FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM

COVID-19Suwasariya Ambulance

Service 1990

� Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 � Hotline 0113456200-4

� Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 � Email ptf@pmoffice.gov.lk

PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES

COVID-19 CASES IN

THE WORLD

TOTAL CASES

8,476,318DEATHS

452,084RECOVERD

4,444,418

CASES DEATHSUSA 2,235,734 119,959 BRAZIL 960,309 46,665 RUSSIA 561,091 7,660 INDIA 368,705 12,280UK 299,251 42,153494

DEATHS

11RECOVERED

1,421

ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES

1,926 � Quarantine Unit

0112 112 705

� Epidemiology Unit 0112 695 112

� Govt. coronavirus hotline 0113071073

Health Promotion

Bureau 1999

For verified information on the coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any of the following authorities

THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 7.00 P.M. ON 18 JUNE 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU

epaper.themorning.lkepaper.aruna.lk

www.themorning.lkwww.aruna.lk

SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2

epaper.themorning.lkepaper.aruna.lk

www.themorning.lkwww.aruna.lk

Probe to conclude soon: Police

EASTER SUNDAY ATTACKS

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR LGS AFFECTED BY COVID-19

Govt. looks at bailing out LGs

z Govt. collecting details from LG bodies

z Provincial chief secretaries seek assistance

BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA

The Government is considering providing financial assistance to local government (LG) bodies that were affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Secretary J.J. Ratnasiri.

Ratnasiri told The Morning that provincial chief secretaries had

requested for assistance at a meeting held recently, but that no final decision

had been taken yet.“Concerns were raised as LGs did

not have any income during the Covid-19-related curfew period. Therefore, these institutions are now facing financial difficulty.

However, since the country has now reopened, LGs have also resumed operations,” Ratnasiri said.

Contd. on page 2

The Finance Company PLC depositors staged a protest outside the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo yesterday (18), urging the authorities to settle their payments promptly PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE

Pay up!

While the fertiliser shortage is being attended to, currently, any further shortages are due to excess usage by farmers, The Morning learnt.

National Fertiliser Secretariat Director Mahesh Gammanpila, while acknowledging that a

shortage had occurred initially as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, stated that farmers were currently abusing the use of fertiliser.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the country, the local tea industry is currently facing many challenges.

Contd. on page 2

The levy on tea exportation has been temporarily suspended for a period of six months, Minister of Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture and Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said.

The Co-Cabinet Spokesman mentioned

this at a press conference held last morning (18) to announce the Cabinet’s decision. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the country, the local tea industry is currently facing many challenges.

Contd. on page 2

Investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks last year are expected to be concluded soon, Police Media Spokesperson SSP Jaliya Senaratne said.

The Appeal Court yesterday (18) rejected a petition seeking an interim injunction on the hearing of a case filed by the Attorney General (AG) against former parliamentarian Sajin de Vass Gunawardena over an alleged money laundering case.

The former parliamentarian has been indicted on the charge of money

laundering amounting to over Rs. 306.26 million, under Section 3 (1) (a) of the Money Laundering Act No. 5 of 2006 as amended by Act No. 40 of 2011.

The order was issued by Appeal Court Justices Achala Wengappuli and Priyantha Fernando following a revision petition filed by Gunawardena.

Contd. on page 2

The Attorney General (AG) has directed the Police to record statements from several key figures of the former Government, including former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, over the controversial Central Bank (CB)

Treasury Bond Scam.AG Dappula de Livera issued these

directives to Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne yesterday (18), the AG’s Co-ordinating Officer said.

Contd. on page 2

The number of leptospirosis cases reported in the month of May reached 1,031, recording the highest number of incidents that was reported for 2020, the Epidemiology Unit’s disease surveillance data revealed.

BY SARAH HANNAN

Accumulated utility bills have become a burden to consumers, with many worried that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will disconnect their power connections in the coming weeks

citing huge outstanding bills, The Morning learnt.

Some consumers have not been able to pay their electricity bills for the past five months due to the extended lockdown period that was in place owing to Covid-19.

Contd. on page 2

The semi-luxury bus service will be discontinued in the coming weeks, The Morning learnt. Minister of Passenger Transport Management Mahinda Amaraweera told The Morning that it had been decided that the semi-luxury bus service must be cancelled.

BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) are looking to work together to further democracy in Sri Lanka.

Former MP and JVP member Bimal Rathnayake said that the announcement by their party leader was to the effect that the two parties would work towards the betterment of democracy.

Contd. on page 2

A new Complaint Unit has been established under the Intelligence Security Unit of the Department of Prisons, enabling the public to lodge any complaints regarding irregularities and other shortcomings in prisons, Acting Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya said.

He told The Morning that any person, whether an inmate, prison official, or outsider, could now lodge complaints with the newly established unit under the already existing Intelligence

Security Unit.The unit can be reached

via the hotline 0112 678 600, Upuldeniya said, adding that 100% confidentiality will be maintained concerning the provided information.

Meanwhile, the Department has also transferred 23 prison officials including eight superintendents and 15 assistant superintendents in prisons around the country with immediate effect, Upuldeniya said.

Contd. on page 2

Japan will grant Rs. 1.3 billion (800 million yen) in aid to Sri Lanka to purchase necessary medical equipment to support the country’s Covid-19 response efforts.

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) yesterday (18) launched an assessment of transparency in corporate reporting amongst the top 50 listed companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), as per market capitalisation on 28 February 2019.

The report “Transparency in Corporate

Reporting (TRAC): Assessing the Top 50 Listed Companies in Sri Lanka” ranks companies on three different thematic areas related to corporate reporting: anti-corruption programmes, transparency in company holdings, and the disclosure of key financial information in domestic operations.

The research found that the average top 50 listed company in Sri Lanka is moderately transparent with a score of 6.73 out of a possible maximum of 10. The companies which recorded the highest overall scores in the assessment are John Keells Holdings, Seylan Bank, Hemas Holdings, National Development

Bank, and People’s Leasing & Finance. Encouragingly, amongst the key

findings of the assessment was the fact that the companies reviewed had an average score of 86% in reporting on company holdings, which is considered significantly transparent.

