By Dilanthi Jayamanne

A doctor attached to the National Hospital, Colombo was arrested yesterday for robbing Rs 7.9 million of overtime payment of hospital staff, at gun point.

Preliminary investigations have shown that the suspect is a 33-year-old resident of Horana,...

wednesdayLatest edition VoL: 09/163

10 june 2020Price : rs 30.00

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In SportsWI embark on historic England tour A15

Bangladesh tour of SL in doubt A16

Basil’s Awareness Programme for SLPP’s LG reps

hIGhLIGhtS

PAGE A5

Former Prisons Department Commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewa giving testimony before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing acts of political victimisation under the previous United National Front-led regime, alleged that while...

2012 Welikada Prison shooting

Former Prisons Chief pressured to incriminate

President Gotabaya

Ranil gets 200 security officers

Mangala opts out of General Election

Schools to reopen on

29 June Accuses Ranil’s Adviser, Mervyn

Silva, Thalatha Atukorale

Ranil wanted to know who ordered shooting

By Denagama Dhammika RanaweeRa

Although only 35 security officers have been allocated to former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, there are 200 Security Officers for the Leader of the United National Party Ranil Wickremesinghe, General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), Ranjith Madduma Bandara told a Media briefing at the SJB office, Pitakotte, yesterday.

He further said that even buses have been provided to transport Security Officers deployed for the protection of Wickremesinghe.

Sajith only given 35

By FaaDhila thassim

Minister of Education, Dullas Alahapperuma, said yesterday that all Government schools will re-open on 29 June in four stages, on the approval of the Ministry of Health, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Cabinet of Ministers.

In Stage 1, schools will re-open on 29 June for staff and the management following which schools will be disinfected and all necessary precautions and health guidelines will be implemented.

Classes will resume in four stages

By FaaDhila thassim

The GCE Advanced Level Examination, which was due to commence on 5 August, has been postponed to 7 September and will conclude on 2 October, said Minister of Education, Dullas Alahapperuma.

Alahapperuma, told a Media briefing held at the Ministry yesterday (9), said that over 2,500 halls have been allocated to hold the Examination, adding that health guidelines will be followed.

Further, the Grade Five Scholarship Examination, which was due to be held on 3 August, has also been postponed to...

A/L exam postponed to 7 September

Revision Application perusal on 23 July FSP leaders

granted bail

NHSL robbery carried out by Doctor Two rookie Cops pursue and arrest suspect

By methmalie Dissanayake

About 53 persons including Propaganda Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), Duminda Nagamuwa and General Secretary of the Party, Kumar Gunaratnam were...

By kamal weeRaRatna

The Court of Appeal yesterday (9) fixed 23 July to peruse the revision application filed by the former President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and former Head of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Anusha Pelpita, challenging the three-year rigorous imprisonment term imposed on each of them by the...

Weeratunga, Pelpita Sil Cloth Case

Former MP Mangala Samaraweera informed the people of Matara, who had provided him protection and placed their confidence in him for three decades that he has from yesterday (9) quit seeking Parliamentary representation again.

He requested the people of Matara to refrain from casting their preferential votes for him at the...

Former MP Buddhika Pathirana has been appointed as the Matara District Leader of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya and Team Leader.

Pathirana contested the Matara District under the United National Party and was elected to Parliament for the first time in 2010. He was appointed as a member of the Southern Provincial Council in 2004 and served as its Opposition Leader as well for a while.

Buddhika leads SJB in Matara

IP Rangajeewa hits out at ex-IGP Pujith

By kamal mahenDRa weeRaRatne

The Petition filed by UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam,seeking an order suspending the General Election,was rejected by a two-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court.

The Bench comprising Justices Vijith K. Malalgoda and N.B. Murdu

Fernando dismissed the Petition, without perusing it, after

having accepted the initial submissions made by President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, appearing for the intervenient petitioner...

UNP continues to face defeats

Ranil loses to Sajith

Akila’s Petition rejected

By kavinDya PeReRa

The Supreme Court yesterday (9) rejected, without perusing, the Petition seeking a Writ Order for the Election Commission to dismiss the nomination papers submitted by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to contest the next General Election.

A three-Judge Bench comprising Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, L.T.B. Dehideniya and Preethi Padman Surasena threw out the petition altogether.

Attorney Neranjan de Silva

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva

President’s Counsel Donald Perera

Arrested at BLM protest

(Pic by Sarath Kumara)

Inspector of Police Neomal Rangajeewa, giving evidence before the Presidential Commission Inquiring into Political Victimisation during the previous Good Governance Government, said yesterday that former IGP Pujith Jayasundera influenced him to say that the then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had been connected with the clashes...

Says was influenced to ‘incriminate Gotabaya in Welikada Riots’

newsA2 wednesday 10 june 2020

Continued from page 1

Ranil loses...The Petition had been filed by United

National Party Colombo District candidate Oshala Herath. Attorney Neranjan de Silva, making submissions on behalf of the petitioner, said that based on the constitution of the Ape Jathika Peramuna (AJP), anyone who is holding membership of another political party cannot hope to lay claim to the membership of the AJP. Hence, he argued that the letter issued by the Election Commission on 12 March, accepting the changing of the name of the AJP to the SJB and Sajith Premadasa as its Leader with Ranjith Maddumabandara as its General Secretary, were in violation of the articles of the constitution of the AJP.

Counsel de Silva added that based on the articles of the Party’s constitution, the only body that has been empowered to change its constitution has been its All Ceylon Working Committee and averred that the questionable appointments had not been approved by the said Working Committee of the AJP. He further added that based on the election law, if a party constitution of a duly recognized political party were to be amended, that party has to enlighten the Election Commission within a period of 30 days. De Silva also insisted that under such circumstances, when the said amendments had not been informed to the Election Commission within the given time period, the change of the name of the AJP to the SJB, the appointment of Premadasa as its leader and Maddumabandara as its General Secretary should be deemed illegal.

Deputy Solicitor General Nerin Pulle appearing for the respondents, the Chairman of the Election Commission and its members, said that when a recognised political party informs the Election Commission that it has been duly registered, based on provisions contained in Section 8(3) of the Parliamentary Election Act, the Election Commission is duty bound to

accord such parties with official recognition. He noted that the Election Commission has not been empowered through the law to verify the truth of such registrations or even delve deeply into the internal affairs of political parties. Pulle maintained that according to Articles of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has no authority to peruse the petition filed by Herath.

Accordingly, taking the submissions into consideration, the Bench decided to throw out the petition without even deciding to grant leave to proceed.

When the petitions were taken up, Premadasa and Maddumabandara, who were named as respondents, were represented by President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva.

Those who were named as respondents were Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya, Premadasa, Madduma Bandara, and Chairman of the AJP Senaka Haripriya de Silva and its General Secretary Diana Gamage.

The petitioner had pointed out that the SJB had handed over its nominations to contest the coming Parliamentary Poll based on the AJP and he had noted that when appointing Maddumabandara as the General Secretary of the SJB, approval from the Working Committee of the AJP had not been sought. Hence, the petitioner had argued that the nominations signed and handed over by Maddumabandara to the Election Commission, to contest the Poll on the SJB ticket, should be deemed unlawful. He therefore prayed the Court to issue an order to invalidate the acceptance of the nominations by the SJB submitted to it by the SJB to contest the coming Poll.

Previously, the petition was set to be considered on 22 May. It was however postponed to yesterday upon the request of the respondents’ lawyers and with the agreement of both petitioners and respondent parties.

Former Prisons... convalescing at the Prisons Hospital, he had been

pressured by former Minister Mervin Silva to give false evidence in Court to incriminate former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, claiming that the latter had been allegedly involved in the Welikada Prison riots that took place eight years ago.

Lamahewa claimed that he had been admitted for treatment at the Prisons Hospital after he had developed complications following his arrest over the Welikada Prison riots case, and Silva had appeared at the Prisons Hospital to exert undue pressure on him with regard to incriminating Rajapaksa.

Lamahewa further claimed that Silva had intimated to him that if he was willing to make a false confession to Court to incriminate Rajapaksa regarding the Welikada Prison riots case, Silva would see to it that he would be released from the case.

He also alleged that Silva had politically castigated the family of Rajapaksa over a personal grudge he harboured against them.

Lamahewa also claimed that on two other separate occasions, advisor to former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ashoka Jayatunga had arrived at the Prisons Hospital and the Secretary of the Prison’s Directors’ Society had also been allegedly sent by then Minister of Justice Thalatha Athukorala, to pressure him to compile false evidence against Rajapaksa.

He then claimed that Jayatunga had told him that Wickremesinghe had asked him to find out as to who had issued the order to open fire at the inmates of the Welikada Prison, thus triggering the riots and that if he was willing to reveal that name, he would be granted a release from the case.

He also alleged that the person sent by Atukorale had pressured him to always reveal the truth at all times.

Schools to...On 6 July, in Stage 2, schools will recommence

for students of Grades 5, 11 and 13 students, followed by the re-opening for students of Grades 10 and 12 in Stage 3 on 20 July, and for students of Grades 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 on 27 July as the final stage.

Alahapperuma added that the dates for recommencement of school for primary students of Grades 1 and 2 have not yet been decided.

“Schools have been closed for over 100 days, and this has affected students in several ways. Therefore, the Ministry of Education together with suggestions from those in the education sector and the approval of the Health Ministry arrived at the most practical decision,” he said adding that copies of handbooks containing all health guidelines to be followed within the school premises have been handed over to all schools.

Following recommencement, school hours for Grades 3 and 4 will be from 7.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., from 7.30 a.m. to 12 noon for Grade 5, from 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. for Grades 6, 7, 8 and 9 and from 7.30 a.m to 3.30 p.m. for Grades 10, 11, 12 and 13.

A/L exam...... 13 September.Alahapperuma said the Ministry of Education,

with the approval of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Ministry of Health and the Cabinet had arrived at this decision.

NHSL robbery...... who is temporarily residing at

Cotta Road, Police Spokesman SP Jaliya Senaratne said during a Media conference.

After threatening the cashier at gun point, the suspect had fled the scene with the stolen money in a three-wheeler. However, two Police Constable who were on duty at the hospital at the time of the incident pursued the suspect and apprehended him at the Punchi Borella Junction with the total

amount of money. SP Senaratne also said OIC of the

Children and Women’s Bureau of Matara Division, CI Varuni Bogahawatta, who had been present at the hospital at the time, had also pursued the suspect and assisted the two Constables to arrest him.

The suspect had been transferred to the National Hospital to undergo postgraduate training from another hospital, SP Senaratne said and

added the suspect has no prior criminal record.

Meanwhile, the suspect is currently being questioned at the Maradana Police. The suspect’s wife, who is a nurse attached to a Hospital in Maligawatte, has also been questioned by the Maradana Police.

Investigations are being carried out to find out whether the suspect was working alone or was involved in a larger criminal organisation.

FSP leaders....... arrested while leading a ‘Black Lives

Matter’ protest staged in front of the U.S. Embassy in Colombo and the Lipton Circle yesterday (9).

Later, they were produced in the Fort Magistrate’s Court last night and were granted bail. The protest organised by the FSP was against the killing of U.S. citizen George Floyd, which triggered protests in the U.S. and several other countries. However, the Police on 8 June obtained an order from the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court prohibiting the protest taking place in the vicinity of the Embassy.

As scheduled, the Party decided to proceed with the protest at the Kollupitiya Junction. The Police arrived at the very moment the protest was to be launched and dispersed the crowds. Several protesters were arrested at the location including Nagamuwa and Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopage.

The protesters then went to the Lipton Circle and carried out a silent protest. They were seen maintaining social distancing and wearing masks as per COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Gunaratnam and several protesters were arrested at this location as well.

Revision Application...... Colombo High Court, which convicted

them in the Sil cloth case.The revision application, filed by

Weerathunga and Palpita, was called before a two-Judge Bench of the Appellate Court, comprising Justices Kumuduni Wickremasingha and Devika Abayaratna.

The Financial Crimes Investigation Division had indicted Weerathunga and Palpita in the High Court, on charges of misappropriating State funds in the distribution of Sil cloth during the run up to the 2015 Presidential Poll.

Having overseen the trial, High Court Judge Gihan Kulathunga found the duo guilty of the offence and convicted them on 7 September, three years ago, imposing a three-year rigorous jail term on each.

The High Court Judge also fined both Weeratunga and Palpita Rs one million each.

Following the consideration of the revision petition, filed by the duo, who appealed against their convictions, the Appellate Court decided to enlarge them on bail in Rs 1 million each on 20 September, three years ago.

The petitioners were represented in Court by President’s Counsels Faiz Musthapha and Kanchana Ratwatte.

Mangala opts...... upcoming 2020 Parliamentary Election, although

his name appears in the electoral list as a candidate from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

He had addressed letters to Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of the SJB Sajith Premadasa, informing them of his decision to refrain from contesting the General Election.

Samaraweera also held a meeting yesterday at his residence with Local Government representatives from Matara and briefed them on his decision.

Samaraweera observed that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s leadership has been inefficient and short-sighted. He further claimed that under Rajapaksa, there are wider ethnic, racial and religious divisions among the people while the State is being militarised.

He stated that if the nation is to be resurrected, it is necessary that the fundamental values and principles of the UNP are activated. He therefore expressed his deep regret at the division that has occurred in the Party.

He emphasised that it is necessary to initiate a movement towards a progressive political trajectory in partnership with the people who respect democracy, and the different social identities and cultural traditions, and people who are not overwhelmed and consumed by hatred towards one another. He urged the people who are not governed and guided solely by their racial, caste, religious, ethnic and gender identities at birth and those who are free of political, cultural and social hypocrisy to come together and join forces for this purpose.

By Ranmini GunasekaRa and saundaRya WellaBoda

I promise the public that after the General Election, we will return to Sirikotha and fulfil our responsibilities as a part of the UNP, stated Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa.

Addressing the Media yesterday (9),

Premadasa said that regardless of the steps taken by people supporting UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the SJB will not falter and emphasised that this is because the SJB was formed following legal decisions made by the UNP Working Committee.

He opined that the decision taken by the Supreme Court to disregard the petition filed seeking to

invalidate the nomination list of the SJB, further shows that the truth will always win, and therefore, requested all UNP members who have decided to contest the Election under the SJB to have faith in him and the alliance and to not fear baseless threats.

He further stated that after the Election, the members of the SJB are

prepared to go back to Sirikotha to fulfil their responsibilities as UNP members.

Meanwhile, speaking at the same Media briefing, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara opined that it is due to Wickremesinghe’s leadership that the pride of the UNP has been tainted and added that because citizens have realised this,

the SJB has gained the majority support of the public.

“Due to realising these circumstances, Wickremesinghe tried to gain the support of the Court and failed. I would therefore, like to thank the Supreme Court for making independent decisions based on proper evidence,” added Maddumabandara.

Following General Election

We will return to Sirikotha – Sajith

Akila’s petition...... Sudantha Ranasinghe and

Additional Solicitor General Indika Demuni de Silva, appearing for Attorney General Dappulade Livera, urging the Bench to reject the petition at the earliest opportunity, without even perusing it.

President’s Counsels Romesh de Silva, Gamini Marapana, Naveen Marapana, Palitha Kumarasinghe, Sanjeeva Jayawardena and Senior Counsel, representing the Attorney General,Saheeda Bari in their initial objections requested that the petition filed by the General Secretary of the UNP, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam,seeking the suspending of the proposed Election, be dismissed without a hearing or consideration as it was rejected by a Bench of five Supreme Court Judges,subsequent to an initial hearing, only similar to the previous petitions. It was requested that this should be rejected at the initial stage as well.

The above-mentioned lawyers were instructed by Attorney-at-Law Sanath Wijewardena.

IP Rangajeewa...... that took place in the Welikada

Prison in 2012. During the period when he,

Rangajeewa, was serving as an Inspector attached to the Police Anti-Narcotics Bureau, Pujith Jayasundera, who was a Senior DIG, had told him that while giving evidence to mention that ‘Gotabaya was the one who sent you. You mention that. I will tell the top and

shape it up.” IP Rangajeewa alleged that

Jayasundera was only interested in being promoted to the highly coveted post of IGP and was on a mission to impress the powers that be at that time.“I was subject to attacks by underworld gang leaders such as Makandure Madush. But I did not receive any promotions because Jayasundera kept influencing the top

officials,” he said. Giving evidence further, IP

Rangajeewa said he had been made a suspect in the death of 27 detainees at Welikada Prison riot, to take political revenge from him. He also said that 20 days before the incident he had been planning to raid the drug network of ‘Wele Suda’. But when the riots took place within the prison he was at a house in Jambugasmulla

making an attempt to capture Wele Suda’s drug network and was in the process of launching an operation.

Based on information that there was a plan to bring in a stock of drugs by Wele Suda from a foreign country on the day of the riot, he had gone to Punchi Borella on an operation but asserted that he was never inside the Welikada Prison at that time.

Then the Commissioners asked IP

Rangajeewa whether either on the day the clashes took place or on a date close to it, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had given a telephone call to the Welikada Prison.

In response, he said that a top official would not call a lower ranking official like him.

He further said that, he had only seen Gotabaya Rajapaksa once or twice while travelling in a vehicle.

By Buddhika Samaraweera

Inspector of Police (IP) of the Western Provincial Intelligence Division (WPID), R.W. Thilakaratne was seen giving contradictory evidence before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating the Easter Sunday bombings on 21 April 2019. This was when he testified before the Commission yesterday (9). He is the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the WPID team assigned to the Colombo Fort Police Station. Recalling that he went to the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo when the bomb exploded on

the morning of 21 April 2019, Thilakaratne said that he had called several other hotels located in Colombo and advised them to strengthen the security of the hotels.

Senior State Counsel Suharshi Herath Jayaweera then asked him whether he had telephoned the Security Manager of the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo. In reply, he said that he did not recall making such a phone call. However, Jayaweera then informed the Commission that the statement made by Thilakaratne to the investigat-ing officers of the Commission, stated that he had made a call

to the Security Manager of Taj Samudra Hotel.

Thilakaratne said that on 20 April 2019, he was informed about the possibility of an attack targeting famous Catholic churches and the Indian High Commission, at an instruction class conducted by IP Jagath Wijewickrama. However, they were not informed on who would carry out the attack and were instructed to conduct an investigation regarding it in secret, he added.

Responding to a question raised by Jayaweera, as to whether any information with regard to the possibility of an

attack had been obtained through informants, Thilakaratne said that there were no informants to obtain such information at that time. He said that at that time, there were only informants giving information about trade unions.

