MONDAY 10 may 2021 LATEST EDITION VOL: 10/122 PRICE : Rs 30.00 In Sports Ushan breaks South Asian Record with Results of Nearly leap of 2.30m 21,000 PCR Tests Ushan Thiwanka Perera shattered the Sri Lanka high jump record once again with a leap of Not Released 2.30m in the Lone Star Conference Tests were Labs unable A16 taken a to cope with demand, fortnight ago complicating issue BY JT DE SILVA, THAMEENAH RAZEEK AND COVID-19 spreads SURAWEERA- KANDY Out of the PCR samples taken over a fortnight ago, the test results of nearly 21,000 samples have still not been released to the country, as the laboratories were unable to cope with the demand, Health Ministry sources revealed. They said the 21,000 samples are currently at laboratories with the test results still not being Over 2,600 Patients revealed to the patients. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Five COVID -19 Recorded in a Day variants found in SL BY NIRMANI GUNERATNE Country facing most crucial time– GMOA Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, Director of Allergy, Immunity and Cell Biology Unit of the Sri BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE (GMOA) warmed the country Jayawardenepura University, says that five variants was facing its most crucial time of COVID-19, which had already spread in seven Sri Lanka’s daily detection of at present and that timely countries, including India had entered Sri Lanka. COVID-19 patients topped over decisions were essential to He said tests conducted by them had revealed that 2,600 for the first time since the prevent a catastrophe. four out of five variants had been detected here and emergence of the corona cluster Executive Committee Member remarked that already a person infected with the following the New Year, Army of the GMOA, Dr. Prasad latest variant spreading in India identified as B. Commander Gen. Shavendra Colombage said yesterday (9) 1617 had also been located from Colombo. Silva said. the union had, with the Sri But, Dr. Jeewandara dismissed claims made that Gen. Silva said the number of Lanka Medical Association the said variant had begun to spread in the society. daily cases reported from the (SLMA), and Specialists According to him the various COVID-19 variants Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prison Association, jointly written to that have been identified in Sri Lanka to date are B. and the New Year clusters was a the President regarding the 1617, Indian variant, B. 1351, South African startling 2,659 by 8:30 p.m. threat posed by the new COVID variant, B. 117, UK variant, B. 1428, Danish/ yesterday (9). variant, he said. Europe/Middle Eastern variant, B. 1525, Nigerian The country’s total had It takes five days for the variant. reached 119,873 by late last disease to show symptoms by He added these variants had been spotted in evening. which time an infected person Districts such as Colombo, Kurunegala, Kandy, Meanwhile, the Government could spread the virus to several Kalutara, Polonnaruwa, Mannar, Jaffna, Batticaloa Medical Officers Association others. and the Bandaragama area. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Treating COVID-19 S African nabbed with If crews and owners Fatal B.1.617 COVID-19 variant patients at home cocaine in shampoo bottles not vaccinated No evidence of Guidelines being BY NABIYA VAffOOR Private bus services – State Minister formulated A South African national was arrested while will be halted – LPBOA spread in society smuggling cocaine, weighing 2.29 kg and BY W.K. PRASAD MANJU worth over Rs 60 million, hidden in shampoo BY NABIYA VAFFOOR –NOCPCO bottles, Customs Deputy Director (Legal State Minister of Primary Health Care, Affairs) and Media Spokesman Sudattha Silva All private bus operations will come to BY CHAMARA AMARASURIYA AND ANURADHA Epidemics and COVID-19 Disease Control, said. a halt by next week, if the Government HERATH Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, said He said the suspect landed at the do not take any step to vaccinate private attention has been drawn towards the Bandaranaike International Airport while with bus drivers, conductors and owners by Head of the National Operations Centre for treatment of patients who display the consignment from Nairobi in Kenya, via the end of this week, the Lanka Private Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Army symptoms of the COVID-19 virus within Doha, Qatar. The suspect was arrested by the Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) Commander, General Shavendra Silva, said to date no their homes. Customs Narcotics Control Unit, yesterday (9) warned. information has reached them that the patient She stated that a set of guidelines when inspecting his baggage. LPBOA Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne diagnosed with the fatal COVID-19 variant B.1.617, formulated for this purpose by the Director Silva said the narcotics were found hidden claimed that several requests have been that is spreading in India presently, had come into General of Health Services would also be in two shampoo bottles in three parcels. made to the Government in connection contact with the public. Hence, he rejected claims released shortly. Following preliminary investigations by the with the above request over the past two made in certain quarters that the variant had begun to The State Minister said those who are Customs, the suspect and the narcotic months, but the Government has spread rapidly in the country. infected with the virus would be isolated in substances were handed over to the Police ignored them. their homes and treated by medical... Narcotic Bureau (PNB). Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Namal to Sajith Police arrest 426 for Public Market closed 230 tonnes guideline violations Don’t scupper Govt’s Over 100 test COVID -19 programmes of C’nut oil BY TRESHAN FERNANDO positive in BY ANURADHA HERATH Police have arrested 426 individuals on Saturday (8), re-exported for violating COVID-19 guidelines,Police Spokesman Piliyandala town Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Namal DIG Ajith Rohana said. This brings the total number of Rajapaksa has urged Opposition Leader BY NABIYA VAFFOOR individuals arrested for violating social distancing and BY JAYASINGHE-COLOMBO Sajith Premadasa not to scupper the ongoing other COVID-19 guidelines to 6,965 since October programmes initiated by the Government to A consignment of 230 metric tons of 2020. Piliyandala Health Officer Dr. Indika both, treat patients and save the lives of those unrefined coconut oil was re-exported to DIG Rohana added that around 6,000 person have Ellawala said that following PCR tests who are infected with COVID-19 in the Malaysia by 9.00 p.m. on 8 May, been charged with these violations. The remainder conducted on traders attached to the country. He requested the SJB Leader to Customs Deputy Director (Legal Affairs) have been released on bail and are to be produced in Piliyandala Public Market and those who instead support the measures being and Media Spokesman Sudattha Silva Courts shortly. In addition, Police investigated several are residing in the town, some 100 implemented by the Government to curb the said. public places, including beaches and parks, and 849 people had tested positive to COVID-19. spread of the third wave of the pandemic here. He said, "230 MT of unrefined coconut people have been warned that they were violating He said that due to this reason a The Minister said that the Government oil, imported by Edirisinghe Edible Oil health guidelines. decision had been taken to temporarily would never ignore the burning issues of the (Pvt) Ltd., was loaded into twelve 20-foot shut down the Piliyandala Public masses on the pretext of tackling the containers from the company's... Market. Story Continued on PAGE 2 pandemic. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Due to poor economic plan Story Continued on PAGE 2 Bathiudeen’s arrest a Country facing its worst Chinese rocket debris lands in Indian Ocean gross violation of Law economic crisis – JVP Draws criticism from NASA – Counsel Habib BY TRESHAN FERNANDO Remnants of China's biggest rocket landed Member of Parliament (MP)Rishad in the Indian Ocean on Sunday (9), with most Bathiudeen is being held for Sri Lanka is facing one of the worst economic of its components destroyed upon re-entry administrative and political reasons crises in its history, JVP Politburo Member Sunil into the atmosphere, ending days of without consulting a Court or the Handunnetti claimed yesterday (9). speculation over where the debris would hit Attorney General, even though the He added that whilst the Government argues that but drawing US criticism over lack of Presidential Commission of Inquiry, this crisis is due to the prevailing COVID-19 transparency. appointed to look into Easter Bombings pandemic, the reality is that it is due to the The coordinates given by Chinese State The Long March-5B Y2 rocket, carrying the core of 2019, has not recommended his Government’s poor economic plan. Media, citing the China Manned Space module of China's space station Tianhe, takes off arrest, said Bathiudeen’s official lawyer, He expressed these views at a Media conference Engineering Office, put the point of impact in from Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan Rushdie Habib. Province, China 29 April 2021. (China Daily via organised by the JVP. the ocean, west of the Maldives archipelago. Reuters) He was speaking to the Media at a... Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 MONDAY 10 MAY 2021 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Over 2,600 Patients... Therefore it is important to Dr. Colombage said the COVID damaging to the lungs. Therefore to disease control and prevention. been strengthened. The Executive vaccination programme against constantly wear a mask, pneumonia caused by the it was important that timely He noted that Sri Lanka’s Committee member said that it COVID-19 in all parts of the especially in Public places.