From the farm to the world
However, with time, people start realising the value of consuming chemical-free fruits and vegetables, thereby generating a niche market in the world. How did Saaraketha Organics begin? Today, Saaraketha Organics offers over 200 varieties of organically produced products to multiple destinations around the world. However, we are trying our best to bring down prices as the demand is rising for organic products”. According to her, Saaraketha Organics supplies to local supermarkets and other e-commerce businesses.
Source:The Nation
July 18, 2021 06:33 UTC
Sri Lanka’s rubber industry has excellent potential for exponential growth
Therefore, to get an in-depth analysis of the rubber industry, The Sunday Morning Business took the initiative to investigate the market. Commenting with regards to this subject, the Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Industry (SLAMERP) Director General Rohan Masakorala stated that the rubber industry is picking up after being adversely affected by Covid-19 last year. Masakorala said that another concern the rubber industry is facing right now is the failure to implement the nine-year Rubber Industry Master Plan that was proposed to commence from 2017 with an aim of improving Sri Lanka’s rubber industry. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the Rubber Industry Master Plan 2017-2026 was signed between the Ministry of Plantation Industries and the Sri Lanka Society of Rubber Industry on 12 September with an aim to make Sri Lanka’s existing $ 1 billion rubber industry a $ 3 billion industry before 2026. ConclusionThe rubber industry in Sri Lanka has excellent potential for exponential growth if the right direction is shown by the authorities for businesses to perform.
Source:The Nation
July 18, 2021 06:22 UTC
Prez approves Duminda’s appointment as Housing Development Authority Chair
Now pardoned death row convict and former MP Duminda Silva has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Housing Development Authority. After his release, Silva had met with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Colombo High Court gave Silva the death sentence in 2016, over the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. President Rajapaksa’s recent granting of a pardon to Silva led to an avalanche of criticism from the family of slain former MP Premachandra, the Parliamentary Opposition, the legal community, and foreign nations. Meanwhile, Former Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra told The Morning earlier that she fears for the safety of those around her, following the release of Silva.
Source:The Nation
July 18, 2021 06:22 UTC
When it’s open season on a corporate
There’s a potent form of digital risk that Sri Lankan businesses are far from ready to challenge – cyber bullying. As internet usage grows, so does the consumption of social media; Sri Lanka is perhaps late to the party in truly grasping and reaping the power of social media, both for good and bad. Enter social media, and businesses are forced to relinquish that control to a great degree. The power of social media in calling out corporate behaviour becomes problematic when such attacks are driven by mischief, well organised, and are unfairly targeted at an entity with the intention to harm and to provoke outrage from others. The court of public opinion, especially on some social media platforms, is a strangely distorted one.
Source:The Nation
July 18, 2021 06:11 UTC
Whitewashing undisclosed assets: Yay or nay?
“The Government’s proposal to encourage people to invest and to disclose their undisclosed assets and income while requiring them to pay a 1% of value as tax is a good thing on the surface. At a glance, however, it is a good thing to give people the opportunity to disclose their hidden assets into the system. This can be an opportunity for one to launder black money. So, in a way this will be neutralising the illegality and legitimising black money some people may have in a more legal manner,” Dr. Senarath stated. “They’re basically asking those who are having black money to use this chance for them to put their money to the market and it will not be investigated.
Source:The Nation
July 18, 2021 06:11 UTC
We stand by our PCR test results: Nawaloka Hospitals
In response to the Chinese Embassy’s decision to suspend the use of the services of Nawaloka Hospitals as their designated hospital for the conduct of PCR and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody tests, Nawaloka Hospitals has stated that it stands by its PCR test results, released after fully authenticating each sample. This comes after the Embassy noted that several passengers from Sri Lanka holding negative PCR and IgM antibody test reports issued by the Nawaloka Hospital were diagnosed as Covid-19 patients after they entered China. According to the Hospital, during such a time period, either a PCR or IgM Antibody test would yield a negative result. “Nawaloka Hospitals wishes to highlight that a common occurrence world-wide, is the fact that a PCR test can show up as being negative, when the virus is in an incubation period. Identical results were shown among many foreign travelers arriving in Sri Lanka, who on arrival tested positive even though the pre-departure PCR test showed a negative result,” it clarified.
Source:The Nation
July 18, 2021 05:26 UTC
Brother-in-law of Ran Malli arrested with buried cash
A male identified as the brother-in-law of the underworld figure ‘Ran Malli’ has been arrested in Pannipitya with a large stock of cash. Reportedly, cash amounting to over Rs 13.9 million had been found buried inside a house in the area. Underworld figure ‘Ran Malli’ is currently residing in Dubai evading arrest.
