August 14, Colombo (LNW): High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Malaysia, Air Chief Marshal (Rtd.) Sumangala Dias, recently held a meeting with the Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA) of Malaysia at the Sri Lankan High Commission. This meeting marks an important step in enhancing collaboration and networking between Sri Lankan businesses and Malaysian entrepreneurs.

SAMENTA, a key organization established in 1986, represents the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia, which constitute 98.5 percent of all Malaysian enterprises. Given the vital role SMEs play in Malaysia’s economic growth and development, fostering international partnerships with Sri Lankan entities is of significant importance.

National President of SAMENTA, William Ng, expressed enthusiasm for the growing presence of Sri Lankan businesses in Malaysia and reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to assisting these enterprises in increasing their market visibility.

During the meeting, High Commissioner Dias emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to address the trade imbalance between Sri Lanka and Malaysia. He stressed the need to boost Sri Lankan exports to Malaysia and to promote Sri Lanka as a key outbound tourism destination for Malaysians.

William Ng also extended an invitation to Sri Lankan chambers of commerce and entrepreneurs to participate in the upcoming Small and Medium Enterprise Forum, scheduled for October in Malaysia. This forum is expected to create significant opportunities for Sri Lankan SMEs and the export sector to penetrate the Malaysian market.

August 14, Colombo (LNW): The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a joint proposal by the Ministers of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, and Trade, Commerce, and Food Security to import 3,000 metric tonnes of raw ginger over the next three months. This decision aims to stabilize the retail price of ginger and make it more affordable for local consumers.

The announcement was made by Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana during the weekly Cabinet media briefing at the Government Information Department.

The proposal follows a Cabinet meeting held on July 15, where instructions were given to the relevant ministry secretaries to explore ways to reduce the retail price of ginger by boosting local production. The secretaries were directed to submit a report with recommendations on this matter.

Based on the recommendations in the submitted report, Cabinet approval was granted to proceed with the importation of raw ginger.

August 14, Colombo (LNW): In celebration of the 78th anniversary of India’s independence from Britain, the Government of India has gifted 20 cultural centres to the Sabaragamuwa Province in Sri Lanka. These centres, known as “India Corners,” will be established in the Kegalle and Ratnapura districts.

The initiative was undertaken at the request of Sabaragamuwa Province Governor Navin Dissanayake. The first “India Corner” was inaugurated at the Ratnapura Central Library on August 9, with Governor Dissanayake and Indian Assistant High Commissioner Dr. S. Athira in attendance.

The India Corners are designed to serve school and university students, scholars, language learners, and the general public. These centres will offer books on a variety of subjects, including Indian culture, and studies in Hindi and English languages. The Indian Government also plans to introduce e-library facilities to these India Corners in the future.

Following the inauguration, Dr. S. Athira visited the historic Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Devalaya in Ratnapura, where she invoked blessings.

August 14, Colombo (LNW): The Cabinet has approved a reduction in water tariffs, resulting in decreased rates for various sectors. Domestic users will see a 7% reduction in their water tariffs, government hospitals will benefit from a 4.5% reduction, and schools and religious places of worship will experience a 6.3% decrease.

Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, announced the decision during a media briefing at the Government Information Department. He stated that the tariff reduction aligns with the agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has been using the current water billing system since January 8, 2023. The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval on July 15, 2024, to implement a new charges policy and matrix to review these tariffs.

The decision to reduce water tariffs comes after the Ceylon Electricity Board lowered electricity charges on July 16, 2024, and in light of declining costs for fuel, chemicals, and interest. As a result, the Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Facilities Minister proposed the resolution to revise the water charges, which received Cabinet approval.

August 14, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere of the island during the evening or night. Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm are likely at some places.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in North-western province and in Ampara, Monaragala and Hambantota districts.

General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

August 13, Colombo (LNW): Chief of Staff to the President and Senior Advisor on National Security, Sagala Ratnayaka, has reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to nature conservation and sustainable development. Speaking at the recent launch of the “Sri Lanka 30×30 – Conservation and Prosperity: for Nature and People” initiative at Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo, Ratnayaka emphasized the nation’s dedication to ensuring a healthy planet for future generations through sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.

Ratnayaka highlighted the success of Sri Lanka’s internationally acclaimed mangrove restoration program and the government’s ongoing efforts to protect sensitive ecosystems. He stressed that the “Sri Lanka 30×30” program demonstrates the country’s commitment to supporting local communities while contributing to global conservation efforts. He also underscored the importance of cooperation and partnerships in protecting Sri Lanka’s unique ecosystems and achieving the ambitious goals of the initiative.

The “Sri Lanka 30×30” initiative, overseen by Sagala Ratnayaka and coordinated by the Presidential Secretariat Climate Change Office, is considered a top national priority. Key government departments, including the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, and the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, were instrumental in designing the projects that balance conservation with sustainable development.

The initiative aims to conserve Sri Lanka’s unique biodiversity while promoting sustainable economic prosperity. It represents a significant step towards the country’s commitment to sustainable development and green economic revival, with a projected investment of over USD 1.5 billion between 2025 and 2030.

The launch event brought together over 95 government entities, local and international non-governmental organizations, and corporate representatives, all unified in their support for the ambitious program. The “Sri Lanka 30×30” initiative aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which Sri Lanka adopted alongside 195 other countries in 2022 at the COP15 biodiversity conference. The GBF outlines 23 targets focused on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

As part of the “Sri Lanka 30×30” initiative, the government has identified nine national priority conservation programs. These include improving the protection and connectivity of wet zone ecosystems, halting forest loss in the dry zone, restoring degraded forest and mangrove habitats, and sustainably developing protected area tourism to fund conservation efforts. Other key goals include enhancing human-elephant coexistence, improving the health and productivity of river systems, strengthening marine ecosystem conservation, and promoting sustainable fishery management practices.

Sri Lanka’s rich natural capital presents immense potential for a green economic revival. By conserving its biodiversity and promoting sustainable resource management, the country aims to build a resilient economy that will benefit future generations.

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.