Zeilan Paper

Publish by Zeilan International Pvt. Ltd Volume 04 - July, 2020

AMERICAN PREMIUM

WATER

Page 9

Bruce Lee Song

Page 5

ZAHIRA – RISE, FALL AND RESURRECTION

Visionary Fouzul Hameed

EXCLUSIVE

Page 16

Serving Zahira

Page 16

Rauf Capt.

Page 15 Barrie.

Page 8

PRESIDENT ORDERS PROBE ON

DR.ZURFICK’S KIDNAP & ROBBERY

COMPLAINT AGAINST EX-ENVOY CHARLIE

MAHENDRAN: DR. ZURFICK RELIEVED P

residential Mahendran whom he accuses of Ombudsman having got him kidnapped by a directs Foreign mafia gang in Japan and tortured Min. Secy. Ravinath to and robbed of his precious produce inquiry report stones worth millions of rupees. if any It is significant CASE FILES AT MINISTRY HAVE that at a time President DISAPPEARED Gotabaya Rajapaksa Reacting to the Presidential has pledged to wipe directive, Dr. Zurfick who has out black sheep in been driven from pillar to post government institutions by foreign ministry officials said, that a particular case in Dr. M.G.M.S. Zurfick: Hopes Charlie Mahendran: Will “I must thank the President for Gamini Seneviratne: It was Ravinath Ariyasinha, Foreign Gamini Seneviratne, the then he be at long last finally example that has been will see light at end of dark recognising the seriousness of Min. Secy.: Defied orders from State Secretary , Foreign investigated? swept under the carpet tunnel. my case and referring it to the even Ex-President’s office.

Affairs Ministry who suspected for years by certain Ombudsman, and I pray that I will Charlie Mahendran’s bona S.M. Wickramasinghe has accordingly 21.06.2020 to foreign ministry officials fides in respect of Dr. Zurfick. see light from darkness at the called for a report from the foreign President Rajapaksa involving senior citizen Dr. M.G.M.S. end of the tunnel. It has been so ministry secretary, Ravinath Ariyasinha. sought justice at Zurfick has drawn the attention of the frustrating and depressing what I long last to a grievance whereby he president. Dr. Zurfick’s long drawn battle By letter dated July 10, he has written have gone through. to the ministry secretary stating, ‘if has complained against Sri Lanka’s against what he terms a rock of wall Continued on page 02 any inquiry has been done send me former ambassador to Japan, Charlie at the foreign ministry has suddenly a report regarding the outcome’. He opened up in new hope for a man who has referred to an inquiry ordered into has been both physically and mentally Zurfick’s complaint by the minister at crushed following President Rajapaksa the time. promptly referring Zurfick’s appeal for Dr. Zurfick, a premier Lankan justice to the Presidential Ombudsman gem entrepreneur, has by letter dated for investigation. The Ombudsman, completely turned a blind eye Zurfick went on to lament

MINISTER DINESH GUNAWARDENA TOOK ME FOR A BIG RIDE

Four Police Narcotics Men’s Involvement with Drugs Underworld Undermines National Drive The lid was lifted from the can of worms of the shocking revelation of Police links with the drug underworld following the arrests of four officers attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau on

June 28 where drug trafficking had reached its height under the guise of uniformed men of the arm of the law. That arguably the worst public menace world-wide had the blessings of a section of

law enforcement officers directly tasked with eliminating the cancer was indeed a complete type of U-Turning boomeranging on Sri Lanka’s all-out war to wipe out the menace.

Continued on page 02

the failure of the foreign affairs minister, Dinesh Gunawardena who he alleged had also driven him from pillar to post where it was his job to have acted as the minister in charge. “Minister Dinesh Gunawardena simply rusticated me wasting my time for the last eight months by telling me to come to your foreign ministry, the labour ministry and your house. He asked me to get an appointment and come, but you never gave me an appointment. That is the way you act as a senior minister. But he put me off whenever I called over. He

on me and took me for a ride by just making me come and go. It was an utter disappointment of a minister doing this to a senior citizen like me who has rendered yeoman service to my country both in the trade sector and as a sportsman. I wrote nearly 10 letters to him all of which went unanswered. Mr. Minister, you had been quoted by the Daily News as saying recently that the people’s problems will be solved.

But this is the way you act quite the opposite.

You are contesting the forthcoming general elections from the Colombo District and people like you should be exposed.”

Minister Bandula Gunawardena pledges to curb ragging

But Need of the Hour is to Wipe Out the Menace Once and for All The despicable tire throwing incident that paralysed a fresher namely Pasindu Hirushan by senior students of the Sri Jayawardenepura University on March 5 has once again raised the million dollar question whether the Government will once and for all wipe out this public menace that has scourged the lives of countless innocent young lives. Fresh on the heels of the incident, the Minister of Higher

Education, Bandula Gunawardena announced that leaders of the InterUniversity Students’ Federation had pledged to curb ragging in higher education institutes. He said that vice chancellors and lecturers had been advised by his ministry to inform the police immediately in the event of any ragging related complaints. But this outlook looks lukewarm where the need of the hour of an entire general public is to see this Dracula

Blood Sucking Menace wiped out once and for all where there cannot be half shares. In this vein, it is also pertinent that this issue has captured the attention of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who, addressing the national conference of the youth front of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, observed that 2000 students who pass their advanced level examination do not enter state university.

Continued on page 02

PASINDU HIRUSHAN: This pathetic picture of Pasindu Hirushan, the most recent university ragging victim who was hospitalised for months following serious damage to his spinal cord by a tire flung by monster raggers of the Sri Jayawardenapura University.

Sri Lanka Defense Ministry joins National Child Authority to implement tougher laws against child abuse Sri Lanka’s Defense Secretary Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne has emphasized the need to safeguard children from all forms of abuse and create a secure and safe environment for children.

“Children need to be safeguarded from all forms of abuse and it is a must that we create a secure and safe environment for children,” Defense Secretary said.

Speaking at a meeting jointly organized by the Defense Ministry and the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), held at the Ministry, today (July 27) Defense Secretary said discussions were already held to form vigilant committees in schools to protect school children from drug abuse.

“It is no secret now that the law enforcement officials, who were responsible for eradicating drug menace

were unfortunately involved in earning quick money by getting involved in massive drug rackets,” he said adding that 17 officers of the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) were arrested so far.

Maj. Gen. Gunaratne stressed the need of revising penalties and punishments to give the child abusers maximum punishment as the existing laws were softer and ineffective to do justice to the crime that they committed.

The Child Protection Act no. 50 was

passed in the Parliament in 1998. Efforts to devise a policy on child protection were delayed until May 2019, and the today’s meeting summoned was aimed at establishing a Technical Committee for the implementation of a five-year plan of ‘Child Protection Policy -2019’, as mandated in the President’s election manifesto ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’.

The National Implementation Plan on Child protection is to be enforced and supervised under the National implementation Committee in which

stakeholders including, Defense, Education, Health, Justice, Social Welfare, Labor, Tourism, Media Ministries are to work together in achieving designated implementation objectives.

Under the declared implementation objectives, the Defense Ministry is to ensure realization of three objectives intended at creating a child friendly and protective environment which mainly focuses on effective and timely law enforcement through the Police.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that 47,177 complaints relating to child abuse had been received by the NCPA between 2015 and 2019. In addition, the NCPA’s hotline 1929 has reportedly received an average of 550,000 complaints annually.

NCPA Chairman Prof. Muditha Vidanapathirana, Deputy Chairperson and former High Court Judge Sujatha Alahapperuma, Director General Anoma Siriwardene also made presentations.

Continued on page 01

PRESIDENT ORDERS...

CHARLIE MAHENDRAN SO CROOKED MOLESTED JAP. PRIVATE SECY. Not only did I lose all my wealth and professional status owing to Charlie Mahendran, the crooked ambassador to Japan and narrowly escaped being killed. I suffered 7 permanent body dislocations following the attack on me and underwent bypass surgery as a result. What these iron hearted so called officials have done to me has really sapped everything out of me. By Charlie Mahendran’s false report on me I lost my lucrative job status to this day as I have been unfairly blacklisted by the foreign ministry as a cheat and lost all my wealth having to sell my house and property at prime Colombo-6 worth Rs.250 million today so as to repay my debtors whose gem stones were robbed from me.”

MINISTRY SECY RAVINATH LIKE A HITLER “They (foreign ministry) are nothing but blood suckers, and I wish to recall the words of former SL ambassador to the UN, Dayan Jayatilleke who once lashed out at the foreign ministry by saying, “The SL foreign ministry is a can of worms.’ The current ministry secretary, Ravinath Ariyasinha has been like a Hitler to me. Since he was appointed all my case files at the ministry have disappeared. He even usurps the incumbent minister in a ham fisted one-man show.”

Zurfick further alleges that Ariyasinha has been so arrogant that he snubbed all directives that came to him from the President’s office during the tenure of former resident Maithripala Sirisena to investigate his (Zurfick’s) complaints.

Following is the text of Dr. Zurfick’s letter dated 21.06.2020 to the President, “I wish to congratulate you on your

bold crusade to weed out corruption from the country in all spheres of life. I wish to mention that I too have a long running grievance where I have been broken both physically and mentally following an attack on me in Japan where I was enjoying a roaring gem business. At the center of it was the former SL ambassador to Japan, Mr. Charlie Mahendran, father of none other than Arjuna Mahendran, the mastermind of the Treasury Bond Scam when he was the Governor of the Central Bank and now a fugitive on the run. Charlie Mahendran has been no better with a bad track record. He set up an Egyptian called M. Rudwan with three accomplices to kidnap, torture and rob me of my precious stones at gun point with my head placed between two car seats. But he got away because of his diplomatic immunity while Rudwan, the prime accused and three accomplices were convicted and jailed by a Japanese court of law. In fact, I have written several letters to your good self on this matter where a grave injustice has been done to me where my complaints to the SL foreign ministry have all been swept under the carpet by corrupt officials because Charlie Mahendran has been very powerful due to his strong UNP connections.

Consequent to the attack on me which was well concealed from the Sri Lankan authorities at the time until my wife complained, my professional business went to pieces after Mahendran filed a false report to the Foreign Ministry that I sold dud gems in Japan and that the Japanese Police was suspicious of me. The Foreign Ministry has accepted Mahendran’s false report against me despite his lie being found out when he failed to comply with a directive by the then State Secretary, Mr. Gamini Seneviratne to forward a report from the

But Need of the Hour...

He noted that they cannot let this happen, therefore, they need to think about these matters. The President said they need to change this system at least now as they have a good plan for the youth of Sri Lanka. He stressed that they will work towards achieving that end towards the greater good of higher education.

In the latest incident in March, 20-year old Pasindu Hirushan was confined to the ICU of the National Hospital, Colombo when a tyre was thrown at his head by senior students of the Sri Jayawardenepura University. Twelve students were arrested over the incident.

Japan Police substantiating his claim against me. Mr. Seneviratne has issued an affidavit to the effect that he had reason to suspect Mahendran’s bona fides and that he was convinced that he had acted with a personal vendetta against me. I have appealed to the Ombudsman to get to the bottom of all this and put the wrong right in fairness to me.

I also wish to pin point that your crusade against corrupt State officials is pertinent to my case as well where countless Foreign Ministry officials including the current ministry secretary have turned a blind eye to my genuine complaints. In this connection, Your Excellency would be rendering a great service to me if you take this official to task as you have done the negligent Central Bank officials as reported in the Sunday Observer. Mine is another glaring example of bureaucracy red tape at work. It is also pertinent that both the father Charlie Mahendran and son Arjuna Mahendran were well covered up by none other than the Foreign Ministry; Charlie Mahendran in connection with his involvement against me, and Arjuna Mahendran in his Treasury Bond Scam involvement. The ministry I find failed to act for a good 9 months on the extradition of Arjuna Mahendran where the ministry secretary and minister let precious time slip by until such time Mahendran had the breathing space to change his name to dodge the issue.

A question mark does surely arise whether the ministry secretary who was an UNP appointee did have prior knowledge of Mahendran’s ace act? His other questionable act was releasing US $ 13 million dollars public money for SL UK ambassador Saroja Sirisena’s eye surgery plus US $ 6000 for economy class flight.”

