Cabinet approves purchase of WEDNESDAY 15M vaccine doses 26 MAy 2021 BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK Cabinet has approved the purchase of 14 million doses of Chinese manufactured Sinopharm COVID- 19 vaccines, as well as 1 million doses of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines as soon as possible. Stating that there is no other option for controlling E-PAPER the COVID-19 pandemic than inoculation, Co-Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said vaccines must be brought to the country soon and by the end of the year, the Government hopes to have vaccinated 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the population. Addressing the weekly Cabinet briefing yesterday (25) at Government Information Department, Dr. Pathirana said in June, the Government aims to import a significant number of vaccines and expand the vaccination drive to other districts such as Kurunegala, Matara, and Galle. President’s Vesak Message Stating that the country will be Fire on MV X-Press Pearl unable to collectively engage in religious activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year, like last year, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said Buddhists should be determined to engage in Amisa Pooja and Massive Prathipaththi Pooja with great veneration towards the Three Noble Events of Lord Buddha’s life (Themangula) by staying at “May All Beings Be home. In his Vesak Day message, the President said it is Explosion the social responsibility of the public to act wisely by Happy, Healthy And Free mindfully and calmly focusing on the above stanza, at a time when everyone is facing a national disaster. The President acknowledged the tradition of From Suffering…” performing religious observances during the Vesak season to mould their lives according to the teachings of the Buddha, as well as for the Heard betterment of this world and after. Have a Peaceful As preached by the Samma Sambuddha, who spread only compassion to all, it is our societal duty in the face of this pandemic to dedicate ourselves to the protection and well-being of others, the President Vesak! went on to say. “I wish that all physical and mental distresses of Onboard all the people in the country and across the world will cease with the practice of rites by preserving 10 Containers fall into sea Pehewas in a meritorious mind in this Vesak season,” the President said. Buying to last a week (TF) Entire crew evacuated Fishermen warned to keep The Buddha’s teachings provide a meaningful clear of containers way of life – PM Rajapaksa India responds promptly to During a challenging time for the world, Lord Buddha’s teachings can provide a SLN call for assistance meaningful way of living one’s life in accordance with religious BY SULOCHANA RAMIAH MOHAN emergency request by Sri Lanka Navy principles, Prime Minister and deployed multiple assets to douse Mahinda Rajapaksa said, in his A massive explosion occurred on the the fire. “The assistance from India for Vesak Full Moon Poya Day distressed Singapore flagged MV firefighting as well as pollution control message. X-Press Pearl, in the early hours of was sought by the Sri Lanka Navy at People buying essential food items in a busy Colombo market The birth of Prince Siddhartha, yesterday (25), causing around 10 12.00 p.m. yesterday (25). This came in yesterday, when travel restrictions were relaxed for 17 hours. the Enlightenment of Siddhartha containers to fall into the sea. the wake of an onboard explosion,” the Crowds were gathered in a number of areas to purchase food items Gautama and the The Indian Government was soon Indian High Commission added. to last until 31 May, when restrictions will be relaxed next Mahaparinibbana (Passing Away) are called in for rescue operations and had The Department of Fisheries is (Pic by Sajeewa Chinthaka) commemorated on Vesak Full Moon Poya day, he agreed to send their teams along with working together with Marine said. On this day, Sri Lankans unite with those vessels Vaibhav, Vajra and Samudra Environment Protection Authority across the world to celebrate the occasion. Prehari of the Indian Coast Guard and (MEPA), Sri Lanka Navy, the Prime Minister Rajapaksa added the teachings of Tug Water Lilly of the Director General, Coastguard and other authorities to The Buddha can be appreciated and understood in a Shipping in addition to Dornier aircraft, contain and clean up the oil spill to Expressway connecting Athurugiriya truly practical sense during a time where the world for aerial reconnaissance. minimise damage to the marine and New Kelani Bridge is facing several problems. The Indian High Commission said environment. The MEPA said there are Through the Buddhist teachings of learning to immediately upon receiving the request, signs of an oil spill. coexist among races and religions, Sri Lanka can the relevant authorities in India were Also, the fishermen were warned not Construction awarded overcome any global problem it may face, the