{ THURSDAY }

LPL 2021 SCHEDULE OUT»SEE PAGE 16»SEE PAGE 8

INDIAN ARMY CHIEF CALLS ON

PRESIDENT

»SEE PAGE 9

� www.themorning.lkVOL 01 | NO 186 | Rs. 30.00

� Late CityTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

CEMENT SHORTAGE TO

CONTINUE TILL END OF THE

YEAR

BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA

The Energy Ministry, on behalf of the country’s leading fuel suppliers Ceylon

Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) PLC, has written to

the Finance Ministry requesting that they be granted some concession for the import of fuel, noting that fuel prices would inevitably increase in the event such a concession is not granted.

Contd. on page 8

Energy Ministry requests concession for CPC, LIOC

z If no concession, fuel prices will go up: Energy Secy.

BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA

An application was filed at the Mannar High Court (HC) yesterday (13) seeking an

order to summon former Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation State Minister Lohan Ratwatte over being in alleged contempt of court, in connection with the latter’s reported intimidation of a group of prisoners at the Anuradhapura Prison on 12 September.

Contd. on page 8

Another contempt application filed against Ratwatte

In what will be a major diplomatic visit next week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

and Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, on 20 October, India’s News18 reported yesterday (13).

The Sri Lankan President will be accompanied by a two-dozen-member official delegation and 125 Buddhist monks, it added.

Modi will land in Kushinagar from Delhi and Rajapaksa will fly in directly from Colombo at...

Contd. on page 2

Modi to host Prez at airport opening

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Indian PM Narendra Modi

COVID-19 TOTAL VACCINATION

THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 10.45 P.M. ON 13 OCTOBER 2021SOURCE: PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARIAT

1ST DOSE14,731,502 12,553,819

2ND DOSE

COVID-19 CASES

SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU

ACTIVE CASES 23,769528,415TOTAL CASES

DEATHS RECOVERED

13,408 491,238

10-30% of Covid-19 cases have post-Covid-19 symptoms

z Health Promotion Bureau sets up walk-in clinic

z Symptoms persist four weeks despite negative PCR/RAT

BY PAMODI WARAVITA

The Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) said yesterday (13) that it believes that

approximately 10% to 30% of all those who contracted the Covid-19 virus are suffering from post-Covid-19 symptoms.

The HPB added that a special walk-in clinic has been opened at the National Eye Hospital for all patients who seek medical advice about post-Covid-19 symptoms.

“We define post-Covid-19 symptoms as those that persist four weeks after a person contracts the Covid-19 virus. According to world research, 10-30% of all Covid-19 patients experience post-Covid-19 symptoms.”

Contd. on page 2

RECOGNISING THE POWER OF EVERYDAY HEROES»SEE PAGE 12

Teachers reject 2-stage salary hike

z Contradict PM’s Office claim of ‘successfully ending’ strike

z To continue strike demanding salary hike in one go

z Threaten to continue for ‘100-150 days and even beyond’

PM Mahinda Rajapaksa greeting CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin at Temple Trees on Tuesday (12)

BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA

Despite the much publicised, nearly three-hour discussion

held with Prime Minister (PM) Mahinda Rajapaksa regarding the teacher-principal salary anomaly issue on Tuesday (12), the teachers’ and principals’ trade unions (TUs) have decided to continue the series of ongoing trade union actions including the strike, demanding a solution more acceptable to them.

During the discussion held between the teachers’ and principals’ trade union representatives and Rajapaksa on Tuesday, the Government had agreed to grant the salary increase recommended by the Cabinet Sub-Committee which was recently appointed to look into the teacher-principal salary anomaly issue, in two stages, in January of 2022 and 2023.

Contd. on page 2

BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA

If the health authorities’ approval is given, necessary arrangements have been made to

resume inter-provincial bus and train services from 21 October, said Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments, and Motor Car Industry, and Community Police Services State Minister Dilum Amunugama.

Speaking to the media yesterday (13), he stated that the necessary steps have been taken to resume inter-provincial bus and train services which are currently suspended.

Contd. on page 2

All set for inter-provincial buses, trains from 21st

z Dilum ready if approval of health authorities received

BY RUWANI FONSEKA

A rise in illegal migration through sea routes has been observed in the recent past, with

people taking extreme measures of risking...Contd. on page 2

Rise in Lankans trying to migrate on boats

z Police ask people not to be fooled by ‘agents’

The Attorney General (AG) yesterday (13)

informed the Court of Appeal that abduction charges against former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda will not be moved forward.

Senior State Counsel Avanthi Perera stated this when the writ petition...

Contd. on page 2

AG not to proceed with charges against Karannagoda

Former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda

BY PAMODI WARAVITA

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, in an address to the Colombo-based diplomatic

community yesterday (13), had stressed on the importance of the European Union’s (EU) Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade concession to the Sri Lankan economy.

Contd. on page 2

G.L. highlights importance of GSP+ to diplomats

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris addressing the diplomatic community

The Attorney General (AG) has requested the Colombo Special Trial-at-Bar to

continue proceedings on what is popularly referred to as the “2015 February Bond Scam” case with two of the accused in absentia.

As per reports, former Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Arjuna Mahendran and former Perpetual Treasuries Ltd. (PTL) Director Ajahn Gardiya Punchihewa are currently residing overseas.

The legal matter pertaining to criminal misappropriation of bonds was taken up last (13) morning by the Special High Court’s bench, consisting of Judges Champa Janaki Rajaratne, Damith Thotawatta, and Namal Balalle who sat for the hearing.

Additional Solicitor General Priyantha Nawana, who appeared on behalf of the AG, informed the court that the Government of Singapore has initiated the extradition process for Mahendran.

Contd. on page 2

AG wants ‘Bond Scam’ case to proceed with two accused in absentia

Sabry to amend or modernise 60 lawsWhile pointing out that as many as 60 laws

have not been amended or modernised by the Ministry of Justice in the last 20 years, Minister of Justice President’s Counsel (PC) M.U.M. Ali Sabry said yesterday (13) that amendments will be made to the same.

He also stated that such changes will be presented in Parliament and accommodated into the progressive law system he plans to implement in future, while attending a meeting at the State Ministry of Reforms and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation yesterday.

Contd. on page 2

A total of 20,000 metric tonnes (MT) of organic potassium

chloride fertiliser arrived at the Colombo Port yesterday (13), as confirmed by Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

The stock was reportedly purchased by two state-owned companies, and comprises the first batch of a total stock of around 600,000 MT of fertiliser to be imported.

Last week, Aluthgamage had told The Sunday Morning that he was

waiting for test results to order a consignment of fertiliser from India, and that the process would not take more than a few days, although he had then stated that 10,000 MT of organic fertiliser would be initially imported.

“One or two days would go by for the arrangements to be made by the Indians, and another day, at the most, would be taken to send it by airfreight,” he had noted at the time.

Contd. on page 2 The stock being unloaded at the Colombo Port

20,000 MT of organic fertiliser arrives

Litro, Laugfs moot gas pricing formula

z Litro mulls ‘logical LPG pricing formula’

z Laugfs Chair laments discontinuation of previous formula BY PAMODI WARAVITA

Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. Chairman Theshara Jayasinghe said yesterday (13) that the company is now looking at a “pricing logic” or a “logical pricing formula” in a bid to ensure responsible market participation in the future.

“We must ensure that we participate in the market in a fair way. So, even though we don’t have a pricing regime at the moment, we must apply constraints to ourselves and be disciplined. Moving

forward, we must adopt a logical pricing formula. We must define it internally and create our own benchmarks. Therefore, in

the future, we hope to apply a prudent pricing formula to responsibly participate in the market.”

Contd. on page 2

Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. Chairman Theshara Jayasinghe PHOTO ESHAN DASANAYAKA

To LISTEN to our lead story,

scan this QR code on your

deviceLaugfs Gas PLC Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya

42

{ NEWS } � www.themorning.lk Thursday, October 14, 2021

Contd. from page 1

Modi to......the new Kushinagar International Airport,

which is scheduled to be inaugurated the same day by Modi. The Sri Lankan flight will also be the first international flight to land in Kushinagar, which is a major Buddhist pilgrimage site that sees a high number of foreign tourists, including from Sri Lanka, each year.

Ambassadors of many foreign countries are also expected to be in Kushinagar that day, especially of countries with Buddhist populations, officials told News18. However, it remains to be seen if China, which has a significant Buddhist population as well, will send a diplomat.

It is believed that Gautam Buddha had attained Mahaparinirvana in Kushinagar after his death. Archaeological excavations led by surveyor C.L. Carlleyle discovered the main stupa in Kushinagar and a 6.10-metre-long statue of the reclining Buddha in 1876. Burmese monk Chandra Swami, in 1903, made Mahaparinirvana Temple a living shrine. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Kushinagar on Tuesday (12) to review the arrangements and went both to this temple and the main stupa.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be holding a public meeting in Kushinagar. The town also has a Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple, which is a joint venture between the AIK World Buddhist Culture Association, Japan, and the Sri Lanka Buddhist Centre. The Sri Lankan President and Modi, along with the Sri Lankan official delegation and the 125 Buddhist monks, are expected to visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple, the main stupa, and possibly also the Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple.

Teachers reject ...However, a press release issued by the PM’s

Office last (13) evening said that the PM had successfully ended the prolonged trade union action through the meeting.

“This afternoon (12) at the Temple Trees, addressing the representatives of the teachers’ and principals’ trade unions, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa agreed to increase the salaries in three instalments in two Budget stages as a resolution to eliminate their salary anomalies, successfully ending 93-day trade union actions,” the release stated.

It added that the Prime Minister emphasised that as continuing the education of children without any hindrance is at the top of priorities of the nation, the Government is very sensitive to the educators’ concerns and, therefore, no salary anomalies are to be disregarded. However, as Treasury receipts were limited due to the Covid-19 epidemic, all instalments could not be allowed at once, it added.

Following the nearly three-hour discussion on Tuesday, the teachers’ and principals’ trade unions stated that they would make an announcement yesterday on whether they would continue with the ongoing series of trade union actions or abandon such.

However, contrary to the PM’s Office press release, several trade unions, including the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) and the Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU), yesterday stated that they will continue to implement all the trade union actions that are currently ongoing as they do not accept the said salary increase being given in two stages.

Speaking at a media briefing, CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that the trade union’s demand is that the salary increase recommended by the relevant Cabinet Sub-Committee be

granted at once. Claiming that it would cost a sum of approximately Rs. 30 billion to do so, Stalin charged that the Government is currently spending even more on certain other projects that are not of much use.

“During the discussion with the Prime Minister, we requested that the salary increase recommended by the Cabinet Sub-Committee be granted at once, but Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle and certain other officials continued to say that it is not possible. What we ask is to provide us with this salary increase at once, as part of the recommendations made by the Subodhini Committee (a Committee which was previously appointed to look into the salary anomaly issue),” he added.

Speaking further, Stalin emphasised that the Government should make a decision in this regard as soon as possible, while stressing that the trade union actions would continue until an acceptable solution is found.

Meanwhile, CTSU General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe also expressed his views at a media briefing yesterday.

He stated that if the decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers is to be implemented as it is, then there is no result to be gained by holding discussions on it. He also said that during the discussion held with Rajapaksa, it was made clear that the trade unions were not ready to accept whatever solution was offered by the Government, noting that they would only accept a solution that is acceptable to them.

“We said that this salary increase should be given at once, but Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that they are ready to provide it in two stages. We are not ready to accept it at all. We have continued to be flexible in this regard but the Government does not seem to be interested in providing a fair solution for this issue.”

Jayasinghe also said that millions of students are suffering due to the ongoing trade union actions and that the Government should therefore provide an acceptable solution as soon as possible. Otherwise, he warned, the trade union actions, which are currently in effect, will continue for 100 or 150 days or any other period.

Nearly 30 teachers’ and principals’ trade unions have embarked on a number of trade union actions, including withdrawal from all physical and online teaching activities and examination-related duties, demanding a solution to the teacher-principal salary anomaly issue since 12 July 2021. The trade unions actions mark the 95th day today (14).

All set...Meanwhile, when questioned whether the

Government would take any action to provide some relief to private buses, he said that such has been already provided to private buses. “Recently, a loan of around Rs. 350,000 was given to them. In addition, the private bus owners are currently being given a relief voucher,” he added. Speaking further, Amunugama said that since private buses are very important for the public transport sector, the Government hopes to provide them with as much relief as possible in the future as well.

Meanwhile, when inquired about reports that there would be an increase in the bus fares in the coming days, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne stated that they have not recently made a request to increase bus fares. However, he said that if fuel prices go up, bus fares will also have to be increased.

Taking into account the rapid spread of Covid-19 and the increase of the number of Covid-19 deaths in the country, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a lockdown status on 20 August and it was lifted on 1 October.

However, Amunugama, at that time, said that despite the reopening of the country, public transport services between the provinces would not be operational as the Government has decided to maintain the inter-provincial travel restrictions for a period of another two weeks. He also said that due to the high risk of the spread of Covid-19 through the train services, the health authorities have advised not to operate the trains for two weeks.

AG not......filed by Karannagoda against naming him

as a defendant of this case was taken up before the Appeals Court bench last morning.

The writ petition was called before Appeals Court Judges Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola.

The senior state counsel told the bench that the High Court would be informed of this decision.

The writ petition was fixed for further support on 3 November.

Karannagoda is named the 14th defendant in the case filed before the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar against a group of naval intelligence officers pertaining to the alleged forced disappearance of 11 youths in Colombo and suburbs in 2008 and 2009.

Rise in......their lives and their children’s lives by

leaving the country through ill-equipped dinghy boats, according to the Sri Lanka Police.

Speaking to The Morning, Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nihal Thalduwa explained that “agents” charge exorbitant amounts from the people who want to leave the country illegally and warned citizens not to be fooled by the illusion of “flowery prospects” in other countries.

“People take huge risks. They are promised a life of luxury and wellbeing, but what they don’t know is that when they enter illegally they cannot do anything in those countries. Once they are deported back, they pay hefty fines and jail terms for their crimes,” remarked SSP Thalduwa.

Further, he explained that such attempts were popular during the war era, as people resorted to sea routes to escape the country.

“We are still investigating to understand what is going on in the minds of these people, but until then all I can say is that these people are given false promises of a ‘flowery’ world out of Sri Lanka,” he said.

He also revealed that since 2009, many non-profit organisations and government authorities have worked hard to promote the message that illegal migration will lead to serious implications, which has reduced the number of people who make such attempts.

Earlier this week, the Sri Lanka Police arrested a group of 65 individuals who were staying at a hotel in Trincomalee prior to their migration attempt. Among them were 63 males, one female, and a four-year-old child, the Sri Lanka Police confirmed.

AG wants...However, it is learned that the 10th suspect in

the case, Ajahn Gardiya Punchihewa, is currently residing in Malaysia, the Additional Solicitor General told the court, adding that bringing him back to the island under extradition laws is practically impossible.

Accordingly, the Additional Solicitor General requested the court to proceed with the trial without the presence of the two defendants.

The Special Trial-at-Bar then scheduled the further hearing of the case for 3 December.

Accepting a request made by the Additional Solicitor General, the Special Trial-at-Bar directed the prosecutors to keep the court up to date through a motion on the process to extradite Mahendran.

The case was filed against 10 suspects, including former CBSL Governor Arjuna Mahendran, former CBSL Deputy Governor Paththinige Samarasiri, PTL Owner Arjun Joseph Aloysius, PTL CEO Kasun Oshadhi Palisena, PTL Chairman Geoffrey Joseph Aloysius, and PTL Directors Pushyamithra Gunawardena, Chitta Ranjan Hulugalle, Muthuraja Surendran, and Ajahn Gardiye Punchihewa, for incurring a loss of nearly Rs. 688 million to the Government through criminal misappropriation of Treasury bonds during an auction held on 27 February 2015.

20,000 MT...This first batch of imported organic fertiliser,

he had stated, would be for corn cultivation, which had already commenced, and the remainder would be brought in time for the Maha season.

“Corn cultivation has already begun in Anuradhapura, Ampara, and Monaragala. There are around 100,000 acres of cultivation land to fertilise, which would require roughly 10,000 MT of fertiliser. This will be transported by air, as it is needed urgently,” he had said, adding that a total stock of 600,000 MT of fertiliser would be imported from India.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture recently halted the importation of fertiliser from a Chinese company named Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group, after local testing agencies, including the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS), and the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB), conducted an analysis on samples that confirmed the presence of harmful bacteria in said samples.

The decision sparked controversy, as the Chinese Embassy last Friday (8) stated that the decision made by authorities to reject Seawin’s organic fertiliser based on the NPQS’s report was not only questionable, but would also cause great financial loss to the company.

The Chinese Embassy had noted: “The NPQS claimed that the sample received contained harmful bacteria including Erwinia, after only three days of tests and analysis. It is noted that, according to the International Plant Protection Convention, it will take at least six days to detect Erwinia. The hasty conclusion made by the NPQS lacks scientific basis.”

This, in turn, prompted further local debate on the matter.

On Sunday (10), State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara had stated that the fertiliser issue had led to India and China “asking us why we aren’t purchasing fertiliser” and “trying to give us fertiliser even by force”, while on the same day, former MP and State Minister Ajith P. Perera had claimed that the matter was “a serious involvement in the internal affairs of the country”.

A proposal to ban the use and importation of chemical fertilisers, and agrochemicals such as pesticides and herbicides/weedicides, was submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers by President Rajapaksa, and the same was granted approval, following which the relevant gazette notification was issued in May 2021.G.L. stresses...

According to a Foreign Ministry press release, Prof. Peiris had said that he was satisfied with the discussions that were held with the delegation of the EU GSP+ Monitoring Mission, and had added that the continuation of the GSP+ is vital for the Sri Lankan economy, not only in the apparel sector, but also in other areas of bilateral trade.

“Covid-19 dealt a significant blow to our plans and we need to recover,” Prof. Peiris had added.

However, he had expressed his satisfaction at the improvement of the Covid-19 situation in the country due to the ongoing successful vaccination drive and had therefore sought the assistance of the diplomatic community to revive tourism activity.

Prof. Peiris made these remarks at a meeting with all Colombo-based diplomats at the Foreign

Ministry yesterday. The European Parliament, earlier this year,

called on the Government of Sri Lanka to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979 as amended and the European Commission to consider the temporary withdrawal of the GSP+ from Sri Lanka if it is not done.

The EU GSP+ Monitoring Mission visited Sri Lanka during the first week of October and met with a number of officials and organisations, both within and outside the Government, in this regard.

The GSP+ gives Sri Lanka preferential access to markets in the EU. It was withdrawn in 2010 after the EU identified three major shortcomings with respect to United Nations human rights conventions (the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention Against Torture, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child) related to the scheme of the GSP+, which is not only a special incentive agreement for sustainable development but also for good governance. It has been identified that the GSP+ especially benefits the fisheries and apparels industries.

Sabry to...The Minister of Justice also reiterated that

responsibilities must be fulfilled by citizens and officials alike to help the country move forward, underscoring that a commitment is required first and foremost.

In terms of officials, Minister Sabry noted that all officials need to work with honesty and carry out duties while being true to their hearts. He went on to say that without research and development, Sri Lanka cannot move forward, just as all other countries have achieved greater heights by way of the same.

He went on to emphasise that the future generations will benefit from the honesty and hard work of the officials. According to him, with honesty, there is no reason to be “fearful” of judgement as all officials have been educated through the taxpayers’ funds, implying they are not answerable to anyone other than the Government. Minister Sabry also spoke about the unity and friendship between Sri Lankans of different races and religions, and urged the officials to continue the same.

The Minister explained to the officials the importance of not only saying that prisoners are human beings, but also believing in it and treating prisoners with care, concern, and kindness.

He concluded by reminding the prison officials to treat prisoners with respect as per international regulations and to follow the rules and regulations of international human rights.

Litro, Laugfs...“I have instructed our Board to logically look

at the previous pricing formula that was used as well. We hope to create a pricing logic which will fairly represent the cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the price we charge from the people. It will be equitable and just to the public,” Jayasinghe told The Morning yesterday.

These comments came one day after Laugfs Gas PLC Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya, speaking on a Derana TV programme on 12 October, said that if the “pricing formula” had continued during the past few years, the sudden shock of a hefty increase in the price of LPG would not have occurred this week.

“We could have gradually increased by about Rs. 200 or Rs. 300 and even had some decreases in the price as well,” added Wegapitiya.

He said that the gas pricing issues were created due to the non-adherence to the LPG pricing formula that was in place.

“Are gas prices really high? No. In 2014, when the price was at $ 780 in the global market, the price of a 12.5 kg gas cylinder stood at Rs. 2,340 in Sri Lanka. Subsequently, the prices were arbitrarily slashed at eight instances, targeting elections. Prior to the presidential election, the price was reduced by Rs. 250. It was further reduced by Rs. 200 when (the election) was at hand. It was again reduced by Rs. 250 following the election,” he continued, adding that this move completely disregarded the components of cost of the market.

Jayasinghe told The Morning that he too feels that a sudden increase in the price of LPG could have been avoided if the pricing formula had been intact.

“There was a pricing formula, agreed to between the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) and Litro Gas Lanka. According to that, every two months, we have to review the prices. The CAA unofficially left that agreement in August 2019. If they had continued it, this would not have happened,” said Jayasinghe.

Following a special Cabinet of Ministers’ meeting held on 7 October with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Government decided to remove the price controls on cement, LPG, milk powder, and wheat flour.

Accordingly, the price of a Litro 12.5 kg domestic gas cylinder increased by Rs. 1,182 on 11 October. Laugfs Gas PLC increased the price of its 12.5 kg domestic cylinder by Rs. 984 on the same day. The private entity also increased the price of its 12.5 kg domestic cylinder by Rs. 363 in August of this year.