Contd. on page 2

New unit set up in prisonsz Complaint Unit under Intelligence Security Unit

CENTRAL BANK TREASURY BOND SCAM

Spotlight on Maithri and Ranilz Police directed to record

statements from Maithri, Ranilz Statements also from

Paskaralingam and former People’s Bank GM

SAJIN DE VASS GUNAWARDENA CASE

Appeal Court rejects interim relief on hearing

SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRACY

JVP and FSP to work together

COVID-19 RESPONSE EFFORTS

Japan to grant Rs. 3 b in aid

SEMI-LUXURY BUS SERVICE

To be discontinued

ELECTRICITY BILLS

CEB allows instalments

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL SRI LANKA

Focus on 50 listed companiesz Transparency in corporate reporting assessed z Average top 50 listed company in SL moderately transparent

LEPTOSPIROSIS CASES

Increase by 10-fold

FERTILISER SHORTAGE

Farmers accused of excess use

TEA EXPORTS LEVY

Suspended for six months

The Government Information Department yesterday (18) clarified that the Government had not taken any decision to sign the controversial Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement.

Govt. clarifies stance on MCC

the morningFriday, June 19, 2020

2 OPINION/NEWS

Contd. from page 1

Cartoon of the day

RANDOMISED EVALUATION OF COVID-19 THERAPY TRIAL ROTARY AND SLSI LAUNCH

In an innovative move in the backdrop of Sri Lanka crossing 1,800 Covid-19 patients with 11 deaths, the top service organisation Rotary teamed up with the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) to launch the first certification for a “Covid Control Environment” in Sri Lanka.

SLSI Director General Dr. Siddhika Senaratne said: “We worked right through the lockdown time period on the idea mooted by Rotary for a ‘Covid Control Environment’ certification; technically, we call it the ‘Covid-19 Safety Management System Certification’ and we are pleased to offer this to Sri Lanka so that we can bring in systems to ensure ‘new normal’ behaviour expected to fight the lethal virus, Covid-19.”

SLSI is the only entity that is gazetted to develop new systems and develop the quality-conscious environment needed in Sri Lanka. It is an entity under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation.

We must use the certification to support the export ventures to become more competitive, voiced Dr. Senaratne

“To make this ‘new normal’ behaviour systematic, together with SLSI, the Covid-19 Safety Management System Certification has been developed and launched and we are proud to mention that the Trelleborg companies in Sri Lanka are the first set of companies to be awarded this certification. In fact, this might be the first company globally to have this certification,” said Rotary: Stop the Spread Project Director Dr.

Rohantha Athukorala.Commenting on the prestigious

accolade, Trelleborg Managing Director (MD) Sanjay Melvani said: “This award is a testimony to the spirit of humanity that is deeply engraved in the culture of the company. Trelleborg continued working from 28 March, when the country was in lockdown, and to date has been working due to the high degree of safety protocols that was followed.

“Trelleborg upped the standard, moving in conjunction with the Government’s strictest health protocols to ensure next-to-infallible safety. White cue marks dotted the walkway to enforce social distancing. Sanitisation chambers were used at each factory site, achieving and surpassing government regulations. Large posters cautioning the severity of Covid-19 stood watch at nearly every corner. Trelleborg’s team of experts didn’t settle for ‘OK’. They focussed on detail with passion to keep the Covid-19 virus away,” said Melvani.

Elaborating further, the MD said as step one, Trelleborg

employees were educated by medical professionals on why washing hands was the pivot to fighting the Covid-19 virus, along with the nature of the situation and the vital importance of safety. “To make it a habit, this is strictly implemented with strong internal communication on the importance of following the new normal,” shared Melvani.

Step two was how to keep immunity up whilst the office and factory spaces were redesigned to ensure distance is maintained between the workers. PHIs (public health inspectors) were commissioned to monitor and inspect employee meals, and every worker was and still is provided with health supplements, including vitamins B and C daily, emphasised Melvani.

“Trelleborg becomes the first company in Sri Lanka to be certified by SLSI to be a ‘Covid Control Environment’; this is the corporate footprint the company wishes to leave on Earth. It may also be the first company globally to be certified as such,” said Dr. Athukorala.

Covid Control Environment certification in Sri Lanka

Trelleborg MD Sanjay Melvani accepting the certification from SLSI Director General Dr. Siddhika Senaratne

Chief investigators of the Randomised Evaluation of Covid-19 therapy (RECOVERY) trial on dexamethasone, Prof. Peter Horby and Prof. Martin Landray, in a statement released on Tuesday (16), said that in March of this year, RECOVERY was established as a randomised clinical trial to test a range of potential treatments for Covid-19, including low-dose dexamethasone (a steroid treatment). Over 11,500 patients have been enrolled from over 175 NHS (National Health Service) hospitals in the UK.

On 8 June, recruitment to the dexamethasone arm was halted since, in the view of the trial Steering Committee, sufficient patients had been enrolled to establish whether or not the drug had a meaningful benefit.

A total of 2,104 patients were randomised to receive 6 mg of dexamethasone once per day (either by mouth or by intravenous injection) for 10 days, and were compared with 4,321 patients randomised to usual care alone. Among the patients who received usual care alone, 28-day mortality was highest in those who required ventilation (41%), intermediate in those patients who required oxygen only (25%), and lowest among those who did not require any respiratory intervention (13%).

Dexamethasone reduced deaths by one-third in ventilated patients (rate ratio 0.65 [95% confidence interval 0.48 to 0.88]; p=0.0003) and by one-fifth in other patients receiving oxygen only (0.80 [0.67 to 0.96]; p=0.0021). There was no benefit among those patients who did not require respiratory support (1.22 [0.86 to 1.75]; p=0.14).

Based on these results, one death would be prevented by treatment of around eight ventilated patients or around 25 patients requiring oxygen alone.

Given the public health importance of these results, we are now working to publish the full details as soon as possible, they said.

University of Oxford Nuffield Department of Medicine Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases Peter Horby, who is one of the chief investigators

for the trial, said: “Dexamethasone is the first drug to be shown to improve survival in Covid-19. This is an extremely welcome result. The survival benefit is clear and large in those patients who are sick enough to require oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients. Dexamethasone is inexpensive, on the shelf, and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide.”

University of Oxford Nuffield Department of Population Health Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology Martin Landray, also one of the chief investigators, said: “Since the appearance of Covid-19 six months ago, the search has been on for treatments that can improve survival, particularly in the sickest patients. These preliminary results from the RECOVERY trial are very clear – dexamethasone reduces the risk of death among patients with severe respiratory complications. Covid-19 is a global disease – it is fantastic that the first treatment demonstrated to reduce mortality is one that is instantly available and affordable worldwide.”

More detailsFull details of the study protocol and

related materials are available at www.recoverytrial.net.