When inquired as to whether the matter had been discussed with the OIC of the Colombo Fort Police Station, he said that no such discussion had taken place. Members of the Commission also questioned whether he and other Western Provincial Intelligence Officers are on duty during the night and he replied that they only

work during the daytime.Then, the members of the

Commission observed that even after the bombings on Easter Sunday, no Intelligence Officer had been appointed for the night shift up to now.

Having asked whether he had established a proper net-

work of informants under a new plan, he said that no such programme had thus far been put in place. “We follow the advice given by senior officials. They have implemented some programmes to strengthen the network of informants,” Thilakaratne added.

By hanSi nanayakkara

The three-Judge Bench of the Colombo High Court yesterday (9) decided to take up the case filed against former Commandant of the Girithale Army Camp, Shammi Karunaratna and eight others, on charges of enforced disappearance and abduction of Journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda with effect from 2 September. The date for the trial was fixed by a Bench consisting of Judges Sampath Abayakoon (President), Sampath Wijeratna and Gihan Kulathunga.

Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris told Court that evidence for the prosecution would commence with the testimony of the Journalist’s spouse Sandya Eknaligoda.

Accordingly, the bench fixed the

aforesaid date for the commence-ment of the trial. President’s Counsels Anuja Premaratna, Anura Meddegoda and Anil Silva appeared on behalf of the defendants. All nine defendants currently out on bail were present in Court yester-day. The Attorney General indicted nine suspects on 17 counts, on charges of conspiracy, attempt to murder, enforced abduction and disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda on or before 25 January ten years ago from areas such as Girithale, Habarana and Kottawa.

The Attorney General has further stated in his indictment that the actions of the nine defendants had violated provisions contained in Sections 102, 356, 140, 146, 359, 32, 113, 355 and 296 of the Penal Code.

According to the Epidemiology Unit situa-tion report issued yester-day (9), 22 new COVID-19 infected patients have been detected within the last 24 hours. As of 8 June, 1,835 patients have been confirmed, while it increased to 1,857, yester-day.

Also, 789 confirmed COVID-19 patients have been hospitalised. The Unit said that another 1,057 patients had recov-ered. So far, there have been 11 COVID-19 deaths in the country. Among those who arrived in Sri Lanka from other coun-tries, three foreigners and 639 Sri Lankans were found to have been infect-ed with COVID-19. A group

of 902 Navy personnel and close contacts of Navy per-sonnel have been reported infected. In addition, 313 persons have also been reported infected.

Another 41 Navy person-nel infected with COVID-19 who underwent treat-ment in hospitals, were discharged from hospitals after recovering fully, on 8 June. As of now, 563 Navy personnel have been discharged from hospitals after they tested negative for COVID-19, while 302 infected Navy personnel are undergoing treatment. Further, these discharged Navy personnel were directed to quarantine for another 14 days as per healthcare instructions.

(NV)

news A3wednesday 10 june 2020

Testifying before PCoI probing Easter Attacks

IP of WP Intelligence Division contradicts himself

Eknaligoda case to be taken up from 2 September

By naBiya Vaffoor

The Our Power of People Party (OPPP) stated that they are looking forward to participating in the General Election in all the Districts.

Addressing a Media briefing held yesterday (9), Media Coordinator of the OPPP, Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma alleged that the UNP has lost their reputation.

“Since the UNP has split into two, the Party has no future. The country should have equal rights for all civilians. We could witness that the people who hold top positions in the society were neglecting the existing law and order. As examples, we can point out the funeral of the late Minister Arumugam

Thondaman and the protest held on behalf of for-mer Parliamentarian Dr. Rajitha Senaratne which were held during the curfew and social distancing period, where none of those laws were applied and neither were there any actions taken against such,” stated Dr. Alahapperuma.

Further, Ven. Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thera alleged that former Minister Basil Rajapaksa has taken his turn in destroying the Wedithalathive Reserve, which was previously destroyed by former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

“During the Good Governance tenure, Bathiudeen used it for business affairs and during this tenure, Rajapaksa is using it for commercial affairs. We oppose destroying the environment,” the monk said.

COVID-19 cases hit 1,857

OPPP looking forward to General Election

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newsA4 wednesday 10 june 2020

By Buddhika Samaraweera

A witness who is an Islamic scholar testified before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate the bombings on 21 April 2019 Easter Sunday yesterday (9) said that religious sermons conducted by various

persons in Sri Lanka should be regulated.

He also said that in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, such religious sermons and those who conduct them are regulated. However, he noted that the failure of implementing such a mechanism in Sri Lanka has caused many

conflicts among ethnicities.He also said there is no prior

study on the background of those who conduct religious sermons on Islam in Sri Lanka. “Some sermons are even delivered through popular media. Be it something positive or negative, there should be a proper programme to monitor them,” he added.

Sermons should be regulated– Islamic scholar

By Thameenah razeek

Marking World Accreditation Day, Minister of Technology and Innovation, Dr. Bandula Gunawardane said Sri Lanka needs a credible and reliable Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing laboratory network, adding that the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB) is ready to provide internationally recognised accreditation service for COVID-19 testing laboratories.

In addition, it was also noted that SLAB needs to be involved more to facilitate the accreditation requirements of goods and services which are exported from Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the World Accreditation Day celebration ceremony organised by the SLAB, Dr. Gunawardane yesterday (9) noted that he instructed officers and institutions to expand their scope and encourage investors to come with inventions to support the national economy to introduce import substitutes with the invention of new products and technologies.

“Compared to SLAB, the cost of international accreditation services is higher. Therefore, I request exporters to obtain test reports from SLAB accredited laboratories which helps to retain large amounts of foreign exchange within the

country,” he added.Meanwhile, addressing the

gathering, European Union Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Denis Chaibi said that 200 diseases are spread through food and one in 10 persons fall ill every year from eating contaminated food which can lead to long-term neurological disorders and cancers.

“I note particularly that SLAB is collaborating with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority to host a series of trainings on quality assurance for personal protective equipment and medical devices to raise awareness of all actors involved with the public,” he added.

SLAB must facilitate accreditation of goods and services which are exported - Bandula

Applications for the registration of the National Information Communication Technology Championship will be extended till 30 June, the Ministry of Education stated.

In a Ministry release, it was stated that the Championship is organised by the Information and Communication Technology Branch of the Ministry, the Information Technology Industry Board of Sri Lanka, the Computer Society of Sri Lanka, the Department of Computer Studies and the University of Colombo.

Students in Grades Six-11 of the school software competitions and students in Grades 12-13 in the second category can apply. This is an online competition. Competitors will have to develop computer programmes and the competitions will be evaluated online.

“The Young Computer Scientist Competition is open to school students in two main areas. We have the opportunity to launch creations internationally and get the support, knowledge and input of experts in the Information Technology industry,” it said.

Further information can be obtained from the official website of the Ministry, www.moe.gov.lk or on 0112785821. Registrations can be made online through this website or by post to the Director of Education, the Information and Communication Technology Branch, the Ministry of Education, Isurupaya, Battaramulla. (TR)

Deadline for applications extended to 30 June

National ICT Championship

Former JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti stated that due to the skyrocketing cost of living, people do not have sufficient cash in their hands to make a decent living, as the income of people from various segments of the society had got stalled due to the inefficiency of the present regime.

He charged that the caretaker Government had forced the people to jump from the frying pan into the fire, due to the spate of taxes imposed on essential items and goods by this Government.

“This Government has failed to transfer the reduction of fuel prices in the world market to the local consumers and now they have increased the taxes on essential items. When the

President’s Secretary asks the Government workers to contribute at least half of their monthly salary to the Government, they by the same token increase taxes on essential goods. This type of

measure will be felt keenly by the ordinary people more than those who are wealthy or affluent. We cannot act deaf and blind to this precarious economic situation faced by the people. The benefits that

should be given to the people have been cut off by the Government. Having forced untold economic suffering on the people, this Government continues to be engaged in unconstitutional acts. A new school of thought has to be nurtured from within this society. Till their shortcomings are rectified, we will continue to oppose the conduct of this regime. We also force this Government to provide relief to the masses. We condemn the undemocratic acts of this Administration. Hence, we urge the people to be wary of this situation and to stay vigilant,” he said while addressing a Media briefing at Party Headquarters yesterday (9).

People unable to make a decent living – Handunnetti

By Saundarya wellaBoda

By allowing a foreign official connected to the US Embassy to enter the country after having refused to undergo a polymerase chain reaction test, the Government has led us to doubt whether they truly haven’t already signed the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, opined former Parliamentarian Lakshman Senewiratne.

During a Media briefing held yesterday (9), Senewiratne said that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya is against the MCC.

He further said that regardless of who one is or what status one holds, it was disrespectful of the foreign official to disregard the immigration policies of our country which have been implemented due to COVID-19. He stated, however, that local officials were incapable of preventing the diplomat from entering the country and further opined that the real reason for this maybe because the Government has secretly signed the MCC.

Senewiratne said that if that is not the truth, then the Government must take immediate actions against this matter to prevent such situations from taking place in the future and added that if they have already taken steps to resolve the matter, then the Government should provide a proper explanation to the public.

Lakshman Senewiratne alleges

Govt may have secretly signed MCC Compact

By dilanThi Jayamanne

Sri Lanka’s health service would have been less burdened if a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) lab facility had been set up at the BIA three months earlier, President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science Sri Lanka, Ravi Kumudesh said.

Welcoming President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s intervention in this regard, Kumudesh said that they had made repeated representations to the Health Ministry in this connection. A majority of the cases of COVID-19 were being detected from amongst the repatriates in quarantine centres. It had been the absence of such a facility at the BIA that assisted repatriates, especially from Italy, to enter the country undetected or to avoid detection via the BIA thermal scanners.

The Government health service has over 2,500 medical laboratory technologists (MLTs) and 200 laboratory consultants. The health service therefore is able to operate such a lab facility even at the BIA.

Unfortunately however, the Ministry of Health to date has failed to have discussions with MLTs or find out the possibility of the Government providing the services at the BIA as well. Certain Health Ministry officials were also

shuffling their feet over the matter even six days after President Rajapaksa called for a lab facility at the BIA to test all arrivals for COVID-19 before directing them to quarantine centres. Every possible measure has to be taken to prevent the virus from seeping into the community. The most recent incidents reported being one of a military member who was serving at the BIA being diagnosed with the virus and a foreign diplomat who refused to have the PCR test.

Kumudesh said that they could find ways and means of convincing the President and even those in the COVID-19 Prevention Task Force that the best way was to have the private sector lab handling this service. Thereby, either the samples collected at the BIA would be sent to the private sector lab for testing or a facility affiliated to a private sector hospital which would be set up at the BIA, he claimed.

But as those in the Government laboratory service, we have been keenly watching how the Health Ministry was attempting to handle the issue. Sample testing at the BIA was currently handled by the Medical Research Institute (MRI). He said that if it was the funds that were in question, since those who were arriving were foreigners and locals living abroad, then a BIA

lab facility could levy a fee from them. Further, the facility could function under the supervision of the MRI, which could charge a fee so that the MRI could be further upgraded.

But the lab facility which is set up should be able to cater to the number of arrivals per day at the BIA. “We cannot set up a PCR lab and then say that it was only capable of conducting this many tests per day,” he observed.

Health Ministry Spokesman Viraj Abeysinghe said that under the present scenario, samples were taken at the BIA from passengers arriving and sent for testing at the MRI, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) and the General Hospital, Sri Jayewardenepura for testing while the repatriates were directed to quarantine centres. The results take about a day to arrive, while those who test positive for the virus were immediately taken for treatment from the quarantine centres to hospitals allocated to treat patients with COVID-19.

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, during her visit to the BIA, had seen the feasibility of a PCR lab facility within the premises. However, there were certain others who thought otherwise on the occasion. Later, the proposal was submitted by the Minister at the COVID-19 Prevention Task Force meeting.

If PCR lab facility was set up at BIA

Health service would have been less burdened – Kumudesh

It was unanimously decided to appoint an independent committee to find solutions for the problem of trespassing into the Kalmunai Municipal Council (KMC) limits from the adjoining Manmunai Pattu Pradeshiya Sabha limits and dominating certain areas in the KMC limits, during a meeting held under the aegis

of Mayor A.M. Rakeeb on 8 June.

They also said that the Mayor must make arrangements to bring the Government Agents of Ampara and Batticaloa and senior officials of both the Districts to the discussion table and to find a sustainable solution to this issue. (NJ)

To address trespassing in Kalmunai MC

By our ampara CorreSpondenT

With the view to promoting healthy and organic food culture and to encourage a culture of home gardening as an extra income source in the Akkaraipattu Municipality area, an Organisation called ‘Organika’ was inaugurated at the Akkaraipattu Water Park Esplanade on 8 June in the presence of the gatherings of experts in the fields of agriculture and allied fields.

The inauguration ceremony chaired by the Organika Project Leader and Senior Lecturer - South Eastern University, Dr. M.M.M. Muneeb,

Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest, Mayor Ahamed Zackie said that this was a welcome move and we should all engage in this activity which promotes organic food culture through which we could consume chemical free food items. He added that Organika is going to function with the vision of nature friendly, safer, healthier, and organic food accessible for everyone. Therefore, we should extend our fullest support to this Organisation which is voluntarily supporting us.

At the conclusion of the programme, Zackie ceremonially launched the website of the Organika followed by the distribution of packets of seeds for home gardening.

Encouraging a culture of home gardening

‘Organika’ inaugurated in Akkaraipattu

Independent committee to be appointed

A young woman who sustained burns was admitted to the District General Hospital, Vavuniya, on 8 June.

Initially, a verbal argument had erupted owing to a small problem between two neighbours residing in Rambaveddy,

Maharambaikulam in Vavuniya, which turned into a clash.

The suspect poured kerosene oil on the woman and set her alight. Seeing the incident, neighbours rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire.

Later, with the help of neighbours, the injured woman was rushed to the Vavuniya Hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

The victim is a resident of Rambaveddy village, aged 29.

(NJ)

Woman set alight after altercation

news A5wednesday 10 june 2020

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has conducted an awareness programme for its Local Government (LG) representatives and activists while sticking to health guidelines and recommendations encompassing the entire country on 6 and 7 June.

During this, it had been discussed at length how to invite SLPP LG members to its meetings in keeping with social distancing methods.

For those who had attended, the checking of body temperature, the availability of sanitisation facilities to wash hands and the availability of facemasks had been provided to them by the SLPP.

During this programme, the resumption of political activities that had been deferred by the SLPP due to the impact of the COVID-19 situation in keeping with the guidelines given by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), commenced.

This particular programme which had been initiated by Party Founder Basil Rajapaksa, had briefed party reps on the importance of giving prominent publicity to the Election manifesto of the President put forth ahead of the last Presidential Poll in the run up to the next General Election and on how best to face the impending Poll.

During the meeting, most of the SLPP reps had said that the Party’s political activities which had been put on hold due to the spread of COVID-19 had been recommenced in the wake of the

Government lifting the months long COVID-19 enforced lockdown.It has been decided to resume the political activities of the SLPP

in keeping with the guidelines and recommendations put forth by DGHS.

Furthermore, it has also been decided to brief the voters on the programmes that are slated to be set in motion on behalf of the people by the Government targeting the next General Election.

A total of 150 meetings encompassing the entire nation had been staged in this regard by the SLPP.

The concept of this event was by Basil Rajapaksa.

Basil’s Awareness Programme for SLPP’s LG reps

By Ruwan Laknath Jayakody

Human rights activist Ruki Fernando queried as to why there was no voice raised from the Lankan society at large against local Police brutality when the opposite could be seen at present in the United States of America (USA) following the murder of one of its citizens, George Floyd, at the hands of policemen.

He questioned thus at a media briefing convened on 8

June by the Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners.

Fernando said that while the motto ‘prisoners are human beings’ adorns prison walls, the reality is that they are not afforded the fundamental human rights guarantees of the right to life and freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment.

Elaborating on issues faced by detained suspects, he highlighted the suspension of

obtaining food from outside during this COVID-19 period, problems concerning getting medicines, not being allowed to exercise one’s franchise and the inability to pay even paltry fines for the lack of financial/monetary capacity.

In the USA or India, whenever there is Police brutality or State suppression, the public reacts but in Sri Lanka, when such incidents take place, the body politic largely turns a blind eye, Fernando explained.

Local Police brutality largely unchallenged

– HR activist claims

The Ministry of Health noted that the control of inter-District movement of people prior to the Parliamentary Election and the attendance of staff along with the practice of certain basic measures in all settings are important in the prevention of COVID-19 transmission during the conduct of the Poll.

The Ministry observed thus in the health guidelines issued for conducting the election amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

The guidelines cover general aspects plus specific settings such as propaganda meetings, distribution of propaganda material to households, election offices, training sessions, the checking and bundling of ballot papers at District Returning offices, postal voting, the casting of postal

votes, handling of polling cards, polling booths, conducting the election in quarantine centres, the receipt of ballot boxes at counting centres, etiquette to be observed at counting centres, the results releasing centre, the transportation of staff and material, and canteen and meal areas, special instructions for Police officers, procedures for disinfecting surfaces/buildings and how to prepare disinfection solutions, waste disposal, the aftermath of the Poll, and the health administrative structure.

In terms of general guidelines, the Ministry recommended the following: that postal or advance voting be arranged for the Police, Armed Forces and Government institutions

where large numbers of workers are accommodated and employed, and that the provision of the same facility for large private sector institutions also to be considered; that the officers-in-charge of any setting such as training, polling booths or counting centres ensure that those who are under COVID-19 quarantine and those who haven’t completed the 14 days post-quarantine period not be called for duty/training; and the practice of basic measures, namely, the donning of a face mask, maintaining social distance (one metre), washing one’s hands with soap and water or sanitising frequently, covering one’s coughs/sneezes with one’s elbow or with a tissue, and avoiding touching one’s face, nose, mouth and eyes.

(RLJ)

Prevention of COVID-19 transmission

Following health guidelines vital

newsA6 wednesday 10 june 2020

By Dilanthi Jayamanne

Of the 192 vegetable samples that were tested, 23 had adverse quantities of pesticides, a survey conducted by the Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food Safety Directorate of the Ministry of Health found.

Deputy Director General of the Division, Dr. Lakshman Gamlath, addressing the Media at the Health Promotion Bureau, said on 8 June that commonly-used vegetables like tomatoes, snake gourd and beans contained more than one per cent pesticides. Although unacceptable, the regulated amount of pesticides that any vegetables should contain is not more than 0.76 per cent, he said.

Dr. Gamlath said that in a survey conducted last year with the support of the Government Analyst’s Department, the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency and the National Institute of

Health Sciences in Kalutara, his Directorate had tested for only 20 types of pesticides available in the market. Although there are over 100, the inadequate amount of resources to conduct sample testing, permitted for the testing of only that limited amount. The Agriculture Department was tasked with regulating the importation and distribution of pesticides that are brought into the country.