10-30% of ...“Thus, we believe that 10-30% of the over

500,000 patients identified in Sri Lanka have

post-Covid-19 symptoms. The National Eye Hospital has started a walk-in clinic, operational five days per week, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Patients who come to the Eye Hospital, and the ones who are directed there from other wards in the National Hospital, Colombo, can seek medical advice about post-Covid-19 symptoms at the said clinic,” said National Eye Hospital Consultant Dr. Waruna Gunathilake.

Dr. Gunathilake said that the staff at the Eye Hospital are also serving as a case study in post-Covid-19 symptoms as approximately 60% of the staff at the National Eye Hospital had tested positive for the virus, out of which 50% are showing post-Covid-19 symptoms.

According to Dr. Gunathilake, although the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and rapid antigen tests (RATs) return negative when patients experience the post-Covid-19 syndrome, symptoms they experience include difficulty in breathing, asthma, headache, fatigue, insomnia, mental fog, increased heart rate, and increased sweating.

“Even though the virus has left the body, the impact on the body is still felt. If you are vaccinated, there are less chances of getting post-Covid-19 symptoms. Some people find that the symptoms severely affect their daily lifestyles. If you are experiencing insomnia, don’t drink caffeine and reduce screen time close to your bedtime. If you continue to experience a loss of smell even after recovering from the virus, engage in smell training activities where you sniff things like cinnamon oil for a prolonged period. Rest is also important. It is easy to maintain unhealthy work hours when working from home, therefore, make a conscious decision to set limitations.”

He said that the immediate future entails the problems that post-Covid-19 symptoms cause to the occupational health of patients and concerns as to whether it has the potential of becoming a public health crisis.

North Korea vows to build ‘invincible military’BY LAURA BICKER

North Korea’s leader has vowed to build an “invincible military” in the face of what it says are hostile policies from the

US, state media reported.

Kim Jong-un added that weapons development was for self-defence, and not to start a war. He made the comments at a rare defence exhibition, while flanked by a variety of large missiles.

North Korea has recently tested what it claims to be new hypersonic and anti-aircraft missiles. The South, meanwhile, has recently

tested its own submarine-launched weapon.In his speech at the Self-Defence 2021

exhibition held in the North’s capital Pyongyang, Kim addressed the military build-up in the South and said that North Korea did not want to fight its neighbour.

“We are not discussing war with anyone, but rather to prevent war itself and to literally increase war deterrence for the protection of national sovereignty,” he said.

Kim, surrounded by an array of military hardware including tanks, accused the US of stoking tensions between North and South Korea. He said there was “no behavioural basis” to make North Korea believe that the US was not hostile.

The US, under President Joe Biden, has repeatedly said it is willing to talk to North Korea, but has demanded Pyongyang give up nuclear weapons before sanctions can be eased. North Korea has so far refused.

Kim vowed to continue work on his wish list of weapons, while noting that South Korea was doing the same by building up its defence force in recent years. This is Kim’s way of telling those criticising his arms programme that they are hypocrites. He wants Pyongyang to have the right to build up its military – just like Seoul.

North Korea is banned from testing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons by the UN. It has repeatedly flouted these bans and has been

heavily sanctioned as a result. Last month, the UN atomic agency said North Korea appeared to have restarted a reactor which could produce plutonium for nuclear weapons, calling it a “deeply troubling” development. North Korea has always maintained that it needs to continue developing weapons for defence.

But observers say it is also being used as a way to rally the impoverished country. North Korea is thought to be in dire economic straits after authorities shut borders to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Crucial supplies like food and fuel have been cut off from China, North Korea’s main political and economic ally.

(BBC)

North Korea says it needs to continue developing weapons for its protection

PHOTO © REUTERS

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{ NEWS } � www.themorning.lk

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Thursday, October 14, 2021

RISHAD BATHIUDEEN’S MOBILE PHONE SEIZED FROM MAGAZINE PRISON

MP Rishad Bathiudeen is scheduled to appear before a prison tribunal

on 24 October, after he pleaded not guilty before a prison tribunal held yesterday (13) over the case of contraband, in the form of a mobile phone, being found in his possession while in custody at the Welikada Magazine Prison in the Welikada Prison Complex.

The phone was recovered when prison officials raided Bathiudeen’s cell on 1 September. The above hearing was held digitally, via Skype, owing to the current pandemic situation.

SALLEY TO BE PRODUCED BEFORE COURT ON 25 OCTOBER

Colombo High Court has ordered the Prison Superintendent to produce the

incarcerated former Western Province Governor Azath Salley before the court on 25 October. A motion filed by Azath Salley through his attorney, President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne was taken up by Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja yesterday (13).

Stating that his client was incarcerated for a prolonged period of time, the defence attorney sought the high court to hear the case without further ado. The legal matter was originally scheduled to be heard in November. Accepting the request, the judge fixed the case for hearing on 25 October.

On 16 March, the Leader of the National Unity Front (NUF) was arrested by the CID and was detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (PTA). The arrest was made over several controversial remarks Salley had made at a press conference with regard to the law of the country.

ALTERNATE ROUTES INTRODUCED TO REDUCE BASELINE ROAD CONGESTION

Several alternate routes were introduced by the Police to reduce traffic

congestion along Baseline Road due to the final stages of the construction of the New Kelani Bridge. In a statement, the Police said that due to the final stages of the construction of the New Kelani Bridge being carried out, severe traffic congestion has been prevalent along Baseline Road and Port Entry Road and surrounding areas.

Accordingly, motorists are requested to utilise the following alternate routes to enter Colombo: Nawaloka Roundabout, Thotalanga Junction, Prince of Wales Avenue, or Bloemendhal Road for those entering via Kandy Road; Kadirana Bridge and Aluth Mawatha for those entering via Negombo Road; and Stase Road, Kosgas Junction, Layard’s Broadway Road, and Prince of Wales Avenue for those entering via Old Avissawella Road.

WP REVENUE LICENCE ISSUANCE HALTED FOR TWO WEEKS

The issuance of vehicle revenue licences in the Western Province (WP) will

be suspended for a period of two weeks from today (13), due to an update to the relevant computer system.

The service will resume from 26 October, announced the Western Province Chief Secretary.

HAND GRENADE FOUND IN BELLANWILA TEMPLE

A hand grenade was found at the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya

premises yesterday (13), which the Special Task Force (STF) successfully recovered and defused.

Speaking to The Morning, Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nihal Thalduwa stated: “The hand grenade was found under the tree during a routine clean-up of the premises. It was found near a wall in the corner of the premises. The grenade was old and rusty, and was immediately reported to the area Police. They handed it over to the STF who successfully defused the hand grenade.”

AT A GLANCE

The 10th Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Sri Lanka and the Russian Federation was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in Moscow, last Friday (8). The consultations were co-chaired by the Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Ambassador Igor Morgulov.

According to the Foreign Ministry, during the meeting, the two sides reviewed existing multifaceted relations between Sri Lanka and Russia encompassing political, economic, and cultural spheres as well as people-to-people contacts. In discussions, the two sides also referred to cooperation in defence, education, connectivity and tourism, and in combating Covid-19, among others.

Recalling the longstanding historic

relations and strong partnership between the two countries, both sides reaffirmed co-operation on issues of mutual interest in multilateral fora. The discussion also focused on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Both sides looked forward to the celebration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and

Russia in 2022. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to

Russia Prof. Janitha Abeywickrema Liyanage and Ambassador of Russia in Sri Lanka Yury B. Materiy, as well as officials of the Foreign Ministries of Sri Lanka and Russia and of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow, participated in the consultations.

Sri Lankan and Russian officials at the consultations in Moscow

Sri Lanka and Russia reaffirm partnership at Moscow meeting

BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Matale District Opposition MP Rohini Wijeratne Kavirathna claimed that although the Maha cultivation season has already begun, season-related meetings between the relevant state and Government authorities and the farmers, have not yet been held in half of the farmlands in Sri Lanka.

The season meetings are required to be held under the Chairmanship of the Divisional Secretaries.

“Not even half of the season meetings of the Maha season have been held yet. Because of the Government’s decisions, Government officials are afraid to approach farmers.”

Addressing a meeting of farmers’ organisations in Rattota, Kavirathna said that this was the reason that meetings are not being held.

“A State Minister had said recently

that fertiliser would be provided for maize cultivation. However, he doesn’t know that agrochemicals such as herbicides/weedicides are needed before fertiliser for maize cultivation.”

“There are nine Cabinet and State Ministers involved in agriculture-related line Ministries. None of them can go among the farmers and hold a meeting. Now these people cultivate not on the mainland, but on the internet. Not only politicians, but also Government officials cannot go to the farmers. Every season meeting ended in controversy. It is the Government officials who have to pay for the

wrongdoings of the Government, and they are helpless. A farmer’s meeting cannot be held in a village without giving the required agrochemicals to the lands that have been cultivated. Government officials don’t go to meetings as farmers protest wherever they go.”

Kavirathna also said that officials of the Agriculture Ministry are helpless without proper guidance.

“There is no answer to any of the questions asked. Many farmers in Matale have left paddy cultivation and are cultivating sweet potatoes because you don’t need fertiliser for that. The Government talked about distributing organic fertiliser from yesterday (13). Organic fertiliser is produced locally covering only 2% of the total fertiliser requirement in Sri Lanka. By trying to deceive the farmer, the whole country has been deceived.”

SJB alleges Govt. failed to hold many meetings with farmers

z Claims politicos afraid to meet farmers regarding Maha season

BY PAMODI WARAVITA

The Education and Health Ministries will tomorrow (15) commence a pilot programme to provide Covid-19 vaccinations to all students who have sat for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level (A/L) examination once and those who plan on sitting for the same exam this year in the Colombo District, the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) stated yesterday (13).

Addressing an HPB press conference held yesterday, Education Ministry Additional Secretary L.M.D. Dharmasena stated: “Tomorrow, most schools in the four zones of the Colombo District, namely, Homagama, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Piliyandala, and Colombo, will be conducting this pilot

vaccination programme. I urge all students to take their National Identification Card (NIC) and visit their respective schools to obtain the vaccine. Sometimes, students from three or four schools (due to having a lesser number of students) may have to visit one common school. To correctly identify which centre one must go to, please consult one’s respective school principal or refer to the Health and Education Ministries’ websites. We will upload all information there.”

This pilot programme will be a stepping stone for the vaccination of schoolchildren in the aforementioned age categories, which is due to most likely begin with the reopening of schools on 21 October for primary sections in schools with less than 200 children,

Dharmesena said. Children will be inoculated with the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

“We request all children to take this vaccine for their own protection. We ask that you not be misled by false myths. Parents have the responsibility of motivating and sending their kids to get the vaccine. Young children have a long road ahead, with many things to do in their future. They must thus be responsible and take this vaccine. We don’t have a right to force anybody to get vaccinated. However, if you love your children, and if you love your parents, all families must take an active effort to be vaccinated,” said Dharmasena.

He further said that the vaccination of children below the age of 18 years will be discussed as the next step.

Meanwhile, the vaccination of all state university students began on 11 October at all state university premises and affiliates. However, Health Ministry Communications Director, Public Health Services Deputy Director General, and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath told the media on Tuesday (12) that the process is taking place at a slower pace than expected as university students are expecting the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

“The procurement of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is taking place at a limited pace as even its purchase is quite difficult. I hope that everybody understands the importance of vaccination in order to reopen the universities,” noted Dr. Herath.

Some A/L students to be vaccinated in Colombo under pilot programme

BY DINITHA RATHNAYAKE

The Government is unable to control the current situation in the country, claimed the National Trade Union Front.

Speaking to the media, trade union (TU) leader Saman Rathnapriya said that the essential commodity prices have increased immensely, thereby giving a hard time to the public.

“The Government is facing an economic crisis where prices of essential commodities have increased by 40%.”

According to him, Rs. 61,900 has to be spent monthly for a five-member family in Colombo, whereas the average private sector salary is Rs. 16,500, and the average public sector salary

is in the range of Rs.24,000.Around 600,000 individuals in

the workforce are facing a huge crisis at the moment, he added.

The control prices imposed on gas, milk powder, wheat flour, and cement were recently lifted, and as a result, the prices of these goods were increased.

Govt. unable to control economic situation: TUs

z Cite hardships to workforce due to essential commodity price hikes

Trade unionist Saman Rathnapriya at yesterday’s (13) press conference

As of 31 August 2021, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) had earned Rs. 2,028.33 million, marking a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 74%, the GSMB told the Ministry of Environment yesterday (12).

This was revealed when Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera inquired about the progress of GSMB yesterday, according to a ministry media release.

This revenue was earned through the issuance of mining and transport permits, licences for export of mineral resources, as well as geological surveys carried out by various external agencies, especially for sand, mettle, gravel, and soil. So far this year, the GSMB has issued

777,000 licences for sand, gravel, and soil transport, while it estimated that the number of transport licences issued by the end of this year will exceed one million.

The GSMB stated it has so far issued 12 exploration licences, 1,856 industrial licences, 281 trade licences, 777,000 transport licences, and 374 export licences within the last nine months.

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera also instructed the GSMB to issue licences and find other sources of revenue as well. In this regard, it is already proposed to start several value-added manufacturing industries in particular. The Minister instructed them to take steps to start several such industries.

GSMB revenue rises to Rs. 2 billion by August 2021

CBK highlights dire education crisis z Suggests revolution in edu. sector as solution to many crises z Notes authorities’ non-cognisance of fact

BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has stated that the education sector in the country is in a serious crisis at present and that no one responsible has yet realised that situation.

In a message issued on the occasion of the late Education Minister and “father of free education” C.W.W. Kannangara’s 137th birth anniversary yesterday (13), Kumaratunga also called on the leaders of the education sector and all citizens to come together to

find a lasting solution to the crisis in the education sector.

Adding that there are numerous issues that have arisen in the country at present, she stated that the solution to all such crises is to bring about a revolution in the education sector.

“The country cannot be built

without building the next generation and the next generation cannot be built without having a proper

education system. Therefore, it is vital to properly identify the current educational crisis in the country and provide lasting solutions to it,” she said.

Schools islandwide have been closed for more than a year and a half due to the Covid-19 pandemic, yet, during the school closures, teachers used to carry out teaching activities online. However, due to the lack of necessary resources such as mobile phones and telephone signals, various parties including

the teachers trade unions were seen complaining in the recent past that a large number of students do not have access to education under the online education system.

Also, as part of the trade union actions launched by the teachers and principals trade unions to protest against their salary anomaly issue, they have withdrawn from all online teaching activities since 12 July 2021, and the series of trade union actions marked its 94th day yesterday.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga

The Government is facing an extremely difficult situation, and everyone must give a helping hand. But

the Government must give the lead to overcome the difficulties through correct policies and good leadership. Wrong policies and actions should be corrected and prevented on a priority basis. A proper national plan with expert advice should be formulated and properly implemented. 1. It is the opinion of the Lanka Sama

Samaja Party (LSSP) that the main problem facing the people is hunger. Many people in the 60% whose income is below the poverty line (the poor) and even of the middle class, are barely managing to have one meal a day. The steep price rise in the cost of living and the economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic (closure of workplaces, job losses, etc.) leading to the loss or reduction in income has made the situation even more difficult. The LSSP kindly requests the Government to get the grama sevaka and other officials to identify the people who are affected in this way. The Government should give the priority to providing these families with a free dry ration on a weekly basis. The other option is the issue of a ration card to them. In the past, success was achieved by establishing a network of true people’s co-operatives with elected management as retail outlets at the village and slum level throughout the island. While this is being done, private shops should be used to outsource and provide this service. All essential items should be made available at a reduced price with Government support

2. The Covid-19 pandemic: The lockdown helped to reduce the number of infections and lower the pandemic spread. But the return to normal life can lead to a fourth wave of Covid-19, which must be prevented at all cost. This can be achieved by strict observance of the four health rules (low crowds, adequate social distancing, wearing of masks at all times when outside one’s home, and washing hands frequently with soap and water, especially after touching any surface that has been touched by others). The best results have been in towns and districts where these rules have been properly observed. To enforce this in the future, Covid-19 committees working with public health officials must be established in all villages and towns (especially in the slums). They must enforce the rules in all workplaces, schools, etc. This would help to prevent the danger of a fourth pandemic wave. Vaccination prevents the occurrence

of severe disease and death, but it does not prevent the spread of infection. However, the results of foreign studies suggest that the protection is short lived (about four to five months). Vaccination boosters at six months have been recommended as a result. This may need to be repeated several times. Imagine the high cost to the country. As about 80% of those who get infected show no illness or only very mild symptoms, there is no need to vaccinate all children. Vaccination should be confined to vulnerable groups – those over 60 years of age and those under 60 years, including children who have co-morbidities (other relevant illnesses). All pandemics have died down after a period of two or three years from the time of onset. If we act sensibly, this should be the case with Covid-19 also

3. In the global history of pandemics, no pandemic has gone on indefinitely. All pandemics have ended within about two years. If people observe the health rules, this pandemic too should end in a few months. Under these circumstances, everything must be done to get life in the country back to normal and ensure that the needs of the future generation (education, etc.) are restored to normal. But this will be a period of hardship for everybody. The LSSP appeals to the Government to restore the allowance given to the health and other frontline workers. The active co-operation of all sections of the public service will also be necessary. They together with the private informal sector are deeply in debt. It would be useful if the Government could make

arrangements with those who have provided their credit to give a grace period of at least three months to make their payments

4. The Government needs extra funding to tide over this difficult period. The policy of getting into further debt and printing more currency notes will create more problems for the future. Under the circumstances, it is only fair that the super rich share the burden with the Government. Not only have the share prices risen, but the multi billionaires, both here and abroad, have made enormous profits. It is only fair that they should share the burden by providing funds to the Government. The level of taxation in Sri Lanka is one of the lowest in the world (company tax 18%, personal tax 14%) as the upper limit. This must be increased to about 60%-70%, as was done by Dr. N.M. Perera when he was the Finance Minister during the triple crises of 1972-1973. In this way, he was able to meet the oil crisis (a seven times rise in the cost of oil) and one of the most severe droughts in the history of the world (e.g. the price of imported sugar went up from £ 40 per tonne to £ 600 per tonne). He not only tided over this period but was able to reduce our foreign debt to the lowest level up to that time, and not only balance the budget, but also get a budget surplus in one of the years. I strongly recommend a similar course of action

5. The LSSP supports the decision of the Government to replace chemical fertiliser with organic fertiliser. But it would be better to do it gradually to suit each type of crop, based on expert advice. Research needs to be done to

obtain the maximum benefit from organic fertiliser and with regard to finding the most suitable variety of seed which may differ from that used with chemical fertiliser. The Government should frame policies taking these points into consideration. The above approach would have prevented the drop in yield that has occurred. The provision of some compensation to small farmers may be considered

6. Increase in the level of unemployment needs urgent action. One suggestion would be the restoration of the Vidatha centres at the divisional level to help the small and medium industries to develop by value addition in both rural and urban areas. These, together with the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC), and other high tech centres could be used to promote exports by creating industries capable of competing internationally

7. Recommendations by the Subodhini Commission Report on teachers-principals salary anomalies that are suitable should be implemented

8. Though the LSSP accepts the long delayed agreement between the representatives of the plantation unions and the Employers Federation of Ceylon e.g. the Rs. 1,000 minimum daily wage, it is unfortunate that the plantation companies are contriving to make changes for their own advantage. For instance, many companies have re-introduced a quota system at a much higher level than was used in the past. The workers are complaining that this level is too high and is difficult to achieve, so that the purpose of the salary increase will be lost. As the plantation companies claim that they are running at a loss, the best course of action is to follow the example of Kerala, India. Here, the Tata Company had 63,000 hectares of tea and ran at a loss, having similar labour problems. The Kerala Government took back the land and gave the ownership to the employees on the solidarity principle. Now, they are running at a big profit and the employees who are shareholders are well off and working harder

9. The management of all companies is exerting pressure on the workers to increase their production to very high levels so that the management can obtain a reward from their employees. This is putting an extra pressure on the workers and should be prevented by the Government

10. The LSSP is preparing a list of proposals to be presented to the Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa for the coming Budget

(The writer is a virologist, Government Parliamentarian, the

Committee on Public Accounts Chairman, and the LSSP General

Secretary)The views and opinions expressed

in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect

those of this publication.

An appeal from the LSSP to the Government

Thursday, October 14, 2021

4

{ EDITORIAL/OPINION } � www.themorning.lk

One important fact we have not emphasised adequately is that no one opposes the Government’s decision to go organic; as a matter of fact, the public, the Opposition, the civil society, farmers groups, and even international agricultural experts, support this idea. The opposition Sri Lanka saw almost every day since the Government announced its decision was against the poorly-planned implementation of this initiative, not against its objectives.

The opposition keeps rising, and it has worsened to the point where even those representing the Government have now come forward criticising this initiative and demanding that the Government put it on hold for the greater good. Batik, Handloom, and Local Apparel Products State Minister and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara, on 12 October, raised these concerns, claiming that it is not practical to adapt to the use of organic fertiliser within one season. He also urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to re-establish the use of chemical fertilisers, and to, at the very least, allow the use of 50% of chemical fertilisers and 50% of organic fertilisers, in order to prevent a drop in yield. Also, a group of about 40 ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarians requested an opportunity to meet with the President to discuss the programme to supply fertiliser to farmers.

These concerns are not new. The difference is, members representing the Government have now joined the group of individuals and organisations who keep reminding the Government of the obvious and grave repercussions that this ill conceived, but valuable plan, would cause. Instead of responding to those who oppose this decision with the intention of protecting the Government’s decision, perhaps, it is time to look at how to go organic the right way, before it is too late.

First and foremost, Sri Lanka has to come to terms with the fact that the country being desperate to save foreign reserves does not warrant a short sighted plan that can affect the entire country. No science endorses the idea of launching a national programme with no baseline study, a phased out approach and a pilot project, and also a proper discourse with the main stakeholders, who, in this case, are the farmers. Also, it is common sense that when such a mammoth programme is being planned, a nation does not risk all important crops it has, and that is why a pilot programme focusing on relatively less important crops is required before extending the organic fertiliser programme to other crops such as export crops.