A range of potential treatments have been suggested for Covid-19, but it has been unclear whether any of them will turn out to be more effective in improving survival than the usual standard of hospital care which all patients will receive.

The RECOVERY trial is a large, randomised controlled trial of possible treatments for patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19. Over 11,500 patients have been randomised to the following treatment arms, or no additional treatment:

y Lopinavir-ritonavir (commonly used to treat HIV)

y Low-dose dexamethasone (a type of steroid, which typically used to reduce inflammation)

y Hydroxychloroquine (which has now

been stopped due to lack of efficacy) y Azithromycin (a commonly used antibiotic)

y Tocilizumab (an anti-inflammatory treatment given by injection)

y Convalescent plasma (collected from donors who have recovered from Covid-19 and contains antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus)

Overall, dexamethasone reduced the 28-day mortality rate by 17% (0.83 [0.74 to 0.92]; P=0.0007) with a highly significant trend showing greatest benefit among those patients requiring ventilation (test for trend p<0.001).

But it is important to recognise that no evidence of benefit was found for patients who did not require oxygen, and patients outside the hospital setting were not studied. Follow-up is complete for over 94% of participants.

The RECOVERY trial is conducted by the registered clinical trial units with the Nuffield Department of Population Health in partnership with the Nuffield Department of Medicine.

The trial is supported by a grant to the University of Oxford from UK Research and Innovation/National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and by core funding provided by NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Department for International Development, Health Data Research UK, the Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit, and NIHR Clinical Trials Unit Support Funding.

The RECOVERY trial involves many thousands of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and research administrators at over 175 hospitals across the whole of the UK, supported by staff at the NIHR Clinical Research Network, NHS DigiTrials, Public Health England, Public Health Scotland, Department of Health and Social Care, and the NHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

(The Morning does not endorse any of the views expressed in this article)

zApplies to hospitalised Covid-19 patients with severe respiratory complicationsReduces deaths by up to one-third

Govt. looks...Therefore, depending on the need for

financial allocations, the Government will decide on whether LGs require government assistance, he said.

Not only LGs, but all government institutions affected by Covid-19 would be provided with the necessary relief in due course, he added.

The Ministry is currently collecting information with regard to LG bodies, the Secretary said.

There are 347 LG bodies in the country.

Spotlight...In addition to the former President and

Prime Minister, the Police have been directed to record statements from former Advisor to the Prime Minister S. Paskaralingam, and the former People’s Bank General Manager (GM) as well.

New unit...The move was taken on the directives of

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had called for rectifications in the Department recently.

Several other measures have also been taken to ensure the prevention of illegal activities within the prisons, he added.

– Maheesha Mudugamuwa

JVP and...“We will work alongside the Frontline

Socialist Party to eradicate corruption and undemocratic practices in Sri Lanka,” Rathnayake said.

Meanwhile, FSP Propaganda Secretary Duminda Nagamuwa said that this co-operation between the two parties had nothing to do with the upcoming election.

“We will contest the election separately, but our two parties will work in unison to develop and promote democracy in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Appeal...However, the court ordered the issuance of

notices to the respondents to hear a petition filed by Gunawardena, and ordered the objections to be submitted on 3 July.

President’s Counsel (PC) Shavindra Fernando, on behalf of Gunawardena, said that 10 computer hard disks belonging to his client have been included as evidence in the case filed by the AG.

However, pointing out that three of the relevant hard disks cannot be accessed, Fernando PC informed the court that it will be unfair by his client if the evidence was based on the data in those three hard disks.

Fernando PC therefore requested the court to call for an investigative report by submitting all 10 hard disks to the IT Units of either the Colombo or Moratuwa Universities.

CEB allows...With many submitting complaints of being

overcharged for their power usage to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the

Minister of Passenger Transport Management, Power and Energy Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the CEB to grant a grace period for consumers to settle the outstanding amounts.

Speaking to The Morning, Amaraweera requested consumers to settle their electricity bills up to February at the very least, after which they can discuss instalment options pertaining to the bills indicated for the months of March through May, with their respective CEB office.

“Many have lost jobs during the pandemic period and some are only earning 65% of their salaries due to financial constraints their employers are facing. The Government is well aware of the situation and therefore, during a recent Cabinet meeting, it was decided that we are to provide a grace period for consumers to settle their utility bills,” Amaraweera noted.

Accordingly, consumers will be given a grace period for settling the accumulated bills for the months of March, April, and May. Further details regarding the arrangements should be discussed with the respective CEB area office.

“The total dues that need to be collected from domestic and industrial consumers for electricity usage during the lockdown and curfew period spanning March through May has amounted to over Rs. 2 billion. The inability for our meter readers to have visited establishments and households during that period to issue bills each month, has partly contributed to an accumulation of such a huge amount,” CEB Chairman Vijitha Herath noted.

Farmers...This includes the continuous operation of

tea factories, the relatively low purchasing capability of many tea importing countries, and issues in supply chain management and maintaining the quality of tea.

Gammanpila added that more than 30,000 MT of fertiliser had been distributed in the last two weeks.

“We have distributed over 30,000 MT of fertiliser in the past two weeks and we expect to distribute another 50,000 MT in June,” he said, pointing out that this was twice the quantity of fertiliser distributed in June last year.

He noted that excessive use of chemical fertiliser was also harming fertiliser soil.

“The carbon levels in our soil have reduced dangerously and are a direct result of fertiliser overuse. We must change this and transition to organic fertiliser,” Gammanpila said.

– Skandha Gunasekara

Focus on...Furthermore, 31 companies were found to

be fully transparent in terms of their domestic financial reporting.

Speaking on the launch of the report, TISL Executive Director Asoka Obeyesekere said: “This report provides an opportunity to take stock of current disclosure practices, crediting the efforts that have already been taken and identifying areas for potential improvement.”

Information for the report was gathered from each company’s annual report by a team of TISL researchers. The selected companies were informed of the research being carried out and were requested to provide feedback on the preliminary findings, with publicly accessible information sources.

Obeyesekere added: “A low score does not mean there has been any wrongdoing, but rather illustrates an opportunity for improvement in disclosure practices. Likewise, a high score may illustrate strong disclosure systems, but this may not reflect operational and implementation success. The report seeks to provide a basis upon which a broader discussion can commence on normalising transparency in corporate reporting.”

This endeavour marks TISL’s first foray into assessing transparency in the private sector. TISL is hopeful that this will provide an opportunity to work with the private sector to incrementally improve transparency in corporate reporting.

Govt. clarifies...The Department said media reports

claiming that the Government was preparing to sign the MCC agreement were false.

