July 10, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s new capacity to produce fortified rice kernels marks a significant advancement in combating malnutrition and food insecurity. 

This collaborative effort between the government, international organizations, and private sector partners underscores a shared commitment to improving the nation’s nutritional status, particularly for its children, through innovative and sustainable food fortification practices.

The Government has announced the capacity to produce fortified rice kernels enriched with folic acid and iron.

 This achievement, realized through an extrusion process, aims to address the heightened food insecurity and malnutrition following the recent economic crisis. President’s Chief of Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka, emphasized the government’s commitment to this initiative, especially through the National Free School Meal Program.

The transfer of extrusion technology was a priority for the Presidential Secretariat, facilitated by the World Food Program (WFP), PATH, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Akshata, and Connect To Care. 

This collaboration was celebrated with a workshop at the Galle Face Hotel, organized by the Presidential Secretariat Support Unit, Connect to Care, and PATH. The event gathered key stakeholders from various sectors to discuss the benefits of food fortification and the potential for further technological collaboration.

In his keynote speech, Ratnayaka highlighted the government’s vision and support for food fortification initiatives. He acknowledged the Gates Foundation’s role in the Rice Fortification Project as a significant step towards improving children’s health and well-being. Ratnayaka expressed gratitude for the partnership with WFP, PATH, and Connect to Care in making this vision a reality.

Roshan Perera, Managing Director of Grains n Green, expressed pride in becoming Sri Lanka’s first fortified rice kernel producer. Perera emphasized the project’s long-term positive impact on the population’s nutritional status, particularly for children. Grains n Green, in partnership with Akshata and the Gates Foundation, is spearheading this initiative, which will greatly benefit the National School Meal Program by ensuring children receive essential nutrients for their growth and development.

The Free National School Meal Program, a critical component of this initiative, provides nutritious meals to children in grades 1 to 5 at selected schools. This program currently reaches over one million children across the country, supported by the Education Ministry and the WFP. The inclusion of fortified kernels in the program will enhance nutrition and reduce reliance on imported fortified rice kernels from India.

The workshop featured prominent attendees, including the President’s Chief of Staff, government ministry representatives, the Gates Foundation, WFP, PATH, donor agencies such as Save the Children, USAID, UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, and FAO, as well as private sector individuals. Panel discussions and breakout sessions focused on the progress, gaps, and unmet needs in food fortification. Specific topics included quality assurance, storage, transport systems, and expanding fortification programs to other social protection initiatives and broader markets.

July 10, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is currently in the process of amending its Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Act to accommodate the Starlink satellite system, launched by Elon Musk, the billionaire behind SpaceX and Tesla. 

The island nation has preliminarily approved Starlink to offer satellite-based internet services following a formal public consultation. This decision followed a meeting between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Musk during the 10th World Water Forum in Indonesia two months ago.

However, Sri Lanka’s current TRC law does not include provisions for granting licenses to third parties to operate telecommunications services.

 The proposed amendment, set to be presented in parliament today on Tuesday (09), will introduce new licenses: infrastructure service, telecommunications service, and cable landing station licenses, according to State Technology Minister Kanaka Herath.

“Starlink falls under the telecommunications service license,” Herath informed reporters at a media briefing in Colombo on Monday (08).

 He also addressed concerns by the Attorney General’s Department by removing certain clauses from the amendment. “There were four requests from the AG Department. We have addressed all of them, and the amendment has passed through the parliament oversight committee stage,” Herath explained, responding to national security concerns.

Last month, the State Minister announced that Sri Lanka would collaborate with Starlink to provide internet via satellite technology, marking a significant advancement in the technology sector with high-speed internet access.

Starlink, part of Elon Musk’s SpaceX group, operates a low earth orbit satellite network connecting approximately 3 million people with high-speed internet across nearly 100 countries, territories, and markets.

The new legislation will provide provisions to introduce a mechanism to provide telecommunication frequencies under a competitive system. 

Accordingly, the relevant regulations should be compiled by the Parliament and thus the opportunity to introduce the new technology to the telecommunications sector of the country as well as it will be possible to properly regulate the institutions that are involved in the business, the officials pointed out.

It was also disclosed that in addition to the existing telecommunication system licences and frequency licences, 3 other types of licences will be introduced. 

Accordingly, it will provide provisions to issue licences to companies that provide infrastructure, in addition to the companies that provide telecommunication services. The officials also stated that the powers of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission will be strengthened through these amendments.

Furthermore, the officials also pointed out that through these amendments, there is an opportunity to give the customer the advantage of reducing tariffs in the market competition. It was also discussed that provisions that have been provided in the legislature to ensure security of undersea telecommunication cables.