Prime alerted and assets were deployed to go close to the containers, as some of Minister added. expeditiously. While the Dornier aircraft them could be carrying dangerous He urged all Buddhists celebrating Vesak this year reached Colombo at around 4.00 p.m., chemicals and they were urged to to CHEC on BOT basis to conduct their religious activities at home and in the first vessel was scheduled to come inform the authorities in case they spot BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK accordance with the prevailing health guidelines. in around 8.00 p.m. any containers. “As the Minister of Buddha Sasana-Religious and SLPA’s Harbour Master Captain All crew on board of the X-Press Pearl, Cabinet has granted approval to award the construction of Cultural Affairs, I will join you in your celebrations,” Nirmal Silva told Ceylon Today around feeder vessal, were evacuated as the fire the expressway on pillars that connects the Athurugiriya he added. 10 cargo containers had fallen into the spread further yesterday morning. Interchange and the New Kelani Bridge to the China Harbour Prime Minister Rajapaksa wished all citizens a sea, however no chemical leak had been Minister of Ports and Shipping Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC). safe and healthy Vesak, free from the threat of spotted so far. Rohitha Abeygunawardena said, “SLPA The ownership of the expressway will be given to the Sri COVID-19 and one full of compassion and kindness. He added the fire had increased with and all other agencies are working Lankan Government after 18 years, Co-Cabinet Spokesperson (TF) a 4-5m swell as wind speeds reached together to overcome this challenge. We Udaya Gammanpila said. 40-50 knots and the tugs that were are trying our best to extinguish the fire He said, on 24 May, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the engaged in pumping water and as it broke out again due to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Highways to award the chemicals to douse the massive fire, continuous reaction of the chemical implementation of the elevated expressway project to CHEC, as were unable to reach the vessel to do materials in the containers and adverse recommended by the Cabinet’s Negotiation Committee. anything. weather. Gammanpila said yesterday (25) at the weekly Cabinet media Man pushing SLPA Chairman General Daya “In view of the prevailing situation, all briefing that CHEC will need at least 15 years to function and Ratnayake said heavy winds and the crew of the ship have been evacuated earn profit. cyclonic conditions aggravated the fire. and kept in safe places in accordance When queried about the timing for this procedure, a wheelbarrow full He added that the ship was continuing with the health regulations enforced in Gammanpila stated that 44 bids were received, and the tender to burn and the fire was spotted only in the country. We have made plans to was awarded to CHEC, implying that construction will take at of goods arrested the front portion of the ship. conduct future activities in a manner least three years to complete. The Indian High Commission said that does not harm the country’s seas He also stated that the CHEC has the right to occupy the For failure to wear facemask that India promptly responded to an and marine environment.” expressway for another 15 years in order to recover costs and BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK earn profit. “Due to that, the ownership of the expressway would be passed to the Sri Lankan Government after 18 Aluthgama Police yesterday (25) arrested a 40-year- years,” he explained. old person, pushing a wheelbarrow on his return from Fielding to another question regarding the arrangement the a supermarket, for neglecting to wear a facemask. Liquor and meat shops Government has made regarding the procedure, he said that Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said the the transfer year is the variable factor. “Cabinet paper has suspect has violated quarantine rules and regulations mentioned that cost is not the variable factor but the operating and was arrested yesterday at 6:30 p.m. at Dharga years,” he noted. Town. closed for Vesak The Cabinet meeting on 8 April 2020 approved the build, “This particular person was leaving the On the instructions of Prime Minister liquor stores will be closed on the given operation, and transfer of the highway on pillars that connects supermarket without a facemask and he was pushing Mahinda Rajapaksa, all liquor stores days. This decision was taken by the the Athurugiriya Interchange and the New Kelani Bridge on a a wheelbarrow with goods in it,” he said adding the and meat shops will be closed today Prime Minister in his capacity as the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) basis. suspect was brought to the Police station around 7:00 (26) and tomorrow (27), due to Vesak Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious According to the bids, relevant investors were asked to p.m.