Therefore, before these hasty decisions cause irreversible damage, the Government should consider what it promised through the “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” policy document, which says that promoting and popularising organic agriculture is a 10-year programme. The country may not be able to wait for 10 years due to the urgent need of using foreign reserves sparingly; however, we can see more than enough reasons to understand that going 100% organic is certainly not an objective that can be achieved within a year or two.

For the nation’s future, perhaps the Government and also other concerned parties should forget politics for a bit, and see the problem for what it is. It is extremely important that the Government realise that this opposition is not against the Government, but the short sightedness of the organic fertiliser programme, and when even those representing the Government oppose it, it is a clear sign that something is seriously wrong.

Therefore, the Government should forget about its pride, and revise or rescind, for the time being, the organic fertiliser plan. Otherwise, the stubborn implementation of this programme would create an environment where even a highly beneficial, well-planned programme in the future does not receive the public’s support. Going organic is a necessity Sri Lanka and the entire world will have to pay attention to at some point. What happens when the Government tries to force on the people an organic fertiliser programme that has no concrete steps but an objective, is that people will always have a doubt about similar programmes in the future.

It is not too hard to understand that putting on hold an ill-conceived plan does far less harm than continuing such a plan until it causes irreversible damages.

Organic haste a recipe for disaster

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BY PROF. TISSA VITHARANA

Amidst the current situation, the people need all the help they can get to be able to continue with day-to-day life PHOTO SAMAN ABESIRIWARDANA

4

{ SPOTLIGHT } � www.themorning.lk

5

Thursday, October 14, 2021

BY SUMUDU CHAMARA

In most cases, experience triumphs knowledge, and senior citizens of any nation have a lot to contribute to the future development of that nation. In fact, they see to it that transitioning from traditional ways to modern ways, which is inevitable, is done smoothly.

The Cabinet of Ministers, on 11 October, approved a proposal submitted by Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to table in Parliament a Bill to amend the minimum age of retirement for private sector employees. The Bill provides for the extension of the minimum age of retirement for private sector employees to 60 years with respect to employees who have not reached the age of 52 years by the time of the enactment of the Bill. With regard to employees aged 52 years or above on the effective date, the proposal includes provisions to employ them under three age groups up to a maximum age of 59 years.

The preparation of the Bill commenced after the Cabinet granted approval for it in March this year, and it has been discussed with all the relevant parties of the Committee on the Study on Policy or Legal Matters Affecting the Business Sector chaired by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

According to several trade unions that spoke to The Morning about increasing the minimum retirement age, the Government’s decision comes in a context where they had requested such legal changes in order to improve the employees’ wellbeing, especially in old age. Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees’ Union (FTZGSEU) Joint Secretary Anton Marcus, as well as Ceylon Mercantile, Industrial, and General Workers Union (CMU) General Secretary Sylvester Jayakody, confirmed this.

Right time to retireSetting a minimum age of

retirement for private sector employees, according to Jayakody, has to be done taking several aspects into account.

He told The Morning that while senior citizens in many other countries are eligible for various social security schemes, some of which cover income and health-related matters, after retirement, since Sri Lanka does not have such programmes, giving them more time to work would be a more prudent step. He also emphasised that there is a need to initiate a discourse in this regard and for the Government to pay attention to it.

He added: “Since life expectancy in Sri Lanka has increased, attention should be paid to minimising the time employees spend as retirees.”

Stressing that the accepted tradition in the private sector and the public sector when it comes to the age of retirement is that an employee should retire at the age of 55 years and 60 years, respectively, Jayakody noted that those who retire would afterwards face an issue of conducting their lives (after retirement) for at least a decade or a decade and a half.

According to Jayakody, the matter of increasing the minimum age of retirement has been discussed as far back as in 1961. He quoted a clause of a collective agreement entered into by the CMU and around 100 companies, which he said was proposed to be amended in 2020, only to increase the minimum age of retirement to 65 years. “An employee has the option of retiring at the age of 55 years or at any time thereafter,

and shall retire on attaining the age of 60 years. Provided, however, that if the employer requires to retain the services of an employee who has attained the age of 60 years, the employee shall be offered fresh employment on a temporary basis so long as the employer requires the services of such employee.”

Social issues which may arise due to requiring employees to retire at the age of 55 or 60 years, according to Jayakody, are the country losing experienced members of the workforce; decline in the efficiency of the workforce due to the increase in inexperienced employees; decrease in workplace-friendly, efficient employees; the formation of a dependent senior citizen population that does not contribute anything to the country; and the formation of a senior citizen population that is not very physically and psychologically healthy.

EPF and retirementMarcus told The Morning that trade

unions had put forward suggestions to the National Labour Advisory Board regarding enacting laws to set a minimum age of retirement for private sector employees, taking into account the fact that there is no law in Sri Lanka pertaining to the age of retirement for them in particular.

He emphasised the need for such laws and regulations, highlighting that at present, private companies implement their own regulations regarding the minimum age of retirement, especially through specifying such regulations in letters of appointment and service contracts, as there is no law in the country specifically dealing with the matter. He also noted that the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Act, regardless of the age of retirement, states that women can obtain their EPF benefits at the age of 50 years, while men can do the same at the age of 55 years, and that it does not, however, specifically mean that an employee has to retire after or at that age.

Marcus added: “When that age for EPF benefits was determined, the average life expectancy of a person was considered as 50 to 60 years. However, now, a Sri Lankan’s life expectancy is estimated to be around 70 to 75 years. In this context, in the event an employee has to or decides to retire at the age of 50 and 55 years (as per the current practices), we have to pay attention to the question as to whether they have to live without a job and/or an income for another 20 to 25 years. Having a minimum age of retirement in place should not mean that an employee is strictly required to retire at that age. As a matter of fact, compared to other countries, it is only in a handful of countries including Sri Lanka that have workplace or industry policies requiring an employee to retire at the age of 50 to 55 years.”

Marcus, however, said that the minimum age of retirement for private sector employees should be optional, not mandatory, and that each employee should be given the opportunity and freedom to decide whether they want to retire at the age at which they become eligible to be entitled to EPF benefits. “We support this decision only on one condition. That is, it has to be optional. If an employee is willing to enjoy their EPF benefits at the age of 55 years, and is willing to continue to work until the minimum age of retirement stipulated by the law, they should be given the right to do so. Also, employers should not be able to say no to it. Since the circumstances under which different employees work differ, decisions have to be taken on a case-by-case basis,” he explained.

Marcus stressed that he is of the opinion that there should be no link between the age of retirement and the EPF benefits, and that the EPF Act should not be changed in the process of specifying the minimum age of retirement for private sector employees.

“In order to get EPF benefits, a letter of resignation should be submitted, but the situation should not be a case where an employer can say that an employee cannot enjoy EPF benefits because the law says that the employee can work until the age of 60 years,” he added.

Speaking on the same, Jayakody noted: “According to the EPF Act, even though female employees can chose to continue to work until the age of 55 years despite being eligible to retire and obtain EPF benefits at the age of 50 years, male employees can be eligible to get tier EPF benefits only after turning 55 years. Some employers tend to not allow female employees to continue to work when they get their EPF benefits at 55 years. However, most of the time, when employers do so, these employees are re-hired on a contract or temporary basis, and in most cases, they are not paid EPF during this period. Also, even if they found a job after retirement, those opportunities seem to depend on the employer’s sympathy and discretion, not on the employee’s knowledge, skills or the legal situation in that connection.”

Jayakody also pointed out the negative effects of having two different ages for an employee to be eligible to get EPF benefits and to retire. “Some employees may wish to get their EPF benefits at the age of 55 years, and if a legal retirement age of 60 years is imposed, male employees will have to wait until they turn 60 years in order to get their

EPF benefits. We should also take into consideration the fact that within a period of five years, the value of the rupee also depreciates, which may be disadvantageous to them.”

Employees vs. employersMarcus also raised concerns about

the employers’ negative response when the aforementioned legal changes were discussed.

“Employers opposed it. Companies and employers try to make employees retire at the age of 50 and 55 years, in order to recruit new employees, because young employees’ salaries are relatively lower. Even though employers don’t say it directly, this is the hidden reason behind the employers’ opposition. In many companies, senior citizens happen to be experienced employees and their salaries are relatively high. Instead of keeping old, experienced employees for a higher salary, recruiting new employees for a lower salary is advantageous to employers, because these new and young employees are not as experienced and therefore settle for lesser employees’ benefits. Most of the time, they are hired for trainee positions, which don’t involve higher salaries. We really cannot accept the argument that there is a lack of jobs for young employees,” Marcus explained.

To find out more about the employers’ stance with regard to the Government’s decision, The Morning attempted to contact the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), which is considered the national employers’ organisation; however, they were not reachable for an immediate comment.

However, speaking to The Morning earlier this year, then EFC Chairman Kanishka Weerasinghe said that one of the reasons the private sector expresses opposition to the idea of increasing the minimum age of retirement is due to the challenges faced by employers in recruiting younger people to the private sector. The burden of having to bear increased costs and the businesses’ ability to afford it, commercial cycles, and also organisational human resource requirements, are other reasons.

“Currently, youth unemployment is at 19% and young women account for around 26%. Hence, there is something wrong there. We need to attract younger people into companies, and that is not going to happen by prolonging the employment of the older generation,” he said.

Even though The Morning

attempted to contact Labour Commissioner General Prabath Chandrakeerthi, as well as the Labour Ministry to learn specific information about the above-mentioned proposed Bill, especially provisions that relate to employers, they were not reachable.

Minimum age of retirement in the world

Internationally, many countries in all continents have paid attention to increasing the retirement age of both public sector and private sector employees. As stated by the trade union leaders who spoke with The Morning, the two primary aims of doing so is to get the contribution of experienced employees to the national economy, and to reduce the burden of nations having to maintain unemployed senior citizens who become dependents when they are unemployed or when they have no income or savings whatsoever. Also, it is noteworthy that some countries, especially European countries, pay attention to this despite already having social security schemes or allowances for senior citizens.

While the current minimum age of retirement in most countries starts at 58 years and goes up to 75 years, most countries consider increasing it further. According to foreign sources, various countries plan to increase the minimum age of retirement by two to nine years within the next decade, i.e. by 2030.

However, most of these countries focus on getting the senior citizens’ contribution by giving them supervisory and advisory positions, to use their knowledge and experience, not positions that require physical strength. Moreover, international labour experts forecast that senior citizens’ contribution would be of immense importance in transforming and improving old workforce principles and practices, and thereby improve future national economic and employment goals.

As those who spoke with The Morning noted, increasing the minimum age of retirement of private sector employees entails several concerns that need to be addressed simultaneously, and there should be a way to ensure that employers also adhere to them. Therefore, perhaps, with the enactment of the said Bill, a social discourse should also be initiated to show employers innovative methods to use the knowledge and experiences of senior employees.

In a context where international experts have estimated that Sri Lanka’s senior citizens’ population is rising rapidly, ensuring the wellbeing of experienced senior citizens who can still contribute to the nation will be an ongoing process, which goes beyond merely enacting a law.

Retaining wisdom within the workplace

z Matters to consider when increasing the retirement age

Not only age of retirement, age of EPF

benefits and employers’ role should be considered: Anton Marcus

Early retirement creates a dependent senior citizen population:

Sylvester Jayakody

World focusing

on getting senior citizens’ contribution to national economy by giving suitable positions

International labour experts forecast that senior citizens’ contribution would be of immense importance in transforming and improving old workforce principles and practices

PHOTO © GETTY IMAGES

46

{ ECONOMY } � www.themorning.lk Thursday, October 14, 2021

BY JONATHAN BENEDICT

A few years ago, if you had mentioned the term “cryptocurrency”, people would have imagined a currency involving an illicit finance system, with hooded traders punching numbers behind some shady computers.

Today however, we read about it not only in the business sections of daily websites or financial publications, but on their front pages with global billionaires joining in on the trend. Entire sections of written scripts are now devoted to this new and emerging trend.

As cryptocurrency’s transformation from speculative investment to a balanced portfolio stablemate continues to gather pace, jurisdictions around the globe are scrambling to regulate this trend via legislation and regulations to allow or make it easier for companies to carry out initial coin offerings (ICO’s) or token issuances. Is “cryptocurrency” even the correct vernacular? Should it be “digital currency”? Or perhaps “virtual currency”?

The more poignant question however is, does this newfound, global fad deserve this level of attention? Should we even care this much? While it has remained something of an enigma to the Sri Lankan market, the fact is, following the fallout of the effects of a global pandemic, other means of income

generation have become somewhat of a desperate need. For decades, the nation has relied on the “old faithfuls” of foreign employment, tourism, and exports. However, with the shutting down of borders, the closure of tourist destinations and the subsequent repatriation of Sri Lankan nationals, the hit back on Sri Lankan forex earnings is virtually crippled.

The country still needs to go on. The foreign exchange reserves have steadily bled to keep the country afloat, limiting purchases to only essential commodities to feed 21 million people. Investment opportunities however reflect a hope. Call it dividends, interest, payback, or repayments; practically anything you want to, but in layman’s terms, hope! With the latest decision taken by the Government of Sri Lanka, hope seems to have been renewed to small-time players and those who have been brave enough to enter the world of the crypto. A Cabinet decision to establish a committee who will compose policy and regulations to approve crypto transactions has caught the finance

market by storm. So first, a few things to consider.

What is it again?Cryptocurrency is secure as it

has been digitally confirmed by a process called “mining”. It is the process of creating new crypto coins by solving complex mathematical equations. When a person invests in a cryptocurrency, the details of the investment are entered on a distributed ledger, called the blockchain. But the process is complete only when a “miner” verifies the transaction as legitimate. Once that is done, the transaction is locked into the blockchain for everyone to see and the transaction is complete.

This verification process requires miners to solve complex equations. They are in a race against each other to solve the problem. Those who do that first are paid a fraction of the transaction as a fee for their effort. Every successful transaction translates into new coins entering circulation.

Mining requires a working computer with an active telephone line for data transmission. The more computers you have, the more your capacity to mine. In short, electricity and data band up to translate into cryptocurrency.

Cryptocurrency – as blockchain-constructed programmes are meant to be – is completely decentralised. It is an economic-based blockchain, that translates to complete autonomy from any central bank or monetary authority. Maintained by a peer-to-peer community computer network made up of users’ machines or “nodes”, it remains free of bureaucracy, red tape, and human intervention.

A blockchain is in essence, a digital database, a distributed public ledger if you will, run via cryptography.

Note that while it is fundamentally anonymous, the mathematics behind it makes it a global public transaction ledger, so every transaction can ultimately be traced through cryptography.

Why is it so important?There are various types of

cryptocurrencies, but for the purposes of this piece, I’ll focus on easily the most popular and used; Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

Created by an entity called Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008, Bitcoin was the very first blockchain. (To this day we have no clue if Satoshi is a person, a group, or even an artificial intelligence!) Since inception, its value has exponentially soared to ridiculous levels. An increasing number of vendors and e-commerce merchants are adopting Bitcoin as an accepted mode of payment.

Ethereum is more like a Swiss Army knife which serves a provision of services on its own particular blockchain. These include built-in software programming languages which can be used to write things like smart contracts for many purposes, including the transfer and mining of its own tradeable digital token, Ether (which is even more complex than Bitcoin).

Transactions are fast, digital, secure, and worldwide, which in essence allow the maintenance of records without risk of data being pirated. Fraud is by all accounts, actually minimised.

Now to the “dodgy” element of cryptocurrency.

Why does it need regulation? Simple. Similar to stock trading

or foreign exchange margin trading, crypto is bought or sold depending on its performance. Just like stock exchange commissions the world-over regulate market activity and provide a sense of leadership to its practices, cryptocurrencies, once regulated, will prescribe the pathway for crypto companies, outlining the requirements for obtaining and maintaining a financial licence from the regulator. Compliance naturally boosts investor confidence and protection. In short, regulating it ensures global legitimacy and user confidence.

Prior to 25 December 2017, the cryptocurrency space went through a process called “mooning”. The crypto market crashed, losing approximately 20% of its entire global market cap.

Just after Christmas however, prices ballooned. It became absolutely the worst time to buy crypto.

In mid-January 2017, crypto exchanges crashed again, with prices, in Ethereum for instance, falling approximately 25%.

Subsequent headlines had regulators issuing “buyer beware” notices because of the volatility of the market combined with no checks and balances in the form of a regulator.

Investing in ICO’s and in cryptocurrencies is highly speculative and you stand to lose all your money, similar to the stock exchange. The sticking point is how cryptocurrency exchanges are unquestionably far more volatile than the stock markets.

Should I really care?JPMorgan Chase & Co., one of the

largest investment banks in the world collaborating with a cryptocurrency called ZCash is one of the latest examples of the progressive nature of this venture. In order for JPMorgan to retain its standing in the Securities Exchange Commission of America, stringent anti money-laundering checks need to be placed.

The US Marshals Service is tasked with periodically auctioning off Bitcoins owned by none other than the US Government itself. Mined currency is auctioned off for profit. As of 7 September 2021, El Salvador has recognised Bitcoin as a legal tender that can be used in transactions.

With the Government of Sri Lanka taking lead on this, the market now opens up for financial transactions that affect the Government including the option to earn. In a country with 365 days of sun and surrounded by ocean translating to solar and real estate conducive to wind power generation, Sri Lanka is primed to be positioned as a mega miner of cryptocurrency on godlike-levels compared to regional counterparts. The Government will in essence be able to manufacture its own money without passing it through a printing press. Citizens will be able to transact locally and internationally, thereby opening the floodgates of foreign exchange into the local money markets.

This creates a paradigm shift in the thought process that maybe the Sri Lankan economy can survive past foreign employment, tourism, and export – all of which are a national treasure, until the next pandemic hits. This is cutting-edge innovation and technology which has already illustrated its ability to fundamentally disrupt the global financial system. Sri Lanka being no stranger to that notion will not be left behind. Through the latest cabinet decision on this development, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has made sure of that.

(The writer is an LLB qualified professional serving in the corporate

sector)The views and opinions expressed

in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect

those of this publication.

Sri Lanka going

BigCoin

BY ICRA SRI LANKA

For 2022, the Appropriation Bill – the first step of the national budget process – has been tabled in the Parliament, and the Second Reading is set for 12 November 2021, followed by parliamentary debates. Given the current challenges faced by the country, the Bill has invoked great interest and discussions among politicians and the general public.

This article presents ICRA Lanka’s initial observations with regard to the aggregate expenditure allocations of First Schedule (i.e., the expenditure of General Services of the Government) and the Second Schedule (i.e., expenditure of the Government, authorised by law, which should be charged to the Consolidated Fund) of the Bill.

We caution readers that approved allocations of the individual Spending Units (SUs) may vary from the original Bill.

Our observations y Decline in total expenditure achieved at the expense of capital spending: The total expenditure earmarked for 2022 stands at around Rs. 4 trillion, a marginal decline of about Rs. 30 billion from the approved allocations for 2021. This reduction comes at the expense of the overall capital expenditure allocation (-20%), which is critical for the long-term growth of the economy. In addition, over Rs. 384 billion has been taken off from 54 SUs to finance

the expenditure increase of other 25 SUs

y Capital-heavy ministries take capex cuts while personnel-heavy ministries get boost for recurrent expenditure: Notable decline in capital expenditure allocations were observed in Highways (-Rs. 100 billion) and Water Supply (-Rs. 69 billion), ministries with generally heavy capex spending. On the other hand, ministries with large workforces, such as Finance, Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and Defence, collectively saw their recurrent expenditure allocations move up by Rs. 214 billion

y Allocation of defence and security-related SUs strengthened: When the allocations in the Second Schedule are excluded, the Ministry of Defence emerges as the SU with the largest budget allocation, overtaking the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils, and Local Government. The jump in allocations from 2021 is quite notable (+21%). The largest portion of the recurrent expenditure is earmarked to be spent on the operational activities

of the Sri Lanka Army (Rs. 181 billion). The rest of the security-related ministries have been allocated Rs. 117 billion for 2022

y Overall health-related allocation increased by nearly Rs. 7 billion: The current pandemic is likely to turn into an endemic, where the Government may have to bear considerable costs year-long due to relatively higher utilisation of public health facilities, containment measures,

and vaccination programmes, including booster shots.

Rs. 156 billion has been allocated for two traditional ministries related to health, a 4% decline from 2021. However, total health-related

expenditure will move up by nearly

Rs. 7 billion with the allocation of funds under the

State Ministry of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and Covid Disease Control

y Total expenditure allocation on education contracts by Rs. 6 billion: The Ministry of Education is being allocated Rs. 128 billion; a marginal expansion of 1% compared to 2021. This expansion is a result of an increase in recurrent expenditure, which has risen by nearly Rs. 3 billion. However, aggregate allocations for education-related ministries have contracted by over Rs. 6 billion (-4%)

y Increase in organic fertiliser allocation financed by reductions in the budgets of minor agri-ministries: Total allocation earmarked for 2022 for agriculture-related ministries (including irrigation) was Rs. 133 billion. This is about 13% decrease from 2021 allocations, but more-or-less in line with 2020 spending. Adoption of organic fertiliser is currently one of the priority items in the Government’s agenda. The specific ministry responsible for this task has received a sizable allocation of Rs. 46 billion, an increase of Rs. 10 billion from 2021. This increase is financed by cutting individual allocations of all the minor agri ministries by over 20%

y Plantation-related allocations fall below norm: The plantation sector is a key contributor to export revenues of the country at the moment. It is imperative that the Government keep supporting the industry to achieve envisaged improvements in yields and quality. However, aggregate allocations for plantation-related ministries have gone down by about Rs. 4 billion (-35%). Even in comparison to 2020, these allocations can be deemed below the norm

y Trade spending to be on par with 2020 levels: The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is the key Ministry responsible for promoting industrial

development in the country. It could play a pivotal role in assisting economic growth and facilitating employment creation. However, the Ministry has received only Rs. 5 billion, which is a reduction of 21% in comparison to what the Ministry received in 2021, almost on par with 2020 levels

y Tourism receives lowest allocation in five years: Tourism holds an important role in the economy due to its ability to generate forex revenue and create jobs. With gradual reopening of international borders, tourism is expected to make a comeback in 2022. Allocation for the Ministry of Tourism was halved to Rs. 923 million, lowest since 2016. The Government increased capital expenditure of the Ministry substantially in 2021 (from Rs. 288 million in 2020 to Rs. 1 billion in 2021), and it has been drastically brought down to Rs. 245 million in 2022

y Number of grassroot-level development interventions in 2022 may see a decline: Capital expenditure cuts in ministries such as Public Services, Provincial Councils, and Local Government (-Rs. 18 billion), the State Ministry of Rural and School Sports Infrastructure Improvement (-Rs. 262 million), the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing (-Rs. 9 billion) etc. may deliver a

relatively a smaller number of small-scale development projects in 2022.

y Somewhat lower level of spending expected on welfare and social development: Legacy of pandemic may leave an elevated level of poverty, especially among rural communities. We observe some sizable cuts in allocations of welfare and social development-oriented ministries such as the State Ministry of Samurdhi Household Economy, Micro-finance, Self Employment and Business Development (-Rs. 10 billion).

y Allocations for industries plummet, risks sector development: Development of the industries is a critical need of the hour due to the fragile state of the economy. However, a number of ministries related to this saw the allocations fall below even 2020 levels. Collectively, the allocations of these ministries are brought down almost by half for 2022.

