www.themorning.lk Late City VOL 01 | NO 19 | Rs. 30.00 { THURSDAY } THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 Money laundering ‘LIFE IS TOO DAMBULLA SHORT, GO AHEAD VIIKINGS OWNER AND DO WHAT ARRESTED YOU HAVE TO DO’ GOVT. PAVING TOURISM MINISTRY THE WAY TO INTL. REQUESTS SHORTER ISOLATION QUARANTINE PERIOD »SEE PAGE 16 »SEE PAGE 6 »SEE PAGE 7 »SEE PAGE 11 SL permits UK tourists New laws against soon after new variant z UK variant entered SL despite ban: Health authorities BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI The new variant reported in the UK, unethical conversions which is known as B1525, has been detected z Complaints on the rise: z Asgiriya Chapter z Financial and educational The travel restriction placed on inbound by conducting genome sequencing in 10 travel to Sri Lanka originating from the UK countries including Denmark, the US, and Buddhasasana Ministry singles out ‘Born Again’ incentives covered was lifted with immediate effect yesterday (17) Australia. Foreign media reported that 38 BY PAMODI WARAVITA When inquired as to the must be stopped,” noted Prof. by the Sri Lankan Government, despite a new cases of this variant have been detected in demarcation between ethical Gunawardana. Covid-19 variant with worrying mutations the UK so far. The variant is reported to The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs and unethical conversions, Prof. Archbishop of Colombo His being reported in the UK on 15 February. contain a mutation in a protein that plays is currently drafting a legal framework to take action against Gunawardana said that religious Eminence Malcolm Cardinal The restrictions imposed on travel from an important role in helping the virus to the unethical conversion of individuals to different religions, conversions for financial gains or Ranjith raised similar concerns the UK on 23 December 2020, alongside a enter cells. The Morning learnt. in order to access other services recently in a statement to the press, number of other countries, was due to the Speaking to The Morning yesterday, “We are looking at a legal Kapila Gunawardana told The such as education are regarded where he urged the Government identification of the UK variant B.1.1.7 of the Deputy Director General of Health Services framework to combat the issue Morning yesterday (17). as unethical. to formulate a legal framework SARS-CoV-2 virus as potentially dangerous Dr. Hemantha Herath said that in a setting of unethical conversions, as at the Prof. Gunawardana emphasised “While people have the right against self-proclaimed pastors with high transmissibility. However, despite where Sri Lanka has opened its borders to moment there is no legal provision the need for legal provisions, to follow the religion they want, who target celebrities such as the ban on travel from the UK, the variant travel from other countries, continuing to through which we can act,” Ministry adding that complaints to the various financial gains and other artistes and sportsmen for unethical was detected in Sri Lanka on 12 February ban travel only from the UK is purposeless. of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Ministry regarding the matter have services are obtained through conversions. amongst 16 individuals in the island. Contd. on page 2 Cultural Affairs Secretary Prof. been on the rise in recent times. unethical conversions, and that Contd. on page 2 SL’S FIRST WASTE-TO-ENERGY POWER PLANT FROM ASHES TO ASHES... Three more plants planned Khan speech cancellation: z Ratmalana, Gampaha, and Matara earmarked BY PAMODI WARAVITA Ministry of Power and Speaker still in the dark The generation of power Renewable Energy Media z through the recycling of solid Spokesman Sulakshana Speech was requested by the Govt. waste would be expanded Jayawardena said that the BY PAMODI WARAVITA Imran Khan’s previously Chameera Yapa said that to Ratmalana, Matara, and feasibility of “waste-to-energy” There has been no official announced speech to the Abeywardena is yet to be Gampaha, following the power plants is currently communication yet to Speaker Sri Lankan Parliament is officially notified by the opening of Sri Lanka’s first being assessed in Ratmalana, of Parliament Mahinda Yapa cancelled, The Morning learnt. Foreign Ministry on whether waste-to-energy power plant in Kotawila in Matara, and in Abeywardena from the Speaking to The Morning Premier Khan’s said speech Kerawalapitiya yesterday (17). Gampaha. Foreign Ministry on whether yesterday (17), Co-ordinating is cancelled. Speaking to The Morning, Contd. on page 2 Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Secretary to the Speaker Contd. on page 2 SLMA requests Covid ethics committee z Burial, vaccine prioritisation among issues BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI A letter requesting the Morning learnt. In order to provide ethical establishment of this Speaking to The Morning guidance to the country’s committee was handed over to yesterday, SLMA Ethics Covid-19 response efforts, Secretary to the State Ministry Committee Secretary Dr. the Ethics Committee of of Primary Healthcare, Surantha Perera said that the Sri Lanka Medical Epidemics, and Covid matters such as the