Cabinet Co-spokesman Dr. Bandula Gunawardana, during the cabinet press briefing last morning, said the Government was awaiting the final report by the Expert Committee appointed to peruse the MCC agreement.

He further noted that a decision on the MCC agreement will be taken following the general election scheduled in August.

Probe to...At a news briefing, Senaratne said

that 237 suspects have been arrested in connection with the terror attacks so far and several more suspects are due to be arrested soon.

Investigations have also revealed that the revenue generated by the controversial copper factory in Wellampitiya had been directly invested in the terror activities of Zahran Hashim, who is the alleged mastermind behind the attacks.

According to the Police Spokesperson, it has also been revealed that the team and its activities had also received funding from banned foreign organisations.

Japan...This was announced at the weekly

Cabinet press briefing held yesterday (18). The relevant cabinet paper had been

submitted by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, and Policy Development Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Under the programme, the Government plans to purchase medical equipment such as MRI scanners, CT scanners, bedside X-ray systems, central monitors, and defibrillators.

Increase...A total of 2,815 cases of leptospirosis have

been reported up to 17 June, with 326 cases reported for the first 17 days of the month of June as well.

The highest prevalence of leptospirosis is reported from the Ratnapura Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS), with a total of 744 cases over a period of five months and 17 days. In the month of May alone, the Ratnapura RDHS reported 346 cases due to the flooding situation that occurred earlier in the month.

– Sarah Hannan

Suspended...This includes the continuous operation of

tea factories, the relatively low purchasing capability of many tea importing countries, and issues in supply chain management and maintaining the quality of tea. Therefore, the export levy on tea will be temporarily suspended as a financial relief to maintain the stability of the industry.

The proposal to suspend the tea promotion and sales tax of Rs. 3.50 levied from registered exporters, submitted by the Minister of Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture, has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

To be...“We are having final discussions on the

matter. Thereafter, it will be put before the Cabinet of Ministers for approval,” Minister Amaraweera said.

The Minister said the decision to stop the semi-luxury bus service was taken following an outpour of public criticism over the service.

“The public was very critical of this service as they believe it didn’t serve any specific purpose. Therefore, we have decided to do away with the service,” the Minister said, adding that the final decision on the matter lies with the Cabinet of Ministers.

– Skandha Gunasekara

businessthe morningFriday, June 19, 2020 3

With the objective of sustaining the lives of approximately 144,000 persons directly involved in the tourism industry and linked to establishments registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the following relief measures have been proposed with implementation mechanisms. 1. Provide a loan at 4% to accommodation

providers and destination management companies (DMCs) registered under the SLTDA to pay salaries for approximately 124,000 employees through Bank of Ceylon (BOC) without collateral, under the Post-Covid-19 Relief budget of the Government. The bank will directly remit salaries up to a maximum of Rs. 20,000 per employee for six months based on the EPF/ETF records supplied by the accommodation owners. The SLTDA will provide details

of all the accommodation providers and DMCs registered under the Authority.

2. A similar loan facility will be made available to pay salaries of approximately 10,000 employees of 850-plus establishments providing facilities to tourists, registered under the SLTDA including; restaurants, tourist-friendly eateries, spa and wellness centres, spice gardens, tourist shops, and water sports centres. The bank will directly remit salaries up to a maximum of Rs. 15,000 per employee for a period of six months based on the EPF/ETF records supplied by the owners of the establishments.

Eligibility and conditions for relief measures 1 and 2:

y All entities falling under the above categories registered with the SLTDA

or whose registration is being processed at the authority are eligible (including foreign investments/owners)

y Entities who have paid TDL (Tourism Development Levy) will be given first preference

y All loan disbursements will be to employers who have made employee EPF payments during 2019

y All disbursements will be via BOC and will be subjected to a corporate guarantee or personal or independent guarantor acceptable to BOC

y Until the full repayment of the loan is done, the borrower is required to be registered with the SLTDA. Failure to do so would be a breach of covenant

y All loan disbursements will be remitted directly to employee bank accounts monthly

y Registered entities who have availed the soft working capital loan during April, May, and June 2020 will be eligible

Repayment of relief measures 1 and 2:

The interest rate applicable is 4% per annum and this will be a five-year loan with a two-year grace period from the date of disbursement.3. For tour guides and tour drivers who

are employed on tour basis and not entitled to EPF/ETF, the SLTDA would provide one-off payments of Rs. 20,000 to tour guides and Rs. 15,000 to drivers registered with the SLTDA. These payments would be directly remitted to their bank accounts by the Authority.

4. Instructions are to be given to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB)

and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) to delay claiming dues from the SLTDA-registered accommodation providers for the period from 1 March to 31 August 2020 and provide a 12-month instalment plan to settle the cumulative bills. In the event electricity and/or water bills have been paid during this period, an additional period of credit is to be given; to ensure a 12-month grace period in total.

5. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) is to issue a circular giving instructions to banks and financial institutions to extend the six-month grace period given for vehicles leased for tourism purposes to 12 months without considering the existing lease agreement and without default charges during the grace period.

SLTDA lists relief measures for registered stakeholders

Hayleys’ geographical and sectoral diversity has enabled it to deliver earnings growth in an extremely challenging year, with group pre-tax profit recording an increase of 1% to Rs. 5.50 billion while profit after tax recorded a growth of 5% to Rs. 2.89 billion. The group’s core performance also improved during the year with EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) and operating profit increasing by 12% and 3%, respectively, while profit attributable to equity holders grew by 40% in 2019/20.

Profitability was upheld by the strong performance of the group’s export-oriented businesses which countered the weaker performance of the sectors, which were directly impacted by the Easter Sunday attacks and the Covid-19 pandemic. Hayleys’ diversified operations, which include 180 companies across five continents, presented challenges in finalising the interim financial

statements post Covid-19; the group’s resilience and its ability to navigate complexities in this period is a reflection of the diversity of its earnings profile.

The group’s turnover declined by 4% to Rs. 210.31 billion in

2019/20, primarily due to the terror attacks in April 2019 as well as the Covid-19 pandemic in the latter part of the financial year. Concerted efforts towards driving operational efficiencies and lean initiatives are reflected in the 4% reduction in group

administrative expenses and widening of the operating profit margin to 8%, from 7% the previous year.

Consolidated finance costs remained relatively unchanged at Rs. 13.05 billion during the year. Meanwhile, the group recorded consistent balance sheet expansion with total assets increasing by 7% to Rs. 248.31 billion as at end-March 2020.

