Home Blog Page 2609

Rubber based export sector becomes one-billion-dollar Industry this year

CN
-
0
Rubber based export sector becomes one-billion-dollar Industry this year

Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports increased by 55.11% to US$ 1,215.6 Million in November 2021 compared to November 2020 as per the data released by the Sri Lanka Customs.

Exports maintained above one billion dollars for the fifth consecutive month in November this year.

EDB Chairman & CE, Suresh D. de Mel said, “Sri Lanka’s exports continued its remarkable achievement in November 2021, registering USD one billion monthly revenue.

The growth in exports was not only due to the effective prevention and control of the pandemic in Sri Lanka, but the commitment of exporter community to support the national economy by bringing in the much-needed foreign currency. I commend the exporters for their resilience and commitment at this time.

For the period of January to November 2021, merchandise exports increased by 22.39 % to US$ 11,116.68 Million compared to the corresponding period of 2020, following increased exports of almost all the major product sectors; Apparel & Textiles, Tea, Rubber-based products, Coconut based products, Electronics & Electronic Components, Spices and Concentrates, Food & Beverages, Seafood and Ornamental fish

Earnings from export of Apparel & Textile increased by 23.5% to US% 4,884.86 Mn during the period of January to November 2021 compared to the same period of 2020, export of apparel and woven fabrics expanded by 26.66% and 101.86% while exports of Made-Up Textile Articles and Yarn and other Textile Articles were down by 45.69% and 9.15%, respectively.

Export earnings from Tea increased by 7.6% to US$ 1,213.75 Mn during the period of January to November 2021 compared with the corresponding period of 2020. Exports of all the sub categories of tea sector; Tea packets, Bulk Tea, Tea bags, Instant Tea and Green Tea increased by 11.28%, 3.19%, 83.33%, 19.74% and 27.76% respectively during the period of January to November 2021 compared with the same period of 2020.

In parallel, export earnings from Rubber & Rubber finished products increased by 35.62 % to US$ 999.1 Mn in January – November 2021 compared with the same period of 2020 attributed to higher exports of Industrial & Surgical Gloves of Rubber (53.31%) and Pneumatic & Retreated Rubber Tyres & Tubes (40.41%).

For the period of January to November 2021, export earnings from Coconut & Coconut based products expanded by 25.77% to US$ 766.81 Mn from the same period last year.

Earnings from all the major categories of Coconut based products increased in the period of January – November 2021 compared with the corresponding period of 2020.

Meanwhile earnings from export of Electrical and Electronic Components (EEC) increased by 31.6 % to US$ 384.5 Mn in the period of January to November 2021 compared to the corresponding period of 2020.

Export earnings from Spices and Essential Oils increased by 36.6% to US$ 412.9 Mn in the period of January to November 2021 compared to year 2020 due to the better performance in all the sub categories; Cinnamon (11.8%), pepper (139.5%), cloves (149.7%), nutmeg & mace (10.6) and Oleoresins (73.3%), etc.

Strong export performance were recorded for the 10 major export markets, which accounted for 63% of total merchandise exports during the period January to November 2021.

During the period of January to November 2021, exports to United States of America, Sri Lanka’s single largest export destination, increased by 22.1 % to US$ 2,768.67 Mn compared to the same period of 2020.

Private sector jointly expresses concern on currency shortage impact

CN
-
0
Private sector jointly expresses concern on currency shortage impact

Ten chambers of commerce and industry in a joint statement expressed serious concern over the impact of the foreign currency shortage in the country.

The organisations are Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Ceylon National Chamber of Industries, Chamber of Young Local Entrepreneurs, ICC Sri Lanka, National Chamber of Commerce, National Chamber of Exporters, Chamber of Construction Industry, Women Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and Sri Lanka Apparel.

“They draw the attention of the Government to the difficulties faced by our member companies and the broader private sector in obtaining foreign currency to finance much-needed imports due to the prevailing situation with regard to the lack of availability of foreign currency.

This will affect in maintaining the credibility of doing business with our suppliers and business associates with whom they transact in foreign currency,” the joint statement said.

“At present, entrepreneurs are facing difficulties in obtaining foreign currency to finance much-needed imports due to the prevailing situation with regard to the lack of availability of foreign currency.

These range from not being able to obtain letters of credit to the inability to clear goods that have already arrived in the port due to delays experienced in honouring letters of credit. Further, this impact is also felt by indirect exporters and firms providing support services for exports.

“The ten chambers are concerned that while the importers themselves will face immense financial costs in the form of demurrage and other logistics-related costs, it will also affect longstanding relationships built with suppliers resulting in a serious and irreversible loss of confidence.

Importers are also unable to secure orders due to the inability to agree on a firm payment schedule as required by suppliers.

This will seriously impede the availability of essential products especially during the upcoming festive period during which consumer demand is typically high for most products.

This can cause great hardship to the public at large and may result in a significant increase in the cost of living.”

The 10 chambers also warned that the banking system would face difficulties as a result of not being able to meet the needs of their longstanding customers and could eventually experience a serious loss of reputation if they were compelled to dishonour committed payments.

