www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 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 25,447,270 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 3,018 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 6,177,207 187,248 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 851,512 BRAZIL 3,862,311 120,896 INDIA 3,649,639 64,951 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 995,319 17,176 12 2,868 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 17,760,450 PERU 647,166 28,788 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS138 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 8.25 P.M. ON 31 AUGUST 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU NAVY APREHENDS FIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS Crackdown continues amidst Covid-19 fears z Total of 113 persons accused BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA of Immigration and Emigration at present, ongoing against those who violated the Act. those who were apprehended by the of violating immigration laws Immigration and Emigration Department The statistics provided are as of yesterday Navy were handed over to the Police. A total of 113 persons who have violated Media Spokesman Gayan Milinda told (31 August), the Media Spokesman said. Since 2 June till 11 July, the Navy has z Legal action being initiated the Immigrants and Emigrants Act are being The Morning. In addition, Navy Spokesman Capt. apprehended five people, he added. Navy Spokesman against law violators kept under the custody of the Department He said legal action was currently Indika De Silva told The Morning that Contd. on page 2 Capt. Indika De Silva CBSL CUSTOMER CARE DEPT. PROPOSED 20TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION 30 complaints recorded daily The recently set up Financial Consumer No referendum, only Relations Department at the Central Bank receives an estimated 30 complaints a day. Contd. on page 2 US SECDEF TELEPHONES PREZ. two-thirds: G.L. Discusses free z Amended clauses require z 20A before Cabinet and open Indo- only two-thirds on Wednesday Pacific region BY SARAH HANNAN “The draft of the new in a matter of weeks,” Prof. Peiris US Secretary of Defence Dr. Mark T. Esper The draft proposal of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution will only include explained, adding that the present on Sunday (30) telephoned President Gotabaya amendments that would require Government no longer sees the Rajapaksa and urged continued progress on Constitution that would be tabled at the Cabinet a two-thirds vote of the Parliament necessity to delay adapting to the reconciliation and human rights in Sri Lanka, tomorrow (2) will only require a two-thirds vote, Sri and will not require a public opinion new Constitution that will be while also congratulating the President on his Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman and poll. Therefore, the adoption of the known as the 20th Amendment successful handling of the Covid-19 pandemic Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris said at a press approved 20th Amendment to the to the Constitution. and the recently concluded parliamentary briefing yesterday (31 August). Constitution will come into play Contd. on page 2 Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris election, the US Department of Defence said. Contd. on page 2 EC CLARIFIES PROPOSED 20TH AMENDMENT Before Cabinet this week SJB members The draft of the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution is expected to be tabled before the Cabinet of Ministers this week, government sources said. not UNPers The Cabinet is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Election Commission (EC) that there were no UNP MPs in tomorrow (2 September) under the patronage Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya Parliament at present and all those of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. yesterday (31 August) clarified who contested under SJB were Contd. on page 2 that the MPs representing the now identified as Samaji Jana Balawegaya (SJB), SJB members SAMPAYO AND THREE OTHERS the newly formed political party even though under the leadership of Opposition they held the Leader Sajith Premadasa, were membership Court grants PHOTO LALITH PERERA no longer identified as United of the UNP PCOI ON EASTER SUNDAY ATTACKS National Party (UNP) members. earlier. bail to four Deshapriya told The Morning Contd. on page 2 EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya prison officers INCREASE IN HIV-POSITIVE CASES Former Indian Former Superintendent of the Negombo Ranil gives four- Prison Anuruddha Sampayo and three other prison officers were yesterday (31 August) Youth President granted bail by the Negombo Magistrate’s Court. hour statement urged to do passes away Contd. on page 2 United National Party (UNP) Leader at the PCoI following summons issued and former Prime Minister Ranil on him to give evidence about the Former President of FIRE AT KARADIYANA DUMP Wickremesinghe yesterday (31 