Sri Lanka is now moving on correct path after its organic farming and back firing chemical fertiliser ban of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa towards averting the food crisis through its massive cultivation drive presidential secretariat sources revealed.

The initiative to encourage crop planting as part of boosting local produce has been launched, whilst promoting cultivation in state owned baron lands.

The utilisation of 5,000 hectares of land in Moneragala, Kotiyagala and Kabilitta for farming was discussed on Wednesday, as a precautionary measure for the food crisis Sri Lanka is expected to face in the future.

The discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of the President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Rathnayake.

Although nearly 8,000 hectares of land in these areas were owned by the Forest Department for reforestation, it has been decided to commence afforestation activities in only 3,000 hectares of land in which saplings have already been planted.

The temporary distribution of the remaining 5,000 hectares of land amongst farmers for cultivation until the necessary facilities for reforestation were prepared was also discussed at length.

It was also focused, during the discussion on the possibilities of releasing a certain extent of land for cattle rearing on a temporary basis.

The Forest Conservation Department and Heads of other related institutions were also advised to seek counsel from the Attorney General’s Department regarding the legal issues that may arise in carrying out these activities.

Meanwhile the Government is initially planning to harvest paddy only in 248,000 hectares, but the farmers expressed confidence in the cultivation of 275,000 hectares and by the end of the Yala season a record 512,000 hectares of paddy was cultivated.

“As 512,000 hectares of was cultivated over two million tonnes of paddy would be harvested and after milling, we can get around 1.5 million tonnes of rice, enough to feed the country for over six months,” Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.  

Last year, maize production was 90,000 tons. Farmers have worked to cultivate 111,000 hectares of maize this year,” he said.

The Minister also said the country can achieve a dry chilli yield of 4 million kilos per acre by giving priority to cultivation, adding that a program has been initiated targeting youth communities to adopt modern technology and hybrid cultivation methods at present. Minister Amaraweera also said the country is almost self-sufficient in green grams, kurakkan, cowpea, and peanut production, whilst noting that the type of peanuts imported to cultivate jumbo peanuts is now being done locally.

Showers or thundershowers will occur in Northern, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Hambanthota district, and showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere during the afternoon or night, said the Department of Meteorology in a statement today (03).

Heavy showers above 100mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Marine Weather

MIAP

Colombo (Sri Lanka) has been ranked amongst the 10 cheapest cities in the world in this year’s Worldwide Cost of Living survey (WCOL), run by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

The city was ranked at 161, tying with Bangalore (India) and Algiers (Algeria), while Damascus (Syria), Tripoli (Libya) and Tehran (Iran) were ranked the lowest at 172, 171 and 170, respectively, reflecting their weak economies and currencies.

The EIU noted, however, that this year’s WCOL survey was severely affected by the soaring inflation rates, with Caracas, Venezuela having recorded the highest inflation rates.

Evidently, the product most affected is petrol, prices, the survey indicated, attributing the 22% increase to currency weakness, as oil is seen priced in US dollars.

While the citizens of not only Colombo but across Sri Lanka, staged several protests demanding that fuel prices be reduced, the WCOL survey stated that such protests were seen from Sri Lanka to Spain owing to this dramatic rise in local petrol prices.

They noted, however, that in Istanbul (Turkey) and Colombo, where currency crashes have made imported oil very expensive, petrol prices have soared by an eye-watering 148% and 189%, respectively, in local-currency terms.

Every year, EIU prepares a list of the world’s most affordable and most expensive cities to live in. To compile the ranking, it compares over 400 individual prices of over 200 essential commodities.

The essential commodities include food, drinks, clothing, household supplies, personal care items, and home rent, along with transport, utility bills, education, and recreational costs.

The US city, New York, acts as the survey’s base city, with an index of 100, and the other cities are ranked comparatively for the Worldwide Cost of Living report.

Furthermore, the study helps HR and finance managers assess cost-of-living allowances and develop compensation packages for expatriates and business travelers. It is carried out in supermarkets, mid-range retailers, and specialized stores.