Hayleys was one of the earliest to re-commence all of its business operations under stringent safety guidelines following the gradual easing of restrictions. The group also launched “Haysmart Initiatives” which sets out clear guidelines for cost rationalisation and exploring new opportunities, which in turn has allowed the group to defer non-

essential expenditure and preserve liquidity. Hayleys PLC, along with several group companies, also made contributions towards supporting frontline personnel and communities impacted by the pandemic.

“While disruptions to operations in the aftermath of the pandemic are anticipated to impact group performance over the short term, we are confident that the resilience of the export businesses will support earnings growth,” said Hayleys PLC Chairman Mohan Pandithage.

“The purification and hand protection sectors are poised for expansion with strong order books while the gradual easing of restrictions in the country and the resurgence of economic activity is expected to support the recovery of

the other sectors over the medium term. I would like to place on record my sincere appreciation to all our employees, who extended their fullest support and commitment to the group during these challenging times. I would also like to thank our customers, suppliers, business partners, and other stakeholders for their continued patronage and confidence,” he added.

The Board of Directors of Hayleys PLC comprises Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage, Co-Chairman Dhammika Perera, Sarath Ganegoda, Rajitha Kariyawasan, Dr. Harsha Cabral PC, Ruwan Waidyaratne, Hisham Jamaldeen, Aravinda Perera, Jayanthi Dharmasena, Rohan Karr, and Gamini Gunaratne.

Hayleys delivers profit growth in challenging year

Hayleys PLC Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage and Co-Chairman Dhammika Perera

The Hemas group’s operating profits for the financial year 2019/20 suffered a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 37.1% to end at Rs. 3.6 billion. The group recorded a consolidated revenue of Rs. 61.6 billion for the 12 months ended 31 March 2020, 3.8% lower than last year.

“The financial year (FY) 2019/20 has been the most challenging in the 70-year history of the group, with performance impacted by the aftermath of the Easter Sunday 2019 terrorist attacks coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic during the second half of March 2020,” said Hemas Group CEO Steven Enderby.

During the year, the group continued its recovery from the aftermath of the Easter Sunday crisis with post-tax profits of Rs. 1.7 billion for the second half of the financial year, compared with the loss of Rs. 298 million reported in the first half. This is despite the impact of Covid-19 on the performance in March 2020. This improvement has been driven by its core consumer and healthcare businesses. When adjusted for the divestment of N*able (Pvt.) Ltd. in July 2019 and travel and aviation interests in March 2020, the underlying revenue and operating profit for Q4 FY 2019/20 grew by 2% and 3.5%, respectively.

“The group continues to show the same resilience as we respond to the Covid-19 pandemic with our consumer and healthcare businesses, which account for more than 90% of revenues and profits, showing month-on-month recovery in Q1 20/21,” Enderby said.

The group has taken multiple measures including engaging high-quality medical and public health advice, social distancing, provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), and working from home to safeguard the health of their employees and ensure compliance with directives issued by the Government of Sri Lanka.

“The health and safety of our staff is

critical while we also recognise the need for us to continue operations due to the important role we play in the healthcare of the nation,” he added.

The impact of the pandemic on group revenue and profitability has been negative, both in the last few weeks of FY 2019/20 and continuing into FY 2020/21. The company said cost cutting and cash conservation measures to

protect the businesses have been initiated and it has deferred capital expenditure, curtailed discretionary spending, and instituted salary cuts at senior levels in the group and in-group businesses with very low revenues.

“Each business is executing detailed plans to rebuild demand and supply of key products and services and to conserve cash and contain costs. While the forecasted liquidity position of the group is satisfactory, undertaking proactive steps will enable us to maintain a stronger balance sheet and facilitate a smoother and faster recovery trajectory,” said Enderby.

More than 90% of Hemas’ revenues are generated from healthcare and consumer essentials and they are seeing these recover. However, it is not possible at this time to predict the full extent of the recovery, the company said, adding that multiple new risks have emerged, including increased exchange rate volatility, foreign currency availability, import restrictions, and depressed economic growth.

“We will continue to invest behind our core portfolios, while also adapting to shifts in consumer behaviour that have been brought about by this unprecedented crisis. We believe increased consumer consciousness towards health and hygiene is an opportunity for Hemas. We will continue to innovate with existing and new brands to meet these emerging consumer needs, while aggressively focusing on cost management and cash conservation in order to navigate through these challenging times,” Enderby pledged.

Hemas sees H2 resurgence in its ‘toughest’ year

Steven Enderby CEO Hemas Holdings

‘Softlogic Invest’ breaking into retail investment landscape

Softlogic Invest, the asset management arm of Softlogic Capital PLC, recently launched two unit trusts or mutual funds – Softlogic Equity Fund and Softlogic Money Market Fund – after obtaining the license from the Securities Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC).

Capitalising on the existing expertise coming in via the Softlogic financial services cluster which includes Softlogic Life Insurance, Softlogic Finance, and Softlogic Stockbrokers, the introduction of these two funds marks the entry of Softlogic’s asset management arm –

Softlogic Asset Management (Pvt.) Ltd. – into the retail market of the financial services space. Both these investment schemes will be open to anyone with a minimum investment of Rs. 5,000 a month.

“Softlogic Invest has merged the two worlds of financial investments and digital

services to offer a simple and unique investment experience to investors. Enabling an investment culture in Sri Lanka, Softlogic Invest will catapult people to achieve their dreams and goals while offering full disclosure and control of their money through this newly launched brand,” the company said.

“Softlogic Invest will be one of the few investment arms in Sri Lanka that extends anyone the opportunity to start investing with merely Rs. 5,000, and go on to even become part of a billion-rupee investment. We see a huge vacuum in terms of salient and reliable asset management mechanisms for the young

and aspiring Sri Lankans of today, and we hope to make Softlogic Invest the brand that caters to that segment,” commented Softlogic Holdings PLC Chairman and Managing Director (MD) Ashok Pathirage.

“With the launch of our two unit trust funds, we are now fully realising our goal to bring institutional quality offerings to the retail and private wealth communities in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, it is a reflection of the increased demand Softlogic Invest has seen for its investment solutions from the retail and private wealth channels,” commented Softlogic Capital PLC MD Iftikar Ahamed.

‘Softlogic Invest’ breaking into retail investment landscape

Softlogic Holdings PLC Chairman and MD Ashok Pathirage

Melanie Janine Kanaka was elected as the Global Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) by over a resounding 88% of its global members voting at the 101st Annual General Meeting held on 3 June, acknowledging her 30-year service to the CIMA fraternity worldwide.

