HIGHLIGHTS MONDAY 9 november 2020 Biden’s LATEST EDITION Precarious VOL: 09/270 PRICE : Rs 30.00 Victory In Sports SLC releases PAGE A6 re-scheduled LPL The Heroic fixtures The new schedule for the Lanka Panadura Premier League (LPL) 2020 was announced on Sunday, with Colombo Beach and Kandy meeting in the opener. All matches will take place at the Rescue Mahinda Rajapaksa... A16 PAGE A7 Biden wins U.S. Political Victimisation PCoI Presidential Election Calls for healing in appeal to Trump voters Five SJB MPs Ordered to President-elect Joe Biden declared it was "time to heal" a deeply divided America in his first speech after winning in a bitter election, even as Appear Before Commission President Donald Trump refused to concede and pressed ahead with legal fights against the outcome. To be informed Violating Biden's victory on Saturday in Pennsylvania put him over the threshold of 270 Electoral of legal action PCoI Act and College votes he needed to clinch the presidency, ending four days of nail-biting suspense and sending his against them Constitution supporters into the streets of major cities in celebration. The Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing acts of Political Victimisation during the previous UNF-led Story Continued on PAGE 2 regime,issued notice to five Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs yesterday, ordering them to be present before the Commission today, in order to be notified of legal action being instituted against them, on charges of President, PM issuing derogatory statements to the Media, on the conduct of the Commission’s activities. In the notice issued by the Secretary to the congratulate new Commission, Pearl Weerasinghe, it has been stated that the five MPs had committed punishable offences by flouting Article 105 (3) U.S. President of the Constitution and also for having President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister violated provisions contained in Section 10 Mahinda Rajapaksa congratulated the new of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry President of the United States of America, Joe Biden. Act. In a Twitter message, President Gotabaya Hence,Weerasinghe has noticed SJB Rajapaksa has said this is a historic victory and that MPs Harin Fernando, Nalin Bandara he wishes that in future it will be possible to Jayamaha, J.C. Alawathuwala,... strengthen bilateral ties between America and Sri Lanka. Story Continued on PAGE 2 At the same time, the message in the Twitter Account says that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa too joins in congratulating the new American President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris State Katina Pinkama held 35 COVID-19 who was elected as Vice President. under President’s patronage death reported BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE Quarantine curfew The 35th COVID 19 death was reported yesterday. The victim was 78 in several areas years old male. He was dead when admitting to the hospital and post- mortem confirmed that he has in WP lifted succumbed to death due heart attack relating to COVID 19 complications. High risk zones declared Meanwhile, The College of Medical Laboratory Science Sri Lanka (CMLSSL) isolated areas urged the President and the Health Ministry to take timely precautionary BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK measures of validating the reagents required for the antibody test on Except for 12 Police divisions in the Colombo COVID-19 patients within a week, and District and several housing complexes, the establish it in the laboratory service, quarantine curfew imposed in several areas before the third wave of the viral including the Western Province was lifted today (9)at infection. 5 a.m. CMLSSL President, Ravi Kumudesh, These areas and housing complexes have been said although opening the Western identified as high risk areas, since the majority of Province was not such a good idea at COVID-19 cases found in these areas in the this juncture owing to the COVID-19 Colombo District will be isolated. In addition,... situation in certain areas, it was the best possible course of action for the Story Continued on country’s economy. PAGE 9 The State Katina Pinkama was held under premises in Polonnaruwa yesterday (8). the patronage of President Gotabaya This is said to be the first occasion since the Story Continued on PAGE 2 Past 48 hours Rajapaksa at the historic Somawathi reign of King Parakramabahu II for a state... After a period of 7 to 10 days Police arrest 150 Story Continued on PAGE 2 for violating curfew Asymptomatic Office trains SL scammer arrested COVID-19 patients BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK in Tamil Nadu can’t transmit virus Police arrested 150 individuals and seized 22 back on track BY ANTONY FERNANDO vehicles during the past 48 hours for violating BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA –Prof. Malewige curfew regulations. A Sri Lankan businessman was arrested Police Spokesman, DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday The Railway Department will operate along with his wife and minor son after BY W. K. PRASAD MANJU (8) said since curfew was imposed on 4 October, office trains on all railway lines from landing in Kodiyakarai illegally. His company 2,832 suspects have been arrested while 425 today (9) morning, following health has been accused of cheating hundreds of Professor Neelika vehicles have been seized. guidelines introduced to prevent the investors out of billions of rupees. Malewige of the spread of COVID-19. The 45-year-old businessman Ahamed Immunology and Story Continued on PAGE 9 Trains are scheduled to run as usual Shareem Mohamed Shihab,... Molecular Medicine both in the morning and evening. Studies Division However, the Railway Department Story Continued on PAGE 2 told Ceylon Today announced that trains would not stop at the WHO has New COVID-19 railway stations in areas where declared following quarantine curfew has been imposed Zaharan’s wife infected medical research Transport Policy soon and designated as isolated areas. that individuals Trains will not stop at Dematagoda, with COVID-19 who have Temporary hike of minimum Kelaniya, Wanawasala, Horape, contracted the bus fare mulled Ragama, Batuwatta, Walpola and BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA COVID-19 virus Enderamulla stations on the main and do not show BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK railway line and Peralanda, Ja-Ela, Abdul Cadre Fatima Hadiya, widow of any symptoms and those who display Thudella, Kudahakapola, Kurana, National Thowheed Jama’at (NTJ) leader minor symptoms could not transmit the In a bid to prevent transport services from Negombo and Kattuwa stations on the Zaharan Hashim has been infected with the disease after a period of 7 to 10 days. collapsing, the Government will temporarily revise Puttalam railway line. COVID- 19 virus. Although PCR tests are carried out in bus fares, if needed, based on a new COVID-19 Also, trains running on the coastal She was in CID custody on detention orders Europe and Latin American countries Transport Policy after lifting the curfew,... railway line will not stop at Panadura... in connection with the Easter Sunday... only on those who display symptoms... Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 9 A2 MONDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2020 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Five SJB MPs... Zaharan’s wife... ... Sujith Sanjaya Perera and 10, 12 and 7 of the Presidential actions of the Commission had exceeded ... bombings for more than 18 19 Treatment Centre in Mayantha Dissanayake who have been Commission of Inquiry Act against the the powers and regulations contained in months and was remanded after Welikanda, Polonnaruwa on 7 named as respondents, to be present actions of the MPs concerned. the Articles of the Constitution. being produced in Court on 22 November under tight Police before the Commission this morning. The five SJB MPs had lodged a A controversial statement made to the October. It has been revealed security. She had further informed the MPs complaint with the Bribery Commission, media by the five MPs, soon after leaving that more than 20 inmates of Hadiya testified in camera on concerned that the Commission has on 6 November, urging it to conduct a the Bribery Commission,after having the Welikada Prison have been two occasions before the decided to make submissions to the probe against the Commission on lodged the complaint, had prompted the infected with the Virus and Presidential Commission of Court of Appeal regarding the violation provisions contained in Section 70 of the Presidential Commission to issue notice Hadiya is among them. Inquiry into the Easter Sunday of the provisions contained in Sections Bribery Act as they had alleged that the to them. She was taken to the COVID- bombings. SL scammer arrested... 35 COVID-19... ... from Colombo in Sri Lanka, was boat had left for Sri Lanka after dropping getting any profits. The alleged scam He said the best possible The GMOA Secretary stressed wanted based on complaints regarding them. The Marine Police, along with the triggered protests and hunger strikes. move by the Health Ministry the need for the Epidemiology misappropriation of funds and was Law and Order Unit, started looking for The scammed amount is said to be was to strengthen the Unit to conduct such an arrested at Kodiyakarai in Vedaranyam suspects with unusual appearances on about Rs 1,200 crores in Sri Lankan laboratory service to its fullest assessment and tell the block in Nagapattinam District on Friday the shores. They found a family of three currency (Rs 482 crores in Indian capacity in view of the pending country its situation level and night. He had landed at Kodiyakarai near Kodiyakarai Bus Stand. currency). The scam was addressed in threat of a third and large help governing bodies take the along with his wife, Fathima Farzana The family was taken into Police the Sri Lankan Parliament in October, cluster. As it is there were decisions.