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva told Reuters Next on Friday (2) that changes to the G20 Common Framework on debt restructuring were needed to speed up debt treatments, freeze debt service payments once a country requested help, and open the process to middle-income countries like Sri Lanka.

“We are concerned that there is a risk for confidence in debt resolution to be eroded at a time when the level of debt is very high,” Georgieva said.

“We don’t see at this point … a risk of a systemic debt crisis,” she said, adding that countries in debt distress were not large enough to trigger a crisis that would threaten financial stability.

Rashika Hennayake
02nd December 2022

PRESS RELEASE

01st December, Thursday, 2022: President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena have applauded the role the Malays have played and continue to perform in the country as part of their congratulatory messages in the ‘Malays of Sri Lanka’.

The ‘Malays of Sri Lanka’ coffee table book, which was launched on November 29, 2022 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, contained laudatory messages from the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, acclaiming the role of the small Malay community.

“The Sri Lankan Malays are an important segment of this country’s social fabric and have played a vital role in both the history and culture of Sri Lanka,” wrote President Wickremesinghe in his message.

“Despite being one of the smallest communities in Sri Lanka, the Malays have contributed towards the nation building of Sri Lanka as an equal partner in the multi-ethnic mosaic of the country,” President Wickremesinghe noted.

Prime Minister Gunawardena recalled: “Sri Lankan Malays have from pre-colonial to post-colonial times made a colossal impact on the fabric of Sri Lankan society through their invaluable services and sacrifices in the Armed Forces and Police.”

The Prime Minister acknowledged the role statesman and visionary Dr. T.B. Jayah – one of the many prominent Malays highlighted in the 224-page book – had played in the Independence of the island nation from British colonialism.

“Dr. T.B. Jayah is acknowledged as a leader who put his country before community, and I urge the leaders of the Malay community to continue to enrich the noble traditions of Malays through enduring harmony as Sri Lankans,” Prime Minister Gunawardena added.

The book which marked the 150th Anniversary of the Colombo Malay Cricket Club and the 100th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Malay Association, both in 2022, was written with the aim to tell the story of the Malays to the wider community as well as to serve as an inspiration to the younger generation of Malays.

The first copy was handed over to Chief Guest, Her Excellency Dewi Gustina Tobing. The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Sri Lanka by Deshabandu M.R. Latiff, Senior DIG (retired), Chair of the Book Committee of the Colombo Malay Cricket Club.

In her address, the Indonesian Ambassador said: “When I first heard of this project, soon after I arrived to take up my post in December, last year, my first thought was how appropriate that a book of this nature should be written on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, in 2022.”

“The Malays, though a small community, continue to play a key role in all facets of life in this beautiful island-nation of Sri Lanka. Over the centuries they have integrated into the dynamic fabric of this nation and underlined their status as respected members of the public,” she added.

Invited guests at the launch were treated to a colourful and warm traditional ceremony comprising Malay dances and songs from a number of leading Malay artistes including Umara Sinhawansa, Naushad Rassool of Flame, and international disc jockey DJ Mass of the famous hit Pem Kekula. This event was supported by a number of sponsors with Cargills Ceylon PLC being the Platinum Sponsor.

The book is priced at Rs. 10,000 and can be ordered via email to: [email protected] or WhatsApp +94 77 737 9995.

All proceeds from this sale will be utilized for the maintenance of the Colombo Malay Cricket Club (CMCC) clubhouse and grounds.

ENDS

Images

Caption:

First copy of the book presented to Her Excellency Dewi Gustina Tobing, The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Sri Lanka by Deshabandu M.R. Latiff, Senior DIG (retired), Chair of the Book Committee of the Colombo Malay Cricket Club.

Caption:

Her Excellency Dewi Gustina Tobing, The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Sri Lanka addressing the gathering

Caption :

Popular Malay songstress Umara Sinhawansa

Caption 4 :

A special recognition to author Alvin Sallay