Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has made it clear that the Government will not alter its position regarding the ongoing trade union action by postal workers, stressing that those unwilling to work under government policy are free to seek employment elsewhere.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday (19), the Minister said that of the 19 demands raised by postal trade unions, 17 have already been fulfilled or are being addressed. The only remaining issues, he noted, concern overtime payments and the fingerprint attendance system.

“The government stands by its policy and is open to discussions only if the trade unions agree to the government’s stance on overtime pay and the fingerprint system,”
Dr. Jayatissa said.

Salaries and Overtime Policy

The Minister highlighted that postal workers have already received significant salary benefits. Basic state sector salaries were increased in three phases—April 2025, January 2026, and January 2027. Overtime payments for around 23,000 postal workers are being calculated on the January 2027 salary scale, providing higher compensation compared to the past.

“This is the final decision on overtime pay. It is in line with government policy and will not be changed under any circumstances,”
he stressed.

Fingerprint Attendance System

On the second contentious issue, Dr. Jayatissa said the fingerprint attendance system is already in use at administrative offices of the Postal Department, with only a small minority at the Central Postal Exchange opposing it.

“That cannot be tolerated. Postal workers unwilling to accept the fingerprint system can find employment elsewhere,”
he warned.

Allegations of Political Influence

The Minister accused political parties of fuelling union action, noting that the Postal Department is operating at a loss, with revenue insufficient to cover even salaries and overtime.

“In such a situation, we cannot entertain unjust demands,”
he added.

Government’s Modernisation Drive

Despite the standoff, Dr. Jayatissa emphasised that the government is actively modernising the postal service, addressing long-neglected issues. Approvals for new recruitments have been granted and interviews are already underway.

“The postal sector is receiving more attention now than at any time in the past. We are tackling problems ignored for 7 to 8 years,”
he said.

The Minister reiterated that while the government remains open to dialogue, discussions will only take place once unions accept the government’s policy decisions.

Nearly a decade after they were imported at massive cost for the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, nine out of 35 luxury buses have finally been restored and redeployed for passenger transport. The move comes as the government attempts to salvage value from a controversial purchase that once symbolized extravagance and waste.

The fleet of 35 super luxury buses was brought down in 2013 under the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration to ferry CHOGM delegates between venues and hotels. Official records show that billions of rupees were spent not only on the buses but also on extensive infrastructure projects to host the high-profile summit.

Once the event concluded, however, the majority of these buses were left idle at depots, deteriorating without any accountability or clear plan for their use.

At a ceremony held yesterday at the Katubedda Super Luxury Tourist Depot, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena confirmed that nine buses had been repaired at a cost of Rs. 375 lakh.

He said the government had already procured spare parts to restore the rest of the fleet and expressed confidence that all remaining buses would return to service within the next three months.

“The buses brought for CHOGM had been withdrawn from service. Today, nine of them have been renovated and redeployed. There is a high demand for long-distance services to destinations such as Galle, Matara, and Kandy. These buses will initially run 5,000 km of short-distance services before being assigned to long-distance routes,” Minister Gunasena explained.

The government’s decision highlights a stark contrast between past misuse of public funds and present efforts to maximize resources.

Analysts point out that the original procurement reflected a lack of planning, as vehicles intended for foreign dignitaries ended up wasting away for years. Critics argue that such neglect illustrates a broader culture of impunity that has plagued state expenditure.

In addition to restoring the buses for intercity travel, Minister Gunasena announced that the government plans to expand rural transport networks, in line with the President’s vision of strengthening connectivity across underserved regions. “Reliable public transport is essential for both urban and rural populations. These buses, once symbols of waste, can now be put to productive use,” he said.

For many citizens, the reactivation of these buses offers a glimpse of accountability long overdue. While questions remain about the billions lost during CHOGM preparations, the current government’s move to repurpose idle assets signals a pragmatic step towards efficiency in public transport

Sri Lanka’s coconut industry, a key pillar of its agricultural economy, is facing renewed challenges as prices fell at the latest weekly auction, despite a modest recovery in production earlier this year. According to Coconut Development Authority (CDA) data, the average price for 1,000 coconuts dropped by 5.4 percent to 133,623 rupees at the August 16 auction.

Auction volumes also reflected uncertainty in the market. The number of coconuts offered fell to 658,480 from 751,836 a week earlier, while sales rose slightly to 582,000 nuts compared to 523,823 previously.

On the ground, wholesale prices ranged between 170–180 rupees for a large nut and 140–160 rupees for smaller ones, while farmgate prices in Kurunegala — Sri Lanka’s main coconut belt — stood at 120–155 rupees per nut.