(ICRA Lanka Ltd. is a credit rating agency licensed by

the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka [SEC], and is a fully owned subsidiary of

ICRA Ltd. of India)The views and opinions

expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this

publication.

Initial observations on Sri Lanka’s 2022 Appropriation Bill

BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY

Guidelines that take into consideration both patients’ rights and public safety should be formulated with regard to drivers that are patients with mental disorders, noted a local study.

This proposal was made by M. Chandradasa (attached to the Kelaniya University’s Medical Faculty’s Psychiatry Department), and L. Champika, M. Amarasuriya, P. Wijelakshman, S. Bandara, T. Ranaweera and L. Fernando (all attached to the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama) in a brief report on “A comparative study of subjective experiences related to driving among outpatient psychotropic users and controls in Ragama” which was published in the Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry’s Seventh Volume’s First Issue in June 2016.

Background Psychiatric disorders

or the treatment given for psychiatric illnesses may cause difficulties, as noted in “Driving skills in un-medicated first aid and recurrent episode schizophrenic (a chronic and severe mental disorder and illness involving psychosis, characterised by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behaviour, with hallucinations and delusions being experienced) patients” by F.M. Segmiller, V. Buschert, G. Laux, N. Nedopil, U. Palm, K. Furjanic, P. Zwanzger and A. Brunnauer, in driving. This is because, as U. Gerhard and V. Hobi pointed out in “Cognitive psychomotor functions with regard to fitness for driving of psychiatric patients treated with neuroleptics (antipsychotics) and antidepressants”, psychotropic medications may affect visual, cognitive, and motor skills.

Such hindrances arise from medication with anticholinergic properties (drugs that block the action of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger, that transfers signals between certain cells to affect how one’s body functions) that may cause blurred vision; antipsychotics that may impair cognitive function, while J.D. Nijs, K. Zoun and GROUP Investigators noted in “The association between cognitive deficits and different outcomes of schizophrenia”

that schizophrenia too impairs cognitive abilities; and similar medication that affects motor skills, as L.L. Judd explained in “The effect of antipsychotic drugs on driving and driving related psychomotor functions” that stiffness and tremors also result from such medication, while A.M. Crizzle, S. Classen and E.Y. Uc’s “Parkinson disease and driving: An evidence based review” and H. Devos, A. Nieuwboer, W. Vandenberghe, M. Tant, W.D. Weerdt, and E.Y. Uc’s “On road driving impairments in Huntington disease (a rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown or degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and impacts functional abilities and results in movement, thinking and psychiatric disorders)” added that both Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease impairs motor skills.

Furthermore, in “Auditory verbal hallucinations reflect stable auditory attention deficits: A prospective study”, E.M. Loberg, H.A. Jorgensen, R.A. Kroken, and E. Johnson noted that perceptual abnormalities including auditory and other hallucinations may be associated with impaired attention. Almost all categories of medications acting on the central nervous system such as anxiolytics (anti-anxiety drugs), antipsychotics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and benzodiazepines (tranquilisers) can adversely influence and affect the driving ability and capacity, as per “Road traffic accidents and psychotropic medication use in the Netherlands: A case control study” by S. Ravera, N.V. Rein, J.J.D. Gier and L.T.D.J.V.D. Berg, “Effects of oxcarbazepine and carbamazepine (anticonvulsants) on driving ability: A double blind, randomised crossover trial with healthy volunteers” by Y. Kaussner, R.Kenntner-Mabiala, S. Hoffmann, J. Klatt, F. Tracik, and H.P. Kruger, and “Lorazepam (a benzodiazepine) impairs highway driving performance

more than heavy alcohol consumption” by A. Daurat, P. Sagaspe, L. Motak, J. Taillard, L. Bayssac, N. Huet, C. Authie, D. Mestre and P. Philip.

Therefore, Chandradasa et al. pointed out that the clinician who prescribes such medication which can have a potential impact on driving has an obligation to inform the client regarding the possible dangers including that the patient may have to stop driving for a certain period.

According to the regulations contained in the National Transport Medical Institute’s guidelines, a person who is suffering from a psychiatric disorder may have to be assessed by a psychiatrist prior to the issuing of the licence.

A. Rodrigo, D. Perera, V.P. Eranga, M.U. Peiris and A. Pathmeswaran’s “Road rage in Sri Lanka: Prevalence and psychiatric distress” found that Sri Lankan drivers reported a high prevalence of road rage and significant associated psychological distress.

Study Hence,

Chandradasa et al., conducted a study at the psychiatry outpatient clinic of the Ragama Teaching Hospital using a retrospective cohort study design and a convenient sample of patients diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder (a severe and persistent mental and psychological illness characterised by periods of severe and intense mood alterations

and swings, specifically deep, prolonged, and profound depression that alternate with periods of excessively elevated or irritable mood known as mania, and changes in thinking and behaviour) with psychotic symptoms, and such patients using at least one antipsychotic and who had driven regularly (at least once a week) during the last 12 months. An age, gender, and vehicle-matched control group was obtained from the non-patient, non-staff drivers visiting the Ragama Hospital. A semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect the data.

Out of a total of 2,887 consecutive clinic patients, 57 (1.9%) had driven a vehicle regularly during the last 12 months. The control group also included 57 participants. All drivers were men, as no female patients were driving regularly. A majority were in the age category of 30 to 45 years (47%), followed by 26% each in the 45 to 60 years and 18 to 30 years age categories. Motorbike riders were the commonest (53%) followed by

three-wheeler drivers (37%) and car drivers (5%).

Among the patients, the majority drove on average for one to five hours (53%) per week. Regarding the distance travelled on average per week while driving, 37% reported having covered 50 to 100 kilometres (km) and 26% covered 10 to 50 km. The reported average earning per day via driving was Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 in 27% and Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 in 26%. Schizophrenia was the diagnosis in 53% and the rest had bipolar affective disorder with psychotic symptoms. Psychotropics such as olanzapine (atypical antipsychotic) was prescribed for 42% and risperidone (atypical antipsychotic) in 31%.

Clinically detectable extra pyramidal symptoms were seen among 31%. Day time sedation and blurred vision were reported by 32% and 11%, respectively. A total of 21% claimed that they had to drive despite difficulties so as to earn a living. A total of 11% believed that their driving had improved with medication. At least one collision accident (with another vehicle or pedestrian or property) was experienced by 24 (42%) of the study group compared to 13 (23%) of the control group during the last 12 months. This difference occurred despite the higher hours of driving reported for the control group compared to the patient group. This finding could have been influenced, Chandradasa et al., observed, by the conditions of the road and the vehicle and the time of driving.

The mean average hours of driving per week, for the two groups were 5.17 and 8.67 hours, respectively. The cost of damages due to collision accidents ranged from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 150,000 in both groups. Compared

to the control group, there was a statistically significant reduction in the subjectively claimed earning per day in the study group.

In “Driving and epilepsy (affects the brain and causes frequent seizures) in Sri Lanka” by S.L. Seneviratne, S.B. Gunatilake, A.A. Adhikari and H.J. De Silva, 24.8% patients with epilepsy were found to be driving a vehicle. Hence, Chandradasa et al. noted that when comparing the values of the latter study with the instant study, it suggested a potential difference between psychiatric patients and patients with a chronic medical disorder.

The patients on psychotropics driving for a statistically significant lower number of hours per week and on average, earning less per day when compared to the control group, could be due to the effects of the illness or medications, or secondary to stigma associated with mental disorders where negative attitudes towards mental illness contribute toward exclusion from employment (Segmiller et al., Gerhard and Hobi, Judd, Nijs et al., and “Mental illness, poverty and stigma in India: A case control study” by J.F. Trani, P. Bakhshi, J. Kuhlberg, S.S. Narayanan, H. Venkataraman, N.N. Mishra, N.E. Groce, S. Jadhav and S. Deshpande).

Chandradasa et al. concluded that the higher rate of at least one collision accident among the patients, should alert the clinicians regarding potential dangers related to driving, noting that therefore, mental health professionals in collaboration with government policymakers and researchers, should formulate local guidelines in this regard and also use advanced technology to study how psychiatric illness and treatment may affect driving.

Formulate guidelines for drivers with

mental issues: Study z Patients report daytime sedation, blurred vision, driving despite difficulties to earn a living

4

{ MENTAL HEALTH } � www.themorning.lk

7

Thursday, October 14, 2021

The patients on psychotropics

driving for a statistically

significant lower number of hours

per week and on average, earning less

per day when compared to the

control group, could be due to the effects

of the illness or medications, or secondary

to stigma associated with

mental disorders where negative

attitudes towards mental

illness contribute toward

exclusion from employment

48

{ PICTORIAL/WORLD } � www.themorning.lk Thursday, October 14, 2021

Energy Ministry...

When contacted by The Morning, Energy Ministry Secretary K.D.R. Olga said: “The CPC and LIOC have made requests to increase fuel prices. Therefore, considering these requests, we have requested the Finance Ministry to provide some relief to these two companies to supply fuel at the existing prices.” When queried as to what kind of concession the companies expect, she said that the concession would most probably be a revision of the tax rates. “However, taxes on fuel imports and taxes charged by the Customs have been revised on a number of occasions over the past two years and they are now in an unchangeable state,” she noted.

However, when questioned as to whether there has been any response to the request made by the Energy Ministry from the Finance Ministry, Olga added that no such response has been received so far. She added that she had learnt that the Finance Ministry is still discussing the matter. Speaking further, she said that compared to the fuel prices in the world market at the time of the last revision of the fuel prices in June 2021, the current world market prices have increased significantly.

Meanwhile, when queried about the current status of the Energy Ministry’s discussions with certain countries to purchase fuel under long-term credit facilities, Olga said that it was still under discussion. “Those talks are not over yet, because agreements need to be made, their terms need to be negotiated, and the Attorney General (AG) needs to clear the agreements. Therefore, those matters are currently being discussed.”

The CPC has recently requested the Government to increase the price of fuel, considering the current situation. Speaking at a recent media briefing, CPC Chairman Sumith Wijesinghe claimed that the CPC had incurred a loss of Rs. 70 billion as of 31 August 2021. “Today, the CPC incurs a loss of Rs. 14.56 per litre of petrol and the loss on diesel has increased by Rs. 31.46. What the CPC should do in this kind of a situation is to increase the fuel prices,” he said.

Commenting on this, Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila also said that he wishes to discuss the proposed increase

in fuel prices with the Cabinet of Ministers.

Finance Ministry and Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle was not available for comment.

Another...This application comes a few days

after a similar application was filed at the Vavuniya HC on 6 October by the legal representation of three prisoners who are being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979 as amended (PTA) at the Anuradhapura Prison, seeking an order to summon Ratwatte over being in alleged contempt of court in connection with the said incident. Attorney-at-Law (AAL) K.S. Ratnavel, representing a detainee, who is alleged to have been threatened by Ratwatte, told The Morning yesterday that a case was being heard in the Mannar HC against the accused under the PTA. He added that while the case has been ongoing for a few years, the Mannar HC had ordered that the accused be held at the Anuradhapura Prison.

“We have made one submission for Ratwatte to be charged over committing the offence of contempt of court. In that, we have noted that this prisoner was committed to prison by the order of the Mannar HC and that anything affecting him would therefore be interfering with the judicial procedures,” Ratnavel said.

Another submission they have made is for Ratwatte to be charged for allegedly committing offences and serious crimes under the Penal Code, namely, attempted murder and torture, which are also offences punishable under the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) Act No. 22 of 1994 as amended.

Meanwhile, adding that a judge or a parliamentarian can only go to visit a prison between 5.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. under the Prisons Ordinance, Ratnavel claimed that Ratwatte however, had gone to the Anuradhapura Prison on that day after 6 p.m. “Accordingly, he has violated the Prisons Ordinance and also compelled the prison officials to act in violation of it by taking these prisoners out of the cells. Therefore, in the application, we requested that action be taken in this regard as well,” he added.

In the application, they have also requested that the said accused be

transferred from the Anuradhapura Prison to the Jaffna Prison as the said incident could endanger his life. However, the accused was, according to Ratnavel, not allowed to be transferred to the Jaffna Prison and was instead ordered to be given maximum security inside the Anuradhapura Prison.

The application also requested to conduct an inquiry into the incident on 12 September by summoning the relevant Superintendent of the Anuradhapura Prison and other Prisons Department officials. The Mannar HC has then ordered the Prisons Commissioner General (CG) to submit a report on the incident to the Mannar HC on 30 November 2021, the next court date.

The said application has been supported by AAL S. Thanikumar.

On 12 September 2021, an inebriated and pistol-brandishing Ratwatte had flown in a helicopter to the Anuradhapura Prison, where he had allegedly summoned a group of Tamil political prisoners detained under the PTA (reports state between eight to 16 such prisoners), and ordered them to kneel, and had proceeded to threaten two of them at point blank range, telling them to accept their offence/s and to submit to authority. Prior to this incident, on 6 September, Ratwatte had, together with a group of friends, also under the influence of liquor, allegedly forcibly entered the Welikada Prison premises after 6 p.m. and proceeded to view the gallows. As per Section 39 of the Prisons Ordinance, an MP who wishes to pay a visit to a prison can only do so between the hours of 5.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m.

The Prisons Department, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, and the Criminal Inves t igat ions Depar tment (CID) have since commenced investigations into the incidents, whilst Justice Minister, President’s Counsel M.U.M. Ali Sabry appointed HC Judge (Retd.) Kusala Sarojani Weerawardena to independently inquire into the incidents. Ratwatte resigned from the post of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation State Minister on 15 September, and he is claimed to have, as per a Tweet by the President’s Spokesman, accepted responsibility for the incidents at the Welikada and Anuradhapura Prisons. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the same Tweet mentioned, had accepted the said resignation. However, in subsequent statements made to the media, Ratwatte, who remains the Gem and Jewellery-Related Industries State Minister, had denied all allegations made against him.

Contd. from page 1

Indian Chief of Army Staff Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane, who is on a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka, yesterday (13) made a number of high-profile visits, including to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees, Ministry of Defence Secretary Gen. (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne at the Defence Ministry premises, and also Sri Lanka Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva at the Army Headquarters, where the visiting four-star General was awarded a fitting welcome by the Sri Lankan troops

PHOTOS © SRI LANKA ARMY

WHEN COMMANDERS CONVENE

NOT FORGOTTEN

A memorial service was held at the Gangarama Viharaya, Colombo on Tuesday (12) in memory of all those who died due to Covid-19PHOTOS PRADEEP DAMBARAGE

BY BRAD LENDON

China’s increased military activity in the Taiwan Strait may have grabbed all the

headlines in recent weeks, but thousands of miles to the West, another simmering territorial dispute on the country’s borders looks more likely to boil over first.

Just 16 months ago, Chinese and Indian troops fought a deadly hand-to-hand battle in the Himalayas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the ill-defined de facto border between the two nuclear powers.

And now, tensions appear to be rising again.

According to unverified reports, troops from both sides have been briefly detained by the other, as military positions are fortified and talks to de-escalate the situation seem at an impasse.

In 1962, India and China went to war over the remote, inhospitable border regions high in the mountains, eventually establishing the LAC. But the two countries do not agree on its precise location and both regularly accuse the other of overstepping it, or seeking to expand their territory. Since then, they have had a series of mostly non-lethal scuffles over the position of the border – until the June 2020 clash, the deadliest on the LAC in more than 40 years.

After that battle, in which at least 20 Indian and four Chinese troops were killed, respective military leaders have held face-to-face talks to dampen lingering tensions.

The 13th of those meetings was held

last Sunday (10) – and it didn’t end well. Earlier discussions had made some progress in calming the border, but a statement from the Indian Defense Ministry on Monday (11) accused China of no longer co-operating.

“The Indian side pointed out that the situation along the LAC had been caused by unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo and in violation of the bilateral agreements,” the statement said.

“The Indian side therefore made constructive suggestions for resolving the remaining areas but the Chinese side was not agreeable and also could not provide any forward-looking proposals,” it added.

Beijing sees the situation differently.“China has made great efforts to

promote the easing and cooling of the border situation and fully demonstrated its sincerity in order to maintain the overall situation of the relations between the two militaries. However, India still insisted on the unreasonable and unrealistic demands, which made

the negotiations more difficult,” said a statement from People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theatre Command Spokesperson Col. Long Shaohua.

An extensive article in China’s State-run Global Times tabloid ratcheted up the rhetoric, accusing India of “triggering new incidents along the eastern section of the border”.

After reports earlier this year that real progress was being made, including satellite photos showing China dismantling border garrisons, the Himalayan flashpoint has largely fallen off the world’s radar – even more so given the recent focus on Taiwan.

But over the past few weeks, both Indian and Chinese media have run stories about the unverified fresh confrontations along the LAC, all of which have reportedly been resolved peacefully.

Global Times said the unverified encounters had strained relations along the border.

(CNN)

The territorial dispute between two superpowers

z An analysis of the standoff between India and China An Indian Army convoy travels through Zoji La, a high mountain pass bordering China in Ladakh, India

PHOTO © CNN

A MOMENT OF COLOUR

A Navarathri Pooja ceremony was held at Temple Trees yesterday (13) with the participation of Prime Minister (PM) Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Member of Parliament Dr. Subramaniam Swamy, who is on an official visit to Sri Lanka at the PM’s request

BY SHENAL FERNANDO

Despite the recent price hike of cement, the cement shortage in the local market is expected to continue

for at least another two months, according to industry sources.

Speaking to The Morning Business, Lanka Ready-mix Concrete Association (LCRA) Chairman Anura Vithanage claimed that there are about 300 ready-mix concrete companies in Sri Lanka who are all facing dire circumstances due to the shortage of cement in the local markets.

Withanage further stated: “Prior to the current shortage, my monthly requirement was about 1,000 tonnes. However, I can barely get 500 tonnes now. It doesn’t matter if you have money, there is no cement in the market.”

Explaining further, he claimed: “According to cement suppliers,

when they open LCs (letters of credit) for cement imports, they are granted approval only for a limited amount. Where once a ship would bring about 4,000-5,000 tonnes of cement, now when a LC is opened,

approval will be granted for only about 2,000 tonnes. From these limited stocks of cement, the cement suppliers will give priority to their continuous cement buyers.”

Contd. on page 10

businessThursday, October 14, 2021 � www.themorning.lk

9

Cement shortage to continue till end of the year

z Forex liquidity issue main cause

z Industry says banks have limited LCs

z Ready-mix concrete industry to collapse if Govt. does not intervene

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In a major step towards supporting the private sector in Sri Lanka amidst a significant economic downturn, IFC issued its first-ever rupee-denominated bond in the country.

The bond – called the “Serendib Bond” – is a significant milestone towards ensuring that the private-sector has access to long-term offshore financing in local currency, while hedging foreign exchange risks, at a critical time, IFC noted in a statement yesterday (13).

The involvement of triple A-rated issuers, such as IFC, in introducing the Sri Lankan rupee to international capital markets will help create a benchmark for future rupee issuance, and provide offshore investors the ability to gain exposure to the currency.

“IFC’s first rupee-denominated bond in Sri Lanka comes at a critical time – in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic – and will be significant in contributing to support the development of a more resilient, efficient,

and inclusive financial sector,” said IFC Regional Director for South Asia Hector Gomez Ang. “With this landmark transaction, we aim to encourage the private sector to invest in the future of the country, paving the way for job creation and inclusive and sustainable growth.”

Proceeds from IFC’s $ 5 million equivalent bond will finance Sunshine Consumer Lanka Ltd., a subsidiary of Sunshine Holdings PLC. The investment will support the

domestic confectionary supply chain and help strengthen the overall competitiveness of the country’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.

“IFC’s partnership will allow us to grow further through diversification of our businesses and expand our presence in the consumer goods sector,” said Sunshine Holdings PLC Group Managing Director Vish Govindasamy.

Contd. on page 10

IFC issues first LKR-denominated bond z $ 5 m equivalent Serendib Bond issued for Sunshine Consumer z Paves way for local currency offshore funding: IFC

In a recently released report, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate to be around 3.6% this year from the previous forecast of 4% with uncertainties that have arisen with the global emergency situation.

Meanwhile, the IMF has predicted the global economic outlook to grow by 5.9% this year and 4.9% next year, as the pandemic continues to prevail.

Explaining the global outlook, IMF Economic Counsellor and Director of Research Department Gita Gopinath stated: “There are risks. (I think) the risks are

because we (IMF) are seeing more supply-side shocks as opposed to demand-side shocks because of the breakdowns in the supply chains, because of the rise in commodity prices, and also because of the pandemic, but also weather-related events. Both of those contribute to the kinds of firms facing shortages and because of those shortages, they are producing less.”