July 10, Colombo (LNW): The consecration ceremony of the Sita Amman Kovil in Nuwara Eliya was held last Saturday (06). According to the Ramayana, a revered text among Indian and Lovasi Hindu devotees, Hanuman met Sita at this kovil’s location in Sita Eliya, brought there by King Ravana 7,600 years ago.

Following the Kumbhabhishek festival held on May 19th at the Nuwara Eliya Sita Amman Kovil, which is believed to be around 150 years old, the final grand puja, or Mangalabhishek festival, of the 47-day pujas took place on Saturday (06).

During the ceremony, a special stone pillar from the Rama kovil in Ayodhya, India (the birthplace of Lord Rama), and a stone plaque from Janakpur, Nepal (the birthplace of Goddess Sita), were installed in the kovil. A procession carrying offerings and statues of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman toured the streets of Nuwara Eliya before visiting the Sita Amman Kovil.

The third Kumbhabhishek festival of the Kumbhabhishek Mahotsava, which occurs once every eight years, was celebrated on May 19th with nearly two thousand Hindu devotees from various countries, including India and Nepal, in attendance. Member of Parliament V. Radhakrishnan was among those present at the festival.

1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he has done everything that needs to be done for the country and whether he should continue that journey, should be decided by the public. The President said that the people will have to decide whether the future of the country will be protected or not, when the Election Commission designates a date for the Presidential election in September or October.
2. Non-executive government employees, who reported for duty on July 8 and 9, 2024, will be granted a special salary increment as a token of appreciation for their dedication during a challenging economic period. This increment was approved by the Cabinet following President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal.
3. The Secretary of the Ministry of Transport Ranjith Rubasinghe emphasizes that since public transport including railway services have been declared as essential services, the strike to be launched by the Station Masters’ Union is illegal. Furthermore, he stated that strict disciplinary action will be taken against those are not reporting for duty.
4. Sri Lanka will wrap up talks with international bondholders on its restructuring process in a few weeks, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said on Tuesday, a major step for the island nation to emerge from its worst financial crisis in decades. Sri Lanka will also seek to balance its ties with giant neighbour India and China to ensure that there is no difference in dealing with the two, he said, s athe rival Asian giants are key creditors and investors but are also jostling for geopolitical influence in the small Indian Ocean country.
5. The acceptance of online applications for the 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination has been extended further. The deadline for the submission of applications for the 2024 G.C.E A/L examination for both school and private applicants was scheduled for 10th. However, the Department of Examination stated that due to unavoidable circumstances, the deadline has been extended until July 12.
6. The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered to investigate into the loss of investments made by the depositors of ‘OnmaxDT’, which is believed to have been operating a pyramid scheme, and for a detailed report to be submitted to the court on August 07.
7. Police have arrested seven suspects including the owner of the tattoo studio in Athurugiriya where the shooting incident took place yesterday resulting in the deaths of Surendra Wasantha Perera alias ‘Club Wasantha’ and another person and four others were injured. The other arrested individuals are suspected to have aided and abetted in the shooting incident, police said.
8. The Sri Lanka Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament with amendments
9. The Western Province Passenger Transport Authority has decided to reduce the fare of three -wheelers running in the Western Province from July 15. Accordingly, a fare of Rs.100 charged for the first kilometer will remain unchanged, while the fare Rs.100 charged from the second kilometer will be reduced to Rs.90,” Western Province Passenger Transport Authority Chairman Prasanna Sanjeeva said.
10. Kathiravelu Sanmugam Kuhadasan took oath as a Member of Parliament in the presence of the speaker. He took oath to fill the parliamentary seat left vacant following the demise of R. Sampanthan.

July 10, Colombo (LNW): The Government has decided to extend the lease agreements of plantation companies that pay a daily wage of Rs. 1,700 to plantation workers and to cancel the lease agreements of those that fail to meet this wage requirement.

In addition, the government will gazette non-estate areas where workers have built line rooms, houses, or huts, converting them into settlements. This proposal was presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and approved by the Cabinet during a meeting held yesterday (09), according to Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara.

Minister Nanayakkara addressed estate workers who were protesting in front of the Labour Department, demanding wage increases. The workers dispersed after the Minister’s announcement.

Previously, President Wickremesinghe had proposed to the Cabinet to increase the daily wages of plantation workers. Although the Administrative Council discussed the matter, no solution was reached. Minister Nanayakkara used his powers to issue an announcement mandating wage increases for estate workers.

