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EMPLOYEES DURING VISIT »SEE PAGE 11 »SEE BUSINESS PAGE 1 »SEE PAGES 8 & 9 »SEE PAGE 6 GENERAL PREVENTIVE GUIDELINES For verified information on the coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any of the following authorities Suwasariya Ambulance Service 1999 Health Promotion Bureau Quarantine Unit 0112 112 705 1990 Epidemiology Unit 0112 695 112 Govt. coronavirus hotline 0113071073 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Wash hands with soap for 40-60 Wear a commercially available mask/ Maintain a minimum distance Use gloves when shopping, using Use traditional Sri Lankan greeting Always wear a mask, avoid crowded Hotline 0113456200-4 seconds, or rub hands with alcohol- cloth mask or a surgical mask at all of 1 metre from others, especially public transport, etc. and discard into at all times instead of handshaking, vehicles, maintain distance, and wash Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 based handrub for 20-30 seconds times in public places in public places a lidded bin lined with a bag hugging, and/or kissing hands before and after travelling Email [email protected] Japanese tiff trips power sector? z Transmission and Distribution Loss Reduction Project lost z No transmission lines from power plants BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA if the authorities opt for emergency The Sunday Morning learnt that This is a very serious situation gap by providing 300 MW in the purchases, the existing electricity following the cancellation of the where there will be no other solution form of a short-term solution for five A severe electricity shortfall may be experienced within the transmission line capacity would Japanese-funded transmission project, than to go for intermittent power cuts, years, thus giving the CEB time to next few years as Japan has ceased funding for the Greater not allow any additional electricity the CEB was seeking funding from especially from 2023. evaluate the possibilities of connecting Colombo Transmission and Distribution Loss Reduction transmission. local banks in order to proceed with the It is expected that 200 MW would the national grid to the Galle Grid Project Phase II, with the cancellation of the Colombo Light The main impediment, as explained project, but had not yet been successful be added to the national grid by 2022 Substation as an alternative, due to the Rail Transit (LRT) Project by the Government, The Sunday by a senior engineer attached to the in finalising funding partners. via the 300 MW Lakdhanavi LNG lack of the necessary infrastructure in Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) It is also learnt that even opting to (liquefied natural gas) Power Plant Kerawalapitiya. Morning learnt. who wished to remain anonymous, find another prospective investor by which is to be built in Kerawalapitiya, “We need another 220 kV This is expected to result in a from Kerawalapitiya to Colombo is the halting of the Greater Colombo following the required procurement and that the remaining 100 MW would transmission line from Kerawalapitiya power shortage due to the lack of is only 300 MW and even if more Transmission and Distribution Loss processes could take another be added by 2023. to Colombo. We only have one such infrastructure to transmit the power power plants are built in the country Reduction Project Phase II. According three years, and until which time, Furthermore, CEB engineers line at present,” the senior engineer generated at the plants. with the intention of meeting the ever- to him, the project was already finalised additional power cannot be added have sought US investors to assess explained. The existing transmission capacity increasing electricity demand, or even and at the implementation level. to the national grid. opportunities to fill the power shortage Contd. on page 2 PCR TESTS MAHENDRAN EXTRADITION A moment’s rest Sabry unaware Daily capacity BY LAHIRU POTHMULLA inquired on Friday (27) whether boosted by 2,000 Singapore has refused to Justice Minister Ali Sabry extradite Mahendran, Sabry said: The national daily PCR testing capacity to between is unaware if Singapore has “I don’t know. I have asked for a testing capacity has been 9,000 and 12,000 tests, refused to extradite former report from the Attorney General boosted by 2,000 with the according to Director General Central Bank Governor Arjuna (AG), you have to speak to the restoration of the Mulleriyawa of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Mahendran. AG and find out.” PCR machine’s operations, Asela Gunawardena. When The Sunday Morning Contd. on page 2 bringing the total daily national Contd. on page 2 ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT ON KELANI RIVER No decision Fall 200 unlicensed on PC polls armyworm The Government is yet to factories operational take a decision on holding A total of 205 factories knowledge of local authorities the long-delayed provincial returns continue to operate even after or the Central Environmental council (PC) election, despite The fall armyworm that their environment protection Authority (CEA), the Committee the earlier predictions made wreaked havoc on maize licenses (EPL) were suspended, on Public Enterprises (COPE) by several other government cultivations in 2018 has and 17 factories have been revealed last week. members that the election resurfaced in the Eastern established without the Contd. on page 2 would be held mid next year, Province, affecting the crop Two municipality cleaning personnel taking a break from the day’s work amidst the rains according to Secretary to the output of maize farmers for CAPITALPHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM HEIGHTS Ministry of Public Services, the second time. Provincial Councils, and Local However, the CAPITALRS. 