WISHING OUR READERS

A BLESSED POSON POYA

SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2

DRIVING LICENSES

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to cancel trials for driving licence tests conducted by private institutions, the Ministry of Transport Services Management said.

It is reported that the Association of Automobile Inspectors of Sri Lanka has requested Minister of Transport Services Management Mahinda Amaraweera that the trials be conducted by the Government as before.

Pvt. company trials cancelled

PCR TESTING AT BIA

BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA

An official of the US Embassy in Sri Lanka had forgone the PCR test carried out at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) upon arrival in Sri Lanka due to diplomatic immunity.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) told The Morning that the US Embassy was responsible for carrying out PCR tests on their officials.

“According to diplomatic regulations, the (US) Embassy is responsible to transport the diplomat from the airport according to the Covid-19 procedures and have a proper medical process followed at the Embassy, including a

PCR,” said CAASL Chairman Maj. Gen. (Retd.) G.A. Chandrasiri, adding that it would be performed by the Embassy’s Medical Officer.

He said that there were specific regulations that needed to be followed when a diplomatic passport was in concern.

“Sri Lankan authorities cannot demand a PCR test. We have to follow

the international norms and procedures and that’s exactly what we did,” he said.

The CAASL Chief said the senior American diplomat had arrived on Monday (1) morning around 2 a.m. and that a number of high-level government officials were consulted to resolve the matter.

“PCR testing at the airport started on 21 May. This senior diplomat arrived at 2 a.m. on 1 June. So it was necessary for us to keep him four hours and to understand the correct procedure that we should adopt. We discussed with all the senior officials, including the Secretary to the President and the Minister of

Foreign Relations, and had the diplomat released by 6 a.m.,” he said.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Sri Lanka said the US diplomatic staff adhere carefully to Sri Lankan Covid-19 guidelines including quarantine restrictions, in close co-ordination with the Foreign Ministry.

The Embassy further stated that the arrival of US diplomatic staff to Sri Lanka also complies with the norms and procedures outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, just as it applies to the arrival of Sri Lankan and other diplomatic staff to the US.

US diplomat avoids testing

2020 GENERAL ELECTION

Election monitoring groups yesterday (4) voiced concerns over the lack of a free and fair election.

Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Executive Director Manas Makeen told The Morning that there is a serious shortcoming with regard to hosting a fair election.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has made it even more unbalanced as the ruling party enjoys and

abuses its power,” he said, highlighting the politicisation of the distribution of the Rs. 5,000 voucher during the lockdown.

Makeen stressed that the EC needs to ensure free and fair elections.

Meanwhile, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) also expressed their doubts about a level playing field for all political parties.

Contd. on page 2

Monitors express major concerns

The United National Party (UNP) charged that the impending general election would not be a free and fair election.

UNP Assistant Leader and former MP Ravi Katunayake told The Morning that the

Government is abusing its power.“You can see by now that the

Government is trying to pander to the people with various things and politicising every event. It certainly won’t be a fair election,” he said.

Contd. on page 2

Doubts over being free and fair: UNP

As we’ve entered the dengue season, a busy Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) employee was seen fogging the St. Anthony’s Street in Kollupitiya yesterday (4) PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE

Battling another menace

Waiting for health guidelines: SJB

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) was awaiting the health guidelines for the upcoming general election to ascertain if a free and fair election could be held.

Former MP and SJB member Ajith P. Perera said that the health regulations would be crucial for conducting fair polls.

“The health guidelines will determine if the environment would be conducive for a free and fair election.”

He said the party was ready for the election and was awaiting the guidelines to start grassroots-level campaigning.

Contd. on page 2

POSTAL VOTING FOR POLLS

Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe requested all government health services personnel to apply for postal voting before 10 June.

Following a request from the DGHS, the Election Commission (EC) had agreed to extend the postal voting facility to all health sector staff in the public sector.

Contd. on page 2

Health workers asked to register

INCOME TAX PAYMENTS

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided not to levy the overdue charges for lapses in payments of income taxes during the Covid-19 lockdown period.

Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Bandula Gunawardana stated the above yesterday (4), addressing the media briefing to announce Cabinet decisions.

Penalties lifted

The Department of Meteorology forecasts showers over a few places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces as well as in the Galle, Matara, and Puttalam Districts.

Showers or thundershowers predicted

The Cabinet has approved a proposal to provide tea saplings free of charge to tea smallholders in order to increase the annual tea production to 350 million kilogrammes.

Free tea saplings for smallholders

COLLECTING DATA OF TEMPORARY RESIDENTS

BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA

The Department of Police denied any political interference to the survey conducted by them to gather data of temporary residents in Colombo.

When contacted by The Morning, Police Media Spokesman SP Jaliya Senaratne said the data collected by the Police would be entered into a database and the survey would be conducted around the country.

Contd. on page 2

Police deny political interference

REPATRIATING STRANDED INDIANS IN SL

In order to continue the repatriation of Indian nationals stranded in Sri Lanka, two more Air India flights have been scheduled as part of Phase III of Vande Bharat Mission, an initiative of the Government of India to undertake the largest-

ever repatriation for the return of Indian nationals stranded in different parts of the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Accordingly, the dates and routes are: (i) 15 June 2020 – AI 1202 Colombo to Bengaluru, and (ii) 22 June 2020 – AI 0282 Colombo to

Delhi-Lucknow-Gaya. Based on the registrations received by the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, passenger manifests will be prepared for these flights.

Priority will be given to compelling cases of persons in distress including migrant workers/

labourers who have been laid off, short-term visa holders faced with expiry of visa, people with medical emergencies/pregnant women/the elderly, those required to return to India due to death of family member, and students.

Contd. on page 2

Two Indian flights scheduled

LOCUST INVASION

The yellow-spotted locust invasions are now being reported from multiple areas in the Southern Province, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Farmers, meanwhile, claim that although there have not

been any crop losses so far, the situation could change if it is not controlled. According to Southern Province Agriculture Director I.D. Gunawardena, the invasions are being reported from areas in Matara and Beliatta.

Farmers predict crop losses

The second penumbral lunar eclipse of 2020 will begin tonight (5) at 11.15 p.m. Sri Lanka Standard Time (SLST), when the shadow of the Earth falls on the Moon, said Colombo University Department of Physics Astronomy and Space Science Unit Director Prof. Chandana Jayaratne.

Contd. on page 2

Strawberry moon eclipse tonight

CHILAW GENERAL HOSPITAL

BY SARAH HANNAN

The Chilaw General Hospital’s Cancer Clinic is to conduct clinical consultations over video technology, Director Dr. Kapila Mallawarachchi said.

