Unemployment rate rises amid COVID MAHINDA P. L IYANAGE, Galle Cenral special correspondent Sri Lanka’s unemployment rate has risen to 5.5 percent by 2020, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s Annual Report for 2020 has stated. SRI LANKA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER I SINCE 1918 The unemployment rate was 4.8 MONDAY JUNE 07, 2021 I 17 PAGES I VOLUME - 103 - NO 133 RS. 30.00 I REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER IN SRI LANKA I E-PAPER percent in 2019 and it has risen to 5.5 percent in 2020, the report points out. Moreover by 2020, underem- ployment rate had increased mark- edly and the total number of hours Governments must not hesitate to adopt bold policies to protect human health - President worked had dropped significantly. The Central Bank report also states President Gotabaya Raja- combat the loss of biodiversity, mittee on World Food Security, cial lecture. ‘Climate change is fertilizers and agrochemicals that this is due to the improper uti- paksa emphasised that if we are and enable people to achieve on Friday via video technology. one of the most serious issues enabled a long-needed national lisation of the productive capacity of to preserve the health of our their economic aspirations in The Committee on Food humanity faces. Mitigating its transition to a healthier and the labour force. planet and ensure human health more sustainable ways,’ he fur- Security (CFS), while applaud- impact requires urgent collec- more ecologically sound system The unemployment rate for and sustainability, Governments ther said. ing the President’s decision to tive action from all countries’, of organic agriculture. women, youth and those with the world over must not hesitate The President made these completely eliminate the use the President further said. ‘We are aware that there will higher education qualifications to adopt bold policies. remarks addressing the Agro- of chemical fertilizers, invited President Rajapaksa also said be teething problems during has increased significantly by ‘Such policies should support ecology Event at the 48th Ses- President Rajapaksa to its annu- that the Government’s deci- this transition. TO PAGE 2020. 02 ecological conservation, help sion of the United Nations Com- al conference to deliver a spe- sion to ban imports of artificial TO PAGE 02 SIXTEEN DEAD, Landslide warning for 10 districts 270,912 AFFECTED Three missing, five injured The separator tanks containing furnace oil at DUE TO BAD WEATHER the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery managed by SHAVINI MADHARA the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, had over- injured. According to the DMC, people are residing with rela- Army troops were mobilised flowed with the ingress of rain water following At least 16 persons have died, 14 houses have been fully dam- tives or friends. A total of Rs. to Dumbara in Ratnapura, Ara- heavy downpour in the past two days.The Navy while 270,912 people belonging aged and 817 houses partially 74.5 mn has been allocated by nayake in Kegalle and Meeri- and the Coast Guard have been able to place to 60,674 families in 10 dis- damaged mostly in the Rat- the National Disaster Relief gama in Gampaha to rescue a floating boom to prevent a further spread tricts have been affected due to napura and Gampaha districts. Services Centre (NDRSC) for people affected by landslides of furnace oil and to skim them through an oil the adverse weather conditions A total of 15,658 people emergency relief purposes for with the coordination of the skimmer, to prevent furnace oil mixed water prevailing in several parts of the belonging to 3,520 families 10 districts. DMC. in the Sapugaskanda area drifting into the country for the last few days, have been adversely affected Four people in the same “People in Gampaha, Rat- Kelani River through the Pattivila canal, as the according to the latest update and evacuated to 72 safety cen- family had died after a mound napura, Colombo, Puttalam, current rainfall decreases and the water level from the Disaster Management tres set up to assist the dis- of earth collapsed on to their Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya, Keg- in the Kelani river goes down. The Navy and Sri Centre (DMC). placed. Most of these safety home in Aranayake, Kegalle alle, Kandy, Kurunegala and Lanka Coast Guard took action to skim the fur- Additionally, the DMC also centers are in Colombo (32), yesterday. Another person has Galle districts have been affect- nace oil exposed to the external environment stated that three people are Gampaha (16), Kalutara (10) died in another landslide in ed by the rains, floods, land- and to prevent further spread. The Heiyan- still reported to be missing and Ratnapura (10) districts. Warakapola - Algama area on slides and winds,” the DMC thuduwa area in Sapugaskanda was flooded and another two persons are Some 3,397 of these displaced Saturday morning. said. TO PAGE 02 due to heavy rains. Pictures by Sudath Malaweera. Don’t proceed with