34 MILLION HEIGHTS Government J.J. Ratnasiri. Horticultural Crop RS. 34 MILLION He told The Sunday Morning Research and Development High-tech monitoring UPWARDS that no decision had been made Institute (HORDI) stated Group Captain Dushan UPWARDS z Drones to monitor deforestation yet, as the Provincial Councils that it has a biological Wijesinghe said that aerial Act should be amended in method of controlling BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA other aircrafts to detect areas reconnaissance of various CAPITAL HEIGHTS Parliament first. the pest. of deforestation, The Sunday areas in the country have Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 The Sri Lanka Air Force Morning learnt. revealed deforestation. RS. 34 MILLION VISIT OUR (SLAF) is to use drones and SLAF Media Spokesman Contd. on page 2 SEISMIC ACTIVITY UPWARDSWEBSITE CAPITALVISIT HEIGHTS+94 OUR 763112233 RS.35SHOW APARTMENT MILLIONWEBSITE UPWARDSRS. 34 MILLION Major reservoirs to be monitored READY FOR INSPECTION UPWARDS +94 763112233 VISIT OUR BY SARAH HANNAN report on the recent tremor reported and to any infrastructure.” this year in the same area. PROJECT NEARING COMPLETION in Kandy, Amaraweera stated: “The He added that the report did not drawSHOW The APARTMENTMinister announced these WEBSITE Minister of Environment Mahinda committee has recommended four steps any correlation between limestone recommendations following the receipt VISIT OUR +94 763112233WEBSITE Amaraweera has recommended that should be followed to continuously quarrying that is conducted in the areaREADY of the expert FOR committee INSPECTION report that was SHOW APARTMENT www.capitalheights.lk seismometers and other monitoring and monitor the seismic activities and that and the seismic activities recorded 10 appointed to investigate the most recent SHOW APARTMENT +94 763112233 observation mechanisms to be adapted can be used for reference and observation days ago, and said that it was similar to tremor that was reported in Anuragama, READY FORREADY INSPECTION FOR INSPECTION in all the major reservoirs in the country. to forecast and analyse the possible long- the seismic activity that was recordedPROJECT in the Kandy NEARING District. COMPLETION Upon receipt of the expert committee term impacts to the geographical area during end-August to early September Contd. on page 2 PROJECT NEARINGPROJECT NEARING COMPLETION COMPLETION 2 the sunday morning FOCUS/NEWS Sunday, November 29, 2020 MAINTAINING WEBSITES REGISTRY Regulating or curtailing freedoms? BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA Government Spokesperson said. He added that the registry is being She said that there were government She then charged that the Government was He said that the registry would allow formulated and will be set up as soon as bodies already regulating websites such trying to restrict media freedom through this Government moves to set a registry individuals the opportunity to respond to possible. as the Telecommunications Regulatory new registry. for websites, which is seen by some allegations or issues faced via the internet Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) and “We see this new move by the Government as a threat to freedom of speech, has between two or more parties. Not without criticisms another was not needed. to set up a website registry as a move to been condemned by media and press “When something detrimental or Nevertheless, the Free Media Movement “The TRCSL is one government body curtail media freedom and as a means to organisations as a move to curtail defamatory happens online, then you can was highly critical of the move. that is monitoring and regulating websites, interfere and intervene in independent media press freedom and the freedom of put the relevant parties together and sort “We are completely against this new including media and press websites. In institutions and the free press.” expression. it out. Suppose if one individual is being registry proposed by the Government and addition, all media institutes must register She said that the Free Media Movement taken to task without a valid reason, that moves to monitor and regulate websites,” with the Ministry of Mass Media. So with was of the view that any monitoring or Minister of Mass Media and Government person must also have the right to reply.