August 13, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries in Sri Lanka is focusing on expanding rubber cultivation to non-traditional areas across the country. The Rubber Research Institute has launched an experimental program aimed at identifying new rubber varieties that are well-suited to these regions, resilient to local conditions, and capable of yielding more latex.
As part of this initiative, 14 new rubber clones have already been tested, and research is ongoing on 22 additional clones. Ultimately, 10 of these clones will be submitted for recommendation under interim guidelines.
To successfully expand rubber cultivation to non-traditional areas, it is crucial to identify suitable rubber species for each specific region. In response to a request by Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, the government has allocated Rs. 20 million to support this research and development effort.
The government plans to expand rubber cultivation to drier climates, such as those in Badulla, Monaragala, and Ampara, moving beyond the traditional rubber-growing areas like Kalutara. This year, 115 hectares of new rubber cultivation will be established in these non-traditional areas, using the newly researched rubber clones.
August 13, Colombo (LNW): High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Singapore, Senarath Dissanayake, recently met with representatives from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) at the High Commission to discuss potential collaborations and exchanges between LKYSPP and Sri Lankan universities and government sector organizations. The aim of the discussions was to strengthen the existing ties between Sri Lanka and Singapore in the fields of public policy and academic exchange.
High Commissioner Dissanayake highlighted the importance of continuing collaboration with LKYSPP, particularly concerning scholarship opportunities for Sri Lankan public officials interested in pursuing academic careers.
The representatives from LKYSPP, including Deputy Director of Academic Affairs Celeste Ho and Assistant Senior Manager of Academic Affairs Norlela Binte Mohamed, expressed the school’s willingness to support individuals seeking advanced degrees in public policy. They offered merit-based scholarships through a competitive selection process for high-performing public officers. Both parties showed strong interest in fostering academic and policy-oriented partnerships between the two countries.
Minister Counsellor of the High Commission, Nanduni Govinnage, was also present at the meeting.
August 13, Colombo (LNW): A decision was made yesterday to set a minimum daily wage of Rs. 1,700 for estate workers in the tea and rubber industries. This decision was finalized by the Wages Board responsible for the estate sector under the Labour Department.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe had earlier announced plans to convene the Wages Board to discuss the wage increase for plantation workers and expressed his willingness to introduce special laws if necessary to ensure the implementation of the new Rs. 1,700 daily wage.
During the Wages Board meeting yesterday, a vote was conducted, resulting in an agreement to allocate Rs. 1,350 as the minimum basic daily salary and an additional Rs. 350 as a special attendance promotion allowance for estate workers.
The government had previously decided to raise the daily minimum wage to Rs. 1,700, a move opposed by several plantation companies, citing financial constraints. This decision was later challenged in the Supreme Court, leading to the cancellation of the Gazette notification that mandated the wage increase. The Court subsequently ordered that the minimum daily wage be determined by the Wages Board.
August 13, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka affirmed its commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040, for which President Ranil Wickremesinghe outlined some measures the island nation will roll out in this regard.
The measures include harnessing renewable energy, modernising agriculture, and addressing water shortages.“To this end, attracting global financial facilities through commercial investments is key.
“The transformation from plantation businesses to agribusiness, promotion of sustainable tourism, and product improvement and digitisation are the main objectives. Additionally, four new technical universities are being established to support technical education and innovation,” he said.
While addressing the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Summit 2024 in Colombo the President pointed out the need for the business community, especially the private sector, to be more aware of how the world is changing so that it can improve commitments in this regard.
“We have to push it further. And I think we are the best of all the countries in South Asia to do so. The Maldives is like us but a bit too small. The rest, I don’t think they are ready. So we must be the first,” Wickremesinghe told a fully packed audience at the conference.
Themed ‘Sustainable Pathways for a Brighter Future’, the event featured 15 experts in environment, society, and governance, who shed light on innovative solutions for achieving sustainability.
However, while commending the private sector, global and local, for moving in the ESG direction, he urged stakeholders to keep in mind the geopolitical situation in the world today, which seems to be coming in the opposite direction.
“All the hurrah of the SDGs and of the Paris Climate Summit and even Glasgow have got stuck. We have not made very much progress since then. And the situation also is not good. The world is still recovering from Covid-19, a year or two,” he noted.