Contd. on page 2

Adopts video channelling

Contd. on page 2

epaper.themorning.lkepaper.aruna.lk

www.themorning.lkwww.aruna.lkFRIDAY, JUNE 5, 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

6,652,461DEATHS

383,829RECOVERD

3,094,438

CASES DEATHSUSA 1,906,796 109,257 BRAZIL 590,485 32,688 RUSSIA 441,108 5,384 SPAIN 287,406 27,128 UK 279,856 39,728947

DEATHS

11RECOVERED

839

ACTIVE CASESTOTAL CASES

1,797 � 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 12.30 A.M. ON 5 JUNE 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU

Maintain Distance, Stay Safe

the morningFriday, June 7, 2020

2 APPRECIATION/NEWS

Contd. from page 1

Cartoon of the day

Early in the morning of 29 May, I received a heart-rending message of the demise of Mr. N.R.M. Daluwatte. I knew it was inevitable, yet I felt distressed and was reluctant to accept that our beloved Sir has departed forever.

A former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Mr. Daluwatte, PC hailed from Tangalle in the deep South. His father was a civil servant in colonial Ceylon. He had his primary education at Mahinda College, Galle and attended Ananda and Royal Colleges in Colombo later on. He entered the University of Peradeniya in the first batch to earn a law degree before passing out as an advocate in 1956. He initially sharpened his skills at the law chambers of Mr. H.W. Jayawardene, QC before excelling in civil appellate courts. During his long career in Hulftsdorp hills, he commanded the utmost respect of the Bench and the Bar as an ever-reliable authority of partition and land law in the country, to which countless reported cases from NLR days to SLR spanning over 60 years provide testimony.

If I may relate myself, I can recall how I joined Mr. Daluwatte’s chambers in January 1997, with my batchmate Shamila, as a 22-year-old raw, immature student to take up my apprenticeship after completing my Bar exams. At the very outset, I realised Mr. Daluwatte was a genuine, honest yet tough, no-nonsense lawyer. At the same time, I felt the fatherly figure he was that I could look up to.

I still recall one incident vividly which happened in the same year of 1997; after the sudden demise of my father during the court vacation of August, I returned feeling devastated without any enthusiasm for my work. However, he had come to know that I had lost my father during the vacation and apologised profusely that he was not aware of the incident and advised me gently yet sternly how to carry my life forward while maintaining dignity and respect to my late father. I remember to this date what he told me: “Live a life without bringing any disrepute to my father.” I fondly recall how he scolded me during my pupil age and afterwards how he tried to pave the correct path from the raw material that I was to the person I am today.

The day before the funeral, when we were going through past reminiscences, Samantha, one of his much loved juniors, recalled how he was furiously yelling at us and how he chased Shamila and me away when we tried to offer a token of appreciation to him at the completion of our apprenticeship. I can vouch for his integrity; our Sir was incredibly honest and sincere in his dealings all the time. I was in his chambers from 1997 to 2003, during which time I witnessed how he treated his juniors, clients, colleagues, and support staff.

He was so modest and simple in his dealings but had a heart of gold, even

though he was one of the most eminent and celebrated civil appellate counsels this country has ever seen. I still recall the laughter we had when he took his chamber mates to the DC canteen and offered whatever we want while he was taking a wade and a plain tea without sugar. When we do well in a case he used to buy a round of boiled cashew wrapped in green leaves to everyone around.

He was a principled, honourable person all the time, never compromised his values, no deviations whatsoever. In fact, his dealings with clients are unmatched; he never went after money. I can’t imagine any other celebrated senior counsel in Sri Lanka who accepted a brief – irrespective of who the client is – for a nominal fee like Mr. Daluwatte took with much consistence. During consultations after reading the brief, he tells clients what his fee will be openly and asks another exact one-third of that as his junior fee for us. I still recall with much gratitude how he carefully placed our fee into an envelope after writing down our name and case details in his beautifully crafted small cursory letters.

In addition to this, at the end of each term, he used to give us a cash cheque drawn from his personal account. He did not accept any appeal brief without the instructing attorney’s letter to go ahead. He was meticulous, and he took painstaking efforts to do justice to the briefs he took. He studied the brief copiously and properly, and submitted well-structured, to-the-point written submissions whenever it mattered. I

guess I had the benefit of witnessing him in his prime as a counsel. I observed, many a time, how respected yet feared challenging judges like late Justice P. Edussuriya, Justice T.B. Weerasuriya, Justice Udalagama, Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justice Nihal Jayasinghe, Justice A.S. Wijethunga, and Justice Ameer Ismail paid glowing tributes to Mr. Daluwatte. I saw many of these Justices chase away flashy, pompous senior lawyers requesting for extensions and the like in their cases, but when it came to Mr. Daluwatte, they have always trusted his word.

Once, he openly objected to an appointment of a judge to the Supreme Court, and thereafter never appeared before that judge. He followed the highest traditions of the profession, never said a word against any senior fellow practitioner in the appellate courts. Sometimes, when we came across some of his colleagues, he would remark: “He is a nice fella.” Mr. Daluwatte offered his honest humble smile to any junior, whoever met him at Hulftsdorp. I recall how he shared light banter with high-calibre seniors in the profession like Mr. A.K. Premadasa, PC; Mr. Arthur Samarasekera, PC; Mr. D.R.P. Gunathilake; and Mr. D.S.Wijesinghe, PC.

Mr. Daluwatte was very proud of his juniors and maintained a good relationship with them throughout; if I were to name a few, High Court Judges Mr. Pradeep Keerthisinghe and Mr. Prasantha De Silva, as well as appellate court practitioners Mr. Manohara de Silva, PC, Mr. Rohan

Sahabandu, PC, and Mr. Champaka Ladduwahetti who built up good practices in appellate courts. Further, Mrs. Gayathri de Silva who worked as the junior to him until the end took good care of Mr. Daluwatte.

I felt really bad when I missed the opportunity to join the celebrations of his 50th anniversary in the Bar due to my infant son’s high-fever condition which happened when my husband was abroad. Later on, our lives moved on and I was abroad for a long period and didn’t glimpse him for nearly a decade. In fact, around a year ago, I visited him with my husband and he was delighted to see us and he spoke consciously. A couple of times, he inquired as to why I didn’t bring my sons that day and asked me to take good care of them. Anyway, when I told him that I have now completely given up law practice and did my higher studies and now engaged in a different path, he laughed and told me to continue my life with what I enjoy.

