In response, he said that so far there is no plan to vaccinate such children at vaccination centres. However, he said that if a decision is taken to vaccinate all children above the age of 12 years, the necessary steps will be taken to vaccinate them at vaccination centres as well. “At the moment, Covid-19 vaccination is being implemented for children with special requirements. The Covid-19 vaccination programme for children over 12 years of age suffering from chronic diseases commenced on 24 September at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) in Colombo. The Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) has also recommended the administration of Covid-19 vaccines to children suffering from chronic diseases.

BY Dinitha RathnayakeA high-level meeting between the regional Naval Commanders of Sri Lanka and India is to be held today (29) focusing on trespassing Indian fishermen engaging in the destructive practice of bottom trawling and on joint efforts undertaken by the two Navies. The Sri Lankan delegation will be led by Northern Naval Commander Priyantha Perera while the Indian Navy delegation will be led by a Naval Commander in Chennai. The SLN has arrested at least 54 Indian fishermen and seized five trawlers for allegedly poaching in the country’s territorial waters recently. The two vessels had trespassed into Sri Lankan waters about 62 nautical miles, crossing the IMBL when the apprehension was made. Bottom trawling carried out by Indian fishermen in mechanised trawlers is classified as an Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) method by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The steps to be taken by the CBSL include carrying out campaigns on mainstream and social media to apprise the public about prohibited schemes with the warning to avoid such schemes. Accordingly, the conducting of investigations into pyramid schemes and referring the findings that suggest pyramid schemes to the Attorney General’s Department for prosecution, will also be encouraged. Pyramid schemes have been made illegal in Sri Lanka in view of the potential danger they pose to the economy and any funds earned by promoting pyramid schemes are liable to seizure and forfeiture, in the event such funds are used for the offences of money laundering or for financing terrorism. Many illegal pyramid schemes are fast spreading across Sri Lanka, even during the Covid-19 pandemic period. A pyramid scheme is defined by the CBSL as a scheme under which a person makes a payment to get the right to recruit others into the scheme for which he receives an income.

In response, Cabinet Co-Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana stated that no such decision has been taken so far. “No such decision has been taken at present. Meanwhile, National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head and Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva yesterday told the media that the decision on whether to lift or extend the lockdown status on 1 October will be announced by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today (29) or tomorrow (30). Accordingly, the President will announce as to whether the lockdown will be lifted or extended, within the course of today or tomorrow,” he noted. Taking into account the rapid spread of Covid-19 and the increase of the number of Covid-19 deaths in the country, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on 20 August, declared a lockdown status, which has subsequently been extended on multiple occasions, with the latest extension being till 4 a.m. on 1 October 2021.

BY Pamodi WaravitaDetained poet Ahnaf Jazeem’s mother has submitted a written representation to the Advisory Board of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979 as amended (PTA), requesting his immediate release, Jazeem’s legal representative, Attorney-at-Law (AAL) Sanjaya Wilson Jayasekera, told The Morning yesterday (28). On 25 August, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed an Advisory Board, under Article 13 of the PTA, to which any person under a detention order under the PTA may make representations. Presidential Secretariat Director General of Legal Affairs and AAL Harigupta Rohanadeera has stated that the Advisory Board is due to provide recommendations on 46 detainees. A number of local and international organisations, including Amnesty International, have condemned this arbitrary arrest and called for the poet’s immediate release.

New heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk expects a rematch with Anthony Joshua in “February or March,” his promoter Alexander Krassyuk says. “When we were talking to Oleksandr about the rematch, he wasn’t upset. I will beat up Anthony twice!’”Joshua told reporters at the post-fight news conference that he is “110% likely” to activate the rematch clause. Usyk has previously said he wants the rematch to take place at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv. “Of course, I would like very much to have this unification match.” (BBC Sport)

Voicing his stance on the recent Yugadanavi Power Plant deal, Minister of Mass Media and Cabinet Spokesperson Dullas Alahaperuma stated that LNG supply within the country must not be given to a foreign nation. “I made my stance known to the Cabinet clearly at that time, and I have now been fully informed about the new agreement. During that time, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Power made clarifications on this matter. My stance is and has always been that the monopoly of supplying something like LNG in the country should not be given to a foreign nation. Additionally, he confirmed that the Government will not enter an agreement which would be disadvantageous to the country.

Opposition MP’s have requested the Government to change the decision made on fertiliser imports. This was expressed during a media brief held this morning (28) when the Opposition MP’s stated their concerns. We believe that the gazette issued restricting the import of fertiliser must be reversed so that the people of our country do not starve. Just as the gazette for the maximum retail price on rice was reversed, we request the Government to reverse the gazette on fertiliser as well,” stated Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Rohana Bandara. Another MP who voiced his views was SJB MP Hector Appuhamy.

