www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 For verified information on the Quarantine Unit COVID-19 TOTAL CASES ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any 0112 112 705 of the following authorities Epidemiology Unit CASES IN 0112 695 112 THE WORLD 68,117,768 Health Suwasariya Govt. coronavirus hotline PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 29,378 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS 0113071073 Bureau Service USA 15,377,814 290,880 1999 If showing symptoms COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1990 0117 966 366 1,554,159 INDIA 9,714,308 141,078 BRAZIL 6,628,065 177,388 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD 21,258 RUSSIA 2,515,009 44,159 143 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 7,977 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] 47,180,360 FRANCE 2,295,908 55,521 THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 9.30 P.M. ON 8 DECEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU COVID-19 VACCINE PROGRAMME COVID-19 CLUSTERS AND SUBCLUSTERS COVID-19 Youngest death in SL Under control despite Sri Lanka recorded its youngest Covid-19- related death as a 20-day-old infant passed away isolated cases: Govt. yesterday (8). The Government yesterday Speaking to The Morning, Health authorities confirmed that the infant Issues with (8) assured that the two biggest Secretary to the State Ministry Dr. was admitted to Lady Ridgeway Hospital for clusters, Peliyagoda Fish Market Amal Harsha Perera stressed that Children in Colombo on Monday (7) last night and Minuwangoda Brandix, along the Peliyagoda cluster has been and has been diagnosed with pneumonia. with their sub clusters, are now completely controlled as of now, COVID-19 under control despite several but that there are a few isolated infrastructure isolated cases being reported from cases reported from Minuwangoda. BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA Covid vaccines in development. time to time. Contd. on page 2 Vaccine given to American and German developers Discussions are ongoing to address the existing infrastructure – Pfizer and BioNTech – announced 90-year-old Brit issues related to the future Covid-19 vaccination programme yesterday (8) that a vaccine has been MANNAR WIND FARM set to be implemented in the country, once official approval produced. A preliminary analysis is given by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the showed that the first Covid-19 vaccine 100 MW added vaccines that are currently being developed by several can prevent more than 90% of people countries, according to Secretary to the State Ministry of from contracting the virus. to national grid Covid-19 Prevention Dr. Amal Harsha Perera. Out of the hundreds of vaccines produced to combat the virus, only a The Mannar Island Wind Farm was He told The Morning that the would receive 4.2 million doses of dozen of them are in the final stages of opened for operations yesterday (8). vaccine should be stored at the lowest a Covid-19 vaccine under WHO’s testing. Although a vaccine produced The inauguration ceremony was graced temperature, adding that discussions COVAX programme. by Oxford University was widely by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa are focusing on looking at various So far, no vaccine against Covid- discussed in the past, this new vaccine and State Minister of Solar, Wind, and A 90-year-old woman from Northern Ireland options and new technologies at 19 has been registered under any produced by American and German Hydro Power Generation Projects has become the first person in the world to present. internationally recognised regulatory developers is the first vaccine to show Development Duminda Dissanayake. receive the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine outside According to Minister of Health authority, or for that matter, even the any results. Contd. on page 2 trial conditions – marking the start of the UK’s Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Sri Lanka WHO. There are lots of different Contd. on page 2 mass vaccination programme, BBC reported. GOVT’S NEW GRASSROOTS-LEVEL PROJECT National schools MORE TESTING THE BETTER Launch next week to be increased Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa The Prime Minister, while presiding the The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (7) said on Monday (7) that the new Consultative Committee of the Ministry approved the proposal made by Minister of project “Wada Samaga Yali Gamata”, of Finance in Parliament, emphasised Education Prof. G.L. Peiris to increase the number which identifies the real needs and that the political authorities should of national schools in the island to 1,000, priorities of the country’s rural people, identify the real needs of the people covering all district secretariats. will be launched in the rural and semi-urban on 14 December Prime Minister areas and launch the project. COVID-19 2020. Mahinda Rajapaksa Contd. on page 2 Shattering the stigma MAHARA