www.themorning.lk Late City VOL 01 | NO 17 | Rs. 30.00 { TUESDAY } TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 ‘PHIs ARE NOT CONSULTED WHEN MAKING DECISIONS’ PAVING ‘VISIT SRI LANKA’ ANOMAA WAY FOR AN APP TO LAUNCH RAJAKARUNA JOINS IN MID-MARCH INTERNATIONAL JURY ‘INTERIM’? »SEE PAGE 6 »SEE PAGE 7 »SEE PAGE 11 »SEE PAGE 16 INDIAN RULING PARTY’S PLAN TO RULE SL CANCELLED JICA LRT Rs. 1 b consultancy GoSL not to engage fees due before April z Rs 3.9 b disbursements owed to JICA with BJP vision BY PAMODI WARAVITA The Morning learnt. of Urban Development, The Sri Lankan “Consultancy work Coast Conservation, Waste z SJB portends threat z JVP to study situ, TNA declines comment Government should, began in April 2019, and Disposal, and Community within the next one ended at the end of last Cleanliness told The BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE any political engagement regarding Speaking at an event in the and a half months, pay year. From April 2019 to Morning yesterday (15) this issue. state capital Agartala, Deb raised approximately Rs. 1 billion June 2020, around Rs. 4.5 on condition of anonymity. The Government will not be politically engaging with the Sparking fresh controversy, eyebrows when he disclosed Home to foreign consultants for billion have been paid for As such, the official issue of India’s ruling political party, the Bharatiya Janata Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Minister and senior BJP Leader their consultancy services their services. However, estimated that the remaining Party (BJP), announcing plans to form governments in Deb claimed that the BJP is Amit Shah’s alleged plan to form on the cancelled Japan payment from July to amount to be paid to the neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka. planning to expand its footprint saffron party-led governments International Co-operation December 2020 is yet to consultants would be just The Ministry of Foreign Affairs However, according to a high- not only across the country but in two neighbouring countries – Agency (JICA)-funded light be done,” a high-ranking less than Rs. 1 billion. is scheduled to release an official level Ministry source who spoke also in neighbouring nations, on Nepal and Sri Lanka. rail transit (LRT) project, official at the State Ministry Contd. on page 2 statement regarding the issue. to The Morning, there will not be 14 February. Contd. on page 2 No gender segregation Cancer Detection VACCINATION DRIVE ENTERS PUBLIC PHASE Vulnerable people of all ages in Police: Ajith Rohana Centres for all provinces z In Jaffna by March, islandwide by year-end eligible for vaccination BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI AND DINITHA “There are no plans to segregate RATHNAYAKE BY PAMODI WARAVITA z MPs prioritised due to interactions with public based on gender in the Police.” first being opened in Jaffna There are no plans within the A group of senior police The Ministry of Health next month. BY HIRANYADA DEWASIRI yesterday (15), utilising the Secretary Dr. Amal Harsha de Police system to segregate officers officers, including former National Cancer Control “Currently there is only one The Government began remaining 250,000 Oxford- Silva said that the vaccination on the basis of gender, according Police Media Spokesman Programme (NCCP) is due to cancer early detection centre in vaccinating members of the AstraZeneca vaccines. will be administered to groups to Police Media Spokesperson Superintendent of Police Ruwan open new cancer early detection the country under the NCCP, public from all age groups Speaking to The Morning such as cleaners, garbage Deputy Inspector General of Gunasekara, have filed a petition centres for each province by in Narahenpita.” who are vulnerable to the yesterday, Ministry of Primary collectors, the media, and Police (DIG) Ajith Rohana. against the appointment of DIG the end of this year, with the Contd. on page 2 rapid contraction of Covid- Healthcare, Epidemics, and parliamentarians. He was responding to a query Jasingharachchi, who is the first 19 in the Western Province Covid Disease Control Contd. on page 2 made by The Morning in light of woman to hold this position in the petition filed by senior police the Police. officers against the appointment The case is to be heard at the of Bimshani Jasingharachchi as Supreme Court today (16). FINALLY, SOME PRIORITY the Deputy Inspector General of Meanwhile, the National Police (DIG) in charge of welfare. Police Commission (NPC), Speaking to The Morning when contacted in this regard, yesterday (15), DIG Rohana said said that the NPC under its new that there are no plans within the membership has had nothing Police to bring about segregation to do with Jasingharachchi’s based on gender. appointment. Customs holds black tile containers zIndustries Ministry commences probe BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE Then we process them by cutting A total of 10 containers of and edging. We are the only factory Residents of Grandpass in Colombo, including street cleaners who