In CIMA’s 100-year history, Melanie is the first lady outside of the UK elected to this global position, to be part of the leadership team in a fraternity of over 650,000 members and students living in 179 countries and territories. Being the first resident Sri Lankan to hold this prestigious office, she brings glory to this island nation.

“Since challenges such as the Covid-19 global pandemic will come and go, as responsible professionals, management accountants, unlike traditional finance professionals, are the best equipped specialists to lead businesses and organisations, navigate through the extraordinary challenges, and ensure that our economic resurgence is on the right track,” added an optimistic Kanaka.

Melanie is the first Sri Lankan and non-UK assessor invited to the CIMA Global Membership Board in 2009, and has been a Membership Assessor since 2008. In 2013, she was elected to the CIMA Council from South Asia for a three-year term and was subsequently co-opted in 2017. She has served on many Policy Committees of CIMA, namely, Membership, Lifelong Learning, Technical, and Member Services. In 2015,

she was elected to CIMA’s Appointments Committee. She chaired the Membership Committee and under her leadership, the committee introduced an appeal process for membership. Kanaka chaired the Professional Standards and Conduct Committee of CIMA in 2019/2020, which made significant contributions to the revised CIMA Code of Ethics.

She is a Director of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, which is the most influential body of professional accountants, combining the strengths of the American Institute of Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) and the Chartered

Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), to power opportunity, trust, and prosperity for people, businesses, and economies worldwide.

Admitted to fellowship in 2000, Melanie has 30 years of extensive experience in corporate finance, statutory accounting principles (SAP), and development banking across the US, Germany, and South Asia, working for Bellsouth in the US, DFCC Bank, and Sri Lankan conglomerates Hayleys Group and MAS Holdings. She also served on the Audit Committee of the International Planned Parenthood Federation headquartered in London.

At present, Melanie is the Head of Finance and Administration at the World Bank in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

She is a Fulbright Scholar, with an MBA specialising in International Finance and Corporate Strategy from the Goizueta Business School of Emory University in the US. She has a B.Com (Hons) degree with a first class from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, and is a distinguished alumna of Bishop’s College, Colombo, Sri Lanka. She is a former national swimmer for Sri Lanka, with the rare distinction of officiating at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Sri Lanka’s Melanie Kanaka makes CIMA historyz First Sri Lankan and first female outside UK elected as CIMA Global VP

Melanie Janine Kanaka

the morningFriday, June 19, 2020

4

brunch

Airtel Lanka announced a partnership with revolutionary telemedicine platform, oDoc, to provide all employees and their immediate family members with unlimited free telemedicine consultations. The partnership came into place in March 2020 as Sri Lankans began engaging in social distancing efforts and working from home.

This telemedicine facility includes remote access – in English, Sinhala and Tamil – to over 600 Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC)-registered general physicians and specialists as well as remote lab services and doorstep delivery of prescription medication.

“The safety, health, and wellbeing of every member of our team has always been an utmost priority for Airtel Lanka. Especially given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we wanted to ensure that our employees and their loved ones are well looked after and are provided with convenient, remote access to top-quality healthcare services, as and when required, through the pioneering oDoc app. oDoc provides a brilliant solution to multiple challenges in accessing healthcare, leveraging the power of telecommunications and mobile technology to connect individuals and solve real-world problems. Even as normalcy begins to return in

Sri Lanka, we believe that such innovations hold the key to speeding up national recovery efforts,” Airtel Lanka Head of HR Kanishka Ranaweera stated.

The introduction of this service for Airtel employees will primarily be driven by video consultations via mobile phones, saving employees unnecessary travel and exposure, thereby enabling a healthier and more productive workforce.

Airtel users can also access and pay for oDoc consultations using their debit or credit card. To access the telemedicine facility, users may download the oDoc application from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Launched in 2017, oDoc is Sri Lanka’s largest telemedicine company that connects patients with doctors for video/audio consultations, thus enabling you to get medical advice and medicine without leaving home. oDoc serves over 200,000 Sri Lankans and recently launched international operations in India and the Maldives. oDoc has won the Commonwealth Digital Health Award in Telemedicine as well as the e-Swabhimani Digital Social Impact Award.

Airtel employees provided free oDoc

consultations

BY DIMITHRI WIJESINGHE

Sri Lanka’s first underwater museum, which was opened by Navy Commander Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, off the shores of Galle was declared on 17 June. The museum, which was designed and created by the Navy, utilising sculptures and other artifacts, was built off the Galle shores under the supervision of the Navy Commander, upon a proposal made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Navy Media Spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Isuru Sooriyabandara shared that the project which began in the month of February was expected to be declared in April when it was completed and opened. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation intensifying in the country and the armed forces being called on for assistance, they were otherwise occupied and greatly short staffed.

He also shared that due to the monsoon, there was worry that the layout could not be seen and that the turbulent waters would distort it from view and access. Therefore, due to such worries and to avoid visibility issues, they were able to acquire the go ahead to declare it on Wednesday (17).

Referring to the previously original plan of using unusable train compartments in order to create a breeding ground for fish, Lt. Cmdr. Sooriyabandara said that a great example can be seen in Negombo where there is wreckage that has been dumped in the shores there and we see a fantastic ecosystem created for itself. It has become an amazing fish breeding ground; you can see a number of types of barnacles, corals, and ornamental fish which

affects the people in that area, both directly and indirectly.

He said that the same thing can be applied here in this new museum arrangement as well, serving as an underwater structure built to promote marine life, control erosion, block ship passage, block the use of trawling nets, and improve surfing, and while in Europe and the West we see examples of this happening, this is the first of its kind in the South Asian region.

He shared that one of the main and most exciting features is the depth at which the museum is stationed, sharing that the whole underwater storey is set at a depth of around 50 ft. in the Galle

Harbour area, providing a unique sightseeing experience and allowing any normal diver to access the display. He added that there need not be any special assistance by highly trained or special expertise personnel.

Lt. Cmdr. Sooriyabandara said that in figuring out the location, they had considered a number of locations, and in their search they took into consideration the underwater profile, weather patterns, and also the tourism industry in the vicinity. As such, the Galle

Harbor was chosen, as it’s already a tourist hotspot. He shared that it is an accessible location to which transport can be easily arranged with many recognised diving schools in the area, and it will be the ideal location to achieve their primary goal of driving tourism traffic to Sri Lanka.

