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ON 12 JANUARY 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU »SEE PAGE 6 »SEE PAGE 9 »SEE PAGE 13 RANJAN RAMANAYAKE IMPRISONMENT Pardon request Ranjan to do or Mannapperuma 4 years for replacement? contempt z SJB contemplates z When seat becomes z EC, Parliament yet to z SC hands out four years of z Speaking the truth next steps vacant to be confirmed receive judgment copy rigorous imprisonment landed me here: Ranjan BY PAMODI WARAVITA AND RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY BY PAMODI WARAVITA, RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY, AND SARATH DHARMASENA The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is mulling ONE SHOT; FOUR YEARS its next steps following the imprisonment Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian of its Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake, Ranjan Ramanayake was yesterday (12) which range from seeking a presidential sentenced by the Supreme Court to four pardon to filling his parliamentary seat with years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) over Ajith Mannapperuma. charges of contempt of court, with the unanimous judgement being delivered by The Supreme Court made to President Gotabaya a three-judge bench comprising Justices (SC) sentenced the actor Rajapaksa on behalf of Sisira J. de Abrew, President's Counsel turned politician and Ramanayake for a pardon. (PC) Vijith Kumara Malalgoda, and Preethi SJB Parliamentarian to “We are deeply saddened Padman Surasena. four years of rigorous by this incident as he is imprisonment (RI) over someone who has never The case was filed comments could shatter charges of being in contempt done any wrong to anyone. against the former State public confidence in of court yesterday (12). The He has always stood up for Minister for allegedly the judiciary and create case was filed against the innocent people and the making remarks a warped image of the former State Minister for loss of his parliamentary defamatory to the judiciary institution in the public allegedly making remarks seat will be felt across the in August 2017 when he mind. Afterwards, the defamatory to the judiciary board,” Madduma Bandara addressed the media and Attorney General (AG) in August 2017 when he said. claimed that the majority had served charges against addressed the media and When queried as to of the country’s judges Ramanayake before the claimed that the majority of whether Ramanayake’s issued partisan rulings and SC. the country’s judges issued seat would fall vacant with were corrupt. Section 120 of the Penal partisan rulings and were immediate effect or in six “Majority in Sri Lanka Code defines the offence corrupt. months’ time, he noted are corrupt judges. Corrupt of contempt of court as Speaking to The that this was a matter to lawyers. About 95%. They one where “whoever by Morning in the wake of be decided by the Election work for money. They words, either spoken or the ruling, SJB General Commission (EC). protect murderers, corrupt intended to be read, excites Secretary MP Ranjith However, Private people and drug dealers or attempts to excite Madduma Bandara said that Secretary to the SJB for money every day,” hatred to or contempt discussions are underway Leader and Opposition Ramanayake had claimed. of the administration of with the relevant legal Ravi Jayawardena told The Subsequently, petitions justice”. Further, the SC as representation on the future Morning that the SJB had had been filed, among per Article 105 (3) of the course of action that the already decided that it is others, by a retired military Constitution has inherent party leadership could take Mannapperuma who should officer (Sunil Perera) and power to deal with the regarding Ramanayake’s fill the seat left vacant by a Buddhist monk (Ven. offence of contempt of Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court yesterday (12) sentenced Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake to four parliamentary seat and Ramanayake. years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting him of contempt of court Magalkande Sudhaththa court. whether an appeal could be Contd. on page 2 PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE Thera), claiming that such Contd. on page 2 NCPA to address Confidential report Bread prices to rise criminal justice on palm oil tax BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE relevant officials but did not The National Child Protection Authority sent to Health Ministry find any solution. We sent a (NCPA) is launching a special mobile The prices of bakery letter to the Ministry of Trade application involving their 1929 helpline to BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI AND USJP Allergy Immunology and Cell confirmed that the USJP had received products, including bread, highlighting these facts but register complaints concerning the problems PAMODI