Issuing a communiqué in September, on releasing National Accounts Estimates, the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) stated that the year-over-year (YoY) GDP growth rate for the second quarter of 2021 has

been estimated as a 12.3% positive growth rate. This positive growth comes against the backdrop of a 16.4% contraction in the economy reported in the second quarter of last year.

In addition, the GDP for Sri Lanka for the second quarter of 2021 at the current price has increased up to Rs. 3,626,482 million from Rs. 3,007,345 million, which was recorded in the second quarter of 2020, registering a 20.6% change in the current price GDP.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) noted that the Sri Lankan economy has grown by 8% in the first half of this year.

IMF cuts SL growth rate after Covid-19 surge

z Forecasts 3.6% from previous 4% for 2021

z May and August waves take toll on economy

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) made an order yesterday (13), granting permission to Swarnamahal Financial Services PLC (SFSP) to allow the resumption of business for a period of six months.

A statement issued by the Department of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions yesterday (13) stated that this aforesaid permission is with effect from 13 October 2021, in absorbing the company to the “Master Plan for Consolidation of Non-Bank Financial Institutions Sector”.

The Panel of Management (Panel) appointed by the Monetary Board was authorised to

continue managing the affairs of SFSP while directors of SFSP are to carry out only the functions that are to be authorised by the Director of the Department of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions and/or the Panel.

Contd. on page 10

Swarnamahal Financial Services permitted business for six months

Following the inquiry made by Sri Lanka Tourism on the US tourist who complained on his YouTube channel about returning back to his country merely after a few

hours after arriving in Sri Lanka, it was found that he had got the cab booking date wrong.

The widely circulated YouTube video by a US

tourist claimed that his pre-booked rental vehicle not being available to arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) led him to, in frustration, cancel his tour of the island and return to Istanbul.

Contd. on page 10

SLTDA says US tourist got booking date wrong

z Investigations find tourist did not contact rental company for assistance

BY SHENAL FERNANDO

Ceylon Hotels Corporation PLC (CHOT) has by corporate disclosure dated 12 October announced that its subsidiary Ceylon Hotels Maldives (Pvt.) Ltd. (CHML) has entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement to sell its stake

in Handuvaru Ocean Holidays (Pvt.) Ltd. for $ 4.5 million.

Under the conditional sale and purchase agreement, CHML agreed to transfer its 50% stake in Handuvaru Ocean Holidays to China Travel International Investment Hong Kong Ltd. The conclusion

of the sale and the eventual transfer of CHML’s stake is subject to due diligence and satisfaction of certain conditions precedent.

According to a 2018 corporate disclosure by CHOT, Handuvaru Ocean Holidays was a joint venture between CHML and Zhen

Hua Engineering Company, a group company of China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd., which is the current developer of the Colombo Port City Project.

Handuvaru Ocean Holidays, which is incorporated in Malaysia, owns the leasing rights of Anbara Island in Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives. Under the aforesaid

joint venture, CHML and Zhen Hua Engineering Company agreed to develop an 85-100-room resort on Ambara Island, involving an approximated investment of $ 50 million.

CHML is a fully owned subsidiary of United Hotels Co. Ltd. and CHOT owns 67.5% of United Hotels Co. Ltd.

Ceylon Hotels divests stake in Handuvaru Ocean Holidays z Enters into sale and purchase agreement for $ 4.5 m

US tourist George

Industrial Asphalts (Ceylon) PLC (ASPH) has, by a corporate disclosure dated 13 October, announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hiin Holdings Pte. Ltd. of Singapore.

Under the MoU, ASPH and Hiin Holdings will seek to work together in studying and understanding the current and future business opportunities in the bitumen space encompassing Sri Lanka and the South Asian region.

According to ASPH, this MoU shall enable the creation

of the required platform to explore the possibility of establishing a joint venture (JV) company.

ASPH is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of bituminous products and distribution of a specialist range of surface coatings and industrial chemicals. However, ASPH observed an 82.6% year-over-year (YoY) decrease in revenue from its bitumen segment during the financial year ended 31 March 2021 as a consequence of the challenging business landscape due to Covid-19.

Hiin Holdings is East

Asia’s leading asphalt and fuel supplier and logistics provider. Hiin Holding’s capabilities are enforced through a fully integrated supply chain that synergises strong business networks with a comprehensive suite of logistical capabilities that includes their fleet of asphalt and fuel tankers, in-land oil terminals, and other in-land distribution

This enables Hiin Holdings to support complex and large-scale shipments, especially those in the most remote locations.

Contd. on page 10

Industrial Asphalts enters into MoU with Singaporean firm

z MoU to facilitate exploration into bitumen business opportunities

Sri Lanka was ranked among “The Best Countries to Travel to”, as voted for by Condé Nast Traveller’s readers, in the Condé Nast 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. It was published on the Condé Nast Traveller website following their recent survey, to which over 800,000 responded with their preferences.

Condé Nast Traveller, the travel publication, opens readers to submit their vote for the destinations and experiences they recommend.

“The rise in awareness has spurred a renewed interest in Sri Lanka over the last few years. This is no coincidence and is the result of strategic efforts by Sri Lana Tourism to give the island greater visibility both through traditional avenues and by increasing the island’s digital footprint,” said Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando. She added: “These strategic efforts, especially a focus on key source markets, have enabled us to tell rich and engaging stories about Sri Lanka and in doing so, show the world that we have so much more to offer, beyond our beautiful beaches and a tropical setting. Marketing the island as a niche destination for a more exclusive audience allows for a sustainable model of tourism, one that will ensure a huge influx of visitors once borders reopen, while also giving the industry a strong foundation and a decisive vision to work towards.”

Contd. on page 10

Sri Lanka among Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards

410 business{ CORPORATE/NEWS } � www.themorning.lk � www.themorning.lk Thursday, October 14, 2021

Cement...“Consequently, there is no cement available

for the normal consumer.” According to him, the current cement

shortage is expected to continue for at least another two months until sufficient stocks are imported. However, in the interim, if measures are not taken to rectify the current shortage of cement in the local market, the ready-mix concrete industry will inevitably collapse in short order.

He further pointed out that this situation has been exacerbated by the recent price hike of cement, which has imposed further burdens on the ready-mix concrete industry.

Speaking to The Morning Business, LCRA Secretary Tissa Mallawarachchi reiterated that there is a shortage of bulk cement in the local market and that it is expected to continue for at least another two months, and that the primary cause for the shortage is the lack of dollars.

According to him, another reason for the scarcity present in the market is due to the low quality of raw materials produced in the countries from which Sri Lanka used to import earlier. For example, if the quality standard doesn’t meet the requirement of the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLS), then importers are not permitted to import cement.

This shortage of cement in Sri Lanka has been a persistent problem for several months owing to raw material prices increasing by over 30% together with high shipping costs. Moreover, since cement was subjected to a maximum retail price (MRP) in Sri Lanka, cement companies were unable to increase the price when the costs of the raw materials increased drastically.

However, last week, the Government removed its price controls on several goods, including cement, after which the price of a 50 kg cement bag was increased by Rs. 93. However, it appears that despite this price hike, owing to the local forex liquidity issues,

the shortage in cement will likely prevail until the end of the year.

IFC issues...“We are also happy to be a part of IFC’s first

Serendib Bond which protects our business from exchange rate volatility as well as any increase in interest rates, while giving us access to foreign credit markets to grow the business.”

This project is a classic example of IFC’s strategy of developing the bond market and making international financing available.

In November 2019, IFC issued the first-ever inaugural Taka Bangla Bond in the London Stock Exchange, raising the international profile of the Bangladeshi currency – taka.

IFC has been an important issuer of capital market instruments in local currencies, an issuer of green and other labelled bonds, and has supported clients in accessing the capital markets as an anchor investor in new issuances that help bridge the financing gap in emerging markets.

IFC has issued bonds in about 80 local emerging market currencies – from Armenian dram to Uzbek som and Zambian kwacha.

Swarnamahal...However, the CBSL informed that SFSP

has not been permitted to carry on any finance business or other business except executing the aforementioned process.

Accordingly, the general public is requested to refrain from placing deposits or engaging in any other business with SFSP in any manner, other than settlement of contractual obligations to SFSP.

All debtors or any other parties who have payables to SFSP are advised to settle their contractual obligations to SFSP on time, only through the bank accounts under the name of Swarnamahal Financial Services PLC, and to maintain records as evidence for all payments

in order to avoid any possible litigation against them for non-repayment of dues.

This granting of permission was made under the terms of Section 31 (5) (a) of the Finance Business Act No. 42 of 2011 (FBA).

SLTDA says...In a detailed report from the car rental

company, it is stated that the booking for transportation had been made via a third-party website and was in fact for 6 October 2021 and not 7 October 2021, on which date, George, the tourist, arrived in the country. The inquiry revealed that the car rental company had sent a representative who had spent the day within the airport on 6 October, awaiting the traveller and had gone back to the base station, which is located just five minutes from the airport terminal.

Further, tourism industry veterans find it strange that a visitor fluent in English, on arrival, did not contact the car rental company, from which he had booked transport, which also has a vehicle station within five minutes’ distance from the airport terminal, and did not request for an alternative vehicle or in any other way try to request assistance from within the airport.

The visitor also had the opportunity to speak to any one of the staff of the car rental companies, which have counters that are manned 24 hours, for the convenience of visitors arriving without pre-arranged transport and who would have gladly assisted him to proceed to his chosen accommodation and location. However, the visitor seems to be a seasoned traveller coming from San Francisco via Mexico City, Cancun, Istanbul, and the Maldives to Sri Lanka.

An official from the Tourism Ministry told The Morning Business that a report on this matter is due in two weeks.

On 1 October, Sri Lanka Tourism announced a relaxed, bubble-free experience for fully vaccinated travellers arriving in the country with a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to embarkation. It was also announced that unvaccinated children travelling with vaccinated parents below the age of 12 years will not

require an on-arrival PCR test. This ease in protocols has created a surge in interest in Sri Lanka as a destination of choice which has resulted in an increase in arrivals.

Nevertheless, Sri Lanka Tourism has taken due note of this complaint and urges industry partners and stakeholders of the importance of keeping their teams refreshed on service standards and work ethic which the country must always deliver to both local and foreign travellers; an experience that is in keeping with their expectations.

Sri Lanka Tourism is committed to creating an environment where travellers leave with memorable experiences yearning to return to the island. Now the country is open to international visitors with all industry stakeholders poised and ready to welcome travellers to Sri Lanka – a destination long known as a treasure trove of possibilities waiting to be discovered.

Industrial...Established in 1970, Hiin Holdings is a four-

time winner of the prestigious Enterprise 50 Awards in Singapore.

ASPH further assured that it will keep the market duly informed in the event the JV agreement is being executed with Hiin Holdings.

Sri Lanka...Sri Lanka has consistently ranked among

the world’s favourite destinations for travellers seeking unadulterated escapism and the experience of a lifetime. The island offers a unique mix of sensory delights, making it a must-visit for the traveller that yearns to be inspired and awed.

Sri Lanka was once again amongst the most celebrated destinations in the world, reaching an impressive score of 93.96, which is an improvement over last year’s score of 91.79. This significant advancement is a testament to the success of ongoing efforts to market the island as a unique, experiential destination, offering heady adventures and

novel encounters. The ongoing integrated communication campaign by Sri Lanka Tourism, a first of its kind, is bringing tremendous returns in terms of raising the country’s overall profile globally.

The frequent spotlight on Sri Lanka across international media along with celebrity endorsements has helped position Sri Lanka positively as a destination with a myriad of immersive experiences available to explore. The island destination offers travellers everything from pristine beaches to untamed wilderness, the highest concentration of waterfalls in the world, misty mountains, and an inexhaustible list of natural wonders. All this is swaddled in a rich and diverse culture, with a riveting history that very much adds to the island’s allure.

Sri Lanka’s impressive performance at the 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards is an indication of the untapped potential that must be actualised; this is especially crucial as the island’s tourism industry is a key economic driver. The efforts made, even during the pandemic, to keep Sri Lanka in the spotlight and maintain top-of-mind awareness across its target demographic will guarantee faster recovery for the entire tourism industry. The progress made within the industry during the downtime will enable Sri Lanka to reemerge as a truly world-class destination that caters to a more high-yielding visitor, opening new revenue streams and pathways to prosperity.

“New Product Development and Promotion” is one of the 10 key pillars which guide the initiatives led by Sri Lanka Tourism. The pillars also provide a comprehensive framework to implement the Government’s overall vision, which includes closer co-operation between vital sectors such as labour, immigration, technology, innovation, and international policy. This new outlook has enabled the island to move away from mass-market tourism and offer a more curated, experience-based model. This transformation will enable Sri Lanka to retain a place in the hearts and minds of the global traveller, positioning it amongst the most preferred destinations for high-value tourists, seeking authentic, memorable, and diverse experiences.

Contd. from page 8

BY KAVINA DIAS

In an exclusive interview with The Morning Business, Prof. Upaka Rathnayake, the Higher Degrees and Research

Committee Chair of Faculty of Engineering, Finance Chair of SICET 2022 and a Professor of Civil Engineering at the Engineering Faculty at SLIIT (Sri Lanka Institute of Information and Technology), a leading education entity in the country, discussed their upcoming research forum.

Excerpts from the interview are below:

What is SICET 2022? Like the research conferences

held by other universities in the country, the Faculty of Engineering at SLIIT also wanted to conduct such a forum, but on a new platform in which we would like to truly address the international community as well. The conference is chaired by Prof. Niranga Amarasingha from the Department of Civil Engineering. She is a senior researcher in the division of transportation engineering. Working as the Higher Degrees and Research Committee Chair of the Faculty of Engineering, we had several rounds of discussions regarding the conference in which we expressed our preference to uphold the standard to an international level. This was the reason why we decided to target the international standard by getting collaborations with other universities like the Curtin University of Australia. This conference is co-sponsored by Curtin University, Australia, which is a highly recognised university in the world. We also plan to bring research from both state and international universities as well as research conducted by industrial organisations to this platform.

The conference is going to be held on 11 February 2022 starting from 9.00 a.m. onwards. Due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation, we have decided to hold the conference on the Zoom platform. However, we would still prefer to hold the conference on a physical basis, if possible. The deadline for the

abstract submissions is supposed to be 22 October 2021 and we are also happy to note that we have already received a large number of submissions.

What motivated SLIIT to conduct SICET?

There are few reasons for it. SLIIT’s Faculty of Engineering is a young engineering faculty in Sri Lanka; however, it has a well-developed research culture compared to its age. The Ministry of Higher Education of Sri Lanka in 2015 identified its potential and granted permission to the faculty to conduct research up to PhD level. Each year, several final-year research work as well as research conducted by our postgraduate students are ending at leading best journals in the world. One reason is to attract such quality work and nourish them. Another factor is the lack of platforms to showcase the talents of local researchers at the highest level and the lack of opportunities for the interaction between local researchers and international researchers. Therefore, we thought of having a platform to achieve these objectives at SLIIT through an international conference. Several times, we discussed the importance of such a conference, and Prof. Saman Thilakasiri, Dean at the Faculty of Engineering guided us to initiate the idea into a reality.

A couple of my personal experiences too encouraged me to push myself to the idea of a conference in the Faculty of Engineering, SLIIT. While I was working in New Zealand, I had a chance to visit the conference organised by the students in the final year of the Department of

Civil Engineering at the University of Auckland. The whole idea was to showcase the outcomes of final year students’ research work. A particular student there who had completed their Bachelor’s Degree was instantly recruited for a PhD position by an Australian university while presenting his undergraduate work. So, like this, we wanted to expose our students to such opportunities. However, we couldn’t let the demography be limited to students of SLIIT as they are not able to get the full experience of a conference being exposed to more research conducted by students of other engineering faculties. We are proud to say that we have received several papers and abstracts from other universities in the world.

What is the primary objective for conducting SICET?

Well, considering the number of aspects of engineering that are currently available, the objectives of this conference are also numerous. So, it wouldn’t be necessarily accurate to limit these multiple objectives to one primary goal. But having said that, we would like to state that it is spanning across the theories, applications, and education of the engineering discipline to reach sustainable development and provide it to the world. Even if students were to follow these engineering principles closely it would be of no use if they are not aligning themselves according to the expected sustainable development standards. So, we would like to direct the attention of participants in that direction.

What were the challenges faced in trying to make this conference a success?

Well, it wasn’t an easy journey. Initially, we were of the mindset that SICET should be conducted on a national level but later we decided to expand the conference’s reach to the international community. Also, the current situation of the world was a great hindrance as obtaining the necessary funding was difficult. But SLIIT provided the initial funding that was required to get the project launched, to which we are grateful.

This issue was further mitigated due to generous donations provided by the Curtin University of Australia and various industries in this field. The other challenges that we had to face were the typical issues that have arisen due to the pandemic such as whether the conference is to be conducted on a physical basis, virtual media, or a hybrid model incorporating both, etc.

What are the benefits that SLIIT will receive by conducting such a conference?

I believe that without a doubt SLIIT is the best non-state university in the country. However, Sri Lankans are of the mindset that, if a conference were to be conducted by a non-state university it is performed in the hopes of attaining publicity. But I must point out that this is not the case with respect to SICET because we have openly invited students and researchers from both local and international universities to present their research at SICET. Therefore, we believe that conducting such a conference will be extremely beneficial in the university’s journey to becoming one of the most recognised universities in the country.

What about the advantages that students obtain by conducting such a conference?

Going back to the story about the Auckland University in New Zealand, I was impressed by that concept, and I believed that this would also be greatly beneficial for the students. So, if students are able to present high-level research they carry out, they have a very high possibility of being recruited by local or foreign universities to proceed further with their careers. Furthermore, due to the conference being conducted on an international basis the students can get better exposure to other research environments and therefore, have a better understanding of their theses and they can further improve their research skills. So, we believe that this is an ideal opportunity for students in proceeding further with their academics.

SICET 2022: Opportunities for engineering research to reach sustainable development

Sri Lankan corrugated carton manufacturer, Ex-Pack Corrugated Cartons Ltd. concluded its virtual investor forum and event for analysts, as the company prepares to go public. Ex-Pack is making an initial public offering (IPO) of its shares, which is due to close on 22 October 2021, and will subsequently be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). The investing community in Sri Lanka, along with many foreign investors, including institutional investors, and market analysts, were able to have in-depth conversations with the key decision makers and stakeholders at Ex-Pack and have their questions answered. Ex-Pack is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Holdings, previously known as Expolanka Investments, one of Sri Lanka’s most respected diversified family businesses for over 30 years.

Managed by investment bankers, Capital Alliance Partners Limited and Asia Securities Advisors (Pvt.) Ltd., Ex-Pack Corrugated Cartons Ltd. will offer 83,333,333 ordinary voting shares (a 25% stake) at a price of Rs. 8.40 per share through its IPO, resulting in a projected market capitalisation of Rs. 2.8 billion. This translates into an estimated forward PER of 7.7x for FY22 and implied TTM PER (as at August 2021) of 8.9x.

Speaking about the event, Ex-Pack Managing Director M. Zulficar Ghouse said: “We’re pleased to say our investor forum concluded successfully. We were able to present our case to investors and discuss our value proposition in-depth. Many interesting questions were also raised and we were able to answer them satisfactorily. Overall, we are confident that our IPO will receive broad-based interest from local and foreign investors. As we draw closer to the closing date, on behalf of

the entire management team at Ex-Pack, I take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our prospective investors, customers, people and all other stakeholders. We look forward to unpacking our future as we emerge as Sri Lanka’s preferred packing solutions provider, delivering value to all stakeholders.”

Over two decades, Ex-Pack Corrugated Cartons Ltd. has developed a much-respected local and international presence in the B2B space, with an enviable customer portfolio comprising major corporates and brands in over 8 countries. In Sri Lanka, Ex-Pack leads in terms of both production and exports; which account for 52% of revenue being generated in US dollars. Guided by a strong, diverse leadership team and driven by a commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, the Company has emerged as the nation’s premier full-service corrugated cartons solutions provider, currently producing one out of every five cartons in Sri Lanka.

Ex-Pack’s product portfolio includes regular slotted cartons, die-cut cartons, laminated cartons and a host of specialised products developed using recycled material. The company has designed and engineered many innovative, benchmark-level products, including lightweight cartons for fresh fish, and garment on hanger cartons, for high-quality apparel to be shipped upright, hung on clothes hangers. Ex-Pack also worked with the Department of Elections to transform ballot boxes in Sri Lanka, crafting them out of corrugated cartons for the first time ever, enhancing security and mobility, during the 2020 General Election. The company serves top corporate customers and brands, worldwide, across a range of industries including FMCG, consumer durables, apparel, tea, and fisheries.

Ex-Pack Investor Forum concludes

From left: Asia Securities Investment Banking Head Sujendra Mather, Aberdeen Holdings Group CFO Chathuranga Abeyratne, Aberdeen Holdings Deputy Chairman Hassan Kassim, Expack Corrugated Cartons Ltd. MD Zulficar Ghouse, Expack Corrugated Cartons Ltd. Director Abdullah Kassim, and CAL Senior Vice President – Head of Equity Capital Markets and M&A Rizny Faisal

4business { CORPORATE }11

� www.themorning.lkThursday, October 14, 2021

Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) is the national body for marketing in Sri Lanka with a mission to establish marketing as the driving force which enhances the business and national value. As the country ends its lockdown and progresses well with its vaccination programmes, SLIM under

the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office and in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports is launching the National Initiative – Future Ready Sri Lanka, aiming to encourage entrepreneurship, innovation, skills, and knowledge-based industries and a society, which they believe are essential as we embrace this new normal and prepare for the economic recovery.

Future Ready Sri Lanka is not merely a campaign, it’s a national call with a

sense of emergency to encourage Sri Lankans to adapt to this new normalcy,

challenge dependent and risk-averse mentality and enforce an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset with the right skills and knowledge to drive Sri Lanka towards economic recovery and prosperity.