The Pfizer vaccination program for children with co-morbidities aged between 12 - 19 years will be carried out island-wide from October 01, the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians (SLCP) says. According to its member Dr. Surantha Perera, vaccines will be made available at selected hospitals in each province. Sri Lanka commenced vaccinating children suffering from underlying health conditions on September 24 at several hospitals including the Lady Ridgeway Hospital in Colombo and teaching hospitals in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala. Under this inoculation program, more than 500 doses have already been administered, Dr. Perera said further. “We will administer the second dose to these children after four weeks.

PET plastic waste is a valuable commodity when responsibly disposed of and managed, as it is 100% recyclable! Due to this characteristic, PET waste is valuable for what it can be transformed into. Polyester yarn for clothing and monofilaments used in brushes and brooms are value-added products created from recycled PET plastic waste here in Sri Lanka and exported to several countries worldwide. By segregating and disposing of your PET plastic waste responsibly, you allow recyclers to give it new life. We will do our part to segregate and dispose of our plastic waste appropriately and give it a new life.

While claiming that Sri Lanka failed to convert the Kerawalapitiya based Yugadanavi power plant to an LNG plant for 10 years, Sri Lanka Podujama Peramuma (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam stated that a decision regarding the development of the plant came after lengthy discussions. “In countries such as Singapore and Malaysia, the General public or religious leaders do not oppose or take to the streets when rural areas are developed. If we are to attract investors into the country, it is essential that they are provided with the required power,” he said at a press conference yesterday (27). “Certain matters needed clarifications from the Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, and I believe they (investors) received satisfactory results and did not have any further questions. The details of this meeting was later discussed at a party leaders meeting, to which the party leaders cannot say that they were not aware of this anymore.” mentioned Kariyawasam.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) voiced their concerns on the quality of life Sri Lankans are presented with during a media brief held yesterday (27). “This government promised prosperity to the people, yet they are unable to provide three meals a day. The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) took such stringent measures in the beginning, and now there’s not a hum. The Government said that they have appointed a Commissioner General for Essential goods, whereas the people of this country doesn’t have food,” stated the JVP Chief Secretary Tilvin Silva. Silva went on to say that the Government has proved to be a failure in all promises made, and they (Government) would have to revoke the gazettes issued initially as a food shortage is inevitable.

The Ministry of Health-operated COVID-19 vaccination clinics are carried out island-wide today (September 28). Accordingly, Sinopharm vaccines will be administered to people in Colombo (All MOH areas in Colombo RDHS and CMC), Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Monaragala, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Kalmunai, Batticaloa districts. The second dose of Russia-manufactured Sputnik V vaccine will be delivered in all MOH areas in the Kandy District. In addition, the second doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are rolled out in Ruwanwella MOH area in Kegalle District. Meanwhile, Pfizer vaccines are rolled out at the following locations in the Western Province for children with co-morbidities:Colombo District• Colombo South Teaching Hospital• Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama• Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH)• Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital• Colombo East Base Hospital• Awissawella Base Hospital• Homagama Base Hospital• Neville Fernando Hospital• Lady Ridgeway Hospital for ChildrenGampaha District• Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama• Gampaha District General Hospital• Negombo District General Hospital• Wathupitiwala Base Hospital• Kiribathgoda Base Hospital• Minuwangoda Base Hospital• Mirigama Base HospitalKalutara District• Kalutara District General Hospital• Panadura Base Hospital• Pimbura Base Hospital• Horana Base HospitalMore details on the inoculation centres operating today can be obtained from the official website of the Health Ministry.

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrating after his goal against Tottenham HotspurIt was an eventful weekend of Premier League football. One of the major upsets of the week was Aston Villa’s 1-0 win over Manchester United at the Old Trafford. Man City vs. ChelseaThe reigning champions Manchester City ruined Chelsea’s high goal-scoring form with 1-0 win over the Blues at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal vs. Tottenham HotspurArsenal recorded a stunning 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in London derby. Spurs tried to get back in the second half but they only found one goal, through Son Heung-Min.

1946 – Birth of ‘the regal’ Majid Khan, cousin of Imran, who was picked primarily as a bowler when he made his Test debut at 18 but was soon ensconced in the middle order by virtue of his scintillating stroke-play. A Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1970, Majid made almost 4,000 runs in 63 Tests before becoming an International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee, and later Chief Executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)Birth of ‘the regal’ Majid Khan, cousin of Imran Khan, present Pakistan Prime Minister1955 – The first World Series colour TV broadcast on NBC-TV – Yanks beat Dodgers1973 – England’s leading female leg-spinner was born. At the age of six, Kathryn Leng informed her primary-school teacher that she would play cricket for England, and she was true to her word! Also a fine middle-order bat, Leng made history in 1999 when she became the first woman to play in the men’s Bradford League. She also became the first woman to play in a university match, for Leeds vs. Bradford UCCEKathryn Leng, who informed her primary-school teacher one day that she would play cricket for England!