The order required plantation companies to raise the daily wage from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,350, with the remaining Rs. 350 to be paid based on productivity. A committee was appointed on the President’s advice to oversee the extension of lease agreements for companies that comply and the cancellation of agreements for those that do not.

Minister Nanayakkara confirmed that the Cabinet has decided to cancel the lease agreements of companies that fail to pay the required wages. Legal advice has been obtained, and further steps are being taken to enforce these decisions.

“These activities will commence today. We aim to implement measures beyond the gazette notification. Necessary steps are being taken to ensure proper payment to plantation workers. Several estate companies have already agreed to pay the increased wages, with Rs. 1,000 being paid this month and the remaining Rs. 350 based on productivity,” said the Minister.

July 10, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, has started a tradition of recognizing and felicitating long-serving Sri Lankan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. At a recent event hosted by the Riyadh Embassy, Chandralal Senadhira, a Senior Manager at Saudi Almarai multinational dairy company who has served for over 30 years and is now leaving Saudi Arabia for good, was honored with a memento presented by the Ambassador.

Ambassador Ajwad highlighted the vital role Sri Lankan migrant workers play in strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia. He emphasized their significant contributions to the host country’s development and the Sri Lankan economy through remittances.

The Embassy has introduced this tradition to acknowledge the positive impact these workers have on the relationship between the two nations. The Ambassador also expressed his sincere appreciation to the management of Saudi Almarai Company, which employs over 7,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers, for their trust and confidence in Sri Lankan manpower.

The event was attended by Minister Counsellor for Consular Affairs of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh, Dulmith Waruna, outgoing Counsellor for Employment and Labour Welfare, H. W. Samantha, the newly appointed Counsellor for Employment and Labour Welfare, Mangala Randeniya, as well as Khaledl Rahman, Senior Manager, and other senior officials of Saudi Almarai Company.

July 10, Colombo (LNW): The Welfare Benefits Board has announced that the second phase of the “Aswesuma” welfare benefit programme, initiated under the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, will conduct its information census from July 15 to 30.

Following the first phase, which saw over 1.8 million people qualify, an additional 450,924 applications have been received for the second phase. The process of identifying eligible individuals for welfare payments is expected to be completed within this month.

In the first phase, a total of 1,854,000 individuals qualified for the “Aswesuma” programme, with the government allocating Rs. 58.5 billion. The Welfare Benefits Board has allowed those who missed or could not apply during the first stage to reapply.

The “Aswesuma” welfare benefits will be distributed across four social categories: transitional, vulnerable, poor, and extremely poor. In addition, allowances for the disabled, elderly, and kidney patients will continue as usual. To improve the efficiency of field data collection, the Welfare Benefits Board has introduced a new mobile app with features for taking photos, geo-mapping, and voice recording.

The mobile app will be piloted in the Colombo Divisional Secretariat Division, where the collection of information will be implemented first.

July 10, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Tea Research Institute has projected an income of US$ 1.5 billion from tea exports this year. Over the past two years, the country’s tea industry has earned between US$ 1 to 1.2 billion in foreign exchange.

Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera conducted a review meeting on the progress of St. Coombs Tea Factory and the Sri Lanka Tea Research Institute in Talawakelle last Sunday (7).

The ban on chemical fertilizers in 2021 negatively impacted tea cultivation, reducing fertilizer application in 2022 and 2023, which led to a decrease in yield. However, this year, two government-owned fertilizer companies have begun providing fertilizer at concessional prices. These companies now offer three types of tea fertilizers, valued at around Rs. 14,000 in the market, at prices ranging from Rs. 5,500 to Rs. 7,500 per 50 kg bundle, with Rs. 1,200 million allocated by the Sri Lanka Tea Board for this subsidy.

The fertilizer application is being implemented in three stages. In the first phase, 30,000 metric tons of tea fertilizer are to be distributed, with 10,000 metric tons already distributed. Officials indicated that with the application of fertilizer and the planting of saplings in vacant areas, a significant increase in tea yield is expected next year.

This year, the income from tea exports has reached US$ 1.5 billion, with Sri Lankan tea being exported to 150 countries, and 20 of them purchasing in large quantities. Minister Amaraweera emphasized that the current land under tea cultivation is sufficient and no new land will be allocated for tea cultivation. Instead, the focus will be on increasing value-added tea products by applying fertilizers, planting saplings, introducing high-density cultivation systems, and enhancing tea-related products.

The Talawakele Tea Research Institute has introduced 70 new tea varieties, which are in high demand internationally. The progress review meeting was attended by officials from the Tea Research Institute, Agrarian Development Commissioner General A. M. H. L. Abeyratne, and others.