WARAVITA Biology Unit Director Dr. Chandima samples of a passenger from a flight would be increased by early we have received no answer. children face in the context of their encounters Jeewandara said that the confidential from the UK, he could not comment February unless the import We request the Government with the criminal justice system. The confidential genome reports of the genome sequencing on whether the new strain has been tax on palm oil is reduced to take immediate action At present, complaints regarding sequencing report tracing the new done on the samples that were sent identified as the report is confidential. by the Government, the All regarding this issue or we incidents of child abuse are made to the strain of Covid-19 has been handed to them have been handed over to When contacted, National Ceylon Bakery Owners’ would have to increase the said helpline, along with complaints about over to the Ministry of Health by the Director General of Health Services Operation Centre for the Prevention Association told The Morning prices of bakery products the aforementioned issue. University of Sri Jayewardenepura Dr. Asela Gunawardena. of Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday (12). from the first week of NCPA Chairman Prof. Muditha (USJP) laboratory which is carrying The USJP Allergy Immunology Gen. Shavendra Silva said that The Association’s President February.” Vidanapathirana explained the scope of the out Covid-19 diagnostics, The and Cell Biology Unit is the only they had received no confirmation N.K. Jayawardena said that the The impact of the palm new app, which will be launched on 21 January. Morning learnt. laboratory in the island that can regarding a new strain. price hike would be put into oil tax is that the price of Contd. on page 2 In response to a query by The conduct genome sequencing which Numerous attempts to contact effect unless the Government margarine, a primary ingredient Morning yesterday (12) regarding is the test to identify new strains of Director General of Health Services reduces the tax by Rs. 100 for of bakery products, has gone rumours about the identification of a the Covid-19 virus. Dr. Asela Gunawardena regarding one litre of palm oil from its up by 150% in six months, new Covid-19 strain from Sri Lanka, Although Dr. Jeewandara this matter proved futile. current Rs. 250. according to bakery owners. EC wants “We already spoke to the Contd. on page 2 committee to fix REOPENING OF TOURISM electoral system Police yet to receive new guidelines BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE enforcement authorities yet with masks will be subjected to 14 days who disrupts the law or disobeys bring in tourists to the country. Yet The Election Commission (EC) has proposed regard to dealing with this new of quarantine. health guidelines could be punished no legal action was taken against the the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Fresh guidelines have not been situation. When questioned about the according to the Sri Lankan law. tour operators who violated health Committee (PSC) to address all pending issued to arm the law enforcement “However, the tourists who will Ukrainian group of tourists who Interestingly, according to the guidelines at the Yala National election-related issues in the country, EC authorities at the frontlines to be coming into the country will have travelled without masks during their Centres for Disease Control and Park during the recent safari tours, Member M.M. Mohamed confirmed to The deal with the impending arrival to follow the same rules which apply tour, DIG Rohana said that no action Prevention, wearing a mask is a according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Morning yesterday (12). of tourists after the reopening to the locals,” he added. would be taken against them. must and travel bubbles have not Development Authority (SLDTA). Further, the EC will be submitting proposals of airports on 23 January, The The Police has issued directives to “Since this incident took place been mentioned as an exception. Speaking to The Morning further, containing legal amendments to the country’s Morning learnt. locals on adhering to health safety inside the biological travel bubble At a recent media briefing, SLTDA Director General Dhammika electoral system, and to rectify issues pertaining Speaking to The Morning, Police measures in an effort to prevent where there is no interaction with Minister of Tourism Prasanna Wijesinghe said that for the first to national list nominations to Parliament, to Media Spokesman Deputy Inspector the spread of Covid-19 where the the public, there is no need to take Ranatunga stated that legal time in Sri Lanka, a new DIG has the committee of experts appointed to draft a General of Police (DIG) Ajith wearing of facemasks when in any action about the matter.” action will be taken against travel been appointed for the Sri Lanka new Constitution.