WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PROTECT YOURSELF FROM AND THE COVID-19 FUTURE: A BLEAK PICTURE? ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES TUESDAY , DECEMBER 29, 2020 41,603 THE FINANCE SANGAKKARA DEATHS RECOVERED COMPANY DELISTED IN TEST TEAM 8,188 FROM CSE OF THE DECADE THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP 194 33,221 UNTIL 11.27 P.M. ON 28 DECEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU »SEE BUSINESS PAGE 1 »SEE PAGE 7 »SEE PAGE 5 COVID-19 VACCINE COVID-19 ESTATE SECTOR WAGE HIKE EU rolls out vaccines Meeting postponed European Union (EU) countries on to Thursday Sunday (27) embarked on a vaccination Govt. meets WHO to campaign to defeat the “nightmare” of z Govt. and RPCs to meet on 31 Covid-19, with the first to be immunised Dec for final decision expressing emotion after their jab, and leaders hailing a milestone in the fight The meeting between government against the pandemic. expedite process ministers and owners of regional plantation companies (RPCs) has been rescheduled to 31 December, it is learnt. Winning formula z Govt. focuses on getting z Discussion on getting Contd. on page 2 figured: AstraZeneca WHO's free quota registered vaccines CORN FOR ETHANOL The pharmaceutical boss behind BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA Accordingly, Chief Advisor to the President Lalith the Oxford vaccine said researchers Weeratunga, who is now co-ordinating the process of importing have found a “winning formula” to A special discussion between the officials Covid-19 vaccines; Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra improve the jab’s efficacy, Sky News of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Silva; Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe; President reported. and local officials heading the Covid-19 Secretary to the State Ministry of Primary Healthcare, controlling mission in Sri Lanka was held Epidemics, and Covid Disease Control Dr. Amal Harsha de yesterday (28) to expedite the process of Silva; and several other officials participated in the meeting. orders ban Antigen testing in WP importing vaccines. Contd. on page 2 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed to completely ban the use of corn (maize) to continue REGISTERING COVID-19 VACCINE SUPPLIERS to manufacture ethanol and alcohol in the Police Media Spokesperson DIG PULMODDAI MINERAL SAND DEPOSITORY country. Ajith Rohana stated that persons who NMRA awaits Govt.’s decision He instructed the Commissioner General of exit the Western Province (WP) will be BY SARAH HANNAN Excise to issue a gazette notification imposing subjected to rapid antigen testing until Value-adding process the ban, the President’s Media Division (PMD) 5 January 2021. The National Medicines said. Currently, rapid antigen tests are Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is commences Contd. on page 2 conducted at 11 exit points of the awaiting the Government’s decision Plans are afoot to stop and instead steps are to be Western Province. on picking countries that Covid-19 Ministry of Health is currently in the sorting and exporting of taken to begin the value-adding Defence Secretary vaccinations could be imported discussion with several countries, minerals extracted from the process to increase revenue, from, to open registrations for and is consulting the World Health Pulmoddai Mineral Sand stated Industries Minister promoted to General ‘Govt. opted for suppliers, it is learnt. Organisation (WHO), about Depository to be sold as raw Wimal Weerawansa. Speaking to The Morning, NMRA bringing down the most compatible materials to foreign countries, Contd. on page 2 Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Kamal cheap options’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) vaccination for Sri Lanka. Gunaratne has been promoted to the rank of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe said: “The Contd. on page 2 General. said on Sunday (27) that the Government The promotion was granted by President tried to control the Covid-19 pandemic LANKA SATHOSA AND CWE Gotabaya Rajapaksa last evening (28). by resorting to cheap options instead PROTEST AGAINST BURIALS Gunaratne was the former Commander – of doing the right thing. New chairpersons Security Forces Headquarters in Wanni, as well as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) appointed of the 53rd Division. He has formerly served as the Deputy Ambassador to Brazil as well. Must learn from Rear Admiral (Retd.) Ananda Peiris has pandemic: WHO been appointed the new Chairman of Sri Lanka’s largest state-owned retail network Sri Lanka Army World Health Organisation (WHO) “Lanka Sathosa”. Director General Tedros Adhanom Contd. on page 2 Chief promoted Ghebreyesus warned the public on Sunday (27) that the Covid-19 pandemic NUSHAD PERERA will not be the last such crisis, dpa news to General said yesterday (28). New Chairman Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva has “History tells us that this won’t be the been promoted to the rank of General, stated last pandemic and epidemics are a fact the Sri Lanka Army. Silva has been serving as of life,” Tedros said in a video released of SLSI the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army since Several Buddhist organisations staged a protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat in to mark the first-ever International Day Former Chairman of Lanka Sathosa and Colombo yesterday (28) demanding that permission not be granted to bury the bodies of August 2019. He is also the Chief of Defence of Epidemic Preparedness on Sunday. the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment Muslims who died of Covid-19 Staff, as appointed in early 2020. (CWE), Nushad Perera has been appointed PHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM Contd. on page 2 Chairman of the Sri Lanka Standards SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 Institution (SLSI). BURYING COVID DEAD COVID-19 TREATMENT Contd. on page 2 Small schools FINAL RITES OF COVID-19 DEAD Decision on final Two locations Permit under being considered Expert Committee rites after dialogue submitted to PM Discussions were held by the health conditions: authorities yesterday (28) about the The United National Party (UNP) has Minister of Water Supply Vasudeva possibilities of using small schools that report soon stated that the Government should expedite Nanayakkara said a report on two are currently closed for emergency use, The Expert Committee the process to make a final decision on the locations having a deepwater table was Buddhist leaders as Covid-19 treatment centres, according appointed to re-examine final rites of the Covid-19 dead. submitted to Prime Minister (PM) Mahinda The Inter-Religious Relations Committee to State Ministry of Primary Healthcare, the final rites of Covid- UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Rajapaksa and Minister of Health Pavithra of the Sri Lanka Amarapura and Ramanna Epidemics, and Covid Disease Control 19 victims will submit Wijewardene, issuing a statement on the Wanniarachchi. The Minister attended a Samagri Sangha Sabha has made a request Secretary Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva its report to the Health party’s stance on the matter, noted that the discussion held by the PM with Muslim to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to review Contd. on page 2 Ministry Secretary in the decision should be taken after reaching a parliamentarians and was assigned to locate the mandatory cremation of the bodies of near future, according consensus with all communities. areas with a deepwater table. Covid-19 victims. Chief to the Health Ministry’s Epidemiologist Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 New Act to stop Epidemiology Unit. Dr. Sudath invasive plants Contd. on page 2 Samaraweera BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI RURAL TRADE NETWORK The Bill to control the importation and spreading of invasive plants, named the Empowering 25,000 women entrepreneurs “Alien Invasive Species Control Act”, State Minister for Development that the Government has taken steps sentiments while participating will be introduced soon, amidst reports of of Samurdhi Home Economy, to establish a rural trade network in a concessionary loan scheme excessive growth of the invasive Mimosa Microfinance, Self-employment, and that empowers 25,000 women launch event for small and medium pigra (Yoda Nidikumba) in the Kaduwela Businesses and Underutilised State entrepreneurs. enterprises. Municipality. Resources Shehan Semasinghe stated The State Minister shared these Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 PARK AND RIDE PILOT PROJECT SL welcomes first batch of tourists Free for two months A special charter flight carrying 185 tourists from Ukraine landed at the Mattala Rajapaksa z Launch on 2 January International Airport yesterday (28). Contd. on page 2 BY PAMODI WARAVITA would not be levying parking fees Development Component Project from private vehicle owners during the Director Nalaka Dissanayake stated The upcoming “Park and Ride” first two months of its implementation. that the first two months of free parking system, which will enable private Speaking to The Morning, would be offered as an incentive for the vehicle owners to park their vehicle Greater Colombo Urban Transport public to get accustomed to this system. and take a shuttle service to work, Development Project Township Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS Tuesday, December 29, 2020 Contd. from page 1 Anuradhapura where loans ranging from Rs. Russian Sputnik V vaccine are expected to growths would be needed to eliminate the plant. Govt. meets... Small schools... 50,000 to Rs. 200,000 were symbolically awarded reach customers in January 2021, based on the Ministry of Environment Director – Dr. de Silva said the meeting was focused on He told The Morning that as per the discussions on behalf of 250 entrepreneurs. existing partnerships with foreign manufacturers. Biodiversity Abeykoon said that individuals expediting the process of receiving the WHO’s yesterday, the decision might not be positive, as Addressing the gathering, Semasinghe For those who have recently submitted their could clear out invasive plants in their lands on free quota. the facilities of most of these schools are not up said: “Under the current Budget proposal, the requests, the vaccine’s first batches would be their own if they so desire, but conceded that When asked whether the health authorities have to the expected level in order to operate them as Government has a plan to create 25,000 women dispatched from March 2021, RDIF stated.