As Sri Lanka is fast adapting and embracing the new normal, SLIM believes that this is the ideal time to provide a common purpose and motivation to businesses and individuals alike to contribute to the post-pandemic economic recovery with a positive spirit.

Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa

SLIM President Thilanka Abeywardena

SLIM launches Future Ready Sri Lanka – a national initiative towards economic revival

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Sri Lanka’s private sector bank Hatton National Bank (HNB) PLC, was ranked among the top 10 Most Admired Companies in Sri Lanka for the fourth consecutive year. In a year that challenged even the strongest organisations, HNB was recognised, not just for its financial performance but also for the value created for shareholders, customers, employees, and the wider community.

A collaborative effort by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL), the Most Admired Companies are selected under stringent evaluation based on globally accepted criteria. The initial round consisted of a financial evaluation by a team of CIMA members, after which the top 20 organisations were chosen from a group of nearly 50.

For the second round, companies had to present to a panel of judges, each scoring independently on multiple attributes such as the ability to attract and retain talent, quality of products and services, innovativeness, effectiveness in doing business globally, role in community, environmental, social and corporate governance principles, as well as a track record of integrity and work against corruption in all its forms. An interactive session followed the presentation with the management team and judges to assess how the companies adopted the business practices.

Notably, a survey link was shared with the general public earlier this year to nominate the organisations they felt were the most admired in Sri Lanka. The nominees were invited for the competition, while the adverts ensured other organisations applied as well.

HNB ranked among ‘Top 10 Most Admired Companies’

HSBC has further enhanced its flagship premier proposition by reintroducing Premier Mortgage Loans at an attractive introductory five-year fixed interest rate of 7% p.a. HSBC Premier Mortgage Loans are designed to bring maximum benefits to help existing and eligible Premier customers pursue their ambitions with home loans of up to Rs. 100 million.

This comes in the wake of several external factors affecting the cash flow of customers, which has spurred interest in the real estate market that has continued to show steady price growth despite the pandemic. HSBC noted that customers are looking to diversify their investment by looking at a second home and to restructure their mortgages for better returns in the future, as a hedge against the low-interest environment. HSBC mortgages are available for first-time home buyers as well as customers who are ready to invest in

a second property, wish to refinance an existing mortgage with another bank, or take a loan against their existing property to fund their child’s overseas education expenses in order to free their cash flow and save over the long term through the following features:

Special introductory offer of a fixed interest rate of 7% p.a. for five years across all mortgage segments up to 31 December 2021

y Higher loan amount up to Rs. 100 million

y Flexible repayment period of up to 30 years

y Faster approval with a dedicated relationship manager to assist in the entire journey

HSBC Premier customers can contact their relationship

manager to obtain a mortgage suited to their specific need or visit www.hsbc.lk/mortgages/

for more details.

HSBC reintroduces mortgage loans

Douglas & Sons (Pvt.) Ltd. (DSL) announced that it is certified as a Great Place to Work® by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka. DSL earned this distinction based on extensive ratings received by its employees in an anonymous survey that was conducted by Great Place to Work®.

Douglas & Sons (Pvt.) Ltd. was established in 1986 with a vision to deliver excellence across the board and has today grown into a strong,

diversified conglomerate with a passion for innovation that cares for the environment in the markets in which it operates. Its diversity and close ties with stakeholders in all key aspects of the economy forms the bedrock of its success in the country. Its access to key global players enables it to display and market Internationally reputed auto parts, tires, batteries and agricultural implements funnelled through its islandwide network of dealers.

Douglas & Sons certified by Great Place to Work®

D y n a m i c AV Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd. is pleased to announce the appointment of Malik Fernando as Managing Director effective 5 October 2021. With a background in finance, Fernando holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from Brunel University, London, UK and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of Essex, UK. He served as the Finance Director at Dynamic AV and holds several other board positions across multiple industries within leading organisations. As a Co-Founder of Dynamic AV, Fernando was instrumental in orchestrating the company’s success. He secured partnerships with international brands such as the Herman Professional Group which syndicates brands including JBL, Crown and Sound Craft.

Dynamic AV was founded in 2008 under the patronage

of partners Mohan Abeyasinghe, Naomal Abeyesekere, Dhanushka Fernando, and Malik Fernando who utilised their individual expertise to lead the way to become Sri Lanka’s leading audio-visual equipment and service provider.

Dynamic AV is also the dominant service provider in the Public Address System segment in the hospitality industry,

partnering with leading hotel conglomerates such as John Keells Hotels and Heritance Hotels, also including four international brands such as Shangri-La Hambantota, the Hilton Colombo, Hyatt, and Sheraton Hotel, which is a brand belonging to the Marriott Group.

Malik Fernando also holds the honorary position of Chancery of the Austrian Consulate of the Republic of Austria in Sri Lanka and is a founding member and President of the Austrian Business Circle in the country.

Dynamic AV Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd. Managing Director Malik Fernando

Dynamic AV Technologies appoints Malik Fernando as Managing Director

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, unveiled the new Nokia T20 tablet.

The brand-new tablet brings the classic Nokia phone quality to the big screen, with a range of versatile features along with a long-lasting powerful 8200mAh battery which helps to excel at work and relax when it’s time to play.

The Nokia T20 is packed with a blue light certified, crystal clear 2K screen plus three years of monthly security updates and two years of free operating system (OS) upgrades. The Nokia T20 also comes with Google Kids Space, a trusted kids’ mode for children to explore apps, books, and videos to nurture their inquisitive minds. The new Nokia T20 is designed with the same Scandinavian design philosophy as Nokia phones. The solid metal

body structure and polished 3D display frame attach the large display perfectly to the thin metal body, so it’s built to go the distance.

Spotify will give Nokia T20 owners access to 70 million tracks and 2.9 million podcasts out of the box. Offering additional control over online privacy, ExpressVPN will be available on the Nokia T20 with a 30-day free trial.

The Nokia T20 will be available in Sri Lanka starting from the end of October in ocean blue colour and comes in 4GB/64GB configurations.

Introducing the new Nokia T20 tablet

Recipients of remittances via Western Union and MoneyGram stand a chance of doubling their funds courtesy of Commercial Bank of Ceylon under an exciting new promotion launched by the bank with the two global money transfer services.

A total of up to Rs. 800,000 in prize money can be shared by 16 lucky Commercial Bank remittance customers to be chosen at weekly draws over the course of two months under the “Double Cash” promotion, the bank said. Open to anyone collecting a Western Union or

MoneyGram remittance at a Commercial Bank branch, the promotion will select one winner from each service once a week to double the value of the remittance received, subject to a maximum of Rs. 50,000 in prize money per winner.

The promotion will run until 15 November 2021, the bank said. The winners chosen at each weekly draw will have their prize money credited on the same day to their accounts, if they already have an account with Commercial Bank. Winners who are not account holders will receive

their winnings as soon as they open a Commercial Bank account and submit the details to their branches.

Additionally, those who receive direct remittances via Commercial Bank will receive Rs. 2 over the prevailing rate of exchange on the conversion of every US dollar or the equivalent in the currency they receive, the bank said. The “Double Cash” promotion is designed to encourage beneficiaries receiving money from overseas via Western Union and MoneyGram to use and bank with Commercial Bank.

ComBank launches exciting ‘Double Cash’ promotion

Capital Alliance Holdings (CAL), has been certified as a “Great Place to Work” in an independent and anonymous survey conducted by Great Place to Work®. Affirming the group’s human capital policies, CAL received an “A” grade assessment on the staff trust index and the culture audit metrics to measure its

people practices. Great Place to Work®, is the

global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviours proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention, and increased innovation. With their team at the heart of everything they

do, CAL continuously has a pulse on its team to ensure that it is a great place to work. The group’s core values of integrity, fairness, dynamism, and teamwork reflect the emphasis it places on ensuring a contented and productive workforce.

CAL which has an enviable workplace

culture of employees who are nurtured as one family.

The company has a refreshing approach to developing its people, thereby helping build an incredible team of professionals who understand the value of maintaining CAL’s reputation to reach new heights.

CAL cements its reputation with Great Place to Work® certification

Sri Lanka’s largest supplier of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) with a rich legacy spanning 150 years, Litro Gas Lanka Ltd., recently donated a consignment of oxygen cylinders to the national healthcare sector to empower efforts to manage and mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first batch of 145 out of 600 medical oxygen cylinders were handed over to the Ministry of Health Director – Medical Supplies Division (MSD) Dr. H.M.K. Wickremanayake by Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. and Litro Gas Terminal Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd.

CEO and Chairman Theshara Jayasinghe on 21 September under the first phase of the programme.

Staying committed to the organisation’s “people-first” ethos, Litro has partaken in several similar humanitarian endeavours in the past years including donating LPG cylinders and cooking utensils to the victims of the Meethotamulla and Salawa disasters, providing modern cooking facilities to 100 places of worship across the island and donating Rs. 5 million to support victims of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

The first batch of medical oxygen cylinders were handed over to the Ministry of Health Director – Medical Supplies Division (MSD) Dr. H.M.K. Wickremanayake by Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. and Litro Gas Terminal Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. CEO and Chairman Theshara Jayasinghe at the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health

Litro donates 600 oxygen cylinders

Sri Lanka’s startup acceleration programme, Venture Engine, will soon wrap up its submissions phase, with applications set to close on 22 October 2021. This date is fast approaching, so don’t miss out on the chance to participate in 2021’s programme, which will help startups immensely in accelerating during these unprecedented times.

Geared toward Seed and Growth stage startups that are interested in scaling, the Venture Engine programme is also open to entrepreneurs opting to submit new, early-stage business ideas with huge addressable markets.

Founded by BOV Capital and the Indian Angel Network, Venture Engine is partnered by the Lankan Angel Network (LAN) with the Ford Foundation being the programme’s Platinum Sponsor in 2021.

Held over October, November and December 2021, and providing much needed support for the local

startup sector during this pandemic, Venture Engine returns for its 10th year.

This year’s Venture Engine programme will, for the fourth time, offer up a very special Impact Entrepreneurship Award that highlights for-profit social enterprises. This initiative is once again being promoted by Indian Venture Capital firm Aavishkaar, a gold sponsor for Venture Engine 2021.

Other sponsors and partners for 2021 include

ICTA, SL@100, Council for Startups, SLASSCOM, HATCH, Dialog Axiata PLC, KPMG, PwC, AOD, Shift, and CPP. Following the closing of the Venture Engine 2021 application process, selected participants will go through several rounds of filtering and workshops, during which they will pitch their ideas to a panel of investors and domain experts.

Visit www.ventureengine.lk to learn more about the

application process.

Venture Engine 2021 applications to close on 22 October

Venture Engine’s Impact Entrepreneurship Award winner for 2019 Kimbula Kithul Founder Chanchala Gunewardena receiving the award

brunchThursday, October 14, 2021

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� www.themorning.lk

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mysterious radio waves coming from the heart of the Milky WayAstronomers have detected mysterious radio waves coming from the center of the Milky Way, but so far they have no idea what’s causing it, according to a new study published on Tuesday (12) in the Astrophysical Journal. A team of scientists from across the world discovered this phenomenon using the CSIRO radio telescope in Western Australia. The study lead author and University of Sydney PhD student Ziteng Wang said in a press release that they initially believed it could be a spinning dead star called a pulsar, but its signal didn’t match what they expected from those types of celestial objects.

(Yahoo)

BY VENESSA ANTHONY

The wellness tourism sector in Sri Lanka is heading towards rapid growth and can be considered a niche market for the country because of its potential to attract foreign investment and revenue generation. According to the Global Wellness Institute, Sri Lanka has been ranked number four on the World’s Top Wellness Tourism Destinations.

The Government, too, has recognised wellness tourism as a key sector for investors; Sri Lanka was recently ranked among the Top 5 Wellness Tourism Destinations globally, as confirmed by Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.

Although this aspect of tourism has potential, it has to be nurtured carefully in collaboration with the industry stakeholders from both government and private sectors.

While wellness tourism was once single dimensional and was restricted to pampering spa vacations, nowadays wellness travel includes many combinations of healthy experiences including eating, cooking, exercise, and meditation.

While it is clear that Sri Lanka has the potential of being successful in marketing Ayurveda products to tourists who like to experience the relaxing aroma of Ayurveda products, Brunch spoke to a few professionals in the wellness sector to find out more.

Building the brand of wellness tourism

Spa Ceylon Co-Founder Shalin Balasuriya commented that Sri Lanka has a lot to offer

in terms of being a wellness tourism destination, starting with Ayurveda, which has been woven into our culture for 5,000 years. Apart from that, given how serene we are,

how lush our country is, he observed that there

is a lot that can be offered in terms of hiking, trekking, and outdoor activities that our climate and

natural resources can offer.

“If you look at what happened during the pandemic, spices and herbs

like turmeric and ginger came out as super ingredients and wonder herbs around the world, while us Sri Lankans have been using it in our diets for centuries, so our cuisine is also highlighted as something important,” he further explained.

Given that we are an island and our ports are very well controlled, Balasuriya opined that this gives a sense of safety as well. He shared: “There is a lot that can be done on our island from the wellness tourism point of view, so we are very well to do in this aspect; if we get our act together, we can offer something unique to the world.”

On the topic of what Spa Ceylon has to offer in terms of garnering wellness tourists, he explained that what they’ve been doing at Spa Ceylon is also taking the Sri Lankan Ayurvedic story to the world; and they’ve been doing it even throughout the pandemic. They have products that they have developed to de-stress and sleep better; two key factors that have plagued many during these difficult times. He added that the world has also awoken to our “wonder

herbs” – from ashwagandha to turmeric, ginger to moringa – which they incorporate strongly in their products.

The fact that Spa Ceylon works with ancient science brings about a lot of interest in their brand by foreigners. “In every aspect, we make our customers feel welcome and safe. Using the Ayurveda platform and the fact that these ingredients that are indigenous to us have become so popular, we are taking our products to the world as well, in a way that it meets the needs of the new consumer,” he stated.

Hotels and resorts to offer wellness packages

When speaking to Aaron Wick Yoga Founder and Annie Au Yoga Co-Founder and Partner Aaron Wickramasekara, he shared that it’s really nice to see our country being back on top of this list, given that everyday there’s negative news coming up. “The lives of Sri Lankans are getting harder, but it’s because we haven’t had tourists coming in; we have lost a lot of income which is driving the rupee down which makes the cost of living higher,” he stated.

Wickramasekara stated that it certainly is an advantage that tourism is opening up and hopes that nothing hinders the relaunch of the tourism sector in Sri Lanka.

That being said, he observed that there are

many companies in Sri Lanka that have started wellness programmes; they have taken the time in the last year to build

certain hotels and resorts that are catered solely around the wellness aspect in Sri Lanka. “These hotels and resorts will bring aspects that we haven’t

seen in Sri Lanka and were only ever seen in the foreign market. In the next few months, big brands will launch their projects and once tourism opens up, we will see a boom in wellness tourism in particular, surrounding health, wellbeing, yoga, and mindfulness,” he commented. He also added that these projects are not just for foreigners, but for the local market as well.

Talking about the projects that he is personally involved in, he explained that they are trying to make wellness tourism accessible and make it a price point where it’s available to the local market as well. In terms of international exposure, he explained that he has a network of contacts of teachers around the world, who will come together and plan workshops in Sri Lanka, particularly in Colombo, and in the south and the hills as well.

The yoga market in Sri Lanka is very vague; more often than not, people have the wrong idea. Wickramasekara added: “I will try to expose the tourists that come into the various styles of yoga and aspects of it as I possibly can. I’m trying to expand the market and expand the horizons of the local market.”

By doing this, he is able to create new jobs and new potential. He aims to change the perspective as to what yoga is to locals, and spark the boom behind yoga.

SRI LANKA AMONG TOP 5 WELLNESS TOURISM DESTINATIONS GLOBALLYzWhat does this mean for us?

Spa Ceylon Co-Founder Shalin Balasuriya

Aaron Wick Yoga Founder and Annie

Au Yoga Co-Founder and Partner Aaron Wickramasekara

PHOTO © SRI LANKA TRAVEL

Bonfire is derived from the Middle English word “banefire” or “a fire for burning bones”. It is a popular outdoor custom to light up a large fire as part of a ritual celebration. The roots of the distribution company Bonfire can be traced to similar origins, according to Serandip Music Group, Serandip Records, Serandip Publishing, and Bonfire Distribution CEO and Founder Sandun Nissanka.

As a young scout it was a tradition to light up a bonfire and gather together during camps at night to celebrate the endeavours and successes of the day with song, food, and dance. These are moments that help strengthen the bond and friendship between each other, while also commemorating the tenet of unity, harmony, and festivity. Moments spent sharing stories, trading experiences, and shaping fresh memories that last a lifetime.

It is this very spirit of camaraderie, festivity, and essence that lies at the core of this Sri Lankan music distribution label.

Bonfire believes in giving power to its artists and independent record labels. Bonfire prides themselves on being the first exclusive music distribution platform in Sri Lanka with global reach. The company specialises in offering a myriad of unique services, from playlist pitching, a holistic music

audio and visual supply chain, personalised and prioritised customer service, advanced rights management, and access to over 200 music partners around the globe.

Bonfire kick-started with a vision to trek into the untapped music market of Sri Lanka, and has grown exponentially into a sanctuary for artists of all genres, styles, and musical cultures in our island. The company is confident and hopes to spread its flames to Pakistan and Bangladesh, and not stop there. Bonfire is looking to expand beyond to more countries, offering top calibre distribution and publishing services that are greatly needed in this day and age.

It is true that on one hand, the music

and entertainment industries have taken a toll during the global pandemic in terms of live concerts and tours. But on the other hand, it has allowed independent and established artists to work on and release more music, embracing the advent of modern technology, be it contemporary platforms or modern devices.

Bonfire sports a model built on scalable adaptability, cohesively aligning its operational framework and plethora of authentic offerings, to help artists launch their music in stores and platforms that garner greater exposure and larger reach to global audiences and potential untapped markets.

Bonfire is home to trailblazer icons such as Yohani, Chamath Sangeeth, Shan Putha, and DJ Mass, to more underground stalwarts like rap luminaries Drillteam and Lankan Heavy Metal architects Stigmata.

The music distributor fills the industry gap by aiding artists to release more music and distribute audio and video content worldwide. Every band and artist on Bonfire’s roster releases music on multiple platforms in the business such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Pandora, etc.

The company is also the first music-related entity to release metadata, which is delivered to key data groups like Billboard, so artists stand a chance to get into international charts as well.

Into the BonfireSandun Nissanka on the company’s journey

Bonfire Distribution CEO and Founder Sandun Nissanka

│Contd. on page 13

“The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love, and to be greater than our suffering.”

–Ben Okri

BY NAVEED ROZAIS

There’s something magical about books that capture the stories of real people, and 6 November 2021 will see the official launch of a unique book that tells the stories of everyday heroes who have gone above and beyond to protect the sanctity of the lives of those around them, be they human lives, animal lives or even plant lives.

Published by Jam Fruit Tree Publications, Civilian Bravery in Sri Lanka is a book that chronicles not just these everyday heroes, but also the story of the Foundation for Civilian Bravery, a small group of passionate individuals who have, since 1993, fought tirelessly to share the stories of these courageous souls from all walks of life.

Brunch chatted with Civilian Bravery in Sri Lanka author and Foundation for Civilian Bravery President and Founder Kasun P. Chandraratne to learn more about

this unique new book and the foundation that has been telling the stories of civilian heroes for nearly three decades.

Defining civilian bravery Civilian bravery, to Chandraratne,

is quite simply, the apex of human bravery, it is when an everyday person – a civilian – risks his own life to help someone else who is in mortal peril, be that human, flora, or fauna.

What sets apart civilian bravery from other acts of gallantry is the fact that they are completely voluntary. Acts of civilian bravery, therefore, do not consider lives saved in the line of duty, like in the case of the military or the medical profession, for example, because saving lives and protecting others falls into the scope of work of those professions, as well as many others. Acts of civilian bravery are extraordinary acts of heroism, to the point of risking one’s own life.

Speaking on why it is so hard in our context to define civilian bravery, and set it apart from what the majority of our society sees as bravery, like

acts of military bravery for example, Chandraratne explained that this is mostly to do with how we as a nation and civilisation have grown from ancient times.

“In our country, we had kings, and a king doesn’t allow other civilians to become heroes. In 2,600 years of Sri Lankan history, we have not heard of any civilian heroes, we have heard about kings and military heroes,” Chandraratne said. “This thinking is prevalent throughout practically the whole of Asia because they have also had kings.”

The problem with military acts of military bravery, or as Chandraratne calls them, acts of gallantry, is that they are predicated on power and might, on destroying the enemy, whereas bravery, and civilian bravery, in particular, focus on protecting and saving lives.

The Foundation for Civilian Bravery

The idea for honouring civilian bravery, and by extension, the Foundation for Civilian Bravery, was something that struck Chandraratne quite by chance. After completing his university education, in the early 1990s, Chandraratne was working in Pettah when he passed by a vendor selling issues of Reader’s Digest at a discounted rate (fun fact: At the time, Reader’s Digest sold for about Rs. 5 an issue, and this vendor was selling issues at Rs. 1 each). Chandraratne bought two issues, and a story in one of those issues was what set him on the road to campaigning for the recognition of civilian bravery.

The story, in itself, was simple but inspiring – a father and his young daughter (of around nine to 12 years old, if Chandraratne’s recollection serves him correctly) out on horseback stopped for a walk when the father

was gravely injured when a horse kicked him in the head. Despite the severity of the injury, (Chandrartne recalled the story saying his skull had been split), his daughter, without panicking, took him to a public place where people could see her father was injured and get help.

One of America’s civilian heroism organisations, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, was so inspired by the bravery this girl had shown in staying calm and making decisions that ended up saving her father’s life, that they recognised her bravery with a Carnegie medal.