The Chinese economy is not performing at its best and would take a few more years. Even the US economy, which talked of a boom, now talks of the job market disappearing.
Eeurope too, is going ahead, but is facing its own set of problems which will take a few more years to resolve.
“He noted that more disturbing was what happened in the UK. Under Boris Johnson, the Glasgow Conference and the Principals were welcomed by everyone, and within two years, his own successor, Rishi Sunak, had gone back on everything just to get the right-wing vote for reform which he failed also.
Today there is a new government in the UK which wants to turn it back but remember the UK no longer has the money,” Wickremesinghe pointed out.
August 13, Colombo (LNW): AIA Sri Lanka has achieved a historic feat at the prestigious Hashtag Asia Awards 2024. The company’s long-standing lifesaving project, the “Poson Safety Program” campaign, not only secured a coveted finalist spot in the highly competitive “Best Integrated Social Media Campaign” category, but also emerged victorious as the Silver winner in the “Best Social Media Campaign: Facebook” category.
This remarkable accomplishment marks the first time a Sri Lankan brand has reached the finalist stage and secured an award at the Hashtag Asia Awards, solidifying AIA Sri Lanka’s position as a leader in innovative social media marketing within the region.
The Hashtag Asia Awards, renowned for their rigour and esteemed judging panel, attracts submissions from across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
This year, over 250 entries from some of the region’s most prominent brands vied for recognition. AIA Sri Lanka’s “Poson Safety Program” campaign stood out amidst this fierce competition, demonstrating the power of creativity and social impact.
The award-winning “Poson Safety Program” campaign was designed to save lives and raise awareness on safe-bathing practices during the annual Poson Poya festival, a significant religious holiday in Sri Lanka.
Through a strategic and engaging social media strategy, the campaign leveraged Facebook as its primary platform to deliver crucial safety messages. The campaign captivated audiences with interactive content, informative infographics, and impactful videos, prompting nationwide discussions on responsible behaviour during the festive period.
Further, the first-of-its-kind Poson safety map was promoted through engaging content, partnerships with influencers, and interactive activations.
The campaign successfully promoted safe-bathing practices and contributed to the recording of ‘zero deaths’ due to drowning incidents during the festival period. AIA Sri Lanka’s commitment to social good resonated with the platform’s extensive user base, resulting in a resounding success.
AIA Sri Lanka Chief Marketing Officer Sasith Bambaradeniya said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have secured this prestigious award at the Hashtag Asia Awards.
Reaching the finalist stage amongst such a distinguished group of regional and global brands was an honour in itself, and winning the Silver award is a true testament to the exceptional creativity and dedication of our marketing team.
This recognition underlines AIA Sri Lanka’s unwavering commitment to leveraging the power of social media for positive social impact.
The ‘Poson Safety Program’ aimed to promote responsible behaviour during an important religious festival in Sri Lanka, and we are delighted that our campaign resonated so deeply with the Sri Lankan community.
This award serves as a powerful motivator for us to continue pushing boundaries and creating innovative social media campaigns that not only engage audiences but also contribute meaningfully to society.”
August 13, Colombo (LNW): Nearly a year after its suspension, a passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka is all set to resume on Friday (August 16) with ticket booking opening from Monday midnight.
Nearly a year after its suspension, a passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka is all set to resume on Friday (August 16) with ticket booking opening from Monday midnight.
The service, operated by IndSri Ferry Services private Limited, from Nagapattinam connects the Kankesanthurai port in northern Sri Lanka. Ahead of the scheduled resumption, the vessel ‘Sivagangai’ has completed two trial runs – on Saturday and Sunday – successfully.
With a capacity for 150 passengers, the vessel takes just four hours to complete a trip from Nagapattinam to Kankesanthurai. “Sivagangai’ has a seating capacity of 150, including 25 business class seats. Compared to airfare, this is cheaper. Even to Jaffna, one way trip costs more than Rs 7000 and to Colombo it is even higher (more than Rs 10000).
Why Nagapattinam? “It is closer to Sri Lanka. Hence, it is chosen. Initially, we preferred to operate the service to Jaffna from Karaikal, an enclave of the Union Terriroty of Puducherry. But, the Union Government gave us permission to run the service from Nagapattinam,” S Niranjan Nanthagopan, Managing Director of IndSri Ferry Service told The Statesman from Nagapattinam.
