www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 For verified information on the Quarantine Unit COVID-19 TOTAL CASES TOTAL CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any 0112 112 705 ACTIVE CASES of the following authorities CASES IN Epidemiology Unit Health THE WORLD 28,106,048 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 3,152 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 6,556,947 195,550 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 909,510 INDIA 4,494,389 75,328 BRAZIL 4,199,332 128,653 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 1,046,370 18,263 12 2,955 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 20,171,956 PERU 702,776 30,236 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS185 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 7.10 P.M. ON 10 SEPTEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU MIGRANT WORKERS Transforming into skilled workers WHO’S TO SAVE US? BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA into skilled workers. “This programme will give has already been modified SLBFE Deputy General better opportunities to our accordingly. The Sri Lanka Foreign Manager and Media migrant workers. We want to “We have changed the Employment Bureau Spokesman R.K.K.M.P. discontinue the housemaid curriculum to teach additional (SLBFE) is to provide Randeniya told The Morning category for Sri Lankan skills so that they can work training to migrant workers that they want to transform migrant workers and convert as resident housekeepers and to uplift their professional migrant workers into skilled it into skilled workers.” institutional housekeepers,” careers and transform them workers. He said that the curriculum Randeniya said. ANAWILUNDAWA WETLLAND CLEARING Spotlight President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ADVERSE WEATHER Immediate on State People living in the area alongside the lake in Madinnagoda, Rajagiriya were caught in floods yesterday (10) due to heavy, rehabilitation continuous rains PHOTO LALITH PERERA Hundreds of 5,000 tanks BOOSSA PRISON displaced in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Minister’s has directed the relevant authorities Inmates stage to rehabilitate 5,000 tanks scattered Colombo across the island following a The prevailing adverse weather mechanism combining ancient a hunger strike and downpour of above 100 mm of technology and modern scientific A group of inmates held crimes, including notorious rain experienced overnight within the methods. brother at the Boossa Prison in underworld figures Colombo District over the past days The tanks will be rehabilitated z Probe ongoing to z Anawilundawa Galle has launched a hunger “Kanjipani Imran”, “Podi caused inundation within the suburbs, under the “Wari Saubhagya” determine alleged committee report strike this last morning (10). Lassie”, and “Wele Suda”, affecting up to 285 families in eight programme with the assistance of Sources revealed that are engaging in this hunger divisional secretariats. the Civil Defence Force (CDF) involvement: Minister tabled in Parliament 39 out of 45 detainees strike. Contd. on page 2 to expedite the project, stated the BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA convicted of serious Contd. on page 2 President’s Media Division (PMD). An investigation is currently underway to BAKERY OWNERS MINISTERS' PUBLIC DAY see whether there was any involvement of a prominent governing party’s state minister’s brother regarding the unlawful clearing of Shifted to Monday a section of the protected Anawilundawa Warn of price hike The Cabinet of Ministers has Wetland, Minister of Wildlife and Forest The All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ making baked goods – namely decided to change the ministers’ Conservation C.B. Rathnayake told The Morning. Association (ACBOA) has warned sugar, margarine, and eggs – have public day from Wednesday to that prices of bakery goods, other increased. State Minister Monday. He said the investigation Sanctuary in Puttalam was Sanath Nishantha than bread, would have to be “Only flour has not would reveal whether tabled in Parliament by increased if the prevailing high increased. Sugar, margarine, there was any connection Minister Rathnayake on August 2020. prices of goods continue. and especially egg prices have Mangroves as alleged. Meanwhile, Wednesday (9). The Department said ACBOA Chairman N.K. to increase the prices of bakery sky-rocketed.” the report of the five- The Department of the area where illegal Jayawardana said that they have goods by Rs. 5, except for bread, He said their association is member committee Wildlife and Forest activity had taken place written to the President and Prime if this trend of high prices of other scheduled to meet Prime Minister cleared in Kirinda appointed to probe the Conservation said the is approximately 0.697 Minister about the issue. goods such as eggs and margarine Mahinda Rajapaksa today (11) damage caused to the incident was reported to hectares. “We have written to the continue.” along with the All Island Poultry z Police arrest suspects