Reading this story made Chandraratne wonder why such a model couldn’t work in Sri Lanka, and, with his experience as a lawyer, he began drafting an act to recognise civilian bravery, and recognised that in our society, we simply do not recognise such acts of heroism, especially form the everyday non-affluent Sri Lankan.

Recognising the power of everyday heroes‘Civilian Bravery in Sri Lanka’

‘Civilian Bravery in Sri Lanka’ author and Foundation for Civilian Bravery President and Founder Kasun P. Chandraratne

│Contd. on page 13

4

{ PEOPLE }13brunch

� www.themorning.lkThursday, October 14, 2021

The Rotary Club of Colombo Midtown, in collaboration with Mind Heals (Pvt.) Ltd., is organising a webinar series under the theme “Lead Tomorrow” to build essential skills in youth and equip them with skills that will support them to become better leaders. The target audience for the three webinars is undergraduates and youth who are entering the workforce.

The first webinar, titled “Structured problem solving”, will be held on 15 October 2021 at 7 p.m. The facilitators are; Dr. Mikel

J. Harry Six Sigma Management Institute Global Director – APAC, Middle East, Africa, Canada, and Oceania Dumidu Ranaweera, and representing Dr. Mikel J. Harry Six Sigma Management Institute Asia, Suneth Chithrananda and Gaminda Priyaviraj, popularly known as “Chooti Malli” and “Podi Malli”.

The second webinar on “Effective communication skills” will be held on 5 November 2021 at 7 p.m. and will be conducted by Pufferfish (Pvt.) Ltd. Founder and internationally certified trainer

Shuhaib Ali, and Speak Founding Director, Champion Speaker, and Communication Consultant Farweez Immamudeen.

The third webinar will be held on 26 November 2021 at 7 p.m. and is titled “Leadership presence”. The facilitators are ConsultEd CEO and Mind Heals Consultant Chirangee Tissera, and Atlas Axillia (Hemas Holdings) Director – Operations and Supply Chain Dilmini Weragama. All three webinars will be held via Zoom. The funds raised through the webinar series will be allocated

for the CSR project “Blind Walk”, which will be held on 16 October 2021 in celebration of World Sight Day (14 October). This year’s event is the fifth of its kind, and is themed “Envisioned for vision”. This project aims to create awareness of reversible blindness, collect eye pledges, and collect funds to provide necessities for the visually-impaired.

Further information about the webinar series can be obtained by contacting Rasintha Punchihewa (0778806234) or Rasini Bandara

(0777776466).

‘Lead Tomorrow’ youth webinar series

Rotary Club of Colombo Midtown and Mind Heals partner to raise funds for ‘Blind Walk’

Contd. from page 12

Recognising...Having enjoyed drafting an

act recognising civilian bravery, Chandraratne presented it to then-President Ranasinghe Premadasa by post, and within a week was invited to present it to his officer at the Presidential Secretariat. Unfortunately, he didn’t receive the response he was hoping for. “They didn’t give prominence to the idea, I thought,” Chandraratne said, adding: “Their number one question was: ‘Are there even such people in the country?’ At the time, there was a lot of killing and death going on because of the war, and there wasn’t a lot of saving. The proposal wasn’t successful, and I was disappointed, but I didn’t want to give up, so I started it by myself, creating a Trust with a few friends of mine, and whether by the blessings of God, or just karma, it was successful. My friends rallied around me and supported me.”

This was how the Foundation for Civilian Bravery was born, and since 1993, it has tirelessly recognised acts of civilian bravery, with support from several foreign organisations along the way

including the Victoria Cross and George Cross Foundation (UK), The Royal Humane Society (UK), the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust (UK), The Royal Humane Society of Australasia Inc, The Royal Humane Society of New South Wales, and the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission (USA).

Locally, over the years, Chandratne has formed a very close relationship with the Government and the military, with Sri Lanka’s Speaker being the Chief Patron, and an Executive Council of many distinguished members of the armed forces and police.

A deeper message Over its 28-year-history,

Chandraratne has found that one of the biggest challenges to recognising civilian bravery lies in our social mindset.

“In our society, bravery is linked with the level of society that people belong to. If an ordinary labourer or farmer risks his life to save someone else’s, nobody will be concerned. Personally, I feel that this outlook is the cause of many of our country’s problems,” Chandraratne said. “Whether you’re

a labourer, a farmer, or from any other walk of life, the most precious thing is life, and your life cannot be valued differently simply because of your background or education. That status of equality is not there in our social structure. Our social structure formed by being under kings and rulers, and so, that idea of one life being greater than the other, persists,” he added.

One issue that pushes this narrative is a lack of role models; quoting a speech Deshamanya Professor Nandadasa Kodagoda made at one of Foundation’s ceremonies, Chandraratne said: “The issue is we don’t learn from society. Prof. Kodagoda told me: ‘The younger generation is useless’, and I am also saying the same thing now, wondering where we have gone wrong. The older generation is also responsible because they don’t produce or put forward the necessary models to society.”

Affecting change is not easy, and is not a short-term strategy because it’s changing our innate social structures and mindsets. But this can happen slowly and a little bit at a time, by getting people, even on a micro-scale, to think

about civilian bravery, and more importantly, how civilian bravery can come from anyone, from any walk of life.

‘Civilian Bravery in Sri Lanka’: The book

Documenting the first 25 years of the Foundation’s journey, Chandraratne shared that this unique volume of inspiring stories comes in two parts, and is being published by Jam Fruit Tree Publications, and is now available for purchase to those interested in learning about Sri Lanka’s remarkable civilian bravery.

The first part of Civilian Bravery in Sri Lanka speaks about the Foundation for Civilian Bravery, the concept of civilian bravery, and how it differs from military bravery.

The second part touches on the stories the Foundation for Civilian Bravery has recognised since 1993 up to its 25th anniversary in 2018.

Chandraratne shared that he has been working on Civilian Bravery in Sri Lanka for five years, gradually writing, editing, and working on getting the concepts right and recording the Foundation’s remarkable stories, from their very first award in 1993, awarded

posthumously ferryman of Ukwatta in Kalutara who died in his attempt to save six passengers when his ferry capsized in the middle of the river.

Civilian Bravery in Sri Lanka launches officially on 6 November, with a virtual launch event featuring a book review by Arun Dias, and will be graced by the presence of Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya, and dignitaries from the international civilian bravery organisations who have supported the Foundation for Civilian Bravery over the years – the Victoria Cross and George Cross Foundation (UK), The Royal Humane Society (UK), the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust (UK), The Royal Humane Society of Australasia Inc, The Royal Humane Society of New South Wales, and the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission (USA).

Civilian Bravery in Sri Lanka is available for sale at

The Jam Fruit Tree Bookshop, Colombo 3 for pick up at the store or islandwide delivery.

Orders for delivery can be also placed by calling or WhatsApping

0727268078.

Into the...Bonfire’s success also stems from its transparent principle to offer royalty and ownership, making it a win-win for artists and independent labels so that musicians, songwriters, and artists can get the reach and return on investment (ROI) they deserve with reasonable percentages and guaranteed success.

Of course, the monikers swift trajectory of growth is owed to its valued asset of human capital, the team behind the scenes; Hiyum Rattambige, Chamupa Chenuka, Ransara Wijesundara, Prabodha Lakshan, Uditha Perera, and Praneeth Tilan – who along with Sandun are the driving forces of the distribution label.

Bonfire aspires to go places, breaking boundaries and reaching unprecedented terrain by doing things very differently, but also with panache and irrefutable value. Proud to be at the forefront of the music evolution of Sri Lanka; Bonfire is bound to spread its influence and impact in the time to come, carving more milestones as the best music distributor in the country.

BY VENESSA ANTHONY

imble fingers, one with the wheel, giving life to what was once the

essence of the Earth. The art of clay pottery is a long-standing tradition in Sri Lanka, and in certain parts of the country, entire villages get involved in the manufacturing process. The tradition is passed down generations, and watching a potter mould his clay into art is a mesmerising feat.

Even though it may have seemed like a dying tradition, since of late, the art of pottery has become more and more revived and many are

willing to pay good money to showcase a piece of our heritage in their homes.

Brunch spoke to Danushka S. Wijethunga, a well-known potter in the village of Molagoda in Kegalle. At the mere age of 20, he runs his own business selling clay artefacts and specialises in vases, plates, and other conventional clay items. When painting a picture of his village, Danushka described that on

a typical day, one would be able to see most

villagers with their hands on the pottery wheel, moulding away.

“80 families in my village are involved in pottery. This is

what our village is famous for. I have

five members in my family and they are all

also involved in pottery, but they stick to the traditional side

of it,” Danushka told us.His family being involved in the

business is how he realised that his calling was for pottery as well. Seeing his father sit at the wheel for over 30 years now unlocked his love for the art, and thus, he took it on as his own business.

Breaking the normUsually, when you think of clay,

one’s immediate thought would be the clay pots we Sri Lankans love to cook in, but in Danushka’s case, he stays away from the conventional pots and pans to a more elegant approach. His business focuses mostly on ornamental items – the kind one would present as a souvenir of a sort. The only non-ornamental item he sculpts are his clay water bottles, which are adored by many. In conversation with Danushka, he said: “Many people come from around

the country for my water bottles. It was a surprise even to me but many corporate companies buy the bottles in bulk and distribute them to employees. Even school kids do the same.”

All of his products are painstakingly hand-painted, complete with intricate detailing. He has a range of ornamental plates that he has painted portraits of influential and famed people in Sri Lanka. He also offers the customisation option, where clients can show him a picture of a loved one and he will swiftly have it done on a plate. These plates are actually not available anywhere else and is something that he himself conceptualised and began working on.

Unfortunately, with the pandemic, Danushka had to face many challenges. “A tipper of clay at the moment is Rs. 35,000,” he told us, adding that usually, he would be able to cover the cost of clay and still make a living, but with Covid-19, his business was not as lucrative as he liked. With the lockdown, it was even more unlikely that people would be on the move, and even the man that brings him clay from Biyagama is not able to travel, so he was left at a big loss.

“Molagoda is found on Kandy road, so before Covid, many tourists would stop at the village and purchase items from my shop here. They would pay a lot of money for my work as well,” he shared. Unfortunately, with the lack of tourists these days, he was forced to get with the times and turn to an online customer base. He began marketing his products on Facebook and upon purchase, couriering the items to the customer, but told us that it wasn’t as successful as his in-store business. “Most people need to see my products with their own eyes to understand it’s value, and online, it simply isn’t showing.”

At the moment, he is still selling online and has hopes to expand his product range to cater to his new online market in hopes that he’ll be able to build his business up again.

You can call Danushka on 035 2228831/078 6946441 or contact him via Facebook for your pottery needs.

N

PHOTOS © DANUSHKA WIJETHUNGA

Danushka Wijethunga

Hand-painted platesClay water bottles

Danushka Wijethunga on the art of pottery

From clay to art

Clay vases and flower pots

4

{ COLUMNS/EVENTS }14 brunch

� www.themorning.lk Thursday, October 14, 2021

Ceylinco Life has ended the suspense for policyholders awaiting news of the next “Family Savari” promotion with the announcement of another bonanza in gold for winners at the milestone 15th edition of this annual mega rewards programme that, like gold, has stood the test of time.

Sri Lanka’s life insurance leader said more than 1,000 policyholders would receive gold and supermarket shopping vouchers as consolation prizes, in a prize bag worth over Rs. 30 million that can be won between October 2021 and August 2022.

Six bi-monthly draws will take place during the promotion period to select over 450 lucky winners of a total of over Rs. 24 million in gold and another 600 winners of consolation prizes worth Rs. 6 million, the company said. Ceylinco Life pivoted to rewarding policyholders with gold with Family Savari 14, instead of the overseas holidays and excursions that the promotion’s name implies, to conform with the travel restrictions and safety protocols dictated by the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 618 Ceylinco Life policyholders won Rs. 30 million in gold in the 14th edition of the promotion, which concluded in September 2021.

Every two months, one grand prize winner will walk away with Rs. 1 million in gold, while another 75 receive gold worth Rs. 3 million under Family Savari 15. The total value of the consolation prizes presented at each draw would be Rs. 1 million.

“Life insurance is about staying power, something that Ceylinco Life has come to represent in many different aspects of its business, from market leadership and claims settlement to policyholder rewards and corporate

social responsibility,” Ceylinco Life General Manager Marketing Samitha Hemachandra commented. “We were determined not to allow the pandemic to derail our Family Savari promotion, and found that the decision to reward policyholders with gold was a popular one. Gold’s intrinsic and transcendental value is universally appreciated, hence the decision to continue with gold as the primary reward for another year, supplemented by supermarket vouchers as consolation prizes.”

To be eligible to win gold or consolation prizes at the draws, all Ceylinco Life customers have to do is to continue their existing policies with the company or maintain a minimum account balance in their retirement plans during the promotion period. Additional winning chances would be given to customers who pay their premiums directly to the company and further chances will be assigned corresponding to the time they have been Ceylinco Life customers.

Intended to stimulate interest in life insurance, encourage policyholders to keep their policies active, the “Family Savari” programme has benefitted more than 26,600 people to date. Grand-prize winning families at previous Family Savari promotions have visited Australia, Italy, England, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and France, while other winners have toured China, Dubai, and Singapore.

Ceylinco Life’s Family Savari programme is promoted by four popular brand ambassadors, Sri Lankan actors Sriyantha Mendis, Sanjeewani Weerasinghe, and Roshan Ranawana and his wife Kushlani, who in past editions joined the policyholders on their overseas holidays and local excursions.

Ceylinco Life sticks with gold to reward policyholders via 15th ‘Family Savari’

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG), an ASUS sub-brand dedicated to creating the world’s best gaming hardware and software, has been unveiled as the “official gaming laptop partner” of the national eSports team of Sri Lanka.

Formed in 2006, ROG offers a complete line of innovative products known for performance and quality, including laptops, desktops, motherboards, graphics cards, monitors, audio equipment, routers, and peripherals. ROG participates in and

sponsors major international gaming events. In 2019, eSports was recognised as

an official sport in Sri Lanka as the 70th national sport. The national eSports team represents the country at international events such as the IESF eSports World Championship, the Global eSports Games, and the World eSports League. Game titles played by the various eSports teams include Counter-Strike: GO, Dota 2 (men’s and women’s), Tekken, Streetfighter, eFootball (PES), PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and Brawlhalla.

Sri Lanka eSports Association President Raveen Wijayatilake stated: “We are excited to have Asus ROG onboard as the official gaming laptop partner for the national eSports team. As we take a bold step into the world of international eSports with Sri Lanka’s best eSports athletes, we’re glad we have a brand like ROG supporting us.”

The ‘official gaming laptop partner’ of the national teamASUS ROG powers eSports in SL

The recently launched Academy of Excellence (AOE) is a platform established with a group of young, qualified professionals with years of experience in education. The teachers of AOE offer much more than generic knowledge on each subject. The institute’s aim extends beyond a mere examination pass to students being subject matter experts and presented with the opportunity to relate to the present environment of the relative industry.

Most significantly, owing to the prevailing situation of Covid-19 and the unfortunate disruption in education, the formation of such an educational institution has been pivotal to help shape young minds and also to offer a stabilised learning experience. Founders Tamara Jayasinghe and Adam Kenny are a dynamic duo with astounding focus and enthusiasm towards the cause. Tamara is a graduate in medical genetics from the University of Melbourne, Australia. Followed by years of experience in the field of biomedical science, she found her true passion and love for teaching.

“I believe that teaching

shouldn’t be limited to theory or simply the content of a book, it should be explained and taught in the sense of tangible use and practicality in the real world. Whilst this may be easier said than done, I enjoy this challenge – it drives me to be a better teacher, to encourage curiosity, and soon to really understand the content of each subject for my students,” she shared.

Supporting this vision, Adam’s background of project management (in travel, hospitality, and sales) and passion towards building and formulating start-ups made AOE come to life. The duo bring their separate areas of expertise to the table and are now ready to take this venture to the next stage.

Having ventured into this little dream of offering scholastic

excellence, Tamara expanded the scope of AOE with talented and driven individuals. Now the powerhouse team comprises Chamindra Senanayake (math), Anishka De Zylva (IELTS/SATs), Joshua Foenander (psychology), and Marlon Ratwatte (law). Together, the team of teachers provides a comprehensive and purposeful learning experience for Ordinary Level and Advanced Level students.

For more information or to enrol as students:

@aoe.lk

Academy of Excellence launched

077 1908210

www.aoelk.com

AOE Founders Adam Kenny and Tamara Jayasinghe

The teacher panel (from left): Marlon Ratwatte, Anishka De Zylva, Tamara Jayasinghe, Joshua Foenander, and Chamindra Senanayake

BY MELEEZA RATHNAYAKE

Three enthusiastic individuals launched an online talk show to interact with the public on issues that people are finding it hard to express. “Legacy of Love” is a talk show that was founded last year by Dimitri Cooray, an English language teacher at a leading international school in Colombo. The talk show happens via Instagram once a week, and the three hosts have managed to bring in engaging conversations that mostly concern the youth.

“We wanted people to know that they are not alone in the things they were feeling, like depression, anxiety, loss, heartbreak, and failure – things that are experienced by many but not given attention to help people battle through and eventually heal. This channel was designed to be an outlet for us to share our experiences, which in turn would impact those who could relate,” shared the team at Legacy of Love.

Along with Dimitri, Sandro Sathyajith and Vithara Mannage are the hosts of the talk show. Sandro is a news anchor/editor at Sun FM and Gold FM News, and Vithara is a public speaker, social media marketer, and an activist for gender equality. Apart from being a teacher, Dimitri is also a motivational speaker, guitarist,

and an avid Pokémon trading card collector.

“Here is an interesting fact: The three of us have met only once, no thanks to lockdown, but we stay connected on a regular basis via WhatsApp. Most importantly, we discuss the relevance of topics before finalising them regardless of whether it is live conversations between ourselves or with a guest speaker,” said Dimitri.

Legacy of Love aims to discuss relevant topics regarding issues individuals face in their daily lives and certain topics that society considers to be taboo or spoken behind closed doors, which they believe is what makes their content unique “because we empathise and support people by sharing our personal experiences with

the audience”.“The name

initially suggested was ‘Legacy of Love – The Live Show’, but we ultimately left it at the name we have today; we found it simple and catchy,” they shared. The episodes are live-stream discussions between hosts and sometimes with guest speakers from various walks of life, usually during the weekends.

Brunch learned that they believe the driving force that motivates them to release content is their focus on kindness, compassion, empathy, and love. “This is our personal roots and it is something we wish to see others nurture in their own lifestyles,” the team added.

The importance of how self-love, depression, stereotyped gender roles

affect relationships and emotional exhaustion are some of the topics that have been discussed so far. When asked about the obstacles they have faced, they said: “Easy answer – work schedules. With all of us doing demanding jobs and working from home becoming exhausting, trying to fit in a 30-minute to one-hour live session during the weekend is one of our biggest challenges.”

Dimitri said that in the future they “hope to organise a meet-up once we reach 500 followers and the country’s pandemic situation has improved”, adding that they will be looking to get guest speakers of foreign nationality onboard, which is something that they are very excited about.

As a concluding remark, the trio added:

“The legacy we leave in this world, each and everyone of us, should not be one of fame or power, but something more powerful and exemplary. Something that inspires – a legacy of friendship and happiness. The three of us came together to inspire a legacy of love and to leave a smile on all the beautiful faces who join us!

“Thank you for all the love shown to us during the past year, from embracing our talk show, trusting us with your deepest heartaches, and sharing with us the hope of being heard to empathising with someone who is going through something similar in their lives. Sometimes when things get tough, all you need is to open up to a good listener, and we are always here for you when you need that attentive ear.”

Legacy of Love

@legacy_of_love_

Here is an interesting

fact: The three of us have met only once, no thanks to lockdown, but we stay connected on a regular

basis via WhatsApp. Most importantly, we discuss the relevance of topics before finalising them

regardless of whether it is live conversations between

ourselves or with a guest speaker

Dimitri Cooray

Leaving a mark of friendship and happiness

Sandro Sathyajith

Vithara Mannage

The Legacy of Love team

{ SPORTS }415sports

� www.themorning.lkThursday, October 14, 2021

When the trophy came to Colombo

Stars greeted by Colombo revelry

This splendid first-hand description by award-winning author Andrew Fidel Fernando of ESPNcricinfo on 9 April 2014 described the euphoria the 2014 T20 World Cup triumph had created among the Sri Lankan public. There had not been a similar scene in the island’s sporting arena for the seven years that passed since then.

Thousands flocked the streets and the airport to get a glimpse of their heroes in what was probably the grandest public occasion since the end of the war eased bomb-blast fears.

At first there was a false alarm for the tens of thousands who thronged the Galle Face roundabout in Colombo for the second time in three days. Someone let off a vine of firecrackers, sparking an enormous wave of cheers and the flailing of a sea of Sri Lankan flags. Soon, the crowd realised they had awarded their heroes’ welcome to the route 430 bus from Mathugama. As the public bus pushed its way through the crush of bodies, the passengers chuckled. They knew who they had been mistaken for.

One gets into the team busBut soon enough, a glint of trophy gold

in the amber streetlights promised the coming of the crowd’s true heroes. Boys had climbed walls, braver men had climbed scaffoldings, parents had their children standing atop their shoulders, all to get a look at 15 men, who right now had the nation at their feet. The 200 metre final stretch to the stage built on the southern end of Galle Face green may have been the slowest journey of the team’s life. The crowd had moved in even more tightly around them, hoping to get just a few feet closer to their stars, who were wearing the grins they must have had on their faces for more than four hours.

But there’s always that one guy who goes too far. Who wants a little more than everyone else, and to be seen getting it. One man in an orange shirt attempted to climb up the side of the bus, to get within touching distance of the players, but the team were in such good spirits, they even indulged his idiocy. Two cricketers pulled him up into the open-top carriage with them, a few gave him a hand shake, then quickly lowered him back into the expanse of glowing faces.

