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Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero, who is due to be appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Colombo, speaking to ITN said he will not be quitting from the trade union leadership despite being appointed in any post.

Pointing out that the role of a Chancellor has nothing to do but attend the graduation ceremony, the Thera noted that he is not ready to compromise his independence due to the post of Chancellor. The role as the President of the Public Service United Nurses Association will not be an obstacle to the post of Chancellor either, he added.

Responding to a query whether it would not be a matter of morality had a Chancellor been to a strike action, the Thera emphasised that the Public Service United Nurses Association is not a trade union that launches strike actions. He added that it is his trade union’s role to minimise strike actions as much as possible and therefore there is no problem in accepting the post of Chancellor as the Chief of the Public Service United Nurses Association. In any event was a strike action conducted, nurses are the ones to attend it and not him as the Chairman, the Thero pointed out.

Ananda Thera also revealed that he has been trying to retire from his post as this Union President given the period of time he served in the post, but the members do not allow him to do so.

The Thera also suggested that he has no qualification to accept a post such as the post of Chancellor and therefore the matter of qualification should be inquired from the President, who recommended him for the post in the first place.

LNW

Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamamge told exclusively to News 1st that the Sri Lankan Government’s position on the Chinese Organic Fertilizer consignment was conveyed to the Chinese Ambassador.

A delegation from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, led by the Chinese Embassy personnel visited the Agriculture Ministry on Monday (8) to discuss the matter, he told News 1st.

However, the Minister declined to comment further citing that legal case is pending with courts over the matter.

The meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture took place with relevant stakeholders as per a request made by the Chinese Ambassador.

The General Manager of Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd and its Chief Technical Officer Anna Song was present at the meeting.

It was reported that though she attempted to make comments to the media, Chinese Embassy personnel prevented her from doing so.

The delegation was taken away when News 1st questioned on what grounds the Chinese Company will file an action against local institutions.

News 1st

Sri Lanka’s Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena on Thursday (11) said the Health Ministry has decided to make it compulsory to obtain prior approval from relevant authorities for gatherings, activities, and events.

“The objective by new regulation is to prevent an event of super-spreading of COVID-19 in the country,” said the Director General of Health Services on the Extraordinary Gazette issued by the Health Minister on Thursday (11), adding serious concern should be given to rising COVID-19 number as it could lead to another wave.

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella issued a new gazette on COVID-19 amending the Quarantine Ordinance making it compulsory to obtain prior approval from relevant authorities for gatherings, activities, and events.

The amendments relate to a gathering, activity, or event held within or outside a Covid infected locality.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today informed the Supreme Court that Rev. Father Cyril Gamini Fernando will not be arrested at this moment.

The CID informed the court of this through the Attorney General’s Department, when the fundamental rights (FR) petition filed by Fr. Cyril Gamini seeking an injunction order preventing him from being arrested, was taken up today (08).

Appearing on behalf of the CID’s Director, Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya pledged before the court that there were no plans to arrest Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini at this moment.

He stated that following the conclusion of investigations, a decision on this is expected to be taken based on the advice of the Attorney General.

President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsakularatne, who was appearing on behalf of Fr. Cyril Gamini, informed the court that his client is ready to appear before the CID and make a statement at the appropriate time of notification.

Justice Vijith Malalgoda, chair of the three-member judge bench, notified the Additional Solicitor General to give sufficient time and summon the petitioner to the CID to record a statement.

On October 25, the Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General Suresh Sallay had filed a complaint with the CID pertaining to the allegations made by Fr. Gamini and several other individuals during an online forum held on October 23 to brief Sri Lankan community living overseas on the Easter Sunday attacks.

The complaint referred to comments made by Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini, who is a member of the National Catholic Committee for Justice to Easter Sunday Attack Victims, during the online forum alleging that the country’s intelligence units had provided financial and other assistance to Zahran Hashim, the leader of the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) who was behind the suicide bombings.

The complaint states that it was also alleged, during the webinar, that the then-Brigadier Suresh Sallay had played an active role in nurturing Zahran Hashim and his followers.

Major General Sallay had strongly denied the allegations leveled by Father Cyril Gamini and others during the webinar while also charging that the allegations were “made with the intention of discrediting him” and are completely false.