When we were about to leave, he thanked us for visiting him and asked me to take care of the family. Even in this last encounter with Mr. Daluwatte, I realised what an indelible mark he had left in our lives as he valued simplicity, happiness, and integrity. On 29 May 2020, some 20 hours short of his 90th birthday, he passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family. His family had taken excellent care of him and I can recall that in 2002, when he underwent a bypass surgery at Nawaloka hospital, on the third day after the operation, when Chinthaka and I visited him in the ICU, his eldest daughter who is a medical doctor was at the entrance of the ICU with dark-ringed eyes and explained to us his medical condition and how they were taking care of him.

During those final moments, in the midst of this catastrophic pandemic, I found that almost everyone whom this great man had associated with through many long years had come to say goodbye to him. He was worthy of worship in every sense but never allowed us to kneel down. With a heavy heart, we bid farewell to this wonderful man on his final journey. I doubt that Hulftsdorp may ever see the like of this gentleman par excellence ever again.

Sir, may you attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.

Vibhavi Ranasinghe

End of an eraA gem of a person who made the

legal profession proudzN.R.M. Daluwatte, PC

Monitors...“Even during past elections,

it has never been equal. But with the pandemic, this situation has worsened,” its Executive Director Rohana Hettiarchchi said.

He highlighted that there are no campaign finance regulations, thus creating an uneven political battle ground.

“The wealthy candidates will always have an advantage as a consequence of not having legislation on campaign finance regulation,” he said.

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) too pointed out that the pandemic would create conditions that would benefit the wealthier candidates.

CMEV National Co-ordinator Manjula Gajanayake pointed out that financially weak candidates would be at a significant disadvantage due to the limited campaign freedom as a result of Covid-19.

“Those who have the finances will be able to campaign on both print and digital media, but candidates who cannot afford such platforms are now handicapped as traditional methods of campaigning such as house-to-house campaigning cannot be done,” he said.

-Skandha Gunasekara

Waiting...“We are yet to start our

grassroots-level campaign. We have to conduct our campaign according to the guideline,” he said, stressing

that the guidelines should be reasonable and practical.

-Skandha Gunasekara

Doubts...He went on to say that the UNP

is ready for elections but was disappointed that the Covid-19 pandemic had not been curtailed.

“We are not a party that went to court trying to annul the election. We are ready for the election, but we had hoped the coronavirus would have been eradicated. That is what is best for the safety of the people,” Karunanayake said.

-Skandha Gunasekara

Health...Accordingly, they are requested to

apply for postal voting in the 2020 general election before 12 noon on 10 June.

Police...“As a pilot project, the Police

initiated it from Colombo and currently, data is being collected in Nugegoda, Colombo South, and Mount Lavinia,” he added.

When asked whether there was any complaint lodged with the Police regarding any political interference, SP Senaratne noted that there was no such complaints and there was no political interference to the survey.

“The process was launched two

years ago and we were creating the database. And now, data is being collected to feed the database,” he said, pointing out that data was being collected for security reasons.

“We’ve noticed that even during the investigations launched into the Easter attacks, many suspects had been residing in Colombo without a proper record. And after a crime happens, it is difficult to track the persons involved, mainly due to a lack of proper information,” SP Senaratne explained.

Therefore, to facilitate the investigations, data will be recorded on all temporary residents around the country, he added.

Farmers...He said that measures are being

taken to control the spread of the locusts.

The locust attack was first reported from Mawathagama in Kurunegala. Now, the attacks have also been reported from Mirigama and Mawanella areas, according to the Department.

All Island Farmers Federation (AIFF) National Organiser Namal Karunaratne told The Morning that the new species found in Sri Lanka can be even worse than the “sena” caterpillar.

However, there was no crop damage reported as yet, according to the AIFF.

The Department of Agriculture has requested the farmers to be on high alert and to immediately contact the 1920 hotline if they notice unusual insects in their farmlands.

Outbreaks of the insect attack have been reported from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh in India. Last week, the Delhi Government issued an advisory to farmers to spray pesticides to keep a possible attack at bay.

Meanwhile, experts have warned of huge crop losses if the swarms are not stopped by June when the monsoons will lead to a new season of sowing rice, sugarcane, cotton, and other crops.

–Maheesha Mudugamuwa

Adopts...“Considering the present health

guidelines that patients are to follow to reduce the contraction of Covid-19, our Oncology Clinic decided to conduct clinic sessions over video calls. Being the only oncology clinic for the entire Puttalam District, the clinic sees about 2,000 patients attend the monthly clinics. To safeguard them from further ailments, we are now conducting clinics via video technology,” he noted.

Dr. Mallawarachchi believes that this will save money and time for patients who have to travel long distances to attend the clinic at the Chilaw General Hospital and would improve the efficiency of the clinic sessions as well. Upon the end of the consultation, the hospital is to arrange the delivery of the necessary prescription medicines to the patients’ homes as well.

This will be the first such initiative taken by a state-owned hospital, and Dr. Mallawarachchi intends to introduce this system to other medical clinics as well. The new system was introduced by Dr. Nurah Joseph and Oncologist Dr. Rafad Jamaldeen.

When asked whether such initiatives will be supported and encouraged in the future, an official at the Ministry of Health, Nutrition, and Indigenous Medical Services stated that such initiatives are always welcomed, but will be implemented according to the requirements and capacities of each clinic/ hospital. If funding is required, the hospitals will have to inform the Ministry and it shall be approved after the requirement is assessed by the relevant authorities.

Strawberry...This penumbral lunar eclipse is

called the “strawberry moon eclipse”. Lunar eclipses occur on full moon

days when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, which results in the obstruction of some or all of the Sun’s light from reaching the Moon. This is a penumbral type of lunar eclipse occurring around midnight between today and tomorrow (6).

The eclipse begins at 11.15 p.m. SLST tonight with the Moon entering the penumbra of the Earth’s shadow (less dark shadow) and ends at 2.34 a.m. tomorrow morning. The greatest

eclipse will take place 54 minutes after midnight, i.e. at 12.54 a.m. tomorrow.

A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are imperfectly aligned. In a penumbral eclipse, the Moon will not enter the dark shadow (umbra) of the Earth, but will enter the lighter shadow (penumbral shadow).

Therefore, during this particular eclipse, you will see no dark shadow as in total or partial lunar eclipses, but only a reduction of the brightness of the Moon. Penumbral eclipses are difficult to observe, especially during the early and late stages.

Nevertheless, subtle yet distinct shading should be visible across the Moon. This eclipse is visible to countries in much of Europe, much of Asia, Australia, Africa, Southern/Eastern South America, Pacific, Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, and Antarctica.