Dr. Zurfick points out that further

While it is encouraging that the President and minister have addressed the issue of ragging, it is also hoped that the larger picture of padlocked torture rooms operated by sinister students and innocent lives lost where there have been some eleven ragging related deaths including three suicides of female undergrads would be addressed by the government. This is more the so since this monster which is a major public enemy has not been really addressed by successive governments in the past and university ragging has sadly continued unabated. In this regard, the authorities have never got to the bottom of the suicides of the female

incriminatory evidence against Charlie Mahendran are (1). Failing to give him any consular assistance citizen in trouble in a foreign country; (2). having in his (Mahendran’s) possession his robbed precious stones which he summoned and showed Zurfick in his embassy office in the presence of main accused Rudwan and got them valued; (3). Having in his (Mahendran’s) possession Zurfick’s passport that was robbed by Rudwan and gang; (4).

Compelling Zurfick to take back his stolen passport in his embassy office under threat of assault.

Dr. Zurfick has listed successive Foreign Ministry secretaries starting from Sarath Amunugama to have swept his complaints under the carpet. “Amunugama flouted a directive from a former minister Neomal Perera to investigate my compliant because he was influenced

by Charlie Mahendran,” Zurfick alleged. Other officials he has cited are the most recent ex-secretary Prasad Kariyawasam, Palihakkara, DG Legal C.A.H.M. Wijeratne, M. Jaffeer, M. Jauhar, Jawad, Raveenthiran, Rodrigo, Aponso and several others.

FULL OF PRAISE FOR PRESIDENT Dr. Zurfick was of overwhelming praise for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his straightforward open mindedness in addressing his issue impartially and referring his complaint against Mahendran and certain foreign ministry officials for investigation. “This straightforward no nonsense attitude of the President is so significant in my case where hitherto I have had a bad deal. His campaign to eradicate corruption in the State sector is indeed exemplary and I must record my gratitude and praise him because he kept his word of honour in his election pledge.”

students where the failure to attribute the reasons for the loss of these future intellectuals of the country is highly questionable. No bright eyed student who left their homes to pursue higher education to return home with a degree would cut short their lives without good reason of their modesty harmed, and in these instances without a doubt those responsible to driving them to their untimely deaths have been those monster sadists who have gone scot free.

Will these society destructors in the guise of pursuing higher studies be allowed to continue in the same free vein is the interesting question of national importance.

Four Police Narcotics Men’s Involvement...

2

The seizure of cash, vehicles and equipment from the residence of an arrested and interdicted Sub Inspector allegedly used for pedaling the killer substances that has been a source of destruction to thousands of precious lives of thousands lives in the country and continues to pose a threat to society at large was certainly a blow to the

concentrated national drive against drugs The suspects reportedly allegedly amassing over Rs.30 million from the drug trade to purchasing vehicles and property did underscore the serious threat to the war against drugs where the worst blow was the fact that drug kingpins can even infiltrate the very nerve center the antinarcotics mechanism in the country which

has consequently been exposed to be not foolproof.

Seized from the suspect’s house in Minuwangoda were a vehicle allegedly used for transporting heroin, a motorcycle, Rs. 940,000 in cash, a knife, four credit cards, a GPS device, one SIM card, Satellite Phones and mobile phones.

The four officers attached to the Police

Narcotics Bureau (PNB) and a civilian were recently arrested by the CID in connection with aiding drug traffickers and maintaining close links with drug dealer from Minuwangoda. The tragic comic thing is that they had resold heroin which was seized by the PNB, back to the drug dealers.They had also allegedly helped drug traffickers to transport heroin.

ERANDHI LEHMAN Most

sought after

photographer in Germany A Sri Lankan beauty, Erandhi Lehman, born in Germany where she has married and settled down has cut a swathe as one of the most sought after professional photographers in the kaleidoscope business in that part of the hemisphere.

Her most specialised area is clicking the best take of wedding couples which has spurred her on her way as one of Germany’s top notches behind a camera lens.

As the 29-year old hailing from a small town called Werder Havel, puts it, “There is nothing more beautiful than photographing happy couples. I have been working as a freelance photographer for weddings since 2012. I accompany people worldwide on their most beautiful day, their wedding.”

Indeed, Erandhi’s fascination for photography is such that she is has set up her own company Eclore Moments Photography which she prides herself of having founded ‘during my studies.’ Such was her passion for this art of technology that has from

time immemorial become man’s most fascinating innovative wonders of beholding their images almost instantaneously. Thus, Since launching her compny, she says, “I have accompanied many couples before and after their wedding. Since 2020 I have also been accompanying my couples on their next journey, that of a family. With Simply Bloom Photography I also offer maternity shootings, newborn shootings, and family shootings. From August I also have a small studio where I receive my clients. This is where the newborn babies will be photographed. My team consists of my husband and me.”

Born Piyadigamage and married to a German Patrick Lehman, she says, “I live with my husband and our cats in the small town Werder Havel in Germany, my parents are Piyawardena and Lalitha Piyadigamage. My parents have supported me from a very young age in my plan to work independently, just like my husband has done since we met. I studied

communication design, but I also found my love for photography there. I do the shootings and editing, as well as the customer meetings and my husband, is in the background and supports me with my many questions

about marketing and other topics.”

She does portray her expertise in the field when she thus touches on the finer points, “I like to take pictures with natural light because I think it gives the pictures that certain something. Beautiful, warm sun rays you have at sunset, you will never be able to recreate with artificial light.

To capture this with beautiful moments in my art.”

She further describes the novelty of photography as fascinating, and as a vogue from what ‘you can get something nice out of any situation. It’s always the angle that counts. There are always two sides to photos; you have to pull the trigger at the right moment. No matter what kind of equipment you have the eye of the photographer and the view is the most important thing. If you have talent and that eye, you can do great things and get the best out of every person.’

A go getter who believed in her own independence of pursuing life of her own accord, Erandhi says, “I started with photography

Husband Patrick Lehman when I was 14 years old. My first model was my golden retriever Teddy Balu. He’s the one who got me started in the first place. I saved myself my first DSLR, a Canon 350d with which I also photographed my first wedding. But now she can enjoy her pension. I was born in Germany, so I grew up with both cultures. At home I was taught the language and culture of my parents, the Sri Lankan people. At school and with my friends I got to know the German culture. So I am actually a very cultural person who is blessed to grow up in several languages and cultures. As in everything, there are positive and negative things in every culture and I simply have the best of both. I learned to love my husband very quickly because we have a lot in common. He is a very creative and determined person, the smartest person I know. He is a great role model for me and that also in everyday life. Accordingly, it was not difficult to fall in love with him.”

She has a younger brother, Nuwan M. Piyadigamage.

3

EDITORIAL

The Sinister Cloak and Dagger Game descending to the very State run portals like the Police supposed to uphold the traditions of the law is indeed disturbing.

That is has been so via the Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau from within which 15 handpicked officers tasked with combating the narcotics drug menace from the country so happened to be themselves top dogs in drug peddling hand in glove with a drugs kingpin. That it has certainly been a blow to the Government’s war against what is literally considered

THE ENEMY WITHIN the No.1 enemy of the nation’ population goes without saying. Of course, talking of undermining the smooth running of State activities it is indeed very pertinent as to how the mastermind of the Treasury Bond Scam, Arjuna Mahendran fled Sri Lanka under the very eyes of the Criminal Investigation Department, mind you while he was an accused in what was a pending court case in connection with the biggest fraud of a State institution in history so far. That beats everything in the ongoing Treasury Bond Scam case

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa: over-energetic on electricity access On 24 June 2020, Divaina reported Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s above claim that his government succeeded in achieving effectively universal access to electricity (99.9% access). To evaluate this claim, FactCheck consulted data from the annual reports of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka from 2004 to 2019. In 2004—prior to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) forming government—74.9% of the population had access to electricity. By 2014—the final year of SLFP government—access had increased to 98.0% of the population.

The claimed effective universal access was not achieved during the period of the SLFP governmnet. Access continued to increase in 2015 rising to 98.5%. In 2016 it rose to 99.3%. and has remained at that level since. Despite Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s claim clearly being an overstatement, the claim, nevertheless, aligns with the fact that great strides were made towards improving access to electricity during the period of the SLFP government.

Therefore, we classify the prime minister’s statement as PARTLY TRUE.

4

where the country was defrauded in mints of money and the case in a tam bola tipsy turvy with Arjuna Mahendran, Central Bank Governor turned fugitive on the run having escaped all of Sri Lanka and given the breathing space he required never to return before the court of inquiry by changing his name. It is also rife that the Easter Sunday bombings on April 21 last year by the Zahran led National Thowheeth Jama’ath NTJ Muslim Terrorists also left a can of worms with the lid off that the State intelligence

network was found asleep leading to the Inspector General of Police, Pujitha Jayasundera and Defence Secretary, Hemasiri docked to date. Of course, the illegal functions of the Prisons Department that has by all accounts undermined efficient law enforcement with a good portion of prisons staff hand in glove with the underworld from the very precincts of the nerve center where criminals are imprisoned is common knowledge with the Government recently coming out on all fours to cleanse the Prisons Department of the Dirty

Harrys within. But relevantly, the State undermining factor runs far beyond the Prisons Department as the recent developments have proved where the biggest lurking danger is that the trouble shooters hail from within the very fabric or core that is meant to wipe out corruption who need to be wiped out.

By and large, the State undermining mechanism from within is nothing but a deadly cancer towards the greater good of the national cause of a corrupt free country which can be only with the cleansing of the enemies within.

PUCSL & CEB assure Fairness to consumers on Electricity Bills Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Lanka Electricity Company Private Limited (LECO) announced fairness to electricity consumers in issuing monthly electricity bills and allowing a grace period to pay the monthly bills, the regulator said in a communique.

The guidelines prepared by the PUCSL set forth in this regard will be implemented by the CEB and LECO. The guidelines were prepared to calculate the electricity bills according to the number of electricity units (pro-rata basis) received at concessionary rates, despite the delay in issuance of bills and to provide a sufficient time period to settle the electricity bills. Proposals made by CEB and LECO as well as complaints by some of the electricity consumers were taken into consideration when preparing the guidelines.

The CEB and LECO have been providing electricity to the electricity consumers continuously during the quarantine period even though the electricity bills were not issued and paid accordingly.

The financial condition of these institutions needs to be restored in order toprovide uninterrupted quality electricity supply in the future. The PUCSL state that the electricity consumers can support the financial situation of these organization by paying promptly for the bills that have already been issued for delayed months.

The following recommendations are implemented for preparing bills that come under quarantine curfew time period, to ensure maximum justice is provided for consumers.

1. All bills issued after the quarantine curfew commences and after the final reading of the meter must be issued

on a monthly basis and as separate bills for each month, confirming the entitlement of the concessionary rate for the electricity units (prorate basis).

2. The grace period given to the consumer to pay the separate bills issued to them will be published by CEB and LECO. Accordingly, there will be no disconnection of electricity with regard to the payment of these bills until the relevant grace period and conditions are announced.

3. The time gap between the last meter reading and the next meter reading can be more than one billing cycle. Therefore, the total consumption (units of electricity) for that period will be divided equally for each billing period or month (Confirming prorate basis or concessionary electricity tariff) when issuing bills. With that, the total electricity units consumed by the electricity consumer within a few months can be adjusted and separated for each month in a reasonable manner when preparing bills. In the meantime, some customers may have already received an estimated bill without proper reading of the meter. If there is a difference between the units of electricity in the estimated bill and the number of units issued after reading the meter, that difference will be revised after the next

bill is read. The consumer will be informed if there are such amendments.

4. Electricity connections will not be disconnected in the event of complaints regarding current or future bills that have been issued until the issuance of the bills properly on time.

CEB and LECO will resolve such consumer complaints expeditiously. The consumer can also refer to their problem to the PUCSL, in the event that the consumer does not agree with the solution provided regarding their electricity bill complaint.

Example of the prorata basis of confirming the concessionaries that the consumer receives if the electricity consumption is 120 units for a period of two months, the first 60 units will becharged Rs. 2.50 and the second 60 units will be charged at Rs. 4.85. Accordingly, the fixed rate for each month will be Rs. 60 totalling to Rs.120.When bills are issued for two months or more simultaneously, the total amount applicable for each month must be communicated to the electricity consumer separately in two bills.

As per the above example, the fee for the first month will be Rs. 280.50 and for the next month, the charges should be Rs. Rs. 280.50. The grace period to pay the bills will also be communicated to the consumer.

