Agriculture and Plantations Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has clarified that there is an adequate supply of fertilizers in the country, countering claims made by some farmer organizations regarding a shortage of various fertilizers, including urea.
Minister Amaraweera has revealed that the government, in collaboration with two public sector fertilizer companies and the private sector, has made arrangements to ensure a sufficient supply of fertilizers for the current season. The government has also taken steps to credit farmers’ accounts with Rs. 15,000 per hectare to facilitate their purchase of fertilizers, offering flexibility to choose between chemical and organic options.
In terms of urea fertilizer, both government fertilizer companies are selling a 50 kg bundle at a price of Rs. 9,000, while the private sector has reduced the price to Rs. 8,500. The Minister emphasized that fertilizer distribution has covered all regions of the country, and if any area experiences a shortage, the Agriculture Ministry should be informed promptly for immediate action.
During this season, the government and the private sector are supplying Urea and MOP fertilizers, with the private sector taking the responsibility for mangroves. Minister Amaraweera has voiced his concern that some individuals associated with political parties are attempting to undermine farmers by spreading false information about fertilizer shortages, which, in reality, has been effectively addressed with a well-implemented supply system in the country.
A historic moment unfolded as the first-ever direct flight from the Czech Republic to Sri Lanka departed from Prague International Airport. LOT Polish Airlines is operating these direct charter flights, which will run every Tuesday from October 24, 2023, to March 26, 2024, utilizing Boeing 787 Dreamliners configured to accommodate 251 passengers. The introduction of this new route is set to draw approximately 5,800 tourists from the Czech Republic to Sri Lanka during the winter season, offering a significant reduction in travel time, with the one-way journey taking just ten hours.
In a collaborative effort with the Sri Lanka embassy in Vienna, Austria, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has partnered with Cedok, a prominent travel services provider in the Czech Republic, which has been in operation since 1920. This partnership is part of a co-marketing campaign launched in conjunction with the launch of direct charter flights.
The inauguration ceremony of these direct charter flights, jointly organized by Cedok and LOT Polish Airlines at Prague Airport, was attended by distinguished guests, including the Counsellor of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vienna and Chargé d’ Affaires for Czechia, Charitha Weerasinghe. Also present were Cedok CEO Stanislav Zeman, Executive Director of Prague Airport Jiri Vyskoc, Spokesperson of LOT Polish Airlines Krzysztof Moczulski, and Sri Lanka Honourary Consul in Czechia Marek Nemec. This new flight route promises to further strengthen the ties between the Czech Republic and Sri Lanka while boosting tourism in both countries.
Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has vehemently denied any plans to sell water to farmers for agricultural purposes, dismissing these claims as the tactics of a certain political group seeking to gain political advantage. During a media briefing held in Kandy, Minister Amaraweera clarified that the government is actively exploring methods for more efficient water usage in agriculture rather than selling water.
The minister emphasized the ongoing tests to determine the feasibility of cultivating crops with reduced water consumption. He stressed the importance of using water economically for agricultural purposes, particularly in light of reports predicting a more severe drought during the upcoming Yala Season compared to the previous one. Farmers have been advised to begin cultivation during the current rainy season to mitigate the potential water shortage in the Yala Season.
Minister Amaraweera condemned baseless allegations and rumors spread by certain groups for political gain, specifically the false claim that the government intends to charge farmers for the water provided. He clarified that the government’s objective is to raise awareness among farmers about using water judiciously and conducting cultivation activities with minimal water usage, not to impose water charges on farmers.
Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, announced a significant development in the education sector. He revealed that a Cabinet sub-committee, led by the President, and a 25-member expert committee under the guidance of the Prime Minister’s Secretary, have been appointed to craft a comprehensive national education policy framework tailored to the current global requirements. This framework is poised to revolutionize the education system and adapt it to the needs of the modern world.
During a Cabinet press conference, Minister Gunawardhana explained that the expert committee has diligently designed the national education policy framework, concentrating on pertinent subject areas and matters of significance. This ambitious project, titled the National Education Policy 2023-2033, has been further refined with inputs from the Ministerial Sub-Committee. The final draft of this ten-year policy has been submitted to the Parliament’s Oversight Committee on Education for review and will subsequently be presented in Parliament.
The minister emphasized the uniqueness of this ten-year national education program, which aims to cultivate a future generation of children with diverse talents, skills, and creative abilities. The overarching goal is to ensure that the entire education system aligns with the demands of the modern world.
Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana also disclosed that the President’s proposal to introduce the new National Education Policy for further discussion in the Sectoral Committee and Parliament has received Cabinet approval. This initiative marks a significant step toward reshaping the educational landscape to better prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has reported a slight depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee against the US Dollar on November 1, compared to the rates observed on the previous day. The updated rates are as follows:
Buying rate of the US Dollar: Increased from Rs. 322.17 to Rs. 322.34.