There are six eclipses in this year – four penumbral lunar eclipses, one annular solar eclipse, and one total solar eclipse. Only the annular solar eclipse of 21 June 2020 is clearly visible to Sri Lanka as a partial solar eclipse from 10.29 a.m. to 1.19 p.m., said Prof. Jayaratne.

Two...This will be carried out in

accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs for the movement of stranded Indian nationals, dated 24 May 2020.

Further information regarding these flights will be updated on the High Commission of India website.

As the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka has received a large number of repatriation requests from Indian nationals stranded in Sri Lanka, only some of the registered people would be accommodated on the flights that have already been scheduled.

Shortlisted passengers for these flights will be informed via email by the High Commission of India.

Passengers will bear the cost of travel for the flight as well as for mandatory quarantine facilities on arrival in India. Information regarding quarantine facilities and the Standard Operating Procedure followed by respective States/UT Governments is available on the

High Commission of India website.Stranded Indian nationals who

have not yet registered with the High Commission have been requested to do so immediately (https://hcicolombo.gov.in/COVID_helpline). The Indian Government and High Commission urge all stranded Indian nationals to be patient and follow the updates on the High Commission’s website and social media handles.

Pvt. company...Accordingly, the proposal tabled

by Amaraweera on the matter has received the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.

With this, the decision taken by the former Government in 2017 to allow private institutions to carry out trials for driving licence tests will be reversed, it is learnt.

Penalties...The Inland Revenue Department

usually charges penalties for the late payment or non-payment of income taxes. However, taking into account the lockdown period, it has been decided that the penalties will not be levied for the lapses in payments of income taxes until 20 June.

Showers...Showers or thundershowers

could occur at a few places in the Uva Province after 2 p.m., with wind speeds predicted to increase up to 40-50 kmph at times over the Northern, North Central, and North Western Provinces and in the Hambantota District.

Free...The decision was announced

during the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday (4).

The proposal was submitted by Minister of Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture Dr. Ramesh Pathirana.

Pathirana said over six million plants have been destroyed due to the dry weather conditions that prevailed over the last few months.

The Government will use funds allocated to the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority (TSHDA) to carry out the programme.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Following the curfew/lockdown of over two months, Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts announced yesterday (5) that it looks forward to welcoming its guests with its contemporary Sri Lankan hospitality.

John Keells Holdings President of Leisure Group Jit Gunaratne commented in a press release on the new measures implemented by Cinnamon.

“The global pandemic has created new challenges and requirements for the health and safety of travellers across the globe. We have implemented health and safety guidelines in alignment with the protocols of the World Health

Organisation, the Government of Sri Lanka, and the Maldives to ensure a safe and comfortable experience. The hotel premises and staff are trained and well equipped to serve our guests with the promise of a clean, safe, and inspired experience at Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts both in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. We are looking forward to welcoming and catering to our guests and partners.’

Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts noted that it has implemented a series of safety protocols taking a holistic approach to sanitation across all hotel spaces. Enhanced measures include high-frequency cleaning and disinfection of guest areas, use of approved disinfectants against the Covid-19 virus and

other bacteria, compliance for supply chain deliveries, and cleaning protocols for culinary and housekeeping areas.

It has also made modifications to limit contact and maintain the required distance stipulated for physical distancing through seating arrangements in public areas and restaurants. Airport transfers, check-in and check-out procedures, use of hotel facilities such as the pool, the gym and sports activities, and banqueting have been enhanced to meet the Standard.

Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts is a chain at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s luxury hospitality sector, comprising 15 hotels and resorts located in key areas across Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Cinnamon ready for guests with new safety standards

Commercial Bank of Ceylon announced an upgrade of both the consumer and merchant applications of the ComBank Q+ payment app, with features including biometric authentication login for both applications and merchant self-registration.

ComBank Q+ was the first quick response (QR)-based payment app to be activated under LANKAQR standards when it was launched by Commercial Bank last year.

With this latest upgrade, ComBank Q+ merchants have the option of integrating online QR acceptance to their websites to accept online

payments. Furthermore, with the addition of more than 500 Q+ acceptance outlets around the island, this technology continues to add convenience to the lives of customers, the bank said.

The ComBank Q+ payment app enables Commercial Bank credit and debit cardholders to

experience the ease of paying for purchases via their mobile phones in a simple and secure manner. Payment via ComBank Q+ app is a hassle-free alternative for making and receiving payments for cardholders and vendors.

“As far as customers are concerned, making a payment for a product or a service is as simple and as convenient as scanning the vendor’s QR code with their mobile phones and selecting one of their registered Commercial Bank cards to make the payment. Apart from saving them the hassle of signing slips and even standing in long queues for payment, this payment app ensures that

the card will stay with the cardholder, minimising the possibilities of card losses and card theft. This encourages use of paperless-banking features such as digital receipts and in-app alerts. The payment app is also more secure than a normal card since the user inputs the PIN and requests authorisation of the payment,” Commercial Bank said in a press release.

Customers can add their ComBank Visa and Mastercard cards to the ComBank Q+ payment app, enabling them to perform LankaPay, mVisa, and Mastercard QR transactions. A maximum of five cards can be registered for this

service. ComBank Q+ is the only payment app which supports LankaPay, mVisa, and Mastercard QR as an issuer and an acquirer.

The ComBank Q+ payment app was developed based on interoperable standards, facilitating functionality in overseas locations as well.

The ComBank Q+ merchant application supports both static and dynamic QRs, bringing more convenience to merchants and cardholders. The application is designed to receive payments when the respective QR codes of merchants are scanned by customers at the points of sale.

ComBank upgrades ‘ComBank Q+’ app

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd. launched its latest partnership with the Police Environment Protection Division to expand the collection and recycling of PET plastic. The partnership was formalised at an event at the Sri Lanka Police DIG Office in Colombo 1 on Wednesday (3) to commemorate World Environment Day 2020.

The significant occasion was attended by the Senior DIG – Western Province Deshabandu Thennakoon, DIG – Environment and Community Policing Muditha Pussella, Director of the Police Environment Protection Division SP D.K. Priyantha, Divisional SSPs of Colombo North, South, and Central, OICs and officers of the Police Environment Protection Division, and other senior police officials along with senior dignitaries of Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka, Eco Spindles (the recycling partner), and Eco Friends (the collection partner).

At the event, Coca-Cola handed over 22 50 kg PET collection bins to the Police Environment Protection Division, which will be located at 22 strategic locations in Colombo under the direct purview of the respective

police stations with the objectives of expanding the collection of PET plastic, reducing pollution, and conserving the environment.

