Month: November 2021

First week of November records over 9,500 tourists

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First week of November records over 9,500 tourists (Daily FT: 9th November) Tourism Minister overwhelmed by rebound in arrivals Industry opines if the trend continues, path to recovery will be quicker Over 70,000 tourists have come since reopening of borders in late Jan.  A record of 9,545 tourists have arrived in the country within the first week of November, reinforcing the industry’s optimism for the winter season.As per provisional data, from 1-7 November, a total of 3,107 tourists from India arrived, becoming the top source market, followed by 774 from…

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Teachers, health workers Strike action today

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Teachers, health workers in Sri Lanka promise TU action on Nov 9 over salary issues   (ECONOMYNEXT)  School teachers and health sector workers in Sri Lanka are to engage in trade union activity on Tuesday (09) over salary anomalies and other issues. Declaring a national day of protests, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) general secretary Joseph Stalin told reporters on Monday (08) that school teachers and principals affiliated with the union will hold protests outside all zonal education offices around the island. The union is demanding a speedy solution to a…

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Fertiliser crisis: Government to meet Chinese diplomats

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Fertiliser crisis: Government to meet Chinese diplomats Vessel carrying controversial Chinese organic fertiliser nears Colombo Authorities reject request for third test of organic fertiliser samples  Adequate nano fertiliser ordered for Maha season: Agriculture Minister By Asiri Fernando (The Sunday Morning) Chinese diplomats will meet officials of the Agriculture Ministry tomorrow (8) to discuss the rejection of a stock of Chinese organic fertiliser bound for Sri Lanka, The Sunday Morning learnt. Responding to a query, Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage said he intends to explain to them why the consignment was rejected following…

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Food industry fears looming crisis

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Food industry fears looming crisis Food industry fears looming crisis amidst supply-demand imbalances (By Charumini de Silva Daily FT) Says curtailment of 25% of supplies will lead to economic crisis Companies forced to discontinue production lines, lay off employees, cut salaries and allowances Warns of closure of factories and businesses if no solution given Consumer purchasing power waning as staple food prices have soared; people now opting for cheaper alternatives  Disgruntled consumers allege Govt. protecting traders as majority of MPs are businessmen Asserts no hope from Budget 2022; fears extra…

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Coconut products exporters to tap EU via plant fair in Germany

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Coconut products exporters to tap EU via plant fair in Germany The coconut products sector aims to explore prospects for exports to Europe via the International Plant Messe (IPM) Essen in Germany early next year. The Coconut Development Authority (CDA) will facilitate the participation of Sri Lanka’s coconut-based exporters or manufacturers at the popular trade fair, which will be held from 25-28 January. Following a one-year break from physical participation at trade fairs, the CDA has decided to take part in IPM Essen, one of the world’s leading horticultural trade…

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Constitution-making should be open, public and transparent

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Constitution-making should be open, public and transparent Sri Lanka’s national unity requires the recognition of pluralism within a framework of democratic constitution and a Bill of Rights A group of leading academics, professionals, human rights activists have issued a joint statement urging the government to ensure that a strong degree of accountability and transparency is maintained in the ongoing constitutional reform process. Following is the full text of the statement; “ We, the undersigned, issue this public statement to urge the Government to adopt a transparent and consultative approach to…

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India comes to Lanka’s rescue as farmers’ protests intensify

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India comes to Lanka’s rescue as farmers’ protests intensify China carbonic fertiliser matter not resolved yet (By Shamindra Ferdinando- The Island 5th Nov2021) India has come to the rescue of Sri Lanka by airlifting 100,000 kg of liquid nano nitrogen for urgent distribution among farmers protesting against the government’s failure to provide required fertilizer and agro-chemicals. Two Indian Air Force Globemasters arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in perhaps one of the largest if not the biggest single airlift carried out by a foreign air force here. The Sri…

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Beware: The third readymade Constitution is coming

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Beware: The third readymade Constitution is coming (Basil Fernando – The Morning 4th Nov) Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has announced that the drafting process of the Constitution is over and that now, the text is ready. He further said that it is expected that in January next year, it would be presented to the Parliament. President Gotabaya Rajpaksa also, in a televised speech, referred to the Constitution being made within the course of next year.  This should be alarming news for all citizens who are concerned about their…

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Govt., WB sign $ 500 m financing deal

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Govt., WB sign $ 500 m financing deal (Daily FT 4th Nov) Govt., WB sign $ 500 m financing for climate-resilient transport connectivity, agricultural supply chains (World Bank Vice President for South Asia Hartwig Schafer (right) and Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle sign the agreement as Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa looks on) The Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank (WB) have signed a $ 500 million financing agreement to provide safe, efficient and climate resilient connectivity to strengthen agricultural supply chains through the Inclusive Connectivity and Development Project.  This…

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Farmers’ agitation weighs heavily with Govt

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Farmers’ agitation weighs heavily with Govt (Kelum Bandara Daily Mirror 4th November) Total reversion to chemical farming is now unlikely Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has sensed the gravity of the problem in the agriculture sector The prime minister said the farmers’ protest, like that of the school teachers, would not have snowballed to such an extent had the party engaged them politically Public uprisings, coupled with internal squabbling, have sent the government reeling Still, there is a vague idea within the government about the extent of cultivation undertaken this time…

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