Bruce Lee

Chinese students in Australia are being scammed into faking their own kidnapping

Song on Bruce Lee with a Sri Lankan touch

Song Composer, Sports Journalist Srian Obeyesekere.

A song on the former martial arts legend Bruce Lee who changed the art on its head and went on to become famous as an actor, will be out shortly. The lyrics written by sports journalist Srian Obeyesekere as a tribute to the former great will find fruition through the voice of Kalasoori Visharada Prabath Salgado and the song is expected to be quite a draw in Sri Lanka given the popularity of the Dragon series super actor Lee who has left a lasting impression the world over for his amazing martial arts and acting skills in a short span of 33 years.

As Obeyesekere says, he was inspired to pen a song on Bruce Lee considering the tremendous impact he has created among generations of people. “I felt a song on the martial arts legend was something lacking and that it would be appropriate

Vocalist Kalasoori Visharada Prabath Salgado to sing Lee song

Song Project Coordinator Achitha Rathnayake

to thus tribute the legend. It encompasses Bruce Lee’s wondrous works in giving new meaning to the martial arts as well as his intellectual influence as a great philosopher as well which has roundly won him recognition as the most influential person of the 21st century,” he said while adding that the Lee song on a fast beat on the melody of ‘Sealed with a Kiss’ has been done justice to by the unique rendering of Kalasoori Prabath Salgado.

Salgado, a very popular music master, commenting on the song composition said, “The moment Srian said that it was a song on Bruce Lee, what struck me was to do some experimenting on some fast tracks and I found the melody of ‘Sealed with a Kiss’ so striking with some changes on a fast hip hop beat. I can assure Bruce Lee fans here that this song is

something they cannot afford to miss.”

Both Obeyesekere and Salgado along with Song Project Coordinator, Achitha Rathnayake, a young martial artist are keen to launch the song to a limited audience shortly given the current COVID 19 health restrictions.

Obeyesekere was quick to credit Rathnayake as been the livewire in making it happen by introducing him to the music veteran Salgado.

Obeyesekere also penned the lyrics for the cricket song, ‘Spin Kings’ on Sri Lankan bowling great Muttiah Muralidaran and Australian great Shane Warne which was sung by former Sunday Observer sports writer, the late Ranjan Anandappa with the melody by popular musician Jagath Wickramasinghe. It was quite a hit having been aired on Rupavahini several times during Sri Lanka’s home series cricket matches.

(CNN)Chinese students in Australia are being coerced by criminal gangs to fake their own kidnappings as part of an elaborate global extortion racket targeting vulnerable overseas communities, authorities said Monday.

Eight students in the state of New South Wales (NSW) were targeted in "virtual kidnapping" scams this year, with overseas relatives paying a total of 3.2 million Australian dollars ($2.3 million) in ransom, police said in a statement.

In one case, the father of a 22-yearold Chinese student in Sydney handed over a more than $1.4 million after being sent a video of his daughter bound in an unknown location.

Another family in China paid more than $14,000 after receiving a video of their 22-year-old relative bound and blindfolded via the messaging app WeChat. She was found by NSW police safe in a hotel room.

The student victims are left "traumatized by what has occurred, believing they have placed themselves, and their loved ones, in real danger," said NSW Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell in a statement.

The NSW police said that scammers were targeting vulnerable members of the Chinese-Australian community, such as international students living away from friends and family in an unfamiliar environment.

There are about 165,000 Chinese students in Australia this year, though the number may be lower due to the coronavirus pandemic; the figure usually hovers between 200,000 and 210,000, according to government figures CNN has reached out to the Australian Federal Police for further comment.

Global coronavirus deaths pass 650,000 Tedros Ghebreyesus says COVID-19 is ‘most severe’ health emergency the WHO has faced.

WHO says travel bans cannot be kept up indefinitely, and are also only useful when combined with a wide range of other measures to detect and break chains of transmission.

The world's biggest COVID-19 vaccine study got under way on Monday with the first of 30,000 planned volunteers helping to test shots created by the US government along with Moderna Inc - one of several candidates in the final stretch of the global vaccine

race.

Hong Kong has announced further restrictions in a bid to curb a surge in coronavirus cases, including a ban on gatherings of more than two people, a ban on restaurant dining and mandatory face masks outdoors.

Vietnam has ordered the evacuation of at least 80,000 tourists on Monday from the central city of Da Nang following the re-emergence of the coronavirus. The government said

it needs four days to implement the evacuation.

The number of coronavirus infections has hit 16.30 million worldwide, while more than 650,000 people have died, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 10 million patients have recovered.

Morocco will stop people from entering and leaving some of its biggest cities, including Casablanca, Marrakech and Tangier starting on Monday to

contain a surge in coronavirus cases.

Earlier, the health ministry reported 633 new cases, one of the biggest daily rises so far. (aljazeera)

Google to extend work-from-home policy to mid-2021 Google will allow most employees to work from home through to July 2021 in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the tech giant said on Monday.

In an email to employees, Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said, "To give employees

the ability to plan ahead, we are extending our global voluntary work from home option through June 30, 2021 for roles that don't need to be in the office."

The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, said nearly all of the 200,000 Google employees and contractors

worldwide would see an extension of the option which had been set to end in January.

The decision could signal similar efforts by other tech firms and large employers to extend the precautionary policy amid growing fears about the risks of returning to workplace normalcy.

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WHO: Middle East at ‘critical threshold’ in coronavirus numbers

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CAIRO: The World Health Organization warned Wednesday the Middle East was at a decisive moment in the fight against the coronavirus, with cases surging as countries ease lockdown measures.

“We are at a critical threshold in our region,” the WHO’s Middle East head, Ahmed Al-Mandhari, said in an online press conference.

According to figures published by the global health body on Wednesday, the 22 countries from Morocco to Pakistan had recorded 1,077,706 novel coronavirus cases and 24,973 deaths.

Mandhari said passing a million infections marked a “concerning milestone” and urged countries to strengthen their health care systems.

“The number of cases reported in June alone is higher than the total number of cases reported during the four months following the first reported case in the region on 29 January,” he said.

He attributed the rise in confirmed cases to increased testing, the easing in recent weeks of lockdown measures and weakened health infrastructure in conflict-hit countries.

Over 80 percent of all deaths in the region were reported in five countries — Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia — according to the WHO. Iran, which has been struggling to contain the Middle East’s deadliest outbreak, on Monday recorded its highest single-day COVID death toll of 162. It now has a recorded a total of 230,211 infections and 10,958 deaths.

Official figures have shown a rising trajectory in new confirmed cases since early May, when Iran hit a near two-month low in daily recorded infections.

The Islamic republic gradually lifted restrictions from April to try to reopen its sanctions-hit economy.

In neighboring Iraq, authorities have refused to reimpose strict lockdown measures, even as hospitals across the country, battered by years of war, have been swamped in recent weeks.

While the virus had spread relatively slowly for months, on Wednesday the number of recorded cases surpassed 51,000 including more than 2,000 deaths.

Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous country with 100 million inhabitants, has officially reported 68,000 cases and around 3,000 deaths from the COVID-19 disease.

On Wednesday, authorities reopened the famed Giza pyramids after a three-month closure, a day after resuming international flights as part of efforts to restart the vital tourism industry.

Lebanon, battling an economic crisis and public unrest alongside the novel coronavirus, reopened the Beirut airport after months of closure. The small eastern Mediterranean state has recorded some of the lowest infection and mortality rates in the Middle East: 1,800 cases and just 34 deaths.

In contrast, neighboring Israel saw a jump of about 15 percent in case numbers in the last week to over 25,500 on Wednesday, according to government figures.

The West Bank too was hit by a sharp spike in infections, with the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday announcing a five-day lockdown across the territory.

Total confirmed coronavirus infections in the territory more than doubled within a week to 2,636 following the easing of previous restrictions.

In Qatar, residents cautiously returned to beaches on Wednesday as the Gulf nation, with one of the world’s highest per-capita infection rates and tough penalties for failing to wear masks in public, continued to reopen.

WHO officials at the virtual meeting urged governments to prepare more intensive care beds and emergency wards. Mandhari urged individuals to be “cautious and vigilant” as lockdowns and curfews were eased, and to follow protocols recommended by health authorities.

“Easing of lockdowns does not mean easing of the response or easing of social responsibilities,” he said, warning cases could rise as public spaces reopen “even in countries where the situation now seems to be stabilizing.”

He also called for global solidarity.

“We have to face this pandemic as one government and one community,” he said.

Diaspora pitches in

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he Kashmiri diaspora protested against the continuing lockdown in Kashmir, in Los Angeles on August 18, 2019. Photo: By Special Arrangement The Kashmiri diaspora gathers strength to internationalise resistance against the government’s political incursions in the Kashmir Valley.

THE Kashmiri diaspora, so far seen as a politically inconsequential and scattered community, is making serious efforts to organise itself and launch a sustainable, multiple stakeholder-led campaign against the Narendra Modi government’s political incursions in the Kashmir Valley.

The diaspora played a significant role in highlighting the post-August 5 excesses in Jammu and Kashmir, after the State’s semi-autonomous status was revoked. As the Kashmir issue set a feverish debate the world over, with major members of Parliament and rights bodies condemning Modi’s “muscular policies” vis-a-vis the disputed valley, the diaspora believes the time is now ripe to counter the well-oiled Hindutva machinery that has long dominated the narrative abroad.

Soon after August 5, Majid Butt, Wajahat Dedmari, Nadeem Reshi, Art Ashai, Zeeshan Khan and Ehtisham Ashai among other Kashmiri Americans geared up to internationalise the clampdown imposed by the government on Kashmir and the health care and economic exigencies it entailed. They held back-to back meetings with Senators and members of the House of Representatives in the United States.

They were instrumental in lobbying with California Congressman Brad Sherman, who is the chairman of the House of Representatives sub-committee on Asia, the Pacific and non-proliferation, which held a hearing on Kashmir on October 22, 2019.

The Kashmiri diaspora played a keen role in the selection of witnesses to testify at the hearing. It also briefed Congressmen on New Delhi’s crackdown on Kashmir’s mainstream and separatist actors before its August 5 action and the high-handed quelling of dissent that sporadically erupted across the Valley in its aftermath.

Buoyed by the world’s renewed interest in Kashmir, Majid Butt, Wajahat Dedmari and Nadeem Reshi floated Justice for Kashmir (JFK), which will be the diaspora’s vehicle for advocating the rights of the Kashmiri people and “raising awareness against the injustice, crimes, and atrocities being committed in Kashmir”. The JFK, which has been registered as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), is collaborating with eminent figures from among the U.S.’ intellectual, administrative and political elites to counter the growing cacophony of Hindu nationalism through its proxy bodies nestled abroad. The diaspora is hopeful that the JFK will help streamline its on-going efforts aimed at building important relationships in the U.S. Congress and around the world and use diplomatic leverage to quell India’s “hardfisted” policies in Kashmir.

Majid Butt, founding member of the JFK who spoke to Frontline over the phone from Los Angeles, shed light on the diaspora’s post-August 5 initiatives, the role it played in pressing the House subcommittee for a hearing on Kashmir and the necessity to structure these endeavours. “August 5 was a turning point for all Kashmiris, including Kashmiri Americans. We have been raising the Kashmir issue over the past 10 years but our efforts lacked coherence. The time has

come to amplify the message of Kashmir,” Butt said.

In the weeks that followed the revocation of Kashmir’s special status, the members of the diaspora held a series of meetings with influential American politicians, who included 25 Congressmen and three Senators, notably Democratic Party veterans Kamala Harris and Cory Booker.

Three meetings were held with Brad Sherman in August and September 2019.

Information on the historicity of the Kashmir struggle, the phases of betrayals by India as it incrementally eroded the guarantees given to the State under Article 370 were shared with him during these meetings.

Presentations were made on the cycles of violence, illegal detention and crackdown on religious figureheads that have emerged as a persistent feature of the Modi years. As per the information available, Pakistani-origin Democratic Party leader Asif Mahmood was instrumental in facilitating the meetings between the members of the Kashmiri diaspora and the U.S. politicians.

When contacted, Mahmood told this reporter: “The Kashmiri voices needed to be heard, so I decided to extend all possible support that I could, in their pursuit to freedom, justice, and liberty, which are important values enshrined within our [U.S.] Constitution. We held a series of official meetings with congressional leaders that proved very productive and helped us yield a significant response in the form of a historic congressional hearing.”

