HIGHLIGHTS Lest We WEDNESDAY 19 MAy 2021 Forget The LATEST EDITION Sacrifices VOL: 10/130 PRICE : Rs 30.00 Made In Sports PAGE A8 SL needs 4-7 years to be competitive in South Asia – Alagic Country will always come first – PM BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE A16 Pledging the country will always come first, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (18) said in Parliament that the victory secured by sacrificing thousands of lives would not be betrayed under any circumstance. 9 Clauses in CPCEC Bill inconsistent with Constitution Story Continued on PAGE 2 There will be Bill Can Be Passed with more PCR labs – Health Minister Simple Majority If Amended BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE Steps will be taken to increase the number of PCR Cabinet nod for amendments Parliament to debate testing laboratories, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi yesterday (18) said in Parliament. proposed by Romesh de Bill today and Story Continued on PAGE 2 Silva PC to the SC tomorrow Udayanga to bring BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE in Russian tourists BY SULOCHANA RAMIAH MOHAN Former Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, who during the peak of the pandemic brought 700,000 Ukrainian tourists to Sri Lanka, under a tourism bio bubble, is now gearing to bring Russian tourists to Sri Lanka very soon. This time he hopes to take them to the East of Sri Lanka, to the Pasikudah area where there are less people. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 9 24 and 25 May special President inspects SC thwarted passage public holidays of ‘unconstitutional’ BY FAADHILA THASSIM Seeduwa COVID-19 ICC CPCEC Bill – JVP BY TRESHAN FERNANDO The Ministry of Public Service, Provincial Councils The Intermediate Care Centre and Local Government declared 24 May and 25 May (ICC) for COVID-19 patients in The Government’s attempts to pass a Bill in as two special holidays for public sector workers. Seeduwa was inspected by Parliament, which they knew was President Gotabaya Rajapaksa unconstitutional, has been thwarted by the Story Continued on PAGE 2 yesterday (18). Supreme Court, claimed JVP Leader Anura The Care Centre, which is Kumara Dissanayake. housed in a building offered by the Brandix Company, Story Continued on PAGE 2 SLPP suspends comprises three wards. It has the capacity to treat a total of Erandika Kumari’s 1,200 patients. The care centre National War Heroes is fully equipped with the latest technical appliances, including Commemoration membership a number of facilities to maintain the mental health of 452 Army officers, BY FAADHILA THASSIM the in-house patients. The Party membership of SLPP Ukuwela Story Continued on PAGE 2 4,289 other ranks Pradeshiya Sabha member K.P.H. Erandika Kumari was suspended due to alleged assault on a State promoted official during a programme organised to provide COVID-19 cases cross relief to those affected by COVID-19. ITAK holds 25,000 mark President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, coinciding with the 12th National War Heroes Commemoration Story Continued on Mulliwaikkal GMOA says Health Day yesterday (18), has promoted a total of 452 PAGE 2 officers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA)... memorial Ministry did not Israel-Palestine conflict plan ahead Story Continued on PAGE 2 SL Embassy ready in Parliament BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND Ten arrested for to evacuate expats METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE With over 25,000 active In an unprecedented event, a group of COVID-19 cases in treatment BY SULOCHANA RAMIAH MOHAN Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MPs facilities, Assistant Secretary commemorating yesterday (18) took an arbitrary of the Government Medical The Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel at Central Tel measure to commemorate those killed in Officers’ Association (GMOA), Aviv, said they are closely monitoring the escalation Mulliwaikkal during the final phase of Dr. Naveen De Zoysa said the LTTE leader BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK of airstrikes between Israel and Palestine, and if the war in the Parliament complex. Health Ministry should there is a need to evacuate Sri Lankan migrant The event took place in the backdrop of initiate a definite course of Ten persons were detained in Kalkudah, workers, in consultation with the Foreign Ministry the Government imposing isolation action to manage asymptomatic patients Batticaloa yesterday (18), for commemorating the and the Israeli Government, they will do so. orders in the areas of Pudukuduirippu,... in their own homes. leader of the LTTE. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 9 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 9 A2 WEDNESDAY 19 MAY 2021 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Bill Can Be Passed... There will be... BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND METHMALIE the People at a Referendum by virtue of the amendments required to pass the CPCEC Bill with In a response to a question of Illankai DISSANAYAKE provisions of Article 83. just a Simple Majority in Parliament. Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP The provisions of Clauses 30 (1), 33 (1), 40 (2), The Government has accepted all the Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, the Multiple Articles of the Colombo Port City and 71 (2) (l) of the Bill are inconsistent with Article amendments, proposed by the Supreme Court, to Minister said the funds for the purpose Economic Commission Bill are inconsistent with 14 (1) (h) of the Constitution and could be validly the CPCEC Bill and those amendments will be have been approved by the Cabinet. the Constitution, and it can only be passed with a passed only with the Special Majority provided for presented by Leader of the House Dinesh She also said the capacity of existing Special Majority and a Referendum, the Speaker in Article 84 (2) of the Constitution. Gunawardena tomorrow (20), during the committee laboratories has been increased to informed Parliament yesterday (18). The provisions of clauses 53 (2) (b) read with stage of Parliamentary debate on the Bill, conduct more PCR tests and they are The Speaker received the Supreme Court clause 53 (3) (b) of the Bill are inconsistent with Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said yesterday working 24/7 at the moment. determination on the Bill last week and said he Article 76 of the Constitution read with Articles 3 (18). Rasamanickam requested to increase would inform the contents of the determination to and 4 of the Constitution and could be validly Speaking in Parliament, he said, “Now, wrong PCR testing in the Eastern Province as the House on Tuesday (18). The Bill was challenged passed only with the Special Majority provided for information regarding the Supreme Court its testing capacity is low compared to in the Supreme Court in terms of Article 121 (1) of in Article 84 (2) of the Constitution and approved by determination of the Bill, is circulating in the other Provinces. the Constitution. the People at a Referendum by virtue of the country, claiming that the Bill needs a two-thirds The Supreme Court has determined nine Clauses provisions of Article 83. majority and a referendum to be passed. But the need both a Special Majority in Parliament and a However, the said inconsistencies will cease if the Supreme Court clearly said if the proposed Referendum in order to become a law, whereas 17 clauses are amended as mentioned in the amendments are included in the committee stage, Clauses require Special Majority in Parliament. determination of the Supreme Court. there is no need for that. The Government accept Accordingly, provisions of clauses 3(6), 30 (3) The provisions of clauses 60 (c) and clause 60 (f) all the amendments proposed by the SC. With SL Embassy... second proviso, 55(2) and 58 (1) of the Bill are of the Bill is inconsistent with Article 148 of the those amendments included, the Bill could be The airstrikes between the two warring inconsistent with Article 12 (1) of the Constitution Constitution and could be validly passed only with passed with simple majority of the House.” countries erupted last Monday (10). and could be validly passed only with the Special the Special Majority provided for in Article 84 (2). The Supreme Court had pointed out that multiple Speaking to Ceylon Today, Sri Lankan Majority provided for in Article 84 (2) of the The provisions of clause 37 of the Bill is articles of the Colombo Port City Economic Ambassador to Israel, Waruna Wilpatha, Constitution. inconsistent with Article 12 (1) and 14 (1) (g) of the Commission Bill are inconsistent with the urged Sri Lankan migrant workers to “The provisions of clauses 3 (5) proviso, 3 (7), 6 (1) Constitution and could be validly passed only with Constitution, and it can only be passed with a use the two hotlines that would be (b), 30 (3) first proviso, 71 (1), and 74 the Special Majority provided for in Article 84 (2). Special Majority and a referendum. reachable 24/7 and the numbers are: (Interpretation ‘Regulatory Authority’) of the Bill are However, the said inconsistency will cease if a However, the said inconsistencies will cease if the +972 586875764 to contact inconsistent with Article 12 (1) of the Constitution new sub-clause is added to clause 37 of the Bill clauses are amended as mentioned in the Chandratilleke (Attaché) and and could be validly passed only with the Special restraining such authorised person making use of determination of the Supreme Court, the Supreme +972559284399 to contact Indika Majority provided for in Article 84 (2) of the any exemptions or incentives granted under this Court determination said. Senaratne (Labour Welfare Officer) and Constitution. Bill when conducting business outside the area of Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved the proposal to in an emergency situation, they will The provisions of clauses 3 (4), 6 (1) (u), 68 (1) (f) authority of the Colombo Port City to the update the CPCEC Bill with amendments reach the Israeli authorities for help.