Selling rate of the US Dollar: Increased from Rs. 332.50 to Rs. 332.63.
While the Sri Lankan Rupee has demonstrated slight fluctuations against the US Dollar, it has also shown minor appreciation against a basket of other foreign currencies.
Sri Lanka Police intervened in a protest march that originated from Divulapitiya, organized to voice opposition against the recent increase in electricity tariffs. The demonstration was led by several groups, including the Electricity Users’ Association, the Citizens’ Advisory Council, and the Collective of Civil Organization.
The march commenced from Divulapitiya’s Bus Stand and aimed to proceed to the Colombo-Kurunegala Main Road after addressing the media. A significant police presence was observed in the area.
Tensions escalated when the Sri Lanka Police obstructed the protest march. While the protesters initially moved aside to allow traffic to pass, a heated exchange unfolded when the police blocked the road.
During the course of the confrontation, Chairman of the Citizen’s Movement Against Fraud, Corruption, and Waste, Jamuni Kamantha Thushara, and Secretary of the Electricity Users’ Association, Sanjeewa Dhammika, were arrested. Subsequently, Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero and several others were also detained by the authorities.
The protest was in response to the recent hike in electricity tariffs and reflects the ongoing concerns and grievances of citizens regarding economic challenges in Sri Lanka.
Colombo (LNW): The government has called for bids for the divestiture of the debt-ridden national carrier SriLankan Airlines, Minister of Ports, Shipping & Aviation says.
As such, Invitations to Tenders (ITTs) have been published using local and foreign media and websites, according to Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva.
The divestiture is planned to be completed through a two-stage competitive bidding process; namely RFQ (Request for Qualification) and RFP (Request for Proposals for the Proposed Transaction).
Last month, Minister De Silva, joining Ada Derana’s “State of the Nation” program, addressed the reports alleging that the government is planning to sell off the national carrier by the end of 2024.
Denying the claims, the Aviation Minister reiterated that the government intends to retain 51% of SriLankan Airlines’ shares and divest the remaining 49%.
He had mentioned that running the national carrier as a joint venture is the solution as SriLankan is in debt. The airline’s total debt amounts to USD 1.2 billion.
Founded in 1979, SriLankan Airlines operated with a fleet of 24 Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft and has a route network of 126 destinations in 61 countries.
Divestment of Sri Lankan Airlines (SLA) and its subsidiaries has been identified as a priority due to its high fiscal risks and its phase 1 restructuring process is to be completed by end 2023, finance ministry sources divulged.
The Cabinet has approved the divestment of Government-owned shares of SLA and sell side transaction advisors (i.e., International Finance Corporation) have been appointed.
It is expected that the initial due diligence and divestment strategy (phase I) will be completed by the transaction advisors by the end of December 2023 and phase II of the engagement to execute the transaction would take a further 6 months.
Despite the challenging external and internal funding constraints, SLA has recorded a profit of Rs. 60.2 billion during the last quarter of the financial year 2022/23 and the SLA had negative net assets of Rs. 511 billion at the end of March 2023.
This was confirmed by Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva while warning that the jobs of Sri Lankan Airlines employees is at risk if immediate restructuring measures are not implemented.
He disclosed that the potential loss of jobs for approximately 6,000 employees at Sri Lankan Airlines is evident if immediate restructuring measures are not implemented.
The Minister admitted that out of the fleet of 27 Airbus aircraft owned by SriLankan Airlines, only 16 are currently in operational condition.
The Minister emphasised that the Government cannot withstand the financial losses incurred by SriLankan Airlines and it would be unfair to continue using taxpayer funds in this manner.
He disclosed that several foreign investors have already expressed interest in taking over the management of the airline but didn’t name them.
Colombo (LNW): At a time where Sri Lanka Tourism is making every effort to attract 1.55 million tourists and generate $ 2.7 billion in revenue by the end of the year, the island nation faces a shortage of skilled workers in the hospitality industry.
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando claims that Sri Lanka will be attracting another 450,000 tourists by the end of this year, with over 1.1 million tourists have already visited the country.
In the wake of high optimism on tourism resurgence, Sri Lanka Tourism capacity building arm, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) yesterday said the hospitality industry is grappling with a massive shortage of skilled workers amid the talent exodus post-economic crisis.
Many skilled workers from the tourism industry migrate overseas in search of better opportunities.
Correspondingly, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has been beset by labour shortages even as it has been singled out as a key growth sector and contributor to the national economy.
According to Foreign Employment Ministry statistics, a total of 242,865 workers have migrated as of 24 October and 69,797 are skilled, 3,310 are semi-skilled, 73,908 are low-skilled and 12,409 are professionals.