PRISON HRCSL WRITES TO HOSPITAL The State Ministry of Primary Health Services, Pandemics, and Covid Prevention is to look at a Postmortems Focus on dead strategic approach in shattering the stigma that has been created around Covid-19, it is learnt. not concluded from Mahara DEATH ROW INMATES None of the post-mortem examinations of the inmates Prison clash Sentences to be reduced that died in the Mahara The Human Rights Commission of Sri A Cabinet paper presented by the Ministry Prison riots have been Lanka (HRCSL) has written to the Colombo of Justice proposed the re-establishment of the concluded, stated Police North Teaching Hospital on Saturday (5) four-year pardon, which, if approved, will reduce Media Spokesperson DIG regarding the manner of preservation and the sentences of prisoners on death row to 20 Ajith Rohana. DIG disposal of the bodies received after the years, while allowing the release of those who Contd. on page 2 Ajith Rohana Mahara Prison clash. have served over 20 years of their sentence. Contd. on page 2 SOYSAPURA Health officials carried out rapid antigen tests on a section of residents living in the Lakmuthu Sevana GL assures Cabinet approves housing complex in Wellawatta yesterday (8) PHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM end to ragging WATER BOARD Minister of Education Prof. development G.L. Peiris said ragging in The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (7) universities should be eradicated approved a proposal presented by the Minister Govt. urged to reverse decision completely and assured that of Urban Development to construct 30 houses – The Joint Water Supply National Water Supply and Minister has instructed steps would be taken to end a building consisting of 20 houses of 550 square and Drainage Board Workers’ Drainage Board (NWSDB). that all manpower contract incidents of ragging. feet and a building consisting of 10 houses – Union urged the Government In a letter written to employees of the Board should He said the main issue with Minister Prof. under the Soysapura Housing Project. to reverse the decision taken by Minister of Water Supply be removed by May 2021 and ending this inhumane practice, G.L. Peiris the Ministry of Water Supply Vasudeva Nanayakkara, replaced by workers by the which has cost students their SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 to remove all manpower Union Co-Secretary N.D.N. Presidential Task Force. lives and made a negative impact on their contract employees of the Leelaratne stated that the Contd. on page 2 health for years, is that some lecturers tend PCOI ON POLITICAL VICTIMISATION to approve ragging to some extent. TOBACCO, ALCOHOL USAGE Contd. on page 2 Report handed COVID-19 School-level national Large crowds to over to President collect Ayurveda BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA action plan launched The Presidential Commission of medicine Inquiry (PCoI) probing incidents BY SARAH HANNAN Alcohol Control to prevent the usage on tobacco and alcohol use in 2016, Dhammika Bandara from Kegalle began the of political victimisation during the among the youth. about 15.2% of children just above distribution of the locally produced Ayurveda Yahapalana Government handed The Ministry of Health yesterday Minister of Health Pavithra the ages of 10 were found to be using medicine against the Covid-19 virus yesterday over its final report to President (8) announced that a national action Wanniarachchi, during a special tobacco-related products while about (8), drawing in over 10,000 people to his Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (8). plan is to be launched along with the discussion yesterday, pointed out 5.5% were found to have used alcohol. residence, confirmed the Kegalle Police. Contd. on page 2 National Authority on Tobacco and that according to the global survey Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 COVID-19 Minuwangoda, ‘SL has history of Schools in Galle Pandemic crisis to BRANDIX CLUSTER PROBE Peliyagoda, prisons successful vaccination’ Education Division 20 officers infected TOTAL CASES Sri Lanka has maintained a long end in 3-6 months with Covid-19 clusters exceed 25,000 history of successful vaccination closed till Friday The World Health Organisation A group of 20 police officers of the The tally of Covid-19 cases from programmes, and the Government will The Southern Province Governor’s (WHO) has put together a mechanism Criminal Investigation Department the Muniwangoda, Peliyagoda, and live up to this reputation in aiding the Secretariat said yesterday (8) that to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine (CID) have contracted Covid-19 while prisons clusters climbed to 25,025 on deployment of any potential Covid-19 all schools in the Galle Education to all countries equally, said Cabinet probing the Minuwangoda Covid-19 25,822*Stats updated as at 9.30 p.m. on 8 December Monday (7), according to the Ministry vaccine, assured Foreign Relations Division will remain closed from Spokesperson State Minister Dr.