www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 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 25,252,673 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 3,000 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 6,143,716 186,917 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 847,986 BRAZIL 3,846,965 120,498 INDIA 3,588,098 64,129 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 990,326 17,093 12 2,860 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 17,595,312 PERU 639,435 28,607 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS128 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 9.30 P.M. ON 30 AUGUST 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU ISLANDWIDE POWER OUTAGE APPOINTMENTS TO PARLIAMENT COMMITTEES Select Committee meeting on Thursday CEB probes Electrical BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA Select Committee on Thursday. “The Parliament Select The Parliament Select Committee will meet on Committee will meet on Thursday, soon after the party Thursday (3) to make leaders’ meeting to make recommendations for recommendations for the parliament committees such Committee on Public Enterpises, Superintendent as the Committee on Public Committee on Public Accounts, BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA Ministry Spokesman and He said that disciplinary Enterprises (COPE). Committee on Legislations, and Director of Development action would be taken by the Leader of the House Minister a number of other parliamentary The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has commenced an Sulakshana Jayawardena CEB as per the disciplinary Dinesh Gunawardena said that committees,” Gunawardena inquiry against the Electrical Superintendent at the told The Morning that code of the Board. the Speaker has summoned said. Kerawalapitiya Grid Substation, whose negligence the respective Electrical An expert committee that a meeting of the Parliament Contd. on page 2 caused the recent countrywide power outage, Superintendent had been probed a 2020 cascading Ministry as stated in the interim report submitted by the already transferred to a failure of Sri Lanka’s Spokesman committee appointed to look into the matter, different division and that power grid has made 11 Sulakshana an inquiry and investigation recommendations in an interim Jayawardena the Ministry of Power said. Ready to lead are currently ongoing. report submitted last week. GRATITUDE MATTERS LANKAGAMA-DENIYAYA ROAD UNP: Ruwan Reconstruction United National Party (UNP) Deputy General Secretary Ruwan based on EIA Wijewardene says that he is ready to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has take over the party leadership. emphasised that his aim is to fulfil the needs of Wijewardene made this remark the people without harming the environment. during a public meeting in On Saturday (29), the President inspected Anuradhapura last Saturday (29). the alleged damage to Sinharaja Forest He said that there are several party Reserve during the reconstruction of the members who have already staked a Neluwa-Lankagama Road. claim for party leadership. Officials from the Ministries of Road Ruwan Wijewardene Contd. on page 2 Development, Wildlife and Forest Conservation, and Environment as well as ELECTION COMMISSION all the relevant authorities are involved in monitoring the road being rehabilitated. Looking at Contd. on page 2 Will end child revising deposits marriages: The Election Commission (EC) “Currently, political party has proposed to impose a deposit candidates are not required to for political party candidates as make a deposit, only independent Ali Sabry well as to increase the current candidates do. But there is a Minister of Justice Ali deposit for independent groups. proposal to make it mandatory Sabry PC has pledged to National Election Commission for political party candidates to bring an end to the issue Director of Legal Nimal make a deposit as well at future of child marriages. Punchihewa said that it was time elections. In addition, the deposit He mentioned this that political party candidates amount for independent groups is while paying a courtesy also made a deposit to contest to be increased too.” call on the Chief Prelates elections. Contd. on page 2 of the Asgiriya and Malwatta Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa, accompanied by MP S.M. Marikkar, yesterday (30) attended a meeting Chapters last Saturday EARTH TREMOR IN KANDY organised to thank all supporters from the Kolonnawa Electoral Disctrict (29). PHOTO ESHAN DASANAYAKA Contd. on Minister of page 2 Justice Ali Sabry No damages, Govt. to stabilise CoL A cabinet subcommittee on Addressing the media last week, More