Resolution on Sri Lanka: Work begins on five new flyovers, Rs. 35 bn allocated to SL tells US Foreign Affairs Committee pay Rs. 5,000 Sri Lanka, through said that it vehemently four-lane elevated expressway today its Ambassador in opposes the contents allowance - Minister Washington Ravina- of the resolution which tha Aryasinha,called contains allegations Major effort to ease congestion in Colombo, Kandy on the US House For- relating to Sri Lanka eign Affairs Committee that are inaccurate, Vaccination happening in (FAC) not to proceed biased and unsubstan- The construction of five new flyovers and four- with H. RES. 413 on Sri tiated, raising grave lane elevated expressway from New Kelani Bridge more than 4,000 centres Lanka moved by Con- suspicion regarding the to Athurugiriya as a part of easing traffic conges- gresswoman Deborah intention of the resolu- tion in the capital and Kandy will be launched by ASELA KURULUWANSA and Ross (Democrat/North tion. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today (7). DINULI FRANCISCO Carolina) on May 18, The communication The inauguration ceremony is scheduled to be The government has 2021. was accompanied by a held with the participation of a limited number so far spent Rs.286 bil- In a communication addressed detailed analysis of the Resolution, of people as per the health regulations in place in lion on COVID-19 dis- to FAC Chair Representative Greg- which laid out paragraph by para- view of the pandemic. ease control and relat- ory Meeks (Democrat/New York) graph, its prejudicial nature. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will par- ed activities, Cabinet and Ranking Member Representa- It was observed that the proposed ticipate in the ceremony via new technol- Spokesman and Media tive Michael McCaul (Republican/ Resolution which equates the LTTE ogy from Temple Trees, a Highways Ministry Minister Keheliya Ram- Texas), the Sri Lanka Government - proscribed by TO PAGE 02 release said. TO PAGE 02 bukwella said. He said Rs.80 bil- lion was spent for two tranches of the Rs.5,000 allowance given in the ernor’s Office on Sat- SC orders policemen to pay for youth’s death after assault first wave and Rs.35 bil- urday. SPC ordered Sinopharm’s lion had been allocated The minister said the for that purpose this government is responsi- LAKMAL SOORIYAGODA in lieu of litigation not responsible for the violation. In time. He spoke to the ble for the money spent, The Supreme Court costs. The six respond- his judgment, Justice S.Thurairaja 1 mn doses arrive media after a special whether from Samurdhi has ordered six police ents have been found observed that the petitioner, the moth- discussion held at the or elsewhere. ISHARA MUDUGAMUWA personnel at the Kanda- guilty of murder of er of the deceased, is a poor village Central Provincial Gov- TO PAGE 02 ketiya Police Station the deceased, being woman who was expecting to live the A stock of one million doses of the to pay compensation members of an unlaw- rest her life with her son whose unfor- China-produced COVID-19 vaccine, of Rs.300,000 to a ful assembly and they tunate demise caused her shock, loss Sinopharm arrived in Sri Lanka yes- mother of a 17-year-old were sentenced to of care and support. terday. The consignment flown to the deceased son who died death by the Badulla The Supreme Court further ordered Bandaranaike International Airport SLBC Chairman kept at Kandy after being assaulted High Court in a judge- the six respondent police personnel (BIA) and was handed over to the State by police personnel in ment dated January 9, to pay a compensation of Rs.240,000 Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC). checkpoint, seeks police inquiry 2014. 2017. to the four relatives of the deceased This is the largest consignment of The Supreme Court The Supreme Court who accompanied him and who were vaccines purchased by Sri Lanka so far. further ordered the six respondents held that the state had fulfilled its further subject to assault by the errant On two previous occasions, the Chinese ASELA KURULUWANSA detained for around two to pay Rs.60,000 to the petitioner obligation, therefore, the state is police officers. TO PAGE 02 government provided TO PAGE 02 hours. A Police investiga- Although he had tion has been initiated clearly stated that he into the inconvenience was the Chairman of the Appoint Parliamentary Select Committee caused by a police Sri Lanka Broadcasting officer when Sri Lanka Corporation, the police Sajith raises concern over opening Broadcasting Corpora- officer did not allow him to probe ship fire - UNP Leader tion (SLBC) Chairman to travel to Kandy for Yala for foreign tourists Jayampathy Heenkenda close to two hours. SHIROMI ABEYASINGHE the X-Press Pearl was had arrived in the outer travelled to Kandy from He was unable to AMALI tised and brought UNP leader and for- anchored at the Colombo harbour of Colombo on the Colombo on duty yester- attend an event sched- MALLAWAARACHCHI in corona-infected mer Prime Minister Ranil Port, the damage would night of May 19.