The Government will also experience a loss of revenue due to a drop in import duties at a time when increasing government revenue is of paramount importance, the statement added.

Australia to support Sri Lanka in becoming an educational hub

CN
-
0
Australia to support Sri Lanka in becoming an educational hub

Sri Lanka is gearing up to become an educational hub in the South Asian with the assistance of the Australian Government 
Plans are afoot to implement a special project in collaboration with the State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovations to develop vocational and professional skillsThe amount allocated for this project is 12 million Australian dollars

Visiting .Australian Minister of Home Affairs Karen Andrews  informed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that assistance will be provided to Sri Lanka to become an educational hub in the region. 

Minister Andrews pointed out that this will be enabled by establishing educational institutions in Sri Lanka which provide facilities to students from other countries who wish to pursue degrees in Australia, to study basic stages of relevant courses in Sri Lanka. 

The Minister made these remarks during the meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (20). 

Andrews stated that the Australian Government intends to bring in Australian products to Sri Lanka to add value and re-export with the objective of developing Sri Lanka’s industries. 

Commending Sri Lanka’s policy on green agriculture, the Minister said that Australia was also interested in sustainable agriculture. 

The year 2022 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

Andrews lauded the actions taken by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to further strengthen the long-standing friendship between the two countries. 

President Rajapaksa recalled the assistance provided by the Australian Government to the Covid-19 control programme in Sri Lanka by making a donation of 11.7 million Australian Dollars. 

When the President was the Secretary of Defence, an agreement was reached with the then Australian Minister of Defence, Scott Morrison, to prevent human trafficking. 

Expressing his pleasure over Scott Morrison’s current role as the Prime Minister of Australia, the President said that he expects a strong mechanism between the two countries to curb drug trafficking, piracy and human trafficking. 

Andrews said her government would continue to support the work of maintaining the stability of the Indian Ocean and would continue to monitor the security of the region. 

Australian Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews, who is on an official visit to Sri Lanka, called on Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on Monday and discussed avenues for enhanced cooperation on a broad spectrum of areas. 

Minister Peiris expressed satisfaction with Australia’s significant involvement in preventing people smuggling and transnational crimes in Sri Lanka as well as in the region. 

During Minister Andrews’ visit, the Sri Lanka Border Risk Assessment Centre (BRAC) at the Department of Immigration and Emigration was ceremonially inaugurated with her Sri Lankan counterpart, Minister Chamal Rajapaksa at the Department of Immigration and Emigration. 

Earlier in the day, both Ministers also signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of Return and Readmission of Persons between Sri Lanka and Australia at the State Ministry of Home Affairs. 

Referring to Australia’s experience in vocational education, Foreign Minister Peiris sought Australia’s technical assistance to strengthen Sri Lanka’s vocational education sector. 

He also expressed keen interest in the proposed establishment of a Transshipment Hub in Sri Lanka to route Australian products through Sri Lanka to the other markets which would immensely benefit the Sri Lanka economy.

A Smart revolution from the Opposition Leader Sajith!

CN
-
0
A Smart revolution from the Opposition Leader Sajith!

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has launched a pilot program to donate digital computer boards (Smart Boards) and computers to the school system in Sri Lanka with the aim of accelerating the transition to a digital economy through information technology.

Nearly 75% of students entering government schools do not have computers at home. Internet access is limited to about 35% of the population, with only 1.67 million regular Internet subscribers. A LIRNEAsia study conducted in 2020 showed that online-based educational access (even in the form of notes distributed using PDF and WhatsApp) was available to only 45% of school-age students. Although 96% of households have only one mobile phone, it can be challenging to have the device shared with the children for regular educational purposes, provided the parents own it.

The growing digital divide in Sri Lanka has been further exposed even as the epidemic began to spread. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has said that it will not be easy for the children of this country to deal with the modern world of technology in the future with the current situation. Hence the Smart Board and Computer Donation Pilot Program will be launched with the sole aim of creating a future generation of children.

JVP is not ready to enter into any alliance with the defeated political parties – Vijitha Herath

CN
-
0
JVP is not ready to enter into any alliance with the defeated political parties – Vijitha Herath

MP Vijitha Herath says that the JVP is not ready to enter into any alliance with the defeated political parties except with the people who love the country. The people have no faith in political alliances and the expectations of the people have not been fulfilled by the alliances formed in history, he said.

He was responding to a statement made by SLFP Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara regarding a SLFP-JVP alliance.

He also points out that an alliance that wins the country and the people can be formed not with the defeated political parties but with the people who respect new ideas. Therefore, they will not enter into any alliance with political parties again.

However, Vijitha Herath says that he is grateful to Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara for inviting him to a political alliance.

Earlier, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva as well as JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake had refused to form an alliance with political parties.

Ambassadors and High Commissioners of many countries to Sri Lanka appointed

MIAP
-
0
Ambassadors and High Commissioners of many countries to Sri Lanka appointed

The Government of the Republic of Indonesia with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Ms. Dewi Gustina Tobing as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Sri Lanka based in Colombo. She has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 21 December 2021 at 5.30 p.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.