Briefing on Kashmir Ahead of the congressional hearing, the diaspora held a major briefing for Congressmen in Capitol Hill. Said Majid: “India has dominated the narrative for very long. India’s framing of the Kashmiri struggle as a proxy war thrust by Pakistan, with an overt Islamist character and end goal, has prevented informed debate on the issue of right to self-determination. We held a briefing for over 150 Congress staffers. We shared feedback on the excesses of the Modi government and distributed handouts on why the decision to abrogate Articles 370 and 35A were constitutionally unviable.”

The effort paid off. The congressional hearing riled the Modi government by rebutting its policies vis-a-vis Kashmir.

Ilhan Omar, a Somalia-born Democrat from Minnesota berated the “Hindu nationalist project” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

She noted that Modi’s exclusivist policies shook the very premise of the partnership between India and the U.S. “At what point do we no longer share values with India? Are we waiting for the Muslims in Assam to be put in those [detention] camps?” she asked. Brad Sherman, who made the opening remarks, questioned India for denying permission to Senator Chris Van Hollen to travel to Kashmir.

Nitasha Kaul, London-based novelist and academic specialsing in international relations, who testified in the hearing, said that “for the millions of people in Kashmir who have been affected for decades by this protracted political problem and its human rights dimensions, it [the hearing] was a time of hope that the international community can do things better.” Nitasha, a Kashmiri Pandit, speaking to Frontline about her experience at the hearing, said: “It was a rare opportunity to speak truth to power, put forward ideas that bring together the voices of peace and justice from different sides, and have an impact on the practice of critical international relations.” She is upbeat about the diaspora’s efforts to engage with and involve more and

At a protest on Hollywood Boulevard on August 31, 2019. Photo: by special arrangement

more international players in the Kashmir discourse.

Wajahat Dedmari, the JFK’s team leader in Washington, D.C., said they had to bank on a friendly U.S. NGO to send out invites to guests. “It was at that point we felt the need to create our own platform.” The JFK plans to highlight that a resolution of the Kashmir conflict is integral to sustaining peace in South East Asia. “Unless Kashmiris are given a right to decide their future as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 47, there will not be any peace in South East Asia.

The on-going stand-off between India and China in Ladakh which is a part of Jammu and Kashmir has made it imperative upon the entire world to come forward and help in resolving the Kashmir issue, otherwise we may have three nuclear powers—India, China and Pakistan—heading for a showdown,” he said.

The JFK’s core idea is to challenge the optics set by New Delhi’s “narrative controllers”. In the U.S., the Hindutva groups’ acquisition of political prominence is a fascinating story spanning over several decades. A section of the Indian-American diaspora is understood to have closely worked with Modi since the middle of the 2000s. As early as 2005 when Modi, who was Gujarat Chief Minister, was denied a visa by the U.S. State Department to address a convention of Asian American Hotel Owners Associations in Florida, some influential Indian-Americans began to put their act together to limn an “investor friendly” global image of him. A significant step towards this direction was taken in 2007 by Bharat Barai, assistant professor of medicine at Indiana University’s Medical School. He organised a videoconference for Modi to address the Indian diaspora. That same year, Ramesh Shah, another influential Indian-American, organised a major rally in Houston to celebrate Modi’s re-election as Gujarat’s Chief Minister for the third time in a row.

A report released by the South Asia Citizens Wire in July 2014 stated that between 2001 and 2012 India-based affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fountainhead of BJP, received funds to the tune of $55 million from its U.S.-based wings that exist as taxexempt non-profit organisations.

In January 2014, four months before Modi captured power at the Centre, the Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party (OFBJP) held a global meet in New Delhi with 160 delegates from around the world. Simultaneously, in Houston close to 700 volunteers kicked off a phone-banking initiative to press for Modi as the next Prime Minister. Of late, groups such the Republican Hindu Coalition, chaired by the IndianAmerican business tycoon Shalab Kumar, have been allegedly promoting the Hindutva agenda in the U.S. Among other such outfits is the Hindu American Foundation, known for its aggressive tactics to influence political discourse in favour of Hindutva ideologues.

Angana Chatterji, a scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, said the environment now was conducive for “a growing movement of Kashmiris and allies, calling for justice and accountability”. “The conditions on the ground in Kashmir have led to increasing and urgent concern among political leaders across the spectrum for the sanctity and security of Kashmiris, and regarding the stability of the region and India’s capacity for democracy,” she told this reporter over phone from San Francisco.

Angana Chatterji is the author of Majoritarian State: How Hindu Nationalism is Changing India. She is involved with the JFK team and testified in the October hearing. She is of the opinion that Modi’s unrelenting Hindutva push unwittingly brought his government under the international scanner. “Unremitting militaristic and legal hostility toward social dissent have become characteristic of the BJP’s governance. The more proximate to harsher realities, the more intensified the targeting, and this makes people fearful.

Since December 2019, peaceful civil society protests [with few exceptions] have taken place across the country in dissent to the CAA [Citizenship Amendment Bill], NPR [National Population Register], and NRC [National Register of Citizens],” she pointed out.

Indeed, the Modi government has been in the line of fire. This year, six resolutions were tabled ahead of the European Union Parliament plenary, which began in Brussels on January 29. They dismissed the CAA as “fundamentally discriminatory in nature”. In June 2018, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report which questioned, among other things, the arbitrary use of the Public Safety Act (PSA) by the Indian state.

The U.N. report titled “Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Kashmir: Developments in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir from June 2016 to April 2018, and General Human Rights Concerns in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan”, revealed that more than 1,000 Kashmiris were held under the PSA between March 2016 and August 2017.

It is not a coincidence that highlighting the practice of unlawful detentions is one of the JFK’s key areas of focus. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the JFK has launched a “Set Them Free” project. It will revisit the policies and statutes governing the functioning of prisons in Jammu and Kashmir and the condition of prisoners thereof. The ultimate aim of the project is to prepare a dossier on the desired prison reforms, which will be presented to various stakeholders on the completion of the project and provide free legal aid to maximum number of detainees. It will ensure comprehensive legal aid to undertrials and inmates, right from applying for bail to the conclusion of trial and filing appeals against convictions, if any.

Post August 5, illegal detentions became rampant in Kashmir. The Centre in November informed the Rajya Sabha that 5,161 people were detained after Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional autonomy was withdrawn on August 5, 2019. But this could be a conservative figure. As per an AFP report, at least 4,000 people were arrested in the two first two weeks after the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir.

Majid Butt says that the Set Them Free initiative would be an effective starting point to augment the existing information on the state of human rights in Kashmir and consolidate world opinion for a just and honourable resolution of the Kashmir conflict. “For the past few decades, India has been using different strategies and lobbying against Kashmir not only in the U.S., but the world over. They have always misrepresented facts and deliberately spread misinformation. We have facts on our side and the need of the hour was to put more effort, so that we could counter India’s false narrative.”

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ZAHIRA – RISE, FALL AND RESURRECTION

By Capt. AGA Barrie SLE, P.Eng.

The reason I decided to write about the history of Zahira in this context is that we, the Muslim Community lost around three decades of contributions towards education due to the folly of the so called community leaders due to jealousy and politics, in the early sixties.

The origins and formation of Zahira College as Al Madrasathul Zahira in 1982 by the pioneering Muslim leaders at the time, are well known and need not be elaborated.

T.B. Jayah was appointed as Principal in 1921, and during his tenure until 1948 Zahira made great strides to become a leading school.

In the year 1948 when T.B. Jayah was invited to join the first Cabinet of Ministers, he looked for a worthy successor. He persuaded A.M.A. Azeez to give up an illustrious career in the prestigious Ceylon Civil Service to succeed him.

During his tenure of 13 years, with his administrative and management skills Zahira excelled in education, sports and other activities. With a well stocked library, laboratory facilities and a dedicated team of excellent teachers, Zahira was made into one of the finest public schools in Sri Lanka.

During this Golden Era, Zahira sent over 150 students to the University of Ceylon, excelled in Rifle Shooting beating the Ceylon Army in the national competitions, forming more than a third of the National Rifle Shooting Team winning the coveted National Rifle Shooting team, winning the coveted Queens Cup twice, winning the interschool competitions in Cadetting, Boxing, Wrestling, Soccer, Cricket and Rugger. Ahamdullah, I happened to be involved in most of these activities.

RESPONSIBILITY

In 1960 the Government introduced the Assisted Schools Act, whereby, as recommended by Azeez, Zahira opted to be a non-fee levying school from 1st January 1961 rather than readily handing Mahmudding over to the State. As no financial assistance was given funds had to be collected from

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July 1961. The Minister of Education, Dr. Badiudin Mahmud extended his unstinted support. Being an old boy and an educationist his ambition was to make Zahira a leading institution. The Mosque Committee were willing to lease out the land for this purpose. With his talents and vision, Azeez would have implemented the proposal successfully.

AGITATED

A.M.A. AZEEZ: Created the desired change at Zahira College for the betterment of Muslim youth.

benefactors to pay the teachers nd for other activities, and Azeez was given the responsibility to collect funds. He did so relentlessly travelling all over the Island, though it was an uphill task. The Maradana Mosque Committee agreed to contribute. At that time, unlike later in the 1970s, there were no ‘petro-dollars’ to canvass from Muslim countries.

The school managed to carry on for six months, and found it difficult to continue collecting funds. As such the teachers were not paid and due to the delay in the contributions from the Mosque Committee, the College was taken over to be run as a Director managed school from August 1961.

Anticipating financial d difficulties ahead, the talented visionary in him and taking a cue from T.B. Jayah’s suggestion to make Zahita a Muslim University in his speech as chief gest at the Zahira Prize Day in 1958, Azeez made a viable proposal to make Zahira a Muslim Cultural Univrsity, in line with the two Buddhist Universities already established in 1958 and proposed Hindu Cultural University in two leading schools in Jaffna. The proposals were mentioned in the Throne Speech in

Meanwhile, a group of old boys and others, headed by A.C.M. Ameer, carried out a campaign against the Cultural University, personally targeting Minister Badiudin Mahmud and Azeez. Azeez was called the “Biggest traitor to the cause of Muslim education in Ceylon.”

And they wanted the community to ‘excommunicate’ him, all due to jealousy and politics. In this scenario Zahira was taken over by the State in December 1961, which was the beginning of the Fall of Zahira. Immediately Azeez resigned as Principal.

The Mosque Committee with the help of those who were jealous of Zahira becoming the Cultural University filed a case against the Government. They won the case in 1967 and Zahira was handed back to the Mosque Committee.

S.L.M. Shafie Marikar, an educationist, was appointed as the Principal. During his tenure for 15 years until 1982, he faced numerous problems of financial, dedicated staff, buildings and otherwise.

He introduced many innovations, but lacking the caliber of Jayah and Azeez, Zahira did not progress particularly in education. The old boys and others were very disappointed with the dark era of the College and agitated for his removal.

The leading members of the community supported the incorporation of the Zahira College Board of Governors Act, whereby the administration of the school was vested with the Board of Governors, replacing the Mosque Committee. Shafie Marikar resigned from his post.

NO SUITABLE REPLACEMENT FOR AZEEZ

The Board started off well, but there were internal differences which affected

the management of the school and aroused criticism from the community.

In 1986the problems escalated to serious levels, and the Minister of Muslim Affairs was appointed as interim Principal. These measures were not effective at all. They could not find a suitable Principal, and over 30 years there were 14 Principals. Many suitable candidates were available but they were reluctant to accept the post. As a result the progress of the school was slow and standards dropped.

The appointment of Fouzul Hameed as Chairman of the Board brought stability, and after the appointment of Trizviiy Marikkar as Principal in 2013 the Resurrection of the College commenced. There were improvements all round and with efficient controls Zahira seems to be back on track to achieve and regain the Golden Era, Insha Allah.

Be that as it may,it must be stated that Azeez’s skills and talents were sought to set up Jamia Naleemiah in Beruwala in 1973 which is a successful institution today. The Muslim community appreciate and realise now the vision Azeez had for Zahira, contrary to all speakers but one, at the 75th year celebrations in 1976, confirmed by Sir Razik Fareed, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, as reported in the Sunday Observer of 30.11.1967.

SO UNGRATEFUL

”The College authorities who organised a tamasha to celebrate the occasion have forgotten the man who did the most for Zahira – A.M.A. Azeez.

At the anniversary dinner last week only one speaker mentioned the name of Azeez.