prevailing Association (SLMA) has Disease Control Dr. Amal cremation-only policy formally requested the Harsha de Silva yesterday concerning the Covid-19 Government to establish a (17) by SLMA President dead, national ethics committee. Dr. Padma Gunaratne, The Contd. on page 2 ‘Universities can India keen to Marking the beginning of the lent season, the Ash Wednesday holy mass hold physical presided over by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith was held yesterday jointly develop (17) at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo 13. Lent is a time of penance, fasting, and prayer for Christians, which reflects human immortality convocations’ and the need to reconcile with God z UGC says no special Trinco tanks PHOTO ESHAN DASANAYAKA permission for KDU Responding to comments by Energy Mnister Udaya Gammanpila regarding the Oil Tank BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI Farms in Trincomalee, the Indian High As news reports circulated claiming that Commission said that they are looking forward Produce Hizbullah the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence to continuing the productive engagement with University (KDU) was provided special Sri Lanka in this regard. permission to conduct a physical convocation A spokesperson from the High Commission in court: AG to IGP ceremony for its graduates, The Morning said that India and Sri Lanka have identified learnt that universities do not require energy partnership as one of the priority z In detention z Alleged Easter special permission to conduct convocation dimensions of their co-operation. since April 2020 attacks links ceremonies amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Contd. on page 2 Speaking to The Morning, University The Attorney General (AG) has and Section 3(1) of the International Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman directed the Inspector General of Covenant on Civil and Political Rights senior Prof. Sampath Amaratunge said COVID-19 CASES Police (IGP) to report facts and (ICCPR) Act, according to AG’s that universities are allowed to hold TOTAL CASES produce Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Co-ordinating Officer State Counsel physical convocation ceremonies in ACTIVE CASES Omar Hizbullah, who has been Nishara Jayaratne. adherence to health guidelines, abiding arrested and remanded since April Section 2(1)(h) of the PTA covers by the stipulated seating arrangements 2020, in a relevant magistrate’s court. individuals who “by words either and venue capacity limits. 77,553 Hizbullah, who has been arrested spoken or intended to be read or by “Universities have not been asked not to and remanded over alleged links signs or by visible representations or hold convocation ceremonies. Apart from the DEATHS RECOVERED to terrorism, is to be produced in otherwise causes or intends to cause KDU, many other foreign university-affiliated 5,968 court on charges under Section 2(1) commission of acts of violence or institutes have held their convocation 409 71,176 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU (h) of the Prevention of Terrorism religious, racial, ceremonies during the pandemic. THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 7.30 P.M. ON 17 FEBRUARY 2021 (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 42 www.themorning.lk { NEWS } Thursday, February 18, 2021 Uni admission results to be National Media released next week: UGC z 500 lecturers to be recruited; 10,579 more students Centre will not impose University Grants He added that the required universities than last year. Commission (UGC) information was set to be In addition, the number of Chairman senior Prof. sent to mobile phones lecturers required for these Sampath Amaratunge yesterday for students students has increased said yesterday (17) that who have not been able this year and the General restrictions: Keheliya all appeals for university to submit their university Treasury has approved the admissions are being application forms by the recruitment of about 500 BY MIHI PERERA considered at the moment due date. lecturers. Accordingly, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Mass Media and that the final results Meanwhile, for the the recruitment of new Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday (17) said that will be released next week. impending university year, lecturers is in progress,” no restrictions will be imposed on the media by He said this speaking at a a total of 500 university he added. the National Development Media Centre. press conference recently. lecturers are to be recruited Prof. Amaratunge said He said this speaking at to a government. Such Prof. Amaratunge further and the recruitment is the number of students the inaugural ceremony of development programmes said the lists of students currently in progress, said enrolled in other years is the centre at the Department should not be tied to a who have been selected for Prof. Amaratunge. around 30,000 and that this of Government Information government. Development universities have been made “This year, 10,579 more number will exceed 40,000 to publicise development- is something that is done available on the internet.