Grandest public occasionThere might have been 50,000 people

at Galle Face green, maybe more, as Sri Lankans of all ages flocked to enjoy the win, but around 1,500 had travelled all the way to the arrival gate at the airport to have the first possible glimpse. The children seemed to enjoy it the most, proudly holding up their posters, banding together to call out to their favourites in a small, high chorus. They would have had no memories of 1996. For many – even adults – this would have almost certainly

been the grandest public occasion since the end of the war. In those days, a platoon half the size of the crowd itself would stalk the perimeter wielding automatic rifles, but only a smattering of cops were required on that Tuesday (8 April 2014). They had little to do.

When the team had departed, Dinesh Chandimal had been the side’s Captain, but it was Lasith Malinga who had led Sri Lanka in their last three games. Chandimal explained the leadership switch soon after the team landed. “I was ruled out of that New Zealand match due to an over-rate violation, but we played extremely well in that game. (Lahiru) Thirimanne came in for me in that game and he played well. Not only that, he had also played really well in the Asia Cup.”

A civilian escort“So, I thought that winning the

tournament and taking the trophy to Sri Lanka was what was most important to me. I haven’t been in good form recently. Along with the team, I decided I wouldn’t play the remaining matches, and that I would give the chance to Thirimanne, because we couldn’t hide a player who was in form. I’m overjoyed that we were able to win, because it had been so difficult to bring a trophy home since 1996,” Chandimal shared.

Barely a patch of pavement was found unoccupied, as adoring fans in the major towns flocked along the team’s route. Behind them, a rowdy, honking rearguard of bikes, cars, pick-up trucks, and tuk-tuks, all bedecked in Sri Lanka flags, stretched for more than 100 metres – a civilian escort that far outstripped anything the military had provided, in the years of taut anxiety.

A Sri Lankan partyAs the team came to their largest

gathering of fans, near the sea, a thunderstorm had begun a way out in the Indian Ocean. Lightning backlit the fireworks display and cracks of thunder embellished the sound of a hundred drums. Through all this the rain never worsened to more than a heavy drizzle, so no one wanted to leave until they had had their fill of the team and their trophy. For the second time in a week, the weather had aligned for Sri Lanka.

The team took the stage and poured out their thanks to the masses. Sinhala, Tamil, and English pop played late into the evening, the people stayed and danced. It was another Sri Lankan party. The biggest one you’ve ever seen.

COMPILED BY RANJIKA PERERA

A rousing and unprecedented welcome for the Sri Lanka cricket heroes in Colombo on 8 April 2014

5th T20 World Cup 2014: Sri Lanka’s second coming

y Dates: 16 March-6 April

y Host: Bangladesh

y Champions: Sri Lanka (1st title) under Dinesh Chandimal and Lasith Malinga

y Runners-up: India under Mahendra Singh Dhoni

y Losing semi-finalists: The West Indies and South Africa

y Final: On 6 April at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, the Sri Lankans, under Malinga, outplayed the fancied Indians by six wickets. India, sent in first to bat, made a modest 130/4 with Virat Kohli top-scoring with a 58-ball 77. Sri Lankan bowling was spearheaded by Rangana Herath (1/23 in four overs), Angelo Mathews (1/25 in four), Nuwan Kulasekara (1/29 in four), Sachithra Senanayake, and Malinga. In their reply, Kumar Sangakkara (52 not out in 35) and Thisara Perera (23 not out in 14) carried them home with 13 balls to spare, from a cheeky position of 78/4 in 12.3 overs. Mahela Jayawardene, who played his farewell T20 International along with Sangakkara, struck a run-a-ball 24. It was Sri Lanka’s first title win after reaching four straight World Cup finals, including two 50-over World Cups in 2007 and 2011.

y Participants: 16

y Matches: 35

y Player of the Series: Virat Kohli (India)

y Most runs: Virat Kohli of India – 319 runs

y Most wickets: Imran Tahir of South Africa and Ahsan Malik of the Netherlands – 12 wickets each

Sri Lanka: y Sri Lanka played straight in “Super 10” along with England, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and South Africa

y Both Bangladesh and the Netherlands got through to the Super 10 from an eight-team first stage or qualifiers, under the new tournament format introduced by the organisers, the International Cricket Council (ICC)

y In their opening match on 22 March 2014, Sri Lanka

beat South Africa by five runs after making 160/7 with Kusal Perera top-scoring with 61 off 40. Then they demolished the Netherlands by bowling them out for 39 in 10.3 overs and winning the match by nine wickets. Then they lost against England, despite Jayawardene making a 51-ball 89 and Tillakaratne Dilshan making 55 in 47, in a total of 189/4. England’s opener Alex Hales demolished the Sri Lankan bowling with an unbeaten 64-ball 116. Kulasekara took all four wickets for 32 runs. The captaincy shifted from Chandimal to Malinga and Sri Lanka won the decisive New Zealand game by 59 runs at Chattogram on 31 March. Defending 119, Herath bowled a spectacular spell – 3-3-2-3-5 – to curtail Kiwis’ reply to just 60 in 15.3 overs, leading Sri Lanka to the fourth straight semi-finals of the competition, following 2009 (in England), 2010 (in the West Indies), and 2012 (in Sri Lanka) achievements

y In the 3 April semi-finals, Sri Lanka beat the West Indies by 27 runs under the DLS Method. Thirimanne and Mathews made 44 and 40 respectively to guide them to 160/6. Windies were 80/4 in 13.5 overs when rain halted play at Chattogram. By then, they had to be at 108, short of 28 runs according to the DLS Method. Malinga had taken 2/5 in two by then

Sri Lanka squad (15):Dinesh Chandimal (Captain

for the first three matches), Lasith malinga (Captain for the last three matches), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Sachithra Senanayake, and Seekkuge Prasanna

Fifth time coming: Sri Lanka celebrated victory in a global event final after four straight disappointments

6th T20 World Cup 2016: The West Indies stamp T20 authority

y Dates: 8 March-3 April

y Host: India

y Champions: The West Indies (2nd title) under Darren Sammy

y Runners-up: England under Eoin Morgan

y Losing semi-finalists: New Zealand and India

y Final: On 3 April at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the West Indies beat England by four wickets as Marlon Samuels “doing it again” – 85 not out in 66 balls – as Windies chased 156 to win. They were home with just two deliveries to go. In England’s 155/9, Joe Root made a 36-ball 54 as Carlos Brathwaite took 3/32. In the West Indies’ reply, David Willey took 3/20 for England. Before a capacity crowd of 66,000, Brathwaite struck four consecutive sixes in the last over, bowled by Ben Stokes, as they needed 19 off it. Samuels thus became the Man of the Final for a second time.

y Participants: 16

y Matches: 35

y Player of the Series: Virat Kohli (India)

y Most runs: Tamim Iqbal of Bangladesh – 295 runs

y Most wickets: Mohammad Nabi of Afghanistan – 12 wickets

Sri Lanka: y Sri Lanka played straight in the “Super 10” round along with Afghanistan, England, South Africa, and the West Indies

y Both Afghanistan and Bangladesh got through to the Super 10 from the eight-team first stage or qualifiers

y In their opening match on 17 March 2016, Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by six wickets, chasing 154 to win at the Eden Gardens. Thisara Perera took 3/33 before Dilshan struck a fiery 83 not out off 56 balls. Coming to Bangalore for their second match, the Sri Lankans lost to the Windies by seven wickets. They posted only 122/9, which was chased down by the West Indies in 18.2 overs with Andre Fletcher making an unbeaten 84 in 64. On 26 March at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi, Sri Lanka were eliminated from the tournament by England. They made 171/4 and then restricted Sri Lanka to 161/8 to win the match by 10 runs. Mathews made 73 not out as Chris Jordan took 4/28 for England

Sri Lanka squad (15):Angelo Mathews

(Captain), Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Dasun Shanaka, Milinda Siriwardana, Lahiru Thirimanne, and Jeffrey Vandersay

Darren Sammy lifted the West Indies’ second T20 World Cup at Kolkata on 3 April 2016

Carlos Brathwaite struck four consecutive sixes (24 runs) off Ben Stokes in the final over when they needed as many as 19 runs

1873 Birth of the renowned American track-and-field athlete Ray Ewry who won eight Olympic gold medals through 1900, 1904, and 1908 Summer Games

1952 Birth of the Soviet-Russian gymnast Nikolai Adrianov, who won four Olympic golds, two silvers, and two bronzes in the 1976 Games in Montreal, Canada

1953 Birth of the first Black man to play for England. Roland Butcher was born in Barbados but came to England at 14 years of age. After his success with Middlesex, he was called up for a match against Australia at Edgbaston in 1980. He made 52 off 38 balls as England won by 47 runs

1964 Previously unheard-of American distance runner Billy Mills made a major upset by winning the 10,000 m at the Tokyo Olympics, beating Mohammed Gammoudi of Tunisia by 0.4 seconds. He is the only American to have ever won the event

1976 Birth of former Sri Lankan cricket Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan, the originator of “Dilscoop”. He burst onto the international scene with an unbeaten 163 against Zimbabwe in his first series in 1999. He made a comeback in 2003. Six years later

he was promoted to the top of the order with great success. He scored 11 international hundreds in the year and was the 2009 T20 World Cup Player of the Series. The year before that, he unveiled a shot – a flick over the wicket-keeper’s head, nicknamed the “Dilscoop” – that made the world sit up! He will be 45 today

1977 Birth of Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. Though reported for a suspect action early in his career after troubling Australia with his “Doosras” in a one-day series in the UAE in 2009, Ajmal returned after being cleared and took 13 wickets in Pakistan’s successful 2009 T20 World Cup campaign in England

1979 Birth of Sri Lankan fast-bowling all-rounder Hasantha Fernando. He was fast-tracked into Sri Lanka’s one-day team in 2003 after one full first-class season under his belt with the Sebastianites Sports Club. He made his one-day debut against Bangladesh in August 2002. He toured South Africa later that year but his Test debut in Johannesburg was forgettable due to the fact that he was dismissed for a pair! He made a comeback after a three-year hiatus for the tour of Bangladesh and was later recalled for the T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007

1981 Birth of World Cup-winning Indian batter Gautam Gambhir. He delivered stellar performances for India in the inaugural T20 World Cup with three half-centuries. In Tests, between July 2008 and January 2010, he made seven half-centuries and eight centuries, including a double, in 25 innings. In 2011, Gambhir delivered a match-winning 97 in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka

1983 Birth of Chinese badminton player Lin Dan. He was a two-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion

1988 Birth of hard-hitting Australian batter Glen Maxwell. Maxwell is known for outrageous reverse sweeps and switch hits that clear the ropes at the world’s biggest grounds. He made his international debut in 2012 but it was in the Indian Premier League (IPL) the following year that his batting, for Kings XI Punjab, became a revelation. At the 2015 World Cup, he blasted a 51-ball century against Sri Lanka in Sydney; the fastest for Australia in ODIs and the second quickest in World Cup history

1993 Birth of Australian spinner Ashton Agar who had a dream Test debut, coming in to bat at No. 11 with Australia at 117/9 in the first Ashes Test of 2013, at Trent Bridge. Agar struck an astonishing 98 – the highest Test score ever by a No. 11 batsman. He dismissed Alastair Cook too, in the same match and became the first teenaged Australian spinner to take a Test wicket

2001 German Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher won his fourth Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship by 58 points from David Coulthard, while also winning the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka for his ninth win of the season

2018 Afghan batsman Hazratullah Zazai became only the sixth player in cricket history, and third in T20s, to hit six-sixes in an over

ON THIS DAY14 OCTOBER

Roland Butcher, the first Black man to play international cricket for England

Billy Mills in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics won the men’s 10,000 m and became the only American to have ever won the event

Kalutara Vidyalaya old boy Tillakaratne Dilshan in 1999. Happy birthday to him

Hasantha Fernando

Thursday, October 14, 2021

sports

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

� www.themorning.lk

Kenyan world record holder Tirop killed?

Kenyan world record holder Agnes Tirop had been found dead at her home in the western town of Iten yesterday (13), with police treating her husband as a suspect. The two-time World Athletics Championships bronze medallist, who finished fourth in the Olympic 5,000 m final two months ago, was 25. Police

said her husband has gone missing following her death. Yesterday, crime scene investigators were at the house of Tirop, who police said was reported missing by her father on Tuesday (12) night.

Mahela joins Sri Lanka squad as Lions beat the Tigers

Sri Lanka’s lower order bailed them out from a precarious situation to secure a tight win over Bangladesh in their first warm-up game in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (12), before the T20 World Cup that starts on Sunday (17). Ace mentor and Coach Mahela Jayawardene had joined the Sri Lanka squad in Abu Dhabi and is expected to see Sri Lanka through to the Super-12 stage by qualifying from the tournament’s first round. Chasing 148, Sri Lanka had slumped to 79/6 in 12 overs before Avishka Fernando (62 off 42 balls) and Chamika Karunaratne (29 in 25) put together an unbroken 69-run stand to seal victory for Sri Lanka with one over to spare.

COMPILED BY RANJIKA PERERA

Germany became the first team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar after beating North Macedonia 4-0 on Tuesday (12) in Skopje, ‎North Macedonia. Timo Werner continued his goal-scoring form with a brace while his Chelsea team-mate Kai Havertz and teenage sensation Jamal Musiala scored a goal each.

England were left frustrated by the visiting Hungarians as they held on to a 1-1 draw at Wembley yesterday (13). Hungary took an early lead through a successful penalty by Rolland Sallai. England found the equaliser within 10 minutes through John Stones, but failed to find the winner during the remainder of the game.

Ronaldo’s heroicsHowever, there was trouble

in the stand where it was reported that fights had broken out between Hungary fans and police during the game. Police and stewards gathered around one of the entrances to the stand as they clashed with fans who pushed up the stairs and managed to keep the security

forces back. Images emerged of the Police using batons as the away fans rushed towards them.

Portugal produced an “A-class performance” against Luxembourg yesterday in Algarve, Portugal to secure three points in Group “A”. Christian Ronaldo scored two penalties 13 minutes before Bruno Fernandes and João Palhinha further increased the lead to put the result beyond doubt, while Ronaldo struck his 115th international goal later on.

It is yet another record for the all-time leading goal scorer as he becomes the first-ever footballer to score 10 hat-tricks for their country. He has now struck 54 times in his last 49 matches since October 2016. He also has 58 hat-tricks in his career, three more than Lionel Messi.

FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 QATAR – EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS

Germany secure qualification

Christiano Ronaldo makes history with his tenth hat-trick for his country, Portugal

The Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2021 will commence on 5 December 2021 at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, with the inaugural game scheduled to be played between Galle and Jaffna starting at 7.30 p.m.

The official schedule of the 19-day tournament was released by its organisers, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), yesterday (13). The final is set to be held on Thursday, 23 December with the following day, 24 December, as a reserve day for the encounter.

In Colombo and Hambantota

The first round of the tournament, which will consist of 20 games will be played at the R. Premadasa before the tournament moves to the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota for the three play-offs of the top four teams in the five-team tournament.

“The Lanka Premier League 2021 which is Sri Lanka’s topmost domestic tournament, with an international flavour, will consist of 24 games and will see the participation of topmost domestic and international cricketers,” SLC said yesterday.

The play-offs The final round or the play-

offs are to see the top two teams

in the points table playing the Qualifier-1 whilst the third and fourth on the points table playing in the Eliminator.

The winner of Qualifier-1 will enter directly into the finals while the losing team of Qualifier-1 will play against the winner of the Eliminator in the Qualifier-2. The winner of the Qualifier-2 will meet the winner of Qualifier-1 in the 23 December final.

Last edition In the 23-match first edition,

Wanindu Hasaranga of Jaffna Stallions became the Player of the Tournament. He was the highest wicket-taker in that edition with a total of 17 scalps under his belt. Danushka Gunathilaka of the runner-up franchise, Galle Gladiators, was the highest run-getter with 476 runs at an average of 59.50. Earlier there were plans to increase the number of teams from five to six but SLC later confirmed that five teams would take part, as per the first edition of the tournament which was held 26 November to 16 December

entirely at Hambantota.

The organisersIn June, former Sri Lanka

player and team Manager Charith Senanayake was appointed as the Chairman of the LPL Technical Committee for the 2021 edition. SLC Vice President Ravin Wickramaratne heads the organising of the LPL from SLC.

The Dubai-based Innovative Production Group (IPG) is the main television and events rights holder of the LPL.

Change of franchise owners

In June, SLC agreed to terminate Colombo Kings and the Dambulla Viiking franchises of the inaugural edition, reportedly due to financial issues. The following month, SLC also terminated the franchise of the Jaffna Stallions. In September, Dambulla Viiking changed their name to Dambulla Giants after changing the franchise’s ownership. Jaffna Stallions also changed their name to Jaffna Kings later that month, that too, owing to ownership change in the franchise.

Originally, the tournament was scheduled to be held between 30 July and 22 August. On 9 July, it

was rescheduled to be held from 19 November to 12 December 2021 due to unavailability of overseas players, but last month SLC confirmed the annual franchise league will go ahead in December this year.

LPL 2021 schedule out z LPL-2 to get off on 5 December in Colombo with the final round set for Hambantota

LPL FRANCHISES – DETAILS

Key: Name of Franchise / Team Captain / Head Coach / Icon Player / Owner

1. Dambulla Giants / Dasun Shanaka / - / - / Qamar Khan (Hamro Foundation)

2. Galle Gladiators / Bhanuka Rajapaksa / Moin Khan / Lasith Malinga / Nadeem Omar (Omar Associates)

3. Jaffna Kings / - / - / - / Subaskaran Allirajah (Lyca Group)

4. Kandy Tuskers / Kusal Perera / Hashan Tillakaratne / Kusal Perera / Sohail Khan (SK International LLP) and Abbas Muni

5. (Colombo Kings)* / - / - / - / -

*LPL first edition’s name of the franchise

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LANKA PREMIER LEAGUE (LPL) 2021 – MATCH SCHEDULE

Date 3.00 p.m. (day match) 7.30 p.m. (night match) Venue

3 December, Friday Practice

4 December, Saturday Practice

5 December, Sunday Opening Ceremony Galle Jaffna RPICS

6 December, Monday Dambulla Kandy Colombo Galle RPICS

7 December, Tuesday Jaffna Dambulla Kandy Galle RPICS

8 December, Wednesday Colombo Dambulla Kandy Jaffna RPICS

9 December, Thursday Rest and Practice

10 December, Friday Dambulla Galle Jaffna Colombo RPICS

11 December, Saturday Galle Kandy Colombo Dambulla RPICS

12 December, Sunday Jaffna Kandy Galle Colombo RPICS

13 December, Monday Galle Dambulla RPICS

14 December, Tuesday Kandy Colombo Dambulla Jaffna RPICS

15 December, Wednesday Rest and Practice

16 December, Thursday Colombo Jaffna Kandy Dambulla RPICS

17 December, Friday Jaffna Galle Colombo Kandy RPICS

18 December, Saturday Travelling to Hambantota

19 December, Sunday Rest and Practice

20 December, Monday Eliminator (E) – 3rd vs. 4th Qualifier-1 (Q1) – 1st vs. 2nd MRICS

21 December, Tuesday Q-2 - “E” Winner vs. “Q1” Loser MRICS

22 December, Wednesday Rest and Practice

23 December, Thursday Final MRICS

24 December, Friday (Reserve Day) MRICS

SAFF FOOTBALL 2021 IN THE MALDIVES

Nepal makes history, enters maiden SAFF final

For the first time in their sporting history, Nepal advanced to the final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship after they drew 1-1 against Bangladesh in their last group stage match yesterday (13) here at the National Stadium in Malé.

Bangladesh got into a perfect start when they found the back of the net in the ninth minute when Sumon Reza headed home, with a diving effort, to take the early lead. A draw was sufficient for Nepal yesterday to confirm their berth in the finals.

Equaliser in 88th minute

In the 88th minute, though, Nepal were awarded a penalty and they successfully converted it through Anjan Bista to level scores and take Nepal into the final of the SAFF, the main football championship of the South Asian region, which

was launched in 1993 and was previously named as the South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Gold Cup as well as the SAFF Gold Cup. Sri Lanka was the first country to be eliminated from the SAFF this year and the final is to be held on Saturday (16) at 8.30 p.m. Sri Lankan time.

Tuesday, 12 October

y Sri Lankan football team had arrived at the Bandaranaike Airport after leaving Malé

y Sri Lanka “winger” Mohamed Akib travelled to Qatar straight from here to participate in the Under-23 Asian Qualifiers

y From midnight yesterday (Monday, 11), through early morning today, long queues were seen at the streets here with people eagerly expecting to buy tickets for the last league match between India and the Maldives, to be held on Wednesday (13)

y Nepal is to meet Bangladesh also on Wednesday at 4 p.m. before the Maldives take on India at 9 p.m.

here at the National Football Stadium in Malé

y Maldivian football fans are hoping to see a grand finale on Saturday (16) as their team currently leads the five-team points table with two wins out of three, with one draw

Wednesday, 13 October

y The stadium is packed with the Maldivian soccer fans who were awaiting their night match against India

y Easily, this was the largest crowd seen in the tournament so far

y Going by their reactions, the fans looked somewhat unhappy over the overall refereeing of the competition

y The security has tightened noticeably for today’s two matches

y Bangladesh team looked overly heartbroken after their 1-1 result over Nepal

SAFF DIARY FROM MALÉ

Maldivian football fans wait in long queues to purchase tickets on Tuesday (12) for the Maldives vs. India match of the SAFF Championship, which was set to be held last night at 9.30 p.m. Sri Lankan time

The Nepal football team made its sporting history yesterday (13) by reaching the SAFF Championship final at the National Stadium in Malé, Maldives by drawing their final league match against Bangladesh 1-1

RPICS – R. PREMADASA INTERNATIONAL CRICKET STADIUM, COLOMBOMRICS – MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA INTERNATIONAL CRICKET STADIUM, HAMBANTOTA

BY CHATHURA RANASINGHE IN THE MALDIVES