www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk Maintain Distance, Stay Safe TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk LIFTING OF CURFEW COVID-19 Looking ahead... No foreign PHIs funding: PM express Sri Lanka has not received any foreign financial aid to face the Covid-19 outbreak, concern said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. He mentioned this during the former z Eight in quarantine parliamentarians’ meeting held at Temple Public health inspectors (PHIs) have Trees last morning (4). raised concerns over the lifting of curfew At the meeting, former MP next week, as stated by the Government, Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated that especially in areas where the active a clarification must be made regarding Covid-19 clusters are. the receipt and expenditure of foreign Contd. on page 2 aid received by Sri Lanka, as various allegations are made by the Opposition on this. In response, Premier Rajapaksa Covid-19 deaths pointed out that it is up to the Secretary to the Finance Ministry to provide accurate increase to eight information regarding financial aid. Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health Contd. on page 2 confirmed the country’s eighth Covid-19 death yesterday (4). Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated that a 72-year-old woman, a coronavirus- AG ADVISES EC infected patient, had died while receiving treatment at the Homagama Hospital yesterday. Follow Former parliamentarians’ meeting held at Temple Trees yesterday (4) for which former MPs were invited by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss Contd. on page 2 existing law issues pertaining to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE PREMIER’S MEETING WITH FORMER MPS The Attorney General (AG) has advised the Election Commission (EC) that it has to follow procedure established by law to conduct the parliamentary elections, Co-ordinating Officer to the AG State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said yesterday (4). Reconvening P’ment The AG’s advice comes after the EC decided to seek the AG’s opinion on the validity of the nominations, which were accepted during the public holidays in March. Contd. on page 2 on the backburner z TNA reiterates need to z Discussion focuses on z TNA the only Opposition z Former President Sirisena CHECKING LAST DIGIT OF NIC reconvene P’ment Covid-19 and issues party at the meet attends the meet BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA A total of 16 political parties had Sirisena also attended the meeting meeting held at Temple Trees, the Implemented attended the meeting. However, as a former parliamentarian. TNA informed PM Rajapaksa about The meeting with the former parliamentarians, convened by the United National Party (UNP), The PM opened yesterday’s meeting the importance of reconvening the from 11 May Prime Minister (PM) Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (4), was Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), to all former parliamentarians, dissolved Parliament to deal with attended by all former MPs of the governing party, while the and Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) including those who had represented several constitutional and legal issues The President’s Media Division Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was the main party to attend did not attend yesterday’s meeting. the legislature in the past. which have arisen. (PMD) yesterday (4) issued another the meeting representing the Opposition political parties. Former President Maithripala At the outset of yesterday’s Contd. on page 2 clarification with regard to the system recently introduced which allows people to leave their homes based on the last digit of their national identity cards (NICs). PRIOR TO REOPENING There had been some confusion with Over 4,500 in quarantine regard to this directive and the PMD had z 293 Navy personnel among them First Navy also issued a clarification on Sunday (4). Schools to be Issuing another clarification, the PMD BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA Each individual has to complete a officer recovers said that the introduced system is to be mandatory 21 days of quarantine, A Navy officer who contracted used as a curfew pass only for the people There are 4,522 persons in as the health authorities have Covid-19 has fully recovered, the in the areas where the curfew is imposed. quarantine centres at present instructed,” the Brigadier said. Sri Lanka Navy said. disinfected It further said that this system will undergoing a mandatory 21-day Meanwhile, the Navy noted that This is the first recovery to be BY AGRA RANASINGHE told The Morning that schools only be applicable with effect from 11 quarantine period. the entire Welisara Navy Camp was reported from the Navy after a will be disinfected prior to the May (Monday). Army Spokesperson Brigadier under quarantine with 4,000 Navy cluster of patients were reported The schools are to be date the Government assigns Accordingly, this NIC last digit Chandana Wickremesinghe told personnel. Navy Spokesperson Lt. from the Welisara Navy Camp. disinfected with the help of for the reopening of schools. regulation will not be applicable for The Morning that there are 35 Commander Isuru Sooriyabandara military officers, health staff, He further said that schools those leaving their houses when the centres islandwide. said that almost 2,000 PCR tests and parents, and the vice will be disinfected with the curfew is relaxed. “Health officials have said that had been done. chancellors of the universities support of military officials, Contd. on page 2 there is a 14-day incubation period. Contd. on page 2 218 factories hold the responsibility to health staff, and parents of the disinfect the universities, The students, and that instructions recommence: BOI Morning learnt. still have not been given to The Board of Investment (BOI) Ministry of Education reopen the schools. yesterday (4) said that around Secretary N.H.M Chithrananda Contd. on page 2 218 factories are currently being TNA offers support operated in the zones. Postal services Tide topping on key issues commence The Tamil National Alliance “We are prepared to extend our the Parliament alone can deal with,” z Safety measures to be (TNA) yesterday (4) offered support co-operation for the resolution of these the TNA noted. returns set before Vesak Poya to the Government to address key issues in a reasonable and acceptable The memorandum handed over to the z Sand barriers z Permanent structures in national issues. manner in the interests of the country Prime Minister included the following Following a discussion with put in place areas of regular occurrences The offer was made in a and all its people,” the TNA noted. issues: the Postmaster General, Joint memorandum submitted by the TNA to However, the TNA emphasised The pandemic – the coronavirus – Postal Trade Unions Front BY SARAH HANNAN set up and are now eroding the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at that the meeting summoned by the has been gradually escalating. Much (JPTUF) and Union of Postal and coastline at a rapid rate. a meeting convened with former MPs. Prime Minister was not and cannot more needs to be done to eradicate it Telecommunications Officers With the onset of the While this is a regular In the memorandum, the TNA noted be a substitute for convening the completely from our country. There is (UPTO) returned to work southwestern monsoon, an occurrence, the coastline the need to address outstanding issues, Parliament. “We are of the firm view a legitimate fear amongst the people yesterday (4). increase of tide topping is starting off from Puttalam including issues faced by the Tamil that the Parliament must be convened, that it could further escalate with grave observed in the southwestern which runs down to Matara community and the enactment of a new as stated in our joint statement, to consequences. The country’s united coasts of the country. The will experience a considerable Constitution, apart from focusing on the deal with several constitutional and efforts are needed in this regard. SEE FULL STORIES high tides have surpassed the level of coastal erosion. crisis resulting from the coronavirus. legal issues that have arisen, which Contd. on page 2 ON PAGE 2 temporary barriers that were Contd. on page 2 2 the morning OPINION/NEWS Tuesday, May 5, 2020 SRI LANKA PERSPECTIVES SL opts for polls during corona times BY COL. R. HARIHARAN will be subject to prior clearance from have expressed their concern about virus from spreading in the country…. that there were no constitutional powers the then President Maithripala Sirisena the Government and health authorities the militarisation of administrative Sri Lanka had a proper mechanism to to reconvene the dissolved Parliament. of “actively undermining” national The Sri Lanka Election (finally by 15 May in the EC Chairman’s processes. Nothing illustrates this better collect the information needed to stop He also expected to meet the Maha security and failing to prevent the Easter Commission (EC) has reckoning). This rider is likely to be than the Task Force created to fight the infection from spreading from each Sangha regularly, on the third Friday Sunday bombings. It also alleged that announced on 20 April that played up by opposition parties, during Covid-19, packed with veteran Army patient”, the Presidential Media Division of every month. The prelates have also he had not given proper guidance or the parliamentary election, the constricted campaigning due to the and Navy officers. Military personnel statement said. said there was no need to reconvene the support to the security establishment delayed due to the corona coronavirus threat. have been employed on a large scale in Sri Lanka’s Covid count as of 30 dissolved Parliament. Their statement and Police. The report also noted that pandemic threat, will be held The main Opposition, the United duties connected with enforcing virus April stands at: confirmed cases 660, comes in the face of opposition parties’ Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe National Party (UNP) and its allies do restrictions; military intelligence has active cases 514, and deaths only 7.