Nagapattinam, in the tail end of the Cauvery delta region, is very close to the Catholic pilgrim centre Vailankanni and is easily accessible to ancient temples like the Thanjavur Big temple among others. The famed Kodiakkarai bird sanctuary which abuts Nagapattinam is also an added attraction. Hence, the Indo-Lanka ferry service is expected boost tourism besides enhancing connectivity by sea.
The ferry service was originally launched on October 14 last year, with the vessel “Cheriyapani” but was suspended within a few days reportedly due to the north-east monsoon. Subsequent efforts to resume it had faced delays.
This new ferry service is not entirely new, but rather a resuscitation of the colonial-era transport service between the two countries. In the early 1900s, the Indo-Ceylon Express or Boat Mail was a train and ferry service that ran between Chennai and Colombo, through the Tuticorin port.
However, due to various reasons, the service was discontinued, with the final blow being delivered during the 1980s, when the civil war between the majority Sinhala population and the minority Tamils in Sri Lanka broke out and lasted for more than 20 years.
Since the civil war ended in 2009, there have been several attempts to restart this cross-national transportation service, but none have been successful.
However, with the economic and political changes that Sri Lanka has undergone in recent years, it is now turning to India to revive cultural ties and foster greater economic cooperation. Therefore, the revival of the age-old ferry service connecting South India to Jaffna in Sri Lanka signals the beginning of a new, more positive and fruitful chapter in India-Sri Lanka bilateral relations.
August 13, Colombo (LNW): The Government has announced that the shipping agent will be held responsible for any environmental damage and pollution caused by the explosion at Colombo Port on Sunday. The blast occurred on the MV MSC CAPETOWN III vessel at around 12:30 AM on August 11, near the Bay42 area of the port.
Following the explosion, all operational staff and crew members were swiftly evacuated. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) promptly mobilized its fire brigade, along with safety, medical, and security teams, to manage the emergency.
Due to the quick response of the Colombo Port’s fire department, the fire that ensued was successfully contained, preventing further harm to the vessel and the port. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported, and the situation remains under control.
The MV MSC CAPETOWN III, owned by a Geneva-based shipping company, had arrived from Singapore and was scheduled to unload 995 containers and load an additional 880 containers before the incident. Following the blast,
Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, instructed SLPA Chairman Dr. Keith Bernard to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion.
SLPA Chairman Keith Bernard revealed that only one hazardous cargo container was listed on the ship’s manifest and was stored above deck. However, the explosion occurred below deck, leading to an investigation to determine the cause. Approximately 60 containers, including the hazardous cargo, had already been discharged.
At midnight, an explosion occurred below deck on the MV MSC CAPETOWN III. The SLPA’s fire brigade, navigation team, and other officers acted promptly to bring the situation under control. By around 1:00 AM, the temperature below deck had risen to 101°C but was reduced to 40°C by Sunday morning through the use of CO2.
All staff and crew were evacuated immediately, and the fire was successfully extinguished. A detailed investigation is now underway to uncover the cause of the explosion. Bernard mentioned that there were about 100 containers below deck, mostly intended for transshipment to Tanzania and other African countries.
The 60 containers above deck had already been removed before the incident. The fire was contained with all available resources, and the ship’s lashing team ensured that everyone was safely evacuated.
August 13, Colombo (LNW): Labour migration has had a profound and multifaceted impact on Sri Lanka, with remittances from migrant workers showing substantial growth over time to around US$ 4 billion from January to July 2024, ,
Amid evolving dynamics in migrant labor, including significant state involvement in the large-scale movement of people, Sri Lanka has observed various trends in labour migration, leading to increased remittance inflows and notable economic effects, particularly in the aftermath of the economic crisis during the 2020-2022 period.
Remittances have gained growing importance as a crucial source of external financing, providing a significant boost to domestic economic growth, shaping development policies, and addressing gender issues.
In a notable contribution to the economy, workers’ remittances have nearly reached the $4 billion mark within the first seven months of 2024, according to the latest data from the Central Bank.
From January to July 2024, cumulative remittance inflows have reached an impressive $3.71 billion, representing a 10.3% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
This growth underscores the resilience and continued financial support from overseas workers. In July alone, remittances amounted to $566.8 million, showing a steady rise from $519.6 million in June 2024.
This figure also marks a Year-on-Year (YoY) increase, surpassing the $540.965 million received in July 2023.