I am personally aware that Azeez has done more for Zahira than any other single individual. He sacrificed his CCS job for the sake of the community and for the sake of Zahira. How can the community be so ungrateful to him?

The organisers had apparently got their priorities mixed up. They have given undue prominence to men who should not have found a place there at all.”

- Riz Razeek Fareed

AMERICAN PREMIUM WATER SYSTEMS (PVT) LTD

OUR VISION: To be a leader amongst water companies in the SAARC region OUR MISSION: To be the best water company in Sri Lanka

A

merican Premium Water Systems (Pvt) Ltd (PV-5965) [visit www.americanwater.lk] was established on Feb-09, 1995, and is a joint venture with American Liquid Packaging Systems, Inc., San Francisco, [visit www.alps-watersupply.com] known as ALPS in the U.S. The JV was established with Pride International (Pvt) Ltd and the Trend Group of Companies in Sri Lanka.

Apart from being the pioneers in this purified drinking-water industry, American Premium is the market leader in this field and controls some 60% of the market share, extensively marketing its American Premium brand of purified drinking-water in Sri Lanka.

Product

American Premium purifies and processes raw water in its extensive factory via its automated machinery. The purified water is filled into light blue tinged sparkling Polycarbonate (PC) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles of volume 5-American gallons or 19-liters. Dispensers of a range of varied models are fitted with these bottles for easy dispensation by customers. Daily distribution of these bottles is made to corporate and households within the fifteen zones of Colombo city and Greater Colombo, as well as via its branches. A series of appointed distributors, especially in the North and East regions, cater to the needs of purified water to customers in those townships.

Head Office & Factories

The American Premium head office

is located in Colombo-3, while its factory and office complex occupies some one acre within the five acres in which its sister companies’ factories are also located, at Artigala within the industrial sites of Hanwella, famous for its quality water.

These are freehold land and buildings fully owned by the Company.

Suppliers to the Top-Ten

American Premium supplies to most of the blue chip companies falling within the Top-10 in Sri Lanka. They include Associated Motorways, Bank of Ceylon, Brandix, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Ceylon Tobacco, Hatton National Bank, John Keells Holdings, MAS Holdings, People’s Bank, Presidential Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Office…

SAFEGUARD AGAINST KIDNEY DISEASE Remedy to protecting SL rural folk from kidney disease American Water has become a popular fully-purified bottled-water beverage, and is seen as the answer to keeping the Sri Lankan public at large disease-free, especially in combating the increasing threat of kidney ailments in the country.

There is the serious threat

of rural folk, especially the Sri Lankan farming community, being vulnerable to contracting the dreaded kidney disease, due to consumption of contaminated water in rural areas.

Not so long ago, farmers in remote areas were reported to have developed various kidney diseases following the consumption of unhygienic drinking-water.

Quality Certification

American Premium is the sole drinking-water company to possess 5-privileged overseas and local certifications: ABWA (Asian and Middle East Bottled Water Association) [the sole company in SL to carry this certification] Health Certificate from the Ministry of Healthcare & Nutrition ISO 9001:2008 [incorporating Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)] ISO 22000:2005 [Scope: purification, bottling, distribution of drinkingwater] SLS894 (Sri Lanka Standards Institution Permit No. 547)

Employees

Total present employee strength is over 500, comprising of senior staff, executives and minor staff.

Branches/Stores/Distributors

The Company operates branches in various townships in Sri Lanka. Viz. Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Kandy, Galle and Hambantota, while store points operate from the factory, in Negombo and in Kalutara. It has also appointed a series of distributors in the northern, northcentral and eastern regions. Water Centers have been established in the factory premises in Hanwella and at its Operations Office in Sri Sangaraja Mawatha in Colombo-10.

Water Shops

Water shops to cater to customer needs are located in Hanwella and in Sri Sangaraja Mawatha, Colombo-10, along the roadside, which also facilitates those travelling in vehicles.

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EX-MINISTER’S MATCH FIXING ALLEGATIONS DIE A COLD DEATH: Cricketers have Last Laugh

The match fixing allegation of the 2011 World Cup final between Sri Lanka and India by former Sports Minister, Mahindananda Aluthgamage that rocked the country recently has died a cold death leaving a bad feeling all around the country. The investigations that stopped as fast as it commenced on a Sports Ministry decision, has left many cricket fans utterly dejected over the humiliation of such a great as Aravinda de Silva who took Sri Lanka to a historically famous world cup triumph by a timely century against Australia in the finals in 1996. It has created a can of worms with local cricket lovers infuriated that such greats like Sangakkara and Jayawardene too were degraded by

such an exercise. They have vented their utter disappointment with the local authorities at subjecting such icons to such low levels whereas in other cricket playing countries such greats are the exalted national treasures to posterity.

The investigations came to a grinding halt when the ministry’s Special Investigations Unit found that there was no evidence to substantiate the former minister’s claims. This was following the questioning of former chief selector, Aravinda d Silva, the captain Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. It came to light that there was a practical reason to have made four changes for the final. The Special Investigation Division of the Sports Ministry had initially recorded a statement from Aluthgamage at his office in Nawalapitiya.

On the heels of the allegations, the Sri Lankan batting legend Aravinda de Silva rubbished the former sports minister’s fixing allegations, saying, “An investigation should be conducted to expose the lies.’ He contended that such claims impacted people including the Indian cricketers who had deservingly won the final. “When

serious allegation like these are being made, it affects a lot of people. In this case, not only us the selectors, players and the team management but Indian cricketers who deservingly won the world title. We need to clear this once and for all for the greater good of the game we love,” Aravinda had stated while expressing concern that people should be not allowed to get away with such lies. “I request that everyone ICC, BCCI and SLC should investigate this immediately. Just like we cherished our World Cup victory,

players like Sachin Tendulkar cherish these moments for the rest of their lives. I think in the interest of Sachin and the millions of crickets fans across India it’s the duty of the Indian government and their cricket board to initiate an impartial inquiry to see whether they have won a fixed world cup.”

Similarly Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara reacted angrily in rejecting and ridiculing the then minister’s allegations.

Aravinda de Silva slams

Lanka Premier ex-SL minister for making outrageous League set to start claim of 2011 World Cup final being fixed Sri Lanka Cricket Executive Committee at the meeting held today (27th July) granted approval to conduct the inaugural Lanka Premier League T20 Tournament from 28th August to 20th September 2020.

The 23 match League will be played on the 4 international venues of R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Rangiri Dambulu International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium.

Five teams, named after the cities of Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna, will participate in the League.

Over 70 International players and 10 top notch coaches have already confirm their availability to take part in this Tournament along with leading Sri Lankan national players.

The bidding for the Event’s Title Holder is due to close on July 30th and the schedule of the matches are to be published afterwards, said Sri Lanka Cricket.

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Meanwhile former batting great Aravinda de Silva had rubbished the allegations leveled by former Sri Lanka Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage that the final of 2011 ICC World Cup was fixed. De Silva slammed Mahindananda for trying to tarnish the reputation of players, selectors and all others involved with the Indian team and Sri Lankan team during the 2011 World Cup. De Silva has urged the BCCI and the Indian government to conduct an investigation in the matter.

Aluthgamage, who was Sri Lanka's Sports Minister in 2011, had recently made some shocking claims as he alleged the final of the 2011 World Cup was fixed. He said Sri Lanka 'sold' the final to India. India had won the thrilling final by six wickets after successfully chasing down the target of 275 runs with ten balls to spare at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai with the help of halfcenturies from Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni.

After producing an impressive show with the ball to restrict Sri Lanka on 275, India lost opener Virender Sehwag early in the chase as the right-hander was removed on a duck by Lasith Malinga. Sachin Tendulkar also got out cheaply after scoring 18 off 14 balls.

However, Gambhir played a brilliant knock of 97 runs and combined with Dhoni, who slammed an unbeaten 91 off 79 deliveries to help India clinch their second World Cup title.

De Sliva said allegations like fixing hurt many people involved including the Indian cricketers, who deservingly won the World Cup. He requested ICC, BCCI and SLC to conduct an inquiry into the matter in the interest of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and millions of Indian fans. De Silva was the selector of the Sri

Lankan team in 2011.

"When serious allegations like these are being made, it affects a lot of people.

In this case not only us, the selectors, the players and the team management but Indian cricketers who deservingly won the world title. We need to clear this once and for all for the greater good of the game we love," Aravinda de Silva told The Sunday Times.

"We cannot let people get away all the time with lies. I request everyone, ICC, BCCI and SLC to investigate this immediately. Just like we cherished our World Cup victory, players like Sachin (Tendulkar) cherish these moments for the rest of their lives. I think in the interest of Sachin and the millions of cricket fans across India, it's the duty of the Indian government and their cricket board to initiate an impartial inquiry to see whether they have won a fixed World Cup," he said

Man with no credibility trying to cast wild allegations: Aravinda de Silva De Silva further slammed Sri Lanka's former Sports Minister Aluthgamage for his outrageous claims and called him a man with no credibility. Sri Lankan government has already launched a probe into the allegations levelled by Aluthgamage and De Silva, who was part of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning side, said he was ready to face any inquiry if needed.

"These are all flimsy allegations and if he had any doubt he should have gone to ICC ACU then. Here is a man who has no reputation or credibility trying to cast wild allegations at all those who were involved with that game. I am ready to face any inquiry. But these liars should not be spared. As I said they are tarnishing our hard-earned reputations," said De Silva.

Hathurusingha joins New South Wales Blues Former Sri Lanka and Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha joined the New South Wales Blues Monday as an assistant to Phil Jaques.

It is the second stint at the Sydneybased club for the experienced former opening batsman, who was sacked by Sri Lanka after their lackluster World Cup campaign last year. He held a similar role from 2011 and 2014.

“It is one of the best working environments I have experienced being part of NSW,” he said. “The best part is

there is always a lot of talent coming through NSW cricket.”

In his previous stint, Hathurusingha worked with the likes of established Test players Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson, along with emerging talents Steve Smith and David Warner.

He mentored current coach Jaques during the last season of his playing career with the Blues.

“It’s fantastic for our group that we have someone of Chandi’s experience and he’s worked with NSW before so he

understands our culture,” Jaques said.

“He’s been an international coach who has worked with some of the best players in the world.”

Hathurusingha played 26 Tests for Sri Lanka between 1991 and 1999 as a compact right-hand batsman, and was also a handy medium-pace bowler.

He was appointed Sri Lanka coach in December 2017 after a successful three-year spell in charge of Bangladesh, but departed after last year’s World Cup where they finished sixth.

ICC T20 World Cup 2020 postponed The International Cricket Council (ICC) today confirmed the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia 2020 has been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

At today’s meeting of the IBC Board (the commercial subsidiary of the ICC), windows for the next three ICC men’s events were also agreed to bring clarity to the calendar and give the sport the best possible opportunity over the next three years to recover from the disruption caused by COVID-19.

The windows for the Men’s events are: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 will be held October – November 2021 with the final on 14 November 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 will be held October – November 2022 with the final on 13 November 2022 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will be held in India October – November 2023 with

the final on 26 November 2023 The IBC Board agreed to continue to monitor the rapidly changing situation and assess all the information available in order to make a considered decision on future hosts to ensure the sport is able to stage safe and successful global events in 2021 and 2022.

The IBC Board will also continue to evaluate the situation in relation to being able to stage the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 in New Zealand in February next year. In the meantime, planning for this event continues as scheduled.

ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said: “We have undertaken a comprehensive and complex contingency planning exercise and through this process, our number one priority has been to protect the health and safety of everyone involved in the sport.

“The decision to postpone the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was taken after careful consideration of all of the options available to us and gives us the best possible opportunity of delivering two safe and successful T20 World Cups for fans around the world.

“Our Members now have the clarity they need around event windows to enable them to reschedule lost bilateral and domestic cricket. Moving the Men’s Cricket World Cup to a later window is a critical element of this and gives us a better chance of maintaining the integrity of the qualification process. This additional time will be used to reschedule games that might be lost because of the pandemic ensuring qualification can be decided on the field of play.

“Throughout this process we have worked closely with our key stakeholders including governments, Members, broadcasters, partners and medical experts to enable us to reach a collective decision for the good of the game and our fans. I would like to thank everyone involved for their commitment to a safe return to cricket.”

- ICC

Stuart Broad becomes fourth fast bowler IPL scheduled to be held in UAE from to 500 Test wickets

E

ngland seam bowler Stuart Broad made history when he dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite on day five of the third Test against West Indies at Old Trafford.