August) Commission since he was the Prime blood tests India Pranab Mukherjee went before the Presidential Commission Minister at the time of the Easter Sunday The amount of confirmed HIV-positive passed away yesterday (31 of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the Easter attacks. cases in Sri Lanka is gradually increasing with August), confirmed his son Caused by Sunday attacks. Wickremesinghe arrived Contd. on page 2 the prevalence being high among males in the Abhijit. age group of 19-25 years, the National STD/ He was 84. Taking to cigarette butts: AIDS Control Programme (NSACP) revealed. Twitter, Abhijit wrote: US SANCTIONS ON CHINESE COMPANIES Infections are on the rise, said NSACP “With a heavy heart, Director Dr. Rasanjali Hettiarachchi. this is to inform you that Authorities “The diagnostic test data from the my father Shri Pranab Former President Colombo Port City construction of India Pranab The fire reported at the Karadiyana Garbage clinics of the National STD/AIDS Control Mukherjee has just Mukherjee Dump in Piliyandala on Sunday night (30) Programme islandwide records that this passed away inspite of the was caused by some cigarette butts, and company included deplorable condition has shown a gradual best efforts of doctors of RR Hospital and took place in the land adjoining the dump, The US last week it illegal for American without a government increase in recent times. prayers, duas, and prarthanas from people according to authorities. imposed sanctions on 24 companies to export license. Contd. on page 2 throughout India! I thank all of you.” Contd. on page 2 Chinese companies, making products to these entities Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 UVA AND NW PROVINCES POST-COVID-19 RAILWAY SERVICES Gradually returning to normal Governors “Long distance traffic still hasn’t picked up, but we are hoping that swapped z Long distance traffic yet to pick up schools opening and things retuning BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA Railways General Manager D. compared with the previous month,” to normal will help.” Governor of the North Western Province Fernando, told The Morning that they Fernando said. He said that they were still making A.J.M. Muzammil has taken oaths as the new The railway services are gradually are seeing an increase in ticket sales. However he said that the number calculations with regard to the losses Governor of the Uva Province. recovering following the Covid-19 “Last month, we saw an increment of commuters was still low on the as a result of the curfew. The governorship of the Uva Province was lockdown, The Morning reliably learnt. of Rs. 2 million from ticket sales when long distance routes. Contd. on page 2 previously held by D.C. Raja Collure. Contd. on page 2 2 the morning OPINION/NEWS Tuesday, September 1, 2020 BY SANDEEP DIKSHIT The US’ first-ever sanctioning of Chinese companies involved in US sanctions could put China’s building artificial islands in the South China Sea may affect the fate of several of Beijing’s under- construction One Belt, One Road (OBOR) projects, including the Sri Lanka project in trouble strategically sensitive Port City Colombo project. z Lanka’s involvement with Chinese companies had begun under Mahinda Rajapaksa India and other western countries have Chinese companies had earlier Rajapaksa as President. tried in vain to dissuade Sri Lanka from completed the Hambantota Rajapaksa is back and more politically handing over the Colombo Port City Port in the south east powerful after his brother comprehensively project in its south west to China. Chinese won the presidential election and he helmed companies had earlier completed the the sweep of the Parliamentary polls. Hambantota port in the south east. This has Though Rajapaksa has ensured that helped China establish lookouts on both diplomatic civility has guided India-Sri flanks of Sri Lanka overlooking the Indian Lanka ties, he has made no move to Ocean. accommodate Indian interests by opening a Things are likely to change after the US port on the northern coast or allocating oil sanctioned 24 Chinese companies, which blocks in the common waters separating the means US companies cannot do business two nations. with them. Sources said some of the Chinese Sources said if the US sanctions gather companies are in tie-ups with US firms as pace, not just Colombo Port City but other subcontractors and equipment suppliers in infrastructure projects in Myanmar and the Colombo Port City project, and it seems Thailand, that cause South Block unease, unlikely that they will get a special waiver. may seize up and could be up for grabs. In If this first economic strike by an this respect, they referred to moves by Japan executive fiat becomes law, sources expect which has set up a mega fund for projects the legislation to be more well-rounded companies from partnering with Chinese Communications Construction Company unless their leaders decide to defy the US, in Asia Pacific and the US that has created since there is bipartisan political consensus companies.