The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Maged Mosleh as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Sri Lanka based in Colombo. He has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 21 December 2021 at 5.30 p.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.

The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Charrandass Persaud as the High Commissioner of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to Sri Lanka based in New Delhi. He has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 21 December 2021 at 5.30 p.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.

The Government of Hungary with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Andras Laszlo Kiraly as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Sri Lanka based in New Delhi. He has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 21 December 2021 at 5.30 p.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.

Sri Lanka and India discuss ways to promote Bilateral Cultural Relations through the iconic figures of Theri Sanghamitta and Sita of Ramayana

MIAP
-
0
Sri Lanka and India discuss ways to promote Bilateral Cultural Relations through the iconic figures of Theri Sanghamitta and Sita of Ramayana

Sri Lanka and India discussed ways in which the two countries could further enhance bilateral cultural relations when Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with Minister of State for External Affairs & Culture of India Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi on Sunday (19).

The discussion focused on enhancing cultural relations between the two neighboring nations, particularly through the promotion of Theri Sanghamitta and Sita of Ramayana – two iconic historical figures who played unique roles in the relations between India and Sri Lanka.

Both dignitaries noted that Theri Sanghamitta and Sita of Ramayana were two extraordinary figures who have contributed immensely to Indo-Lanka relations, and agreed to explore ways and means to promote modern bilateral cultural ties revolving around them.

Collaboration possibilities between Sri Lanka and the National Museum of New Delhi and the National Gallery of Modern Art were also discussed at this meeting. High Commissioner Moragoda invited State Minister Meenakashi Lekhi to visit Sri Lanka as well.

High Commissioner Moragoda also shared a copy of his policy document, the “Integrated Country Strategy for Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India 2021/2023”, which includes a detailed road map for bilateral cultural cooperation, with the State Minister of India, alongside a copy of the Hindi version of the booklet “The History of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya”, published by the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust.

High Commission of Sri Lanka
New Delhi
22 December 2021

PM Mahinda visits Tirupati(PHOTOS)

CN
-
0
PM Mahinda visits Tirupati(PHOTOS)

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who left for India yesterday (23) on a private visit has visited Tirupati today. The Prime Minister’s wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa and several others were present at the occasion.

According to Indian media reports, when the Prime Minister arrived at the Tirupati, there was tight security around the premises.

Sri Lanka ranked 16th in the world in terms of food inflation!

CN
-
0
Sri Lanka ranked 16th in the world in terms of food inflation!

Sri Lanka ranks 16th in the world in terms of food inflation. The Trading Economics website has made this ranking. According to the relevant ranking, we are in the 6th place in Asia. In the Asian region, only Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia have higher food inflation than Sri Lanka.

The rating is based on inflation of 9.9% in Sri Lanka last month. However, inflation in Sri Lanka has now risen to 11.1%, further elevating Sri Lanka’s position in the Trading Economics rankings.

These rankings show that even in countries such as Afghanistan, Nigeria, Haiti and Somalia, inflation is lower than in Sri Lanka.

Inscription of the ‘Traditional Craftsmanship of Dumbara Rata Kalala Weaving’ by UNESCO

MIAP
-
0
Inscription of the ‘Traditional Craftsmanship of Dumbara Rata Kalala Weaving’ by UNESCO

Sri Lankan “Dumbara Rata Kalala”, or Dumbara mats, are traditional hand-made mats used as wall hangings, tapestries or cushion covers. The mats are made in a few villages, such as Kalasirigama and Alokagama, by a community called “kinnara” that traditionally supplied ornamental mats to the royal palace as part of their obligatory service to the crown and to ruling elites between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today, artisans weave the mats for local buyers and tourists.

The Dumbara Rata Kalala were recently inscribed by UNESCO on its prestigious Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.  The announcement was made by UNESCO on 15 December, 2021 at the 16th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee – the organ that implements the 2003 International Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held from 13 to 18 December, 2021 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

UNESCO made this decision after examining a nomination prepared by a committee of experts appointed by, and working with, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs in Sri Lanka, in association with the National Library of Sri Lanka, the Documentation Services Board of Sri Lanka, the Divisional Secretariat Offices of the two relevant districts, and the traditional crafts families of the two villages.

The inscription of the element will improve its visibility, enrich the craft practice, empower the crafts families, and ensure the viability of this important element. At the same time, potential dangers such as commercialization and over-exploitation were made aware, and steps to protect the element are already in place in the safeguarding plans.

On behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and its people, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO Kshanika Hirimburegama expressed her immense appreciation and gratitude to UNESCO for inscribing the “Traditional craftsmanship of making Dumbara Ratā Kalāla” on the Representative List.

Further, she thanked the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, crafts families, members of the nomination preparation team, well-wishers, who helped in numerous ways to prepare a successful nomination dossier, as well as the Evaluation Body for their excellent work done.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Paris
22 December 2021

1...2,6082,6092,610...2,620Page 2,609 of 2,620