“The hospitality industry today has below 40% of its workforce deemed adequately qualified,” SLITHM Chairman Shirantha Peiris disclosed.
Describing the delicate, yet complex implications of the situation he equalized it to a double-edged sword.
“The workforce in the industry acts as a source of skilled talent contributing to the workers’ remittances as well as a crucial contributor of foreign exchange earnings via tourism. This is a delicate equilibrium that we are trying to achieve by working together with collective policy and stakeholder participation,” he said.
He emphasised the need of a collective effort to implement measures to supplement the skilled labour pool.
”The training course budget was beyond our means and ADB’s assistance helped us to offer free-of-charge. A certificate will be conferred after a compulsory one-year of service in the industry, “ he disclosed.
This requirement is put in place to ensure a reciprocal commitment from beneficiaries to contribute to the country by dedicating a full year to the industry,” he added.
The industry’s predicament stems from the necessity to employ untrained personnel and provide on-the-job training due to the substantial number of workers seeking opportunities abroad for higher remuneration.
However, the SLITHM Chairman said as the statutory body, they will team up with the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) to invest in workforce development and skill-building initiatives in 43 VTA centres and four hotels for capacity building in the hotel industry for sustained growth.
Currently, 4,996 students are studying in SLITHM branches countrywide.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s trade deficit began widening in September following the relaxation of import barriers and this trend will continue for four years including 2023, the Central Bank claims.
Many of Sri Lanka’s trading partners including the European Union have raised concerns over import bans while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also has urged the authorities to relax such barriers.
The Central Bank anticipated the widening of the trade deficit will start once they relax the compressed import ban.
True to their prediction the deficit in the merchandise trade account widened to US $ 378 million in September 2023, compared to the deficit of $ 205 million recorded in September 2022, Central Bank announced.
Meanwhile, the cumulative deficit in the trade account during January to September 2023 narrowed to $3,342 million from $ 4,093 million recorded over the same period in 2022.
Earnings from merchandise exports declined by 10 per cent to $ 972 million in September 2023, over the corresponding month in 2022 as well as compared to $ 1,119 million recorded in August 2023.
Despite the increase in agricultural exports, the decline in earnings from industrial exports associated with slowing external demand, including garments, mainly contributed to this contraction in export earnings in September 2023, compared to a year earlier, CB disclosed.
Cumulative export earnings also declined by 10.1 per cent during January to September 2023 to $ 8,982 million, over the same period in the last year.
Expenditure on merchandise imports increased by 5.1 per cent (year-on-year) to $ 1,349 million in September 2023, compared to a significantly low base of $ 1,284 million in September 2022, though it declined from$,426 million recorded in August 2023.
The increase in import expenditure was broad-based and mainly contributed by investment goods.
Meanwhile, cumulative import expenditure during January to September 2023 declined by 12.5 percent $12,323 million over the corresponding period in the last year.
Expenditure on the importation of consumer goods increased in September 2023, compared to a year ago, due to the increase in expenditure on non-food consumer goods although food and beverages imports recorded a decline.
The increase in expenditure on non-food consumer goods was broad-based, with a notable increase in imports of household and furniture items (primarily, textile articles, and tableware and kitchenware), telecommunication devices (primarily, mobile telephones), and clothing and accessories.
In contrast, expenditure on food and beverages declined due to the lower import volumes of cereals and milling industry products (mainly, rice) in September 2023.
Expenditure on the importation of intermediate goods increased marginally in September 2023, compared to a year ago, mainly driven by the higher import volumes of wheat, fuel, fertiliser (mainly, urea), and base metals (mainly, Iron and steel). Despite non-importation of crude oil in September 2023.
Expenditure on fuel increased compared to September 2022, with higher imports of refined petroleum and the resumption of coal imports.
However, the importation of textiles and textile articles (primarily, fabrics); plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles recorded notable declines, among others, in September 2023, compared to September 2022.
The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) in Sri Lanka has initiated a project to introduce digital or smart driving licenses, which will replace the existing semiconductor chips with QR codes, according to media reports. Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe, the Commissioner General of DMT, announced that the project received Cabinet approval in October.
The printing of these new smart driving licenses began on October 16, after the printing and issuing of licenses was transferred from the Sri Lanka Army back to the DMT.
The decision to replace semiconductor chips with QR codes was made due to challenges in importing chip reading units, caused by economic constraints. To support the QR codes, a separate mobile application has been introduced, which will be operated exclusively by the DMT office and the Police Department.
Weerasinghe also noted that the smart driving licenses will incorporate a demerit points system for tracking traffic offenses, enhancing the management of road safety and driver behavior.