Commenting at the occasion, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd. Managing Director Mayank Arora said: “Coca-Cola is very pleased to partner with the Police Environment Protection Division to accelerate the habit of recycling PET plastic in Colombo to mark World Environment Day 2020. We are grateful for this exciting partnership. The ‘Give Back Life’ programme’s long-term vision is to work with a host of strategic partners to deliver meaningful action towards a circular economy in which materials are used and reused to provide ongoing value. It is our desire to scale this partnership across the country in time to come.”

Coca-Cola strongly advocates that post-consumed PET plastic is material that has inherent “value” and cannot be categorised as “waste”, as it is a 100% recyclable and can create value-added products such as bristles for cleaning brushes, brooms, or recycled polyester yarn for shoes, clothing, etc. Give Back Life also contributes

to creating a circular economy, increasing export earnings, and expanding livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Senior DIG – Western Province Deshabandu Thennakoon added: “The Police Environment Protection Division can play a crucial role in driving the message of recycling PET plastics amongst the public. On the occasion of the World Environment Day, we believe the ‘Give Back Life’ project is an ideal cause for Sri Lanka’s Police Environment Protection Division to champion. Plastic pollution is a real threat and jeopardises the sustainability of our environment. Each of us has a moral responsibility to ensure we dispose of PET plastics appropriately, thus allowing the packaging to enjoy the opportunity of another life.”

Give Back Life’s PET recovery and recycling efforts is a real solution to fill infrastructure gaps in waste collection schemes both at national and local levels in Sri Lanka. Around the world, Coca-Cola is committed towards helping create a “World Without Waste” by collecting and recycling the equivalent of 100% of its packaging by 2030.

Police Environment Division partners Coca-Cola for plastic recycling

AIA Sri Lanka’s health and wellness platform, AIA Vitality, conducted its second annual ‘Healthiest Workplace Survey’ (HWS) in 2019. The aim of the HWS is to understand how the workplace affects employees’ health and impacts their performance and engagement at work. The survey helps participating employers to invest smartly in the health and wellbeing of their staff by focusing on the needs of their employees.

2019 was a turbulent year for Sri Lanka with the Easter Attacks that shook the nation. Despite the negative business impacts, many organizations continued to invest in their employees’ health and wellbeing, by taking part in the HWS.

AIA’s CEO Nikhil Advani noted, “it was fantastic to see 47 progressive companies complete the survey, representing a combined workforce of 2,137 employees who responded.” He added “each participating company comprising Small, Medium and Large company categories, gained an in-depth understanding of the health and wellbeing profile of employees while identifying specific pain points and areas of improvement needed. This allows them to create a healthier environment for their people and improves their workplace productivity while reducing absenteeism.”

AIA’s Head of Marketing Shevanthie De Alwis added that “there is a noticeable improvement

in employee wellness from 2018 to 2019. While still high, the overall stress risk profile of employees has improved from 60% in 2018 to 56% in 2019. The overall nutrition risk profile has also improved from 92% to 89% in the same period, but at these levels’ SL remains higher than the Asia Pacific average of nutritional risk. Overall Body Mass Index risk had also reduced from 11% to 10% indicating that fewer employees were at risk of obesity. Having said so, there is still significant room for improvement. For example. 89% of respondents admit to not eating a healthy diet. Further, 59% of employees are at risk due to inadequate physical activity and 56% of employees are subject to some sort of work-related stress. It is therefore important to continue the focus on employee wellness.”

She added “now more than ever, with the current COVID-19 crisis, organizations are relying on their employees to come out of it stronger. The time and resources invested by companies

on employee health, wellness and happiness will be most relevant. Companies are going to be challenged financially but most continue to invest in the workplace benefits to support their staff. The HWS would be a good tool to support companies in allocating their resources.”

HWS is a workplace survey that examines employee lifestyle, clinical indicators, stress and mental health, to understand the associated impact on wellbeing and productivity. Developed by AIA Group, the research is conducted by RAND Europe, a preeminent international research institution. The results of the survey cover employee nutrition, physical activity, stress, sleep, alcohol consumption and smoking, mental wellbeing, clinical health, absence, presenteeism and productivity, work engagement, leadership and culture.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 survey. We saw oDoc (Small Enterprise) , MAS Capital (Pvt) Ltd ( Medium Enterprise) and Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (Large Enterprise) winning the title of ‘Healthiest Workplace’ in their respective categories, with Persistent Systems Lanka (Pvt) Ltd ( Small Enterprise), Attune Lanka (Pvt) Ltd ( Medium Enterprise) and HSBC Electronic Data Processing Lanka (Pvt) Ltd ( Large Enterprise) coming in Runners Up.

The companies recognised with

the ‘Healthiest Employees’ were EWIS Peripherals (Pvt) Ltd (Small Enterprise), Attune Lanka (Pvt) Ltd (Medium Enterprise) and NDB Bank (Large Enterprise), while Runners Up were oDoc (Small Enterprise), WNS Global Services (Pvt) Ltd (Medium Enterprise) and Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (Large Enterprise).

Meanwhile the winners of the ‘Healthiest Employer’ were Third Space Global (Pvt) Ltd (Small Enterprise), MAS Capital (Pvt) Ltd (Medium Enterprise) and HSBC Electronic Data Processing Lanka (Pvt) Ltd (Large Enterprise), with Runners Up being Persistent Systems Lanka (Pvt) Ltd (Small Enterprise), WNS Global Services (Pvt) Ltd (Medium Enterprise) and Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (Large Enterprise).

The ‘Most Improved’ category saw Third Space Global (Pvt) Ltd (Small Enterprise) and Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (Large Enterprise) winning, with Runners Up being Intrepid Group Colombo (Small Enterprise) and HSBC Electronic Data Processing Lanka (Pvt) Ltd (Large Enterprise).

There was also an award for the ‘New Entrant’, which was won by oDoc (Small Enterprise), MAS Capital (Pvt) Ltd (Medium Enterprise) and NDB Bank (Large Enterprise) with B. Braun Lanka (Pvt) Ltd (Small Enterprise) and WNS Global Services (Pvt) Ltd (Medium Enterprise) as Runners Up.

AIA Healthiest Workplace Survey 2019 winners announced

businessthe morningFriday, June 5, 2020 3

Emirates offers flights to cities and resumes Dubai transit

Emirates announces more passenger flights taking network to 25 cities and resumption of network-wide connecting flights through its Dubai hub

Following the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Federal Government’s announcement to lift restrictions on transit passenger services, from 15 June, Emirates will offer passenger services to 16 more cities on its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. With travel restrictions remaining in place in most countries, customers are reminded to check entry and exit requirements before their journeys.