He also stated that while there are plans to carry out similar projects in both Trincomalee and Tangalle, we must first study the successes and setbacks, if any, in this particular project, which could take some time, and must study the nature of this project so that we can move on to a second step.

The construction work for the project was carried out utilising the manpower of the Sri Lanka Navy and he shared that the Navy will also dedicate itself to maintaining and looking after the project without any charge. However, it is up to the diving schools and tourism officials to market this appropriately, drive in tourism towards this area, and use it as a main point of attraction. They are hopeful that this underwater sculpture park will contribute greatly in driving tourism to our island.

PHOTOS SRI LANKA NAVY ON FACEBOOK

Underwater Museum in Galle

FIRST OF ITS KIND

IN SOUTH ASIA

BY DIMITHRI WIJESINGHE

Rockwell Colombo is a small boutique-style hotel located conveniently off Ward Place nestled comfortably in a secluded spot while remaining extremely close to the exciting goings-on of Colombo city.

The hotel has been in operation since 2014, and is more representative of homestay-style accommodation. You will be afforded the best possible customised service at your convenience surrounded by a close-knit group of staff available at all times of the day.

Speaking to the management, they shared that during the Covid-19 pandemic, they too were suffering from its economic effects and since then, are biding time till they can return to serving their usual clientele. They shared their clientele would often comprise foreign guests who would stay for long stretches of time, opting to get comfortable with the venue and its people so they may touch base at a familiar place after exploring the destination.

The comfortable and welcoming nature of the building cannot be denied; its simple architecture and custom design artwork was done specifically for the building, and makes the venue warm and hospitable.

The hotel consists of six rooms – three standard rooms, two junior suites, and one grand suite. The majority of these have large balconies and grand floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing for a great source of natural light which illuminates the comfortable living spaces. One notable feature is the privacy of the rooms, which, despite having large windows, prove to be most isolated despite being so close to the centre of the city; it has the peaceful atmosphere of an exclusive private hotel.

Currently, due to the present situation, Rockwell is providing multiple promotional offers targeted at locals, in particular their “day-outing package”, where you can opt for the room only or for the room together with lunch at an attractively low rate.

There are special offers for overnight stays like their special half-board package and they are currently giving away special offers for their corporate clients, which include various perks such as 50% off for laundry or free transportation if your office is reasonably distanced, and they will always throw in something complementary.

Rockwell is also dedicated to maintaining the Covid-19 health guidelines put forward by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and

are currently working towards becoming a certified property with regard to implementing the same.

The management shared that they have always taken pride in their food and beverage offers, and that their breakfast menu is a popular favourite as they offered a combination of regular English breakfast

elements together with Sri Lankan-style options like string hoppers, hoppers, etc.

The dining space is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and they are providing a la carte service and the possibility of booking for private functions as well. The menu features Asian and Western cuisine at reasonable rates.

The dining room space is open concept, which also provides a live kitchen experience, and guests are able to customise their dishes as it is being prepared.

The dining area opens up to a courtyard which adds to the casual dining experience, and there is an outdoor seating option available as well, shaded by a massive mango tree at its centre.

The team at Rockwell were extremely

warm and welcoming and their group dynamic was a highlight in our visit; customised service is their real forte, providing services tailored to your specific requirements.

They have many attractive standard packages for locals to choose from if wishing to get away from the humdrum stressful environment to experience something a little different.

Rockwell Colombohidden hospitality

14, Borella Cross Road (off Ward Place), Colombo 8

Reservations +94 712 739 394, Reception +94 11 268 0769

inquiry @rockwellcolombo.com

PHOTOS SUDARSHA LAKMAL

sports5

Diack's destiny decided soonOn what is expected to be the penultimate day of the trial, French prosecutors on Wednesday (17) requested that disgraced former International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) President Lamine Diack be sentenced to four years in prison and fined

$ 562,000 (Rs. 104 million). Diack is on trial in Paris for corruption, influence-trafficking, and laundering money.

UEFA football from 7 AugustAt its ex-co meeting on Wednesday (18),

it was decided that the UEFA Champions League is set to resume on 7 August. Its

quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will all be played in Lisbon, Portugal. The European football

governing body also confirmed that the 12 host cities for Euro 2020 – postponed until 2021 – can all stage matches next year without any hindrance.

Friday, June 19, 2020the morning

French Open from 21 SeptemberThe French Open grand slam tennis event will start a week later than what it was first rescheduled to, following the announcement of return-to-play schedules for both the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tours on Wednesday (17). Its qualifiers will now begin on 21 September and the event will be over on 11 October. The revamped WTA Tour will start on 3 August while the first ATP Tour is set to begin on 10 August.

It is sad to note how Kandy has forgotten its football. Its administration has now become virtually defunct and there is no progress in the field of soccer, that too for a long time.

From hero to zero!One time we can remember

is when Kandy was well recognised at islandwide club football. The Kandy Football League is one of the founder members of the national soccer controlling body. Then, the Kandy league conducted over 100 matches a year – in the league, knockout, and sevens segments.

Now, Kandy is nowhere in the national football setup. There is not even a single important match played in the city here. The start of the decline can be traced back to 2010 and the controlling body needs to be held responsible.

Origin of Kandy soccerHistorical evidence proves

football came to Kandy during World War II, when British military units had been stationed in Kandy with one-time Commander in Chief of the Allied Forces in Southeast Asia Admiral (Lord) Louis Mountbatten, having his headquarters in the hill capital.

Several top British footballers displayed their versatility then, representing various regiments of the British Army. Football was perhap the main sport at that time in Kandy and the game increased in popularity day by day.

What an eraSome of the clubs which took

to the game in those early days were Old Antonians SC, Old Kingswoodians SC, Police SC, Kandy YMCA, Greenfield SC, Kandy Sports Club, Phoenix SC, St. Michael’s SC, Gampola Chums, Rovers SC, Kandy YMMA, and Red Stars SC.

Soccer was so popular that it was played everywhere in the hills, in the streets, or wherever space was available.

After the Britishers, Kandy football was doing well with the support of people like Col. V.H.L. Anthonis, A.C.L. Ratwatte, E.L. Senanayake, and M.S. Jainudeen.

KDFA is formedThe Muslim businessmen

sponsored the game as it evolved from barefooted players to the more modern ones.

Later on, the Kandy Amateur Football League was formed. It subsequently changed its name to Kandy District Football Association (KDFA) and served football in Matale, Gampola, Nawalapitiya, Kurunegala, and Kegalle. As the years passed, these towns formed their own associations.

