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The Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan officially handed over the equipment to President Maithripala Sirisena at President’s Office on Friday (27), the President’s Media Division said.

These modern apparatus was donated to Sri Lanka upon a request made by President Sirisena and it is the first occasion where such high-tech machines have been used for public security and drug apprehension activities in Sri Lanka.

Three robotic machines which can detect explosives and drugs within the range of 3km are among these donations. The value of each machine is LKR 85.5 million.

The three explosive detectors worth LKR 90.5 million each have been designed to sense explosives and weapons hidden in the human body automatically.

This donation also included 50 X-ray Security Inspection systems to search parcels and luggage. The total value stands at LKR 210.5 million.

The Chinese government has also donated 25 Walk Through Safety Inspection Gates worth LKR 6.5 million to detect weapons.

The value of 25 Hand Held Vehicle Scanners is Rs. 3.2 million.

The donation also includes 500 Hand Held Metal Detectors worth Rs. 2.75 million will be utilized by the Security Forces to detect automatic weapons carried by individuals.

The US government is currently assisting to make Arugam Bay a sustainable, green tourist destination.

Through an initiative called “Waste Less Arugam Bay,” sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the project provides free drinking water at refill stations, recycles plastic bottles, and promotes the benefits of reducing plastic waste.

In Arugam Bay alone, since April 2018, more than 230,000 bottles have been mitigated from entering landfills or the ocean.

The website www.getwater.lk details the 35 locations of water refill stations across Sri Lanka.

“Reducing plastic waste not only preserves the beauty of Sri Lanka’s oceans and waterways for future generations but protects the livelihoods of people and promotes tourism during a downturn,” U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz said.  “It means fishermen can count on a decent catch, communities can access locally-made recycled goods and most importantly tourists can visit pristine beaches.”

Under the programme, local businesses in Arugam Bay have received bins to separate plastic bottles from other waste, and each day, a vehicle collects and transports plastic bottles to a facility where they are turned into 100 percent recycled plastic polyester yarn, reducing the need for new plastic in polyester production.

Community outreach and education is key. Visitors and locals learn about the potential harm of plastics to the environment and human health and ways they can help reduce waste.

The USAID Municipal Waste Recycling Program works with partners throughout Sri Lanka to reduce marine environment degradation caused by plastic and polythene waste.

Rajapaksa addressing the media has asked how a person who could not even win the Tissamaharama electorate and Hambantota could win the entire country.

The Opposition Leader has made these comments in response to the questions asked by journalists at the Opposition Leader’s Office.

When asked about the UNP Working Committee nominating Premadasa's name as the presidential candidate, Rajapaksa said he was extremely happy.

Rajapaksa added that the UNP’s elephant symbol has not been given to Premadasa and that he has to contest under the swan symbol, which was given to Sarath Fonseka and President Maithripala Sirisena.

Attanayake’s pledge comes in response to Premadasa’s request to Attanayake and other members of the UNP who have left the party to re-join the UNP noting that any issues can be resolved through discussion.

Issuing a statement, Premadasa called on all those who had left the UNP to re-unite and engage in activities to develop the country.

“I request all Provincial Council members, Local Government members who distanced themselves from the UNP to join hands with me,” Premadasa said in his statement.

While commending on the request made by Premadasa, the former UNP stalwart said the reason that led him to vacate the party was because of the party’s decision not to field a UNP candidate in the 2015 presidential poll.

“I think what I have been hoping for, is going to be a reality that a UNP candidate is going to contest at the presidential poll, I have decided to render my support to you,” Attanayake said issuing a statement.

Accordingly, the committee is expected to study and identify the issue of salary anomalies of public servants in different sectors and recommend ways and means to resolve the issues.

The committee comprises of Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Vajira Abeywardene, Dr Rajitha Senaratne, Arujna Ranatunga and State Minister Eran Wickramaratne.

UNP General Secretary, Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has told the media that these five members were expelled as they had violated the interests of the party during the constitutional crisis in 2018.

“I will ensure the implementation of the 2015 mandate on the Executive Presidency,” he told the media.

Speaking at a press conference last night following the UNP Parliamentary Group Meeting at the party headquarters, Sirikotha, Premadasa said he did not accept any preconditions nor sign any deals with anybody for the presidential candidature.

Meanwhile, the UNP Working Committee passed a motion when endorsing Premadasa’s candidature that he would take forward the constitutional reform process that was initiated during the term of the present government.

The resolution also said it would proceed with the process of advancing power devolution, evolving electoral reforms and scrapping the executive presidency.

The resolution will be ratified at the party’s convention on October 3.

Commenting further on the matter, Premadasa said:

“I have not been informed of any conditions. But I must make my self clear. I am not someone who will demean the country’s honour, party's honour, or the front’s honour and also my own self-respect to benefit. There may have been individuals like that in the past but Sajith Premadasa is not a man of that calibre.”

“I will not do anything cheap after being subjected to terms and conditions. Therefore, Sajith Premadasa is not prepared to accept the candidacy subject to conditions. There is no doubt about that,” he said.

Sajith Premadasa is set to meet Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today (25) to express his views on the matter. Jayasuriya has been playing the role of mediator to bring both Wickremesinghe and Premadasa to a consensus.

If appointed as President, when will he step down?

Meanwhile according to some Pro-Rajapaksa social media sites, among the conditions is one that says “Sajith agreed to appoint Ranil as the executive Prime Minister after 6 months of being appointed”.

However, it has been revealed to theleader.lk that this news is completely false. While this had been discussed during a meeting between Sajith, Ranil and Malik. However, Sajith had retorted, “When you resign as Prime Minister, on that day I will resign from the Presidency and accept the Premiership”.

Ranil Wickremesinghe had not objected to this, sources said.

The sudden emergence of a strong ruling party candidate caught many, including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother, SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, by surprise.

It will not be a surprise for the people if Gotabaya Rajapaksa is disqualified for his foul start and his illicit passport and parents' monument saga.  

A number of key SLFP members are to join Sajith Premadasa with more defections to follow dealing a major blow to Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is becoming unpopular day by day.  

While Gotabaya is still the frontrunner, it can no longer be taken for granted that Sajith, with his political experience has started his sprint bubbling with confidence to win the presidential race.     

The pressure is now mounting on politically inexperienced Gotabaya Rajapaksa who started his run for presidency early and now loosing stamina and vigor.

For the first time in years, the ruling UNF, together with critical voices among Sri Lanka’s beleaguered civil society, are sensing that Sajith’s win is a real possibility after several weeks of internal bickering .

At the same time, the sudden emergence of Sajith Premadsa as the presidential candidate increases his winning chances after the wide spread publicity received by him for his struggle with the party leader to clinch the candidacy.    

The Rajapaksas are almost certain to deploy the full resources – money, vehicles, radio, TV and newspapers of his camp , civil servants and the police – in support of Gotabaya’s victory, and are widely expected to do whatever is needed to get back into power. The tighter the race, the more violent it will be.