Flights to the following cities will be available for booking on emirates.com or via travel agents: Bahrain, Manchester, Zurich, Vienna, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dublin, New York JFK, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Taipei, Hong Kong, Perth, and Brisbane.

In addition, from 8 June, Emirates will offer flights from Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad for travellers from Pakistan who wish to connect onwards to other Emirates destinations.

With this latest announcement, Emirates will be offering flights for passengers on the back of its scheduled cargo operations from

Dubai to 29 cities, including existing flights to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Chicago, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne, and Manila from 11 June.

Customers can book to fly between destinations in the Asia Pacific and Europe or the Americas, with a convenient connection in Dubai, as long as they meet travel and immigration entry requirements of their destination country.

Working closely with the UAE authorities, Emirates continues to take a measured and phased approach to flight resumption and rebuilding connections between Dubai and the world.

Furthermore, Emirates has implemented a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the customer journey to ensure the safety of its customers and employees on the ground and in the air, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser, and antibacterial wipes to all customers.

BY DIMITHRI WIJESINGHE

Earth Day Network, first established in 1970 and based in Washington DC, America, is an international environmental organisation that operates in more than 190 countries.

The network has recently appointed Sri Lankan actress Michelle Dilhara as the Sri Lankan Ambassador for the network. Michelle is also an author, philanthropist, and climate activist and was awarded the Asia Inspiration Award at the South Asian Youth Summit held in Colombo in 2018 for her contribution towards social invisibility.

The Global Advisory Committee of the Earth Day Network includes personalities such as actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Ed Begley Jr., and Anil Kapoor, the 68th Secretary of State John Kerry, and Indian businessman Anand Mahindra, just to name a few. The current President of the Earth Day Network is former environmental attorney Kathleen Rogers, with Nishu Kaul and Karuna Singh taking up

the mantle as Earth Day South and Southeast Asia Director and Earth Day Network Regional Director, India, respectively.

Speaking to Michelle, she shared that she was invited by the Earth Day Network to feature in its “My Future, My Voice” campaign for their 50th anniversary of Earth Day 2020 with 49 other prominent young environmental activists from 17

countries of the South and Southeast Asia regions. She further stated that the Earth Day Network digital event has grown wider with messages from global leaders which includes a number of prominent activists and celebrities such as Pope Francis, former US Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Al Gore, former UN Executive Secretary of Climate Change Christiana Figueres, White House Climate Striker Jerome Foster II, and others.

Michelle shared that it has been a great honour to be included amongst great personalities such as her own personal hero Al Gore, who inspired her philanthropic work which she has been engaged in since she was 15 years old. She is an active environmental activist having organised several climate campaigns to minimise the ongoing climate crisis. Some projects include de-trashing beaches, planting 1,000 trees in Katana, and conducting awareness programmes on climate change and social invisibility at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka and other schools.

Michelle, who is credited for having founded “The Invisible to Visible Movement”, has released a book based on the research done with Emeritus Prof. Antonette Perera and Dr. Parakrama Warnasuriya; the book titled Social Invisibility Is Not A Fiction It Exists was published by Amazon and it provides implementations on how to minimise social invisibility and social exclusion.

Michelle has continued her work as an avid activist while also maintaining her career passion as an actress; she is well known for her role in the television miniseries “Sudu Andagena Kalu Awidin”, which became the most popular teledrama at the Sumathi Tele Awards 2019. She shared that she hopes to continue her work for the betterment of society and the accolades she has received along the way has only sparked her desire to keep going, and that this honourable inclusion as Earth Day Network Ambassador to Sri Lanka has been one such achievement she will be most grateful for and hopes to leverage it in order to make a lasting difference in the world.

BY DIMITHRI WIJESINGHE

In December 2019, Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa, a Sri Lankan comedian based in Berlin, held a comedy show in Colombo during his brief holiday back home. We were able to have a chat with Vidura, who at the time was a software engineer by day and stand-up comedian by night, who also happened to have a degree in medicine; he shared with us that he was working towards gathering enough material to shoot a comedy special.

Since then, Vidura has pretty much achieved his goal and a step up, as not only did he curate a one-hour set, but also filmed a special and got himself a distribution deal with Amazon for his comedy special. As he produced it independently, he also owns the rights to the material.

We caught up with the man once again to see how life has been treating him since we last met and also since his special was released into the world.

Now on Amazon First of all, we had to congratulate him

on his fortunate timing with the details surrounding the comedy special; while the situation is unfortunate of course with the pandemic at large, there is a large audience tuned in and ready to be entertained and in need of new content, and luckily he just happened to have an already completed set ready to be streamed.

On the timing and how the comedy special came about, Vidura shared that while at this stage in his career it was a stressful experience, considering how

people are able to do it much further into their career and how often skill, circumstance, and resources come into play, he decided to go for it primarily because for a stand up comic, the only thing you have to show for the work you have put in is your special; very much like in the case of musicians where you get your mixtape – this is the mixtape of a comedy rookie.

About the timing of it all, he said that while he was meant to shoot it in March, because he felt rather impatient he shot it in February and it turned out to be a good thing considering the state of the world right now.

He said that after the special was released, more people have started to follow his work and that it has been a huge relief because to tape a special yourself and release it to the public, it takes a certain amount of belief in yourself to do it. He added that people considered it to be a somewhat of a cocky move, but he is glad that he went through with it.

About the mechanics of shooting a comedy special, Vidura stated that people often tour with their one hours’ worth of material for a few years, to perfect it, because the more you perform the more you are able to sharpen your content.

While he hasn’t done this for nearly as long, since his gig in Sri Lanka last year, he went on a mini self-booked tour around Europe while maintaining his day job. “I would take the bus to each city, stay the night, work remotely, and fly back on Monday,” he said, and he did this for months, traveling by bus and staying at hostels.

The taping About the actual taping of the material,

he said that traditionally what you would see on any Netflix comedy special is a one-hour set that looks to be one full show, often taken from about 10 different shows performed over time, picking the best version of each joke. In Vidura’s case, working with limited resources, he said that he did two shows in one night, a 7 p.m. one and a 9 p.m. one, and on most traditional shows they would do it with a bigger audience – around 50,000 trained audience members, but of course he did not have the resources to do that so he worked with what he had and did an open show with about 50 people.

Since we did check out the special ourselves and were able to attend his gig last year in Sri Lanka, we had to ask him about his material for the show, because often when we see Asian comedians talking about their immigrant experience and how being brown makes you different,

we were curious if it gets old at all and why it is that this is often the case with most comedians with Asian roots.