render a thankless job all year imported tile accessories and raw that makes skirting and step tiles round, received their first doses of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for Covid-19 on a priority basis yesterday (15) materials are awaiting release in Sri Lanka.” PHOTO LALITH PERERA from the Customs authorities According to Unais, tile which have presently vetoed their accessories and raw materials release, The Morning learnt. were requested during the time According to Ultra Roofing the Government allowed imports, Pak-SL biz forum during Khan’s visit Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd. Chairman but they received these containers BY PAMODI WARAVITA Speaking to The Morning, sources refused to comment A.M. Unais, the 10 containers only during this year. However, A one-day business sources at the High on whether Pakistani PM imported by his company from the cost of these materials and the forum is scheduled to be Commission of Pakistan in Sri Imran Khan is due to attend China are still under Sri Lanka exact date of the letter sent to the held in Colombo with the Lanka said that the business the event. Last month, Customs. He added that they are Ministry of Industries requesting for participation of a top-level forum, most likely to be held Foreign Ministry Secretary hoping to get the stock released tile accessories and raw materials delegation from Pakistan towards the end of this month, Prof. Jayanath Colombage soon. was not revealed to The Morning during Pakistani Prime would host both Pakistani told The Sunday Morning that “Our business is to import two- as Unais declined to respond to Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s and Sri Lankan business PM Khan is due to visit Sri by-two black tiles as they are not questions posed in this regard. visit to Sri Lanka, The community members. Lanka on 23 February. available in the Sri Lankan market. Contd. on page 2 Morning learnt. However, High Commission Contd. on page 2 COVID-19 CASES Village committee to pick Samurdhi beneficiaries BY PAMODI WARAVITA The department’s Media and Underutilised State the selection method. It ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES Division told The Morning Resources Development. is alleged that political The Department of yesterday (15) that village- These beneficiaries would influence when selecting Samurdhi Development level committees would be be recommended in place of Samurdhi beneficiaries had 75,965 has changed the selection in charge of recommending families who are withdrawing been an issue during the methodology for Samurdhi beneficiaries from the Samurdhi fund for United National Front-led DEATHS RECOVERED beneficiaries of the Samurdhi from 1 March, as decided their own personal reasons. Government’s tenure. fund, where a village-level by the State Ministry of The department further Each such committee 6,157 403 69,411 committee would henceforth Samurdhi, Household confirmed that this is would be headed by the SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU be allowed to recommend the Economy, Microfinance, done through village-level area’s Samurdhi development THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 9.45 P.M. ON 15 FEBRUARY 2021 beneficiaries, The Morning Self Employment, committees to eliminate officer. learnt. Business Development, political influence from Contd. on page 2 42 www.themorning.lk { NEWS } Tuesday, February 16, 2021 PUCSL okays 300 MW Kerawalapitiya LNG Death toll surpasses power plant PPA 400 as Ministry The electricity sector Private Ltd. The unit price of electricity regulator, the Public Utilities “The PUCSL supplied by this power plant Commission of Sri Lanka recommended the inclusion is Rs. 14.98. Both diesel and (PUCSL), approved the of 18 amendments which LNG fuels can be used to urges extra caution power purchase agreement were not included in the generate electricity, and the (PPA) to build the 300 previous power purchase initial phase of generation megawatts (MW) liquefied agreement submitted for will continue to use diesel Another six Covid-19 deaths were natural gas (LNG) power approval, and the CEB and fuel until the LNG or natural confirmed by the Health Services Director plant in Kerawalapitiya. Lakdanavi have agreed to gas supply begins. General yesterday (15) increasing the death The decision was taken on include those. The CEB will “The PUCSL expects that toll in Sri Lanka to 403, the Government 13 February. purchase electricity for 20 the CEB will take actions to Information Department said. The PPA will be signed by years under this agreement,” expedite the construction of Meanwhile, Deputy Director General of Health the Ceylon Electricity Board said PUCSL Chairman this 300 MW LNG power Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said yesterday that (CEB) and Lakdhanavi Janaka Ratnayake. plant,” Ratnayake added. the people should be extra cautious of the new Covid-19 variant detected in the country. He requested the public to avoid large gatherings, private functions, and religious events. Govt.