A thousand samples were taken from 26 districts. He said that 398 samples of fruit had also been taken for testing during the survey. They included papaya, plantains, water melon, guava, grapes (cultivated in Jaffna) and mango. Forty-six of them contained harmful amounts of pesticides. He stated that 4 per cent of the guava samples and 3 per cent of the grape samples contained more than the regulated amount of pesticides.

However, all imported fruits

are tested for pesticides at the ports and are rejected if they contain pesticides.

Dr. Gamlath said that 71 samples of fish had been tested for formalin and mercury. None of them contained the latter heavy metal. The Sri Lankan seas have not been contaminated with mercury, he claimed. Also, only two samples of fish contained formalin. But now, most fishermen and sales outlets do not use formalin unlike in the past. But there are types of fish in the market which produce formalin once dead, he observed.

While 81 samples of tea were tested, none of them had colouring. Out of 82 samples of red raw rice, food colouring had been added to 16 of them.

He said that the sample tests had also been conducted for aflatoxin, a poisonous carcinogen in coconut oil and dried chillies. The recommended amount in Sri Lanka is 30 micrograms per

kilogramme. The world accepted amount is 10 micrograms. He said that chilli powder alone contained 10 per cent more than even the world accepted amount. Only 8 per cent coconut oil had aflatoxin, he said, adding that 95 per cent of chillies are imported to Sri Lanka. Therefore, we adopted special measures to check for this harmful substance before permitting chillies or coconut oil into the country from the ports.

He said that in collaboration with the Coconut Development Board, a certificate was given to all oil mills functioning under it. Dr. Gamlath urged the public to purchase well-packed chillies and coconut oil which had a name and address on the packing. There is a tendency to use such harmful additives in spices and oil that was sold loose, he warned, urging the public to refrain from purchasing such items from the market.

By KavinDya Perera

Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayaka on 8 June ordered the suspect, who has been incarcerated on charges of compiling fake documents after having forged the signature of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on a forged letterhead to be further remanded until 17 June.

The suspect was identified as Prasanna Aruna Kumara, a resident of the Yanthampalawa area in the Kurunegala District.

When the case was taken up, the suspect was not present in Court and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) made submissions to the Chief Magistrate.

The CID said that their probe into it had so far revealed that

an official from the Prime Minister’s Office had been allegedly involved in the incident and that they were conducting further investigations into it.

It was found that a forged letter, with the President’s signature, under the caption ‘the reinstatement of an interdicted officer’, had been received by the Manager of the Bank of Ceylon on or before 28

May. In addition a person had arrived to discuss the letter with the same Manager and that on suspicions arising regarding this person; the letter had been handed over to the Colombo Crimes Division for inquiries. Following which, the suspect had been handed over to the CID, for further inquiries, and the CID had produced the suspect in Court on 4 June.

By Pahan WiJeseKara

The Presidential Secretariat has informed the public to report to Retired Major General K.B. Egodawela via telephone numbers 011-2354479 and 011-2354354, regarding acts such as the compilation of forged documents and letterheads along with the forged signature of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Secretariat noted that complaints regarding such unlawful acts by various people concerning Government Departments, Corporations and other statutory bodies were being received by them daily.

It said that this measure was being implemented with the aim of combating these illegal acts as well as apprehending the suspects behind these acts.

Minister of Foreign Relations, Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations Dinesh Gunawardena met the Ambassadors of Arab Countries based in Colombo at the Ministry of Foreign Relations, on 8 June and expressed sincere gratitude to their respective Governments for the support and solidarity given to the people and Government of Sri Lanka during this unprecedented international situation of the spread of COVID-19.

As the largest expatriate community that lives and works in the Middle East, Gunawardena took the opportunity to extend appreciation for the steps taken to look after the health and safety of those Sri Lankans. He said that the Government plans to bring the returnees from the region in a smooth and systematic manner.

The need to increase market accessibility for Sri Lankan tea was highlighted. He was optimistic that the socioeconomic and political relations will be further consolidated following the Parliamentary Election in Sri Lanka.

Gunawardena emphasised that the Government of Sri

Lanka will continue to follow a non-aligned foreign policy. He recalled that Sri Lanka has consistently supported the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and their right to an independent, sovereign State based on the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. He added that Sri Lanka’s commitment towards the Palestinian people remains undiminished at all times.

Ambassador Zuhair Hamdallah Zaid of the State of Palestine thanked the Sri Lankan Government for its continuous support for the rights of the Palestinian people. Ambassador Khalaf M.M. Bu Dhhair of the State of Kuwait endorsed the need to harness economic and trade ties with the Arab world, through the facilitation of both Governments. Opportunities available in the skilled worker sector were also elaborated.

Ambassador Hussein El Saharty of Egypt highlighted that Sri Lankan export commodities to Egypt have increased substantially during the months of April and May. Ambassador Abdulnaser H. Al Harthi of Saudi Arabia assured their fullest support and cooperation for the welfare of the Sri Lankans in the Kingdom.

Former JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti, submitting a letter to the President’s Secretary, has claimed that they had come to know that the Government is in the process of signing the controversial Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact with the US.

He stated that though there had been efforts made to sign the Agreement before 1 November last year, due to the massive objections and protests by civil society groups here, that planned move had to be shelved. He stated that the proposed signing of the MCC Agreement had also been a hot button issue at the Presidential Poll held last November and he stressed that the US Embassy in Colombo had also emphasised on 6 November 2019 that the controversial Agreement will be signed after 16 November. He further stated that the new

Government had even formed a Cabinet Sub-Committee as well to review the MCC Agreement and that JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake had even questioned about it in Parliament. He said that in reply to that question, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had stated that it would take about four months for the Sub-Committee to review the MCC Agreement and the Minister had also promised to uncover its contents to the public.

Handunnetti has stated that though more than six months had lapsed since the formation of this Sub-Committee, its contents still have not been revealed to the people, which made them to suspect that the Government is planning to sign the controversial Agreement on the sly. Hence, the JVP has urged the Government to reveal its genuine stance on the Agreement, instead of dilly-dallying.

By anuraDha herath

The All Ceylon Canteen Owners Association (ACCOA) plans to submit an official complaint to the World Health Organisation on 10 June, over the restrictions that have still not been lifted for them to resume their business, after the Government had done so for many other businesses, since the gradual easing of the country’s lockdown situation for COVID-19.

National Organiser of the ACCOA, Asela Sampath,

said that they cannot condone the decision taken by the Government to allow selected restaurants, bars and hotels to resume their businesses, but not those coming under the purview of the ACCOA.

He noted that scores of people who had been employed in canteens had lost their daily income due to the two-month lockdown situation and said that due to bank loans and leasing services they had obtained, most of them were placed in a precarious situation.

By ranmini GunaseKara

The Government will take full responsibility if the United States Embassy official who refused a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at the Airport tests positive for COVID-19, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena on 8 June. He said this at a Sri Lanka Freedom People’s Alliance Media briefing.

“A diplomat is not like any other person so we are bound to treat them according to international law. I would like to make it clear that we did not let this diplomat enter without a PCR test out of any sort of fear or favouritism for a single country. All operations to control COVID-19 within the country are happening independently, and are free of any sort of foreign influence. However, we do have to comply with international regulations. If

this diplomat tests positive for the virus, the Government will take responsibility.”

Meanwhile, also commenting on the matter, former Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila, attending the same Media briefing, said that the Government has already taken swift action to rectify any loopholes within the existing law.

“At the time when this diplomat came, there was no such law that made it mandatory to take the PCR test at the Airport. This official wasn’t bound by the law to take the PCR test, but he had a responsibility as a global citizen. However, this official chose to ignore this responsibility, out of some misplaced sense of pride and superiority. But the Government rectified this within 24 hours, and now it is mandatory for all Embassy officials to take the PCR test when entering our country.”

By KumuDu uPul shantha

Newly-appointed Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya said that a solid programme will be implemented shortly with the coordination of the Prisons Department, the Ministry of Defence and the Police, to totally eliminate the threats being posed to

society by prison inmates henceforth. He said that this new programme was being pursued by them due to crimes and drug peddling in society being masterminded by prison inmates from within the prison system.

He added that the confiscating of cell phones used by the inmates throughout the prisons was one priority for them in this measure.

Health Ministry research finds

Commonly used vegetables contain over 1% pesticides

Delay in reopening canteens

ACCOA to submit official complaint to WHO

If U.S. diplomat tests positive for COVID-19

Govt will take fullresponsibility – Dinesh

To crack down on forgers

Presidential Secretariat seeks public assistance

To eliminate threats by prison inmates

Solid programme to be implemented – Upuldeniya

Dinesh meets Arab Envoys in ColomboExpresses gratitude for support

Govt planning to sign MCC Compact – JVP

Forgery suspect further remanded

By hansi nanayaKKara

Colombo High Court (CHC) Judge Gihan Kulathunga on 8 June fixed further perusal of the case filed against interdicted Colombo Additional Magistrate Thilina Gamage and three others, on charges of the possession of an unlicensed elephant calf, to 30 June and 3 July.

The Court of Appeal had previously dismissed a request made to it by the suspects, to issue an order to suspend the further hearing of the said case by the CHC.

Afterwards, Kulathunga ordered the further hearing of the case to be taken up on the above mentioned dates.

The Attorney General (AG) has named the initial owner of the elephant calf Chandraratna Yatawara,

Former Assistant Director of the Wildlife Conservation Department, Upali Padmasiri, a Former Clerk of the same Department, Priyanka Sanjeewani and Gamage as the respondents in the case.

The AG has indicted the above mentioned four suspects at the CHC on 25 counts, including the illegal possession of an unlicensed elephant calf known as ‘Sakura’, conspiracy, and aiding and abetting in the crime, from 6 November 2008 to 18 May 2015 at Godagamuwa, Meegoda.

The Criminal Investigations Department had begun a probe into the case following a complaint lodged with it by Former Minister of Wildlife Conservation, Wasantha Senanayaka.

Possession of unlicensed

elephant calfNext hearings set for 30 June & 3 July

By Annie BAnerji

Several Bollywood stars have been labelled "hypocrites" after speaking out against racism to lend support to global protests while promoting products in India designed to make people's skin lighter.

A series of A-list Bollywood actresses, including Priyanka Chopra, shared posts on social media to protest against the death of George Floyd who died in Police custody after a white officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

"End this race war here in the U.S., and around the world. Wherever you live, whatever

your circumstances, no one deserves to die, especially at the hands of another because of their skin colour," Chopra, 37, posted on Instagram.

People were quick to call her out on social media for previously promoting an "intense fairness moisturiser".

They also pointed at her role in 2008 Hindi film ‘Fashion’ in which she is ashamed of having sex with a black man.

"Thanks for speaking out for black lives. But, maybe also stop supporting a skin bleaching cream which promotes anti-blackness," one user replied to Chopra's Instagram post.

Chopra, a former Miss World who became a star in both Bollywood and Hollywood, has said in past interviews that she regretted endorsing such a

product as a young actress and that she is proud of her dark skin.

She was not immediately available to comment.

Actresses Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani also faced criticism for their anti-racism social media posts while having featured in ads for skin fairness products.

India's multi billion-dollar skin lightening industry has a host of products appearing to offer dark-skinned Indians a lighter, fairer and better version of themselves, often endorsed by the Bollywood's top actors.

After years of criticism and campaigns against such products, many brands moved to calling them "skin brightening", "whitening" or "lightening" creams and face

washes. "Most brands no longer want to be associated directly with being termed as 'fairness creams'," said actor Abhay Deol, a vocal critic of fairness products and Bollywood's support.

Critics say the film industry helps feed India's obsession with fair skin and bias against darker faces, with many pointing out it fails to represent the diversity of Indians.

For example, actors from Southern States where most people are darker-skinned are rarely in mainstream Bollywood films.

(Thomson Reuters Foundation)

column A7wednesday 10 june 2020

By rohAnA hettiArAchchie

COVID-19 has opened up a new opportunity for humankind to reexamine themselves, society, environment, science, technology, development, money, and many more issues. It has also paved the way for society to understand and guage people. Above all, we, the citizens of Sri Lanka have got an opportunity to appraise the sincerity and integrity of decision-makers, their attitude towards the citizenry and the value they attach to democracy through how they will act in regard to the General Election. In this backdrop, the political leaders, the Election Commission (EC), interested professionals, trade unions, several religious leaders, and some civil rights activists who have become politicised, as well as media institutions have come under public scrutiny. This can be considered a great opportunity that the COVID-19 outbreak has indirectly offered the people. However, it is questionable as to how seriously they would use this opportunity.

The decision of the EC to postpone the parliamentary Election, and the commitment and dedication of health services and security forces under the leadership of the President to eradicate COVID-19 are praiseworthy and a matter of great relief to the public. Yet, it must be mentioned that the politics involved in the management of the COVID-19 threat is disgusting. What all political leaders need to do at this moment should beto leave aside party politics, parochial political differences, and make a collective and concerted effort to combat the challenge posed by the deadly virus. Unfortunately for the Nation, there is not even a faint streak of such a hope.

However, in an environment in which the country is being opened up for normal life despite the fact that COVID-19 threat is not yet over, and there is none who could predict when the threat will be over, it is important that attention must be focused on the impending General Election as well. It is the intention of the writer of this article, a citizen who believes in a representative democratic system of governance, to discuss some important issues for which the EC and other relevant authorities should focus their attention when the Election is held, irrespective of the day. Among those issues, I wish to highlight the following crucial points;1. The ability to ensure health security

of all parties and stakeholders involved in the Election process.

2. Ability to provide a level field for all political parties and candidates.

3. Ensure the confidence of all parties including the voter about the electoral process and health security of all those participating in the Election process.

4. Create an environment conducive for political parties and candidates to launch an adequate programme to educate the public about their manifesto and the programme of action.

5. Establish a transparent and credible mechanism to address issues that may arise inthe course of the Election campaign.

6. Policies and programmes to ensure social acceptance of the general Election by implementing strategies that will ensure more than 50 per cent voter turnout at the polls.

7. Introduce a pragmatic programme to make voters aware of the changes made during the electoral process, particularly in the voting centres in the face of COVID-19.

1. Health security of all stakeholders involved

The entire country is involved in an

Election; but there are some who play a significant role in the Election process, namely the public officers led by the EC, security forces, the Police, the candidates contesting the Election, the voters, Election monitors and the journalists. The role of each group and the extent of their contribution may vary and be different, yet all of them perform an important role in ensuring the successful conduct of the Election.

Therefore, the EC should take into consideration the risk to the health security and life of each of the above parties in deciding the date of the Election. The Commission should also be conscious of their ability as well as difficulties and problems faced by them.

The health security of public officials, especially those who are directly involved in the Election process is vital and it must be taken into consideration, seriously. Despite it being an essential part of their job, in the current circumstances they have to sacrifice a great deal in enabling the people to exercise their democratic rights. Hence, it is the responsibility of the authorities to implement strategies that will ensure that there wouldn’t be any threat to their life

Each stage of the electoral process should be carefully analysed, the number of points at which the concentration of officers and the potential risk involvement is high must be reduced and appropriate health security measures introduced. It would be possible to learn from experience and good practices of other countries in the world and emulate them in this regard.

In order to minimise health hazards, it is important that spacious halls with larger floor areas are used when counting ballot papers; it is also important that new techniques are employed as against manual systems in monitoring the counting of ballot papers and reaching consensus with political parties in reducing the number of delegates and polling agents. Under normal circumstances, it is not the responsibility of the Election Commission to look into the health security of the candidates contesting the Election though they constitute a major stakeholder in an Election. In the face of the current COVID-19 threat, the EC cannot overlook the safety of candidates when it makes decisions in regard to the overall health security in conducting the General Election.

Similarly, if the EC makes its decisions with proper coordination and understanding of all

stakeholders including Election monitors, media and the voters, it would certainly pave the way for reaching more desirable decisions that would help protect the health of all stakeholders while the responsibility for which will be distributed equally among the parties involved.

2. Level field for all political parties and candidates

Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya, has often pointed out that the word “Election” essentially implies that Elections should always be free and fair. The holding of a nominal Election will not help achieve this objective. The main point to be considered here is that all contestants should have a level field for campaigning. If there is no such parity, it should be the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure that adequate provisions are made within the available legal space. Although it is a difficult task under the current legal framework and the practical reality that prevails at the moment, the Election Commission cannot ignore it. We firmly believe that the Commission will take every possible step in overcoming this problem.

Those who make decisions on the modus operandi of this Election have to act more responsibly than they had done in previous Elections held under normal circumstances. There are altogether 7,452 candidates including 3,800 candidates representing political parties that are scheduled to contest the forthcoming General Election.

There should be a level playing field for all these candidates to carry out their Election campaign. Politicisation of the COVID-19 welfare process has already given the party that represents the Government an additional advantage. Similarly, it is observed that some opposition candidates too, are making use of the welfare program to win the favour of the people. Although such situations are unavoidable in a national catastrophe like this, the Election Commission should try its best to maintain a fair playing field for all candidates following the issuance of preference numbers for candidates.

3. Enhance the confidence of all parties including the voter

Even though the electoral process is implemented under challenging health risks, it is important that every step in the process is carried out in a manner that builds confidence in everyone that the Election would be held transparently

like other previous Elections. The authorities must act in such a way that it builds confidence.

The validity of the Election and the confidence of people in it are crucial. There should be a systematic mechanism to ensure transparency and educate all stakeholders, including the public, about every step of the electoral process. Similarly, public officials should involve themselves voluntarily in the Election process if they are convinced that there will not be a threat to their health in engaging in the electoral process.

4. A conducive environment for candidates to educate the public

While it is essential that the political parties and candidates should have a level playing field for Electioneering, it is also important that there should be a fair mechanism to educate the public about their programme. The traditional method of campaigning followed over the past 72 years has been to hold public rallies or gather the supporter’s at large playgrounds and address them.

As it would not be possible to follow the traditional methods due to social distancing guidelines, adequate attention should be made for adopting alternative propaganda methods. The Election Commission should look into new arrangements that could be implemented within the existing law. Home visits, pocket meetings, distribution of leaflets, use of social media, installation of new billboards at the Grama Niladhari Division level for display of the preferential vote numbers of candidates, explore the possibility of adopting new advertising methods such as dispensing of propaganda notices of political parties along with the distribution of official ballot papers by the Election Commission and allocation of adequate space in the mainstream media for the leaders of political parties etc. could be adopted. In any case each candidate must have means of informing the public of his or her programme and the preferential vote numbers. Also, the present situation can be turned to a blessing, an opportunity to have an environmentally friendly, peaceful and legitimate Election campaign.

5. Transparent mechanism to address Election campaign issues

Special attention must be given to explore the possibility of implementing a credible mechanism when decisions are taken in regard to the conduct of the Election in order to investigate Election complaints promptly and transparently. The confidence in the electoral process

might be lost if it fails to provide immediate solutions to the problems faced by political parties and candidates, voters and Election monitoring organisations once the Election process has begun.

Immediate intervention is required in the events of misuse of State power and property in particular and violation of Election laws, incidents of violence and disruption of propaganda campaigns in general. The Election Dispute Resolution (EDR UNIT), which has functioned at the national and regional level in the past Elections, should be formally inaugurated with the issuance of preferential vote numbers. Further this mechanism should include all stakeholders, which means that the process should be open to the Police, representatives of political parties and representatives of monitoring organisations.

Apart from that there should be a mechanism to take prompt action in respect of every complaint and inform all stakeholders about the process and decisions. It is only through a mechanism of this nature that public trust could be maintained.

6. Social acceptance of the GE with more than 50% voter turnout

The validity of the result of any Election primarily depends on the percentage of votes cast. Voter turnout in Sri Lanka's parliamentary Elections has recorded a high percentage compared to other countries in the region. Election officials and people of Sri Lanka have been able to maintain it at an average level of 70 to 80 per cent. Even in an Election held in the face of the COVID-19 threat, the Election Commission should look into the possibility of having the voter turnout maintained at a level that exceeds at least 50 per cent.

The voter must be convinced that there is no risk of infection in coming to the polling booth.

The date of Election should be decided taking into consideration the methods used in other countries and the facts outlined above.

It is essential to formulate a formal programme to maintain safe distance guidelines, a special programme for elderly and differently abled people and pregnant mothers, a method for measuring the temperature of voters, a separate methodology for voting to enable persons suspected of COVID-19 attack, a health care programme at the polling booth and prevention of dissemination of false propaganda on Election Day.

7. Disseminate information on changes in the face of COVID-19

The Election Commission should have a consistent and continuous programme to inform political parties and voters of the changes on electoral process and health safety practices. There should be a continuous flow of information through it to the public.

The writer is of the view that the authorities should pay close attention to the above facts among many others in determining the Election date. We do not believe that the date of Election should be postponed ad infinitum. Yet, we wish to stress that no one has the right to risk the life of others in the name of democracy. At the same time, we must defend our right to elect representatives to the Legislature to ensure the continued existence of democracy and pursue the parliamentary Election using tested hygienic methods.

(The writer is the Executive Director of PAFFREL Organisation)

Making Parliamentary Election a Reality

Bollywood faces flak for protesting racism while backing skin lightening

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Laughing at the Chains of the ConstitutionThere’s a wealth of rich lore for political writers in

the annals of written American political history. Sadly, the rich veins of thought in those records have perhaps never been part of subjects read in political science or in earlier days of schooling.

They need to be a must somewhere in Sri Lanka’s education texts. But we could return to that later. Meanwhile, what occupies the mind is the galling fact that throughout the past three or four Governments in this country, are facets underscored in just two opinions from the United States, one from the victim of white supremacy’s racism Abraham Lincoln and the other from the once politically-hated critique Thomas Paine. Recollecting their thoughts brings us slap-bang into the vortex of the continuing tremendous violations of the constitution(s) of Sri Lanka emerging from the folds of political parties and Governments in Sri Lanka as well as from sections of the Police and Armed Services from time to time. Walking in step with this enormous quicksand of constitutional violations are often members of the legal fraternity itself. Has it not been well said that attorneys after all sell their gifts for a monetary or other fee while their objectives are too often not to enable the Nation to ensure strong punitive legal action against the law breakers but to enable them to escape punishment, thus themselves using their licensed right to practise law into a weapon to free criminals from justice by the deceptive distortion of the law.

Even as we read these lines, there are perhaps many dozens of lawyers discussing such escapades for criminals who hail from political prominence and their colluders in crime from the Police or Armed Services. We, not too long ago, saw such political and armed personnel slip out from the law with utmost ease. We today continue to see such highbinders linked to a leading Opposition Party and the Police facing the COURTS, and we say it in caps because we simply do not know whether they stand in Court before the LAW or before a search for JUSTICE. What we are trying to underscore here is the naked fact that men of sincerity and vision must get cracking in their offices to write up new punishments for political garbage and their companions in crime to be prevented from escaping the punishment of serious violations of the law.

The Nation perhaps as a whole stands in amazement as we hear tales of how Courts of law and the services have become mere vagrants on the roads of justice, at the merciless hands of crime provoked by politicians. You could be the offended one in your home, office, car or motorbike or merely taking a walk along the sidewalk. But none of you is free of suddenly being made a victim of such maligners of the law. They simply do not commit crime. They ensure that crime pays if only you have the right political head to enable your getaway from justice. The other roads to justice can then be very easily manoeuvred by other arms of the law to ensure that you walk away a free man from the halls of a ridiculously ridiculed hall of justice.

It matters not whether you are a Cabinet Minister, a Bank Governor or his bank-robbing relations. It matters not too whether you are a Prime Minister or a defunct Minister, the torrid abuse of our Constitution, our laws to protect the individual and society, the free-thinking religious savant or politically protected rebel is always at hand to laugh his way out of our Courts of Law after committing horrendous crimes against individuals and society, against class, religion or caste, against political ‘yakkos’ from other sides. You are all equally safe from the law when you are able to set in motion the wheels which sanctify your crime, plant a fake culprit into the arms of the law and Court.

Let us tell you that the common man by the millions is sick and tired of this huge dereliction of the law within Police channels, among politicians and within Governments.

And is this something new? An evil new phenomenon? Hardly! Retrace our way back to Thomas Paine who said in all truth and fear that “The duty of a true patriot is to protect his country from its Government.” His thoughts emanated from the even then rampant facts that the two enemies of the people, of you and me, are the criminals and the Government. His suggestion? “Let us therefore tie down the second with the CHAINS OF THE CONSTITUTION so that the second will not become the legalised version of the first”.

A casual but careful reading of our recent history will amplify the fact that what we do miss in this Nation is not so much a change to our Constitution but the need for a public mandate against every criminal politician, every criminal political leader, every criminal Policeman or Armed serviceman, every criminal civilian. We desperately need men of the type that Abraham defined as those making up the masses called “The People”, who he said with grave sobriety were in the ultimate essay, “The rightful masters of both Congress and the Courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who would pervert our Constitution”.

editoriala8 wednesday 10 june 2020

By Johannes Vogel

For all the attention currently fixated on the protest wave in the United States after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the eyes of the free world must remain firmly focused on Hong Kong.

Utilising the COVID-19 crisis for its own political purposes, the Chinese Government moved to deprive the former British crown colony of its autonomy, which it had previously formally agreed to guarantee until 2047.

A new “security law” aims to hollow out Hong Kong’s legal independence and enable the Communist Party of China to detain anyone it regards as undesirable for allegedly inciting separatism, conspiracy or dishonoring the symbols of the State.

Beijing is prepared to enforce this law by bypassing the Hong Kong Parliament and is even ready to deploy its own security forces within Hong Kong.

In effect, all of these moves together spell the end for the “one country, two systems” principle.

Elections loomingElections are due to take

place in Hong Kong in September. The camp loyal to Beijing suffered a bitter defeat in the regional elections in November 2019: 17 out of 18 districts went to the democracy camp.

Last fall, after months of protest involving as many as two million of the metropolitan area’s residents, the people of Hong Kong sent a clear message.

They resoundingly rejected what would have been, in effect, a handover decree that would have opened the way for a steady trickle of political persecution from Beijing.

Exodus from Hong Kong

Not surprisingly, the exodus from the city has already begun. The Hong Kong stock exchange has collapsed. There was a fourfold increase in the number of online searches using the term “emigration” after reports on the security

law filtered through to the public. Large numbers of activists have fled to neighbouring Taiwan.

Xi Jinping is demonstrating yet again how far he is prepared to go with his authoritarian restructuring of the Chinese system.

For all the discussions in Europe in general and in Germany in particular on how to interact with China, this is a time to send clear messages and act based on principles.

Germany’s special responsibility

We are clearly in a new era of inter-systemic competition with the Chinese. That is not some “anti-Chinese” view held by a Westerner, it is reality.

It is also how the Chinese leadership itself looks at the situation. It would be naive if we didn’t take their assessment at face value.

There are often calls on the Germans to show more

political leadership. This is a moment where we need to step up to the plate.

Of course, the temptation is great to subordinate concerns about freedom, rights and the law to commercial considerations. China is an important customer of German industry.

Hong Kong today = West Berlin of 1948

What is already clear, however, is the significant role played by Hong Kong in this competition – one which is comparable to West Berlin’s role in a very different inter-systemic competition last century.

Anyone who cares about freedom cannot be indifferent to the fate of Hong Kong. Ernst Reuter’s words “People of the world, look upon this city!” resonate today.

Europe’s optionsEurope must act – and its

aim must be to divert Beijing from its plans or at last weaken them. There are two main ways to take action:

1. The European Commission under President Ursula von der Leyen and the German Government, with Chancellor Merkel and Foreign Minister Maas, must adopt an unequivocal position here.

It is high time to stand with Australia, Canada and Great Britain, which promptly issued a joint statement.

The Chinese Communist Party needs to know that the world is not closing its eyes to this egregious power grab and that its credibility is suffering.

Anyone who breaks their word and breaches international law on this key issue can hardly be regarded as a credible partner for cooperation on other issues.

Welcoming Hong Kong’s citizens

2. Hong Kong’s citizens need a clear message that we stand with them as part of the free world.

The United Kingdom is already considering granting all Hong Kong citizens, at least those born before 1997, permanent residence in Great Britain. Their British National (Overseas) passport currently gives them only limited residence rights.

Germany and other European Union countries should do the same and offer well-qualified and cosmopolitan citizens of Hong Kong the prospect of being able to live in freedom in Germany and other member states. This would not only be an immigration policy gain for all of us. It would also send a strong signal to Beijing. Start-up entrepreneurs, scientists and many people working in education and business in highly-developed Hong Kong are now compelled to seek a future outside their homeland.

Even if this offer cannot convince Beijing of the ill-advisedness of its move on Hong Kong’s freedoms, we owe it to the people affected by this move to offer them a concrete perspective of living and working on our shores.

(www.theglobalist.com)

Germany’s Special Responsibility for Hong Kong

Column A9Wednesday 10 june 2020

Today, I celebrate the life of my stepdad, Pratapkumar de Silva (‘Uncle Kumar’ as he is fondly called by me and my four brothers). Uncle Kumar was called to rest on 23 May by his Maker.

“Why celebrate”? One might ask. Because, that’s what he would have expected family and friends to do, being the lively person that he was, be it in his professional and private life.

At work, as former Chairman and Managing Director of Alliance Finance Co. Plc, he is known to have been a strict disciplinarian but generous to a fault. Many are the employees who have returned and thanked him for the opportunities given and the training they received under his mentoring. In addition, he was a member of many Associations (Finance Houses Association), Boards (HNB Assurance) and Bureaus (CRIB). Up until recently, he held the post of

Honorary Consul-General of Peru. He was also a friend of Cuba and worked closely with the first Cuban Medical Brigade that provided health services to the people of Sri Lanka for two years from 1987 and hosted the doctors to an evening of music and dance at ‘Tranquil’, his home in Polgasowita.

In his private life at Tranquil, his paradise, Uncle Kumar was most comfortable, tending to his bonsai plants, or being in his workshop maintaining his collection of clocks, pocket watches and antiques or in the garage instructing technicians on the maintenance of his vintage cars. I am told that he had been quite a racing car driver during his heyday (in the 1960’s)! Uncle Kumar had also been a member of the Yacht Club.

I remember, when Uncle Kumar first bought the first block of the property in Polgasowita along with

mom in 1979, it was not in the state that it is in now. Much love and care by the entire family, including Uncle Kumar, mom, Basil, Krushenka, Ravi, Romani, Sanka, Mario and me, went into landscaping the garden. Many were the visits we made to Badurueliya to pick and bring truckloads of river stones and ferns and trees to beautify the garden, in addition to the trees which were already there. The garden is a veritable goldmine in terms of the fruit trees and indigenous medicinal plants planted by the previous owner of the property, who had been a ‘Veda Mahattaya’ (Ayurvedic doctor).

As for the house, whilst retaining the old world charm, it was restored to its former glory with a few trappings of luxury added in. Uncle Kumar also built a chapel dedicated to St. Jude, on a man-made island in the compound (possibly the smallest

chapel in the world).For Uncle Kumar, any event would

be cause for celebration - birthday, wedding or anniversary, for which purpose he had custom-built party/dance halls in the compound. Even themed parties! Anyone not adhering to the dress code would be kitted up instantly to fit in with the theme. Uncle Kumar and mom were also members of the Dutch Burgher Union and used to go Sundown Dancing every Wednesday with their group of friends or they in turn would come over to Tranquil for dance sessions. No doubt his presence will be sorely missed by all members of the DBU.

It was not all work and play for Uncle Kumar. He was also socially responsible, so much he, together with mom and some village elders, formed the Organisation for the Upliftment of Siyambalagoda Village in June 1991, to upgrade the living

standards of the villagers as well as promote coexistence among different communities. Among the projects worked out are; running of ‘Pubudu’ Pre-school for less privileged children, granting of scholarships to children of H/O Dharmapala Kanishta Vidyalaya, Siyambalagoda, conducting English classes, fostering the arts, donating nutrition packs to pregnant mothers of the village, helping start-ups and last but not least, taking care of the health of the elderly and the disabled and giving them a monthly dole.

Last but not least, Uncle Kumar was a loving husband to my mom, which love, in addition to his children he extended to us, his stepchildren and grandchildren. We owe much to him for the love and guidance given, both in our professional and private lives.

Goodbye! Uncle Kumar. You will surely be missed, but not forgotten.

Gitanjali Marcelline

Appreciation – Pratapkumar de Silva

By Dr. C.G. IlanGakoon

Today the present writer chanced upon the web link: https://www.cpalanka.org/the-appointment-of-two-presidential-task-forces/ and decided immediately to ink this text, to portray the imminent danger and to create public awareness to be deposited in their subconscious mind. It had been published by the Centre for Policy Alternatives. Therein, there was a text, dated 5 June 2020, presented, probably by a senior member of theirs, under the rubric “The Appointment of Two Presidential Task Forces”.

Patriotic politicsThank God that Sri Lanka

has a President and a Prime Minister who are overtly proud to be patriots. The constitution of their Party, The SLPP Manifesto contains a bundle of promises, pledged politically during the time of the Presidential Election. Explicitly demonstrating the statesmanship, the promises are being executed one by one and State patronage of Buddhism is only one of them. The SLPP Manifesto Sinhala Version, Page 71, Chapter 9 : A Virtuous, Disciplined and Law-abiding Society, Para 2 : Priority to Religion, Sub Para 2:1 – “While guaranteeing the rights of all other religions, in conformity with the Article 9 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, we shall protect Buddhism and give the priority to it”. This is what the people of Sri Lanka voted for.

An elected President, who loves this country, cannot be irresponsible and be a worshipper of the West worshipping cult and implement NGO agendas. Then what matters for him is the wish, willed by the people. That exactly is what the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is doing.

The Centre for Policy Alternatives wrote:

“In yet another development, President has appointed by Gazette No. 2178/17 a Task Force for the Archaeological Heritage Management in the Eastern Province. The Task Force will deal with issues which have been the sources of conflict and contestation for decades. This Task Force comprises two Buddhist priests, a professor of archaeology, a professor from a faculty of medicine, the Director-General of Archaeology, defence and law and order officials and a head of a media institution, is a pan –Sinhala Task Force, headed too by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. Considering its purported mandate, it is notable that the Task Force is composed only of religious clergy of one religion. At the outset this raises troubling questions as to

whether the Task Force is intentionally undermining the multi-ethnic identity in the province with a possible attempt to define a mono ethnic dominant narrative. CPA has previously noted attempts at colonisation and land appropriation schemes in the area aimed at changing demographics with implications on electoral representation, co-existence and reconciliation. Compounded by Sri Lanka’s past, the appointment of such a Task Forces raises questions of its need, intent and implications for the future”.

Do we need this? Shall we fall like fools in to

this dirty Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) trap? Should we voluntarily ensnare ourselves in to the colonial and neo-colonial ‘Divide and Rule’ policy? Must we remain unaware until our ancestral identity and the best religion is ruined by alien actors? Do we need the democracy homilies, being taught by NGOs? Are they truly interested in our welfare? Or must we realise that, for NGOs to exist, the duty of the receiving countries is to have communal, religious or some sort of problems? Namely, this is where the right knowledge and the intelligence of the people of Sri Lanka must flex their muscle. The people must choose governance, the administering members of which are, our motherland loving patriots. The cult of worshipping the West and human right lessons of its teachers should be cut down and reduced to their actual size, to set them in the obedience to the laws of this country and in case of its contravention, the observation

of the legal measures of their dislodge must be the order of the day.

The objective opinion of the present writer is that Buddhism, as a universally global religion, is the only catholic-ethical foundation for true peace, prosperity and communal and religious harmony of Sri Lanka. Hence, herein, he, honestly and earnestly intends to pen down a concise synopsis of the couple of Buddhist ethical essence, showing the aspect of threat, NGO secularisation conspiracy would ignite, in the form of hatred and mistrust in this land of innocence, converting it in to a battle-field of fear, tears, pain, pools of blood oozing out and death. Furthermore, the writer also makes use of the rights, constitutionalised in Article 14 of the Fundamental Law of Sri Lanka, in order to express his country-peace and communal harmony oriented views.

Views of eminent religious authorities

Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith reiterated that the constitutional protection of Buddhism in Sri Lanka is a must and should not be made subservient to be subjugated to the clandestine agendas of alien vested interest. “We will not support any Constitutional reforms that seek to turn Sri Lanka into a secular or nonreligious State. We will never endorse the ideology of secularising Sri Lanka. Religion is the basis for achieving the objective of human rights. We will not let anyone to destroy the country’s culture or heritage by playing up the human rights card,” he said

(Daily News- 26 July 2016)Sri Lanka is a land of ethnic

plurality. Its Sinhala Buddhist, Hindu Tamil, Islamic Muslim and other communities need lasting peace, only with which, it can prosper. The true peace and prosperity is possible, if we, the Sinhala Buddhists, Hindu Tamils, Islamic Muslims and others can use the God-gifted intelligence and become authentic human-beings, as created by God or as bestowed by nature. However, since the majority yet doesn’t have the wisdom, to be what they are truly intended to be, to be more precise, to be God/Nature created human-beings, they continue, their mental bondage, which binds them to the painful prison of false labels as Sinhala-Buddhist, Hindu Tamil and Islamic Muslim, imagined by the majority of avaricious and power-greedy separatists and some religious priests with vested interest. The above said priests and separatists prosper and thrive, only with the presence of multifarious divisions, which bifurcate spiritually uninstructed common worldlings, in to differing socio-political strata and contradicting religious denominations. In the orbit of such a knowledge-confusion and the state of being trapped into false racial and religious labels, the best strategy of the dynamics of intelligence is, to set the standard for all of us to become natural human-beings, while discarding the presently-held religious and racial identities of each. Among all the religions in the world, the only religion, with the truth of the path of which, this human-being creation could be implemented is, the Doctrine of Buddha. Why?

The Buddha’s Doctrine of Non-Self

The Buddha, in detail, has compassionately elucidated important and eternal three life characteristics: (1) Impermanence (2) Suffering (3) Non-self.

The Doctrine of non-self is selflessness. Life doesn’t have a self. No self is contained in life. Life is a combination of five aggregates, which, subsequent to their disintegration and death, has no continuation to the next life. Indeed, this explanation is in the ultimate sense. Apart from the ultimate, there is conventional context in the Buddha’s beautiful Teaching. In the conventional sense, the above said socio-racial labels are a possibility. Yet, they are to be used only as a tool of communication in the act of apprehension and mutual cooperation. Therefore, the social convention, say, Sinhala Buddhist, Hindu Tamil or Islamic Muslim, when it is being used as a communicative tool, it comprises a relative truth. But, in the ultimate context, what are constituted by them are palpable social and religious lies.

Then, the Buddha and Jesus Christ are the only Wisdom Teachers, who have powerfully taught to love one’s enemy. Some doctrines command not only to attack the enemy, but also to capture their wives and children and use them as suppressed concubines and slaves. Hence, not only it can be seemed, but also well discernibly perceived that the Teaching of the Buddha and the fact that the majority of this resplendent island are Buddhists, are two tremendous fostering factors, for the unity, peace and prosperity of Sri Lanka. Of course, until we all become intelligent and courageous enough, to spit and kick off the utter stupid, bondage-engendering boundaries of racial and religious labellism and become beautiful normal human-beings as created by God or Nature.

Potential ThreatThe potential threat that is

perceptibly discernible in the NGO Buddhism secularisation conspiracy, to ones, with insightful context-penetration urge, is, that the suggested secularisation trap is fraught with the dangerous propensity of destroying the beauty and depth of innocence, inculcated by the majestic Doctrine of the Buddha in to the hearts and souls of Buddhist community, down and across a long period of 2500 years. The Doctrine of the Buddha is the only religion in the world, in the name of which no wars have been waged, no painful agonies have been caused, no pools of blood have been shed and no graveyards have been built. In

Buddhism no space is allocated for people’s neck-chopping type so-called religious wars, justified by various pretexts and rewarded by so-called concocted false Gods. One of the central Teachings of the Buddha was “Love thy enemy”. The illimitables, the Buddha elucidated were, “Loving Kindness”, “Compassion”, “Sympathetic Joy” and “Equanimity”. The Triple Characteristics, The Wondrous Teacher taught were, “Impermanence”, “Suffering” and “Non-Self”.

It is true that many Buddhists do not know the resplendence of these principles of absolute ecclesiastical ethicality. Yet, they are well nourished spiritually, to a commendable degree, with the pivotal disciplining constituents of them. Those are innocence, tolerance, mutual respect, sharing, the futility of amassing unlimited wealth, the certainty of death, the impossibility of transporting this worldly richness to the next world and life, the need to be satisfied with what one has and many more. Why was it said so?

Lankanisation of Tamils and Muslims

There were no Muslims in Hela Diva. Muslims came to this country as tourists and traders, could produce enormous wealth, married Sinhala Buddhist women and converted them into Islam, produced children and increased the number of community heads, occupied regions, built Islamico-Muslim mosques, engaged in the best, income-generating trade ventures and many more. How and why could they do so? The intelligence of many talkers may bring forth differing arguments. Yet, the wisdom of truth speakers can emphasise only one simple fact. That is, it is solely thanks to the accepting, accommodating and sharing principles of Buddhist ethicality of absolute splendour, the Muslims were so successful. The Tamils make no exception. Historical chronicles show how the Tamils at times visited Hela Diva and at times invaded it and not only occupied, but also destroyed the historical, cultural heritage and Buddhist archaeological remains. Nevertheless, they are well populated all over the island and many rich and profit-making commercial ventures are owned by Tamils. Again, how and why could they do so? The logical answer can comprise nothing else, but, Buddhist ethicality.

TO BE CONTINUED……..About the writer:

Dr. Gamini Ilangakoon is a Lawyer, specialising in

International Treaty Laws.

Part One

Buddhism – The Foundation for Peace and Prosperity

WORLDA10 wednesday 10 june 2020

Thousands of mourners braved sweltering Texas heat on Monday to view the casket of George Floyd, whose death after a Police Officer knelt on his neck, ignited worldwide protests against racism and calls for reforms of US law enforcement.

American flags fluttered along the route to the Fountain of Praise church in Houston, where Floyd grew up, as throngs of mourners wearing face coverings to prevent spread of the coronavirus formed a procession to pay final respects.

Solemnly filing through the church in two parallel lines, some mourners bowed their heads, others made the sign of the cross or raised a fist, as they paused in front of Floyd’s open casket. More than 6,300 people took part in the visitation, which ran for more than six hours, church officials said. Fire officials said several people, apparently overcome by heat

exhaustion while waiting in line, were taken to hospitals.

“I’m glad he got the send-off he deserved,” Marcus Williams, a 46-year-old black resident of Houston, said outside the church. “I want the Police killings to stop. I want them to reform the process to achieve justice, and stop the killing.”

The public viewing came two weeks to the day after Floyd’s death was captured by an onlooker’s video. As a white Police Officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, an unarmed and handcuffed Floyd, 46, lay face down on a Minneapolis street, gasping for air and groaning for help, before falling silent.

The case was reminiscent of the 2014 killing of another African American, Eric Garner, who died after being placed by Police in a chokehold while under arrest in New York City.

(Reuters)

People pay their respects during the public viewing for George Floyd, at The Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, Texas, US (Reuters)

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, attends a news conference on politically-motivated crimes in Berlin, Germany (Reuters)

The North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Reuters)

Rohingya refugee workers carry bags of salt this month in a processing yard in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh (Reuters)

Texas, United StatesBerlin, Germany Hong Kong, China

As pressure mounts for U.S. Police reform

Thousands pay tribute to George Floyd

Germany’s Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had breached neutrality rules when his ministry published on its website comments in which he accused the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) of subversion.

The largely symbolic ruling is a victory for the AfD, which has been grappling with an internal power struggle since the domestic intelligence agency in March designated a radical wing as an extremist organisation that threatens democracy.

Seehofer said in a 2018 interview with the dpa news agency that despite declarations by its leaders of being a democratic party, the AfD ‘stands against this State’ and that its verbal attacks against government figures amounted to ‘subversion.’

The AfD took legal action against Seehofer, of the Christian Social Union (CSU), Bavarian allies of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), after his office published the interview on the interior ministry website.

(Reuters)

‘Subversion’ row with Minister

Lam says

Qassem Soleimani’s killing

German Court hands far-right

AfD victory

Hong Kong cannot afford more

protest chaos

Iran to execute CIA spy

Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam warned on Tuesday that the Chinese-ruled city cannot afford further ‘chaos,’ as activists marked a year of pro-democracy rallies with lunchtime protests in several shopping malls.

The global financial hub is on alert for unrest with larger gatherings planned for the evening to mark the first anniversary of a mass rally that galvanised the anti-government protest movement.

That demonstration, which drew an estimated more than one million protesters in a city of 7.5 million, was triggered by proposed legislation to allow extraditions to mainland China, where the Courts are controlled by the Communist Party.

(Reuters)

Indonesia has resumed domestic flights for all passengers provided airlines operate at 70 per cent capacity and follow strict rules brought into force on Tuesday, when the country announced its biggest daily rise in cases of the novel coronavirus.

Indonesia’s Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the new regulations for flights followed discussions with airlines, the country’s COVID-19 taskforce and the health ministry.

“Transportation management in the era of the new normal hinges on health aspects,” Sumadi told an online news conference. “We hope that people stay productive, but safe.”

All travellers will be

required to wear masks, maintain physical distancing and present a recent health certificate to show they have tested negative for the novel coronavirus, under the regulations that Novie Riyanto, a Transport Ministry official, told Reuters came into effect on Tuesday.

Flights have been restricted in Indonesia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in recent weeks migrant workers returning home and those travelling for work in exempt sectors, such as health and security, have been allowed to fly.

The airline Lion Air will resume domestic flights on Wednesday.

(Reuters)

An Iranian man who provided information to U.S. and Israeli intelligence services on the whereabouts of Iran’s slain Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani has been sentenced to death, Iran’s Judiciary said on Tuesday.

On 3 January, a US drone strike in Iraq killed Soleimani, leader of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force. Washington blamed Soleimani for masterminding attacks by Iran-aligned militias on US forces in the region.

“Mahmoud Mousavi-Majd, one of the spies for the CIA and the Mossad, has been sentenced to death. He gave information about the whereabouts of martyr Soleimani to our enemies,” judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said in a televised news conference.

(Reuters)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has ordered a review of the capital’s statues and street names after the toppling of the statue of an English slave trader by anti-racism protesters triggered a debate about the demons of Britain’s imperial past.

A statue of Edward Colston, who made a fortune in the 17th century from trading West African slaves, was torn down and thrown into Bristol harbour on Sunday by a group of demonstrators taking part in a wave of protests following the death of George Floyd in the United States.

Khan said a commission would review statues, plaques and street names which largely reflect the rapid expansion of London’s wealth and power at the height of Britain’s empire in the reign of Queen Victoria.

(Reuters)

Tehran, Iran

Malaysia will ask Bangladesh to take back about 300 Rohingya refugees detained after a boat carrying them entered its waters this week, the Southeast Asian Nation’s Defence Minister said on Tuesday.

Malaysia does not recognise refugee status but has been a favoured destination for ethnic Rohingya, most of them Muslims, who fled a 2017 military-led crackdown in Myanmar, and more recently, squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh.

However, the Southeast Asian Nation

has said it will no longer accept Rohingya refugees as it has tightened border controls to rein in the coronavirus.

“The Rohingya should know, if they come here, they cannot stay,” the Minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, told reporters.

Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry will ask Dhaka to take back the detained migrants if they were found to have fled camps in Bangladesh’s district of Cox’s Bazar, he added.

(Reuters)

North Korea said on Tuesday it will sever hotlines with South Korea as the first step toward shutting down all contact with Seoul, State news agency KCNA reported.

For several days, North Korea has lashed out at South Korea, threatening to close an inter-Korean liaison office and other projects if the South does not stop defectors from sending leaflets and other material into the North.

Top government officials in North Korea, including Leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, and Kim Yong Chol, Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, determined “that the work towards the South should thoroughly turn into the one against an enemy,” KCNA said.

(Reuters)

‘Subversion’ row with minister

N. Korea to sever hotlines with

S. Korea – KCNA Malaysia to ask Bangladesh to take back Rohingya refugees

Seoul, South Korea

Jakarta, Indonesia

London, United Kingdom

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A child holds a picture of the late Iran Quds Force top commander Qassem Soleimani in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon (Reuters)

People wear protective face masks as the Indonesian Government eases restrictions amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Jakarta, Indonesia (Reuters)

COVID-19 cases jump

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, wearing a face mask following the COVID-19 outbreak, holds a news conference in Beijing, China (Reuters)

Khan says

Indonesia resumes domestic air travel

London’s statues from imperial past to be reviewed

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan walks outside Downing Street, as the coronavirus outbreak continues in London, Britain (Reuters)

The Mannar Wind Power Project announced that it recently completed the final main gravity foundation along with the erection of the 10th wind turbine.

The primary contractor, Vestas Asia Pacific, along with their specialist civil engineering contractor, Access Engineering PLC, has achieved satisfactory progress amidst the challenging conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. This Wind Power Project is the flag-bearer to drive Sri Lanka to a future of clean renewable energy. The first phase of the semi-dispatchable wind farm will produce 100MW of power to the national grid. Upon completion, scheduled for August 2020, the 35 wind turbines will be an iconic feature along the Mannar coastline.

The Project is implemented by the Ceylon Electricity Board, where Vestas as the main contractor is responsible for Engineering, Procurement and

Construction (EPC) of the project. Vestas is to provide

the delivery, installation and commissioning of 30 V126-3.45MW wind turbines, which also includes all civil and electrical works. Access Engineering PLC, the specialist subcontractor, is responsible for geo-technical investigations and pilling, construction of foundation for wind turbines, installation of medium voltage cables, etc.

Upon completion, this project will be the first major addition of renewable energy to the national grid, thereby complementing the Government initiative to prioritise sustainable clean energy.

b11Wednesday 10 june 2020 Ceylon FT

Email: ceylonft@ceylonnewspapers.lk

By Ishara GamaGe

The four-member committee appointed by the Government to review the US$ 480 million grant under the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) said yesterday (9) that it is ready to hand over its final report to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa within two weeks. Speaking to Ceylon FT, they said the evidence-gathering/observation process relating to the MCC agreement was complete, and a final report with the relevant annexures is being finalised. “Our final observations might be very similar to our inception report/interim report, and we are ready to hand over the final report with several annexures,” they said. According to the committee, implementing the already-finalised Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) agreement will pose a challenge to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and constitution, unless its terms are amended to meet Sri Lanka’s requirements. However, critics said that the Government’s final decision relating to the MCC could prove critical to the country’s economy, as the nation is reaching the point of desperation over its external debt settlement while facing a severe balance of payments crisis. “USA’s influence is very high in IMF and World Bank matters. If Sri Lanka

wants favourable responses from those donor communities, it must carefully handle US-related matters,” critics said.

Meanwhile, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) on Monday (8) wrote to President’s Secretary, Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, demanding the Government clarify its stance on the MCC grant and whether it will be signed. The US Government has already expressed its unwillingness to amend the terms of the MCC, as it has already been approved by top US officials.

The MCC Review Committee has already examined three key documents relating to the MCC and indicated that some of the clauses of such documents

would challenge Sri Lanka’s existing legal system and its sovereignty. According to them, the Committee collected information by reviewing relevant documents, such as the original MCC agreement with Sri Lanka, the programme implementation agreement, the articles of association of the proposed MCC Lanka Guarantee Limited to implement the programme, and other relevant documents, as well as by conducting interviews with different individuals and participating at seminars. The Committee was appointed with effect from 1 January 2020, following a Cabinet decision made on 18 December 2019. Prof. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan of

University of Colombo is the Committee Chairman, while former Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Dr. D.S. Jayaweera, Nihal Jayawardena PC and Architect Nalaka Jayaweera are the other members. The committee was appointed to carry out an independent and professional review, and a broad analysis is being carried out accordingly. However, the committee only has the authority to provide their recommendations to the Government; accepting their recommendations is a matter of Government concern.

“The Government has ultimate responsibility for deciding how the country is run and for managing the MCC Agreement, as the US Government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation Resident Country Director, Jenner Edelman has already informed us that they are unwilling to amend or modify the original MCC clauses with the Sri Lankan Government,” the committee member stated. The present Government had completely halted the previous Cabinet’s decision to sign the agreement, stating that a fresh decision would be made after the committee forwarded its final report. The Sri Lankan Parliament’s approval is a must for the US to grant MCC assistance to Sri Lanka.

RATESCURRENCY

USD

EUR

JPY

AUD

B S182.60 187.60

B S231.57 239.65

B S205.09 212.94

B S1.6745

09.06.2020Central Bank of Sri Lanka

1.7510

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GBP

B S126.49 132.75.........................................................................

MCC Review Committee Report due within two week

MCC likely to get red light $480M grant will challenge SL’s sovereignty unless amended

By marIo andree

Veteran businessman Harry Jayewardene called for supportive policies and responsible action from all stakeholders involved in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry for it to once again become the fastest-growing foreign exchange earner.

Addressing shareholders of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings as its Chairman, Jayawardena said that effective implementation of actions to develop the industry will play a key role in its renaissance as a more vibrant and resilient sector of the economy.

The global COVID-19 pandemic is the second setback for many listed hospitality sector companies in a single financial year.

According to Jayawardena, Sri Lanka tourism was in a fragile recovery phase with arrivals resurging to pre-Easter Bombing levels, though it was on a highly discounted market, pressuring cash flows.

The recovery of numbers during the six to eight months after the tragic incident was encouraging, and was achieved through aggressive promotions and united effort, he said.

According to him, efforts by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and all stakeholders put Sri Lanka back on the tourism map by end-2019.

He thanked both the Government and the Sri Lankan banking sector for their support of the hospitality sector during the Easter tragedy and COVID-19 pandemic.

Expressing confidence that tourism would get back on its feet with the resumption of international flights, he said the hospitality industry in Sri Lanka is eagerly waiting to resume operations as soon as the Government permits.

Due to the tragic Easter Sunday bombing, tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka slipped 18 per cent to 1.9 million visitors in 2019 from more than 2.3 million recorded a year earlier.

Income from the sector too declined 18 per cent to US$ 3.6 billion in 2019 from US$ 4.4 billion a year earlier.

Tourism has been the hardest hit sector due the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the recovery is expected to recover at a slower pace than after the Easter Bombings.

Harry J. calls for tourism-supportive policies and action

Effective action will enable industry to come back stronger

Mannar Wind Power Project forges ahead

By marIo andree

The Colombo Stock Exchange rose to a near three-month high on Tuesday (9), as the benchmark posted gains for the second consecutive session on a higher turnover despite continued foreign exits.

The benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) gained 1.48 per cent (71.52 points) to close at 4,913.37 points, its highest since 12 March, while the more liquid S&P SL20 representing the top 20 shares gained 1.98 per cent (39.59 points) to close at 2,041.90 points, its highest since 28 May. The daily turnover at the Colombo Stock Exchange stood at Rs 1.37 billion on Tuesday (9), lower than Rs 2 billion recorded during the previous market day. More than 70 million shares changed hands on Tuesday (9) during 11,383 trades taking place. Shares of 243 companies were actively traded, of which 117 emerged as winners comfortably ahead of 47 losers.

Foreigners were net sellers for the fifth consecutive session on Tuesday (9). Net foreign outflow during the day amounted to Rs 494 million, as foreigners sold shares worth Rs 623 million as against purchases worth Rs 129 million. The top gainers during the day were Tess Agro, Fortress Resorts, On’ally, Royal Palms, Beruwala Resorts, Colombo Investments Trust, Trade Finance, Sinhaputhra Finance (P), Central Industries and Serendib Hotels (non-voting). Top losers during the day were SMB Leasing, Anilana Hotels, Singer Industries, ACME Printing and Packaging, Marawila Resorts, Pegasus Hotel, Asia Siyaka, Renuka Foods (non-voting), Asia Capital and Maskeliya Plantations.

Shares rise to three-month high

By rajIesh seetharam

Why isn’t Sri Lanka moving towards the paradigm of Industry 4.0? Institute of National Security Studies Director General, Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage says that we are yet to progress to Industry 3.0, which we need to do before moving to 4.0.

“Industry 3.0 means automation and digitalisation. We still don’t have a single place to get the details of Sri Lankan citizens. We do have departments for registrations, passports, etc., but they are not linked to a centralised system,” he pointed out.

“Thus, without digitalisation or automation, there is no point speaking about Industry 4.0, which entails Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Cloud Computing, etc.”

Speaking at a webinar on ‘Sri Lanka in a post-COVID world’ organised by the Institute of National Security Studies of Sri Lanka, Prof. Colombage stated, “President Gotabaya is keen to digitalise at least three aspects of

Government; namely the Police, Customs and registration of people. The talk about digitalising and networking these departments has been going on for five to six years, but now with the restructuring of ICTA, we can expect things to happen soon.” The Director further stressed Sri Lanka should not be seen as a transshipment hub alone, but rather as a maritime hub. “Sri Lanka is already a transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean or the South Asian region. Seventy-five per cent of containers in Colombo Port are transshipment containers, and

it is the 13th-fastest-growing container port in the world. “But Sri Lanka should target becoming a maritime Hub, which is more than being a transshipment hub. We need to use the ocean more. We need to do more fishing and add value to our fishing products, and need more ocean-based exploration and research, as well as more ocean-based tourism,” opined Colombage.

Prof. Jayanath Colombage discusses way forward for SL

Why can’t Sri Lanka progress to Industry 4.0? Should also go beyond merely transshipment to become maritime hub

By Paneetha ameresekere

Sri Lanka’s youth would prefer a Government job to one in the private sector, even if they were to be paid 50 per cent higher salaries through private sector employment, according to the World Bank (WB).In a study released on the WB website in Sri Lanka on 8 June, it stated, “Even for a 50 per cent salary hike offered by the private sector, two-thirds of women and 48 per cent of men preferred a Government job over a private sector job.”

It further said that in a survey carried out last year (2019), 75 per cent of women stated they preferred a State sector job to that of a formal private sector job, despite enjoying facilities such as Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and Employer Trust Fund (ETF) benefits, plus a two-year fixed-term job in a shop or factory, coupled with being offered an identical salary to that of the public sector, including opportunities for carrier advancement and bonus opportunities in the private sector.

The WB also said that the study found that over 50 per cent of the men, in a secret ballot conducted by it, also stated they preferred a State sector job, despite the aforesaid opportunities offered to them in the private sector. The study also found out that “only a few women were tempted by the private sector option when a higher salary was offered, but some men switched their preferences.”

SL youth determined to acquire Govt

jobs – WBUnwilling to work in

private sector even for salaries 50% higher

The preliminary report on the MCC was presented to the President a few months ago by Prof. Gunaruwan

Harry Jayewardene

Prof. Jayanath Colombage

Work in Progress of the Semi Dispatchable Wind Farm Project

Wind Turbines in Mannar Island

Aims to set up 35 wind turbines by August; 10 completed

B12 AdvertoriAlCeylon Ft wednesday 10 june 2020

In this time of crisis, Mastercard has expanded its worldwide com-mitment to financial inclusion by pledging to bring a total of 1 billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025.

As part of this effort, there will be a direct focus on providing 25 mil-lion women entrepreneurs with solutions that can help them grow their businesses.

The impact of COVID-19 has made it even more pressing to sup-port inclusive growth in Asia Pacific, which is home to 60 per cent of the world’s population and the fastest-growing economic region. In an update in April, the World Bank said 24 mil-lion fewer people will escape pover-

ty across the East Asia Pacific region this year than would have without the pandemic.

“If we’re going to recover in any sort of long-term, sustainable way, we have to make sure that every-one is included. Getting people access to the digital economy is a critical part of that,” said Ajay Banga, Chief Executive Officer at Mastercard. “This is so much more than philanthropy. This is an opportunity to develop commer-cially-sustainable and scalable social impact with government and private sector partners – and to do it in a way that helps society-at-large thrive.”

The new commitment – an extension of Mastercard’s pledge in 2015 to bring 500 million excluded

people into the financial system – builds on the company’s efforts to address the pandemic-related health and economic challenges facing people all over the world.

“The COVID-19 crisis has dem-onstrated the power of the digital economy to sustain societies and commerce during times of great adversity. It has also shown the extreme disadvantage faced by small businesses and people who cannot participate. For individu-als, gaining access to the digital economy means being able to use affordable financial products and services that meet their needs – transactions, payments, savings, credit and insurance,” said Ling Hai, Co-President, Asia Pacific, Mastercard.

“For SMEs, access to the digital economy allows them to manage expenses and invoices and to auto-mate and secure processes, freeing up valuable time and resources to focus on other aspects of running their businesses. SMEs are the foundation of Asia Pacific econo-mies, making up more than 96% of all businesses and providing two-thirds of private-sector jobs, so bringing them into the digital economy is a powerful force multi-plier for societies. The urgent need to do so has never been greater.”

Over the past five years, Mastercard achieved its initial goal of including 500 million people in the digital economy through more than 350 innovative programmes across 80 countries.

Commits to connect 1 B people to digital economy by 2025

Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, has declared Mobitel as the Winner of the Speedtest Award™ for 2019, successfully winning the award for all four quarters consecutively as the Fastest Mobile Network in Sri Lanka. Speedtest Awards are licensed to Internet Service Providers and mobile carriers around the world that are determined by Ookla to be the fastest in their markets. Sri Lanka’s Award was determined using a Speed Score™ that incorporates a measure of each providers download and upload speed to rank network speed performance. Coming out on top, well above other competitors, Mobitel’s Speed Score surpassed others to emerge yet again as the Fastest Mobile Network in Sri Lanka for the year 2019. Ookla, the company behind Speedtest® is a popular independent internet testing platform used by millions of consumers around the world every day.

Dominating the mobile telephony sector in Sri Lanka, Nalin Perera - CEO of Mobitel commented: “We are thrilled to win this award, which independently verifies what we have been echoing all along – that Mobitel offers the most superior usage experience in Sri Lanka from amongst all mobile service providers. Ookla is a reputed international body and this award reaffirms the superiority of Mobitel’s network. Winning the award for the entire year is a real triumph and affirms our commitment to deliver an unparalleled user experience to all our loyal customers, which is a testimony to our investments in the network. Outstanding usage experience,

fast speeds and uninterrupted connectivity are of the essence, especially in the present scenario where people are working from home and need to remain connected.”

Mobitel’s 4G LTE technology offers users the superior experience of enjoying high definition streaming videos and Multimedia Online Gaming (MMOG). Mobitel has already invested over US$100 million for broadband expansion in 2019 and earmarked even more investments for 2020 to further expand and prepare for the commercial deployment of 5G in time to come. Mobitel was the first mobile operator in the region to trial 5G in South Asia. Following the demonstration of 5G speed tests using a commercial 5G smartphone for the first time in South Asia on 4th June 2019, Mobitel went on to achieve a new speed record of 1.55Gbps for South Asia, a momentous achievement in 5G deployment across the globe.

As the ‘Bank for Everyone’, DFCC Bank has understood the financial difficulties its valued customers may experience and stepped forward to offer their fullest support to help them to rise above this challenge. DFCC Bank is committed to keeping abreast with the local situation with regard to the COVID-19 global pandemic and meeting the ever-evolving needs of its customers.

Relief measuresThe bank has implemented relief

measures based on Central Bank requirements such as extending the payment due date for 20 March statements until 11 May 2020, waiver of late payment fees for statements issued from 25 March to 30 September while the minimum payment of 5% has been reduced to 2.5% from 4 April to 30 September. Additionally, all local transactions up to a maximum of Rs 50,000 made during the period 25 March to 30 June will be subject to a reduced interest rate of 15% p.a.

BenefitsDFCC Credit Cards also offers loans

on cards that enabled cardholders to obtain a quick cash advance of up to

75% of the stipulated credit limit and convert it into installments up to 24 months at the lowest processing fees in the market. Other benefits include balance transfers from other credit cards to the DFCC Credit Card with a low handling fee, conversion of any purchase in excess of Rs. 10,000/- into a 24-month installment plan, while also enabling them to enjoy the best offers on shopping, dining and travel with up to 50% savings at selected merchants and outlets.

1% CashBack on every spendThis is not all; cardholders are also

rewarded with a 1% CashBack on every swipe which is credited to their own

DFCC Bank savings account or child’s DFCC Junior savings account. What’s more, their customers earn interest on the CashBack sum when credited to the savings account thereby making it a double reward.

Cashless and contactless Even as life in Sri Lanka normalises,

DFCC Bank promotes social distancing as mandated by the Government by encouraging customers to go cashless and contactless with DFCC Credit and Debit Cards by using Visa Tap to pay for purchases below Rs 5,000 at over 25,000 merchants locally. Adding to customer convenience, DFCC Bank encourages credit card holders to

register for its unique Interactive e-Statement in order to view their CashBack rewards summary, spend trends, spending category and credit card usage.

Besides this, DFCC credit card holders can now settle their outstanding conveniently and securely without visiting a DFCC Bank branch through DFCC Virtual Wallet, DFCC Online Banking, via CEFTS transfers from other bank accounts and account standing instructions.

DFCC PayCardholders can view credit card

account details instantly whilst on the move by downloading the DFCC Pay

App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to experience true digital banking. All you need is a smartphone to access real time details of your DFCC credit card balance and transactions and to view summarised details of the last statement. DFCC credit card holders can also make cashless purchases at merchants displaying the Lanka QR or Visa QR logos both locally and globally.

Whilst using the DFCC Pay App to conveniently manage their credit cards, users can also transfer up to Rs 500,000 between DFCC Bank accounts and Rs 25,000 per transaction to/from DFCC bank accounts and participating bank accounts on the JustPay network. You can also view real-time balances in your bank account.

DFCC Bank launched the DFCC Pay App early this year in line with the digital road map being implemented by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for 2020. The DFCC Pay App is completely free of charge and you don’t need to be a DFCC customer to make good use of the facility; non DFCC customers can do so using other bank accounts and using the App easily and conveniently.

The Golden Key Hospital has acquired two of the latest models of ophthalmic equipment in the market to significantly enhance the quality of diagnostics and treatment at its eye clinic, especially its cataract surgery procedures and post-care capabilities.

The hospital said the ZEISS VISULAS YAG III, a fully-integrated laser workstation is used to perform ‘YAG Capsulotomy’ – a special laser treatment to improve vision after cataract surgery, while the ZEISS IOLMaster 700 enables fast and accurate measurements of eye length and surface curvature, necessary to determine the intraocular lens (IOL) power used during cataract and lens implantation surgery.

The VISULAS YAG III is the latest version of the YAG Laser series and is known to focus the optimum amount of laser energy directly to the target which results in a gentler laser treatment while providing maximum ease of use with the lowest possible amount of patient stress. Besides Capsulotomy, it can be used for applications such as Iridotomy – a surgical procedure to treat angle closure glaucoma – and IOL polishing. The ability to adjust energy levels also means ample flexibility for different treatment techniques.

The IOLMaster 700 enables surgeons to replace assumptions with measurements, thanks to the latest update - Total Keratometry (TK®). Its built in SWEPT source biometry makes it fast and easy to measure both eyes in less than 45 seconds while its Alignment Assistance function makes the results largely independent of the user and therefore easy to delegate. It is also proven to achieve a cataract penetration rate of more than 99% following a comparative clinical study with more than 1,200 eyes. This reduces the need for ultrasound by 92% and saves patients’ time.

The device is also useful in detecting unusual eye geometries and poor fixation, eliminating refraction surprises and unsatisfactory post-operative visual experience by enabling visual measurement verification.

The Golden KeyHospitalalso installed a ‘Visual Field Eye Investigation Machine’ in 2018 to enhance the efficiency of its eye investigation unit and reduce waiting time of patients. The machine is used to detect dysfunction in the central and peripheral vision which may be caused by various medical conditions including glaucoma, stroke, pituitary disease, brain tumours or other neurological deficits.

Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic the Bristol Institute of Business Management has proven that resilience, continued perseverance and unwavering commitment to success yield results even in the worst times.

“The pandemic has indeed cast a gloomy shadow upon everything: However, we at Bristol Institute of Business Management (BIBM) refuse to be dragged down by Covid-19, and our commitment has paid off with the institute enjoying continuous success due to proactive, innovative and robust measures taken at the right time,” explains Chief Operating Officer M.J.M. Dilshad.

The Bristol Institute of Business Management, which offers postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in Business Administration and Accounting and Finance awarded by the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol – a university ranked 28th in the Guardian League Table – along with university approved comprehensive foundation programmes and a LLM Masters in Commercial Law, has enjoyed a full intake for its MBA programme that commenced in May.

“Even in a crisis situation like this our May intake – the 5th consecutive MBA batch – is full,” says Dilshad, adding that the institute has an accumulated population of 250 MBA students since its first intake in January 2019 – a commendable feat which was achieved in record time.

There have been many factors that have contributed to the

success of the institute, especially with regards to its one-year MBA programme: a strict quality policy regarding learning, delivery and curriculum, a dedicated lecture panel comprising PhD Holders, researchers, highly experienced professionals and industry experts, and an unparalleled commitment to ensure that students enjoy a holistic learning experience in accordance with international standards. Bristol Institute of Business Management was

quick to assess the impact of Covid-19 and was proactive in shifting its physical lectures to an online platform.

With the institute’s academic support department working round the clock, and lecturers giving their all in making sure that student learning is uninterrupted, the institute has been able to enhance its offering amidst the pandemic lockdown. In order to enable 24/7 support for students and reduce the students-to-lecturer ratio, the Bristol Institute of Business Management also recruited external faculty members to facilitate assignment support and additional learning enhancements.

The methodologies used by the institute have been robust in terms of physical-to-digital transformation. Although the institute was physically closed, all operations from admissions to assignment evaluations, student support to curriculum updates have continued seamlessly.

GK raises bar in eye care with latest devices from ZEISS

Fastest mobile network in Sri Lanka – 2019

In the article titled ‘Port City land reclamation to attract $4.1B – PwC’ published in Page 11 of Ceylon Today on 8 June 2020, the article incorrectly quotes PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as saying, “China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has already invested US$ 4.1 billion in the project.”

However, the investment value is incorrect; the line should instead read, “China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has already invested US$ 1.4 billion in the project.”

We apologise for the inconvenience caused.

Correction: Port City Reclamation

DFCC Bank provides financial relief for credit card holders Enables contactless services during COVID-19

Mobitel declared as the

Mastercard builds on COVID-19 response

CEO of Bristol Institute Dilshad Jiffry addressing the May MBA intake of 2020

BIBM records full MBA batch enrolment

amidst pandemic

FT news A13wednesday 10 june 2020

By Paneetha ameresekere

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Korean Government’s overseas development arm, has helped build agriculture storage facilities for farmers in the Eastern Province (EP) to store their produce, the Korean Embassy website stated yesterday (9).

Furthermore, KOICA, in partnership with World Vision (WV), is helping farmers in the EP to generate income during the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting temporary agricultural produce markets, it said.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 followed by islandwide curfews, Sri Lankan farmers have faced difficulty in selling their produce/products, especially in March and April, coinciding with the reaping of the Maha harvest, which is peak harvesting time, the Embassy said.

The situation resulted in the wastage of produce, which in turn caused huge economic losses and discouragement to farmers.

To alleviate the economic burden of farmers, WV, supported

by KOICA, sought a solution for farmers to find markets, in consultation with the local government in the province, and now assists in operating temporary agricultural produce markets, it said.

The temporary markets are held five days a week for nine weeks in Batticaloa, Vaharai, and Koralaipattu, with approximately 240 farmers participating. The main produce up for sale include mango, tomato, okra and aubergine.

In addition to the temporary markets, WV, in collaboration with the biggest organic produce distributor, ‘Saaraketha,’ also started supporting the distribution of agricultural produce from the Eastern region.

At the agricultural produce storage facilities installed with the support of KOICA, agricultural produce gathered from all over the East are stored and transferred freshly. KOICA’s Country Director in Sri Lanka, Kang Youn Hwa added, “KOICA will continue supporting Sri Lanka to minimise the impacts of COVID-19 and reduce poverty in Sri Lanka.”

According to a recent Robert Half International report, “For the modern employee, money is only half the benefit of a great job. Millennial workers place greater value on having a good work/life balance compared to other generations. It may be this attitude shift which has given rise to the ‘gig economy’ – a new way of hiring and working that is set to alter the world of work irrevocably.”

Conscious of the rise in the gig economy, as well as the need for agile workways in the new norm, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in Sri Lanka recently organised a timely session for its members and partners on ‘Agile work ways and the gig economy’.

CIMA Sri Lanka Country Manager, Zahara Ansary ACMA, CGMA, who moderated the session, began by presenting stats on the gig economy and details about gig work, as well as agile workways currently in practice in the world.

Loops Integrated/Conexus Solutions/NeoMinds Director, Tilan Wijeyesekera then made the key presentation on ‘How companies can innovate using Agile Workways and the growth of gig workers’. In his presentation, Tilan demystified the concept of gig working, also sharing with the audience the kind of new work that is trending and will always be in demand.

He shared the advantages of being a gig worker where the worker himself is the boss and that they get to select their work rhythm, there’s no monotony and not tied down, the ability to have a variety of sources of income, unlimited opportunity to earn as well as learn, low capital expenditure, wide experience and network, choice to take on a task or reject and most of all greater productive ROI on your time.

He saw disadvantages for the gig community on health and insurance benefits (as can be seen at these

times), long hours to make profit per day, dry periods with no work, unguaranteed cash flow, systems malfunction on apps may cost the worker and psychological impacts.

In the corporate perspective, he implored corporates to look at gig workers as an access to flexible workforce, fresh thinking, access to diverse skill sets, lower overheads, quick solution for an issue and pay for what you get (greater ROI for specific KPIs).

He asked the audience, “What can you do in the current situation?” He then provided some valuable tips, including some Sri Lankan examples. He urged to build talents into skills, convert extra capacity into productivity, register on platforms and profile oneself. Even if one has no experience, they were urged to work for friends and build a portfolio. He also said that Linked in and Social Media profiles are a good place to profile oneself.

He mentioned that working on a gig platform eliminates the need to own a website or any marketing expenses, as well as time spent on mediation/squabbling, invoicing/billing or collections, allowing focus on the work one wants or likes to do.

He ended his presentation stressing, “Only when you go through a crisis do you realise that there are so many opportunities out there, only if you are willing to think positively and think differently. If you are a gig worker there are so many opportunities out there. If you are a corporate suffering with the recruitment freeze there is a solution for you; there are some great experts coming into the organisation and helping you get over some of the problems you may have.”

He emphasised that the gig economy is said to boom a lot of opportunities for both sides as well. Tilan’s final message to the audience was, “Find the talent that you have, turn it into a skill and monetise it.”

Tilan’s presentation was followed by a Q&A session where questions were aimed at the presenter and the panel, which consisted of Fonterra Brands Human Resources Director, Dinusha Jayamanne; PickMe Food Head of Operations, Mevan Peiris, and Loops Solutions Managing Director, Shehan Selvanayagam.

At the panel discussion, attendees both local and from overseas interacted with the panellists and had their queries cleared. Jayamanne spoke about how her organisation, Fonterra, had already started using agile workways and gig workers even before the COVID-19 situation.

Peiris spoke about how Pickme made use of the opportunities and quickly sprang to action during the current situation. He also spoke about a recent session he had attended with the founder of the World Economic Forum, where it was discussed that it’s not just digital skills but human skills that willa matter in today’s world.

Selvanayagam shared his experience of startups, as well as best practice in terms of agile work ways that he practises in his organisation.

CIMA has lined up more similar sessions which are intended to help their members be up-to-date with the latest trends and to succeed in these challenging times.

How agile organisations thrive in a gig economy

Mevan Peiris, Head of Operations for PickMe Food, was appointed to the Advisory Council of the Global Shapers Community and was recognised in the Forbes 30 under 30 list for 2020 under the Consumer Technology category

Dinusha Jayamanne, Director of Human Resources at Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka and Indian Sub-Continent, has over 16 years’ experience in the human resource management sector, is an attorney-of-law, holds an MBA from the University of Western Sydney, and is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM SCP). She is the Vice President – Professional Development for the Association of Human Resource Professionals

Shehan Selvanayagam has worked in many industries before finally starting one of Sri Lanka largest locally-owned Integrated Agencies, Loops, where he is currently MD. He has a Degree in Business Management, Masters in Information Technology and is a CIM Graduate, which are incidentally the three areas that make up e-Marketing

Tilan Wijeyesekara serves on the boards in future-oriented and disruptive busi-nesses, including Loops, Conexus and Neominds, and has won the Business Excellence Awards Gold Award as Past President of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), in addition to over 40 other awards for branding, innovation, service and digital marketing. He was also recently named as one of the top 100 future business leaders and disrup-tors in Sri Lanka by Echelon Magazine

KOICA uplifts farmers in Batticaloa

A South Korean Court on Tuesday declined to issue an arrest warrant for the heir to the country's Samsung empire over a controversial merger of two business units seen as a key step to his succession.

Lee Jae-yong, Vice-Chairman of Samsung Electronics, is already being re-tried on charges of bribery, embezzlement and other offences in connection with a corruption scandal that brought down former South Korean President, Park Geun-hye.

The merger case is separate from his ongoing

retrial, but adds to the difficulties for the Samsung group, by far the biggest of the family-controlled conglomerates, or chaebols, that dominate business in the world's 12th-largest economy.

Prosecutors had sought the arrest warrant for Lee on suspicion he was involved in price manipulation and illegal trading during the 2015 merger of Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T.

But the Seoul Central District Court turned down the prosecution's request, ruling there

was not sufficient probable cause for his arrest or those of two former Samsung executives.

"There was insufficient explanation on the need to arrest the defendants against the principle of trial without detention," Judge Won Jung-sook said in a Court statement.

"Prosecutors seem to have already secured a considerable amount of evidence through their investigation," she said.

Whether Lee committed illegal acts should be established at trial, she added.

(AFP)

By rajiesh seetharam

Sri Lanka’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) should come under professional management by a single entity to make them more sustainable in the long-term, similar to how Temasek Holdings manages investments in SOEs in Singapore, according to Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute (LKI) Executive Director, Ganeshan Wignaraja.

Speaking at a webinar organised by the Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka, Wignaraja listed some of the important measures the Government should take to revive the economy in the post-COVID period. These include the sale of non-strategic assets when market conditions are appropriate, restructuring SOEs, increasing Modern Services exports, digitalising the public sector, a proper tax administration, boosting domestic agriculture and operating the Samurdhi system more efficiently.

Elaborating on the restructuring of SOEs, he highlighted the case of Temasek Holdings in Singapore. When Singapore gained independence in 1965, the Government had ownership or joint ownership of various local companies. In 1974, Temasek was incorporated under the Singapore Companies Act as a holding company owned by the Government, to hold and manage the assets previously held by the Government. The goal was for Temasek to own and manage these investments on a commercial basis, allowing the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Finance to focus on policymaking.

Wignaraja stated that Sri Lanka should

integrate more with Asian Markets, as investors look for access to large markets, and Asia is expected to come out of the recession sooner than others.

“The world economy may face a recession similar to the 1929 Great Depression. IMF reports world growth to come down to negative minus 3.3 per cent. The IMF Head recently stated that they might have to revise it further down to minus 4-5 per cent. It is worse than the

2008 financial crisis,” stated Wignaraja. “For Sri Lanka, all our economic partners like

China, India, Japan, Europe, and USA are seeing negative economic outlooks; and the crises are not going to reverse quickly. We are likely to see a U-shaped recovery with a long period at the bottom of the ‘U’. The US is our major export market, and China is one of the biggest providers of assistance in infrastructure.

“On the whole, Sri Lanka needs to maintain a balanced foreign exchange policy, however with greater integration with Asian countries, as Asia seems to be coming out of the recession before western countries. Sri Lanka needs more integration with Asian countries to attract large investors.

“Sri Lanka may face a wide range of economic issues in 2020. The Central Bank states Sri Lanka is expected to grow at 1.5 per cent. Sri Lanka might face hard times for exports due to rising protectionist policies. India has put on a stimulus package with 10 per cent of its GDP, Bangladesh with around 5 per cent of its GDP. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has taken measures like cutting interest rates, which is good; however, the Government has to take other measures, like restructuring State-owned enterprises and selling non strategic assets, which are necessary, as it is a strain on the national budget.

Wignaraja added, “The development of Colombo Port City is a good opportunity for Sri Lanka to increase its modern services exports like ICT. To attract investors, Sri Lanka needs to cut down on red tape and digitalise the public sector.”

Sri Lanka in a post-COVID world

Local SOEs should come under singular management – LKI DirectorSimilar professional management model used with Temasek in Singapore

Samsung heir avoids arrest over controversial merger

Executive Director, Ganeshan Wignaraja

advertoriala14 wednesday 10 june 2020

Responding at a time of crisis, the Engineering Association of Group 92/93 of the University of Moratuwa (UoM) constructed a new two-storey building complex for the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Centre, Angoda (IDH) to facilitate a CT Scanner which was allocated to them by the Ministry of Health.

The new facility was declared open by Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi on 4 June 2020.

The CT scanner which is to be used for the critical diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients, enables doctors to make ideal decisions of great consequence in an effective manner for the betterment of the patients.

Accepting the request and proposal submitted by IDH Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, the 92/93 Engineering batch of UoM readily

agreed to construct the fully-furnished 3,400 sq ft building worth more than LKR 30 million.

Amidst the difficulties and hardships of the pandemic, the SL Navy team joined hands and provided an unwavering support to the project by working around the clock to complete the project in a mere 50 days. From all parts of the world, members of the Engineering Association 92/93, driven by their passion for the motherland, worked tirelessly to create awareness on the noble project and were successful in raising the necessary funds within 40 days.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressing the gathering at the handover ceremony lauded the 92/93 Engineering Batch of UoM for identifying the social responsibility at this challenging time and delivering a fully functional building complex to fight COVID-19. He also

commended the Sri Lanka Navy for rising to the occasion to accomplish the great task given to them. He took the opportunity to praise the great service rendered by the staff at the IDH throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Wanniarachchi said the University of Moratuwa is one of the best universities in Sri Lanka, widely recognised all over the world and offered her gratitude to the UoM 92/93 batch for taking the responsibility to build the facility at this critical time. She also praised the Tri-Forces along with the Navy for their exceptional support throughout the pandemic and the IDH staff for delivering a great and exemplary service.

Addressing the gathering, the President of 92/93 Engineers mentioned that the membership is truly honoured and humbled to have fulfilled this timely need.

Moratuwa Uni Engineering Batch of 92/93 donates building to IDH

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi unveiling the plaque at the newly constructed building

LAUGFS Eco Sri, a pioneer in Vehicle Emission Testing in Sri Lanka, recently celebrated World Environment Day 2020 together with their customers.

They initiated a tree -planting campaign across all Eco Sri emission testing centres islandwide. Eco Sri is keen on helping its customers reduce harmful emissions from vehicles. This campaign is its latest commitment towards supporting this cause, improving the environment and working towards community well-being in Sri Lanka.

The theme for World Environment Day 2020 is ‘Time for Nature’. It focuses on giving priority to the environment and giving back to nature by protecting it and taking steps to heal it, in return for all that it does to sustain life on Earth.

In light of this initiative, LAUGFS Eco Sri initiated their campaign with the intention to raise public awareness of the importance

of protecting and preserving the environment for future generations and maintaining ecological harmony.

Eco Sri staff invited customers to join in the celebration as participants. In planting trees all across the nation as society restarts and many people return to their daily lives, Eco Sri hopes to further assist in improving the air quality within Sri Lanka for generations to come.

“At LAUGFS Eco Sri, we are always striving for the betterment of Sri Lanka’s climate. We believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is a

sign from nature to urge us to change our ways, as the planet has healed while we were in lock-down. Hence, we have decided to plant trees across our testing centres nation-wide to put down the roots for a brighter tomorrow. As part of one living planet, we believe we must all work together to protect nature, which supports us all. The stronger our planet’s life support systems are, the better human health and wealth will be.” said LAUGFS Eco Sri Deputy General Manager – Operations, Saliya Dissanayake.

LAUGFS Eco Sri celebrates World Environment Day 2020

‘PickMe Flash’ a new tool in distance working

NTB offers customers easy access to bank statements

SLCSMI holds webinar on practical solutions for SMEs during COVID-19

Nations Trust Bank achieved yet another ‘first’ in the industry by introducing ‘Nations Online Statement Platform’.

NTB customers can now log in from anywhere at their convenience, using their registered mobile number and access their bank statements and transaction histories.

Nations Direct, the suite of digital banking services offered by Nations Trust Bank, has launched this dedicated platform that allows customers to view and download bank statements in one place for all their banking transactions.

Logging in is a simple process using the mobile number they have registered with the bank along with the last 6 digits of their account/card number and their NIC number.

By selecting the relevant account/card number and the time period required, they can view, download and print their bank statements for up to the

last 6 months. During the lockdown period,

with the disruption of postal services, the bank understood that there was a need for its customers to access their account details via e-Statements.

The platform had to be streamlined, user-friendly, highly accessible but secure. Staying true to the ‘Nations

Direct’ promise of ‘Your World, Now Digital’, this platform was created in record time. Customers no longer need to call or visit the bank or send requests for past statements nor will they have to deal with postal delays. Many of the bank’s customers have appreciated this service at a time of restricted mobility and physical contact.

Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (SLCSMI) hosted its third webinar titled ‘Practical Solutions Beyond Theories for SMEs during pandemic times’ over Zoom and Facebook Live, to discuss how SME sector entrepreneurs could overcome the negativities of the pandemic.

Moderated by Management Consultant and Senior Chartered Accountant Chaaminda Kumarasiri and preceded by SLCSMI President, Chartered Interior Architect, Chartered Furniture Designer Rohan De Silva, the webinar panelists included People’s Bank Chairman, BDO Partners-Managing Partner and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka’s (CA Sri Lanka) fellow member and Past President Sujeewa Rajapakse, Ministry of Youth Affairs Small Enterprises Development Division Director, Project Management and Southern Development Sudheera Jayarathna and DSI Samson Group, Group Chairman Kulatunga Rajapaksa.

“There is going to be considerable negative impact on the economy due to COVID-19 and at times like this, fiscal stimulus is the correct move,” stated Sujeewa Rajapakse commending the Sri Lankan Government for the introduction of several stimulus packages to the business community and society at large.

He noted that the current economic slowdown will continue for the next six to twelve months, and that no matter the size of the industry, ‘we have to face this reality’. He also emphasised that

maintaining liquidity is key to all SMEs, as is proactive communication to ensure that stakeholders are informed and assured at all times. He advised, “SMEs, can’t be isolated at this time as transformation is taking place and digitalisation has become the norm where you will have to face impairments in your balance sheets and will need to reassess assets and have to go by principle, not sentiment.”

Sudheera Jayarathna highlighted a common weakness of local SME business people in not having the right confidence to build good relationships with external stakeholders, even when it comes to mandatory activities like banking or paying taxes. “This results in businesses opting for other alternatives for financing or maintaining business operations, causing them to incur more expenses than they would have, if the correct procedures were followed.

Therefore, you have to build personality and confidence to build good networks and rapport. Then you will find that there are so much that can be done through just a phone call.

It is important not to be scared to use technology and social media, especially when they are so easily available and probably the only effective option to continue business in times of a pandemic.”

The importance of financial discipline for SMEs was brought by Kulatunga Rajapaksa, “We have to teach businessmen the importance of accounting: you don’t own the money you earn from your business, it belongs to all the stakeholders, and you can’t just take money from the cash register without accounting for it.

It is necessary for the Government to step in and help small businesses to at least pay the basic wages of their employees for some time. These businesses just need a small push to get through these next few months,” he averred.

The webinar concluded with Rohan De Silva, thanking the panelists for sharing insights with the audience. He also thanked the chamber’s technology partner Blue Lotus 360, consultancy partner HCP Consulting led by Chaaminda Kumarasiri and the webinar team.

The panelists at the discussion

‘PickMe Flash’ has gained tremendous popularity under pandemic lockdown conditions in the country.

With more businesses now practicing social distancing, they see PickMe Flash as a safe, fast, and smart way to maintain physical connectivity.

Zulfer Jiffry, CEO of PickMe says as curfew conditions ease and work resumes in the capital, people need safer ways to go about their businesses. “We see an enormous change in our customer base these days, as offices start to gradually open up. While a lot of work can be done online, there is still an element of physical movement that is necessary for the running of an office such as the movement of documents, parcels etc. and people are concerned about the safest way of undertaking these tasks. People want safe ways of communicating and interacting and PickMe Flash has become an important link in achieving this.”

The taxi hailing App company does not look at this tool merely as a courier service, because of the element of technology thrown in. PickMe Flash allows users to track parcels right up to the end destination. The on-demand

service is highly responsive, as it can be done as easily as hailing a taxi. “What is unique about our service is that unlike most, we have a physical face to our operations. PickMe operates brick and mortar offices, which can respond to any complaint or emergency in real time. Our drivers and riders are properly registered with the relevant authorities ensuring optimum traceability,” the CEO says.

He adds that this level of accountability goes towards building their brand and the company’s motto to be ‘faster, safer, and smarter.’ PickMe Flash provides 3 vehicle options i.e. Flash (Bike), Flash L (Tuk) and Flash XL (Car), and their pricing is based on the distance of travel and vehicle category. During the curfew period PickMe Flash changed the way of doing business, becoming a convenient delivery partner to hundreds of vendors. The company partnered with Sampath Bank to deliver cash to customers' doorstep and the CEO says the Flash team handled 800 plus cash deliveries without a single customer complaint. PickMe Flash partners with traditional stores and E-commerce vendors to deliver products to people on the same day or sometimes even on the hour.

An ‘Initiator’ can make a request to either send or receive a parcel using the PickMe passenger app, bearing the overall responsibility of booking and paying for the delivery. For cash requests, the initiator sending a parcel has to pay the rider at the time of pickup or those who are receiving it, at the time of drop off. In the case of credit card requests the card will only be charged once the delivery is complete.

Some of the unique value propositions of PickMe Flash are same day or same hour delivery and delivery of any item that can fit inside a regular-sized car, bike, or three-wheeler. Real-time delivery tracking, support and on-demand service, customer care support, contactless payment, pickups and drop offs are added benefits, and there is no lengthy registration process. PickMe is constantly innovating and upgrading their app services, and there are several new features that will soon be included in Flash. Options for multiple vehicles to be booked simultaneously, multiple drop locations for corporate customers, proof of delivery and route optimisation are some add-ons that are expected in the immediate future.

LAUGFS Eco Sri Management Team celebrates World Environment Day 2020

sports A15wednesday 10 june 2020

By Vimal Perera

A comment made by the President of the Referees Society is a blow below the belt. Amit, who was talking on a web programme, commented that “a blind person who cannot see the steps and needs to go down with help called the referee biased”. That’s not hard talk but uncouth, was how a club member explained.

Many thought he probably referred to a stalwart of the Park Club who attends matches and gets about with help. The person, suspected to be referred to, has been a respected rugby citizen. He has been a national player, referee, coach, club president as well as President of the SLRFU and the Referees’ Society. The loyal and resolute person who proposed and pushed for greater recognition of referees by making changes to the SLR Constitution which gave the Referees Society a place in the Council, a position which has changed during the past amendments to being only that of an observer.

That’s how much the talkers have done to keep the flag flying through being active in rugby politics for close to eight years. People ask “what can you expect from minions who make frivolous claims when the hierarchy insults those who have been loyal to the game”.

The assertion that it is all right if a referee makes five mistakes is another indication of a lack of depth in understanding. The question is not the number of errors but whether the errors had an impact on the game. If three are a game-changer, then you need to talk to the referee. If the mistakes are not even-handed, that is when a question of bias creeps in. Imagine the national carrier saying 99% of the time we get our landing right! Doubts also arise when you distribute digital goodies to some and not account or disclose the same in the annual report.

Amidst the juggling of the whistle, SLR is to amend the Constitution, which has already been tinkered a few times. The proposal has been confirmed by the SLR President as reported in this paper previously, which will allow ‘A’ Division clubs the right to vote. But it was carefully worded with no right to nominate. News is that the Ministry of Sports by letter dated 3 June to all Sports Federations has advised not to make any amendments till the conclusion of 2020 AGM. The instructions apply to those Federations who have appointed an Election Committee, and the SLR has done so.

All Provinces other than Western have agreed to the proposed amendment as reported. The opinion of rugby involved legal persons is that they do not see any bar in the sports law. Club personalities point out that though the provincial system is in force, there is no structuring of tournaments through the provincial system. The lifeblood being the ‘A’ Division clubs, they opine that they should have a say in the Union as well as the Council.

Sri Lanka Rugby is a composition of provincial unions which came into being in 1992. Guided and promoted by New Zealander Jeff Matheson, the proposal was similar to the system in New Zealand. The tournament structure in NZ is for Clubs in the provinces to play each other in a domestic tournament. After that, the provincial team plays in the Inter-Provincial Tournaments.

Amendments in recent times also included a similar structure for referees. It is that the Referees’ Society shall consist of Provincial Referees Societies, but so far limited only to paper.

During the sixties, the premier tournament was the Clifford Cup, for which 14 teams vied. They were: CR, CH, Havelocks, Kandy, DMCC, DACC, Uva, Kelani Valley, Police, Army, Air Force, Navy, Universities and Kandy Lake Club played. They played against each other on a home and away basis. On completion of the league, the top eight teams played on a knock-out basis for the Clifford Cup. These matches drew large crowds and were very popular. Rugby in the plantations folded with changes in estate ownership and management, and DMCC, DACC, Uva and Kelani Valley were lost.

After the exciting Constitutional expectation of 1992 and almost thirty years on, only eight teams are playing in the major league tournament. Since the Provincial Union came into existence, several new clubs have been registered from time to time and existed for short spells. There is no hope of a product of the provincial system ousting one or two of the clubs within the first eight. The eight will continue to play the league, however weak a team is compared to the first two or three teams.

There are about fifty schools playing rugby of which 24 play in two top divisions. The only option school leavers have is to join one of the eight club teams. What then happens to the rest of the players?

Smaller clubs that have sprung up have had their say by contributing to gather votes for the province at the AGM. The provincial system is a playground for mavericks, among whom some become kingmakers. Some hope with clubs being allowed to vote the mavericks will fade away.

It may be pertinent to bear down on those promoting these new clubs, as well as some who are leading provinces. The clout they have is in the form of votes.

Sources of leading clubs claim that they have little say. At the same time, the kingmakers include some who are holding office in the Referees Society, thus making a mockery of the independence of referees. No wonder they survive with fanciful stories on web programmes closed for questions.

A club punster asked: “How can Amit blame the one year of the New Zealand Consultant to the interim Committee of Chula Dharmadasa for not having numbers to replace retiring referees?” Amit has been in the hierarchy of the Referees Society for two years before the interim, and with Jamaldeen for four years. During the interim Amit was in charge of the Development Squad with Anil Jayasinghe. Rankothge was responsible for the hill country, and the majority in the system now are his products. Rankothge, however, is suspended but continues his work with the Central Province Referees. There is a combined effort of six to eight years, supported by a paid full-time manager for almost three years.

Several match officials vicariously influence a fair share of votes at the Union that can be decisive in the composition of the SLR Council. Is this why Presidents (current or hopeful) will not want to stir the pot as about five people in the Referees Committee influences votes.

Seven of eight clubs are asking for a vote at the AGM and proposing a change to the Constitution. Their main grouse is that the minor clubs and some tottering provinces are directing rugby in Sri Lanka. The changes to the Constitution must not be for a mere change in the voting system, but one that would address the long-term prospects of rugby in Sri Lanka.

The bait is set with ‘A’ Division clubs due to get one vote each for playing in A, B, C and women’s rugby. The catch, however, is while they have a vote, nomination can only be made through the provincial union. The solution may end up like the 1992 Constitution. What is better would be for the eight clubs to show more significant involvement in the provincial administration, as four of the eight clubs are from the Tri-forces and Police. They are spread around the country and have unit teams. They can be more involved so that the top eight have a grander say while a better team emerging is possible.

The stakes are high, and we learn a prominent Referees Society member is canvassing for changes in the Provincial Union.

Members are worried that the SLR may be toothless, as questions have been raised over appointments to Asian Rugby not sanctioned by the Council. It is said that the local body did not make any recommendations.

Rugby Scrapbook

Referees head makes an unkind cut

Changes loom before Rugby AGM

The West Indies squad led by Jason Holder is all set to embark on a historic Test tour of England, after all the players and support staff cleared the mandatory testing for COVID-19.

The squad will leave Antigua on Monday evening local time on a charter flight and touchdown in Manchester on Tuesday morning. The players will then enter a bio-secure environment at Emirates Old Trafford and train for the next three weeks, before heading to Southampton on 3 July for the first Test which begins on 8 July.

Last week West Indies announced a 25-man squad, including 11 reserves, for the three-Test series, which will be the first time cricket has been played in a bio-secure environment.

The tour had been awaiting final approval from the UK Government, as well as the National Governments in the Caribbean, all of which was granted over the weekend.

A further condition had stipulated that any player/support staff member testing positive for COVID-19 would not be permitted to take the

flight.“All the players’ and staff

test results are confirmed as negative,” Johnny Grave, the Cricket West Indies Chief Executive, told ESPNcricinfo.

Once the CWI had secured confirmation from the selected players about their willingness to tour, the tests were carried out and processed at a laboratory in Miami.

The 25 players will be accompanied by an 11-strong contingent of support staff, including assistant coach Roddy Estwick, plus Rayon Griffiths and Floyd Reifer, who is filling in as assistant coach (batting). The medical team comprises Dr.

Praimanand Singh (team doctor), Donald LaGuerre (mental coach), along with two physios and two massage therapists.

Phil Simmons, the head coach who is based in London, will join the squad in Manchester on Tuesday.

As per the travel directive of the UK Government, West Indies’ squad will need to self-isolate for two weeks, but they will be allowed to train during this period as they are staying at the on-site hotel at Old Trafford.

According to Grave, West Indies will start training from Wednesday and will play one three-day and one four-day matches, each of which will

be an intra-squad event.The logistics of West Indies’

departure involve two charter flights, fetching players from different countries within the Caribbean and bringing them to Antigua. As per the protocol finalised between the CWI and ECB, the squad along with Simmons will be tested again at Old Trafford.

“As soon as they get to Old Trafford they will go to a holding room in the stadium where they will be able to have breakfast and at the same time go in batches to get tested again. And then we should get those test results by Thursday,” Grave said.

Grave, who has been at the forefront of the negotiations with the ECB, said the tour would only be considered to be underway once the squad’s test results in England come back as negative.

“We will be training from Thursday once we get the UK test results back,” he said. “We’ve got to prepare as we’ve got to defend the Wisden Trophy. We are not going there to fulfil the ECB’s broadcast requirements; we are going there to win.”

(ESPN)

After passing Covid tests

Wi embark on historic England tour

Russian high jumper Alexander Shustov, the 2010 European champion, has slapped a four-year ban for anti-doping violations, the country’s Athletics Federation said on Monday. Shustov, who retired from competition in 2017, has been suspended until 2024 for ‘use or attempted use of a banned substance or prohibited method’ in a ruling by the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last week, the Federation said.

It added that Shustov’s results between July 2013 and July 2017, a period that encompasses his seventh-place finish at the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow, had been voided.

Shustov told TASS news agency that he disagreed with CAS’ decision. No other details, including the name of the banned substance or method, were disclosed.

Russia’s Athletics Federation was suspended in 2015 after a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found evidence of mass doping in the sport. The organisation has since been working to be reinstated by World Athletics, the global governing body of track and field.

(Reuters)

Shustov slapped with four-year

doping ban

The British & Irish Lions series against the world champion Springboks remains penciled in for July next year, but South African Rugby have confirmed there is a ‘slight chance’ it could be moved to align with a new global calendar.

The Lions tour has a planned 3 July 2021 start, with the three tests on consecutive weekends from 24 July onwards, but a mooted change to the sport’s global calendar could see a switch.

“The tour is going on and the time is still fixed on where it is, but there might be a date change,” SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux said in a Media briefing on Monday.

“There is a slight chance that, to align with a new global calendar, it might

move to either a September/October or October/November window, and that

is only because if that is the only hurdle of getting the global calendar across the line, we wouldn’t want to be the hindrance to that.”

Roux said a decision on the suggested global calendar shift, which would do away with mid-year internationals, could come as soon as 1 July, which would provide certainty on when the Lions tour will take place.

“Second only to the World Cup, it is the biggest thing on the calendar,” Roux added. “The commercial model we have put up as a joint venture between us and the Lions is actually pretty ‘out there’.

(Reuters)

Dates could depend on global calendarLions tour to South Africa

Former Anandian cager Sudesh Rupasinghe has been re-elected President of Sri Lanka Basketball Referees’ Association at their AGM held recently.

Sudesh is an outstanding sportsman and the elder son of former Mr. Asia and Mr. Sri Lanka Bodybuilder late Robert Rupasinghe.

Rupasinghe has held key positions in many National sports bodies, including basketball and athletics. He has been an innovative and popular sports administrator.

President: Sudesh RupasingheSecretary: Thusitha Yatigammanavice Presidents: Buddhika Kumudapperuma/Channa

PereraAssistant Secretary: Eran SudharshaAssignment Secretary: Ranil SurangaTreasurer: G. BuddhikaCommittee Members: Ajith Kumara, Janaka Fernando,

Christopher Karunasinghe, Charitha Dodangoda, Sujeewa Wijeweera, Pradeep Lakmal

Sudesh re-elected head of

basketball referees

Jason Holder and Joe Root

Sudesh Rupasinghe

Alexander Shustov

Action from the 2019 Rugby World Cup match between South Africa and England

Published by Ceylon Newspapers (Pvt) Limited, 101, Rosmead Place, Colombo 7 and printed at its press at No. 302/1A, Minuwangoda Road, Ja-Ela.

SPORTSA16 Wednesday 10 JUne 2020

By Mustaq sydeen

Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) is in talks with 11 more foreign-based Sri Lankan footballers, and if everything goes according to plan, expect to bring them down to join the Men’s squad before the upcoming remaining World Cup qualifiers in October and November, FFSL President Anura de Silva said.

Commenting on the availability of foreign-based SL players the FFSL President said: “Yes, we have identified 11 new foreign-based SL players. We are in talks with them and we have informed

them to apply for dual citizenship. After their paper work is completed, we are hoping to bring them down before the remaining World Cup qualifiers with the intention of taking the sport in the country to the next level.”

In recent years FFSL has raided foreign nests for young talented overseas players who have a Sri Lankan background to join the National team, and met with success when they were able to bring down a few players to play for their motherland. Some of the notable foreign-based stars are Wazeem Razeek from Germany and Marvin Hamilton from

England and Yasmin Bunter from England to join the women’s team.

FFSL President also reflected on Sri Lanka’s poor performance in their 2022 World Cup qualifiers thus far, where they are yet to pick up a win in their group.

“Yes, we couldn’t (so far) register a single win during the World Cup qualifying process, but players are working hard for a win and the team is also under a new coach. With the inclusion of foreign-based players we have the advantage of building a better side than we had,” said Anura de Silva.

Ceylon Today learns if FFSL’s

talks with these players are successful they can make arrangements to bring down these players as soon as possible to play for Sri Lanka. Recruiting such talent will be a much faster route to making progress in future World Cups.

In the recent past, countries such as Asian champions Qatar and China have drafted players of foreign nationalities into their squads and achieved success.

Following a similar route Sri Lanka’s National squad would naturally be strengthened. However, the biggest challenge to the administrators is to bring these players back home.

Foreign-based Sri Lankan footballers

FFSL on hunt for 11 more players

Expect to bring them down in Oct/Nov before remaining WC qualifiers

Wazeem Razeek Marvin Hamilton Yasmin Bunter ?

Bangladesh are unlikely to tour Sri Lanka in July for their scheduled three-match Test series after senior players expressed reservations against travelling as early as next month in the wake of the constantly evolving coronavirus situation.

Cricbuzz has learnt that the Bangladesh Cricket Board officials met with the leading cricketers via teleconference to get their perspective, with all of them unanimously agreeing to not tour in that time frame. “How can we go to Sri Lanka in the present context? If we sustain the virus will it be possible to return back to our country? Suppose our family members have a similar case can we play cricket keeping everything aside?’’ a senior cricketer told Cricbuzz on request of anonymity.

BCB Cricket Operation Chairman Akram Khan admitted the low probability of that series being played as per original schedule. “Yes we had spoken with some of the players and they did not show any interest [to tour during that point of time]” Akram told Cricbuz. “I think chances are very slim about the Sri Lanka tour commencing on scheduled time frame.”

Bangladesh were originally scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka in the third week of July and are penciled in to play Tests in Colombo, Galle and Kandy - all part of ICC Test Championship. It is learnt that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is still trying to convince BCB about visiting in September under a revised itinerary, though SLC is yet to officially comment in this regard.

Akram clarified that any decision regarding the tour will be based on having sufficient time to prepare for the series, drawing attention to the COVID-19 numbers and play readiness of the two countries.

Sri Lanka, among the few countries to have managed the pandemic to a large extent, has already got its players into training together, but on the other hand some leading cricketers were not allowed to train at the stadium by BCB. Though BCB has now decided to let the cricketers train individually, it appears they are not too sure whether all the national stars will avail this opportunity.

“Where Sri Lanka is thinking of playing cricket we are yet to resume training at our own backyard, and more importantly, we cannot say when the condition will improve,” Akram said. “We are trying to find out who wants to train individually so that we can prepare the ground for them but I am not too sure whether everyone wants to do it or it is just a wish of few cricketers.

“We cannot go there without proper preparation because it is a three-match Test series. They players are out of cricket for a long time, so after returning to cricket they will at least need 40 days training comprised with one month skill training following a 10-day fitness camp. So we cannot commit anything right away regarding the Sri Lanka tour,” Akram added.

© Cricbuzz

The Special General Meeting (SGM) summoned by Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) to be held on 19 June to pass an amendment to its Constitution before the SLR election, has been postponed until further notice.

SLR has informed all affiliated provinces and members by letter about the cancellation, which is due to the rule imposed by the Sports Ministry recently, and has

given the reason for the postponement.

The directive issued by the Secretary, Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, states that once an Election Committee is appointed it is not ethical to make amendments to the Constitution of National Federations, and hence, request amendments, if any, be made after the conclusion of the Election/AGM.

Therefore, the date of the

SGM with regard to the resolution which was submitted and tabled at the Council meeting held on 28 May 2020 which was fixed for 19 June 2020 has been postponed to a date after the Election/AGM and provinces/members will be informed in due course.

The proposed amendment to the Constitution is to permit ‘A’ Division founder clubs to get full membership with

voting rights.Out of the seven provinces

only WPRFU did not agree to pass the new amendment before the election, which they said was suddenly tabled at the last SLR Council meeting. However, subsequently after the WPRFU Committee had met, it was decided to seek legal opinion regarding the new amendment prior to arriving at a final decision.

(AG)

Younis Khan is the latest addition to the Pakistan coaching staff as the former Pakistan captain has been appointed as batting coach for the upcoming tour of England, Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Tuesday (9 June).

The Misbah-ul-Haq led coaching staff, which also includes Waqar Younis as the bowling coach, will be further bolstered by the presence of Mushtaq Ahmed who will join the team in England as spin coach and mentor for the series that includes three Tests and three T20Is.

“For me, there has never been a bigger honour and a better feeling than to represent my country and I feel privileged to have been again offered the opportunity to serve it for a challenging but exciting tour of England,” said Younis Khan about his appointment. “The Pakistan side includes some immensely talented cricketers who have the potential to achieve greater heights. Together with Misbah-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed and Waqar Younis, we will try to make them better and prepare them as best as we can with on and off field coaching and guidance.

Younis Khan, who scored in excess of 10,000 runs in Test cricket, including a career-best 313 against Sri Lanka in 2009, has done well in England - with 810 runs in 16 innings at an average of more than 50, including two hundreds and three half-centuries.

“I have never been shy of sharing my experiences and knowledge, and I think this particular tour provides me with an ideal opportunity where I can spend post-training time with the players to engage with them on batting techniques, bowler assessments, mental toughness exercises, besides talking

them through with scenario planning.“We all know English conditions demand

not only precise technique but patience and discipline, and if you can master these, then you will not only excel in England but anywhere in the world. With the quality we have in the team, I think we have a good chance to produce good results if we prepare properly, get our processes right and hit the ground running as soon as we

land,” added Younis Khan.Welcoming his former team-mate to the

side in his new role, Misbah said: “(I) look forward to reuniting with him in Pakistan colours as our cricket careers have almost run concurrently. We know each other better than most think as we have worked hand in glove in the past decade to contribute in some of Pakistan’s most historic and memorable Test wins. When I took over the captaincy during a difficult period in 2010, Younis proved to be a great ally and support, and I am confident he will provide similar assistance as we head to England with a clear objective of putting Pakistan cricket back on the road to success.

“With the reputation and record Younis brings with him not only as a disciplined and hardworking batsman, but also as an athletic fielder and a strategist. I see this as a great opportunity for our young players to hone their skills and learn how to make the transition from a good to a great cricketer. It always requires more than just talent to stamp your mark on the world stage, something which Younis demonstrated throughout his career.

“Mushtaq Ahmed is loaded with the experience of helping elite cricketers from different countries and is widely regarded as a mentor. Mushtaq is always involved in the game and this attitude will further help us in our pre-series preparations and enhance our prospects in the series,” added Misbah.

Meanwhile, the PCB also added that additional players will be sent on the tour of England, which is likely to begin in August following the conclusion of England’s three-Test series against West Indies.

© Cricbuzz

As Australia moves ahead with relaxing a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, a State Government gave the all clear for more than 2,000 fans to attend an Australian Rules Football game at a stadium in Adelaide this weekend.

“Football and crowds are back in South Australia,” Steven Marshall, South Australia’s Premier told reporters in the State Capital on Tuesday, heralding the match between the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide.

Professional sport was allowed to resume in Australia last month after a two-month hiatus, but it will become one of the first nations to admit spectators to stadiums as lockdowns begin to be relaxed in many countries.

Australia has suffered at least 102 COVID-19 deaths and about 7,200 infections, but it has not reported a death for more than a week, and new cases have dwindled to less than 20 daily.

The Government has pledged to remove the bulk of social distancing restrictions by the end of July, though some States are moving slower than others.

Last Saturday, thousands of Australians marched in solidarity with US protesters angered by the death of a black man in Police custody.

While the lockdown and social distancing measures have slowed the spread of COVID-19, the economy has taken a hit, with data released last week showing it had tipped into recession, but officials tried to strike a positive note.

“Given the improved health outlook for Australia, the impact of COVID-19 on the economy will be smaller,” Steven Kennedy, Secretary to Australia’s Treasury Department told lawmakers in Canberra.

“However, this will still be the single biggest economic shock Australia has faced in living memory.”

(Reuters)

Bangladesh tour of SL in doubt

Senior players express reservations

As COVID-19 cases slow

Australian State lets sports fans back in stadiums

SLR postpones Special General Meeting

England tour

Younis Khan named batting coach

Younis-Khan