting the right strategy. despite restricted travel. following day. Vavuniya, Kadurugoda Temple in “Transformation is challenging yet this is “In addition, the vaccination programme However, here too the restrictions exclude Jaffna and Madukanda Temple of the necessary” he said adding that although former against COVID-19, being carried out especially in essential services and food transportation. Tooth in Vavuniya, can be seen, were Governments attempted to uphold this policy,it created by stamp designer Palitha was not implemented. Further, it was stated that Gunasinghe. the Government will also facilitate companies The three stamps of Rs 10, 15 and who formerly imported Chemical Fertilisers and 45 were presented on this occasion. are now willing to manufacture organic fertiliser. Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera and Participating in the discussion, President›s COVID-19 guidelines... other members of the Maha Sangha, Special Representative and the Chair of the Task The new guidelines will be effective until 31 May. below two years are exempted, from day one of State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Force, Basil Rajapaksa said, “Some battles were Before these new guidelines, vaccinated travellers arrival and exit from COVID-19 PCR tests, but all Secretary to the Premier Gamini lost in the mission to save the country from were allowed to leave the quarantine centres after a travellers 12 years and above should under the PCR Senarath, Post Master General terrorism. Finally, the country succeeded in PCR test was conducted and if the results were test and those who are two years and above should Ranjith Ariyaratne and several others defeating terrorism. Similarly, the Government is negative. also undergo the PCR test were present on the occasion. ready to ensure the people’s right to a non-toxic The new guidelines say, all travellers arriving Also, all travellers should be released from the (BGS) meal by overcoming all challenges.” from overseas, including Sri Lankan seafarers, sea quarantine centres /hotels after 14 days with a The experts in the field pointed out that the marshals, dual citizen tourists, foreign nationals negative PCR test result done on day one of arrival transformation of Sri Lanka’s agriculture, which including valid resident visa holders should be and days 11 to 14. has been accustomed to the use of chemical quarantined at a level 1 hotel until the completion The quarantine period also could be extended if fertilisers since the early sixties, to the use of of 14 days. Also, all foreign staff members of the they are identified as immediate close contacts of organic fertilisers would be a special victory for diplomatic missions and UN organisations, who are COVID-19 positive persons.