Broad, who made his Test debut in 2007, now has 500 Test wickets. He achieved the milestone amid an outstanding performance in his 140th Test match.

He is the second England bowler to reach the mark, after his long-time teammate James Anderson.

The only other fast bowlers to have achieved the feat are West Indies’ Courtney Walsh and Australia’s Glenn McGrath.

The all-time list is headed

by spinners with Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble at the top of the charts.

Momentous as the achievement is in itself, it has been made more memorable for Broad on account of his fabulous showing in the ongoing game. He destroyed West Indies with figures of 6/31 in their first innings, exploiting his mastery of seam movement to leave the opposition batsmen clueless. He then produced two early wickets in West Indies’ second innings in the dying stages of the third day to set the tone for what could become a seriesclinching victory.

After a washed out fourth day, England would’ve hoped for an early breakthrough and Broad delivered just that by getting the ball to sharply seam back in to beat Brathwaite’s inside edge and have him trapped plumb in front.

At the time of publishing, West Indies were three wickets down, still over 350 runs from the target with more than 85 overs left in the game, weather permitting.

Broad has picked up 18 fivewicket hauls in

his illustrious career as well as two 10-wicket match hauls. Broad has also been a useful lower-order batsman and has well over 3,000 Test runs to his name, including a century and 13 fifties – the most recent of which came in England’s first innings this Test.

Sep 19 - 8 Nov

The 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played between September 19 and November 10 in the UAE according to Brijesh Patel, the IPL Governing Council chairman.

Foreign media reports that the final could be played on November 8 or 10.

The chances of the IPL taking place was mainly after the ICC's decided to postpone the 2020 T20 World Cup, which was scheduled to be held from October-November in Australia.

This was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However since the window for international cricket was free during this period, the IPL has been scheduled.

ICC launches Super League qualification pathway for 2023 ODI World Cup in India “The league will bring relevance and context to ODI cricket over the next three years, as qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is at stake,” ICC’s GM Operation Geoff Allardice said.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday officially launched the inaugural ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. The tournament will begin from 30th July 2020 in Southampton when the World Champions England take on Ireland in a three-match ODI series. In an official release, the ICC said that the tournament is created to bring context to ODI cricket, and will serve as the pathway for 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

“Introduced to bring context to One Day International (ODI) cricket, the Super League will determine qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with the top seven teams automatically booking their spot at the event in India,” the ICC release said.

“Featuring 13 teams, the 12 ICC Full Members and the Netherlands, who qualified by winning the ICC World Cricket Super League 2015-17, the Super League will see each side play four home and four away three match series,” the release added.

Explaining further, ICC General

Manager - Cricket Operations Geoff Allardice said: “We are delighted to get the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League underway with world cup winners England against Ireland.

“The league will bring relevance and context to ODI cricket over the next three years, as qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is at stake. The Super League gives cricket fans around the world even more reasons to watch as the drama of league cricket unfolds.”

“The decision last week to move the World Cup back to late 2023 gives us more time to schedule any games lost due to COVID-19 and preserve the integrity of the qualification process, meaning it will be decided on the field of play, which is important,” he added.

England captain Eoin Morgan, who will be leading his troops against Ireland, said: “We’re looking forward to playing cricket again and to the ICC Men’s World Cup Super League. Given the situation, it will be quite different to the last time we played at home, when we lifted the World Cup at Lord’s, but

it’s nice to be starting our journey for the next edition of the tournament.

“I’m sure cricket fans all over the world will be excited to see whiteball cricket resume and we’re looking forward to the challenge. Ireland are a talented team who have shown over the years that they can beat the best on their day. We look forward to what promises to be an interesting series.”

Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie added: “It’s a privilege to be playing in the inaugural series of the ICC Men’s World Cup Super League. It is obviously going to be a huge challenge taking on the team that won the World Cup just a year ago but we have prepared well and have taken confidence from our form over the early months of 2020.”

“What is important is that we are getting back on the field. I hope international cricket’s return is steady during these challenging times. I look forward to the Irish side putting on a good performance in the upcoming series as we start our campaign for World Cup qualification,” he further said.

Sri Lanka Cricket mulls disciplinary inquiry against Kusal Mendis Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is considering a disciplinary inquiry against leading batsman Kusal Mendis, who is accused of causing a vehicular accident that resulted in the death of a person.

A senior official of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has told local Sinhala daily Dinamina that the relevant proposal will be submitted to the Cricket Committee today (27).

It is said that such a disciplinary inquiry has been proposed as a measure to prevent such unfortunate incidents by the players. Sri Lanka Cricket has the authority to conduct disciplinary inquiries against contract players.

Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis has recently agreed to pay Rs. 1 million as compensation to the family members of the deceased.

It is reported that Kusal Mendis is also working to provide a land to the family who did not have a permanent house.

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The world’s hopes for a coronavirus vaccine may run in these health care workers’ veins (CNN)In the corner of a COVID-19 ward in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a woman cleaning the mouth of an intubated patient carries an extraordinary hope for pretty much all of us. Slipping a mouthwash-soaked brush into an elderly woman’s mouth, at great personal daily risk, dentist Denise Abranches has something more than courage in her veins.

Abranches was the first of an expected 5,000 Brazilian key workers in the healthcare system to receive a trial coronavirus vaccine from Oxford University and multinational drugmaker AstraZeneca, along with volunteers in the UK and South Africa.

Across the city, frontline medics like her have enrolled in a Phase 3 test of the vaccine’s efficacy as they battle the pandemic, which has infected more than 2 million Brazilians. And it isn’t just Oxford testing its vaccine in this vast human petri dish. Chinese firm Sinovac began trials last week in Sao Paulo, and US pharma giant Pfizer plans to do so soon, bringing a race among powers to prove their vaccine works first.

Yet while nations fret over securing access to a vaccine, the potential geopolitical implications mean nothing in this ward. “To volunteer is an act of love, to donate a little of yourself to people,” said Abranches. Like many healthcare workers, she has been separated from her family for months of Brazil’s pandemic, in order to avoid spreading the virus, and often failed to hold back her tears when asked about the loved ones she missed.

“The loneliness is greater of the patients who are suffering,” she said, as if to check her own solitude.

“Being here for the whole period, seeing patients die -- often without saying goodbye to their families -that moved us all here. I largely wanted to help, and the vaccine trial needs people like us, at high risk of contamination.”

As a dentist at Hospital Sao Paulo, her days are spent immersed in infected saliva, which puts her among the highest-risk subjects that the trial could have chosen when she was injected in late June.

Many others in her ward have also enrolled in this globally vital trial.

As we tour their daily routine of life-saving procedures -- a tracheotomy and extubation in just 30 minutes -- more staff reveal they’ve had the jab, and endure the routine checks and testing that follow. One is going to receive the trial vaccine this week. Another is thinking about it. Their boss, Professor Flavia Machado, said she is about the thousandth recipient.

Safety procedures on the ward remain strict.

They don’t know yet if the vaccine works. And because it is a double blind trial, none knows whether they’ve had the vaccine, or a placebo.

Developing vaccines at “warp speed”

So it is that after five months of mitigating the suffering of one of the world’s worst-hit cities, the medical workers of São Paulo are now asked to help bring hope to the rest of the world.

Scientists have toiled to create a vaccine in record time, with the Trump White House even

Denise Abranches naming its vaccine Operation Warp Speed as it sinks $1.9 billion into the Pfizer project. But after severe lockdowns reduced the virus’s spread in Europe, Western researchers looked further afield for heavily infected populations in which to test the vaccine.

In Brazil, the virus is rampant. President Jair Bolsonaro has been dismissive of the threat, even though he contracted it himself. The country reported over 50,000 new Covid-19 cases on several days last week. Officials here have sought opportunity in the misfortune and allowed British, Chinese and US firms to run trials in hopes that Brazil may get faster local production of the eventual vaccine. The faster the population is immunized, the sooner the economy will be able to restart.

Sinovac’s trial began last week with now a handful of recipients in the São Paulo healthcare system. Yet an unexpected side effect has emerged -- not of the vaccine but the geopolitical race for it. A small fringe of angry Brazilians have railed on social media against the “China vaccine.” They’re echoing the earlier rhetoric, critics say, of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and the Trump administration about the “Chinese virus.”

“God help me not to take the vaccine made by those who made the virus! #nothanks #chinesevaccineNO” reads one Twitter user’s post in Portuguese about the Sinovac vaccine. “My friends, do not allow yourself to be GUINEA PIG of CHINESE DICTATORSHIP and Doria (expletive),” reads another, referring to Sao Paulo governor Joao Doria, with the same #chinesevaccineNO hashtag.

As a result, the Sinovac project has recommended that their contributors hide their identities. “This is the number one concern,” said leading epidemiologist and head of the Sinovac trial, Dr Esper Kallas. “Some people may react oddly in these days to a volunteer who participated in a vaccine that was conceptualized in a Chinese company.”

She says she has only received kind words about her decision to participate in the Sinovac trial on social media, but was warned by the trial organizers that it could be different. “They told me to not expose myself too much, to try to not tell everybody how this study will be. It’s very strange, all of it. I don’t understand why [some people] hate China.”

She is reticent to discuss the role Bolsonaro and his supporters have played in fomenting antiChinese rhetoric. “Our president, everything he says is important and the population believes him. He says ... that it’s the flu. He’s said bad things about China. I prefer not to talk about him.”

If successful, the two vaccine trials already underway should bring mass-produced vaccines to Brazil faster. AstraZeneca has agreed to let Brazil’s Fiocruz center make the vaccine locally, producing bulk quantities even before the trial ends, and Sinovac has agreed to share its technology with Brazilian partners. Brazil’s interim health minister recently expressed interest in buying doses of the drug that Pfizer is developing, too, though it has yet to begin trialing the drug in São Paulo. The company did not return a request for comment.

For Kallas, talk of a race between nations and companies is a fruitless distraction to the global task at hand. “This is a threat to all of us and finding collectively a solution is the only way to go.”

Porto agreed. World powers may “feel they are in a race, but it is a common effort so humanity go back to our lives again.”

Kallas added that he does not see the vaccine alternatives as Chinese or British or American.

“These are mankind vaccines,” he said. “We need to have them available to fight this pandemic all over the world. And perhaps the ultimate solution is not going to be one vaccine, but a combination of them.”

Only one participant in the Sinovac trial has spoken publicly so far, Stefania Teixeira Porto. A young doctor, she too has been separated from family for the past five months, and her eyes mist when she mentions her 90-year-old grandmother whom she’s not seen.

Sao Paulo State Governor Joao Doria displays a box of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech at the Hospital das Clinicas (HC) in Sao Paulo State on July 21, 2020.

12

RED ALERT ON MANNAR

MINERAL EXTRACTION PROJECT

Australian Company had acquired land in December 2018 and March 2020

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe

may require the applicant to furnish an environmental impact assessment relating to such development activity and it shall be the duty of the applicant to comply with such requirement. Every environmental impact assessment furnished under this section shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed.”

Section 16 (3b) of the Act states that the EIA must be available for inspection by the public, and that the public must be invited to make comments for a period of 30 days. The comments made by the public must be taken into consideration when approval is granted for the project.

A

s a popular tourist attraction in the country, Mannar boasts of a rich cultural heritage dating back to the Portuguese, Dutch and British periods. Dotted with palmyra trees and a scenic stretch of the Northern coastal belt, it is a popular destination for nature lovers as well.

During the flamingo season, the pink, red or orange feathered visitors frequent Mannar’s wetlands till the end of March.

However, Mannar has also been identified as a potential location to resume a large scale mineral extraction operation

by Australian mineral exploration company Titanium Sands Ltd. It is said that mining and quarrying contribute to just 2.9% of GDP, and by expanding this segment, many natural resources could be used locally, thereby saving a greater chunk of finances put in for imports. Hence environmentalists are concerned as to how long Mannar’s scenic beauty would remain in the backdrop of these projects.

Mannar Island geology

Known to be the largest chain of sand islands and shoals in Sri Lanka, the Mannar Island spans an area of 140 square kilometres. Sand accumulated over years from rising sea levels have stabilised along its coastal belt.

Driven by the prevailing nearshore currents and general circulation in the Park Strait, the sediment transport along the North-Western coast of Sri Lanka has been northwards until it was captured by the evolving sand complex in Mannar Island.