Fr. Cyril Gamini, who was summoned by the CID the following day to record a statement in connection with the complaint filed by the SIS chief, had requested for one week’s time to provide the statement.

The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 16 more coronavirus-related deaths for November 09, pushing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 13,908.

This includes 08 males and 08 female patients, according to the Department of Government Information.

Two of the victims are aged between 30-59 years, and 14 others are aged 60 years and above.

The Director General of Health Services has confirmed another 15 coronavirus related deaths for November 06, increasing the death toll in the country due to virus to 13,856.

According to the figures released today, the deaths include 08 males and 07 females.

Three of the patients are between the ages of 30-59 years while the rest are aged 60 years and above.

Daily count on new coronavirus cases climbs to 626

The Health Ministry says that 168 more persons have tested positive for Covid-19, increasing the daily count of new cases to 626.

This is the third consecutive day that the daily count of new cases has exceeded 600.

The total number of coronavirus cases reported in the country thus far has risen to 545,256 with this.

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to lodge a complaint, says Ada Derana correspondent.

The complaint is filed over an accusation leveled by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka with regard to the Nano Nitrogen fertilizer shipment imported from India.

The government has decided to arbitrarily rob the retirement payments of the innocent pensioners in the country, revealed Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa upon visiting the Nedigamwila Rajamaha Vihara Temple and receiving blessings from Venerable Dhurandara Uyanwatte Saddharama Thero, the Anunayake of the Amarapura Siri Saddhamma Yukthika Order today (06).

Revealing that these payments are to be deducted under the pretext of crediting the pensioners’ money to Agrahara Insurance, the Opposition Leader added that the government will definitely collect these monies from the retirees should they fail to respond to such a request within two weeks.

The government is trying to make up for loss incurred due to harbouring the rich upon its reigning in via tax reliefs by draining the retired senior citizens who had committed themselves hard for the country for many years, Premadasa added, pledging that he would unconditionally be taking action against this most detestable act.

Expressing his disgust over the government’s fraudulent and shameless move to strategically slash the retirement payments of hundred of thousands of pensioners in the country in the guise of strengthening Agrahara Insurance, the Opposition Leader disclosed that the government issued the latest circular on October 29, 2021 to deduct Rs. 600 from retirees over age 70 and Rs. 400 from retirees below age 70 who retired before 01.01.2016.

The circular demands that the pensioners should read the circular and express within two weeks whether they are opposed to receiving the money, he revealed, questioning as to how many retirees in Sri Lanka would be reading this piece of document. This would be a shameless robbery committed by the government which is violent enough to seek vengeance on the innocent pensioners who are living their old age, Premadasa emphasised, promising that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will be taking every possible action against this act.

The Opposition Leader also joined in inspecting the Nedigamwila Navoda Community Water Supply Project.

Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa has agreed to settle one-third of the salary anomalies of teachers and principals in one full payment, instead of in three instalments as proposed previously.

This agreement was reached at a discussion attended by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Basil Rajapaksa and representatives of teacher trade unions today (10).

It came several months after teacher and principal TUs launched a struggle to win their demands.

Responding, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union, Joseph Stalin said they expect to issue a joint statement on the said decision.

He said that their trade union action will not end until the full implementation of the Subodhini Committee recommendations.

The Director General of Health Services has confirmed another 15 coronavirus related deaths for November 04, increasing the country’s death toll due to the virus to 13,821.

The deaths confirmed by the Govt. Information Department today include 06 males and 09 females while two of the victims are between the ages of 30 to 59.

The remaining 13 are in the age category of 60 years and above.

The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 17 more coronavirus-related deaths for November 08, pushing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 13,892.

This includes 10 males and 07 female patients, according to the Department of Government Information.

Two of the victims are aged between 30-59 years, and 14 others are aged 60 years and above. The remaining victim is a male aged below 30 years.

An Extraordinary Gazette Notification has been issued removing the maximum retail prices imposed on a number of essential food items including sugar, dhal, potatoes, big onions and chicken.

The new Gazette Notification has revoked 7 gazette notifications issued by the Government setting maximum retail prices for these essential food items.

This gazette notification has been issued with the signature of the Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority Major General Shantha Dissanayake with effect from yesterday (03).