Category: News

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 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 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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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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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 (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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Farmers to switch from hunger strike to fast unto death BY Buddhika Samaraweera (The Morning) Promising stricter protest action, including a fast-unto-death action, the hunger strike launched by farmers belonging to 41 farmers organisations in the Elahera area in Polonnaruwa, demanding the immediate supply of chemical fertiliser and agrochemicals such as pesticides and herbicides required for the Maha cultivation season, was ended yesterday (2). The farmers commenced the hunger strike near the Bakamuna town on the Mahiyanganaya-Dambulla Main Road on 24 October, and it marked the 10th day yesterday. A…

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Only Parliament has the power to enact laws Only Parliament has the power to enact laws for One Law One Country Only Parliament has the power to enact laws pertaining to ‘One Country One Law’ and not Presidential Task Forces, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said today. Wijewardene who was speaking during a special program held at the UNP headquarters Sirikotha said the responsibility of implementing the ‘One Country One Law’ concept did not lie with a Presidential Taskforce.   “President went on to establish a Taskforce for One Country…

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UNP trade union denounces party stand on selling national assets Extends hand to Wimal, Udaya, Dayasiri to shut down country in protest By Rathindra Kuruwita (The Island) Trade unions would shut down the country unless the government heeded their call for stopping the sale of national assets to foreign countries, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS) Convenor Ananda Palitha told the media in Colombo. Palitha said that on 26 October at the JSS headquarters he had asked UNP Assistant Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam for the party’s support for…

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Media speculates Justice Minister Ali Sabri will announce his resignation soon? Several media reports confirm that Justice Minister Ali Sabri is deeply concerned about the Presidential Task Force on ‘One Country, One Law’, newly appointed by the President.It is revealed that the reason for this is that the appointment of Gnanasara Thera as the Chairman of the Task Force. The appointment has given Gnanasara Thera the ability to interfere in all the activities of the Ministry of Justice. Gotabaya Rajapaksa responded strongly to the government’s internal opposition to the appointment,…

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