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IRRESISTIBLE FRENCH OPEN ACTION: ‘DJOKER’ ASSERTS AGAIN HE IS WORLD NO.1 »SEE PAGE 11

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� www.themorning.lkVOL 01 | NO 99 | Rs. 30.00

� Late CityTUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021

World Day Against Child Labour 2021

MINIMUM AGE FOR EMPLOYMENT IN

SRI LANKA RAISED FROM 14 TO 16

»SEE PAGE 5

THE BIRTH OF THE DIGITAL ART

CONNOISSEUR

BY PAMODI WARAVITA

The first interim compensation claim of

$ 40 million related to the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster, covering the costs incurred in the 23 May to 3 June period, has already been sent

to the ship’s owners in London, England, Minister of Justice Ali Sabry said yesterday (14).

The claim has been compiled by all the relevant government institutions, he said at a press conference held at the Justice Ministry, following a stakeholder meeting held with regard to the matter.

Contd. on page 2

MV X-PRESS PEARL COMPENSATION

Minister of Justice Ali Sabry

z International experts to arrive in July

z First interim claim covering 11-day period

$ 40 m claim sent to ship owner

‘Can we eat fish or not?’

BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA

The National Movement for Consumer Rights

Protection (NMCRP) said that the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) should make a statement to the public as to whether the fish available for sale are in a condition suitable for human consumption in the aftermath of the MV X-Press Pearl marine disaster.

When contacted by The Morning to inquire about this, NMCRP Chairman Ranjith Vithanage said that the DGHS is the competent authority of the Food Act, No. 26 of 1980 as amended.

Contd. on page 2

z Consumers ask Health Director General

z Cites DG as competent authority as per Food Act

YOUNG POET DETAINED UNDER PTA

BY PAMODI WARAVITA

Attorney-at-Law (AAL) Sanjaya Wilson

Jayasekera, the lawyer of detained poet Ahnaf Jazeem, has claimed that the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) produced the poet in court on 12 June without informing the lawyer, depriving the lawyer of an opportunity to make any submissions before the court in Jazeem’s defence.

Contd. on page 2

Poet produced in Colombo court without lawyer

Detained poet Ahnaf Jazeem

BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE

The High Commission of India in Colombo is unaware of the incident related to

the tightening of security along the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu on 12 June following information that armed men sailing on a boat from Sri Lanka planned to enter the State with a sinister design.

Contd. on page 2

Indian HC, Interpol unaware of armed Lankan group

In response to the adoption of a resolution on Sri Lanka in the European Parliament

on 10 June 2021, the Foreign Ministry yesterday (14) stated that that the resolution contains factual inaccuracies and does not take cognisance of the multifaceted progress made by Sri Lanka in reconciliation and development.

Contd. on page 2

EU resolution inaccurate and unaware of SL’s progress: Foreign Ministry

The meeting between Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Chargé d’Affaires of the Delegation of the European Union in Colombo Thorsten Bargfrede and Colombo-based EU Ambassadors.

BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has taken steps to

conduct islandwide inspections to determine if Covid-19 vaccines are being traded through pharmacies.

Contd. on page 2

NMRA begins crackdown on vaccines sellers

BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE

Sri Lanka has recorded a series of smuggling

activities in the coastal areas of the island, according to Police Media Spokesman Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Ajith Rohana.

Speaking at a press conference, he said that

most of the smuggling activities have been reported from Negombo, Chilaw, Puttalam, and the coastline from Mannar to Jaffna.

Contd. on page 2

Coastal areas awash with drug smuggling: Police

DIG Ajith Rohana

BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE

The continued prohibition on liquor sales due to the existing travel restrictions in

the country is resulting in a Rs. 600 million daily tax loss for the Excise Department, The Morning learnt.

Contd. on page 2

Rs. 600 m daily tax loss due to liquor sales ban

z Illicit liquor on the rise: Excise Commissioner General

z Plans to allow liquor sales during lockdown

Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera

Special courts for monks requestedBY PAMODI WARAVITA

Sri Lanka Ramanna Sect Southern Chapter Chief Sanghanayake (Leader of Monks)

Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa requesting the establishment of courts and tribunals dedicated to the Buddhist clergy.

Contd. on page 2

z Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera writes to President

VEHICLE IMPORTATION LCs

Will not import, Finance Ministry reiterates

BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA

Despite allegations made by various parties that the relevant Letters of Credit (LCs) have

not been cancelled even though the Government has decided to suspend the importation...

Contd. on page 2

z Allow LCs to expire or auction vehicles on arrival: AKD

LITRO GAS ‘PREMIUM HYBRID’ CONTROVERSY

BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), through its regional offices, has taken

steps to carry out raids islandwide to find traders who hide the 12.5 kilo (kg) Litro Gas cylinders.

When contacted by The Morning, an official of the CAA’s raid unit said that raids are being carried out through the regional offices covering all the provinces. He said that the CAA would initiate legal action against traders who refuse to sell 12.5 kg Litro Gas cylinders in their possession and those who influence consumers not to buy them.

Contd. on page 2

CAA to nab traders hiding 12.5 kg cylinder

PHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM

Following displeasure and controversy over the delay in

reporting deaths related to Covid-19, the Ministry of Health assured the public yesterday (14) that in the future, all such deaths will be reported on the same day or within 24 to 48 hours.

Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, speaking at a press conference, said a new system is in place now.

“Earlier, we reported deaths on a daily basis, including deaths which

occurred much prior to that day. However, from today onwards, all deaths related to Covid will be reported on the same day or within 48 hours. We now have a system in place to report all deaths within 24 to 48 hours.”

On Thursday (10), the Ministry of Health told The Morning that it classifies deaths of people with Covid-19 in two ways, namely “Covid-19 deaths” and “deaths with Covid-19”, and it is this differentiation that leads to delays in releasing statistics.

“In simple terms, what we consider a ‘Covid-19 death’ is any death that would not have happened if that person had not contracted the infection. The official numbers record this category of deaths as ‘Covid-19 deaths’ or a ‘Covid-19 death’. In other cases, if a postmortem PCR test result comes back positive, it is regarded as a ‘death with Covid-19’,” explained Deputy Director General of Public Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath.

Contd. on page 3

Covid-19 deaths to be reported within 48 hours

z New system to eliminate delays: Health Ministry

A total of eight parties affiliated with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)-led

Government issued a joint statement yesterday (14) critical of SLPP General Secretary and Parliamentarian Sagara Kariyawasam’s attempt to blame Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila for the Government’s collective decision to increase fuel prices.

Govt.’s partners back Gammanpila, slam SLPP’s Sagara

Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila

Contd. on page 3

‘Port officials let fire spread’

MV X-PRESS PEARL DISASTER

BY PAMODI WARAVITA

President’s Counsel (PC) Sarath Jayamanne, appearing on behalf of the Captain of the ill-fated vessel MV X-Press Pearl, Russian national Tyutkalo Vitaly, at the Colombo High

Court yesterday (14), alleged that officials of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) had allowed the fire to spread onboard the ship without controlling it, in the hope of receiving compensation for the damages.

Jayamanne said that after the Captain had informed the SLPA about the fire on 20 May, SLPA officials had boarded the ship at 4.30 p.m. on the same day and inspected it for about one-and-a-half hours.

Appearing on behalf of the Attorney General’s (AG) Department, Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Tennakoon claimed that the Captain and his crew had hidden the acid leakage in a container aboard the

vessel from the Sri Lankan authorities when entering the country’s territorial waters.

Quoting a report by

the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), Tennakoon also noted that the damage to the country’s marine environment has both short and long-term effects.

Furthermore, Tennakoon also said that due to the wrecked ship, a situation has arisen where other ships cannot cross through that sea area. Thus, he said that the Captain has violated Section 26 of the Marine Pollution Prevention Act.

Subsequent to Vitaly’s arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday and being produced before the Colombo High Court, the Captain had been enlarged on a personal bail of Rs. 2 million.

The case will be heard again on 1 July.

Contd. on page 2

z Captain arrested and released on Rs. 2 m personal bail

To LISTEN to our lead story, scan this QR

code on your device

zExplosive allegation by Captain’s lawyers

z Claim inaction was with eye on compensation

zAG’s Dept. alleges Captain/crew knowingly concealed leakThe Captian of

the MV X-Press Pearl, Russian national Tyutkalo Vitaly, leaving the Colombo High Court Yesterday(14)PHOTO KRISHAN

KARIYAWASAM

COVID-19 CASES

THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 10.30 P.M. ON 14 JUNE 2021 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU

ACTIVE CASES

33,255225,922

TOTAL CASES

DEATHS RECOVERED

2,203 190,464

42

{ NEWS } � www.themorning.lk Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Contd. from page 1

‘Port... The MV X-Press Pearl ship caught fire on

20 May approximately nine nautical miles away from the Colombo Harbour, after having anchored there a few hours prior to the fire. A subsequent explosion on 24 May led to the fire spreading and a number of containers aboard it falling into the sea, thus releasing pollutants and chemicals including plastic pellets into the water. Both the fisheries industry and the country’s marine environment have suffered heavily as a result of this incident.

‘Can we...“It has been a considerable time since the ship

caught fire on 20 May and fishing has since been allowed in the previously declared no fishing zone, but the DGHS has so far failed to make a statement regarding the quality of the fish.”

He added that due to the reluctance of the people to buy fish at present, the income of those engaged in the fishing industry has come down drastically, and that there is a likelihood of the prices of products such as chicken and eggs going up.

Meanwhile, when contacted by The Morning, Fisheries Ministry Secretary R.M.I. Rathnayake said that studies which have been carried out have not revealed that the fish are unfit for human consumption. She further said that if the fish are unfit for consumption, the public will be made aware of it.

“There are times when people are reluctant to consume fish. For example, during the tsunami disaster and in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, people abstained from consuming fish. But that situation is gradually returning to normal,” she noted.

Attempts to contact DGHS Dr. Asela Gunawardena to inquire about the matter, were unsuccessful.

The doomed ship MV X-Press Pearl carried 1,486 containers, with contents including 25 tonnes of nitric acid (which can be used in the manufacture of fertilisers and explosives), other chemicals, cosmetics ,and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) pellets. It caught fire on 20 May, 9.5 nautical miles (17.6 kilometres) north-west of the Colombo Port, after an explosion aboard the vessel. A number of containers fell overboard, polluting the ocean with plastic pellets, among other harmful substances.

Meanwhile, the carcasses of deceased marine life have been washing up ashore on the western coastline in the wake of the disaster, even though no official link has been scientifically found yet to attribute the marine creatures’ deaths to the said marine disaster.

Poet produced...Jazeem was produced at the Colombo

Magistrate’s Court on 12 June, but Jayasekera said he was not communicated the court hearing date beforehand and was only informed about Jazeem’s appearance in court when he had inquired about it.

Speaking to The Morning, Jayasekera said that although Jazeem’s father had called the Tangalle Detention Centre on 12 June, where Jazeem was previously held, it had not been communicated to him that Jazeem had been brought to Colombo to be produced before the court.

When Jayasekera had contacted the TID yesterday (14) morning, they had informed him that Jazeem had been brought to Colombo on 11 June and produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court the following day under Section 8(2) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA).

Jayasekera further added that the non-communication of the court date to the lawyers or the family prior to Jazeem being produced in court is unacceptable.

Currently, Jazeem is being held at the Colombo Remand Prison and will be produced before Court again on 22 June.

Jazeem was arrested in connection to his Tamil language poetry anthology, titled Navarasam (Nine Emotions), which the authorities have alleged promoted “extremist” ideology. However, Tamil language Prof. Macbool Ali Mohammed Nuhman has been quoted as stating: “There are several poems against extremism, violence, and war in this collection.”

A number of local and international organisations, including Amnesty International, have condemned this arbitrary arrest and called for the poet’s immediate release.

A resolution adopted by the EU Parliament last Thursday (10) stated that it is gravely concerned about the arbitrary arrests and detention under Sri Lanka’s PTA without due process and access to justice of various civil society actors, including lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah, poet Jazeem, and former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director Shani Abeysekera.

$ 40 m...Sabry further explained that five experts’

committees have been tasked with calculating the main claim which would cover the losses suffered by the country due to the disaster. He added that steps have been taken to form a separate entity headed by an Additional Secretary from the Ministry of Ports and Shipping to allow outside

or third parties to inform about the damages that they have sustained as a result of the incident.

Furthermore, he said that international help has also been sought in this process following a discussion with United Nations (UN) Resident Co-ordinator to Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer. Therefore, three experts will be arriving in the country by 15 July to advise on further steps.

“Based on the Attorney General’s advice, we are also in discussions with the Shipowners’ Club on what to do with the harmful, toxic substances that are inside the ship and on how best to remove the wreckage from the Sri Lankan waters to the international waters,” said Sabry.

Steps are also being taken to seek help from international legal experts if needed, he added.

Meanwhile, foreign media reports last week said a large oil spill is visible around the wrecked MV X-Press Pearl ship. Investigations were conducted into the matter and government sources told The Morning yesterday that there has been no bunker oil leakage from the ship, although the substance could be oils from lubricants.

Minister Sabry also noted in the press conference that while the rollout of the Rs. 5,000 compensation for those affected in the fishing communities, along those in the western coast, has begun and that the Government acknowledges the loss cannot be limited to Rs. 5,000. He said that once compensation from the ship’s owners is received, fishing families would also be able to claim their losses.

Coastal areas...“Most of the smugglers select these areas to

transport illegal drugs since it is easier for them to reach the island. Presently, they use different techniques to smuggle drugs.”

The Navy, during a special search operation conducted in the coastal area of Polwathumodara, Weligama, on the night of 12 June, seized over 219 kilos of heroin attempted to be smuggled into the island by sea and arrested nine suspects in connection with the smuggling.

“The stock of drugs had been concealed in sacks and gas cylinders when the apprehension was made. The Navy and the Police Narcotic Bureau are conducting further investigations into the incident.”

According to Rohana, some of the raids are combined operations conducted by the Police, the Excise Department, along with security forces personnel.

The Police have introduced several numbers to obtain and receive information about such incidents and the public can call on 1997,119, or 0112433333 to report such incidents.

Meanwhile, Customs Chief Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Vijitha Ravipriya, who was also present at the occasion, said that some of the countries in Europe were surprised with the performance of Customs as Customs officers were able to seize a large consignment of illegal cigarettes ready to be re-exported to a number of European countries.

“Customs seized a large consignment of illegal cigarettes worth Rs. 9.5 billion recently. The consignment was seized by officials attached to the Customs Compliance and Facilitation Division while inspecting 21 containers at the Colombo Port. They were ready to be re-exported to a number of European countries including the Netherlands and Germany as Sri Lankan spices and black tea. The Customs suspect that these illegal imports might have been linked with internationally organised racketeers and we therefore shared our details with other countries to prevent such,” he said.

Ravipriya also claimed that the total tax loss to the Government, if the racketeers were successful, would have been around Rs. 9 billion.

Indian HC...Sources said that the High Commission is

only aware of the media reports now and that therefore, they have no update on this issue.

The Hindu website reported that according to police sources, the alert was issued by a coastal security agency after a caller from Sri Lanka informed a police station in Madurai City that the men in possession of assault rifles were heading towards the Rameswaram coast. Investigators were attempting to verify the caller’s identity and establish the identity of the suspects whose names were given as Ameer, Bharkath, and Naseer.

The Police were co-ordinating with coastal security and intelligence agencies to establish the veracity of the alert. Random checks were being conducted in remote buildings along the eastern coastline, according to the reports. Intelligence sources in the Kerala Police have indicated that they have also stepped up vigil across the coastal towns of the State after tip-offs from the agencies.

However, when The Morning contacted the Sri Lanka Army and the Defence Ministry, both noted that they had read these media reports and that the Government of Sri Lanka would send a media release after investigations, since this is a sensitive matter.

Accordingly, Police Media Spokesman Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Ajith Rohana also said that the Interpol is not aware of this incident.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Police arrested 23 Sri Lankan nationals from an industrial complex near Madurai after they illegally landed in

NMRA...Speaking to The Morning, a top official

attached to the NMRA said that although inspections were carried out, no pharmacy selling Covid-19 vaccines had been found thus far. However, he added that the NMRA hopes to expand the inspections.

The public is also requested to inform the NMRA if they know of any place or person selling vaccines, he added.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Health Deputy Director General of Public Health Services and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath told The Morning that if any person is asked to pay for a Covid-19 vaccine, they should immediately lodge a complaint with the Health Ministry or other relevant authorities.

EU resolution...Addressing concerns raised regarding the

Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA), the Ministry stated it was invoked to address heinous acts of terrorism committed on Sri Lanka’s people, and recalled that the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks of 2019 resulted in significant loss of life, including of several European Union (EU) nationals.

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, at a meeting convened at the Foreign Ministry on Monday 14 June 2021, briefed Chargé d’Affaires of the Delegation of the European Union in Colombo Thorsten Bargfrede, as well Colombo-based EU Ambassadors/Chargé d’Affaires from France, Italy, Romania, Germany, and the Netherlands on the Sri Lanka Government’s position. Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda, State Minister of Regional Co-operation Tharaka Balasuriya, and Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage also participated in the meeting.

It was further underscored in the press release that the Government of Sri Lanka maintains a regular, vibrant, and cordial dialogue with the EU, covering all aspects of bilateral relations.

“The engagement is sustained through the close and cordial dialogue maintained with the European Commission, the Council, and the Parliament by the Sri Lanka Mission in Brussels, and with the EU delegation and EU Ambassadors in Colombo by senior interlocutors of Government,” the Foreign Ministry stated.

As part of this process, the Ministry noted that Sri Lanka has constructive engagement with the European Commission on the review of its EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) compliance with the 27 core International Conventions. Towards this end, the Ministry said the third cycle of review of the EU GSP+ monitoring process for 2020-2021 is ongoing.

The EU Parliament on Thursday (10) adopted a resolution calling on the EU Commission to consider the temporary withdrawal of the GSP+ afforded to Sri Lanka if the Government of Sri Lanka does not take steps to repeal the PTA.

With regard to salient points referred to in the resolution, the Ministry said it submits the following observations with a view to correction.

“The Government has, in accordance with its constitutional mandate and international obligations, taken steps to protect the rights of all its citizens. Specific provision in terms of Article 12(1) of Sri Lanka’s Constitution ensures that all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law. Article 12(2) of the Constitution prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, language, caste, sex, political opinion, place of birth, or any such grounds.

“The Government is in the process of revisiting provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, in keeping with its commitments, as has been communicated to the EU. Towards this endeavour, the Government is studying existing legislation to propose necessary amendments, and will also draw on international best practices adopted by other jurisdictions. The Government rejects the claim that the PTA has been systematically used for arbitrary arrests and the detention of Muslim or other minority groups in Sri Lanka.

“It is observed that the 20th Amendment was enacted in full compliance with the procedure set out in the Constitution with a two-thirds majority of the Members of Parliament voting in its favour. With regard to such legislation, a number of in-built safeguards relating to transparency and judicial review aimed at preventing the passage of bills that are inconsistent with the Constitution, including its Fundamental Rights chapter, have been adhered to.

“The Government has regularly updated the Human Rights Council as well as EU interlocutors on the measures undertaken to address issues of accountability and to achieve continued progress in reconciliation. Mechanisms in place in this regard include the

Presidential Commission of Inquiry headed by a Justice of the Supreme Court; the Office of Missing Persons; the Office of Reparations, the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation; and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka; and related institutional reforms aimed at non-recurrence and other confidence building measures. With regard to sustainable development, the Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by the Prime Minister to steer SDG implementation is of significance.

“Sri Lanka’s labour rights, including health and safety conditions, are in compliance with ILO standards. Sri Lanka’s high labour standards maintained in production have led to better-quality products and high-value-added exports, as reflected in the apparel sector. The higher demand for ‘ethical’ products from Sri Lanka has led to increased production, subsequent investment, and improvement of the human capital in Sri Lanka. The EU GSP+ concessions have contributed significantly towards this process, thus benefiting the Sri Lankan economy, as well as the EU market. Similarly, the fishery sector is a notable growth sector which has benefited from EU GSP+ concessions.

“Sri Lanka, as one of the oldest parliamentary democracies in Asia, has a longstanding vibrant democracy. The country’s robust foreign policy is based on the principles of neutrality, non-alignment and friendship. The Government is committed to further strengthening its democratic institutions. As asserted by the Spokesperson of the sixth EU Election Observation Mission to Sri Lanka in November 2019, which comprised Members of the EU Parliament, the peaceful environment in which the election unfolded ‘confirms the stability of the (country’s) democratic institutions’. These remarks remain valid.

“The Covid-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact globally, placing drastic limitations upon the right to safety, health, economic security, and even the right to life of millions of people across the globe. Sri Lanka continues to face challenges in spite of consistent and concerted efforts by the Government to safeguard its entire population against the pandemic, and to provide equitable access to vaccines. In this backdrop, the Government appreciates the commitment of global multilateral institutions and UN agencies to uphold the economic, social, and cultural rights of all peoples, which are intrinsically linked to civil and political rights. Sri Lanka’s commitment to upholding human rights continues in tandem with its current priorities of inoculating its targeted population, providing healthcare, and economic revival,” the Foreign Ministry stated.

The Ministry added that Sri Lanka should be supported in safeguarding the rights of its people, while taking cognisance of demonstrated progress on the ground and that the Government looks forward to continuing its partnership with the EU on a broad range of issues, and reassured the EU of its continued commitment to engage proactively and productively on areas of mutual interest.

Rs. 600 m...Speaking to the media, Excise Commissioner

General M.J. Gunasiri said that since the sale of alcohol was banned with the indefinite closure of all licensed liquor sales outlets, the consumption of illicit liquor has also increased.

“We have observed that the production and the demand for illicit liquor and drugs have increased. Some people have even resorted to distilling spirits at home. This is a dangerous trend as the illegal brew can even poison tipplers due to the lack of standardisation. The Excise Department has received many concerns from members of the public on purchasing liquor during the past month. We are considering this due to the high demand for illicit liquor and drugs.”

However, according to Gunasiri, the Excise Department is still conducting discussions about this request.

He also revealed that the Excise Department has conducted 370 raids till 30 April this year, concerning illegal contraband such as cigarettes and ethanol, and that 90 raids had been done with regard to alcohol.

Local liquor is also available in the black market at exorbitant prices. A 750 ml bottle of Extra Special Arrack (commonly known as “gal”), usually sold at Rs. 1,600, had spiked to Rs. 5,000 over the past few days. The pricing had started at around Rs. 2,500 per bottle, but had shot up as the product remained out of bounds with the extension of the travel restrictions, sources told The Morning.

The Excise Department granted permission to facilitate the sale of liquor in “Safe and Secure Level One Hotels” during the travel restrictions, which are Tourist Board-approved star-class properties which accommodate foreign visitors. The foreigners arriving in Sri Lanka under the air transport bio-bubble travel concept can be served liquor if they are in-house guests of a star-class hotel. This facility was granted to give foreigners access to liquor during their stay in Sri Lanka.

Special courts...In the letter, the Thera has urged the

President to enforce Article 105 (4) of the Constitution which provides for the creation and establishment of courts, tribunals, or institutions for the settlement of matters specifically relating to bhikkhus, in the performance of services or in relation to temples, or with regard to any

dispute between bhikkhus (Buddhist monks). “Currently, bhikkhus are forced to settle legal

disputes relating to temples and discipline-related behaviour and conduct through the usual legal system and courts, which has led to bhikkhus being mocked in the presence of lawyers who may hold different views,” Dr. Sobhitha Thera claimed.

The letter further claimed that bhikkhus being forced to access normal courts has also resulted in Buddhist monks being forced to subject themselves to orders that are outside of the discipline, exorbitant legal fees, and a lengthy time period when following the legal process.

Thus, the monk has requested urgent and special attention to the matter from President Rajapaksa.

Thoothukudi without any travel documents in April, on their way to Canada. Acting on a tip-off, the Q-Branch Police arrested the 23 foreigners, including two Sinhalese, on 10 June from a vehicle parts building unit at an industrial estate, a police officer told The Hindu. The Lankan nationals, aged between 20 years and 44 years, were promised lucrative jobs in Canada. Most of them were residents of Mullaitivu. An individual from Sri Lanka, Mayuran alias Kannan, had taken them in three fibre boats on 27 April and dropped them in a launch, mid sea. However, they landed in Thoothukudi and were secretly brought to Madurai.

Will not......of 225 luxury vehicles, including sports

utility vehicles (SUVs), for Members of Parliament (MPs), the Ministry of Finance has reiterated that the importation of said vehicles would not take place.

When contacted by The Morning yesterday (14), Finance Ministry and Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle said the 225 vehicles in question would not be imported and that the Ministry hopes to issue a detailed statement in this regard.

However, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake alleged last week that the relevant LCs had been opened without obtaining the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. He also alleged that there was a huge fraud behind the Government’s move to import these vehicles, adding that the importation of this vehicle consignment would cost about $ 18 million and could instead be used to import about 3.6 million Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccines.

“We ask the Government to stop this importation. What the Government states now is that the LCs can’t be cancelled. However, when the Government suspended the importation of vehicles earlier, a large number of LCs were allowed to expire, following which they were cancelled. Therefore, the Government can allow these LCs to expire too. The next suggestion is to sell the vehicles at a public auction after importing them, if the import cannot be stopped. Using the income that can be earned by selling these vehicles, loans can be repaid. Some of it can also be given to the businessmen whose businesses collapsed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We, as the JVP, will not use these vehicles and will announce later on what to do with them,” Dissanayake said, addressing a press conference.

The JVP has filed a case before the Supreme Court in this regard.

Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawega (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, issuing a statement in this regard, requested the Government to take steps to import 112 ambulances to replace the vehicles that are to be imported for MPs if the LCs could not be cancelled.

The Cabinet in April decided to import a certain number of vehicles in order to boost the efficiency of the Government’s development drive. The decision to import said vehicles was made following a cabinet memorandum submitted by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

At the time, the Government took a decision to suspend the issuance of duty-free vehicle permits, and to provide a solution to the issue of MPs not being given duty-free permits to import vehicles, a decision was taken to import a total of 375 vehicles, including 225 luxury jeeps, 50 ambulances, 50 water bowsers, and 50 cabs under a Rs. 3.7 billion leasing facility offered by a state bank.

In this context, the Cabinet, on 24 May, decided to suspend the import of even a limited number of vehicles. The decision was taken when the Cabinet, chaired by the Premier, convened online. The Government is now, however, to go ahead with the importation of the said ambulances, bowsers, and cabs.

CAA to...Speaking further, he said that if someone is

aware of such traders, they can call the CAA’s hotlines – 0117755475 and 0117755467 – and convey the information.

The CAA recently issued an extraordinary gazette notification informing manufacturers and traders that 12.5 kg domestic gas cylinders should be available for sale at the relevant islandwide outlets. The relevant gazette notification also stated that no trader in possession or control of 12.5 kg domestic gas cylinders should refuse to sell them or directly or indirectly compel consumers not to purchase them.

Attempts to contact Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. to inquire about their programme to release sufficient stocks of 12.5 kg gas cylinders to the market, were unsuccessful.

In April, Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. announced the introduction of a new premium hybrid 18-litre liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder priced at Rs. 1,395 to the local market. Its weight is 9.18 kg. The company said the new product is in a size that meets global specifications while being sufficient for a family of four to meet their cooking gas needs for a month.

However, consumers alleged that they have been deceived by the latest 18-litre gas cylinder. The regular 12.5 kg gas cylinder sold by Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. is priced at Rs. 1,493. Although the product price has been reduced by about Rs. 100, consumers said that the weight has been reduced by 3 kg.

4

{ NEWS } � www.themorning.lk

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Tuesday, June 15, 2021

A suspect wanted in connection with the theft of rice worth Rs. 250,000 from a supermarket

in Mount Lavinia was arrested on Sunday (13), having in possession 4 g and 100 mg of heroin.

The arrest was made during a police raid near the Mount Lavinia Railway Station. The suspect was later interrogated and it was revealed that he had stolen rice on 11 June. A total of five bags of rice of 5 kg each were discovered in the suspect’s possession.

A man and a woman were also arrested along with eight other bags of rice for selling stolen rice. The arrested suspects are aged 34, 33, and 39.

Man wanted for rice theft discovered with heroin

India is looking at a “recalibration” of its

bilateral ties with Sri Lanka as China is gaining massive inroads in the Indian Ocean island nation.

Colombo had last month decided to go ahead with the controversial $ 1.4 billion special economic zone (SEZ) project, the Colombo Port City project, funded by Beijing.

New Delhi, which aimed at resetting bilateral ties with Colombo following the return of the Rajapaksa regime, now believes that Sri Lanka has taken a firm decision on “completely aligning” with China even if that means doing away with the balancing act with India, sources said.

Last month, the Sri Lankan Parliament passed a controversial bill – the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill – which will establish a Colombo Port City SEZ and the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC). The Bill was passed despite stiff resistance from opposition parties and concerns that the Colombo Port City could turn into a “Chinese Province”

inside Sri Lanka.The proposed new CPCEC

is expected to have wide-ranging powers and the Port City will not be subject to laws and regulations of the Municipal Council and Urban Development Authority (UDA) of Sri Lanka, thereby raising concerns that it will not function democratically.

According to one source, with the Port City coming up and coupled with what happened in the Hambantota Port (where there is speculation that Colombo is looking to extend the 99-year lease to Beijing), Sri Lanka has now “completely come under China’s control” and this will pose a challenge for all future governments there while posing a security threat to India.

Ties between India and Sri Lanka began plummeting in February when Colombo scrapped the strategically important East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo Port, which was a tripartite pact with Japan. It instead offered India the West Container Terminal (WCT) as a private deal unlike the previous government-to-

government agreement.It is now clear that the initial

bonhomie between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rajapaksa brothers – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa – and Sri Lanka’s adherence to an “India-first” policy are now “fast fading away”, said another source.

This has happened because Beijing has “worked towards” drifting the island nation away from India so that it can maintain its presence in the Indian Ocean region as the Indo-Pacific strategic construct takes shape, sources said.

However, the sources said that India is now banking on the WCT being developed by the Adani Group to make its “strategic presence” felt there.

“They (Adani Group) will remain invested there for a long time. Be it private or public, as long as India has a presence there where China is present in a big way, New Delhi is satisfied,” said a source who refused to be identified.

(The Print)

India looking to recalibrate SL relations to counter China

Bahrain has temporarily halted the issuance of

new work permits to several countries, including Sri Lanka.

According to Gulf Business News, Bahrain has temporarily halted the issuance of new work permits for people from “red list” countries due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal are among the “red list” countries.

The direct ive is applicable to those outside the kingdom. The Labour Market Regulatory Authority has said that this directive aims to strengthen the kingdom’s efforts to overcome the pandemic.

The kingdom confirmed that the countries on the red list are added or removed according to the assessment of the national medical team to address the Covid-19 pandemic according to the relevant criteria, a note on the authority’s website read.

Bahrain had suspended the entry of travellers coming from the countries rostered on the red list, namely India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, on all flights starting from Monday, 24 May 2021. Vietnam was added to the kingdom’s travel red list, effective 1 June 2021.

Bahraini citizens and residency visa holders from these countries will still be permitted to enter the kingdom, but have to present an approved Covid-19 PCR test result conducted not more than 48 hours prior to boarding their flight for Bahrain. Upon arrival in the kingdom, these individuals are to undertake another PCR

test on arrival and on the 10th day of their stay in the country.

These citizens and residency visa holders must quarantine for 10 days at their residence or at a licensed quarantine facility approved by the National Health Regulatory Authority.

Last week, Bahrain’s National Medical Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 extended the Covid-19 precautionary measures until 25 June to continue the downward trend in the number of Covid-19 cases. Bahrain’s Health Ministry confirmed a total of 931 new Covid-19 cases were detected on 12 June, and 2,149 recoveries were also reported.

Bahrain suspends issuance of new work permits to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Navy has seized 237 kg and 500 g of Kerala cannabis during a special operation

conducted by the Northern Naval Command in seas north of Point Pedro yesterday (14).

The special operation carried out in the wee hours had led to the interception of a suspicious dinghy heading shoreward loaded with two sacks of Kerala cannabis. The Navy has taken the dinghy and three suspects aboard into custody in this operation.

Based on a tip-off received from the suspects, the Navy and the Coast Guard had conducted a further search in the sea area and found six more sacks of Kerala cannabis thrown overboard by the suspects. Accordingly, the entire operation led to the seizure of Kerala cannabis in eight sacks.

It is suspected that the consignment of Kerala cannabis was transferred to the dinghy at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with the intention of smuggling them into the island.

The street value of this haul of cannabis is believed to be about Rs. 71 million, Sri Lanka Navy said. The suspects held during this operation were residents of Point Pedro and Achchuweli from 28 to 29 years of age. The suspects, together with the Kerala cannabis and the dinghy, will be handed over to the Kankesanturai Police for onward legal action.

Navy seizes 237 kg of Kerala cannabis in Point Pedro

A total of 103 Blue Berets from Sri Lanka Airforce (SLAF), who are currently serving

as peacekeepers with the United Nations (UN) Mission in South Sudan, received UN medals for their outstanding service, the UN Mission in South Sudan stated yesterday (14) in a press release.

Accordingly, SLAF peacekeepers received salutations from the UN Force Commander in Bor, South Sudan before he personally pinned medals on the chests of the peacekeepers, the release further said.

“You have flown in the most difficult of circumstances. In the past, two helicopters have been shot down in this part of the country, but you have never let that stop you from carrying on with your vital work. You have been as brave and committed as one would expect pilots from your country to be,” said Force Commander Lt. Gen. Shailesh Tinaikar.

Further, 135 Indian troops also received medals and praise for their service.

SLAF’s South Sudan peacekeepers recognised for outstanding service

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the education authorities to seek the assistance of paediatricians to take measures against Covid once schools are reopened, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a press release.

The Prime Minister had said this addressing a discussion at Temple Trees on the reopening of schools and the vaccination of teachers and students. He had pointed out the importance of reopening schools in several phases as soon as the Covid pandemic was brought under control, adding that teachers could be vaccinated through the Ministry of Health.

Representatives of the Association of Paediatricians, who participated in the discussion, had stated that their association could provide assistance at the zonal level to avoid problems that may arise during the reopening of schools, the release mentioned.

A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e representatives had pointed out that they will formalise

the relevant activities by nominating representatives for the 99 education zones scattered throughout the country.

Ministry of Education Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera had pointed out that if a vaccination programme is implemented during the reopening of schools, priority should be given to Grade 11 and Grade 13 students.

Prof. Perera had also pointed out the need to vaccinate nearly 300,000 people, including around 270,000 teachers and non-academic staff, to make this a success.

Use assistance of doctors when schools reopen: PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday

(14) said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) rejects the Government’s proposal to provide luxury vehicles to MPs.

Commenting on his Twitter account, the Leader of the Opposition pointed out that the SJB would never approve of the use of public resources to make the lives of politicians prosperous.

Premadasa added that he is urging the Government to use the funds to vaccinate all Sri Lankans.

M e a n w h i l e , S J B General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara has issued a statement stating that decisions such as the sudden construction of flyovers, increase in fuel prices, and import of vehicles are against the interests of the common public.

Meanwhile, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) stated that it hopes to file a case before the Supreme Court regarding the decision taken to import vehicles for the MPs. Former JVP Provincial Councilor Sunil Watagala stated this at a media briefing held in Colombo.

Former Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Prof. Rohana Lakshman

Piyadasa stated that several vehicles have already been imported. “Several vehicles have arrived in Sri Lanka so far. These vehicles are worth around Rs. 50 million,” he said.

H o w e v e r , S L P P parliamentarian Asanka Navaratne said the proposal to import vehicles has been suspended currently. “The Government’s position regarding the importation of vehicles has been clarified. The Prime Minister has stopped this process. There is no importation of vehicles at present.”

The Finance Ministry last week reiterated that it would abide by the cabinet decision taken recently to withdraw an earlier controversial cabinet paper for the import of 399 vehicles at a cost of Rs. 3.7 billion, with 225 of them meant for the Members of Parliament.

Do not use public resources to make politicians’ lives prosperous: Sajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa

Contd. from page 1

Govt.’s partners...

Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera of the Our Power of People Party, Minister Wimal Weerawansa of the National Freedom Front, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara of the Democratic Left Front, MP Prof. Tissa Vitarana of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, A.L.M. Athaullah of the National Congress, G. Weerasinghe of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, MP Tiran Alles of the United People’s Party, and MP Asanka Navarathna of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party had signed the said statement.

“At a time when both the people and the Government are facing a challenging situation, certain ‘unpopular’ decisions would have to be made by any government and the decision to increase fuel prices is such an ‘unpopular decision’,” the joint statement read.

It further stated that the General Secretary of the SLPP had blamed Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila for the decision taken by the Cabinet Sub-Committee to increase fuel prices, thereby creating an unnecessary crisis within the Government.

It also read that by challenging the decision taken by the President and the Prime Minister, the SLPP General Secretary had created an unnecessary factionalism in the Government. Such sectarian and immature actions would erode public confidence in the Government and it is the responsibility of both the President and the Prime Minister to immediately defeat this sectarian trend, the statement added.

Meanwhile, Minister Namal Rajapaksa

yesterday said that discussions are underway to reduce fuel prices.

“The President and the Prime Minister would take a decision regarding the price of fuel. We believe it would have been better if it had not been increased. However, the relevant officials have decided that it should be increased with the current situation in the country. A decision will be taken in the future,” he told reporters.

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella also said that the revision of fuel prices would be discussed again at the Cabinet meeting which was to be held yesterday. The Cabinet meeting was scheduled to be held at 5 p.m. yesterday under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, State Minister Nimal Lanza said that he hoped to make a request to the Government to bring the increased fuel prices back to the previous level. Expressing these views to the media in Gampaha, the Minister pointed out that the people could not bear the increase in fuel prices at this moment.

Gammanpila recently said that he only announced a decision taken by the entire Government with the approval of the President and Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, with regard to the fuel price hike.

He added that the President as well as the Premier had exchanged views with him regarding the incident and that the President had sent him a text message before convening the media briefing, in which he was clarifying matters pertaining to the revision of fuel prices on 13 April.

He was responding to the statement issued by Kariyawasam which claimed that the Minister in charge of the subject should take full responsibility for the

increase in fuel prices. “Sagara Kariyawasam is attacking

not only himself but the President of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the Premier for using his letterhead,” Gammanpila added. “The intelligent people of this country will decide whether myself or Kariyawasam should resign,” said Minister Gammanpila.

He said that he would challenge Kariyawasam to name the senior ministers who participated in the party’s central committee to take this decision.

Covid deaths...According to Dr. Herath, a thorough

review was required to determine whether a death is a “Covid-19 death” or a “death with Covid-19”, and it is this review that has resulted in some Covid-19 deaths being officially reported a few days after the deaths actually occurred.

“This review takes some time, which is why the date of death is reported as being a few days prior to the time of reporting,” explained Dr. Herath.

According to the situation report issued on 11 June, based on statistics provided by the Health Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit, the said 101 deaths had occurred over 19 days between the period of 6 February to 9 June. Among the deaths, one death occurred on 6 February, one death occurred on 1 April, and 11 deaths occurred in May.

The rest of the deaths had occurred this month. Out of the 101 deaths, 30 had occurred at the patients’ residences while 57 had passed away while they were being treated in hospital. The number of persons who had died on admission to hospital was 14.

India’s southern state Tamil Nadu’s state police

and central intelligence agencies have stepped up vigil after intelligence about an armed group trying to infiltrate from Sri Lanka were received, IANS reported yesterday (14).

An alert was issued by a central intelligence agency on Saturday (12) evening and the Police have stepped up vigil in the towns of Kanyakumari, T h o o t h u k u d i , Rameswaram, as well as Chennai.

According to informed intelligence sources, a boat carrying armed operatives was headed towards Rameswaram coast. However, the sources had told IANS that the exact identity of these people nor

the organisation that they belong to are not known.

A senior police officer at the state police headquarters in Chennai had told IANS: “Yes, there is an alert, but I can’t reveal more than this at present. We have deployed armed policemen across all the main roads leading to coastal areas through the state.”

With the police stepping up security measures, the sources indicated that more navigating ships have been deployed in the sea by the Coast Guard patrolling units to thwart any attempt to reach the Tamil Nadu coast.

Intelligence sources in Kerala Police have indicated that they have also stepped up vigil across the coastal towns of the state after tip-offs from the agencies.

Tamil Nadu on high alert following threats of infiltration from SL

The next six months will be crucial. That’s not a dire warning about having to stay locked in or to observe the so-called safety protocols. The second half of this year would probably account for a steady number of Covid cases per month, and that would

have a serious impact on the economy that’s already limping due to the pandemic and its impact.

As a country we are most probably not going to see herd immunity due to vaccination at least until the beginning of next year. 70% of the population would have their jabs by the end of this year according to State Minister for Primary Healthcare, Epidemics, and Covid Disease Control Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle. That’s a long distance to go before we could consider the pandemic as being decisively a thing of the past.

Within these six months a lot could happen. The medical establishment presents the death count in the country in a way that seems to be designed to trigger alarm bells. The Government by and large seems to react without asking questions, locking down at the drop of a hat, and essentially considering all other issues, including the economy, as secondary at best.

But though the rulers lock down when the doctors sneeze, as if by Pavlovian reflex, and though the economy suffers – what happens if this pattern repeats in the next few months, until the end of 2021?

It means there would be a massive price to pay. Economic recovery despite the most optimistic predictions of the powers that be may become impossible if the situation drags until the end of this year. It means that this crisis has to be looked at as a one-of-a-kind event that’s happened since the granting of independence.

Never before has there been a make or break calamity that threatened long-term recovery in this manner – not even after the war ended in 2009. There may be some cause for optimism in the way the world economy seems to be poised to recover, but the best strategy would be to hope for the best, and plan for the worst.

That’s because hindsight is 20/20 – and that has nothing to do with what happened in 2020, but everything to do with what happened this year, 2021. The keyword of these first six months was variant.

Another key word was clusters – new Covid clusters seemed to appear from nowhere, though some say the origin was from across our shores

because there was migration across the Palk Straits that we couldn’t possibly halt.

There is no definitive information as to how this escalation occurred, but it’s clear that there were recurring events that the Government could not control. What could be said about recurring events is that despite the best intentions of the administration, they could, well, recur…

Theoretically at least, that reality holds for the next six months which is why an extraordinary strategy is called for in the wake of a situation that has seen no parallels in the duration of this nation’s entire post-independence phase.

But the Government seems to have too many irons in the fire and is running away with the idea that Covid could be tackled as a subsidiary issue, while the usual business of the State goes on in fits and starts.

To say the least, that’s extraordinarily optimistic! It’s the Government that is shutting down the economy with travel restrictions, so it’s the Government that knows best that these are not normal times, when the usual five-year plans and two-year plans could be put to work.

But yet, it’s as if the administration is pretending that it’s all in a day’s

work and it’s frontline leadership that could fiddle – with the rest of its manifesto – while Rome burns. The fertiliser controversy, the urban development projects, and the controversies arising from a myriad of other issues, including, of course, the Port City project, are distracting in a way that’s blurring the main issue totally out of focus.

Now, any government’s frontline leadership should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, no matter the breadth of the crisis. But, can this Government do it? Has it displayed a record of achievement that gives its leadership pass marks on balancing the demands from the other policy-related issues with the one major task it has on its hands – that of controlling Covid?

This writer’s take on the poser would be for the Government to take a very close look at its priorities, taking into full cognisance its own possible limitations. Does the Government’s crisis management team, both at the political and the administrative level, have what it takes to juggle all of these crises at the same time, some being of their own creation, such as the problems in the agricultural sector as a result of the total ban on chemical fertilisers?

This should be a serious question for the regime, even though it may seem an affront to question any leadership’s capability to multitask.

But as stated earlier, if we are facing what’s patently the greatest crisis since independence – certainly the greatest on the economic front – the folks who mind the shop should never be overconfident. Go on by all means and battle on multiple fronts if the leadership is certain that it has the crisis management chops to do the job – but otherwise, take a step back, breathe easy, and disengage and do the one job that everybody wants finished, which is to finish off Covid.

It seems to have been, whether by default or otherwise, the strategy of most other governments including the British and the US. The world’s one superpower focussed all its energies on a vaccination programme and virtually stood still on all other fronts, which incidentally is rather uncharacteristic of administrations in that country, in the first 100 days or thereafter.

But it does seem that this strategy on Covid succeeded. Once the pandemic is out of the way, there are three years for the new US administration to focus on the other issues and the fact is that nobody there is complaining because to a man, and a woman, they all wanted this crisis out of the way before all else.

Believe it or not, Sri Lankans feel the same way about this plague too. The health standpoint is so inextricably intertwined with the economic aspect, and on the latter front, Covid has dealt a body blow to people’s hopes. They want a government that even if its singular focus is Covid eradication and strictly that alone, it gets the job done.

Most have lost the patience for other controversies because they feel they cannot be watching a performance with the fiddle while Rome burns. Even in the real Rome they didn’t do this, when Italy was reeling from Covid not so long ago. They put their heads down and focussed on eradicating this virulent pandemic, and that’s what governments usually do when Rome is burning.

Pride should not get in the way because it’s seen that Covid anyway is no respecter of egos. A great deal of pomposities have been punctured already, and those who boasted at this time of the year in 2020, of having made a piece of cake out of Covid, are now eating a fair quantity of crow. That’s okay; nobody expected this third or whichever wave to rear its head and anyway nobody expected the Government to keel over and close shop entirely in the face of this new wave either.

But now that all this has happened, with the benefit of hindsight and bruised egos, if there is only one way to skin this cat and if that’s by making Covid the single issue for the next six months, please do it. Because even if the politicians stand on their head and say otherwise, the people have only one issue in mind now – and that’s to get rid of this gargantuan headache without any more damage to the economy than has already been done.

(The writer is a former Editor-in-Chief of three national English

language publications and a practising Attorney-at-Law. He is an Editors’ Guild award-winning

columnist, and contributing writer and columnist for the Nikkei Asian Review and South China Morning Post, while his editorials have been

published in The Australian)

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

4

{ EDITORIAL/OPINION } � www.themorning.lk

The Government appears to be taking some desperate measures to sustain Sri Lanka’s debt stricken economy, even though the situation calls for far more fundamental and tactical changes than mere price and import-related regulations such as the recent fuel price hike and the much debated turmeric and vehicle import restrictions.

The fact that the country’s foreign reserves is in a sorry state has been discussed on many occasions in the past few months, although the Government continues to maintain that the country’s economy, especially the aspects concerning foreign reserves and foreign markets, can still be salvaged.

This discussion took a new turn last week, after the European Parliament discussed several matters pertaining to Sri Lanka’s state of human rights, and proposed that the European Union (EU) halt the Generalised Scheme/System of Preference Plus (GSP+) trade concession, stating that Sri Lanka has not respected the human rights-related commitments it promised to implement in 2017 when it regained the GSP+ concession. Among these commitments were a number of international conventions and amendments to the notorious Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) in order to set it in line with international human rights laws and policies.

However, Sri Lanka has not only failed to do so, but has also been enforcing the PTA. The implementation of the PTA – which resulted in the arrest and detention of a large number of persons, especially those who were identified as “political prisoners” by human rights groups – as well as human rights lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah and poet Ahnaf Jazeem were serious concerns raised at the European Parliament. For them, the European Parliament seeks one progressive step from Sri Lanka and that is either a fair trial or unconditional release.

The truth is that Sri Lanka is already heavily burdened by a large number of allegations of human rights violations said to have taken place during the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), especially during the final stage of the war, and the country has been struggling, with poorly planned strategies, to serve justice for those who were affected by and during the war. In this context, Sri Lanka cannot afford to deal with stringent decisions taken by the international community.

Perhaps we should remind ourselves that Sri Lanka is not currently dealing with any armed conflicts, and that there are a number of provisions in the Penal Code that can be employed to deal with those who harbour extremist or separatist ideologies. It begs the question as to why Sri Lanka needs to maintain, uphold, and enforce the PTA without amendments, which is only suitable in extreme emergencies that concern matters of national security.

The PTA is in fact an Act that has been criticised for certain provisions it contains, including the ability to make arrests without a warrant and to detain a person without being produced in a court for a considerable period of time, which are obviously not in line with international human rights standards. Why we cannot make amendments (that we promised) to the PTA or have a more in-depth discussion with the international community in this regard is puzzling.

Furthermore, any person with common sense, or a sense of what is just and what is not, should understand that the PTA contains several legal provisions that can be employed to oppress people/suspects, and therefore Sri Lanka does not have to change its laws merely because the EU or any other international entity demands such changes.

This is not a situation Sri Lanka can continue to ignore, as the international community remains attentive about what Sri Lanka does. Also, this is not the first time Sri Lanka’s human rights commitments have been questioned. At the previous United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), too, the alleged “war crimes” during the final phase of the war were discussed.

The Government, particularly the President, the Prime Minister, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, need to pay close attention to this situation, as it is the general public who would suffer in the event the international community decides to stop the GSP+ concession, or worse, impose sanctions.

The truth is, losing the GSP+ concession can strike a heavy blow to Sri Lanka’s economy as the EU is one of the largest foreign markets. If huge steps are not possible at this particular juncture, the least we can do is conduct some cordial and constructive discussions with the international community and they can help Sri Lanka continue to enjoy the GSP+ concession in this difficult time.

Sri Lanka certainly cannot afford to have its economy collapse any further, especially during a pandemic, and as a country, we must not wait until the international community reminds us of the flaws in our own laws.

High noon for PTA

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A ‘single-minded Government’ for next 6 months

z Vaccination and the elimination of Covid-19 should come above all else

Vaccination underway at a vaccination centre in Sri Lanka PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE

BY RAJPAL ABEYNAYAKE

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{ SPOTLIGHT } � www.themorning.lk

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Tuesday, June 15, 2021

BY SUMUDU CHAMARA

Sri Lanka’s culture assigns a great value to familial bonds and the well being of family members takes

a special place among other priorities of a family. Ensuring the safety and well being of children, on the other hand, has become an inherent duty of family units, especially of parents.

The safety of children, who are often dubbed the future generation, was discussed at the national level on several occasions in the recent past. However, unfortunately, all these discussions were based on abuses experienced by children, and that does not seem to be a very promising situation. The 15-year-old girl who was trafficked for sex via social media platforms for months, and the nine-year-old girl who died after being beaten with a cane during an exorcism, both raised eyebrows, especially concerning the role and responsibility of parents in protecting their children.

It is in such a situation that Sri Lanka celebrated this year’s World Day Against Child Labour, which fell on 12 June.

New minimum age for employment

In light of this year’s World Day Against Child Labour, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) announced that the minimum age for employment has been increased from 14 to 16 years.

In a statement, NCPA Chairman Prof. Muditha Vidanapathirana added: “As far as child labour is concerned, this year can be considered rather special, as on 18 January 2021, it was possible to pass a special Act (the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, No. 2 of 2021) with regard to child labour. The Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, No. 47 of 1956 as amended had prohibited children up to 14 years of age from working. This new Act, however, changed it, and increased the minimum age to 16 years.”

The NCPA further said that this decision was based on an earlier decision to extend the age of compulsory education to 16 years, which was made under the Education Ordinance’s regulations pertaining to compulsory education.

Prof. Vidanapathirana, further

explaining the nature of employment opportunities that should be made available for children (below 18 years), said: “Children between the ages of 16 and 18 years can only be recruited for jobs that do not pose a threat to their life, health, education and moral development, and it is strictly not allowed to recruit them for unsafe jobs or jobs that require them to work at night. Steps will be taken against parents and intermediaries that use children for begging under Section 288 of the Penal Code and they can be punished with a prison term of up to five years.”

He further noted that recruiting children for street vending activities, the drug and liquor trade, circuses and entertainment activities for monetary benefits and prostitution as well as using children for commercial activities via the cyber space are offences under the criminal law.

These offences, according to Prof. Vidanapathirana, attract legal action, and the NCPA’s duties include forwarding the relevant complaints to the Labour Department for investigations, regulatory measures and to take legal action against those recruiting children for such jobs.

Decline in complaints regarding child labour

Meanwhile, the NCPA’s Planning and Information Director, Shanika Malalgoda, explained to The Morning the activities pertaining to accepting complaints regarding child labour cases. She added that in accordance with the NCPA Act, complaints regarding child labour cases are being accepted by the NCPA, and that no other institution in Sri Lanka has not been vested with the power to accept such complaints.

She explained: “It is only the NCPA that accepts complaints regarding any form of cases with regard to violence against children, be it abuse or neglect. In addition, awareness raising activities are also taking place targeting children, parents, teachers

and institutions with the ultimate aim of stifling child labour.”

Adding that the accepting of complaints is done in two main methods, she noted: “The accepting of complaints regarding child labour incidents is being done via two main methods, which are the 1929 hotline and the 1929 child protection app. The app is a novel initiative that commenced this year, with the aim of making services more efficient via the digitalisation of the service providing aspects. The second method is handled by the NCPA’s regional offices and officials. The NCPA’s network of officials is also working efficiently to achieve the said objectives, with two types of officials at the District level. They are the District Child Protection Officer and the District Psychosocial Officers. In addition, the officers who are working at the District Secretariat levels, who are called Divisional Child Protection Officers, are also involved in this endeavour as they have a much closer relationship with the communities in their respective areas. They sometimes accept complaints directly, which are then referred for necessary action.”

According to NCPA published statistics on complaints, which include those related to child labour cases, in the past six years, a decline in child labour related complaints could be observed. Last year, a total of 228 child labour related complaints had been received. In the preceding five years, from 2015 to 2019, the NCPA had received 313 (2015), 283 (2016), 269 (2017), 262 (2018) and 265 (2019) such complaints, respectively.

Even though The Morning attempted to contact the officials of the Labour Department to inquire about what steps are being taken to monitor the working conditions of and mistreatments faced by child labourers (those under 18 years) and what new decisions would be taken in accordance with the NCPA’s decision to extent the new minimum age for employment, they were not available for comment.

Sri Lanka’s situation According to the International

Labour Organisation (ILO), the definition of working children is children that engage in economic activities that are paid, or contributing in the production of goods and services that have an economic value, at least for one hour, during a reference period.

The ILO considers child labour as “all children engaged in economic activities excluding, five to 11 years – less than five hours per week, as a contributing family worker in non-agricultural and non-hazardous work and less than 15 hours per week as a contributing family worker in the agriculture sector or non hazardous activities; 12-14 years – less than 15 hours per week in non-agricultural and non-hazardous work and less than 25 hours per week as a contributing family worker in agriculture and non-hazardous work; and 15-17 years – less than 44 hours per week in non hazardous work.”

Adding that Sri Lanka has made

substantial improvements when it comes to child labour, the ILO said that relative to 1999, Sri Lanka has observed a drastic decline in the population of working children, which in 2016 stood at 103,704.

According to the ILO, even though some challenges persist, a sizeable decline has also occurred in hazardous forms of child labour. In 2016, there was a total of 4,571,442 children in Sri Lanka, out of which 103,704 (2.3%) were working children. Moreover, there were 43,714 children (1%) in child labour as of 2016, of which 39,007 were engaged in hazardous forms of child labour.

With regard to geographical dispersion, it has been found that as many as 85% of Sri Lanka’s working children reside in rural areas, the top three regions in terms of the number of working children, being the Gampaha, Kurunegala and Monaragala Districts, the ILO said, adding that many of these children (59%) work as contributing family members.

When it comes to the nature of employment, the ILO’s study had found that by 2016, the majority of working children, child labourers and those that engage in hazardous forms of work were boys. The ILO added that when girls engage in economic activities (working children, child labour), there are greater deviations in the number of hours worked which tend to be more widely dispersed than for boys.

Figures showed that 19% of the girls received a monthly income of less than Rs. 5,000, while 20% of the boys were in the same category. In other monthly income categories, namely Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000, Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000, girls constituted a higher number of workers than boys. When it comes to the highest monthly salary category, i.e. Rs. 20,000 and above, however, boys constituted 9%, while girls only made up 6%.

As far as the average monthly income was compared against the average number of working hours, under the child labour category, boys received an average monthly income of Rs. 11,180 (for an average number of 35 hours a week), while girls received Rs. 10,823 (for an average number of 48 hours a week). Under

the hazardous forms of child labour category, boys received an average monthly income of Rs. 11,665 (for an average number of 37 hours per week), while girls under the same occupation category received Rs. 11,294 a month (for an average number of 54 working hours a week).

According to the United States’ Labour Department’s reports on child labour and forced labour, by sector and activity, in Sri Lanka, child labour was prevalent in sectors such as agriculture (farming, including raising livestock, fishing and selling fish), industry (manufacturing, including textiles and garments, and food processing, mining and construction) and services (domestic work, vending, transportation, begging and working in hotels, restaurants and offices).

In addition, child labour exists in categories identified as the ‘worst forms of child labour’, which include commercial sexual exploitation (sometimes as a result of human trafficking), forced labour in domestic work (sometimes again as a result of human trafficking) and using children in illicit activities, including drug trafficking.

World situation According to the ILO, surveys

from the South Asian region have estimated 30 million children in employment, almost 17 million in child labour and 50 million children out of school. Adding that these findings however have limitations, the ILO said that the key ones were that not all children in employment can be considered as being in child labour, and that not all forms of child labour are being captured by these statistical surveys, and also that there are considerable variations in the survey methodologies and scope across the countries.

It added: “There are 16.7 million (five-17-year-old) children in child labour in South Asia, according to conservative estimates, and of these, 10.3 million are in the five-14-year-old age range. The young, five-11-year-old children, make up about one fifth of all child labourers in South Asia. Substantial variation in child labour estimates exists across South Asian countries, and in absolute terms, child labour for the five-17-years age range is the highest in India (5.8 million), followed by Bangladesh (five million), Pakistan (3.4 million) and Nepal (two million).

Comparing the situation in the South Asian region, the ILO statistics claimed that a substantial share of employment of 15-17-year-old children is hazardous in nature – 75% in Bangladesh, 72% in Sri Lanka, 41% in Pakistan, 30% in Nepal, 20% in India and 6% in Bhutan, and that family labour accounts for a significant percentage of employment, declining as children get older. A majority of working seven to 14-year-old children in Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka and 10 to 14-year-old children in Pakistan are engaged in family work.

With regard to the minimum age for employment, South Asian countries showed different age requirements. The basic minimum age in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives and Nepal was 15, 14, 13, 16 and 14 years, respectively, while India and Pakistan had no minimum age requirement. Concerning hazardous work, the ILO said that Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka had 18, 18, 18, 18, 16, 14 and 18 years as the minimum age. However, India had no minimum age for this category of employment as well. As far as minimum age requirements are concerned, Sri Lanka’s situation is better than most South Asian countries. The fact that Sri Lanka extended the minimum age for employment from 14 to 16 years is also an admirable move, especially due to the fact that employment for children does not always ensure safe or adequately compensated working environments.

However, addressing other issues pertaining to child labour, especially standards and proper mechanisms to ensure a proper employment process, also needs to be paid attention.

WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOUR 2021

Are SL’s children sufficiently shielded from labour exploitation?

Sri Lanka increases

minimum age for employment to 16

Complaints regarding

child labour on the decline

Sri Lanka age requirements

better than most South Asian countries

Note: The public can contact the NCPA via the hotline 1929

or the 1929 child protection app to inform of the recruitment of

children under 16 years, and the recruitment of children between

16 and 18 years for dangerous or unsafe jobs, and it is the

public’s responsibility to do so.

46

{ HEALTH } � www.themorning.lk Tuesday, June 15, 2021

BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY

Owing to the widespread and increasing use of heroin in Sri Lanka, medical professionals

should keep in mind the possibility of heroin users developing seizures due to withdrawal, even though seizures are a less common manifestation of heroin withdrawal, a local medical case report noted.

The case report revolved around a patient with heroin withdrawal presenting with newly onset seizures, which is said to be the first such case reported in Sri Lanka. It was authored by B.M.D.B. Basnayake, T. Kannangara, W.M.A.S.R. Wickramasinghe and S.N. Wijesena (all attached to the Kandy National Teaching Hospital’s Department of Medicine) and was recently published in the Anuradhapura Medical Journal.

Heroin (Diacetylmorphine) is an opioid drug derived from the seed pod of the poppy plant (Papaver somniferum). It is highly addictive. The abuse of this drug as pointed out by

A.G. Schauss in the Attenuation of the Heroin Withdrawal Syndrome by the Administration of High Dose Vitamin C, depends on many factors including genetic and psychosocial factors. It is, Basnayake et al., emphasised, a chronic and relapsing disorder with patients exhibiting compulsive drug seeking and drug taking behaviour. Heroin addiction is both a health and social problem, associated as Basnayake et al. mention, with significant morbidity and mortality.

J.M. Cami and M. Farre explain in Drug Addiction that the chronic usage of heroin will cause changes in the central nervous system which lead to tolerance, physical dependence, sensitisation, craving, and relapse. If the patient reduces or ceases heavy and prolonged heroin use, it will cause, according to the April 2014 National Guidelines for the Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence, the substance specific syndrome. The clinical features of the heroin withdrawal syndrome include as mentioned by Basnayake et al., muscle cramps, arthralgia (painful joint

stiffness and swelling), anxiety, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, malaise, mydriasis (dilation of the pupil), piloerection (the reflex of producing goose bumps or the erection or bristling of the hair of the skin), diaphoresis (excessive and abnormal sweating), rhinorrhea (runny nose), lacrimation (the secretion of tears), insomnia and less commonly, confusion, convulsions, collapse and coma. As Basnayake et al., explain, the half life of the opioid that is causing the withdrawal syndrome is what determines both the onset and duration of the symptoms. During heroin withdrawal, the symptoms according to N.S. Miller and M.S. Gold’s the Management of withdrawal syndromes and relapse prevention in drug and alcohol dependence and K. Rasmussen, D.B. Beitner-Johnson, J.H. Krystal, G.K. Aghajanian and E.J. Nestler’s Opiate withdrawal and the rat locus coeruleus (a small nucleus located in a part of the brainstem which is the main source of noradrenaline {a hormone that functions as a neurotransmitter} in the forebrain): Behavioural, electro-physiological, and biochemical

correlates, peak in 36 to 72 hours and may last for seven to 10 days.

Structural changes in neurons can occur due prolonged exposure to heroin which may in turn also contribute to withdrawal symptoms such as seizures as noted by Cami and Farre, Rasmussen et al., L. He, J. Fong, M.V. Zastrow and J.L. Whistler in the Regulation of opioid receptor trafficking and morphine tolerance by receptor oligomerisation (a chemical process) and L. Sklair-Tavron, W.X. Shi, S.B. Lane, H.W. Harris, B.S. Bunney and Nestler’s Chronic morphine induces visible changes in the morphology of mesolimbic (a pathway in the brain) dopamine neurons.

While there are many causative factors for seizures, in adults, it can be mainly due to, among others such as metabolic disorders, trauma, brain tumours and other space occupying lesions, and infectious diseases, both illicit drug abuse and withdrawal from alcohol and drugs, as noted in the Current Diagnosis and Treatment by McGraw-Hill Medical and Seizures and Epilepsy by Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, and is therefore, often seen in substance abusers. These seizures, J.C.M. Brust’s Seizures and substance abuse: treatment considerations explains, may be due to direct causes such as intoxication or withdrawal or owing to indirect causes such as central nervous system infections, a stroke, cerebral trauma and metabolic derangement. Seizures due to heroin withdrawal are however, Basnayake et al., point out, less common than in the case of withdrawal from sedatives like barbiturates.

That said, E.F. Wijdicks and F.W. Sharbrough notes in New onset seizures in critically ill patients that in the case of critically ill patients who have been treated with sedatives and narcotics, the sudden withdrawal of narcotic drugs may be a significant causative factor for newly onset seizures.

Basnayake et al., reported a patient experiencing heroin withdrawal who presented with newly onset recurrent attacks of seizure episodes.

Case report A 38-year-old previously healthy

male had presented with four episodes of generalised (involving the entire body) tonic (a slow and likely graded physiological response characterised by the stiffening of muscles) clonic (a set of involuntary and rhythmic muscular contractions and relaxations, characterised by rhythmical jerking and twitching) seizures within the course of two days. These episodes were associated with frothing, tongue bites (marks were seen on the tongue) and post-ictal (the altered state of consciousness after a seizure) drowsiness. In between the seizure attacks, the man had regained consciousness. He did not report a history of fever, head trauma or recent alcohol or other drug abuse. He was a heroin addict, using the substance for 15 years on a daily basis, and had withdrawn for four days as he was undergoing a rehabilitation programme.

Following other examinations and

investigations, Basnayake et al., noted that the findings were suggestive of diffuse cortical dysfunction (caused by disorders that affect large and specific areas of the brain if they cause the swelling of or put pressure on a large area of the brain) consistent with an encephalopathic (a disease or disorder or damage or malfunction or dysfunction or degeneration that affects or alters the function or structure of the brain with its hallmark being an altered mental status) state.

Taking into account all these aspects, it was concluded that the aetiology of the seizure was directed towards withdrawal from heroin.

Although he was started on sodium valproate (used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, and prevent migraine headaches and seizures) for the purpose of controlling the seizures, it was stopped after four days (not long term) as per the neurological opinion. He was subsequently discharged without drugs and advised to continue the rehabilitation programme. During the over one year follow up at the medical clinic, no further fits or adverse neurologic sequelae (a condition which is the consequence of a previous disease) were encountered.

The main objectives of patient care in heroin withdrawal are to relieve distress, avoid severe withdrawal manifestations, maintain proper compliance in ongoing treatment, disturb the pattern of heavy and regular drug use, and assist in resolving other associated problems, Basnayake et al., elaborated, noting that in this regard, non-pharmacological therapies primarily focus on patient assessment, treatment matching and psychosocial support while in terms of the pharmacological therapies, one of the basic principles in managing drug withdrawal is to use an agent from the same pharmacologic class or one that has a degree of cross tolerance. Basnayake et al., further noted that the drugs used in such pharmacological management are analgesics in the opioid category, synthetic opioids, synthetic opioid agonists (a chemical that binds to a receptor and activates the receptor to produce a biological response) and opioids. According to the aforementioned National Guidelines, Miller and Gold, and Buprenorphine (opioid) in opiate withdrawal: a comparison with clonidine (used among others to treat drug withdrawal) by A.K. Nigam, R. Ray and B.M. Tripathi, due to the poor efficacy and side effects, some such drugs have been taken out from the management of the condition. Brust notes that in the case of patients with seizures where the aetiology is suspected or diagnosed to be solely drug withdrawal, long term preventive care using anticonvulsants is usually not indicated.

In conclusion, Basnayake et al., emphasised that the management of the heroin withdrawal syndrome requires a multidisciplinary approach including the provision of pharmacological therapy and psychosocial support, and continuous monitoring and follow up.

z Pharmacological therapy, psychosocial support, continuous monitoring, follow up recommended

It is clear we are now dealing with a virus that spreads far more easily – probably more than twice as easily – as the version that emerged in Wuhan at the end of 2019.

The Alpha variant, first identified in Kent, UK, performed a large jump in its ability to transmit. Now Delta, seen first in India, leapt further still. This is evolution in action.

So are we doomed to a never-ending parade of new and improved variants that get harder and harder to contain? Or is there a limit to how much worse coronavirus can become?

It’s worth remembering the journey this virus is on. It has made the jump from infecting a completely different species – its closest relatives are in bats – to us. It’s like you, starting a new job: You’re competent, but not the finished article. The first variant was good enough to start a devastating pandemic, but now it’s learning on the job. When viruses jump to humans, it would be “very rare for them to be perfect”, said Prof. Wendy Barclay,

a virologist from Imperial College London. “They settle in and then they have a great time.”

There are examples of viruses, she said, from flu pandemics to Ebola outbreaks, making the jump and then accelerating.

So how far could it go?The cleanest way of comparing the

pure biological spreading power of viruses is to look at their R0 (pronounced R-naught). It’s the average number of people each infected person passes a virus on to if nobody were immune and nobody took extra precautions to avoid getting infected.

That number was around 2.5 when the pandemic started in Wuhan and could be as high as 8.0 for the Delta variant, according to disease modellers at Imperial. “This virus has surprised us a lot. It is beyond anything we feared,” said Dr. Aris Katzourakis, who studies viral evolution at the University of Oxford. “The fact it has happened twice in 18 months, two lineages

(Alpha and then Delta), each 50% more transmissible, is a phenomenal amount of change.” It’s “foolish”, he thinks, to attempt to put a number on how high it could go, but he can easily see further jumps in transmission over the next couple of years. Other viruses have far higher R0s and the record-holder, measles, can cause explosive outbreaks. “There is still space for it to move higher,” said Prof. Barclay. “Measles is between 14 and 30; depending on who you ask, I don’t know how it’s going to play out.”

So how are the variants doing it?

There are many tricks the virus could employ to get better at spreading, such as:

y Improving how it opens the doorway to our body’s cells

y Surviving longer in the air

y Increasing the viral load so patients breathe or cough out more viruses

y Changing when in the course of an infection it spreads to another person

One way the Alpha variant became more transmissible was by getting better at sneaking past the intruder alarm – called the interferon response – inside our body’s cells. But this does not mean that by the time we work through the Greek alphabet of variants and reach Omega that we’ll end up with an unstoppable beast. “Ultimately there

are limits and there isn’t a super-ultimate virus that has every bad combination of mutations,” said Dr. Katzourakis. There is also the concept of evolutionary trade-offs in order to become better at one thing you often get worse at something else. The fastest vaccination programme in history will give the virus a different hurdle to overcome and squeeze it in another evolutionary direction.

“It is quite possible that changes in the virus that make it better at avoiding vaccines could end up compromising its ability to transmit in an absolute sense,” said Dr. Katzourakis.

He thinks the Beta variant – which has a mutation called E484K that helps evade the immune system but hasn’t managed to take off – is an example of this. However, the Delta does have mutations that both help it spread and partially dodge immunity.

What will turn out to be the optimal strategy for coronavirus is still hard to predict. Different viruses use different techniques to keep on infecting. Measles is explosive, but leaves behind lifelong immunity, so it always has to find someone new. Influenza has a much lower R0, barely above one, but constantly mutates to side-step immunity. “We’re in a really interesting, intermediate, and somewhat unpredictable phase; it is difficult to predict how that’s going to play out a year from now,” said Prof. Barclay.

One thing that is often claimed, but attracts scientific scorn, is that the virus must get milder in order to spread more easily. There is very little evolutionary

pressure on the virus for that to happen. The virus is already off into the next person long before it kills the person it infected. And the people who do the most spreading (younger people) are those who don’t get very ill.

In rich countries with good vaccination campaigns, it is hoped

the next variants won’t be able to pose a major problem due to widespread immunity. But these progressively more transmissible variants are a nightmare for the rest of the world where they are making it harder and harder to stay on top of Covid.

(BBC)

Could Covid variants get worse?

Heroin withdrawal management needs multidisciplinary approach

{ PICTORIAL }7

� www.themorning.lkTuesday, June 15, 2021

UK-based Oil Spill Response observing the damage caused by debris being washed ashore by the MV X-Press Pearl, a Singapore-registered container ship, at the Sarakkuwa Beach, Negombo, on Saturday (12)

PHOTOS LALITH PERERA, PRADEEP DAMBARAGE

WAVES OF CARNAGE

MANNING THE MARKET Due to the increase in vegetable prices, there was a sharp decrease in the number of wholesalers visiting the Manning Market in Peliyagoda on Sunday (13). As a result, large quantities of vegetables were left over

PHOTOS ESHAN DASANAYAKA

STABBING RELIEFThe first dose of Sputnik V vaccine was given to the people of Mulleriyawa on Sunday (13) at Sri Rahula College, Angoda

PHOTOS ESHAN DASANAYAKA

businessTuesday, June 15, 2021 � www.themorning.lk

BY IMSHA IQBAL

Sri Lanka’s annual export target for the current year is set to be revised

after a consultation with all the export industries due to the prevailing third wave of the pandemic and resultant travel restrictions that have hindered day to day operations, The Morning Business learns.

Speaking to us in this regard, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Suresh de Mel stated that the export targets need to be revised for this year. It is because of the “twist” that has taken place due to the third wave of the pandemic which prevails in Sri Lanka since the last couple of months.

“We have to revise our (Sri Lanka’s) targets (export),” said de Mel, explaining that the pandemic has made the country’s situation chaotically unpredictable, especially when it comes to exports.

However, he said that at this point, the EDB has not yet finalised the new export target figures, stressing that they would be able to receive the feedback from the industry itself in order to come up with the revised target.

“We still don’t have the data,” he said, emphasising that during the

last couple of months the export targets went awry with the third wave of the virus cases. Therefore, collecting of the data prior to the target revision has now become the need of the hour.

De Mel further said he cannot foresee how the changes may take place in the export targets implying that he cannot make remarks solely based on his opinion in an “over- enthusiastic” manner, but the decision is a collaborative effort of the industry overall.

“Maybe, after the end of the month, we will try to get some data,” he had said at the time. He said this is due to the unpredictability with the travel restriction that was then in effect till Monday, 14 June. Consequently, the research will be able to be conducted and completed by the end of the month of June, when the country is re-open for economic activities.

“We have no way to forecast,” he said, noting that the alteration

in the target is doubtful to project as the exports have drastically slowed down.

Nevertheless, the EDB chairman said that the success of the vaccination drive would have an impact on the export targets as well as the lifting of the imposed restriction in order to contain the spread of the virus.

In the month of May 2021, de Mel pointed out that the apparel sector is the most affected industry in the process of manufacturing and exporting during the third wave.

It is noteworthy that Sri Lanka’s export performance during the period of January to April 2021 has had growth in most sectors. When it comes to the largest export merchandise, the apparel has achieved $ 1693. 31 million. Tea has earned $ 417.38 million during the same period. However, in comparison to the one in 2020, spice and essential oils have had the highest growth in percentage which is 136.76%. The apparel sector and tea have had a growth of 28.69% and 19.79%, respectively.

z Industry feedback to be sought before revision

z Revised figures to be announced end June

EDB Chairman Suresh de Mel

The Ministry of Environment is focusing on implementing an alternative programme to prevent 750 ml plastic bottles from entering the environment, by proposing consumers who purchase 750 ml plastic bottles to keep a monetary recycling deposit. Upon the return of the empty bottle, the deposit can be claimed.

This is because the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) says banning plastic bottles is impractical.

The Ministry added that even bottles that have been disposed of can be collected and returned, making it possible for people to earn an extra income. As currently

proposed, the deposit is Rs. 10 and the companies involved have also agreed to the proposal.

The Ministry of Environment further points out that as there is no such factory in the country that

can recycle such bottles at present, attention has been focused on setting up a joint recycling factory by these plastic bottle manufacturing companies.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment states that another list of polythene and plastic related products has been prepared under the programme implemented to reduce the use of polythene and plastics in the country and it is proposed to ban those products in the near future.

The reason many of these polythene and plastic products are banned is because they are manufactured materials that have eco-friendly and easily biodegradable alternatives.

Recycling deposit of Rs. 10 for 750 ml plastic bottles

Decade-high food prices hit AsiaThe impact of the soaring prices of

agricultural staples from wheat to vegetable oils to sugar over the past few months is now hitting consumers and businesses in Asia.

Food manufacturers are offloading higher prices to households, which is weighing on consumption and potentially subduing any economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic in some countries. Some exporters and farmers are, however, benefitting from the favourable market conditions.

The benchmark food price index published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) – which tracks the prices of meat, dairy,

cereals, vegetables oils and sugar – rose for the 12th consecutive month in May to 127.1, hitting the highest level in nearly 10 years. May’s figure was 40% higher than a year ago.

A combination of several factors drove the price surge. Demand in China, one of the world’s biggest food importers, has been strong as the country has recovered from the pandemic at a faster rate than most of the rest of the world.

Higher marine shipping costs, stemming from a shortage of containers and supply chain disruptions, is another factor. The FAO also blamed supply-side issues such as harvest delays and reduced sugar cane yields in Brazil.

Moreover, commodities prices have been boosted by investment money flowing into the market, as investors diversify risks amid high liquidity in the financial markets.

Against such a backdrop, Asian food manufacturers are hiking their prices to offset the higher costs of raw materials. Major food importers such as Japan, South Korea, and China are seeing the impact.

Japanese flour miller Nisshin Seifun Group will raise the prices for wheat flour products for households by 2% to 4% in July. The company said it could not absorb the higher raw material prices as well as rising logistics and packaging costs. Food manufacturer Ajinomoto will also raise its mayonnaise prices by 1% to 10%

next month, citing higher edible oil prices over the past few months. In South Korea, the largest bakery chain Paris Baguette raised bread prices by 5.6% in February as the prices of raw materials increased. In China, the prices of some local soybean cooking oils have increased by 20% in April, according to local reports.

Official consumer price data already show inflation in some countries. South Korea’s consumer price index rose 2.6% in May from a year earlier, marking the highest increase since March 2012, partly due to higher agricultural prices. Notably, the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 7.4% from a year ago.

Contd. on page 4

BY KAREN HAPUARACHCHI

The Ministry of Tourism has informed that an estimate of 997 tourists have arrived to Sri Lanka as of the previous Monday (7) after the reopening of airports on 1 June 2021.

Speaking to The Morning Business, Ministry of Tourism Secretary S. Hettiarachchi also informed that the tourist arrivals are 1,682 arrivals in January, 3,366 in February, 4,581 in March, and 4,168 arrivals in April.

“In the last week of May, the airport closed, thus, the tourist arrivals from 1 May to 21 May is 1497, with around 997 arrivals so far as of 7 June,” Hettiarachchi commented.

He further commented that most of the tourists have arrived from the countries of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Germany, China, and India. It was further noted that future tourists are also expected to arrive from these countries.

“After 21 June, health authorities have said that they will evaluate what the situation of the pandemic is, whether we are at a standstill or if there has been an increase

or decrease of Covid patients and take necessary decisions,” Hettiarachchi stated.

He further added that tourists are still visiting the country with the travel bubble system that is in place along with quarantining at the Level 1 hotels.

On the other hand, the Tourism Ministry Secretary stated that the ministry expects more than 100,000 arrivals from China. However, he stated that China is not fully comfortable with international travel, and that the ministry will have future discussions regarding this.

“There are currently two

ways we can increase our tourist arrivals, one includes an associate from the Chinese Embassy who is related to the cultural ministry who proposed to bring pilgrim tourists,” Hettiarachchi commented.

He further added that the second way is through a US associate that has an Memorandum of Understanding with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority in order to promote Sri Lankan tourism to China.

Accordingly, the US associate has promised to bring around 100,000. He also stated that there is no Travel Bubble with China as of yet.

However, Hettiarachchi commented: “In the future, we would prefer to normally carry out tourism operations when the situation is better, rather than a travel bubble.”

On the other hand, the relief package for loans and leasing facilities provided by the Government to businesses and other parties in the tourism sector who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic was also extended until the end of this year.

Nearly 1,000 tourists in June first week

Ministry of Tourism Secretary S. Hettiarachchi

World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives Faris Hadad-Zervos, speaking during a panel discussion at the virtual Sri Lanka Investment Forum 2021 organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) last week, focused on the importance FDI (foreign direct investment) plays in Sri Lanka’s post-pandemic recovery and future economic growth.

He pointed out that Sri Lanka is capable of meeting its goal of attracting $ 5 billion FDI by 2025. Higher levels of FDI would also strengthen exports, foster growth, and assist the country to put its debt on a more sustainable footing.

“We believe this is entirely doable given the country’s rich natural resources, strategic location, highly literate workforce and opportunities for investment in tourism, IT-enabled services, logistics, and high value-added apparel and food services, among others.”

However, for Sri Lanka to leverage on these competitive advantages,

Hadad-Zervos called for the country to focus on comprehensive reforms to increase productivity and competitiveness.

“The Government needs to set in place a collective set of policies and practices that make up an investment ecosystem, ranging from improvements of the investment climate and elimination of unnecessary regulatory burdens to enhancing predictability of laws and responsiveness of bureaucracy to deliver effective FDI services,” he

told the online gathering. “What we have seen in other countries is that investment promotion is the beginning of the game and not the end. The name of the game is attracting and retaining efficiency seeking FDI.”

Sri Lanka is currently placed 99th in the latest Ease of Doing Business rankings compiled by the World Bank. Hadad-Zervos pointed out that FDI has a huge role to play in helping Sri Lanka leverage its potential and diversify its export and investment sources. Many Sri Lankan companies have already tapped into this opportunity and have become global players in multiple markets.

The World Bank Country Director called for policymakers to focus on export earnings in comparison to overall GDP and track its growth consistently to identify what policy changes are needed to improve competitiveness and reach. He also advocated for a fresh look at tariff systems and improved access to intermediate imports needed for export value addition.

Contd. on page 4

Forex can help SL recover: World Bank

World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives Faris Hadad-Zervos

Export target to be lowered

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42 business{ MARKET } � www.themorning.lk � www.themorning.lk Tuesday, June 15, 2021

1. Overnight Money Market Transactions Call Money Market........................... Repo MarketWeighted Average Rate (%) ...............................................................4.79 ............................4.80Minimum Rate (%) .............................................................................4.65 ............................4.70Maximum Rate (%) .............................................................................4.85 ............................4.80Total Gross amount (Rs. million) .....................................................30,000 ........................21,714Total Net amount (Rs. million) ........................................................30,000 ........................21,714

2. Use of the CBSL Standing FacilityStanding Deposit Facility (Rs. million) ......................................... 117,185Standing Lending Facility (Rs. million) .......................................... 28,7833. CBSL Treasury Bill/Bonds HoldingsFace Value (Rs. million) ............................................................874,336.37Book Value (Rs. million) ..........................................................853,577.18

CSE ALL SHARE PRICE INDEX 7,582.27 ................................7,610.30S&P SL20 3,054.94 ................................3,067.03TRI ON ALL SHARE (ASTRI) 10,173.77 ..............................10,211.15TRI ON S&P SL20 5,148.14 ................................5,168.50VALUE OF TURNOVER(Rs.) 1,361,653,760.00 ..................2,278,218,750.00DOMESTIC PURCHASES 1,315,268,740.00 ..................2,200,133,120.00DOMESTIC SALES 1,259,049,340.00 ..................2,107,839,230.00FOREIGN PURCHASES 46,385,140.00 .......................78,085,576.00FOREIGN SALES 102,604,464.00 .....................170,379,536.00VOLUME OF TURNOVER(NO.) 68,976,856.00 .....................103,808,848.00DOMESTIC 65,231,544.00 .......................98,166,080.00FOREIGN 3,745,308.00 .........................5,642,767.00TRADES(NO.) 18,709 .................................. 24,140DOMESTIC 18,375 .................................. 23,622FOREIGN 334 ....................................... 518CORPORATE DEBT 31883784 ........................................... 0GOVERNMENT DEBT 0 ........................................... 0LISTED COMPANIES (NO.) 285 ....................................... 285TRADED COMPANIES (NO.) 247 ....................................... 259MARKET PRICE EARNINGS RATIO(PER) 11.7 ...................................... 13.8MARKET PRICE TO BOOK VALUE (PBV) 1.1 ........................................ 1.2MARKET DIVIDEND YIELD (DY) 2.4 ........................................ 2.3MARKET CAPITALIZATION (Rs.) 3,357,264,359,656.00 ...........3,369,675,729,661.00

Market Indicators 14 June 2021

(1) The average rates of the following currencies quoted by commercial banks in Colombo for Telegraphic Transfers (TT) at 9.30 a.m. are as follows. CURRENCY BUYING RATE ........SELLING RATEAUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 152.0440 .................156.8091CANADIAN DOLLAR 162.2865 .................167.5473CHINESE YUAN (RENMINBI) 30.1611 ...................31.9061EURO 238.0402 .................245.7310JAPANESE YEN 1.7949 .....................1.8476SINGAPORE DOLLAR 148.6571 .................153.2309STERLING POUND 278.5835 .................286.5629SWISS FRANC 218.7412 .................226.4036US DOLLAR 198.1103 .................202.8896

(2) The approximate exchange rates of GULF currencies based on previous day’s market weighted average rate for the US$ are as follows.COUNTRY CURRENCY ..............INDICATIVE RATEBAHRAIN BAHRAIN DINAR .................530.2098KUWAIT KUWAIT DINAR .................664.4807OMAN OMAN RIAL .................519.2060QATAR QATAR RIYAL ...................54.0036SAUDI ARABIA SAUDI ARABIAN RIYAL ...................53.2981UAE UAE DIRHAM ...................54.4190

Ex change Rates 14 June 2021

Fund name Unit selling price .... Unit buying price

Arpico Ataraxia CMT (Cash Management Trust) 23.9114 ............................... 23.9114ArpicoAtaraxia S&P SL 20 Index Fund 5.6866 ................................. 5.5832Astrue Active Income Fund 102.9746 ............................. 102.9746Astrue Alpha Fund 17.6951 ............................... 16.7418Assetline Income Fund 17.1356 ............................... 17.1356Assetline Income Plus Growth Fund 18.1461 ............................... 17.6309Senfin Dyanmic Income Fund 10.2215 ............................... 10.2215Senfin Growth Fund 9.4200 ................................. 9.1000Senfin Money Market Fund 15.3941 ............................... 15.3941Senfin Shariah Balanced Fund 11.9000 ............................... 11.5700Senfin Shariah Income Fund 12.5799 ............................... 12.5799Ceybank Century Growth 79.4800 ............................... 76.1400Ceybank Gilt Edge Fund (A Series) 14.6943 ............................... 14.6943Ceybank Gilt Edged Fund (B Series) 11.9608 ............................... 11.9608Ceybank High Yield Fund 14.1495 ............................... 14.1495Ceybank Surakum Fund 12.4975 ............................... 12.4975Ceybank Unit Trust 25.8500 ............................... 24.2600Ceylon Dollar Bond Fund (in $) 0.8789 ................................. 0.8745Ceylon Financial Sector Fund 7.5300 ................................. 7.2200Ceylon Income Fund 22.7490 ............................... 22.7490CEYLON Index Fund 56.6000 ............................... 54.2900Ceylon IPO Fund 5.7400 ................................. 5.5900Ceylon Money Market Fund 17.7920 ............................... 17.7920Ceylon Tourism Fund 3.4900 ................................. 3.3500Ceylon Treasury Income Fund 6.1400 ................................. 6.1400Comtrust ADL Mudarabah Fund 11.7943 ............................... 11.7943Comtrust Equity Fund 19.0800 ............................... 18.2200Comtrust Gilt Edged Fund 10.5844 ............................... 10.5844Comtrust Money Market Fund 12.1135 ............................... 12.1135First Capital Equity Fund (FCEF) 1,406.5300 .......................... 1,336.2000First Capital Fixed income Fund 1,906.6000 .......................... 1,906.5500First Capital Gilt Edged Fund 1,513.7200 .......................... 1,513.7200First Capital Money Market Fund 1,959.6200 .......................... 1,959.6200First Capital Wealth Fund 1,156.9400 .......................... 1,156.9100Guardian Acuity Equity Fund 19.2826 ............................... 18.8858Guardian Acuity Money Market Fund 20.6413 ............................... 20.6413JB Vantage Money Market Fund 28.3252 ............................... 28.3252JB Vantage Short Term Gilt Fund 15.1274 ............................... 15.1274JB Vantage Value Equity Fund 25.7500 ............................... 24.2000NAMAL Bank Fund 9.6255 ................................. 9.2628NAMAL Growth Fund 147.7029 ............................. 137.8574NAMAL High Yield Fund 25.2502 ............................... 25.2502NAMAL Income Fund 13.3592 ............................... 13.3592National Equity Fund 35.9019 ............................... 33.5860NDB Wealth Gilt Edged Fund 18.9731 ............................... 18.9731NDB Wealth Growth & Income Fund 48.9200 ............................... 47.5400NDB Wealth Growth Fund 11.4900 ............................... 11.0200NDB Wealth Income Fund 16.4622 ............................... 16.4622NDB Wealth Income Plus Fund 17.4445 ............................... 17.4445NDB Wealth Islamic Money Plus Fund 16.6134 ............................... 16.6134NDB Wealth Money Fund 21.0162 ............................... 21.0162NDB Wealth Money Plus Fund 24.0502 ............................... 24.0502Premier Growth Fund 7.1500 ................................. 6.8000Premier Money Market Fund 19.1490 ............................... 19.1490

Unit holders can contact relevant Fund Managers to obtain Unit Prices for redemptions within short duration from the date of investment where exit fee is applicable.

Unit trust pri ces at 11 June 2021

SE CUR I TY

CSE Price List 14 June 2021

A.SPEN.HOT.HOLD. .................... 38,431 .............. 29.2 .................29 .............. 29.2 ..............27.5 ........... 28.1..............-1.1ABANS ............................................ 460 ............ 179.5 ............176.5 ............176.5 ...............176 ......... 176.5.................-3ACCESS ENG SL ........................613,332 ................. 24 .................24 .............. 24.1 ..............23.7 ........... 23.9..............-0.1ACL ...........................................116,734 ................. 42 .................42 ................. 42 ..............41.3 ........... 41.6..............-0.4ACL PLASTICS ................................. 399 .......... 265.75 ...............263 ............... 265 ...............263 ............ 264............-1.75ACME ............................................ 4,510 ................ 6.5 ................6.5 ................ 6.8 ................6.5 ............. 6.5...................0AGALAWATTE ............................ 19,301 .............. 24.7 ..............24.7 ................. 25 ..............24.4 .............. 25............... 0.3AHOT PROPERTIES ...................... 2,852 .............. 37.7 .................38 ................. 38 .................37 .............. 37..............-0.7AITKEN SPENCE ........................... 1,466 ................. 60 .................58 .............. 59.9 .................58 ........... 58.1..............-1.9ALLIANCE ................................... 17,295 .............. 76.1 .................76 .............. 77.8 ..............75.7 ........... 75.9..............-0.2AMANA BANK .........................131,427 ................ 3.2 ................3.2 ................ 3.3 ................3.2 ............. 3.2...................0AMAYA LEISURE ............................... 22 ................. 18 ..............17.8 .............. 18.3 ..............17.8 .............. 18...................0ASIA ASSET ...........................1,256,243 ................ 6.9 ...................7 ................ 8.3 ................... 7 ............. 7.9...................1ASIRI .......................................... 28,185 ................. 30 .................30 ................. 31 ..............29.8 .............. 30...................0ASIRI SURG ....................................... 50 .............. 14.6 ..............14.7 .............. 14.7 ..............14.7 ........... 14.6...................0BAIRAHA FARMS ....................... 30,230 .......... 155.75 ............155.5 ............156.5 ...............152 ............ 155............-0.75BALANGODA................................ 3,918 .............. 12.6 ..............12.6 .............. 12.6 ..............12.5 ........... 12.5..............-0.1BUKIT DARAH ................................. 499 ............... 278 ...............280 ............... 280 ..........274.25 ............ 278...................0C M HOLDINGS .......................... 11,152 .............. 87.4 ..............87.2 .............. 90.6 .................87 .............. 87..............-0.4C T HOLDINGS .............................. 1,229 ............... 175 ............175.5 ............175.5 ...............175 ............ 175...................0CARGILLS .............................................4 ............... 245 ..........240.25 ..........244.75 ..........240.25 ............ 245...................0CARGO BOAT ........................................1 .............. 67.4 .................68 ................. 68 .................68 ........... 67.4...................0CDB............................................... 2,500 .......... 138.25 ..........131.75 ..........131.75 ...............131 ............ 131............-7.25CDB [CDB.X0000] ...................... 20,040 .............. 86.2 ..............86.5 .............. 86.5 .................85 .............. 86..............-0.2CENTRAL FINANCE .................... 31,848 .............. 95.4 .................96 ................. 96 .................91 ........... 94.3..............-1.1CENTRAL IND. ............................ 12,017 ............ 115.5 ............117.5 ............117.5 ...............114 .......114.75............-0.75CEYLINCO INS. .................................. 40 ........1933.25 ...... 1,950.00 .......1,950.00 .......1,950.00 ....1,933.25...................0CEYLINCO INS. [CINS.X0000] ..............1 ............. 1000 ...... 1,049.00 .......1,049.00 .......1,049.00 ....1,000.00...................0CEYLON GUARDIAN..................... 1,000 .......... 114.75 ...............115 ............... 115 ...............115 ............ 115............. 0.25CEYLON INV. .............................. 13,165 .............. 62.1 ..............62.3 .............. 62.9 .................62 .............. 62..............-0.1CEYLON TOBACCO XD ......... 847 .......... 979.75 ...............980 ............... 980 ...............970 ............ 971............-8.75CHEMANEX .................................. 8,230 ................. 76 ..............76.8 .............. 76.8 .................74 .............. 74.................-2CHEVRON ................................... 38,397 .......... 109.25 ...............109 ............... 109 ...............107 ......... 107.5............-1.75CIC ............................................127,661 .............. 52.3 ..............53.1 .............. 53.1 ..............52.2 .............. 53............... 0.7CIC [CIC.X0000] .......................167,351 .............. 44.1 ..............44.2 .............. 44.8 ..............42.9 ........... 44.2............... 0.1CITRUS LEISURE .......................... 1,324 ....................9 ................8.7 ................ 9.1 ................8.7 ............. 8.9..............-0.1COLD STORES ............................. 12,019 .......... 618.75 ...............620 ............... 625 ...............618 ............ 620............. 1.25COLOMBO CITY ....................................7 ............ 808.5 ...............835 ............... 850 ...............835 ......... 808.5...................0COLOMBO LAND ........................ 40,547 .............. 26.9 .................27 .............. 28.9 .................26 ........... 26.4..............-0.5COMMERCIAL BANK ...............159,177 .............. 91.5 .................91 .............. 91.4 ..............89.9 ........... 90.6..............-0.9COMMERCIAL BANK [COMB.X0000] 63,732 ....... 78.1 ..............78.2 .............. 78.2 ..............77.4 .............. 78..............-0.1CONVENIENCE FOOD ........................ 12 ............. 1199 ...... 1,180.00 .......1,180.00 .......1,170.00 ....1,199.00...................0DANKOTUWA PORCEL.............103,189 ................. 14 .................14 ................. 14 ..............13.7 ........... 13.9..............-0.1DFCC BANK PLC ......................... 48,124 ................. 64 .................64 ................. 64 ..............63.4 ........... 63.6..............-0.4DIALOG .....................................773,819 .............. 13.2 ..............13.2 .............. 13.2 .................13 ........... 13.1..............-0.1DIMO XD ........................ 56 .......... 524.75 ...............525 ............... 525 ...............521 .......504.57..........-20.18DIPPED PRODUCTS .................823,602 .............. 51.1 ..............51.8 ................. 52 ..............50.9 ........... 51.8............... 0.7DOCKYARD ................................... 2,101 ................. 75 .................75 ................. 75 ..............74.2 .............. 75...................0DOLPHIN HOTELS ........................ 7,083 ................. 25 .................25 ................. 25 .................25 .............. 25...................0E B CREASY ................................ 32,262 .............. 25.1 ..............26.4 .............. 26.4 ..............24.9 ........... 25.3............... 0.2EAST WEST .................................. 2,000 .............. 10.6 ..............10.6 .............. 10.6 ..............10.6 ........... 10.6...................0EASTERN MERCHANT ............... 19,301 ................ 5.8 ................5.6 ................ 5.8 ................5.6 ............. 5.6..............-0.2EXPOLANKA ............................449,617 .............. 47.6 ..............47.6 .............. 47.9 ..............46.9 ........... 47.5..............-0.1FORT LAND ................................ 44,940 .............. 14.8 .................15 ................. 15 ..............14.5 ........... 14.6..............-0.2GESTETNER ..........................................5 ................. 82 .................82 ................. 82 .................82 .............. 82...................0GRAIN ELEVATORS .................... 22,216 ............ 139.5 ............139.5 ............... 140 ...............135 ............ 138..............-1.5HAYCARB .................................103,557 .............. 94.9 ..............95.5 .............. 96.3 ..............94.5 .............. 95............... 0.1HAYLEYS ...............................1,014,957 .............. 75.8 ..............76.5 .............. 76.5 ..............74.5 ........... 75.2..............-0.6HAYLEYS FABRIC ..................2,852,894 .............. 18.8 ..............18.7 .............. 18.7 ..............17.9 ........... 18.3..............-0.5HAYLEYS FIBRE ......................... 21,904 .............. 52.7 .................53 ................. 53 ..............52.5 ........... 52.9............... 0.2HDFC ............................................... 151 .............. 36.5 ..............36.9 .............. 36.9 ..............36.5 ........... 36.6............... 0.1HEMAS HOLDINGS ..................110,202 .............. 85.5 ..............85.5 ................. 86 ..............84.7 ........... 84.8..............-0.7HNB ............................................ 65,928 ............ 135.5 ............135.5 ..........136.75 ...............134 .......135.75............. 0.25HNB ASSURANCE ...................... 13,766 .............. 52.9 .................53 ................. 53 ..............52.8 .............. 53............... 0.1HNB [HNB.X0000] ...................447,798 ............... 110 ..........109.75 ............... 111 ..........108.75 .......110.75............. 0.75HOTEL SIGIRIYA .............................. 100 .............. 62.9 ..............64.9 .............. 64.9 ..............64.9 ........... 64.9...................2INDUSTRIAL ASPH. ..............2,078,644 ................ 0.4 ................0.4 ................ 0.5 ................0.4 ............. 0.4...................0JKH ...........................................142,348 .......... 137.75 ............137.5 ............137.5 ..........136.75 .......137.25..............-0.5KANDY HOTELS ........................... 1,500 ................ 4.8 ................4.9 ................ 4.9 ................4.9 ............. 4.9............... 0.1KEGALLE ..............................................8 ............ 104.5 ...............107 ............... 107 ...............107 ......... 104.5...................0KELANI CABLES ........................... 6,355 .......... 145.75 ...............148 ............... 148 ...............140 .......145.75...................0KELANI TYRES ........................... 11,675 .............. 86.1 .................86 .............. 86.5 ..............85.7 .............. 86..............-0.1KELANI VALLEY ......................... 11,050 .............. 41.4 ..............41.5 ................. 42 ..............41.4 .............. 42............... 0.6KINGSBURY ................................. 6,000 ................ 6.4 ................6.4 ................ 6.4 ................6.3 ............. 6.3..............-0.1KOTAGALA ................................. 12,074 ................ 6.1 ................6.1 ................ 6.1 ................... 6 ................ 6..............-0.1L O L C HOLDINGS ....................405,650 .......... 388.25 ...............385 ............392.5 ..........381.25 .......386.25.................-2LANKA ALUMINIUM ...............333,051 .............. 25.2 ..............25.1 .............. 25.5 ..............24.3 ........... 25.1..............-0.1LANKA ASHOK ................................ 165 ............ 689.5 ...............690 ............... 690 ...............690 ............ 690............... 0.5LANKA HOSPITALS ...................... 3,422 .............. 46.4 ..............46.5 .............. 46.5 .................45 .............. 46..............-0.4LANKA IOC ............................4,563,215 .............. 20.6 ..............23.6 .............. 23.9 ..............22.2 ........... 23.1............... 2.5LANKA TILES ............................558,472 .............. 53.9 ..............53.9 .............. 53.9 .................52 ........... 52.9.................-1LANKA VENTURES .......................... 305 ................. 53 ..............53.8 .............. 53.8 .................51 .............. 51.................-2LANKA WALLTILE ....................402,912 .............. 63.7 ..............63.2 .............. 63.8 ..............62.3 ........... 63.3..............-0.4LAUGFS GAS ............................150,164 .............. 21.2 ..............21.6 .............. 23.6 ..............21.6 ........... 23.1............... 1.9LAUGFS GAS [LGL.X0000] .......281,400 .............. 14.2 ..............14.7 .............. 15.9 ..............14.7 ........... 14.9............... 0.7LAXAPANA ................................. 50,582 ................. 14 .................14 .............. 14.7 ..............13.8 .............. 14...................0LB FINANCE .............................208,980 .............. 66.4 ..............66.4 .............. 66.5 ..............65.5 ........... 65.7..............-0.7LEE HEDGES ................................. 5,500 .............. 67.4 ..............64.5 ................. 70 ..............63.1 ........... 68.5............... 1.1LMF .............................................. 8,699 ............... 153 ...............154 ............... 154 ............152.5 ......... 152.5..............-0.5LVL ENERGY .............................283,440 .............. 10.4 ..............10.3 .............. 10.6 ..............10.2 ........... 10.5............... 0.1MALWATTE ................................ 10,410 .............. 12.3 ..............11.8 .............. 12.2 ..............11.8 ........... 12.2..............-0.1MALWATTE [MAL.X0000] ........... 1,529 ................ 7.7 ................7.6 ................ 7.8 ................7.6 ............. 7.8............... 0.1MELSTACORP ...........................645,901 .............. 48.5 ..............48.7 .............. 49.6 .................48 ........... 49.3............... 0.8MERC. SHIPPING .............................. 50 ................. 76 ..............75.5 .............. 75.5 ..............75.5 .............. 76...................0MERCHANT BANK ...................241,054 ................ 6.9 ................6.9 ................ 6.9 ................6.7 ............. 6.8..............-0.1MULLERS ........................................ 834 ................ 1.2 ................1.2 ................ 1.2 ................1.2 ............. 1.2...................0NAMUNUKULA ............................... 620 ............ 156.5 ...............158 ............... 158 ...............155 ......... 156.5...................0NAT. DEV. BANK ......................... 93,119 .............. 81.8 ..............82.6 .............. 82.6 ..............80.5 .............. 81..............-0.8NATIONS TRUST ......................... 10,010 ................. 60 ..............59.8 .............. 59.8 ..............58.9 ........... 59.2..............-0.8NATIONS TRUST [NTB-X-0000] ..... 149 ................. 60 ..............59.1 ................. 75 ..............59.1 ........... 73.8............. 13.8NAWALOKA.................................. 9,322 ................ 5.2 ................5.4 ................ 5.4 ................5.3 ............. 5.4............... 0.2NESTLE XD .................... 512 ........1100.25 ...... 1,100.25 .......1,105.00 .......1,100.00 ....1,104.50............. 4.25OVERSEAS REALTY ..................216,750 .............. 15.8 ..............15.8 .............. 16.1 ..............15.7 ........... 15.9............... 0.1PAN ASIA .................................173,439 .............. 17.2 ..............16.9 ................. 17 ..............16.5 ........... 16.9..............-0.3PANASIAN POWER ...............1,217,898 ................ 4.1 ................4.1 ................ 4.1 ................3.9 ............. 4.1...................0PEOPLE’S INS ...........................126,663 .............. 38.5 ..............38.5 .............. 38.9 ..............38.2 ........... 38.5...................0PEOPLES LEASING ................5,527,055 .............. 13.2 ..............13.3 .............. 13.4 .................13 .............. 13..............-0.2PIRAMAL GLASS........................ 37,612 .............. 11.9 .................12 ................. 12 ..............11.8 ........... 11.9...................0R I L PROPERTY........................350,772 ................ 6.6 ................6.7 ................ 6.7 ................6.4 ............. 6.6...................0RADIANT GEMS ........................... 6,000 .............. 23.8 .................23 ................. 25 .................23 .............. 25............... 1.2REGNIS ....................................... 30,797 ................. 71 .................71 ................. 71 ..............69.5 .............. 70.................-1RENUKA AGRI ............................ 54,114 ................ 3.7 ................3.8 ................ 3.8 ................3.7 ............. 3.7...................0RENUKA CITY HOT. ...................... 6,016 ............... 240 ............238.5 ............238.5 ...............226 .......229.25..........-10.75RENUKA FOODS......................... 23,175 ................. 13 .................13 ................. 13 ..............12.7 ........... 12.8..............-0.2RENUKA FOODS [COCO.X0000] .. 3,403 .............. 10.5 ..............10.5 .............. 10.8 ..............10.4 ........... 10.8............... 0.3RENUKA HOLDINGS .................. 25,800 .............. 14.9 ..............14.8 .............. 14.8 ..............14.6 ........... 14.7..............-0.2RENUKA HOLDINGS [RHL.X0000] . 500 .............. 11.1 ..............11.4 .............. 11.4 ..............11.4 ........... 11.4............... 0.3RESUS ENERGY ....................................3 .............. 26.5 .................27 ................. 27 .................27 ........... 26.5...................0RICHARD PIERIS ......................112,962 ................. 18 ..............18.1 .............. 18.1 ..............17.5 ........... 17.9..............-0.1ROYAL CERAMIC XD .2,778,903 .............. 38.2 ..............38.1 .............. 38.2 ..............37.4 ........... 37.8..............-0.4S M B LEASING .....................4,868,436 ................ 0.4 ................0.4 ................ 0.5 ................0.4 ............. 0.4...................0S M B LEASING [SEMB.X0000] 10,706,657 ........... 0.2 ................0.2 ................ 0.3 ................0.2 ............. 0.2...................0SAMPATH .................................733,491 .............. 55.5 ..............55.1 .............. 55.9 ..............54.9 ........... 55.7............... 0.2SAMSON INTERNAT. ....................... 700 ............ 141.5 ...............142 ............... 142 ...............140 ............ 140..............-1.5SANASA DEV. BANK .................. 17,421 .............. 51.4 ..............51.5 .............. 51.5 ..............51.2 ........... 51.5............... 0.1SEYLAN BANK ............................. 2,810 ................. 51 .................51 .............. 51.3 .................50 .............. 51...................0

SEYLAN BANK [SEYB.X0000] .453,271 .............. 40.4 .................40 .............. 40.9 ..............39.9 ........... 40.4...................0SEYLAN DEVTS .......................... 10,533 .............. 14.8 ..............14.9 .............. 14.9 ..............14.5 ........... 14.5..............-0.3SIERRA CABL...........................100,634 ................ 7.6 ................7.5 ................ 7.5 ................7.3 ............. 7.5..............-0.1SIGIRIYA VILLAGE ............................. 52 .............. 34.5 ..............35.9 .............. 35.9 ..............35.9 ........... 34.5...................0SINGER FINANCE ....................... 83,420 .............. 16.6 ..............16.7 .............. 16.9 ..............16.2 ........... 16.8............... 0.2SLT ................................................ 6,630 ................. 34 .................34 ................. 34 ..............33.7 .............. 34...................0SUNSHINE HOLDING ................. 55,876 .............. 26.9 .................27 ................. 27 ..............26.6 ........... 26.9...................0SWISSTEK ................................180,999 .............. 31.4 ..............31.2 .............. 31.2 ..............30.5 ........... 30.7..............-0.7TALAWAKELLE ........................... 32,506 .............. 46.9 ..............47.2 .............. 47.2 .................46 ........... 46.8..............-0.1TANGERINE ..................................... 105 .............. 39.2 ..............44.5 .............. 44.5 ..............43.5 ........... 44.5............... 5.3TEA SMALLHOLDER ....................... 131 .............. 34.4 ..............34.5 .............. 34.7 ..............34.5 ........... 34.7............... 0.3TEEJAY LANKA .........................193,567 .............. 39.3 ..............39.2 .............. 39.3 ..............38.7 ........... 38.8..............-0.5THREE ACRE FARMS .................. 17,289 ............ 226.5 ...............225 ..........229.75 ...............221 ............ 224..............-2.5TOKYO CEMENT ......................... 44,658 .............. 74.6 ..............74.8 .............. 74.8 ..............72.1 ........... 73.1..............-1.5TOKYO CEMENT [TKYO.X0000] 192,308 .............. 67.7 ..............68.5 .............. 68.5 ..............66.5 .............. 67..............-0.7UNION BANK ............................. 70,855 .............. 11.8 ..............11.9 .............. 11.9 ..............11.8 ........... 11.8...................0UNION CHEMICALS XD ......... 14 ............... 798 ...............798 ............... 798 ..........750.25 ............ 798...................0UNISYST ....................................... 1,281 ................ 8.8 ................8.8 ................ 8.9 ................8.7 ............. 8.8...................0UNITED MOTORS ......................... 1,256 .............. 62.1 ..............62.1 .............. 62.1 ..............61.1 ........... 61.2..............-0.9VALLIBEL ..............................2,281,723 ................ 7.8 ................7.8 ................... 8 ................7.6 ............. 7.9............... 0.1VALLIBEL FINANCE..................100,240 .......... 167.25 ...............162 ..........163.75 ...............160 ............ 163............-4.25VIDULLANKA ...........................350,403 ................ 5.9 ...................6 ................... 6 ................5.9 ............. 5.9...................0WATAWALA ............................... 67,757 .............. 55.3 ..............55.5 .............. 55.9 .................55 .............. 55..............-0.3WINDFORCE ............................637,694 .............. 19.6 ..............19.2 .............. 19.2 ..............18.9 ........... 18.9..............-0.7SECOND BOARDABANS FINANCIAL ........................... 60 .............. 27.2 ..............27.3 .............. 28.3 ..............27.3 ........... 27.2...................0AMBEON CAPITAL ...................143,364 ................ 5.7 ................5.6 ................ 5.6 ................5.5 ............. 5.5..............-0.2ASIA CAPITAL ............................ 49,502 ................ 5.2 ................5.1 ................ 5.2 ................... 5 ................ 5..............-0.2BROWNS BEACH ......................... 5,460 ................ 9.9 ................9.4 ................ 9.8 ................9.4 ............. 9.5..............-0.4COMM LEASE & FIN .................117,010 ................ 6.3 ................6.3 ................ 6.3 ................... 6 ............. 6.2..............-0.1DISTILLERIES ...........................232,351 .............. 21.1 ..............21.8 .............. 21.9 ..............21.1 ........... 21.3............... 0.2FIRST CAPITAL ........................... 23,746 .............. 51.6 ..............51.6 ................. 52 .................51 ........... 51.5..............-0.1JANASHAKTHI INS. ................... 41,420 .............. 28.7 ..............28.8 .............. 28.8 ..............28.4 ........... 28.6..............-0.1LOLC DEV FINANCE ...................... 2,248 .............. 74.2 .................70 ................. 80 .................70 ........... 73.8..............-0.4LOLC FINANCE..........................271,807 ................ 6.7 ................6.7 ................ 6.7 ................6.5 ............. 6.7...................0ODEL PLC...................................... 1,501 .............. 18.3 ..............18.5 .............. 18.5 ..............18.2 ........... 18.2..............-0.1ORIENT FINANCE ....................... 37,222 .............. 15.9 ..............15.9 .............. 15.9 ..............15.2 ........... 15.5..............-0.4PDL ...............................XD 2,774 .......... 122.25 ..........123.25 ..........124.25 ..........123.25 .......124.25...................2PEOPLE’S MERCH ........................ 5,630 ................ 7.6 ..............7.60 .............. 7.60 ..............7.50 ........... 7.50..............-0.1SINGER SRI LANKA .................... 58,415 .............. 18.9 ..............18.9 .............. 18.9 ..............18.5 ........... 18.6..............-0.3EMPOWER BOARDCHRISSWORLD .......................... 32,217 .............. 14.4 ..............14.6 .............. 14.8 ..............14.3 ........... 14.5............... 0.1DIRI SAVI BOARDAGSTAR PLC ............................... 22,776 ................ 7.5 ................7.8 ................ 7.8 ................7.5 ............. 7.5...................0ALUMEX PLC .........................1,467,985 ................. 14 ..............14.2 .............. 14.3 ..............13.9 ........... 14.1............... 0.1AMANA TAKAFUL ...................... 97,987 ................ 7.7 ................7.8 ................ 8.2 ................7.7 ................ 8............... 0.3AMBEON HOLDINGS ................... 9,208 .............. 21.2 ..............21.2 .............. 21.2 ..............20.7 .............. 21..............-0.2AMF CO LTD ............................... 10,131 .......... 260.75 ..........269.75 ............... 300 ..........269.75 ......... 276.5........... 15.75ARPICO INSURANCE .................. 21,004 ................. 21 ..............21.7 .............. 21.7 ..............20.9 .............. 21...................0ASIA SIYAKA ............................278,529 ................ 2.7 ................2.7 ................ 2.8 ................2.6 ............. 2.7...................0BANSEI RESORTS ......................... 1,000 ....................8 ...................8 ................... 8 ................... 8 ................ 8...................0BERUWALA RESORTS ................ 64,549 ................ 0.8 ................0.9 ................ 0.9 ................0.8 ............. 0.8...................0BOGALA GRAPHITE .............................3 .............. 26.5 ..............25.5 .............. 25.5 ..............25.5 ........... 26.5...................0BOGAWANTALAWA .......................... 83 .............. 11.5 ..............11.8 .............. 11.8 ..............11.8 ........... 11.5...................0BPPL HOLDINGS ...................1,004,885 .............. 16.7 ..............16.9 .............. 16.9 .................16 ........... 16.8............... 0.1BROWNS ..................................105,580 .......... 178.75 ...............184 ............... 184 ..........172.25 ......... 177.5............-1.25BROWNS INVSTMNTS ..........4,846,104 ................ 6.3 ................6.3 ................ 6.4 ................6.2 ............. 6.2..............-0.1C T LAND ...................................... 1,096 ................. 25 .................26 ................. 26 .................26 .............. 26...................1C.W.MACKIE .............................323,088 .............. 58.5 ..............58.4 .............. 61.7 ..............58.4 ........... 60.9............... 2.4CEYLON TEA BRKRS .................730,817 ................ 4.3 ................4.4 ................ 4.5 ................4.3 ............. 4.4............... 0.1CIT ..................................................... 47 ............... 130 ...............130 ............... 130 ...............130 ............ 130...................0CITRUS HIKKADUWA ................ 21,000 ................ 5.3 ................5.2 ................ 5.3 ................5.2 ............. 5.2..............-0.1CITRUS WASKADUWA............... 35,193 ....................3 ...................3 ................... 3 ................... 3 ................ 3...................0COM.CREDIT ................................ 7,380 .............. 25.7 ..............25.9 .............. 25.9 .................25 ........... 25.3..............-0.4COMMERCIAL DEV. ........................ 467 ............ 113.5 ...............113 ............... 113 ...............110 ............ 110..............-3.5E - CHANNELLING ....................... 1,003 ....................6 ...................6 ................... 6 ................5.9 ............. 5.9..............-0.1EDEN HOTEL LANKA .................. 32,115 ................. 10 .................10 ................. 10 ................9.8 ............. 9.8..............-0.2ELPITIYA ....................................... 2,315 ................. 43 ..............43.2 .............. 44.9 ..............43.2 ........... 44.1............... 1.1EQUITY TWO PLC .............................. 80 .............. 48.2 ..............50.8 .............. 50.8 ..............50.8 ........... 48.2...................0FORTRESS RESORTS .................... 1,100 .............. 10.3 ..............10.3 .............. 10.3 ..............10.1 ........... 10.3...................0GALADARI .................................. 21,463 ................ 8.3 ................8.3 ................ 8.4 ................... 8 ................ 8..............-0.3HAPUGASTENNE ............................ 100 .............. 16.1 ..............16.1 .............. 16.1 ..............16.1 ........... 16.1...................0HARISCHANDRA .............................. 13 ........4048.25 ...... 3,701.00 .......3,701.00 .......3,700.50 ....4,048.25...................0HATTON ........................................... 200 ................ 9.7 ................9.7 ................ 9.7 ................9.7 ............. 9.7...................0HNB FINANCE .............................. 2,800 ................ 8.8 ...................9 ................... 9 ................8.8 ................ 9............... 0.2HVA FOODS ................................ 81,279 ................ 6.1 ................6.3 ................ 6.3 ................... 6 ............. 6.1...................0JETWING SYMPHONY .................... 184 ................ 9.4 ................9.3 ................ 9.3 ................9.3 ............. 9.3..............-0.1JOHN KEELLS ............................... 2,475 ................. 71 ..............68.4 .............. 70.6 ..............66.5 ........... 68.5..............-2.5KAHAWATTE ..................................... 23 .............. 27.6 ..............27.6 .............. 27.6 ..............27.5 ........... 27.6...................0KEELLS FOOD .......................................2 ............... 165 ..........168.75 ..........168.75 ..........168.75 ............ 165...................0KEELLS HOTELS ........................... 1,196 ................ 9.4 ................9.2 ................ 9.5 ................9.2 ............. 9.4...................0KELSEY ......................................... 1,200 ................. 30 ..............29.8 ................. 30 ..............29.3 ........... 29.5..............-0.5LANKA CERAMIC ............................ 214 ............... 150 ...............150 ..........150.25 ...............146 ............ 147.................-3LANKEM CEYLON ........................ 2,438 .............. 28.5 .................29 ................. 29 ..............25.5 ........... 26.9..............-1.6LAUGFS POWER ........................ 26,927 ................ 8.6 ................8.8 ................... 9 ................8.8 ................ 9............... 0.4LAUGFS POWER [LPL-X-0000] 83,574 ................ 6.4 ................6.5 ................... 7 ................6.5 ............. 6.9............... 0.5LOTUS HYDRO............................ 10,913 ................. 10 ................9.8 .............. 10.2 ................9.8 .............. 10...................0MACKWOODS ENERGY ............. 19,051 ................ 2.8 ................2.9 ................ 2.9 ................2.7 ............. 2.7..............-0.1MAHAWELI COCONUT .................... 731 ................. 29 .................29 .............. 29.8 .................29 ........... 29.8............... 0.8MARAWILA RESORTS ................ 56,947 ................ 1.8 ................1.9 ................ 1.9 ................1.8 ............. 1.8...................0MASKELIYA ..........................................2 .............. 11.8 ..............12.8 .............. 12.8 ..............11.9 ........... 11.8...................0MILLENNIUM HOUSE ................ 41,104 ................ 5.9 ................5.9 ................... 6 ................5.8 ............. 5.9...................0ON’ALLY ................................................1 .............. 31.7 .................33 ................. 33 .................33 ........... 31.7...................0PALM GARDEN HOTL ..........................7 .............. 25.5 ..............24.5 .............. 24.5 ..............24.5 ........... 25.5...................0PEGASUS HOTELS........................... 100 .............. 28.7 ..............28.6 .............. 28.6 ..............28.6 ........... 28.6..............-0.1PRIME FINANCE ............................... 11 .............. 12.2 ..............12.6 .............. 12.6 ..............12.6 ........... 12.2...................0PRIMERESIDENCIES .............2,565,621 .............. 10.8 ..............10.8 .............. 10.8 ..............10.4 ........... 10.6..............-0.2RAIGAM SALTERNS .................253,983 ................ 6.2 ................6.3 ................ 6.3 ................... 6 ............. 6.1..............-0.1RAMBODA FALLS ........................... 739 .............. 17.9 ..............17.9 .............. 17.9 .................16 ........... 16.4..............-1.5RENUKA CAPITAL ....................265,409 ................ 6.7 ................6.8 ................ 6.8 ................6.5 ............. 6.8............... 0.1RICH PIERIS EXP ............................. 119 ............... 362 ...............356 ............... 358 ...............356 ............ 357.................-5ROYAL PALMS ............................ 11,744 .............. 15.2 ..............15.3 .............. 15.8 ..............15.3 ........... 15.3............... 0.1SATHOSA MOTORS ........................... 44 ............... 225 ..........225.75 ............... 245 ..........225.75 ............ 225...................0SERENDIB ENG.GRP ............................2 ....................6 ...................6 ................ 6.3 ................... 6 ................ 6...................0SERENDIB HOTELS ...................... 2,010 ................. 14 .................14 ................. 14 ..............13.8 ........... 13.8..............-0.2SERENDIB HOTELS [SHOT.X0000] 1,010 ................ 9.3 ...................9 ................... 9 ................... 9 ................ 9..............-0.3SERENDIB LAND ............................... 29 .......... 2707.4 ...... 2,181.75 .......2,181.75 .......2,180.00 ....2,707.40...................0SINGER IND. .................................... 197 .............. 49.1 ..............51.4 .............. 51.4 ..............50.9 ........... 51.4............... 2.3SINGHE HOSPITALS ................... 48,330 ....................2 ................2.1 ................ 2.1 ................... 2 ................ 2...................0SOFTLOGIC ................................. 10,579 .............. 11.2 ..............11.4 ..............11.4 .................11 ........... 11.3............... 0.1SOFTLOGIC CAP ....................1,174,962 ................ 3.8 ................3.8 ................ 3.9 ................3.7 ............. 3.7..............-0.1SWADESHI ...........................................1 ........... 17987 .... 18,000.00 .....18,000.00 .....18,000.00 ..17,987.00...................0SOFTLOGIC LIFE .......................383,015 .............. 30.2 ..............30.2 .............. 31.9 ..............30.1 ........... 31.1............... 0.9TAL LANKA...................................... 201 ................. 13 .................13 ................. 13 .................13 .............. 13...................0UDAPUSSELLAWA ....................... 1,260 .............. 22.4 ..............22.4 .............. 22.4 ..............22.4 ........... 22.4...................0UNION ASSURANCE ....................... 411 .......... 280.25 ...............281 ............... 281 ...............280 ............ 280............-0.25VALLIBEL ONE XD ......404,581 .............. 56.1 ..............56.1 .............. 56.1 ..............54.5 ........... 54.8..............-1.3WATCH LISTANILANA HOTELS ............BLUE.X0000] .......... 45,115 ................1.1 ................ 1.1 ................1.2 ............. 1.1...................0BLUE DIAMONDS.............. [SFL.P0000] ............ 3,711 ................0.8 ................ 0.8 ................0.9 ............. 0.8...................0BLUE DIAMONDS [ .........................................503,500 ................0.4 ................ 0.4 ................0.5 ............. 0.3............... 0.1LANKEM DEV. .................................................121,748 ................4.3 ................ 4.3 ................4.3 ............. 4.1..............-0.2MULTI FINANCE ................................................ 35,745 ................8.7 ................ 8.2 ................8.4 ............. 8.1..............-0.5NATION LANKA...............................................253,879 ................0.7 ................ 0.7 ................0.8 ............. 0.7...................0SINHAPUTHRA FIN .......................................... 39,674 ...................6 ................... 6 ................6.9 ................ 6............... 0.5SINHAPUTHRA FIN ............................................ 5,100 ................3.6 ................ 3.9 ................4.3 ............. 3.9............... 0.5

VOLUME CHANGE (RS.)

V.W.A.TODAY’S

V.W.A.PREVIOUS LOWHIGHOPEN VOLUME CHANGE

(RS.)V.W.A.

TODAY’SV.W.A.

PREVIOUS LOWHIGHOPENSE CUR I TY

Company VWA VWA Change Change Prev. Close Days Close (Rs.) %BLUE DIAMONDS 0.4 0.5 ....................... 0.1 ................... 25NATIONS TRUST 60 73.8 ..................... 13.8 ................... 23ASIA ASSET 6.9 7.9 .......................... 1 .............. 14.49SINHAPUTHRA FIN 3.6 4.1 ....................... 0.5 .............. 13.89TANGERINE 39.2 44.5 ....................... 5.3 .............. 13.52LANKA IOC 20.6 23.1 ....................... 2.5 .............. 12.14LAUGFS GAS 21.2 23.1 ....................... 1.9 ................ 8.96SINHAPUTHRA FIN 6 6.5 ....................... 0.5 ................ 8.33LAUGFS POWER 6.4 6.9 ....................... 0.5 ................ 7.81AMF CO LTD 260.75 276.5 ................... 15.75 ................ 6.04

TOP 10 GAINERS

Company VWA VWA ................ Change ........... ChangeRAMBODA FALLS 17.9 16.4 ......................-1.5 ...............-8.38MULTI FINANCE 8.7 8.2 ......................-0.5 ...............-5.75LANKEM CEYLON 28.5 26.9 ......................-1.6 ...............-5.61CDB 138.25 131 ....................-7.25 ...............-5.24LANKEM DEV. 4.3 4.1 ......................-0.2 ...............-4.65RENUKA CITY HOT. 240 229.25 ..................-10.75 ...............-4.48BROWNS BEACH 9.9 9.5 ......................-0.4 ...............-4.04ASIA CAPITAL 5.2 5 ......................-0.2 ...............-3.85DIMO 524.75 504.57 ..................-20.18 ...............-3.85LANKA VENTURES 53 51 .........................-2 ...............-3.77

TOP 10 LOSERS

The Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian Government-funded Skills for Inclusive Growth (S4IG) programme managed by Scope Global (Pty.) Ltd. S4IG is a skills programme that uses the tourism sector to explore and demonstrate successful models of change within skills providers and formal and informal tourism enterprises.

Under the terms of this MoU, supported and guided by S4IG, SLITHM plans to adopt tourism business coaching as a means to support small tourism-related business achieve government and industry quality standards to operate in the tourism sector and generate improved revenues. SLITHM will pilot coach training and work with industry groups to market the service to smaller businesses as a way to adapt and recover in tourism. A coaching training course is also to be completed and implemented through this programme. Accordingly, interested and capable SLITHM officials and academics will be trained as tourism business coaches. A self-funded licensing system is to be implemented to assure quality of coaching services and industry licensing will be a requirement.

An e-tourism training course will be packaged as a foundational course and an advanced level course will

be operational within SLITHM in the second half of 2021. S4IG will support SLITHM to deliver more flexible, relevant, and responsive training to SME enterprises in the tourism sector to improve the digital marketing capacity of small businesses and enable these enterprises to develop better direct links with visitors. The training provided will equip SMEs with the knowledge to curate more relevant and authentic experiences which the post-Covid traveller will be seeking more than ever before. The course supports businesses to identify and align with destination marketing channels and to tailor-make services and experience based on traveller demands, which will result in maximised yield.

Further, the parties to the MoU will co-operate to improve practice standards, licensing, and professional development of tour guides in Sri Lanka. Drawing from relevant international experience and success in Thailand, Australia, and South Africa, the S4IG programme will facilitate development of agreed standards for this segment of stakeholders. Twenty

women will be selected to participate in the pilot programme supporting tour guides in line with the goal set out by the national policy framework to increase female representation in the industry. The programme will also incorporate an opportunity for the selected team to go through internships providing them with hands-on experience.

In addition, a feasibility study will

be conducted to set up a training centre for persons with disabilities to access employment in travel services managed by online travel and tour operators in Sri Lanka. The feasibility study will review how SLITHM can support operators seeking skills for online business processing services and how such a system can be incorporated into SLITHM’s training services.

There has been a dire need for tourism business management training for small businesses, which has also been identified as a priority by industry associations and the Tourism Skills Council. S4IG and SLITHM will investigate the viability of developing a professional training programme for managers across the sector, especially supporting SMEs in 2021. S4IG and SLITHM will review the challenges of management skills in tourism and prepare a proposal for management approval. A model could then be tested in late 2021 and throughout 2022.

In other areas of co-operation, S4IG plans to work with SLITHM to identify opportunities for improved skills development in the areas such as

review the Foundational Hospitality Training Package developed with National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) and Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) which is an online or work-based training system that can be delivered in workplaces through a combination of workplace training, self-study, and reflection and is assessed externally by industry assessors for skills recognition and certification.

The two parties will also review the capacity of training provision to support skills development in areas associated with social marketing: Digital content creation, creating marketing leaflets, digital awareness programmes, event management, and other skills sets associated with regional destination development.

Wellness tourism is a top priority area for Sri Lanka based on the myriad of opportunities as identified by the National Export Strategy (NES) 2018-22 as well as tourism policies. Support for this growth sector is underpinned by commitments from the Chinese, Asian Development

Bank (ADB), and the World Bank Group to support the Government of Sri Lanka in developing large-scale infrastructure investments in the healthcare/tourism wellness sector. S4IG has established links with interested industry and government stakeholders in programme areas and will work with SLITHM in 2021 to identify skills gaps and opportunities to support wellness tourism.

The above collaboration with SLITHM and S4IG will increase sustainable opportunities in the tourism sector in the areas of human resource development, the SME sector, tour guiding sector, and increase participation of women in the industry. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), in pursuit of fulfilling the mandate for tourism included in the national policy framework, is charting a new course as it undergoes strategic re-engineering to be able to optimise resources and drive tourism to become the highest exchange-earner for the country and uplift the SME sector, while creating jobs and transforming the sector to finally achieve its potential.

4business { TECH/TOURISM }3

� www.themorning.lkTuesday, June 15, 2021

SLITHM to sign MoU with Australia Government-funded S4IG programme

SLTDA Chairperson Kimarli Fernando

BY IMSHA IQBAL

Obtaining credit for further expansion of a business at some point is inevitable. When lending money to

such businesses, lenders inherently want to make sure borrowers are capable of paying them back without defaulting. This includes assessing the creditworthiness of the borrower and requiring them to submit collateral against the credit. But not every company’s creditworthiness can be assessed utilising the same framework; and, most certainly, not every company can provide or prove assets even though they have successfully been in business for some time now. This particular issue makes borrowing way harder for tech companies, as their assets are talent-based, unlike other businesses with tangible assets.

Now, to make this easier, a new Credit Evaluation Framework was introduced for tech companies in Sri Lanka, with the collaboration of both the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) and PwC Sri Lanka, last Wednesday (9).

Curious to know more about this framework and how it has been worked out, we spoke to PayMedia, the first company to be evaluated and benefitted. Speaking to The Morning Business, PayMedia Founder Kanishka Weeramunda stated: “It was an easy three-step process, where we were to submit the past financials and future projections with necessary track-record documents to ICTA and PwC, following which we were invited for a pitch at the bank.”

ICTA Startup Ecosystem Development Senior Manager Tamasha Fernando disclosed that this new framework aims to provide alternative evaluation options for traditional lending companies such as banks and financial institutes, who look forward to supporting the scaling up of tech companies.

Weeramunda said that the credit evaluation system has been solely focused on tech companies because there was no practical evaluation mechanism in existence for banks or any other financial institution when tech companies needed to upscale the business.

Also, the existing evaluation mechanism that banks were dependent on did not, in actual fact, highlight the market potential that a particular technological company has.

Elaborating on the background which led to creating the aforementioned framework, Weeramunda said: “The tech companies offer products and services where there is no tangible asset,” demonstrating that when it

comes to funding, institutions such as banks want to evaluate feasibility by calculating the asset value depreciation, an accounting method of allocating the cost of an asset, which is typically a tangible one, over its life expectancy. However, it is difficult to measure the intangible assets that tech companies own, as in terms of tech companies their asset value “is all about knowledge”.

“There was the challenge of evaluating these kinds of companies (intangible asset owning companies) which provide intangible products and services,” he said. “That was the battle we had for the longest time.”

He explained how the banks in Sri Lanka needed to develop an understanding of the evaluation of intangible assets, and therefore, a framework of such nature was vital. Weeramunda demystified how this launched framework functions in bridging the communication gap between banks and tech companies.

“It basically had five areas,” said Weeramunda. Firstly, the banks put light on the founders’ capability, management capability, the market growth, the product, and finance.

In terms of founder capability, the history of the founder is analysed. The type of background that the founder has had when initiating the tech company, their education with regard to the subject matter, and their entrepreneurial expertise are the areas that the bank is vigilant about prior to financial aid.

When it comes to management capability, he said from his experience so far, the banks conduct research on the management team, the risk assessment mechanism of the company, the domain expertise in developing the team, and intellectual property handling, in terms of whether it has been decentralised among a few individuals or maintained by a single individual.

Weeramunda stated: “I think it is a fair way to see the business continuity with the team, and the important fact is that their (banks’) focus is on how long the teams (management) will stay together,” implying that the strength of the establishment among each individual also affects the business continuity.

Focusing on the market growth, he briefed: “We were evaluated on our local market potential, international market potential, and the market type,” elaborating that the bank followed the TAM-SAM-SOM theory.

He explained that these acronyms are respectively, Total Available Market (TAM), Service Accessible Market (SAM), and the Service Obtainable Market (SOM), and mainly represent the subsectors of a market.

Accordingly, TAM implies the total market demand for a product or a service, while SAM shows the geographical reach targeted in the total product and services demand market; simply TAM and SOM is the portion of products and services that have been captured in the targeted geographical reach, which is the portion of SAM.

“They (financial institutions) use this (TAM,SAM,SOM theory) to see what is the bigger picture on the market (the tech company) can serve,” indicating the target market of such a company and the degree of realistic approach into the market. Thus, evaluation assesses the duration of a customer’s enthusiasm in obtaining a particular service.

The fourth focal factor when it comes to evaluation is the product. In this area, Weeramunda said: “We were questioned about the innovation; whether we are a disruptive innovation, or mindful, sustainable innovation,” in order to figure out the ultimate result of the innovation.

The financial institutions also concentrate on the company’s finances. The standard practice was maintained in evaluating this, he said, explaining that the bank looked at the investor viability, as in the perspective of the investor, and whether they would be interested in investing.

Moreover, the company’s stability in the market and its social conduct is also researched by the banks.

In providing evidence of the company’s innovation, he emphasised the need of having a track record of their own despite the phase of the tech company. “You need to build your track record as a startup or scale-up,” he said. The company needs to showcase the products or the service that currently exist in the market and how the funding directs the company to thrive from the existing circumstances.

Therefore, every company does not become eligible to be funded by a bank following the evaluation framework, according to Weeramunda. It is because the framework is not designed for a startup going through the early stage, but the scaling stage, when it needs additional money to expand.

Furthermore, when banks support in funding such companies, it creates a market opportunity for the companies. At the same time, the funding creates a pathway for the flow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the country, as foreign investors come forward in funding these tech companies under the assurance that domestic funding institutions have already evaluated the tech companies prior to the funding. Thus, the evaluation framework provides credibility to foreign investors, he pinpointed.

PayMedia, playing a prominent role throughout the credit evaluation framework, is a rapidly evolving financial technology (fintech) company

in Sri Lanka. The fintech company was granted a loan from NDB Bank without having to swap equity or offering collateral to fund their business, which is a total advantage for a tech company.

With regard to the funding by the banks, we were able to contact NDB Kohuwela Branch Manager Kuraish Sappidin, who explained the bank’s perspective.

At the stage of initiating this framework, ICTA and PwC conducted the credit evaluation. In order to provide financial solutions, ICTA and PwC provided the few banks, including NDB, with a few tech companies who were willing to scale up and go to the next step in expansion.

“I won’t say there is no risk, there is a risk,” said Sappidin, emphasising that in spite of the tech companies looking forward to their development, the banks do, in fact, do go through risk, as this is a step beyond the traditional banking framework.

Further, when asked about other branches of the bank adopting the aforesaid framework, the NDB Branch Manager responded in an optimistic tone. He said: “We know the eligibility criteria we are looking for. Based on that, all the branches under NDB have confirmed to be on board,” implying that the NDB network understands the purpose and the criteria of the framework, and anticipate implementing the evaluation strategy.

He further said: “This is taking the project to the next level,” suggesting that NDB also is the first bank in Sri Lanka to undertake this evaluating mechanism, opening a pathway in contributing to the development of the technology industry in the country.

Additionally, apart from NDB, credit evaluation officers from several banks such as Seylan Bank, DFCC Bank, and Union Bank have already expressed their willingness in considering the new framework when assessing technology companies prior to financing.

At the launch of the framework, ICTA Chief Digital Economy Officer Anura de Alwis said: “The technology industry is core to the country’s economic growth, with the highest potential for employment opportunities. But most tech companies are faced with difficulties in obtaining loans due to a lack of physical collateral. Moreover, the pandemic has forced many challenges on tech companies, derailing growth to some extent. In this background, the new framework launched with PwC will play a crucial role in boosting the tech industry.”

In conclusion, PayMedia Founder Weeramunda said that banks need to further change their mindset of evaluating tech companies in order to overcome the shortcomings of traditional frameworks.

NEW CREDIT EVALUATION FRAMEWORK

Investing in the future z Lending credit for tech scale-ups without equity swaps or collateral

PayMedia Founder Kanishka Weeramunda and NDB Kohuwela Branch Manager Kuraish Sappidin

44 business{ SECURITIES/CORPORATE } � www.themorning.lk � www.themorning.lk Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Printed by the Kalukodayawa, Malwana Press & Published by Liberty Publishers (Pvt.) Ltd. 91, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7

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100

Company Name Security Code Coupon Coupon Issued Maturity Next interest Par Value Rate Frequency Date date due date

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) facilitates the secondary trading of Corporate Debt Securities (Debentures). Debentures are unsecured, medium or long term, interest-bearing bonds issued by private sector companies. The holders of debentures are considered creditors and are entitled to payment before shareholders in the event of the liquidation of the issuing company. An investor in a debenture is essentially providing a loan to the company, and is entitled to receive interest on that loan. In market terminology, the loan interest is referred to as coupons and there are different types of debentures available in the market depending on the basis of the coupon paid.

y In most debentures the coupon rate would be fixed and will be paid based at promised intervals (monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually) mentioned at the point of issue

y Some debentures carry floating rate

coupons where the coupon rate changes with market interest rates. If interest rates in the market are going up, investors would receive higher cash flows from these types of debentures and vice versa

y In zero coupon debentures a coupon is not paid until it matures. The investment will accrue interest during the tenure of the debenture, however, will not be paid to the investor till maturity

Trading debentures in the secondary market will pave the way for investors to possibly make capital gains on their investment in addition to interest payments mentioned above. The following list shows the latest trade details of Corporate Debt Securities that are currently listed on CSE. CDS account holders have the ability to trade in the corporate debt market. Contact your stock broker for more information on opportunities on trading Corporate Debt Securities in the secondary market.

CSE Corporate Debt Securities

Forex can...“Where can policymakers create an

equal system to tap into this innovative drive in the larger existing manufacturing sectors, such as apparel and entrepreneurial dynamism in niche sectors such as ICT and high-tech products to fully harness Sri Lanka’s competitive advantage and integrate further into the global value chain? These sectors have scaled up with the latest outside technologies and experiences for the potential to drive Sri Lanka’s transformation.”

In the short-term Sri Lanka, much like many other developing countries around the world, will also face a challenging balancing act between maintaining fiscal sustainability and jump-starting economic recovery.

“Sri Lanka should use the pandemic to churn challenge into opportunity, to tackle

the fundamental core issues that existed before Covid-19 to build back better, greener, and with more agility.”

(World Bank News)

Decade-high...The Philippines has also logged high

inflation this year, with May’s consumer price index rising 4.5% from a year earlier. Likewise, the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages climbed 4.6%.

Maybank Kim Eng economist Chua Hak Bin said higher food prices could impede Asia’s recovery from the pandemic. “Rising food prices will exacerbate what is already an uneven economic recovery,” Chua said.

Lower income households and poorer countries will suffer more as they spend a larger proportion of their earnings on food, he said. These countries also have less access to Covid-19 vaccines and are hampered by limited

fiscal resources that could help to cushion the negative impact of higher food prices.

Asia’s farmers and commodity exporters are set to gain from the price hikes, though.

“Rising commodity prices, especially food, can have a powerful redistributive impact, raising rural incomes and employment,” said Chua.

According to Thailand’s central bank, the country’s farm income – which does not include government subsidies – rose 14% in April from a year ago, due to “expansion in agricultural prices”. The country is one of the world’s biggest exporters of sugar and rice.

Singapore-based agri business trader Wilmar International’s net profit doubled to $ 450 million in the first quarter of 2021 from a year ago, thanks to higher sugar and palm oil prices. “The sustained high palm oil price is expected to benefit our oil palm plantation business in the coming months,” it said in late April.

However, a prolonged pandemic and the worsening infection numbers in some Asian economies will affect the supply and demand of food, complicating the outlook for prices.

(Nikkei Asia)

Contd. from page 1

The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) aims to make Sri Lanka a digitally inclusive nation. The AgTech Showcase held on 10 June 2021, virtually, was an initiative to increase

awareness and adoption of technology in the agriculture industry. This initiative focuses on creating collaboration among stakeholders in the agriculture sector, introducing new and advanced agri-technologies from local and international experts, providing necessary support for new technology research and development, and connecting solution providers with technology-based companies.

ICTA Chief Digital Economy Officer Anura De Alwis, speaking at the session, stated: “In line with the digital economy strategy, five key pillars are identified as drivers to achieve our vision of making Sri Lanka a digitally inclusive nation. Namely; technology industry development, startup ecosystem development, capacity building, technology diffusion, and regional cluster development. Agriculture is identified as a priority industry under the scope of technology diffusion. We need to harness the benefits of modern technology and blend it with our traditional practices to help transform and create a thriving agriculture industry in Sri Lanka.” From Germany, Enpact Managing Director Jan Lachenmayer shared insights from a global perspective and how impactful,

sustainable innovation can occur within ecosystems in the agriculture sector. He also shared expert advice about the smart technology used in agriculture and farming.

ICTA Director Technology Diffusion Prof. Pradeep Abeygunawardhana, commenting on this initiative, stated: “Technology can benefit the agriculture sector in many ways. Advanced economies use sophisticated technology such as robotics, Artificial Intelligence, IOT, smart farming, precision agriculture, biotechnology, nanotechnology, hydroponics, and aquaponics to increase productivity.”

He went on to say: “As a nation, we need to harness the benefit of technology for any industry to be more profitable, efficient, safer, and

environmentally friendly. AgTech showcase is one of the many initiatives we have planned to encourage continuous discussion and dialogue with stakeholders such as farming associations, government departments and institutes, AgTech service providers, AgTech companies, and industry experts.”

AIGrow (Pvt.) Ltd. Director Dr. Beshan Kulapala, SpectrifyAI Chief Financial Officer Lakshan De Silva, enzagro (Pvt.) Ltd. Chief Executive Officer

Miller Rejendran, Epic Lanka Business Analyst – Commodity Exchange Platforms Buddhi Warushavithana, Heylese Agriculture Holdings Ltd. Manager Chathuranga Bopeththa, John Keells Holdings Head of Fresh Food Category Mifra Ismail, and Cargills Agro Development Co. Operations Manager Chandika Gunathilake showcased their innovations at the forum. The session was followed by an engaging panel discussion with the closing remarks given by Sri Lanka Agriprenuers Forum Chairperson Rizvi Zaheed.

The plan for the AgTech Innovation Sri Lanka programme was revealed at the forum. AgTech forums, product marketplace, agtech consultancy network, agtech research, and development arm, agtech summit, and agtech school are among the many aligned initiatives under the AgTech Innovation Sri Lanka programme. These initiatives will ensure continuous dialogue among stakeholders in the Agtech industry to drive higher productivity, more income, and improved quality of life for those whose livelihoods depend on the agriculture industry.

ICTA increases awareness on technology in the agriculture sector

ICTA Director Technology Diffusion Prof. Pradeep Abeygunawardhana

Marking an important milestone of its 60 years’ history, People’s Bank began construction of its all-new head office building. The Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurated the construction by unveiling the ceremonial plaque digitally on 28 May 2021.

The ceremony to mark this event, which was held simultaneously at the Temple Trees and the building site linked seamlessly via digital connectivity was attended by State Minister of Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reform Ajith Nivard Cabraal, State Minister of Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self-Employment and Business Development Shehan Semasinghe, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor W.D. Lakshman, Ministry of Finance Secretary R. Attygalle, Secretary to the Prime Minister

Gamini Senerath, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Yoshitha Rajapaksa, People’s Bank Chairman Sujeewa Rajapakse, and members of the Board of Directors.

People’s Bank Chief Executive Officer/General Manager Ranjith Kodituwakku laid the foundation stone at the building site on the Prime Minister’s behalf.

Speaking at the ceremony, People’s Bank Chairman Sujeewa Rajapakse stated that the bank is proud to be serving the country without being driven merely by profit motive. He also said that the new building will fulfil a long felt need of People’s Bank for a comprehensive head office building.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister acknowledged the pivotal role played by People’s Bank in the country’s development by providing services to over 14

million customers which is the largest banking customer base in the country. He also stated that commencement of large scale constructions such as this is a testament to the state’s unwavering commitment to keep maintaining the development drive despite challenges such as

Covid-19 pandemic. The new head office building

will be constructed utilising state-of-the-art technology in line with the green building concept, at No. 374, Dr. Colvin R. De Silva Mawatha, Colombo 2, and will consist of 23 floors and three basement floors.

People’s Bank begins construction of its new head office

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa digitally unveiling the ceremonial plaque

The new head office building

brunchTuesday, June 15, 2021

48

� www.themorning.lk

ThoughT for The day

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”– Anais Nin

ryan’s hope’s John gabriel dead at 90Daytime TV vet John Gabriel, who is perhaps best known to soap opera fans from his role as Ryan’s Hope’s Dr. Seneca Beaulac, died at age 90. Gabriel’s daughter, actress Andrea Gabriel (Lost), shared the sad news via Instagram on Sunday (13). “It is with an unspeakably heavy heart that I share the news of my father’s passing. John Gabriel was my hero, my role model, and my champion, but above all, my daddy…I will love you forever.”

By VeneSSA AnTHony

Good Life X was invented to foster entrepreneurship through collaborating, providing expertise, and sharing knowledge. It shares a mission to create a better future for humans and the whole planet together with the power of impact-driven start-ups and SMEs.

At Good Life X, they believe in the importance of each individual and in every collaborative mind to contribute its personal strength and uniqueness for a shared future of connections, sustainability, and awareness.

They recently announced the selected participants of their new “Digital Evolver” programme.

The top 10 include destination management companies, tour operators, site operators, and accommodation providers who care about the environment, their communities, and their employees and are dedicated to creating a sustainable model of business that takes all the players into consideration. Good Life X aims to share their stories and how they, along with the expertise of our business development, sustainable tourism, and digital technology specialists, find the opportunities in the challenges imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sharing more details on the programme and why it was initiated, Good Life X CEO and Founder Randhula de Silva stated: “It was initiated specifically because of the tourism sector that has been suffering for a very long time in Sri Lanka with the Covid

pandemic and before that, the easter attacks. Currently, there is no traffic coming in other than internal travellers.”

She added that because the tourism sector is obviously hard-hit, they wanted to create a solution where without looking at how to make ends meet, and instead look at how these companies make themselves future-proof to embrace travellers who are going to come in once the pandemic settles down.

The programme is called “Digital Evolver” because they figured the best way to do it was to help the tourism sector digitally equip themselves and become a lot more open to digital solutions and optimiser operations, so they learn how to work through digital technology.

Randhula explained that having worked with the tourism sector, they realised that this specific sector needed a lot of support in terms of being digitally savvy, how they work, and what services they offer. Taking all these factors into consideration, they launched their Digital Evolver programme.

Upon asking them how they selected the top 10 participants, Randhula explained: “For GLX, in whatever we do, we look at two things: Are these companies doing their work with sustainability as their core, and are they innovative and trying to solve a problem in a different way. The companies we’ve selected have survived through the pandemic and have been very innovative and resilient. That really shows how much they have in them to innovate and sustain.”

Giving us more insight into this, Good Life X Programme Lead Shenali de Silva shared that they do have an extensive criteria when it comes to selecting the businesses for their programmes, but for this programme, it was very open and limitless

in the sense that they didn’t look at the size or type of the company.

“In terms of our selection process, it was a two prompt approach. Firstly, companies had to answer a questionnaire

online, after which the shortlisted companies proceeded onto an interview with industry experts where we went deep into how they are sustainable and what their sustainable approaches and practises are,” she added.

Talking about ways in which these companies can help benefit the tourism industry, Randhula commented that they have a good mix of companies for the programme that are open to creating a more sustainable solution and attracting the right kind of tourists and also offering something unique that Sri Lanka really needs to go into. “Things like bike rides and kayaking are what would appeal to the experiential tourist, but these will all be done sustainably. It’s not an everyday tour, and it will involve more communities, create more jobs, and leave no trace behind,” she added. Shenali also explained that as these are smaller companies, by ingraining these good practises into them, it will become a more widespread practice in the tourism industry as a whole. “We want to make it a trend. We want to push the whole majority of the tourism sector to embrace this mindset, which is the start of our programme, and digitally evolved companies are going to be in the forefront.”

They have many tourism experts on board for this project as well as from the digital and technological spheres in Sri Lanka working with them to make this programme a success. With this programme, they hope to grab the global travellers’ attention and bring Sri Lanka’s tourism up a notch.

Good Life X’s digital evolverCreating solutions for a digital future in tourism

Things like bike rides and

kayaking are what would appeal to the experiential tourist, but

these will all be done sustainably. It’s not an everyday tour, and it will involve more communities, create more jobs, and leave no

trace behindGood Life X CEO/Founder

Randhula de Silva

We want to make it a trend. We want to push the whole majority of the tourism sector to embrace this mindset, which is the start

of our programme, and digitally evolved companies are going to be

in the forefrontGood Life X Programme Lead

Shenali de Silva

By nAVeeD RozAIS

Disruption of the status quo breeds innovation, and we are currently experiencing one of the most disruptive periods of living memory. Art is something that, by its very nature, innovates, so it is no surprise that how we view, experience, and buy art is due for transformation.

Enter Kerrwh, an entirely digital gallery launched in Sri Lanka by a small group of innately creative entrepreneurs. A combination of fine art and blockchain technology (more on what that means later), Kerrwh aims to carve out a niche for Sri Lanka in the emerging industry of digital art for Asian artists in the global NFT industry.

Brunch spoke to the team behind Kerrwh, Co-Founders Lekhya Ratnayake and Dilanjan Seneviratne, and Kerrwh Gallery Manager Mealiza Juliane for more on this landmark digital gallery.

Ä What is an NFT, and how would NFTs apply to a piece of artwork? Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are records

maintained on a digital ledger based on blockchain technology which certifies the authenticity of digital assets in a way that cannot be tampered or altered. NFT technology is widely touted globally to be the next big medium for the art industry.

The blockchain technology that NFTs are based on ensures that asset ownership can be tracked, resold, and digitally owned, all the while ensuring that records are not altered and royalties are paid out in automatically executing smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain.

The global NFT market recorded over $ 2 billion in sales in the first quarter of 2021. Our intention with Kerrwh is to provide a platform for local and regional artists to participate in this groundbreaking global industry.

We believe strongly that this is potentially a game-changer for the local art industry. The global NFT industry is not only a multi-billion dollar behemoth, it’s also growing exponentially. Having entered

at an early stage, we have an opportunity here to shape the trajectory of the industry and also to ensure that Asian artistry is celebrated on a global stage.

Ä What inspired Kerrwh? Kerrwh Co-Founders Lekhya

Ratnayake and Dilanjan Seneviratne come from backgrounds of technology and art.

Lekhya is an Executive Director of Trillium Property Management and Dilanjan is a Co-Founder of Theewra Worldwide; both have a lot of experience with digitisation projects and an appreciation for creativity and art. It’s really the perfect combination and that’s where the inspiration comes from.

The gallery model on the other hand, is something of a calculated move when

considering the broader NFT industry. There are a number of widely adopted marketplaces for NFTs and a number of individual collectors. The gap in the market is in curating and facilitating services for all stakeholders.

As Asia’s first NFT art gallery, Kerrwh has the ability to curate promising local collections, nurture digital art communities, and contribute to global NFT exchanges like OpenSea, where Kerrwh’s maiden collection – NeonAF – is listed currently.

OpenSea is a leading global exchange with over 647,000 listed collections and 22 million NFT assets. To date, OpenSea has generated over $ 518 million in sales volumes. The opportunity presented by OpenSea listing Kerrwh’s collection is the exposure of local and regional art to the global digital art collection industry and over 120,000 registered buyers.

Ä When does Kerrwh open its (virtual) doors and how will an entirely virtual gallery work? Kerrwh launched its maiden collection

– NeonAF – on 12 June. It is listed on OpenSea, with the individual art pieces minted on the Ethereum blockchain. It’s arguably the first time this has been done in Sri Lanka and Kerrwh is the first NFT art gallery in Asia. This is a great achievement for a launch project from Sri Lanka.

Kerrwh’s maiden collection, NeonAF, is a cyberpunk take on futuristic humanoid form; in unmistakeable neon. Representative of familiarity in a futuristic bearing of form

and detail, NeonAF packs a high-tech punch with astronauts, humanoids, lasers, and portals. Uniquely, the collection reinterprets the standard low-life and high-tech formula of the genre to find a more optimistic visualisation of a distant future.

Neon AF is an entry point to a series of planned collections from truly gifted local artists. Kerrwh will mint each of its collections to the Ethereum network, innovating the industry norm.

Ä What is the biggest challenge in running and marketing this kind of gallery? The biggest challenge for any NFT

project is the lack of awareness in the local industry. Kerrwh plans to allocate a significant amount of time, effort, and resources into creating awareness and educating the local market on the opportunities that the NFT industry presents.

The second challenge is the difficulty in scaling a local project to a global audience given our small community size and other factors. But Kerrwh plans on relying heavily on the media and other channels available in order to reach a global audience.

Ä Who are the artists in Kerrwh and what is their art like?Kerrwh will be a completely accessible

gallery. Collections listed at Kerrwh will be curated from any promising artist from the region with an impressive body of work. The gallery managers of Kerrwh will actively seek out talent in the future but at this point in time, Kerrwh has an open call for nominations of new artists.

Neon AF, Kerrwh’s maiden collection, is by a local artist, who will be unveiled soon, and another local artist with a signature hand-drawn style will soon be introduced to the artist repertoire.

To nominate an artist or make an inquiry, the gallery Manager can be

reached at gallery@kerrwh.io.

The birth of the digital art connoisseur The story behind the NFT Art Gallery Kerrwh

Co-Founder Dilanjan Seneviratne

Co-Founder Lekhya Ratnayake

Gallery Manager Mealiza Juliane

‘DaHole’ from Kerrwh’s maiden collection ‘NeonAF’

‘Zpiral’ from Kerrwh’s maiden collection ‘NeonAF’

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{ ENTERTAINMENT }9brunch

� www.themorning.lkTuesday, June 15, 2021

BY VENESSA ANTHONY

When talking about the heavy metal music scene in Sri Lanka, the local band Stigmata has become almost synonymous with it. The band, comprising Tennyson Napoleon on guitars, lead, and rhythm; Thisara Dhananjaya on bass guitar; Hafzel Preena on drums; and Suresh de Silva on vocals and lyrics, just released a single as part of their fifth album which is to be released soon.

We had an insightful chat with frontman Suresh de Silva on the song’s creation and more.

Following are excerpts of the interview.

Ä Tell us about the title of the song.“Throw Glass in a House of Stone”

is a play of words on the famous idiom that says don’t throw stones at glass houses. It’s a song that talks about overcoming addiction in this time and age. When you talk about addictions, we are not just talking about alcohol or narcotics – we are also talking about how people are obsessed with technology and the social media and influencer culture, how people are addicted to certain forms of narcissistic behaviour and their own vanity, toxic lifestyles, toxic relationships. Some people are addicted to work and some are addicted to fitness to the point they’re completely disconnected from all else. The song is about overcoming all these addictions and the general idea is that there is no point throwing glass at anything constructed out of stone, because the glass will break.

Ä Is the song talking about a specific incident?The symbolic value of the song is

that even if you’re made of glass, and if this glass keeps colliding or crashing with anything made of stone, it will keep shattering. The house is symbolic of our own body and minds, and the glass represents the addictions and us wanting to change. The thing is, we can’t change if we keep colliding against ourselves where we keep falling apart. The only way to truly overcome addiction is to really want to change, and that has to stem from within us. We need to either figure out the construct of the house or figure out a new way to deal with it. That’s what the idea is.

Ä What was the inspiration behind the song?We don’t ever pre-plan or pre-

meditate our musical approach. When you’re craving a song and it comes down to the technical aspects and the fluidity, you know the arcs, the ups and downs, the crescendos, whether it has one flow – those are the things we have a look at. But we have a natural progression when we write music and it does work for us; it has for 21 years and it continues to work for us. The song has a lot of musical influences, genres, and styles that are infused into it and it works.

Ä The music video has clips from some of your concerts. What was the process of putting it together like?For the music video, we had

actually planned quite a comprehensive video shoot. We are a very self-sufficient band; most of us are from

creative industries. Ideally, the plan was to do a comprehensive story board, get actors and actresses on board, and choose a location for the shoot. We had also spoken to certain parties who were interested to come on board and help flesh it out. We were very excited and then the pandemic messed everything up. For the safety of the crew and everyone involved, we had to postpone the shoot. We realised afterwards that we had to drop and release the audio. We had just signed up with an American Award label, Island Dreams Records.

The song was mixed and mastered by the Grammy-nominated icon Romesh Dodangoda who has worked with the likes of Motörhead and Bring Me the Horizons.

With the audio ready, and having just signed up with the label, we had to release the song in May. Ideally, we needed the video ready to release maybe two or three weeks after the single came out. We realised that with the pandemic, there was no way to film the music video, so we decided to take pre-existing footage of the last couple of big shows that we played prior to the pandemic. We decided to fuse the MV and make it a lyric video as well. That way, we’re killing two birds with one stone where it’s an official music video but it also works as a lyric video.

Our very own Thisara gave it treatment, where he edited and videographed it and made sure he used certain effects and colour grains to make the video really appealing. The MV is not what we planned, but we had to make do with the resources

we had. We thought showing clips of the audience and showing clips of the power and the performance capability of the band would make it more engaging, since it’s a pretty long song.

Ä Is this song part of an album to be released in the near future?Yes, it is part of an album to

come. We are working on our fifth album, and it happens to be our 21st anniversary this year. The fifth album has been a work in progress since mid-last year. We have the bulk of the songs etched and composed for it – it’s just that the whole ballgame has changed with the global outbreak. It doesn’t make sense to release an entire album, releasing single after single. We changed the format and instead we are releasing a new song every three to four months, and each is accompanied with a music video.

Our goal and idea is that we’re going to give people a taste of the album to come and release track by track. We are addressing two issues this way: On the one hand, the people who want an album will be able to collect the songs and keep it with them. Of course, at one point, we’re going to release a physical album for the loyalists and the collectors as well as for the advocates and supporters of the band. But on the other hand, we are currently catering to music listening audiences worldwide.

The advent of technology and the pandemic and lockdowns have changed the way we listen to music and the way we consume music. Many people listen to music online rather than the old radio and TV. Releasing singles also caters to the people who like to put together their

own playlists; the volume of people listening to full albums by one single artist is not as much.

Ä Did you film any part of it during the lockdown?No. It simply wasn’t possible. We

did try; we changed the storyboard to not go with the initial arcs and storyline of addiction. We wanted to at least record certain band performances in a studio, but we couldn’t do any of that.

Ä What has being a musician during the pandemic taught you?On the one hand, it has taught

me to really appreciate our history, our craft, our talent, and our gifts. It’s a pleasure to bring joy to people and provide such a mode of escapism and a sense of freedom and adventure. This is the longest I’ve ever gone without performing. We miss performing and we miss that raw live energy – we feed off it and are connected to it, and we really miss that.

The pandemic has helped us embrace the advent of technology and the tools at our disposal to connect and interact with our audiences. We just launched an official TikTok page two weeks ago, and that’s really wacky and our audience should check it out. Connecting with our fans is quintessential to what we do, especially since we make original music. The pandemic has taught us to appreciate the things that matter to us the most, and to never forget our roots and the people around us.

Ä Does Stigmata have anything coming up this year?We hope to get all our albums

remastered and make them available on all leading streaming platforms. Right now, I know some of our new music is available on these platforms. The plan is to release more music videos. We are hoping to release at least two more music videos before the year concludes. We’re also hoping things open up and we’ll be able to have a few live concerts soon. If we have to look at a livestream to play for global audiences, we will work on that as well. Some sick merchandise will also be coming out this year.

Overcoming addictions through

MUSIC‘Throw Glass in a House of Stone’ out now

Our goal and idea is that we’re going to give people a taste of the

album to come and release track by track. We are addressing two issues

this way: On the one hand, the people who want an album will be able to collect the songs and keep it with them...But on the other hand, we are currently catering to music

listening audiences worldwideStigmata frontman Suresh de Silva

Connecting with our fans is quintessential to what we do,

especially since we make original music. The pandemic has taught us to appreciate the things that matter to us the most, and to never forget our

roots and the people around usStigmata frontman Suresh de Silva

Stigmata frontman Suresh de Silva

4

{ Columns/events }10 brunch

� www.themorning.lk Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Transco Cargo (Pvt.) Ltd. has launched its Sri Lankan office, Transco Cargo (Pvt.) Ltd., to provide world-class freight and logistics services to the local market.

Transco Cargo Australia is a Sri Lankan-owned and operated shipping company. As the Sri Lankan office, Transco Cargo (Pvt.) Ltd. offers high-level logistics and shipping solutions and services to clients by utilising its professional network of global agents to facilitate end-to-end freight forwarding and logistics operations via air, sea, and road freight.

The company’s core logistics and shipping services include freight forwarding via sea, air, and land, customs brokerage services, haulage, and warehousing solutions, as well as imports and exports to/from Sri Lanka.

With its network of reliable overseas agents, Transco Cargo offers importers and exporters in Sri Lanka the most favourable rates and routing options.

From the moment a shipment order has been placed, the company’s team works to fast-track the processes and monitor the progress from moving the cargo from suppliers to the final point of delivery. The company is also making plans to rapidly expand its business operations beyond freight forwarding and into multiple new areas of business in order to drive future growth.

Transco Cargo Australia, on the other hand, can assist in all international freight movements with weekly sailings to most transshipment hubs. Its master consolidations operate to transshipment hubs such as Port Kelang, Singapore, and Colombo while also offering transshipment to/from other Pacific countries such as New Zealand, Fiji, and Samoa, and providing global import services to every major port in Australia. It also has a business unit that specialises in personal effects cargo shipping to various destinations worldwide.

Transco Cargo Australia opens its own Sri Lankan officeBringing freight forwarding and logistics services to the local market

Ambassador Bouffandeau (right)

The Sinhala Bonsoir opened the floodgates and brought in a whole new generation of viewers. It took the programme to an entirely different platform and France entered thousands of homes in rural Sri Lanka. The feedback was very encouraging to say the least.

The monthly Bonsoir Quiz gave us a healthy and vibrant interaction with our thousands of viewers spread across the country. We often posed a very simple question based on the programme and requested viewers to send their answers on postcards.

Bonsoir used the address of the Embassy of France where we were housed – No. 89, Rosmead Place, Colombo 7. Whenever the chauffeur went to the Cinnamon Gardens Post Office to collect mail for the Embassy, he collected ours too. The English Bonsoir had a cool 500 postcards per month!

The Sinhala Bonsoir began its own independent quiz, which I thought was logical. We shared the same address and this was when the logistical nightmare began. The numbers kept increasing by the day and the chauffeurs kept complaining that they couldn’t carry the load.

The icing on the gateau was when we reached an average of 5,000 postcards per month on the Sinhala Bonsoir alone, and the French Embassy decided it was high time that Bonsoir (English and Sinhala) got its own PO box number!

Storing these 5,000-plus postcards until the respective draws were done was another issue. The small Bonsoir team spent many painful hours bundling them into lots of 50s for convenience.

We finally got a really HUGE cardboard box (which had once contained a jumbo television set) and this became the Bonsoir Quiz Box. It was placed right next to my table. The postcards came straight from the Embassy’s Peugeot in mail bags and were virtually poured into “The Box”.

“The Box” was large enough to conceal a crouched adult. And this is where Yasmin Rajapakse, the prankster in the team, got ideas to play Jack-in-the-Box. She chose her unsuspecting victims one by one and they in turn became her accomplices. I was the first!

One day I walked into the studio and customarily passed the closed box when she suddenly s-c-r-e-a-m-e-d and jumped out of it, like a banshee out of hell! It was

agonising. Then followed the rest of the team on different days, one by one, including Komi Mendis, who also both produced and presented Bonsoir.

We bid our time as Yasmin collected victims, one by one, until there were no more. It was time that we got back at her and so we hatched our plot. We invited the Ambassador at that time, Jean François Bouffandeau, to come (downstairs) to the studio to check some video clippings from the French Foreign Ministry. We lured Yasmin into the box saying that we were expecting one of the chauffeurs.

And so with Yasmin crouched in “The Box”, waiting to scream and pounce on the “chauffeur”, in walked the Ambassador whom I guided and positioned near “The Box”. We kept him there, talking to him and engaging his attention while poor Yasmin lay crouched inside all the time. She dared not come out until he left. His Excellency left half an hour later!

Half an hour is a very L-O-N-G time when you are crouched and trapped squatting in a box with the lid closed! Believe me!

Gifts galore on the ‘Bonsoir’ QuizThe

Diaries

“The Bonsoir Diaries” by Kumar de Silva is a cocktail of chapters bursting at their seams with pithy asides, a trail of faux pas, and tit-bits from behind the scenes, marinated with anecdotes and drizzled with nostalgia, revealing everything you never saw on your favourite television show…from the ‘80s through the ‘90s into 2000.

CHAPTER

23

Sri Lanka’s most trusted private healthcare provider Hemas Hospitals launched the “Deewara Diri Savi” mega donation drive to support and empower the fishing community along the Western Coast of the country, whose livelihoods were gravely impacted by the marine destruction caused by the MV X-Press Pearl ship disaster.

Under “Deewara Diri Savi”, Hemas Hospitals will oversee the donation of complete dry ration packs to 818 families in the Wattala fishing community, who have now lost their sole source of income for survival and is undergoing extreme distress due to the implications caused by Covid-19 pandemic together with the fishing ban imposed due to the X-Press Pearl disaster. Further, Hemas Hospitals Wattala is also offering free OPD consultation services to these families to ensure that their wellbeing and access to healthcare is secure and continued during this period.

“Our mission, values and corporate culture guide our actions as we strive hard to deliver on the promise of making healthful living happen to communities across the nation. ‘Deewara Diri Savi’ was founded upon this ethos as we care for, uplift and empower Sri Lanka’s fishing community struggling to make ends meet due to the mass implications and destruction caused to our marine resources with the X-Press Pearl disaster. As a responsible healthcare leader, we will continue to invest our resources and take swift action in supporting this community who add so much to our economy as they transition through this deeply difficult, critical time,” stated Hemas Hospitals and Laboratories Managing Director and Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes President Dr. Lakith Peiris.

The mega donation programme was co-ordinated with the support of the Parish

Priest of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Palliyawatta Rev. Fr. Ajith Kamal, who spearheaded the co-ordination on behalf of the fishing community in the Palliyawatta, Dikowita, and Awarakotuwa areas. The programme was also joined by the Wattala Divisional Secretary P.D.T.C. Rajika, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lalith Halambarachchige, Palliyawatta PHI Malith Edirisingha, and Hemas Hospitals and Laboratory Chain Managing Director Dr. Lakith Peiris, along with several representatives from Hemas Hospitals. The event was conducted under the strict directives issued by the Ministry of Health and under the supervision of the region’s Public Health Inspector.

The MV X-Press Pearl, a cargo ship, had been burning off the coast of Sri Lanka for nearly two weeks before it started to sink. This has forced Sri Lanka to temporarily ban fishing along a 50-mile stretch of its coast, due to the extensive marine pollution caused by

the wreck. Local fishermen who rely on shallow water fishing have been directed to stay ashore indefinitely, incapacitating these communities’ livelihoods who sometimes rely on just one meal a day to survive. As a responsible corporate citizen, Hemas Hospitals remains deeply committed to drive its vision of making healthful living happen across all communities across the country.

hemas hospitals launches ‘Deewara Diri savi’ To support ailing fishing community at critical hour

From left: Hemas Hospitals Wattala Director/General Manager Dr. Lasantha Karunasekera, Managing Director Dr. Lakith Peiris, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Ajith Kamal, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lalith Halambarachchige, Wattala Divisional Secretary P.D.T.C. Rajika, and Palliyawatta PHI Malith Edirisingha

Donation drive in progress

{ SPORTS }411sports

� www.themorning.lkTuesday, June 15, 2021

Another Patrick Eagar classic from 1975 World Cup

The backgroundInaugural World Cup semi-final – England vs.

Australia: Here England batsman Tony Greig is out, caught by a diving wicketkeeper Rod Marsh off the bowling of Gary Gilmour for seven runs at Headingley in Leeds on 18 June 1975. Australia won by four wickets.

What the photo revealsThis famous Patrick Eagar photograph depicts

the home team’s predicament: They were bowled out for 93 runs in 36.2 overs in this 60-over match. Only two England batsmen got into double figures. Greig was the third wicket to fall when their total was 26. Skipper Mike Denness top-scored for England with 27 runs, made in 60 deliveries. Gilmour took six wickets for 14 runs in a quota of 12 overs. Australia underwent a few hiccups, though, in their reply when they lost six wickets for 39 runs. Doug Walters and Gilmour saw them home in 28.4 overs, with 20 and 28 unbeaten runs, respectively, sharing an unfinished 55 for the seventh wicket. Gilmour was adjudged the Man of the Match.

AnalysisClassic rhythm. Sheer beauty. Exhilarating

action. The beholder is stilled and stunned. What else do you expect from a cricket photo? Not only “us”, the four heads on the right too are looking so eagerly at the “red cherry” trapped in the wicketkeeper’s right-hand glove. The slip fielder (Australian Captain Ian Chappell) has got his eyes too fixed on the ball. In the vast expanse of the greenery, including on the Headingley pitch, the white-clad human figures, and the white background, it is the “red cherry” that derives our full attention. Though air-borne after diving far to his right, Rod Marsh’s figure seems like a statue, still and frozen. No wonder this is considered one of the best-ever cricket photographs and one of the most famous ones taken by Patrick Eager.

PhotographerPatrick Eagar is a revered British cricket

photographer born in 1944. Eagar’s first camera was given to him by his grandmother when he was eight or nine years old. Eagar studied at Cambridge University. He particularly liked the photography in the magazine Sports Illustrated. The first Test match where Eagar took photos was the 1965 match at Headingley between England and New Zealand. After a rise in freelance photographers, Eagar began to cover matches on a more frequent basis, beginning with the 1972 Ashes series in England. During the 1970s, he produced photographs for the Wisden Cricket Monthly and The Cricketer magazines.

In an interview, Eagar once said that his favourite photo was of Gordon Greenidge playing cricket on the beach in Bridgetown, Barbados in 1973 and that his favourite player to photograph was former Australian Captain Kim Hughes, due to his improvisation at the crease.

An afterwordThree days later at Lord’s, Australia gave a

stiff resistance against the strong West Indies under Clive Lloyd. Though they lost this first-ever World Cup final by 17 runs, the Aussies were chasing the Windies’ total of 291/8 in 60 overs effectively until the 59th over of their innings before they were bowled out for 274 in 58.4 overs.

Patrick Eager in 1988. He is now 77 years old

The world will hardly see such a gritty tennis champion in their midst in a long time to come

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic came from two sets down on Sunday (13) to beat Greece’s world number-five Stefanos Tsitsipas and claim his second French Open title in sensational fashion in Paris.

Playing in his first Grand Slam final, Tsitsipas was just a set away from defeating the world number-one and becoming the first Greek player to win one of the sport’s four majors.

But Djokovic showed true grit and determination to dash the Tsitsipas dream as he clawed his way back to complete a 6-7 (6-8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 comeback triumph, reported Inside the Games.

Nine hours of play in two days The victory comes two days after

Djokovic beat 13-time champion Rafael Nadal in a Roland Garros classic and means he now stands on 19 Grand Slam titles - just one behind the record men’s haul jointly held by the Spaniard and Switzerland’s Roger Federer.

“It was an electric atmosphere,” said

Djokovic who last won the French Open in 2016.

“I want to thank my coach and my physio, everyone who has been with me on this journey. I have played almost nine hours over the last 48 hours against two great champions. It was really tough physically over the last three days, but I trusted in my capabilities and knew I could do it.”

The proceedings y Tsitsipas went toe-to-toe with Djokovic in an absorbing first set which had several twists and turns.

y The Greek star missed the first chance to win the set at 5-4 before Djokovic held his serve and broke to lead 6-5.

y Tsitsipas hit back immediately to take the set into a tiebreak and looked inspired as he led 4-0 and 5-2 in the second.

y Djokovic then won four points in succession to tee up a set point of his own, but Tsitsipas responded once again to win the tiebreak.

y All the momentum was with Tsitsipas as he broke Djokovic’s serve twice to take a two-set lead.

y Djokovic had it all to do but after

winning an 11-minute game to move 3-1 in front, in set three, the Serbian mounted a superb comeback.

y It was one-way traffic as Djokovic took the third set 6-3 and dropped just two games to win the fourth.

y Tsitsipas won his opening service game in the decider but was broken in his next as Djokovic moved 3-1 ahead.

y It proved to be crucial as Djokovic

consolidated his lead before securing victory with a simple volley at the net.

Tsitsipas comments“I tried my best,” said Tsitsipas. “I had a good run and am happy with

myself, but let’s give it to Novak because he has shown us over the past couple of years what a great champion he is.

“I am inspired by the things he has achieved and I hope one day I can maybe do half of what he has done so far.”

‘Djoker’ asserts again he is World No.1

IRRESISTIBLE FRENCH OPEN ACTION

Total prize money: € 34,367,215 (Rs. 8.2 billion). For the men’s singles champion alone, $ 1.7 million (Rs. 336 million)

z Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic (Serbia)

z Women’s Singles: Barbora Krejcíková (Czech Republic)

z Men’s Doubles: Pierre-Hugues Herbert (France) and Nicolas Mahut (France)

z Women’s Doubles: Barbora Krejcíková (Czech Republic) and Katerina Siniaková (Czech Republic)

z Mixed Doubles: Desirae Krawczyk (US) and Joe Salisbury (UK)

z Boys’ Singles: Luca Van Assche (France)

z Girls’ Singles: Linda Nosková (Czech Republic)

z Boys’ Doubles: Arthur Fils (France) and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (France)

z Girls’ Doubles: Alex Eala (Philippines) and Oksana Selekhmeteva (Russia)

z Wheelchair Men’s Singles: Alfie Hewett (UK)

z Wheelchair Women’s Singles: Diede de Groot (Netherlands)

z Wheelchair Quad Singles: Dylan Alcott (Australia)

z Wheelchair Men’s Doubles: Alfie Hewett (UK) and Gordon Reid (UK)

z Wheelchair Women’s Doubles: Diede de Groot (Netherlands) and Aniek van Koot (Netherlands)

z Wheelchair Quad Doubles: Andy Lapthorne (UK) and David Wagner (US)

CHAMPIONS OF ALL CATEGORIES AT FRENCH OPEN 2021

Djokovic, 34, depicting perhaps 100% of what is called tennis concentration and focus in a back-hand volley shot in the final on Sunday (13)

Djokovic hit 56 winners in the course of the final, which lasted four hours and 11 minutes. Here is eventual runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas running towards the net for a back-hand on Sunday (13)

Czech Barbora Krejčíková (left) became the first player to win the women’s singles and doubles at the French Open since 2000, as she and her compatriot Kateřina Siniaková (right) tasted victory in the doubles final on Sunday (13)

The red clay dust, off the Djokovic shoe on Sunday: It is Djokovic’s second title won on the Roland Garros clay, and means he has two career Grand Slams – a feat only Australian greats Roy Emerson and Rod Laver have matched

Barbora Krejčíková (right) won the women’s singles title on Friday (11) before winning the doubles title too, partnering compatriot Kateřina Siniaková (left)

412

{ SportS } sports � www.themorning.lk Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Dumfries scored the winner for Netherlands against Ukraine in perhaps the most thrilling Euro game so far this season

Compiled by RanJika PeReRa

Italy beat Turkey 3-0The most-awaited Euro 2020 kicked off in Rome

on Friday (11). Italy hosted Turkey in their Group A clash. After a quiet first half, the Italians took over the game. The first goal came through when Dominico Berradi’s “crossed” was deflected in by Turkish defender Merih Demiral. Ciro Immobile doubled the lead with a close-range shot and Insigne put the icing on the cake with stunning curler from the edge of the box.

Switzerland vs. Wales 1-1On Saturday (12), Switzerland faced Wales in

Baku. First half was dominated by the Swiss but they had nothing to show for it. However, they found the opener through Breel Embolo. Swiss was the dominant side between the two but Wales somehow found an equaliser through Kieffer Moore’s header in the 79th minute.

Finland beat Denmark 1-0The Denmark-Finland clash in Group B took the

headlines for the worst possible reason. In the first half, Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen collapsed and was taken to the hospital after a cardiac arrest. The game was suspended initially, but after reports came out that Eriksen is stable, the two teams decided to continue. Finland found the winning goal through

Joel Pohjanpalo to secure a 1-0 win.

Belgium beat Russia 3-0Russia hosted Belgium in Saint Petersburg. The

world No. 1 seed Belgium had no trouble in sweeping off the hosts. Romelu Lukaku scored two goals in each half while Thomas Meunier scored the third to register a 3-0 win for Belgium.

England beat Croatia 1-0On Sunday (13), England hosted Croatia at the

Wembley Stadium. The hosts started off well,

threatening the Croatian defence with their pace. But they were just unable to find the net in the first half. It took England 57 minutes to find the opening goal. Kalvin Philips sent the ball into space in the box and Sterling managed to beat the keeper to find the back of the net. The score remained the same at the final whistle, giving England a winning start to their campaign.

Austria beat North Macedonia 3-1Austria took on tournament debutants North

Macedonia in their Group C clash. Stefan Lainer opened the scoring for Austria. North Macedonia found the equaliser through their veteran striker Goran Pandev. However, Austria scored two late goals to win the tie by 3-1.

Netherlands beat Ukraine 3-2The most thrilling game so far in the Euro 2020

was between Netherlands and Ukraine. After a quiet first half, the two teams stepped up to produce a thrilling second half. Gig Wijnaldum opened the scoring for the Dutch. It was doubled by Wout Weghorst to put the Dutch on top. However, Ukraine responded with two quick goals. The first one was the best in the tournament so far when Andriy Yarmalenko curved the ball from outside the box. With ten minutes remaining on the clock, Netherlands pushed on and found the winner through Denzel Dumfries.

EURo 2020 RoUND-Up

England win opener for the first timeFIXTURESYesterday – Monday, 14 June

y Group D: Scotland vs. Czech Republic (6.30 p.m.* in Glasgow)

y Group E: Poland vs. Slovakia (9.30 p.m. in St. Petersburg)

y Group E: Spain vs. Sweden (12.30 midnight in Seville)

Today – Tuesday, 15 June

y Group F: Hungary vs. Portugal (9.30 p.m. in Budapest)

y Group F: France vs. Germany (12.30 a.m. in Munich)

oN ThIS DAy

1929 Gubby Allen arrived late for Middlesex’s Championship match against Lancashire at Lord’s after having to work at a London department store that morning. When he came on to bowl, he took all ten wickets for 40 in 25.3 overs, including the last four wickets in five balls. It was the last occasion a bowler took all ten wickets in an innings at Lord’s

1944 Birth of Inna Ryskal, soviet volleyball player for Soviet Russia. She played in four Olympiads and brought home four medals; two silver and two gold. No other volleyball player in the world had matched these accomplishments. The Russian strategy was based on pure power and Ryskal was the power hitter of the team, earning her the nickname “Kaspiiskaia Thunderstorm”

1955 Australia scored 758/8 in the fifth Test against West Indies in Kingston, their highest Test total. Their innings had started badly when they stumbled to 7/2, but a Test-record of five individual hundreds; from Colin McDonald (127), Neil Harvey (207), Keith Miller (109), Ron Archer (128), and Richie Benaud (121) left West Indies wilting. Benaud’s hundred came in 78 minutes and for the first time in Test history, five bowlers conceded 100 runs, and a sixth (Garry Sobers) went for 99. Australia went on to win the match by an innings and 82 runs

1993 Death of former British racing driver and commentator in Formula One, James Hunt. His closest friend among the drivers was Niki Lauda, with whom he had a thrilling battle for the 1976 driving title. Lauda had been well in front until he was nearly killed in a fiery accident at the Nurburgring. James won that race and five others to force a championship showdown with the miraculously-recovered Lauda in the last race of the season. It was so wet in Japan that Lauda decided it was too dangerous to race and parked his Ferrari after a couple of laps. Hunt stayed out in his McLaren and drove furiously to finish third and become World Champion

1997 Sri Lanka’s first Test in the Caribbean island of Antigua ended in a six-wicket defeat. The usual first-innings five-for from Muttiah Muralitharan had given Sri Lanka a slender lead, but they fell away for 152 in the second innings. That

left West Indies to chase 187, and their opening pair of Stuart Williams and Sherwin Campbell polished off 160 of them to leave victory a formality

2017 A big moment for Scotland cricket. Their 26-run win over Zimbabwe in the ODI in Edinburgh was their first over a Full-Member team. Captain and opener Kyle Coetzer made 109 and Craig Wallace and Michael Leask chipped in with lower-order fifties to take Scotland to 317. After a rain interruption during the chase, Zimbabwe were set a new target of 299 in 43 overs. Sean Williams and Malcolm Waller took charge, but Zimbabwe were bowled out in the 42nd over. Left-arm spinner Con de Lange took a career-best 5/60

Curtly Ambrose takes his 300th Test wicket, that of Sajeewa Silva, in the 1997 Antigua match which Sri Lanka lost by six wickets

Sir George oswald Browning ‘Gubby’ Allen (1902-1989) captained England in 11 Test matches. here is the cover of the 1985 E.W. Swanton book on the legendary cricketer

Inna Ryskal was a major player in helping the Soviet Union women’s national volleyball team dominate the world from late 1960s to early 1970s by winning four medals in four consecutive olympics, from 1968 to 1976

15 june

by ishani UPaThaRiTha

Sanidula Dahamdi of Musaeus College, Colombo won the second place in the Asian Qualifier of the rating category between 1500-1799 in the Queen’s Chess Festival, conducted by the FIDE Women’s Commission on Sunday (13).

Dahamdi scored 8½ points out of 11 games to reach the second spot. All games of the Asian continental event were held on Sunday.

Nine-year-old Oshini Gunawardena from Ferguson High School, Ratnapura also got second place in the rating category of less than 1500 in the same Asian Qualifier event. Gunawardena scored nine points along with two others and had to be satisfied with the second place according to the tie-breaker.

The online Queen’s Chess Festival is an open event organised by the FIDE Women’s Commission for female chess players in the world on the Tornelo Platform. It is a blitz chess event which gives three minutes plus two seconds for each move played.

The pairings also are done by Tornelo in

this 11-round event which has four categories as stated below:

y Category A – Ratings above 2,200

y Category B – Ratings between 1,800-2,199

y Category C – Ratings between 1,500-1,799

y Category D – Ratings below 1,500 The preliminary events were held

as continental events of Asia, Africa, America, and Europe and the top three players in each continental event are to play the world event on Saturday, 26 June. A total of 11 girls from Sri Lanka participated in the event; two players in Category C and nine in Category D. They were (other than Dahamdi and Gunawardena): Woman International Master (WIM) Sachini Ranasinghe (Nf3 Chess Club), Chanindi M. Attanayake (Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo), Oneli Vithanawasam (Lyceum International School, Wattala), G.H.S. Senulya (Royal Primary College, Polonnaruwa), Piyumi U. Amarathunga (JMC International, Kalutara), Desandi D. Gamage (Sirimavo Bandaranayake College, Colombo), Nemindi L. Ramanayake (Bandaranayake Central College, Veyangoda), Tenuli D. Rathnayake (Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo), Sasmi Sithumsa (Lyceum International School, Ratnapura).

FIDE oNLINE QUEEN’S ChESS FESTIvAL 2021

Sanidula and Oshini second in Asian Qualifiers

Sanidula Dahamdi of Musaeus College, Colombo

oshini Gunawardena from Ferguson high School, Ratnapura

Bellingham becomes youngest-ever to feature in Europe

England youngster Jude Bellingham became the youngest ever to play at a European Championship when he came on as a sub on Sunday (13). The 17-year-old replaced Harry Kane in his side’s opening game of the tournament against Croatia. The record was previously held by Jetro Willems, who was 18 when he represented the Netherlands at Euro 2012. The midfielder who plays for German giants, Borussia Dortmund, has also broken Michael Owen’s record to become the youngest player to represent England at a major tournament.

England started Euro 2020 with a 1-0 win against Croatia, the first time in history where they managed to start the European Championship with a win. Raheem Sterling made the difference for the hosts, assisted by Kalvin Phillips, before guiding the ball into the net. They will take on Scotland in their next game on Friday (18) and then face Czech Republic in their last match of the group stage on 22 June.

Dailey Blind almost pulled out of Euro 2020

Netherlands defender and former Manchester United player Daley Blind admitted that he considered pulling out of his side’s Euro 2020 opener following Christian Eriksen’s collapse the day before. Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital during Denmark’s Group B clash in Copenhagen on Saturday (12).

Luckily, he received appropriate medical attention on the field by medics before he was transferred to hospital in a stable condition. The incident affected Blind particularly, who was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2019 following his own collapse in a Champions League game against Valencia. He admitted he came close to withdrawing from his side’s Group D game. He said: “I had to overcome a mental hurdle to play. I’m proud that I did it. Then eventually the emotion comes out…that had such an impact. For me, they were things that I recognised. That made it all the more intense. To hear that he is doing well now gives everyone the strength to be able to play on anyway. As for his future, please leave it alone.”

Man United’s race to sign Sancho continues

According to sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United held further talks with Borussia Dortmund over the weekend as they look to agree on a fee for Jadon Sancho. The English winger is believed to have already agreed on personal terms with the Red Devils but they are yet to submit an acceptable fee to

the German giants. Dortmund want around € 95 million (Rs. 22 billion) for the 21-year-old, with United currently reluctant to go above € 70 million (Rs. 16 billion).

Rodgers look to get Coutinho to England

Rumours have surfaced that the former Liverpool star could return to the Premier League and that it is Leicester who are considering a shock move for Philippe Coutinho. Foxes’ boss Brendan Rodgers signed Coutinho at Liverpool nine years ago and could make a € 20 million (Rs. 4.8 billion) bid to bring him back to the Premier League. Coutinho has struggled to replicate his best form since joining the Catalan club from Liverpool in 2018 and Barcelona are open to getting him off the wage bill this summer, even if that is on a temporary basis via a loan.

Morata to stay another season on loan with Juve

Reports emerge that Juventus have agreed to loan Alvaro Morata from Atletico Madrid for another season. With the future of Cristiano Ronaldo uncertain, Juve’s newly appointed Manager Massimiliano Allegri is wary of losing quality, so moved quickly to secure Morata’s services for another year. The deal will see Juve pay Atletico a loan fee of € 10 million (Rs. 2.4 billion) with the option to turn the loan into a permanent deal next summer.

NEWS FRoM ThE FooTBALL WoRLD

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

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NBA play-offs: Phoenix Suns reach WC finals in 11 years

The Phoenix Suns reached the Western Conference (WC) finals for the first time in 11 years with a 125-118 win over the Denver Nuggets – sweeping their best-of-seven series 4-0. Chris Paul top-scored for the Suns with 37 points while team-mate Devin Booker added 34 points and 11 rebounds. The game was marred by the ejection of NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic late in the third quarter. He recklessly swiped for the ball but struck Cameron Payne in the face. Serbian Jokic and the Suns’ Booker had to be separated by players, coaches, and officials after squaring up to each other in the aftermath.

FOREIGN NEWS IN BRIEF

Muaythai, etc. to get IOC recognition?

World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO) President Roy Baker has vowed to “raise the bar” after being recommended for full International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognition. The WAKO was granted provisional recognition for three years in 2018 and has now been put forward for full recognition following last week’s IOC Executive Board meeting. A decision is set to be made at the IOC Session in Tokyo on 20 and 21 July over whether or not to grant the WAKO, International Federation of Muaythai Associations, International Federation Icestocksport, and International Cheer Union full recognition. Baker hailed the IOC Executive Board’s backing as an “historic day” for the sport and the WAKO, which was formed in 1977.

FIBA Head steps down for sexual harassment allegation

Hamane Niang has temporarily stepped down as International Basketball Federation (FIBA) President amid allegations of systemic sexual harassment within the Mali Basketball Federation. The Malian official is not accused of committing sexual abuse, but it is claimed that he largely overlooked the assault of women while he served as Head of the National Federation and Mali’s Sports Minister.

An independent investigation has been launched by FIBA into the allegations, reported The New York Times. FIBA has said Niang “strongly denies” the claims but has agreed to temporarily step aside while the investigation is conducted.

Osaka to return in Tokyo 2020

Japan’s world no. 2 Naomi Osaka has secured her place at this year’s delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games following the release of the tennis rankings. The top 56 players in the men’s and women’s singles standings have gained automatic entry into the Games, based on yesterday’s (14) Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings. There is a limit of four players per country, meaning Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys of the US look set to miss out despite being placed in the top 30 as Sofia Kenin, Serena Williams, Jennifer Brady, and Coco Gauff are all ranked ahead of them. Andy Murray of Britain and Monica Puig of Puerto Rico are the reigning Olympic champions after winning the respective men’s and women’s singles titles at Rio 2016. The top 10 men’s and women’s doubles pairs have also been assured of their spots at the Games. Osaka, who has yet to play at an Olympic Games, pulled out of the recent French Open amid the fallout from her decision not to attend press conferences.

G7 leaders reiterate support for Tokyo 2020 Olympics

The Group of Seven (G7) leaders have once again offered their support for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics taking place as planned. The G7 – an alliance formed of the UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Olympic hosts Japan – has been holding an in-person leaders’ summit in Cornwall in the UK over recent days. G7 leaders “reiterate our support for the holding of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 in a safe and secure manner as a symbol of global unity in overcoming Covid-19”, read an official communiqué over the weekend. The Olympic Opening Ceremony is due to take place on 23 July, despite Tokyo being under a state of emergency because of the coronavirus pandemic. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach welcomed the G7 endorsement, calling it “a great encouragement”.

‘Take the knee’ gathers momentum

Boos from a large number of fans were drowned out by loud and prolonged applause when England’s players took the knee before their opening Euro 2020 game with Croatia at Wembley Stadium on Sunday (13). The Football Association had asked fans to respect the players’ wishes over the gesture to highlight racial injustice. Boos on Sunday were met by an ovation from other members of the 22,500 crowd. Before Euro 2020, England boss Gareth Southgate said his players were “more determined than ever” to take the knee.

BY REVATHA S. SILVA

One of the highly placed officials of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has shown his concern, and agitation, over the present SLC Technical Committee’s (TC) alleged intervention on national cricket affairs, The Morning Sports reliably learnt.

The said official, who was one of the main figures of the SLC administration through the last two decades, has raised the issue when the SLC top-brass met last, after the national cricket team left for England for their scheduled white-ball series.

As a remedy, the same SLC ex-co member along with Jerome Jayaratne, who currently oversees SLC’s high-performance centre amongst other things, have been appointed to attend future TC meetings, it is also learnt.

Two to sit in TC meetings“The issue was taken up when the SLC

management met last time. I would say the issue (TC’s involvement in cricket affairs above SLC ex-co) was a concern at that meeting. Therefore, as a solution, one of our ex-co members and Jerome Jayaratne were named to sit in the TC meeting in the future,” a senior SLC ex-co member told The Morning Sports yesterday (14).

“But we have to wait and see whether the TC will take decisions collectively in the future,” he added.

Meanwhile, another leading SLC official said: “At the moment there is no such opposition to the Technical Committee

within the ex-co. We all work as a unit. Our detractors who wanted to contest us in the last election might be spreading those rumours with the intention of disrupting the affairs.”

SLC need to take responsibilityThe above-mentioned ex-co member

explained further, though, that the high-handed behaviour of the TC has created some unrest within the SLC ex-co.

“On the one hand, the TC has been endorsed by the Sports Minister. On the other hand, it was appointed at a time when

there was no elected body at the SLC (the Administrative Committee under Prof. Arjuna de Silva looked into the cricket affairs then). Therefore, there should be a better understanding between the TC and the SLC in future. If things go wrong, it is the SLC ex-co which will have to take the entire responsibility,” he said.

Undue interventionThe Morning Sports reported at least

twice previously that there was growing concern amongst SLC higher-ups over the allegedly undue intervention of the TC, headed by Aravinda de Silva, in sensitive administrative affairs including top-level appointments.

The appointment of Cricket Director Tom Moody for a stratospheric salary and sending him with the Sri Lanka tour party to England, in spite of his main areas of work being only talent identification and restructuring of coaching, only aggravated such concerns.

SLC concerned over Technical Committee intervention?

From left: Newly appointed SLC Director of Cricket Tom Moody, Technical Committee Chairman Aravinda de Silva, SLC President Shammi Silva, Secretary Mohan de Silva, and Technical Committee member Muttiah Muralitharan addressed the media in Colombo on 25 March

z Appoints an ex-co official to represent SLC in Technical Committee meetings To LISTEN to

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Virat Kohli at Ageas Bowl in Southampton, the venue for the much-anticipated WTC Final starting on Friday (18)

Four days ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship (WTC) Final between India and New Zealand in Southampton, Virat Kohli and Coach Ravi Shastri have almost settled their bowling combination, Indian media revealed yesterday (14).

The talks about India playing four pacers in Southampton, the venue of the historic event, can be put to rest,

said The Inside Sport, adding they had learnt that instead India will play a combination of three pacers and two spin bowlers against the resilient Kiwis.

“Though the team management agrees that the pitch and English conditions will suit seamers more, India wants to play on their strength and will draft two spinners in the form of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the XI,” the report predicted.

As for pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will become an automatic choice in English conditions with Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur fighting for the third pacer’s slot.

The pitch will also have something for both pacers and spinners. The pitch curator for Ageas Bowl, Simon Lee had told ESPNcricinfo that the pitch will have “pace, bounce, and carry” on the

first three days with spinners getting a bit of assistance in the last two.

Fresh from their series win against the home team, the Kiwis, led by Kane Williamson, will meet India in the much-anticipated WTC Final on Friday (18).

India’s likely playing XI for the WTC Final:

Openers: Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill; No. 3: Cheteshwar Pujara, No. 4: Virat Kohli, No. 5: Ajinkya Rahane, No. 6: Rishabh Pant (wk), No. 7: Ravindra Jadeja, No. 8: Ravichandran Ashwin, No. 9: Mohammed Shami, No. 10: Jasprit Bumrah, and No. 11: Ishant Sharma

India’s playing XI for ICC WTC Final speculated

z India to play three pacers and two spinners against New Zealand

Winner: $ 1.6 million (Rs. 316.8 million)Runner-up: $ 800,000 (Rs. 158.4 million)Third: $ 450,000 (Rs. 89.1 million)Fourth: $ 350,000 (Rs. 69.3 million)Fifth: $ 200,000 (Rs. 39.6 million)Remaining four teams: $ 100,000 (Rs. 19.8 million) each

Prize money for ICC World Test Championship

Sri Lanka’s foremost fast bowler in recent history, Lasith Malinga, has said in a recent YouTube talk show with another former player, Russel Arnold, that he is not yet retired from international T20 cricket, also adding: “I can still bowl 24 balls.”

In a T20I match, one bowler’s maximum quota of overs is four, meaning a total of 24 balls.

“I can’t do the 2 km run (which is part of the present fitness test specified for the national players), but I still can ball for about two

hours without any problem,” the ace slinger added, commenting on the current fitness eligibility for national selection.

“I can bowl 24 straight balls. I can even ball 200 balls. But because of the 2 km fitness test, I’m staying home. I know I can’t do that. Yet I took four wickets in four balls against New Zealand in Kandy last time. I was 37 years old then. Nobody complained about my belly nor my fitness level at that time,” Malinga argued.

‘I took four wickets in four balls against New Zealand. I was 37 years old then. Nobody complained about my belly nor my fitness at that time’

I can bowl 24 balls though I can’t run 2 km: Lasith Malinga