www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 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 27,855,759 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 3,147 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 6,523,197 194,414 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 904,277 INDIA 4,417,550 74,367 BRAZIL 4,179,471 128,119 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 1,041,007 18,135 12 2,946 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 19,916,543 PERU 696,190 30,123 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS189 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 8.30 P.M. ON 08 SEPTEMBER 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU WILDLIFE MINISTRY AND SLLRDC DIRECTED STATE OFFICIALS Protect all 227 wetlands: AG BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA Foreign travel The Auditor General (AG)’s Department instructed the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation and Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) to take immediate action to protect all 227 wetlands, identified by the suspended Department, around the country, according to Deputy AG P.L.K. BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA Secretary to the Ministry officials because of the Ministry of Finance has Perera. Wetland Sanctuary in Puttalam. of Finance S.R. Attygalle coronavirus outbreak around requested all ministry and He told The Morning that in a In addition, two other wetlands The Ministry said that all travel has been the world,” he said. state ministry secretaries as report presented to Parliament at in the Southern Province were of Finance has suspended due to the global He said the decision for the well as department heads to the end of last year, the Department identified by the Department as suspended all foreign pandemic situation. suspension was taken solely cancel all impending foreign reiterated the importance of needing special and immediate travel of state officials, “We have suspended due to the Covid-19 outbreak. travel of state officials until Finance Ministry protecting all wetlands, especially attention, Perera noted. The Morning learnt. (foreign) travel of all state It is also learnt that the they are restructured. Secretary S.R. Attygalle the controversial Anawilundawa Contd. on page 2 BAN ON CATTLE SLAUGHTER CALL FOR ACTION DEFORESTATION Only 1.65 acres Taken up at affected: Govt. Reports that over 200 acres of land Cabinet meeting were deforested and destroyed in the Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary in The ban on Cabinet Spokesperson Wanathawilluwa are incorrect, and cattle slaughter Minister Keheliya Rambukwella only 1.65 acres were affected, Minister was taken up confirmed that it was discussed of Wildlife and Forest Conservation at yesterday’s by the ministers. R.M.C.B. Rathnayake stated in (9) meeting of However, he refrained from Parliament yesterday (9). the Cabinet of divulging information about it. Minister Keheliya Ministers. Contd. on page 2 Rambukwella We can pay staff ANIMAL RIGHTS salaries: SLBFE The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) assured that the salaries of all its staff members Should apply to would be paid without any hindrance, despite allegations that the bureau was all animals: Harin facing financial difficulties. ASSAULT ON POLICE All animals should have equal discussed this as a party yet, rights, and “slaughtering” happens my personal opinion is that even to every animal on a daily basis, though this ban is imposed, the Four arrested in MP Harin Fernando of the Samagi consumption of beef will not Jana Balawegaya (SJB) told The stop. It is important to know Atalugama The National Graduate Centre and Development Officers' Service Union staged a silent protest in front of the Ministry of Public Morning, responding to the that it has been a practice to Administration yesterday (9) demanding that the recruitment of graduate/diploma holders be implemented in a transparent Four individuals, including three controversial beef ban announced slaughter animals (including manner, amongst other demands females, have been arrested over the by the Government on Tuesday fish) since the beginning of PHOTO ESHAN DASANAYAKA assault on several police officers in (8). evolution. Atalugama, Bandaragama. “Even though we haven’t Contd. on page 2 MAHAWELI LANDS EMERGENCY POWER PURCHASING FREIGHT CARGO EXPORTS Govt. to streamline process Freehold deeds CEB dismisses The Government is Monday (14). hoping to streamline “I have spoken within this year the freight cargo to the various allegations export process to authorities such BY SARAH HANNAN their lands within this year. The Ceylon Electricity power purchases early next minimise time spent as the Customs State Minister for the At least 100,000 families Board (CEB) yesterday year, The Morning learnt. on the ground. Department and the Development of Common are yet to receive