Source:The Nation
July 18, 2021 05:26 UTC
Sunday Chess Column: Ranindu’s ‘nightmare ending’ in the World Cup
He was playing against one of the best players of the world (Oparin is ranked 24th in the world in the Rapid format). Grigoriy Oparin – Ranindu Liyanage Ranindu played 71…Rf7! In chess literature, there persists the notion that “Rook and Bishop versus Rook” is an easy draw for the defending side. In fact, for decades this has truly been the nightmare endgame of chess. With the help of endgame tablebases, let’s go through the key moments in Ranindu’s game after 71…Rf7 72.Ke5 Rc7.
Source:The Nation
July 18, 2021 05:15 UTC
Govt. turns to IMF
The IMF issues SDR allocations to the central banks of its member countries and member states could exchange it for hard currency with another central bank. If the member states cannot exchange the money, the IMF has the power to declare which state should accept the SDR allocation. As per the reports, so far, the IMF has allocated SDR 204.2 billion, which is roughly equivalent to $ 285 billion. Wijewardena explained further the receiving of $ 800 million SDR allocation from the IMF. He said the US is yet to reach an agreement with the IMF to purchase the new SDRs issued by the IMF to its member states.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 23:03 UTC
TUs form broad coalition
By Yoshitha PereraMultiple trade unions across the country have formed a broad coalition and various trade union action is in place against certain administrative decisions as well as the Government’s alleged move to use quarantine regulations to ban protests. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) politburo member Wasantha Samarasinghe said the present Government is suppressing trade unions and other civil activists under the pretext of enforcing quarantine-related laws, regulations, and guidelines. TUs join handsAfter the Government’s alleged move to suppress widespread criticism by trade unions and civil society activists by using pandemic regulations, several trade unions joined hands to raise their voices against the Government’s arbitrary decisions. He said: “The alliance is connected with a number of trade unions representing all government, semi-government, and private sectors. The IGP, Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, the DGHS, and the Attorney General have been named as respondents in the petition.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 22:52 UTC
TU action puts education on hold
By Sarah HannanWith education trade unions boycotting online lesson deliveries to students since last Monday (12), it is learnt that about 95% of the student population in Sri Lanka has lost access to education. “Until the Ministry of Education addresses the issues that we have pointed out, we will continue our trade union action. We will continue this trade union action to ensure that the future of this country’s education, the future of the teachers, and equal access to education is established,” Paranawithana explained. Meanwhile, the Graded Principals Association Chairman Nimal Mudunkotuwa reiterated that 42 education trade unions will continue to follow trade union action even after schools commence in August until the Ministry of Education addresses the issues that have been highlighted. Meanwhile, on Friday (16), all education trade union leaders and activists that were held in quarantine since the previous week were released after their PCR test results returned negative for Covid-19.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 22:52 UTC
Flood mitigation programme in Colombo
Flood warnings in Colombo have been a mainstay during heavy rainfall, with its frequency only increasing each year. According to Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) data, Colombo has a total of 42 flood-prone areas. This is to be done when the water quality of the Colombo North canal system is declining. This will also aid in the pumping of water from the Kelani River to uphold the quality of the Colombo North canal system. The total cost of the St. Sebastian’s North Canal Project is Rs.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 22:52 UTC
Joint campaign to boost tourism
By Uwin LugodaFollowing the challenges presented by the third wave of Covid-19, Sri Lanka Tourism and SriLankan Airlines have announced a new initiative to appeal to the country’s biggest tourism markets. This new campaign is now garnering support from the tourism industry stakeholders who also play a key role in its process. “We are doing this campaign with Sri Lanka Tourism and its stakeholders. He inquired whether this new campaign would also extend to the hoteliers and national tourism sites, in order to attract more tourists from the key markets. Therefore, we will also give a 50% discount to these tourists.”He stated that this is a short-term campaign to popularise Sri Lanka as a potential tourism destination among these key markets.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 22:52 UTC
Health concerns or suppressing dissent?
Many trade union activists claimed that the crackdown on dissent under the current administration has seen an increase and that anti-Covid-19 laws are being used to pressure, assault, threaten, and carry out arbitrary arrests of these trade union and civil society activists. Even in the last incident, the Police must have definitely consulted the public health inspectors (PHIs) and relevant medical officers of health (MOHs).”While stating that the people have a right to protest, Maj. Gen. Alwis said that if people are violating health regulations, the Police have to take action according to the recent health guidelines. “If there was a letter issued by the health authorities, the Police have to produce it before courts. It was also mentioned that the rights under Article 14(1) may be restricted by law in the interests of public health. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, senior lawyer Upul Kumarapperuma also raised concerns and said that quarantine regulations could not be used to crack down on dissent.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 22:41 UTC
Most sections of PTA will be relaxed: Dinesh Gunawardena
So why shouldn’t Sri Lanka recognise the progress of one of its friends and get into possible agreements for economic progress? We do not think this is going to be any new problem for Sri Lanka. Since then, so many organisations have raised issues and objected to us, which has created various one-sided figures. Sri Lanka has been acting very independently and we have even supported some of the candidatures of countries which did not support Sri Lanka at the Geneva sessions. Sri Lanka has a good relationship with the UK and we maintain that at a very high level.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 21:45 UTC