Today, rich deposits of mineral sand can be seen along its coastline. Hand auger drilling done in 2010 and 2014 (prior to Titanium Sands involvement) has shown significant high grade concentrations of mineral sands.

The total heavy metal component was estimated at 11.7% with other mineral sands such as ilmenite, leucoxene, zirconium and rutile. Titanium oxide forms the basis for pigmented products used in a wide range of paints, plastics, paper and self-cleaning coatings. Other ilmenite minerals are used in the production of titanium metal for aerospace industries, motor vehicles, medical implants and welding rods.

Mines and Minerals Act No. 33 of 1992 (amended Act No. 66 of 2009)

• Project reports state dredging has begun • Work to resume after COVID-19 restrictions lifted • GSMB and CCD say mining licenses not issued

Antiquities Ordinance

According to the Gazette notification 1152/14 dated October 4, 2000—published according to Sections 43 (a) and 47 of the Antiquities Ordinance, No.9 of 1940 and amended last by Act No. 24 of 1998—one needs to prepare an archeological impact assessment prior to mineral extraction and get it approved by the Director General of Archeology.

No mining licenses

Mannar Island project

According to the Titanium Sands Ltd. (formerly known as Windimurra Vanadium Ltd.) website, the company has entered into an agreement with Srinel Holdings Ltd. to acquire a high grade ilmenite-leucoxene project on Mannar Island where ongoing drilling is expanding resources and reserves that can be brought rapidly into production with modest capital investments. Initial acquisition had been done in December 2018, and a further acquisition had been done in March 2020. The project is described as an ilmenite feedstock project with minor credits from other mineral components comprising five exploration licenses covering 166 square kilometres. The acquisition target will increase the tenure area to 204 square kilometres with four additional exploration licenses. As per their latest project update on June 16, 2020, the positive scoping study results have shown potential for an economically robust long-life major dredging project based on a single dredge, a primary concentrator and a mineral separation plant.

The report further states that a scoping study is a preliminary technical and economical investigation. Under the JORC Code (2012) a scoping study is referred to as an ‘order of magnitude technical and economic study’. It is based on low accuracy technical and economic assessments and is insufficient to support estimation of ore reserves or to provide assurance of an economic development case as yet.

The Perth-based company is said to be operating in Australia and Sri Lanka. Once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, the company is planning to begin a 500-hole

According to section 28 (1) of the Mines and Mineral Act a person can’t mine, transport, process, trade in or export any minerals without approval of the relevant authority. Mining, transportation, processing, trading in or exporting minerals without approval is illegal.

According to section 63 of the Act, a person found guilty of such an offense can be presented before a Magistrates’ Court and if found guilty can be fined between Rs 50,000 – 500,000 on the first time, a fine of Rs 150,000 - 2 million on the second or subsequent times and/or a prison sentence of up to two years.

deeper reverse circulation air-core resource extension drilling programme, according to foreign media.

Environmental concerns

It is also important to evaluate socioeconomic impacts on the communities. A similar project that was continued in Kwale County, Kenya was said to have had drastic impacts on the people. From health implications such as skin and respiratory diseases from dust emanated through drilling and sand dredging, to water contamination, land acquisition and compensation process, environmental degradation, loss of marine life, safety of employees and other matters too need to be given priority.

Speaking on a similar project happening from Komari to Akkaraipattu, Sajeewa Chamikara, Movement for Land and Agriculture Reform President, said sediments from Heda Oya, Kumbukkan Oya and Menik Ganga are vital for the formation of deposits at the coast from Komari to Akkaraipattu. “The total deposit spreads from Thambatte to Panama where many fisher folk live. Hence families in Thirukkovil, Vinayagapuram, Thambatte, Thambawil, Komatri, Thandiadi, Umili, Malalchenai,Urani, Pottuvil, Kandakuli and Panama will be directly affected by this project. A number of sensitive ecosystems such as corals, sand mounts and rocks that facilitate the breeding of fish in shallow seas close to the mineral sand deposits too will be destroyed. Prior to doing a large scale project of this nature it is important to conduct a proper environmental

Other ilmenite minerals are used in the production of titanium metal for aerospace industries, motor vehicles, medical implants and welding rods

When contacted, Chairman of Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) Anura Walpola said nine licenses had been issued for mining purposes in Mannar. “Six of them have been issued to Lanka Mineral Sands Pvt. Ltd and three others to private projects which are pending renewal. In order to issue a mining license we need an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report. But so far we haven’t received it from the said company. There are ongoing projects in Mannar and Pulmudai and we are looking at mining mineral sands in Aruwakkalu. The Northern coastal belt has rich deposits of ilmenite and zirconium. Another area we are looking at is the Southern sea which has an abundance of garnet sand. If we use these resources we will be able to retain a lot of money that is invested in importing these resources.”

However, Daily Mirror learns that a license has not been issued for mining purposes. “Explorations are done in square kilometres, whereas mining is done in hectares,” said Hema Liyanarachchi, Director, Mineral Titling at GSMB. “During an exploration the company checks the most suitable area to do the mining purposes.

Thereafter they have to submit an EIA along with other documents such as contracts signed, mining plan, evaluation. A preliminary report is not enough. Public opinion too According to and rehabilitation plan and so on.

The permit is issued only after should be sought as it might affect the Act, no evaluating the EIA and these neighbouring communities and relevant documents. Those who permit will their livelihoods.” mining without a license be issued if a do could be fined under Sections project has any 28(1) and 63 of the Mines and A project of this nature Act,” she added. should fall in line with the Coast adverse effect Minerals Since the project is being Conservation and Coastal on the stability, done along the coastal belt from Resource Management Act, to Akkaraipattu, approval Mines and Minerals Act and productivity and Komari from the Coastal Conservation the Antiquities Ordinance. Their environmental Department too is required. provisions are as follows: haven’t issued a mining Coast Conservation and quality of the “We license for any project of this Coastal Resource Management coastal zone nature,” affirmed CCD Director Act No. 57 of 1981. According to General Prabath Chandrakeerthi. the Act, no permit will be issued “Mannar is a sensitive if a project has any adverse effect on the ecosystem and if we are to issue a license stability, productivity and environmental we would do so after careful evaluation. quality of the coastal zone.

Mining licenses have been issued to Lanka Meanwhile section 16 (1) of the Act Mineral Sands Pvt. Ltd. However, permits states: “Upon receipt of an application could be issued for exploration purposes. for a permit to engage in a development But in order to do mining, an EIA is required activity within the Coastal Zone, the Director first,” he said.

Legal provisions

13

Face masks and COVID-19

All you need

to know

We take a look at the different types of masks and how best to use them to stay safe and curb the spread of coronavirus.

S

everal countries around the world have made the use of face masks mandatory in public to help curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

While some people have opted to wear medical masks, there is an ongoing debate on the effectiveness of fabric masks for the general public and evolving research about the best ways to make these.

Last month, the WHO updated its guidance on masks, recommending that they be worn in public areas where there is a risk of widespread community transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or other closed settings.

"The main mode of transmission of coronavirus is through respiratory droplets, so the use of face masks is one of the tools we can use to help stop the spread of COVID-19," Alice Simniceanu, an infection prevention and control specialist at the WHO, told Al Jazeera.

Below, we take a look at the different types of face coverings, usage guidelines and some myths.

Types of masks

Medical masks, also known as surgical masks, are made from a minimum of three layers of synthetic, non-woven materials.

These are standardised, designed for singleuse and evaluated for filtration efficiency and breathability.

The WHO recommends the use of medical masks for sick people, those with COVID-19 symptoms, health workers, people caring for suspected or confirmed cases, people aged 60 and over, and those with underlying

14

All masks should be removed using the straps behind the ears or head, and you should wash your hands afterwards.

Medical masks should be discarded after a single use or when they get dirty, damp or damaged.

If you plan to reuse fabric masks, these should be stored in a clean, resealable plastic bag. It is recommended that they be washed at least once a day with soap or detergent, preferably in hot water.

It is advised not to wear a mask while exercising as it may make it difficult to breathe. There is also no need to wear one when you are alone in a car or not around people, Simniceanu said.

Mask myths

More than 50 countries require people to cover their faces when they leave home. health conditions.

"These masks have some fluid penetration resistance, which is helpful in protecting the wearer from spewing droplets and from droplets getting into their mouth or nose from others," Simniceanu said.

If there is a shortage of medical masks in healthcare settings, face shields may be used.

For the general public, non-medical, fabric masks can be worn as a form of source control to prevent

the wearer from infecting others around them. These can be bought or made at home.

Based on academic research shared with the WHO, fabric masks should be a minimum of three layers and can be made from a variety of materials.

“The innermost layer can be cotton, the outermost layer can be polyester or nylon, something that repels droplets, and the middle layer of polypropylene,”

Simniceanu explained.

How to wear a mask safely

You should clean your hands before putting the mask on and avoid touching the front of the mask while wearing it.

The mask should cover your nose, mouth and chin and should not be worn under the nose, on the chin, around the neck, or hung from the ear. Do not remove or pull down the mask to talk to someone.

Masks are not the only solution, nor are they a silver bullet against COVID-19. Hand hygiene and physical distancing should also be maintained as protective measures.

“The biggest myth is that the mask is a magic solution for coronavirus, and it’s not,” Simniceanu said.

In fact, wearing a mask improperly can increase the risk of contamination.

“When people are wearing it around their chin or their beards, and then they pull the mask back up on their face, this is actually adding layers of contamination and putting more bacteria around the mouth which can then lead to infection,” Simniceanu said.

Another mask myth that has been circulating claims that prolonged use of a mask can cause carbon dioxide intoxication as a result of the wearer re-breathing the air they exhaled.

According to the WHO, when worn properly, the prolonged use of medical masks does not cause CO2 poisoning or oxygen deficiencies.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, M.T.A. RAUF A TOWER OF STRENGTH

Transformed Zahira in Education and Sports The Vice Principal of Zahira College, Colombo-10 , Mr. M.T.A. Rauf has served in the teaching profession for the last 40 years. It dates back to a career that began at D.S. Senanayake College and then Royal College, Colombo, as Assistant Principal respectively . That he has maximized his genius accrued from graduating to the University of Colombo in 1982 from where he made a giant leap forward in serving in the Ministry of Education for four years as an Assistant Research Officer in Mathematics of the Evaluation Guidance and Research Unit does give an insight of the man. It is from that point that Rauf took to the teaching profession when he joined D.S. Senanayake College in 1987 and was promoted as the Prefect of Games in 1990 and subsequently promoted as Assistant Principal which he served till 2001.

OTHER RELEVANT PROFILE DETAILS: Language Proficiency English (All Graduate and professional studies), Sinhala and Tamil Managerial positions , Master in Charge of Cricket at Madampe Maha Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka(1 97 4-1976) , Master in charge of Cricket at G/Revatha M.M.V Balapitiya.(1977-1979) ‘ Member of the Science faculty Cricket team, Uni. of Colombo. (1979-1982) , Prefect of Games cum 1’t xi Master in Charge at D.S.Senanayake College, Colombo 7.(1987-2001) , Master in charge/Prefect of Games Sri Lankan lnternational school, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (20012002) , Master in charge of Cricket (2002 to 2005) , Senior Games Master at Royal College, Colombo 7. (2005 onwards) ‘Assistant Principal of Royal College (2010 onwards)

Language Proficiency:

FULL MEASURE

The full measure of his ability as a man of many parts in the sphere of education could be gauged by an instinctive, natural flair for sports that saw Rauf serve as the Assistant Treasurer of the Sri Lanka Schools’ Cricket Association from 1987 to 1990 and tournament committee member from 1991 to ’95 and Under-13 Tournament Secretary in 1995. He went on to serve as the Treasurer till 2001 when he sought greener pastures taking wing to Saudi Arabia where he joined an international school in Riyadh which he served till 2002 before returning to Sri Lanka. The same year Rauf joined Royal College and he soon made a lasting impression which saw his untiring services rewarded when he was promoted Assistant Principal cum Senior Games Master in 2005. He rose to become the General Secretary of the Schools Cricket Association at the time till his retirement in 2015. Rauf’s skills in sports was such that his knowledge went a great way as Senior Games Master in Royal’s conquests. So much so that in 2024 Royal College won the coveted RoyalThomian big match after a nine years as well as the Bradby Shield against arch foes Trinity College. They also annexed the D.S. Senanayake Challenge Trophy in 2014. His specialties ranged from cricket to athletics, aquatic sports and rugger with Royal winning the R. Heyman Waterpolo Trophy as well as the Gunaratne Trophy in rugger and Frank Gunasekera Trophy in cricket in 2014. In 2015 as Vice Principal of Zahira College for Co- Curricular Activities, the school made significant strides in the development of sports. By 2016 he was appointed the Vice Principal of the Zahira Advanced Level Section. His efforts saw a vast improvement at academic level with a marked increase in the number of university entrants from Zahira College. Such was his dedication to lifting Zahira at academic level that each year an estimated 50 to 60 students from Zahira entered all university faculties.