deeds for (9) denied moves of CEB General Manager The Police in the process of making the State Minister Air Force to suggest Infrastructure Facilities of the lands they are settled attempting to purchase (GM) Keerthi Karunaratne arrests in Atalugama of Development of ways to reduce time Settlements and Canals in in and have faced many costly emergency power told The Morning that no SEE FULL STORIES Aviation and Export State Minister consumption in the Mahaweli Zones Siripala social disputes, including to meet the ongoing such decision was taken ON PAGE 2 Zones D.V. Chanaka D.V. Chanaka export process of Gamlath stated that the encroachment disputes, as power shortage. Instead, by the board to purchase said he would receive a proposal freight cargo.” families settled in the clear boundaries are not the board clarified that it emergency power. from the relevant authorities by Contd. on page 2 Mahaweli zones would marked. would go for short-term Contd. on page 2 receive freehold deeds for Contd. on page 2 Bus priority MT NEW DIAMOND TANKER COVID-19 lane returns Impacts foreign The bus priority lane will come into effect once again, starting from 14 September, the Int’l salvage company Department of Government Information employment announced. Cabinet Minister of The move was introduced with the intention Labour Nimal Siripala of reducing the heavy traffic congestion in de Silva announced that Colombo and its suburbs. The bus priority lane members board vessel Sri Lanka is to consider was previously implemented in the Western suspending foreign Province under several stages. Three members of the international Lankan seas at around 8.30 a.m. on employment opportunity salvage company have boarded the 3 August, when the unfortunate turn placements for women oil tanker “MT New Diamond” of events unfolded. in the housemaid Minister Nimal Siripala , a 24-hour hotline, which caught on fire yet again A joint operation to control the job category in the de Silva 1992has been set up following the initial dousing efforts, fire engulfing the oil tanker, caused foreseeable future. caused by Covid-19, and by the Ministry of Wildlife for Navy Spokesman Captain Indika De by an explosion of a boiler in the The Minister said this in stated that Sri Lanka the public to lodge complaints Silva said. main engine room, was launched in the backdrop of many Sri will have to create job on setting fire to or illegal MT New Diamond had been response to a distress signal received Lankan migrant workers opportunities for these clearance of forests, poaching, sailing 38 nautical miles off by the Navy. returning from foreign returning workers. and laying of traps. Sangamankanda Point east of Sri Contd. on page 2 countries due to job losses Contd. on page 2 2 the morning NEWS/CAUSE Thursday , September 10, 2020 SCHOOL CANTEENS Permitted to recommenceMinster of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris has instructed the The issue stated that principals and Secretary to the Ministry of Education to maintain the school school staff should take the necessary lunch programme and school canteens in accordance with the steps to prevent large numbers of recommendations of the Ministry of Health. students from visiting school canteens during the interval. The Ministry has already informed granted to implement the school Further, it was emphasised that the all provincial secretaries of education lunch programme from 14 September school canteens can be continued and provincial, zonal, and divisional onwards in compliance with disease from 14 September onwards, only if directors of education to take steps to prevention and control measures. arrangements can be made for food inform and regulate school authorities Recommendations have also been orders to be obtained from the students in this regard, the Ministry of Education made to operate school canteens, in the morning and the relevant orders said, issuing a statement. ensuring that social distance regulations be distributed to the classes during Minster of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris Accordingly, permission has been are followed. the interval. book entails brief comic sketches that depict Offer a lifeline to Bandula types of online risks and dangers that are ‘Digital Citizenship’ for prevalent, while also highlighting the many positive prospects. Jayasekara – save him The Digital Citizenship toolkit highlights a safer digital space issues such as illegal and unethical usage Bandula Jayasekara, a of big data, social media-generated anti- former Sri Lankan diplomat The digital or online space has evolved as minority sentiments that are also used to and senior journalist, is a vital platform to disseminate information instigate real-world riots and mobilise hate suffering from blood cancer easily and effectively to a wide range of groups, etc. The toolkit aims to address such for the past 14 months, and audience with the evolution of social media.