To this, Vidura said that stand-up comedy is pretty much your life’s experiences; you can’t help but talk about the observations you have made and there are some people who do characters and weird acentric versions, but even then those are closely linked to their own personalities.

In his case, he said that he did not want to limit himself to material that would only work in a certain area of the world; since Berlin is an international city, it has a diverse collection of cultures but this doesn’t apply to the whole of Germany. Therefore, he did not want to have content that would only work with a multicultural crowd.

About using one’s culture for entertainment however, Vidura said that it

really depends on how you do it; you have certain comedians who do it effectively in a non-aggressive way and those work great, but often he does feel that when you overdo it, it feels as though you are cheapening your culture for entertainment.

He said that even in his set, there is a piece about the Easter Sunday bombings towards the end of the special which receives well with audiences, and it is one of those fine lines you can walk on.

Moving to London and the future Vidura is currently based in Berlin.

However, he shared that he hopes to move to London soon, hopefully at the end of the year, if all goes well.

He shared the reason for the move which is primarily because while Berlin is a creative hub and is not the best for business, the tour circuit is better in London. He added that you get on stage more often and there is a big tour industry there.

He also wishes not to be pigeonholed as a German act, and he hopes that in moving to London he would be able to get a professional team around him to handle the more bureaucratic sides of being an entertainer, which he currently very chaotically handles himself.

For Vidura, as a somewhat up-and-comer in the comedy circuit, he believes that undoubtedly he has a long way to go before he could possibly say he has “made it”. His end-goal so far is ideally to tour comfortably in slightly better conditions than he did earlier this year, and eventually be able to quit his day job as a software engineer and tour full-time as a comedian. If he is able to one day comfortably fill a 100 seats in any major city, then he can finally say he has made it.

the morningFriday, June 5, 2020

4

brunch

is pretty much your life’s

experiencesVidura Rajapaksa talks about his Amazon

comedy special and the future

STAND-UP COMEDY

Dr. Dineshani Hettiarachchi MBBS, MSc Regenerative Medicine, MCGP, SEDA (UK).

Dr. Hettiarachchi is a family physician and a lecturer at the Department of Anatomy and

Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Colombo. Email Dr. Hettiarachchi

on dineshani@anat.cmb.ac.lk if you have any more questions you’d like answered here.

ANSWERED BY

One of my close relatives was diagnosed with lung cancer. What are the risk factors I should be concerned about? There are two common types of lung cancers depending on how the cancer cells look under the microscope. They are called small cell and non-small

cell lung cancer. They start with a cluster of abnormal cells that become a tumour and grow to destroy the surrounding healthy lung tissue.

Three decades ago, the majority were older male smokers in their early 60s who were diagnosed with this. However, the demography of lung cancer is slowly evolving and now more cases of non-smoking younger individuals are emerging each year.

Some of the main risk factors are cumulative exposure to tobacco smoke including exposure to secondhand smoke and advancing age. There are other risk factors also such as a family history of lung cancer which play a key role as there can be a genetic predisposition. Similarly, air pollution, especially solid fuel smoke (cooking indoors with wood in an enclosed space is particularly dangerous), exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, exposure to radon, heavy metals, asbestos, and ionising radiation.

Hence, it’s important to avoid these risk factors, especially smoking, if a close relative was diagnosed with lung cancer.

A

Q

a doctorASK Actress Michelle Dilhara on

becoming Earth Day Network Ambassador to Sri Lanka

Vidura Rajapaksa

Michelle Dilhara

sportsthe morning

Friday, June 5, 2020

Arthur Alwis is remembered here warmly in an emotional tribute to the person by the Kandy District Cricket Association, headed by Roland Perera and Janaka Pathirane.

Alwis was one of the most complex and versatile individuals to ever be involved in sports in the upcountry. He passed away in the year 2004, aged 81. This year marks Arthur Alwis's 16th death anniversary.

Who is Arthur Alwis and what did he do? When was he working for the betterment of various sports in the upcountry capital? Let's find out the answers!

Stalwart in Rajans' historyP.L. Arthur Alwis is affectionately called

"Kopi" Arthur Alwis or "Kopi Alwis", with the Sinhala word “kopi” meaning coffee in English. Kopi Alwis was a sporting all-rounder, so to say, and a trailblazer of sports in this part of the country.

His forte was, very clearly, cricket. He played first-class cricket by the time he coached players and umpired matches. Kopi Alwis is always named among the elite band of Kandy’s sporting legends.

First, Arthur Alwis became the first centurion of the annual Dharmaraja-Kingswood Big Match. When this annual encounter was played in 1943, on its 50th year after its inauguration in 1893, Alwis scored 121 runs and also captured a match-bag of nine wickets for 39 runs, guiding

the Rajans to an innings and a 152-run victory.The outstanding Alwis was the Vice Captain

of the college's champion cricket teams during 1941-43 and became the Dharmaraja College Captain in 1944. This was in fact an epoch-making era of cricket for the premier school in the Central Hills.

A celebrated RajanArthur was also the football Captain of

Dharmaraja College and was one of best centre-forwards in the game. He was a coloursman of cricket, football, athletics, and hockey too. Arthur has received the prestigious “Dagaba Award”, the highest award of excellence for a Dharmaraja schoolboy.

Soon after school, he joined the Technical College and later was at the Water Works section of the Kandy Municipal Council (Kandy MC). In his retirement, Arthur worked for several finance companies.

‘Aththā Hi Aththano Natho’It should be remembered that Arthur's father

Paulus Alwis was also a member of the Kandy MC. He too was a great cricket promoter. Arthur coached the Dharmaraja cricket team for over three decades and produced a galaxy of cricketers.

Arthur later formed the Old Rajans Cricket Club and entered the team for the famous Daily News Trophy tournament. He also founded the Kandy Cricket Foundation and led a provincial team to India on a series of cricket matches.

Arthur’s name thus became synonymous with cricket at Dharmaraja College for nearly five decades. His contributions as well as achievements are many. Arthur Alwis was a firm believer of the Rajan school motto, "Aththā Hi Aththano Natho", an extract from the Buddhist “Dhammapada” text, meaning “one is one’s own refuge" (how can another be a refuge to one?).

Numerous sports institutionsKopi Alwis later turned up for the Kandy

United Cricket Club, the Central Province teams, and also for the Kandy Lake Club. He played a key role in the administration of the Central Province Cricket Association at a time when there were no finances coming in to the provinces from the Colombo-based headquarters. They had to find their own funds to host visiting teams and also to conduct its tournaments.