Anawilundawa Wetland wildlife officials on 26 Contd. on page 2 President and Prime Minister He said that the prices of three Association of Sri Lanka. A 30-acre mangrove was illegally and explained that we will have of four essential items needed for Contd. on page 2 cleared in Tissamaharama’s Vilamulla area, which was MT NEW DIAMOND TANKER CASE AGAINST BATHIUDEEN’S BROTHER discovered by the residents of the GAFFOOR BUILDING area who promptly alerted the Orders to tow away Kirinda Police, recently. Project to CID asked to Kirinda Police Officer in Charge (OIC) M.L.B. Ranjith and his from Lankan waters team had visited the site and had The Marine Environment was engulfed in fire last week, convert into a been able to take the suspected Protection Authority (MEPA) to tow the vessel away from the regulate probe businessman who was clearing the decided to inform the owners of Sri Lankan maritime boundary land area into custody and ceased the MT New Diamond, which without delay. luxury hotel The Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday the JCB land mower that was used Contd. on page 2 The Urban Development Authority (10) ordered the Criminal Investigation for the job, whilst they were clearing (UDA) is to reconstruct and renovate the Department (CID) to regulate the investigations closer to 30 acres of mangrove from Gaffoor Building, a prominent four-storey, into Rifkhan Bathiudeen, brother of former the lagoon area. wedge-shaped building located in Colombo Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, who was accused Fort, to transform it into a luxury hotel, State of allegedly forging documents to alienate a SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 Minister for Urban Development, Coast land of 80 acres. Conservation, Waste Disposal, and Public The CID was also instructed to arrest any Sanitation Dr. Nalaka Godahewa said. other individuals linked to the incident and ADMISSIONS TO STATE UNIVERSITIES He told The Morning that renovation to produce them before courts. work of the project had already been Rifkhan Bathiudeen Contd. on page 2 commenced and the project would be completed in another one-and-a-half years. HIGH POSTS COMMITTEE Medical faculty intake Contd. on page 2 Names of 6 mission by 350 heads forwarded increased Nominations for the appointment of six new ambassadors and high BY SARAH HANNAN who qualify for university admissions. came to an agreement to increase the commissioners have been referred to the Committee on High Posts of Therefore, the Ministry requested from number of intakes by 350. Parliament for approval. The Ministry of Education has the University Grants Commission Accordingly, the aim of this decision The nominations for the appointments are: decided to increase the number of (UGC) to take the necessary steps to is to give more enrolment opportunities y Admiral (Retd.) K.K.V.P. y Prof. Kshanika admissions to state university medical increase the number of students enrolled than the previous years to students Harischandra de Silva – Hirimburegama – faculties by 350. in universities in comparison to the when they are admitted to medical Ambassador to Afghanistan Ambassador to France “The decision was taken to reflect previous years,” Minister of Education faculties of the universities based on y Ravinatha Aryasinha – the National Policy Framework ‘Vision Prof. G.L. Peiris told The Morning. their results at the GCE Advanced y Milinda Moragoda – High Ambassador to the US for Prosperity’ that was published by Following several discussions with Level examination held in 2019, and Commissioner to India President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which the UGC and vice chancellors and also to increase the number of future y Vishramal Sanjiv Gunasekara y Dr. Palitha T.B. Kohona – aims to increase opportunities for the deans of the medical faculties of state doctors added to the human resources – Ambassador to Japan Ambassador to China youth to pursue tertiary studies for all universities, the Ministry and the UGC of the country. Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS Friday , September 11, 2020 BUDGET DEFICIT Gear for the worst: Eran Wickremaratne Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) made in the run-up to the election on taxes Authority (RDA), the National Water Supply MP Eran Wickramaratne, in a and the deteriorated fiscal position. This and Drainage Board (NWSDB), the Ceylon Parliamentary meeting yesterday situation has got progressively worse in 2020. Electricity Board (CEB), and SriLankan (10), addressed the House in a “Government revenue has declined by 28% Airlines. So, particular attention needs to 15-minute speech, focusing on the compared to 2019. Recurrent expenditure has be paid to them. State-owned enterprises current fiscal position of Sri Lanka increased by 10% and the budget deficit has like the CEB, CPC, and SriLankan Airlines amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. increased by 41%. Development spending, are problematic for every government and that is capital expenditure, has reduced by therefore, we need to restructure the debt.