Sri 28 youths probe continues the cost of living (CoL) would Gammanpila said the proposal be appointed by the Government was made by President Gotabaya There have been no casualties “There have been no casualties to stabilise the CoL, Co-Cabinet Rajapaksa and Cabinet approval Lankans arrested with or damage to property as a result or damages to property or Spokesman Udaya Gammanpila was granted last week. of the slight seismic tremor felt in infrastructure due to the small said. Contd. on page 2 cannabis Kandy last Saturday (29) night, tremor that was felt on Saturday return The Morning learnt. night.” A group of 28 youths has been arrested Disaster Management Center Meanwhile, the Geological More Sri Lankans who were stranded during a party held in the Akmeemana area, Director General Major General Survey and Mines Bureau DEW steps down in foreign countries due to the Covid-19 the Police Media Division stated. (Retd.) Sudantha Ranasinghe (GSMB) has deployed a team pandemic have been repatriated to the island. The party-goers have been using Kerala told The Morning that no of seismologists to identify the Former parliamentarian D.E.W. party has appointed a new General Accordingly, a group of 280 Sri Lankans cannabis, according to the Police. complaints had been received location and cause of the tremor. Gunasekara has stepped down from Secretary for the party. from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Reportedly, the party has been organised concerning the tremor. Contd. on page 2 the poset of General Secretary of Accordingly, Dr. G. arrived at Bandaranaike International via Facebook. Among the arrested were 26 the Communist Party of Sri Lanka Weerasinghe has been appointed Airport (BIA) early last morning (30). males and two females. (CPSL). to the post left vacant by Contd. on page 2 ANAWILUNDAWA SANCTUARY CLEARANCE Following his resignation, the Gunasekara. Green transformation Committee commences probe for booze biz zCollect and recycle system for quarter bottles BY SARAH HANNAN to the whereabouts of a 35-year-old businessman named Nishantha Fernando. The Minister of Environment “These bottles, either made A five-member committee has been Both of whom were suspected to be last week announced the of glass or plastic, get tossed appointed by Minister of Wildlife and involved in clearing Anawilundawa Ministry’s consideration to to the roadside drain after Forest Conservation C.B. Rathnayake Wetland Sanctuary were produced ban liquor bottles with the the consumer empties it. to further study the incident of clearing before the Chilaw Magistrate’s Court capacity of 180 ml (quarter) At times, not that far away approximately 0.697 hectares of the on Saturday (29), after which they were as it is identified as a big source from the liquor store itself. Ramsar Convention-recoginsed wetland arrested and remanded until 4 September. of pollution. None of the distillers have sanctuary in Anawilundawa, Mundalama. Department of Wildlife Conservation According to a survey carried a collection process, which The committee will be headed by Part of the cleared area (DWC) Director General M.G. Chandana out for the year 2019 by the means these discarded Secretary to the Ministry of Wildlife Sooriyabandara said that the Department Ministry and its institutes, bottles are not recycled,” Forest Conservation M. K. Bandula Chilaw Magistrate’s Court. was supposedly the backhoe operator was lodged a complaint with the District Court a staggering 300 million Minister of Environment Harischandra. The backhoe loader used by the suspect arrested by the Puttalam Police along on 26 August against the wilful destruction quarter liquor bottles had been Mahinda Amaraweera told Rathnayake gave instructions to take has also been taken into custody by the with the backhoe loader in Mundalama. of a portion of the sanctuary which took purchased in 2019 from liquor The Morning. action in this regard and the wildlife Police. Upon questioning the suspect, the place in the evening of 25 August. shops. Contd. on page 2 officials had reported the matter to the On Friday (28) evening, a person who Police had been able to collect a lead Contd. on page 2 2 the morning PICTORIAL/NEWS Monday , August 31, 2020 Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne assumed duties as the Secretary to the State Ministry of Internal Security, Home Affairs, and Disaster Management Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in the presence of Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, Army Commander Lt. Gen. chatting at the training programme held for new MPs. Also pictured at the back is State Minister of Batik, Handloom, and Local Apparel Products Dayasiri Jayasekara Shavendra