Arthur became Chairman of the Dharmaraja College Cricket Foundation, established to uplift the standards of cricket at Dharmaraja, especially at the junior level where his expertise was much sought after.

Founding umpiring associationAnother achievement of late Arthur Alwis

was to become one of the first members of the Association of Cricket Umpires of Ceylon, from the area of Kandy. He joined the national body in the 1960s with two other Kandyans, Aelian Weerasuriya and A. Balasuriya.

Later, the trio felt that Kandy should have a cricket umpires' association of its own and went on to form the Central Province Cricket Umpires' Association in 1967 at a meeting held at the Kandy Police Grounds Pavilion.

An unforgettable role modelArthur Alwis was a remarkable sportsman,

coach, mentor, administrator, and a tireless promoter of sports. Some swear that he was God’s gift to Kandy.

As a batsman, Arthur was so correct in his technique that he made sure even a fly could not get through his forward defence stroke. As an umpire, he always did a genuine job and, as a coach, he guided many cricketers to do well. He is one of the classiest coaches Dharmaraja has ever seen.

In his family front, Arthur was a father of eight; four girls and four boys. He never allowed any of his sons to come for the Rajans' senior cricket practices when he was coaching. But all four sons – Ranjith, Channa, Sarath, and Harsha – played for the junior team and Ranjith took to umpiring too.

Everybody knew that he restricted his sons from coming for practices to avoid any accusations of favouritism and nepotism. "I can't get accused of such, so never come for my practices." What a role model for today's generation of society!

Kandy is indebted to ‘Kopi’ Arthur Alwisby Hafiz Marikar

KANDY MUSINGS

When “Kopi” Arthur Alwis led the Dharmaraja cricket team

Arthur Alwis

Intricate marginalisationCurrent world No. 81 tennis player Frances Tiafoe of the US feels some people don’t want black players to succeed. “I definitely feel that not everybody wants to see that success in me. I feel like I’m taking something from someone...(and) they don’t want us in power. I truly think that’s a thing,” he told CNN.

Olympics will be ‘simplified’The Japanese Government is considering a simplified format for the postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, the international media reported yesterday (4). Measures would be introduced to contain the spread of coronavirus. Kyodo

News said changes could include a reduction in the number of spectators and a scaling back of the opening and closing ceremonies.

Lotuses galore!We will now visit the 2022 Asian Games venue in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. An underground complex is now being set to connect the Hangzhou Olympic and International Expo Centre and other venues, it is

reported. The main venue, the Big Lotus, and all the main halls in the area will be connected using underground tunnels.

BY REVATHA S. SILVA

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is still undecided about Sri Lanka’s request for a series in Sri Lanka in September, The Morning Sports learnt.

As the economic fallout haunts almost every cricket board in the world at the moment, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the BCB are yet to resume cricket activities following the pandemic-triggered closure.

July-Aug. series not happeningSri Lanka Cricket (SLC) only on Tuesday (2)

wrote to the BCB inquiring about the possibility of a two-match Test and two-match T20I series in September in Sri Lanka, in place of the three-match Test series scheduled originally for July and August.

As international series are being postponed one after the other due to the pandemic, this three-Test series in Sri Lanka with Bangladesh is sure to be postponed and the prevailing situation prompted SLC to seek an alternate window in September for the series.

As we reported exclusively on Wednesday, SLC had requested two Tests and two T20Is in September, instead of the originally planned three Tests.

Incur huge lossesIf not for the Covid-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka

could have been abuzz by now with cricket action at home being slated continuously from June first week up until August second week. It could have been 10 weeks of non-stop cricket action barring the third week of July, if not for the coronavirus challenge which emerged in March in Sri Lanka.

South Africa (for three ODIs and three T20Is), India (three ODIs and three T20Is), and Bangladesh (for three Test matches) were scheduled to be here during June-August according to the original pre-pandemic Future Tours Programme (FTP) of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The postponement, or possible cancellation, of those series, particularly the much-expensive India series, is bound to incur huge losses to the SLC.

Depends on Bangladesh Govt.The BCB sources said yesterday it is yet to

take any decision on SLC’s proposal but they are trying to launch preparations.

“There is a plan to bring back cricket as early as possible and the groundwork has started

already,” BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury had told Bangladeshi media on Wednesday.

“Even though there is no decision on Sri Lanka tour, which would depend on many things, we want the players to be ready and start their usual activities. Currently, the players and coaching staffs have been in touch through

online and devising a plan to how they could resume the cricket,” he added.

Sri Lanka meanwhile began their training on 1 June in the required bio-secure environment in Colombo.

Chowdhury has also said that the decision on Sri Lanka would entirely depend on the

permission of the Bangladeshi Government. “But whatever it is, the players should be ready. BCB always wants to ensure that players would be ready regardless of any situation.”

BCB is hit tooThe BCB are yet to hit the market with the

new media rights tender and also the Bangladesh team sponsorship deal is currently pending.

Before the pandemic, BCB’s media rights deal with Gazi TV expired and due to Covid-19, they are yet to hit the market. Their $ 20 million (approximately Rs. 3.7 billion) deal with Gazi TV signed in 2014 has ended on 30 April 2020.

The BCB’s sponsorship deal with Unilever expired in January and it was in the process of naming a new sponsor before the pandemic began. On 22 January, it sought an Expression of Interest (EoI) for a two-year-long team sponsorship bid with a floor price of $ 6.5 million (Rs. 1.2 billion). It now has only an interim sponsor in Akash, a company owned by Beximco.

BCB undecided over SL tourz Pandemic-related financial fallout haunts boards across the globe

BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury (on left) with its President Nazmul Hassan Papon

No tours or TV rights sales; every board is feeling the pinch

There were talks of Big Threes and Big Fours in world cricket, but after the pandemic, all cricket boards but the Indian one are facing major stumbling blocks to stay afloat financially due to the Covid-19 economic fallout.

The Australian Cricketers’ Association were involved in a pay dispute by yesterday (4) after Cricket Australia was bracing for a 25-30% downturn for next season, even if the lucrative tour by India goes ahead as planned later 2020.

“Cricket Australia’s day of reckoning looms as it awaits a verdict from players over its downward financial projections that could send the game into another major pay dispute,” The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Wednesday (3).

The West Indies Board said recently that they were “in ICU” due to the problem. The New Zealand and England cricket boards too have indicated difficulties and effected pay cuts. Meanwhile, many boards – such as those of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh – have not finished selling of their television rights for the ensuing period, only to make matters worse.