The upward trend in remittances is a positive development for the economy, providing essential foreign currency inflows that help alleviate pressure on the exchange rate and bolster national reserves.
In the first three months of 2024, approximately 75,000 Sri Lankan workers have emigrated, as reported by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
The SLBFE noted that 74,499 Sri Lankans left the country in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 76,025 during the same period in 2023. Among these migrants, 34,599 were women, accounting for 46% of the total number.
A significant number of Sri Lankans have reportedly emigrated to Kuwait, totaling 17,793 individuals.
Additionally, the SLBFE reported that compared to previous years, there is now a growing trend of Sri Lankans seeking employment in countries such as South Korea, Israel, and Japan. Specifically, 2,374 Sri Lankans migrated to South Korea, 2,114 to Israel, 1,899 to Romania, and 1,947 to Japan in the first quarter of 2024.
Moreover, in just the first two months of 2024, remittances from Sri Lankan migrant workers were recorded at $963.8 million, according to the SLBFE. The number of Sri Lankans who went abroad for work in the first three months of 2023 was 76,025.
August 13, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has confirmed that 32 candidates have made their security deposits for the upcoming presidential election. The remaining candidates face a fast-approaching deadline, with the cutoff time for depositing their security money set for 12 noon tomorrow.
Chairman of the Election Commission, R.M.A.L. Ratnayake, announced that nominations will officially be accepted on Thursday. A specific timeframe from 9 am to 11:30 am has been allocated for raising any objections to the nominations.
After the objection period, independent candidates and those from various political parties will be assigned their symbols. Ratnayake also mentioned that within five days, candidates and their authorized representatives must engage in preliminary activities, including setting campaign expenditure limits as part of the regulatory acts.
With the security deposit process still ongoing, Ratnayake urged any candidates who have yet to complete this step to do so before the deadline on the 14th of this month at 12 noon.
Sri Lanka’s current recovery is due to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s political experience and his strategic international relationships, said Sagala Rathnayaka, Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor on National Security to the President in a recent gathering held in Homagama. Rathnayaka highlighted the importance of having a well-defined plan in addition to political experience and international relations to achieve recovery.
The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) led by MP Mano Ganesan has signed the 7 chapter 48 clause document, which represents the hill country Tamil Sri Lankan community’s aspirations to be a fully integrated part of the political, administrative, economic and social mainstream of Sri Lanka.
MP Wimal Weerawansa has filed a case against two officers of the Immigration and Emigration Department before the Colombo District Court seeking Rs. 1,000 million as compensation for alleged defamation. The former minister says he was arrested under the Immigration and Emigration Act for no reason during the previous ‘Yahapalana’ (good governance) government and a case was filed before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court, and that this had harmed his reputation.
The Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana has endorsed the certificate on the Bill titled “Economic Transformation Bill” recently, the Parliamentary Communications Department said. The Bill with the objective of providing provisions for National Policy on Economic Transformation, was presented to Parliament on the 22 May 2024.
Former Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya says several proxy candidates are contesting the upcoming Presidential Elections. He said it was obvious that several of the independent candidates were linked to one main candidate and were posing as proxies to secure votes in the elections.
The Wages Board has decided to provide the Rs. 1,700 daily minimum wage for plantation workers. The relevant decision has been passed in the Wages Board, with a majority of 14 votes from the plantation companies in favour of increasing the daily minimum wage.
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has issued a stern warning against the misuse of public resources during the upcoming presidential election. Nadeeshani Perera, Executive Director of TISL, emphasized the critical role of public officials as stewards and trustees of public resources, which belong to all citizens.
The placing of cash deposits by candidates to contest the Presidential Election 2024 will end at 12 noon tomorrow, Wednesday, August 14, Election Commission (EC) Chairman R. M.A.L. Rathnayake said. Nominations will be accepted from candidates on Thursday, August 15, from 9.00 am to 11.30 am and the Presidential Election is scheduled to be held on September 21.
Cricketer M S Dhoni-backed drone technology firm Garuda Aerospace on Monday announced its entry in the Sri Lankan market where it will primarily target agricultural sector to enhance farming practices, besides exploring opportunities in homeland security and industrial applications.
Sri Lanka’s national cricket team has encountered a visa delay just 9 days before their test series against England, with key batsman Kamindu Mendis still awaiting his visa.
