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Agriculture Minister says government cannot compensate for crop-damage if farmer failed to use all 04 fertiliser types recommended (VIDEO)

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Agriculture Minister says government cannot compensate for crop-damage if farmer failed to use all 04 fertiliser types recommended (VIDEO)

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage speaking to media yesterday (02) made it clear that it is “mandatory” for the farmers to use all four types of fertiliser provided by the government in their crops in order to obtain compensations for the crop damages.

“Farmers took themselves on to the streets and demanded chemical fertiliser. Accordingly, the opportunity has been granted to import chemical fertiliser now. Therefore, anyone can use chemical fertiliser. But the government compensates only for the green agriculture. So, there are pesticides fungicides and fertiliser are available in the open market now. Any farmer, if he chooses to, can go for chemical agriculture. A farmer who is willing to provide a meal without losing a kidney can go for the eco-friendly agriculture.”

Q: How is the process of compensating for agri-damage being carried out?

“We have look into what the compensation is. First of all, we have given an application form to every farmer. We check whether the farmer has used our fertiliser. We have provided four types of fertiliser. We cannot compensate anyone who has not all four of them. The government has provided fertiliser, and it is being checked whether they have been used. The compensation is provided upon monitoring all that.

As a government, we provided organic fertiliser first. Then we provided bio liquid fertiliser. Then potassium chloride. Now nano-nitrogen is being provided. The farmer must have used these four types of fertiliser. We will be compensating only in the event in which a farmer has sustained a loss in his production upon the use of all four fertiliser said above. Otherwise, the government cannot compensate the farmer who did not use them and continues to open his mouth.”

Crisis cannot be overcome by politicising solutions to economic hassles

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Crisis cannot be overcome by politicising solutions to economic hassles

The economic hassles must be answered with economic solutions and no politicised solutions can ever overcome the prevailing crisis, emphasised Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha De Silva, speaking to a briefing held in the Opposition Leader’s Office yesterday (02).

“On December 01, 2019, I think, taxes were cut from the Treasury in large sums without any insight based on an order by the Presidential Secretariat. We warned that a government revenue of about Rs. 500 billion could be lost; lost even more than that, as predicted. Now they say that they are keeping the interest rate at 06 per cent and the Forex rate at 200. When this finally blasts, no pieces will ever be found.

The Central Bank should be held accountable for whether the existing inflation turns into a hyperinflation. In such an event, answers cannot be orchestrated. Sometimes, the solutions to these economic problems are bitter. But there are ways in this world on how we can overcome such difficult and complex problems. Almost every other country has overcome, alas, we are the only ones who are stuck. The decisions taken for economic hassles should be of economic solutions. We cannot overcome by politicising them. I said in November, 2020 about what was going to happen. It has now happened exactly the way I said it. May those who ‘know everything’ in the government do what should be done.”

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Had state power been misused, ministries should not be vested in: Trade Minister

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Had state power been misused, ministries should not be vested in: Trade Minister

Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena speaking to media in Kandy yesterday (02) emphasised that he believes that a reshuffle should be taking place not only in the Cabinet, but also in the state-run bodies and their positions.

“Had I been failed to serve the duty I was entrusted with, my Ministerial portfolio must be changed. Had the state power been misused, ministries should not be vested in. I believe that a reshuffle should be taking place not only in the Cabinet, but also in the state-run bodies,” Gunawardena said.

The Trade Minister added: “His Excellence the President has the full power to change the Board of Ministers. None can influence it. We believe that the President may take that decision wisely.”

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Chairman of Company owning gas lies on behalf of Subject Ministers: Opposition Leader (VIDEO)

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Chairman of Company owning gas lies on behalf of Subject Ministers: Opposition Leader (VIDEO)

Despite the Government’s claim of the fuel price crisis being unsolvable for several weeks due to a supposed valve change, the actual “valve change” is in the Government itself, said Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, speaking at the occasion of appointing Ballot Leaders to the Kolonnawa Electorate of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Colombo District MP and Co-Media Spokesman S.M. Marikkar yesterday (02).

Accordingly, the Opposition Leader questioned should not such a “crippled” government be ousted immediately.

Premadasa reminded that the SJB as the Opposition had disclosed every information related to the gas crisis since its inception and that the two Subject Ministers and the Government had slipped away without giving any answers.

The two Subject Ministers, who should be responsible for creating a serious tragedy where houses and kitchens are being exploded and lives are being lost, had lied about the situation and now the Chairman of the Company owning Gas is lying on behalf of them, the Opposition Leader alleged.

The Government that came to power over the dead bodies of the Easter Sunday Carnage has never been sensitive to the people’s problems in the first place, he pointed out, suggesting that the current regime is not giving in to the tears of the people in what he described as the government being a “genocidal regime.”

The Government is so inferior that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is now chasing those who had expressed their anger triggered by pressure over the Government by booing, he added.

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None of the people who insult me have ever served this country: President (VIDEO)

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None of the people who insult me have ever served this country: President (VIDEO)

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa attending the event in which he was awarded the Honorary Title of “Sri Lankadheeshwara Padmavibhushana” by the Sri Kalyani Samagridharma Maha Sangha Sabha at Kotte yesterday (02) said he is capable of bearing insults posed by certain people with equanimity.

“When I was sworn in as the President before the Ruwanweli Maha Seya, I said that I was elected by the majority of Sinhalese. I strongly believe that it is one of my top priorities to protect the Sinhalese Buddhists who had made many commitments to make me the First Citizen and the legacy. It should be specifically noted that I am always committed to it and have made an environment where citizens of fellow religions can live freely and without fear and doubt, due to my discipline and influence of being a Buddhist,” the President said.

He added: “We were able to successfully contain the pandemic which swarmed across the whole world for two years. But I with equanimity have the capacity to bear the insults and defamation aimed at me by certain people due to the economic and social pressure it caused to the people. Also, it is doubtful whether any of the people who insult me have ever served the country even by an inch of what I have done to this country in my lifetime. I am ready to embark on a new journey, overcoming the obstacles we have encountered so far, and to fulfill the aspirations of the people who elected me as President of this country. I declare before this Most Venerable Maha Sangha that I am ready to take the necessary decisions for them.

MIAP

Covid: Death toll exceeds 15,000 in Sri Lanka

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Covid: Death toll exceeds 15,000 in Sri Lanka

With 24 more Covid related deaths confirmed yesterday (01) the death toll due to the Covid-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka has climbed up to 15,019.

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Dollar deficit affects unloading despite fuel arrival: SJB Trade Union

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Dollar deficit affects unloading despite fuel arrival: SJB Trade Union

Two vessels carrying diesel and petrol had sailed in the Sri Lankan waters a few days ago, but the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has been unable to unload the stocks due to the ongoing dollar deficit in the country, revealed Ananda Palitha, Convener of the Trade Union Confederation of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya speaking to media.

The unloading process consumes US$52 million, which has not yet been released to the CPC, Palitha pointed out, warning that in the backdrop the occurrence of a fuel shortage could be possible.

The Oil Refinery in Sapugaskanda is currently closed due to the absence of crude oil stocks, compelling the CPC to import refined fuel in meeting the national demand.

The Refinery is planned to be reopened at the end of January.

Were the fuel contained in the two vessels not unloaded, the people, who are queuing themselves in search of essential commodities including gas, rice and milk powder, will have to suffer a fuel shortage as well, Palitha further noted.

MIAP

School transport fares up! Another surge in fuel price?

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School transport fares up! Another surge in fuel price?

The fares charged for the transportation of school children will have be increased, stated the All Ceylon School Transport Association, speaking to media.

Union President Malsiri De Silva noted that he had instructed his members to discuss the matter with parents and increase the fares accordingly.

Another hike in the price of fuel is also on the way, the Union President divulged.

Fuel prices soared on two consecutive occasions in the recent past, but the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) stated that it is still selling fuel at a loss.

MIAP

Hemaka Amarasuriya responds to claims of Thilanga attending ICC Meeting

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Hemaka Amarasuriya responds to claims of Thilanga attending ICC Meeting

Former Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket Mr. Hemaka Amarasuriya and the leading sponsor of the sport prior to that at a time when the game was in dire straits has sent us the following response for the article titled ‘Mahanama’s book reveals Ranil backed Thilanga undermining Amarasuriya’ that appeared in last week’s Sunday Island.

“I write with reference to the above article and wish to point out certain misstatements and inaccuracies pertaining to the Book written by former Sri Lanka cricketer Roshan Mahanama – ‘My innings, Retired Hurt to the Best View of the Game’.

The first and second paragraphs of the said article are reproduced below:

‘Among those who follow the gentleman’s game closely, many regard UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as Mr. Clean. But if they get hold of Roshan Mahnama’s new book, they will have a second opinion. Mahanama in his autobiography ‘My Innings’ goes onto claim that Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister in 2002 stopped then cricket chief Hemaka Amarasuriya from attending an ICC Meeting and instead nominated Thilanga Sumathipala.

“We were appointed to mange Sri Lanka Cricket due to a prevalent issue at the time, till fresh elections appointed a new committee. However, this was a very brief stint as the level of politics involved was contrary to my work ethic and principles. As an example, the Interim Committee decided that the Chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya should attend the ICC annual meeting. However, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe overruled and said that Thilanga Sumathipala who was not even part of the committee at the time, would attend instead,” writes Mahanama.

I wish to set the record straight that I served as the Chairman of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket at the relevant time in 2002 when Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

As the Chairman of the said Interim Committee, I was designated by the Committee to represent Sri Lanka Cricket at the forthcoming meeting of the Directors of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to be held at Lord’s Cricket Grounds, London which was the then Headquarters of ICC.

It was brought to the notice of Sri Lanka Cricket that Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala was lobbying to attend the said meeting of the Directors of the International Cricket Council. Some members of the Interim Committee did resign over this issue.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made it clear that myself as the Chairman of the Interim Committee should attend and requested Sri Lanka Cricket and the then Secretary of the Ministry of Sports to obtain the opinion of the Attorney General Mr. K.C. Kamalasabayson PC, who was the then Attorney General of Sri Lanka.

I consulted my lawyers and it was discovered that there was an interim injunction that was issued by the District Court of Colombo against Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala in a case filed by Mr. Clifford Ratwatte. The interim injunction restrained Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala from taking part in any activities of Sri Lanka Cricket until the hearing and final determination of that pending action. The Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket and the Ministry of Sports officials were aware of the said interim injunction and if Sri Lanka Cricket was to be part and permit Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala in attending the said ICC meeting of the Directors, they would all be guilty of aiding and abetting Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala in violating the interim injunction issued against him.

Accordingly, these factors were brought to the notice of the Honourable Attorney General who opined that Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala can not represent Sri Lanka Cricket as it would be in violation of the interim injunction issued against him.

Accordingly, as endorsed by the Interim Committee, I proceeded to attend the Directors meeting of the ICC, that was held at Lord’s, London.

Thus the first two paragraphs of the said article are misleading and the accounts therein are inaccurate.

Hemaka Amarasuriya

Former Chairman

Sri Lanka Cricket

ISLAND.LK

Over 30 per cent drop in tourist traffic

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Over 30 per cent drop in tourist traffic

By Sunimalee Dias

Sri Lanka’s dollar crisis has led the economy to depend on tourism to resolve the issue but irrespective of what lengths the authorities take to welcome holidaymakers, they are not filling the rooms. The industry believes there will be a 30 per cent drop this season compared to previous expectations.

Newly-elected Tourist Hotels Association President M. Shanthikumar told the Business Times on Thursday that the season’s traffic has seen a number of bookings getting cancelled as a result of which they expect over a 30 per cent drop due to the Omicron variant spreading fast in Europe.

Though there has been a slight improvement, arrivals are still “very poor”, he noted adding that however, if there are no travel restrictions in place in the different markets the industry expects the sector will grow next year.

Sri Lanka opened its borders and relaxed the rules for tourists visiting the island as a double vaccinated traveller need not go through a COVID-19 test on arrival at the airport.

Mr. Shanthikumar echoed a dire need of the industry that still wants the moratoriums on their loans extended and no additional taxes imposed as stated in the budget.

The dollar crunch seems to creep into the tourism industry as the industry is now finding it difficult to open Letters of Credit (LCs) to make dollar purchases for various needs in the hotel sector. “When hoteliers want to import items there is a severe delay in getting approvals,” Mr. Shanthikumar explained.

“But the burning issue now is we need marketing for promotions,” he said as the industry hopes to sell the destination when the travel fairs and other destination promotion campaigns kick off next year, long awaited by the industry.

In this respect, Mr. Shanthikumar wants the government to ensure that a certain amount of foreign exchange is allocated to the industry to ensure the smooth flow of operations.

NKar Travels Managing Director Nilmin Nanayakkara told the Business Times that they had realized only about 7 per cent of their pre-COVID-19 business by December. However, in the next three months they are likely to increase by 20 per cent.

Given the industry’s need to stay afloat, he noted that even with new variants they are positive they will remain open. Though cancellations are on from European travellers, Mr. Nanayakkara explained that however these same people will be holidaying elsewhere on short haul travel. The uncertainty of a possible lockdown in Europe is creating a problem for tourists as the number of Omicron cases there surge.

“The industry has already bounced back and now it’s a continuation of recovery and I don’t see it going back – I’m very confident they will manage it somehow,” he said.

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