 Meanwhile, copra traded at 120,000–125,000 rupees per 250 kg, and local coconut oil prices ranged from 880,000 to 900,000 rupees per metric ton.

Central Bank figures show coconut production had risen 18.3 percent year-on-year in June 2025, with output climbing from 170 million nuts in January to 289.5 million by mid-year.

This recovery followed drought-hit declines in late 2024, when adverse weather and irregular rainfall severely impacted cultivation. However, growers and exporters warn that the improvement is fragile.

Exports of coconut-based products such as desiccated coconut, virgin coconut oil, coir, and activated carbon continue to contribute significantly to foreign exchange earnings, but shipments have slowed this year.

Provisional data shows that in the first seven months of 2025, coconut product exports brought in around USD 450 million — a decline compared to USD 510 million during the same period in 2024.

 Industry analysts attribute the slowdown to inconsistent production, volatile global demand, and competition from the Philippines and Indonesia, the world’s two largest coconut producers.

The structural problems in Sri Lanka’s coconut sector go beyond temporary price fluctuations. Smallholder farmers, who account for nearly 80 percent of coconut cultivation, struggle with rising input costs, aging trees, land fragmentation, and a lack of access to modern technology.

Erratic weather patterns linked to climate change have also worsened yields in traditional growing regions such as Kurunegala, Puttalam, Gampaha, and parts of the Southern Province.

 Industry stakeholders argue that the absence of a coherent government policy has left the sector vulnerable. Although successive governments have promised replanting programs, irrigation schemes, and research investments, progress has been slow.

Experts stress the need for an integrated national coconut policy focusing on replanting with high-yielding varieties, promoting value-added exports, expanding irrigation facilities, and ensuring price stabilization for farmers.

Without a strategic approach, Sri Lanka risks losing its competitive edge in global markets. As one industry representative put it, “We have the potential to double coconut export earnings within five years, but only if policymakers treat this industry as a national priority.”

Thailand’s government has approved the recruitment of 10,000 Sri Lankan workers as part of its drive to plug a deepening labour shortage, a move that reflects both the country’s growing demographic challenge and its dependence on foreign labour.

The decision, announced by Labour Minister Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit, comes in the wake of a mass exodus of Cambodian workers who returned home after a deadly border conflict last month.

The fighting, the worst in decades, killed at least 43 people and displaced more than 300,000 on both sides before a fragile ceasefire was struck.

Before the clashes, over 520,000 Cambodians were employed in Thailand, making up nearly 12% of its foreign workforce. An estimated 400,000 have since returned home, leaving serious gaps in key industries.

Thailand, already grappling with a fast-ageing population and shrinking domestic workforce, has relied heavily on foreign labour to sustain its economy.

According to the International Labour Organization, at least three million registered foreign workers are employed in agriculture, construction, and manufacturing.

With fertility rates dropping and one in five Thais projected to be over 60 by 2035, the government faces mounting pressure to secure a steady inflow of migrant workers.

Sri Lanka has emerged as a major source. More than 30,000 Sri Lankans have registered, with the first batch of 10,000 expected to depart soon. Bangkok is also opening doors to workers from Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines to ensure supply continuity.

For Sri Lanka, the opportunity is significant. Labour migration remains the largest source of foreign exchange for the island nation, which sent a record 314,786 workers abroad in 2024 amid ongoing economic struggles.

While the Middle East continues to be the top destination, demand from East and Southeast Asia, particularly South Korea, Japan, and now Thailand, is rising rapidly.

However, analysts warn that the Thai government’s plan may not be without risk. On the one hand, the influx of Sri Lankan and other

South Asian workers will stabilize industries reliant on low-cost labour and cushion the economy from immediate shocks caused by the Cambodian exodus.

On the other hand, critics argue that excessive reliance on foreign labour could strain social services, spark cultural tensions, and potentially erode wages for local workers.

For Thailand’s ruling socialist-leaning coalition, the move is politically delicate. While business groups welcome the decision, opposition parties could exploit fears over job competition and national identity.

If mismanaged, the migrant recruitment drive may dent the government’s popularity, particularly among its rural voter base, who already feel neglected in the country’s economic model.

In the long run, Thailand faces a difficult balancing act: meeting urgent labour demands while addressing demographic decline and safeguarding social stability.

Whether the recruitment of 10,000 Sri Lankans is a temporary fix or the beginning of a deeper shift in Thailand’s labour strategy remains to be seen.

A few showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts.

Mainly fair weather will prevail over elsewhere of the island.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills.