Colombo (LNW): A number of divisional secretariats in eight districts have been issued landslide warnings in response to the adverse weather conditions prevailing in the region.

Notably, red landslide alerts have specifically been issued for the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Kegalle, Aranayaka, and Galigamuwa.

The National Building Research Institute issued the following landslide warning announcement yesterday afternoon (19).

Colombo (LNW): Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa asserting that he will be making a new revelation today (19) on which the final match of the Cricket World Cup is being held stated that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) sent three letters to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on November 6, 7, and 9, 2023, revealing the circumstances which led to Sri Lanka Cricket’s ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

In the November 6 letter, the Interim Committee was criticised for political interference, and pressure was allegedly exerted on the Minister. The second letter indicated that the Inter-Season Committee violated the Sports Act, potentially leading to a cricket ban if such a committee is appointed, the Opposition Leader said.

In his special statement in Parliament today, Premadasa highlighted pressure to relocate activities such as the Under-19 World Cup, the 2024 ICC International Conference, and a T20 match to another country.

The third letter stated that a parliamentary debate initiated by the Sports Minister affected cricket’s independence by removing members. It also claimed efforts to change the cricket constitution, contrary to the ICC constitution, and requested 20 per cent of the SLC’s income from the Sports Ministry, he noted.

Premadasa asserted that the information in these letters is false, denying political interference and dismissing the notion of cricket being subjugated to the government’s cronies. He emphasised that such conduct violates the sporting rights of 22 million people.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Atmospheric conditions over the island are favourable for thunderstorms during the evening and night, and thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in Western, Eastern, Northern, North-Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and North-Western provinces and in Kandy and Matale districts, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology said in two advisory statements this (19) afternoon.

Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely to continue at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, North-Western and Uva provinces.

There may be temporary localised strong winds during thundershowers, and the General Public, therefore, is kindly advised to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by lightning activity.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka would introduce new laws to prevent hoarding of food stocks, agriculture ministry officials said after official scare mongering on looming food shortages and continued monetary instability which has disrupted international trade.

He also stated that the government would introduce new legislation that will govern rice mill owners and silo owners to prevent future hoarding of food stocks.

Sri Lanka’s farmers and other started to hoard rice and other foods after official scaremongering that there would be food shortages from August 2022.

The mill owners have been hiking the price of paddy. Given the current drought and rainfall situation that prevail these individuals are not only attempting to raise the price of paddy, but are also trying to create the illusion of a paddy shortage.

The per capita paddy consumption in Sri Lanka is approximately 125 kg per year. However, due to last year’s economic crisis this figure decreased to 90 kg. Nevertheless, the per capita paddy consumption has increased to 112 kg as of now.

Additionally, Sri Lankans require two hundred thousand metric tons of paddy per month. Consequently, Gunaratne pointed out that 2.4 million metric tons of paddy is needed annually.

A quantity amounting to 2.4 million metric tons of paddy is required to maintain a level of substantial rice consumption in this island.

However, to achieve that approximately 3.7 million metric tons of paddy is required annually.

When shortfalls are expected, stocking up drives up prices, in the same way as futures market prices anticipates things in the future and helps smoothen supply across time by reducing current consumption.

The building up of rice silos helps stabilize prices where millers borrow money and buy stocks during harvest time.

The silos prevents prices from falling too low during harvest time and also prevents the deterioration of grain over time.

In this instance a spike in paddy prices after official scaremongering, has driven farmers to cultivate more rice than at first expected.

Domestic rice prices however are higher that the rest of the world and millers in part are strengthened in part due to import restrictions and forex shortages from money printed to pay state worker among other expenses.

For many years the Sri Lanka has placed import duties on rice and maize to give big profits to millers and maize collectors

If cultivation takes place during the Maha Season at the right time and fertilizer and other necessary requirements are provided sufficiently, a yield of 3.5-3.7 million metric tons of paddy can be obtained.

If cultivation is successful during the Yala Season paddy could produce a yield of 2 million metric tons.

However, considering the current situation in Sri Lanka, a state of chaos has unfolded due to the ban on the use of chemical fertilizer in 2021.