OUTSTANDING YEAR

Especially 2019 was an outstanding year for Zahira with 3 boys entering the medical faculty after more than five decades. At the same time almost 70 students were eligible to gain university entrance in 2020 in Medicine, Engineering, Physical Science, Computer Science, Bio Science Management and Commerce and Arts. Of course, as Rauf stresses all these were possible due to the guidance of the Principal of Zahira, Trizvie Marikar and academic staff. The high point of Zahira education was its culmination in the last two years of 2019 and 2020 which were academic milestone years for the college with more than 70 per cent results achieved at the Advanced Level Examination. Rauf’s standings indeed soared in the rise of Zahira in the spheres of education and sports since he joined the college staff at top level.

COMMENDED

A Science Graduate from the University of Colombo with Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, M.T.A. Rauf has been a rare find. His

Mr. M.T.A. Rauf services in achieving results in education and sports were such that when he left its services in 2014, the deputy principal and staff of Royal College Primary Section devoted the following message in appreciation of his services to the Royal College souvenir on the occasion of its Primary Section Sports Meet that year: In Appreciation…. “When you do the common things in an uncommon way, you’ll command the attention of the world.” (George Washington Carver) Assistant Principal Mr. M.T.A. Rauf has been a stalwart supporter of Royal College sports during his tenure as Senior Games Master and even before. A product of G/Revatha Maha Vidyalaya, Balapitiya, G/ Karadeniya Central College, Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda and University of Colombo, Mr. Rauf is a master with many talents. He has worked extensively both in Sri Lanka and overseas and his experience as an educator as well as a gentleman of the world has benefitted our school in innumerable ways.

Mr. Rauf’s experience both as a teacher and as a games master are immense. The period he spent before joining Royal College has endowed on his many admirable qualities that are to be treasured. He joined D.S. Senanayake College in 1987 and was appointed Prefect of Games in 1991; he continued to serve thus till 2001. He was the pioneer Master in Charge of Squash and Philately to D.S.S.C. and from 1993 to 2001 he was the Master in Charge for 1st XI Cricket in addition to the duties of Prefect of Games.

During this time he joined the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association and held several posts – namely Executive Committee member, Tournament Committee member and Tournament Secretary (1995-1996). He held the post of Treasurer from 1997 to 2001. He then left Sri Lanka for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

His understanding of the demands of working with a great number of students and the extended community of Royal College, knowledge of human psyche together with his keen administrative acumen enabled him to ensure the success of projects to which he contributed, despite the many obstacles and pitfalls along the way.

Mr. Rauf has been a friend and advisor to the Primary section, rendering his assistance on every occasion we sought his aid, without exception. A true Royalist to depend on, his vast store of knowledge and vision of sportsmanship earned our trust and respect from the outset. We wish Mr. Rauf good health and many long years in carrying out his great services to the people and specially the children of Sri Lanka. Deputy Principal and Staff of the Royal College Primary Section

Rs 30,000 Black & White 3 x10 in

• English (All graduate and professional studies),Sinhala and Tamil Managerial positions, • Master in Charge of Cricket at Madampe Maha Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka(197 4-1976), • Master in Charge of Cricket at G/ Revatha M.M.V Balapitiya.(1977-1979)’ • Member of the Science faculty Cricket team, Uni. of Colombo. (1979-1982), • Prefect of Games cum 1’t xi Master in Charge at D.S. SenanayakeCollege, Colombo 7.(1987-2001), • Master in Charge/Prefect of Games Sri Lankan lnternational School, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2001-2002), • Master in Charge of Cricket (2002 to 2005), • Senior Games Master at Royal College, Colombo 7.

(2005 onwards)’ Assistant Principal of Royal College (2010 onwards).

List of duties covered at Roval Colleqe, Colombo-7: • Organizing Annualaalnter house Athletic Meet, lnter house Swimming meet, Royal Thomian Cricket Encounter for the last ten years. Head of the Souvenir committee of the Annual Royal Thomian Cricket Encounter.

Positions held at Sri Lanka Schools Gricket Association/7: • Member, Executive Committee from 1991 • Member, Tournament Committee from 1992 • Under 13 Tournament Secretary in 1995 and l996 Treasurer from 1997 -2001 • Member of the Executive Committee 2003 • Treasurer in 2004 • General Secretary in 2005 and 2006 • Tournament Committee member from 2007 • General Secretary from 2009 to 2012 • Ex-co member of Sri Lanka Cricket in 2011 International level representations: • Ul17 Manager at Tour of Hong Kong-Sri Lanka Schools (1998) • School Representative U/17 ASIA CUP(SL Team Champions) in Pakistan (2000) • Liaison officer for Pakistan team U/19 world cup in sri Lanka (2000) • Liaison Officer for Pakistan “A” Tour of Sri Lanka (2001) • Liaison Officer for Pakistan Ul19 team tour for Sri Lanka (2003) • Liaison Officer for Tri-Nation Tournament in Sri Lanka for Pakistan(2003) • Liaison Officer for ASIA CUP Pakistan National Team(2004) • Liaison officer for Bangladesh National Team (Tour of Sri Lanka 2005).

• Manager of the Education Department Cricket TeamTour of Malaysia (2006) • School Rep: for the U/19 Sri Lanka/Malaysia/England, Tri- NationTournament in Malaysia (2007) • School Rep: for the U/19 WORLD CUP in New Zealand (2011)

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Mentor and Role Model for many

FOUZUL HAMEED – Visionary Chairman, BOG, Zahira College Mr. Fouzul Hameed the visionary chairman of the Board of Governors, Zahira College, Colombo and a renowned businessman, counts nearly 14 years’ service in the BOG, Zahira College.

He was appointed as the chairman for the first time in the year 2006, being the 11th Chairman of the Board of Governors, Zahira College.

As the five times appointed Chairman of Board of Governors, Zahira College, Colombo, he has contributed greatly to uplift the standards of the College by improving the College Education, Sports and Infrastructure, with the assistance of all the members of the Board of Governors along with the Principal.

Further, all the affiliated and non-affiliated bodies of OBA, PTA, Welfare Society, Maradana Mosque and wellwishers have contributed immensely in the success story of the College.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCIES

Since 2006 there are commendable academic excellences in Government examinations, all the tribute goes to the previous principals and most importantly the present principal Mr. Trizviiy Marrikkar and his team.

Grade 05 Scholarship pass % has increased up to 90%, G.C.E Ordinary Level pass % has increased up to 81% and G.C.E Advance Level pass rate has increased up to 74%. Furthermore,

Moreover Zahira ranks top in many sports namely; • Zahira is the Champions of all island School football • Zahira Basket Ball team ranks in Division 1 • Zahira Scout team ranks in top • Zahira Cricket team ranks in Division 1 • Zahira Karate team ranks in Division B

number of university entrants has increased including the students entering to engineering and medical faculties.

This period also witnessed large strides of development in the spheres of quality enhancement, the introduction of new technology and strategic relations.

SPORTS EXCELLENCIES

Having been a keen sportsman from the days of his alma mater, Zahira College, Colombo, he identified the gap in the Sports department, Mr. Fouzul Hameed became a pillar of the College sports development and remarkable improvement was witnessed.

Many new sports have been added for students to thrive in their desired sport such as Athletics, Basketball, Boxing,Band, Cricket, ArmyCadet, NavyCadet, Chess, Football, Hockey, Rugger, Scout, Rifle Shooting, Karate, Tennis, and Swimming.

Sports in line to be added are Rowing and Water Polo.

COLLEGE INFRASTRUCTURE

Board of Governors have initiated many building projects during his term in office as Chairman -BOG and has also been fortunate enough to reap benefits of these.One of the major projects which he had initiated was the College Swimming Pool Complex and with the support of all the well wishers, the project had become a success.

College accommodate 5,500 students with spacious and environment friendly atmosphere. His vision is to expand Zahira education to welcomestudents from all the communities.

HUMANE APPROACH

Mr. FouzulHameed’s humane approach to underprivileged students not only limited to Zahirians have made him dear to the community. He has initiated many charitable activities through his very own,“My friend foundation”. He is much respected in the community and is a mentor and role model for many.

CAPT. A.G.A. BARRIE, SLE, P. Eng.

Stamps Indelible Mark - His expertise sought by Canada, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia Capt. A.G.A. Barrie, the author of ‘Zahira – the Rise, Fall and Resurrection’, himself an old boy of Zahira College, Colombo can be hailed as one of its most illustrious products who has distinguished himself not only as a student and sportsman but who has voyaged to reaching the highest pinnacle in life. While his profile as a young schoolboy upwards is decked in a series of high stake achievements, it is Capt. Barrie’s rise in voyaging greener pastures to becoming a handpicked prodigy who has served in very prestigious positions overseas from Saudi Arabia to Malaysia and Canada is the sky high saga of this charming and outstanding personality who has left an indelible mark in the high tech engineering field.

Indeed, Capt. Barrie’s has been a wondrous saga of that species that dare to venture, identify and literally conquering the world. His great achievements are a giant

sized hallmark of an intellect spurred by a far sighted vision that has set him apart in the realms of the extraordinary.

Born on 8th March 1936 in Ceylon, (now Sri Lanka), young Barrie was one of Zahira College’s finest products who was awarded the Gold Medal for the best all round student 1955 and Senior Prefect 1956. He was to soon establish himself as a proficient sportsman as a member of the College Shooting Team, Member of the Small Bore Rifle Team and going on to hold the record for Snap Shooting in both .22 and

.303. He was also Lance Sgt. Of the Cadet Platoon which won the Herman Loose Cup 1955 and an Inter House Athlete, Boxer and Wrestler. Having entered the University in July 1956 he won the 400 meters Freshmen Meet 1956 while rising to the highest stature when he was awarded B.Sc. (Eng) Hons. in 1960 at the University of Ceylon and went on to cap it by serving as an Instructor of the University of Ceylon from 1960 to 1961.

Barrie launched his professional career with the Ceylon Government Railways as a District Engineer from 1961 to 1965 and was quick to make a lasting impression when he was commended for restoring the Railway in record time following the 1964 Cyclone.

During this period, he with Col. Kumaranayagam and the team relaunched the 4th Development & Construction Regiment and held the rank of Captain. The 4th

D&C Regiment was responsible in constructing the approach road to Katunayake Airport. He went on to serve as Project Manager of the Ceylon Development Engineering Company Ltd. from 1965 to 1966 and was instrumental in constructing the Udawalawe Dam. He was to enter the State transport service as the Deputy Chief Engineer – Ceylon Transport Board from 1966 to 1968.

From there, Capt. served as a Consultant in Equipment and Construction from 1968 to 1969.

That was when he decided to go places realizing the tremendous depth he possessed in the engineering field. The way forward was to explore new vistas which took him to Canada on April 10, 1969. He was inducted as a Member of APEO and became a Professional Engineer in April 1969 where his first major job was as Project Engineer for Pitts Construction from 1969 to 1976.

From that point the beckoning

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was to Saudi Arabia where Capt. Barrie’s high credentials were soon recognised by the Saudi authorities when he was appointed Consultant to the Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs, Saudi Arabia in April 1976 through Cansult – Consortium of Canadian Consultants. He soon rose to Construction Manager, Cansult, Saudi Arabia: 1976 to 1990 and next as Project Manager, Cercon, Saudi Arabia 1990 to 1997. The same year he was destined to give his expertise to Malaysia where Capt. Barrie was appointed Consultant, Ministry of Sports & Youth, Malaysia.

He rose to Project Director, TMI Consultants Malaysia: 1997- 2006.

He returned to Canada in April 2006 where he joined Soncin Construction as Consultant. He is also Project Consultant, Soncin Construction since 2006 to date spending the winter months in Sri Lanka as Director Planning to Zam Gems ( Pvt) Ltd.