Then began the dying stages

However, setbacks were experienced during the 1940s. G.H. Robins and T.P.C. Roberts were then instrumental in resuscitating Kandy football.

At that time, Bogambara was the location of high activity when Kandy had one of the biggest leagues, with over 40 teams in action.

By the mid-1970s, Dr. C.D.L. Fernando took over the KDFA presidency and held it till his death in the mid-1980s. From him, William Premaratne took over but in the 1990s, football was almost dying.

Leading upcountry soccer products

This writer brought in police officer B.M. Liyanage by that time and once again football in Kandy hit the top. In 1992, Kandy won the inter-league competition for the Everyday Trophy for the first time. In the absence of Liyanage, the present writer acted as the President and M. Nadaraja was the Secretary.

The leading Kandy football products included Tom Ossen, Mahinda Aluwihare, T.S. Jaymon, Oscar Wijetunga, Tuan Amidon, Ratnapala Aluwihare, M.E. Marikar, A.J.M. Yusuf, M.S. Shabdeen, Philip Buultjens, Newton Perera, “Kalu” Sirisena, P.M. Rasiha, T. Themiyapala,

Abdul Razak, Rukman Silva, G.S. Piyatissa, Wilson Abeysinghe, Freddie White, Athur Windus, Bin Islamil, Moomin Khan, T.O.M. Deen, Hector Galuge, S. Ekanayake, R. Wipulasena, D.H. Vithanage, M. Fuard, M. Thair, Sunil Samarasinghe, S. Nelson, Faji Fazeer, S.A. Weerasinghe, and K.D. Sarath.

Revival need of the hourSchools like St. Anthony’s

College, Kingswood College, Dharmaraja College, Sri Rahula College, St. Paul’s College (now known as Sri Sumangala College), Berravettes College, Cymas College, Vidyartha College, Hindu College, and St. Sylvester’s College took the game seriously, which became the breeding ground of upcountry football.

With such a rich and illustrious history in context, it is pretty sad that Kandy soccer has now gone from worse to worst.

It's time the future generations took over proceedings. Someone should take up the challenge and bring back those glory days of Kandyan football once again.

by Hafiz Marikar

KANDY MUSINGS

Pristine Kandy’s football is now crying

Lord Louis Mountbatten, a football lover, was one of the pioneers of Kandy soccer

Yesterday (18/06/20): y Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage dropped a bombshell into the cricket field when he told Sirasa TV that the 2011 50-over World Cup final between India and SL was fixed for money. SL lost that by six wickets

y Frankie Dettori and Stradivarius won their third straight Gold Cup at Royal Ascot horse racing in England

y Manchester City's Raheem Sterling said it was a "massive step" that players took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement on the opening night of the Premier League's return

Tomorrow (20/06/20): y SL national cricket team will commence its second “Residential Training Camp” on Monday, 22 June, strictly adhering to the health regulations imposed by the Govt.

y A total of 24 players, notably sans Lasith Malinga, will take part in the 10-day training camp, which will be held at Pallekele, whilst the focus will be on player-conditioning and enhancing skills

y “The arrangements for the next camp are aimed at becoming the best prepared international team post Covid-19 and to be ready to play at any given time,” said SL Head Coach Mickey Arthur

YTT

SL Head Coach Mickey Arthur

BY REVATHA S. SILVA

Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage resurfaced the fixing allegation on Sirasa TV of the highly contentious 2011 World Cup final played at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The video of the Aluthgamage interview had been posted on YouTube yesterday (18).

Stunning revelation"I tell you today that we (Sri

Lanka team) sold the 2011 World Cup. I hold that stand today. I said that during the time I was the Sports Minister too. I say that with responsibility," he told the interviewer.

'There is (proof) for that. But I don't like to disclose (that), as a nation. There was betrayal in that match which we could have won against India," Aluthgamage added in the footage.

When asked if the game was sold for money, Aluthgamage, who was the Sports Minister (from 2010-15) of the then Mahinda Rajapaksa Government, said “yes”.

"I feel that. I can hold a debate on that. I can talk about that. There is (a suspicion or interest) about that within the public. I don't want to involve players in this. But some parties were involved and worked on this (betrayal)," Aluthgamage, who is still a frontline member of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government, emphasised.

ICC ACU can act nowThe re-revelation, so to speak,

created ripples, understandably, in both local and international media alike yesterday itself shedding light on international cricket's backdoor manoeuvrings, inter-personal political clashes, and, more significantly, how money could rule the genuine sport loved by millions of both rich and poor masses across this region.

At a time when the International Cricket Council (ICC) is keeping track of even national team

practice-net bowlers through its high-level Anti Corruption Unit (ACU), Aluthgamage provides the world governing body a golden opportunity now to dig deep into the ugly, bizarre, and dangerous business of match-fixing.

More significantly, this happened at a time when the ACU has a special branch located in Sri Lanka and at least three former players, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Lokuhettige, and Avishka Gunawardene, have

been suspended by the unit for fixing allegations recently.

Final strewn with controversies

This final, the second back-to-back one Sri Lanka had reached, was played on 2 April 2011. Firstly, the Aravinda de Silva-led National Selectors Committee made four bizarre changes in the final 11. They included Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suraj Randiv,

and Thisara Perera, in place of Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Rangana Herath, and Ajantha Mendis, suddenly in the final.

They kept on the bench, quite unexpectedly, the experienced Chaminda Vaas who had been told that he was going to play the final eleven the very previous day of the match.

The toss of the coin had to be unusually done twice before Match Referee Jeff Crowe. Skipper Kumar

Sangakkara's correct call was deemed unheard by the Referee and Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni asked for a re-toss.

Heartaches in Sri LankaThen Sri Lanka, electing to bat

first, set 275 for India to win with Mahela Jayawardene scoring 103 and Sangakkara 48. India then recovered from two down for 31 in their seventh over to win the game with that iconic Dhoni sixer off Kulasekara, before a rousing Wankhede, studded with a high-power and elite crowd from both countries, with six wickets and 10 balls remaining.

The way the final couple of hours ran in that match left Sri Lankan fans at home in disbelief, with heartaches, as they had hardly seen the Lankan team giving away such an important game after having its advantage for such a long time.

Over to you, Mr. Alex Marshal! Now's the time you can get some valid information from no less than a Sports Minister!

A section of distrustful fans watching the 2011 World Cup final on a giant TV screen in Colombo

Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage

zWill ICC start an investigation and clear the game's good name and reputation?

THE MAHINDANANDA BOMBSHELL