SRI LANKA NEWS
(OCTOBER 2024)
Compiled by Victor Melder
The value of Sri Lanka’s export of goods and services crossed the Rs. 10 billion mark in the first eight months of this year reflecting a near 6% growth year-on-year (YoY). The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) revealed yesterday that total merchandise exports in the first eight months were up 5.37% YoY to over $ 8.44 billion, while estimated total service sector earnings increased by 7.58% YoY to $ 2.24 billion. Thereby, the overall export earnings for the January to August period reached a high of $ 10.68 billion, marking a 5.82% YoY growth. In August merchandise export earnings reached a high of $ 1.16 billion in August, bringing the total value of goods shipped in the first eight months of 2024 to over $ 10 billion. Merchandise export earnings in August saw a 4.18% YoY increase reaching $ 1.16 billion, reflecting a 3.1% rise compared to July 2024. The surge in earnings was largely attributed to a boost in apparel and textiles exports which surpassed $ 500 million mark in August 2024 after a hiatus of two years. In addition to the merchandise, the estimated value of services exports for August 2024 stood at $ 318.77 million, marking a 6.49% increase over the corresponding period in 2023. The services exports include sectors such as ICT/BPM, construction, financial services, transport and logistics. Total exports for August 2024, including both merchandise and services, reached $ 1.48 billion, reflecting a 4.6% growth over the corresponding period of 2023. (Financial Times, 1.10.2024)
Tourist arrivals in September dipped to a four-month low confirming the serious impact the outsourcing of visa processing has had on the leisure industry. Sri Lanka welcomed over 122,000 tourists in September, as anticipated by industry experts though the figure fell short of the monthly target of 150,983 (https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Tourist-arrivals-fall-short-in-September-amid-visa-issuance-crisis/44-767396). The month saw a total of 122,140 arrivals, bringing the total for the first nine months of 2024 to 1.48 million. Despite a 9.11% year-on-year (YoY) growth, the rate of increase has slowed compared to earlier in the year. Moreover, September’s arrivals were still 18% lower than the benchmark year 2018, when 149,087 tourists visited the country. Arrivals in September was the lowest since 112,128 recorded in May. The average daily arrivals also dropped significantly from 5,310 in August to 4,071 in September, reflecting a continuing trend of missed monthly targets. So far in 2024, the shortfall has ranged between 8.4% and 23%, with September showing a 19% deficit. In September, India topped the arrivals with 27,887 tourists, followed by China with 9,078 and the UK with 8,688. India also remains the single largest source market year-to-date (YTD) with 286,556 tourists, while the UK stands at second place with 136,464 visitors and Russia at third position with 127,232 arrivals. As Sri Lanka targets 2.3 million tourist arrivals by the end of the year, the country must welcome an additional 815,192 visitors in the next three months, a challenging prospect amid the Government not being in a position to roll out the free-visa initiative for 35 nationals from this month. (Ceylon Today, 3.10.2024)
Sri Lanka has reported a staggering 239 elephant deaths within the last eight months owing to a plethora of reasons, Wildlife Department sources said. The deaths include 40 from gunshots, 31 from electrocution, 28 from ‘hakka patas’ (explosive devices hidden in food), 04 from poisoning, 05 from train accidents, 06 from a road accident, 11 by drowning, and 07 from other accidents. Further, the causes of other deaths are due to natural causes or causes that could not be identified. The majority of these deceased elephants are young, the sources added. On the other hand, this tragedy extends beyond wildlife, as the ongoing human-elephant conflict has claimed 57 human lives so far this year. According to Wildlife Department statistics, 2023 saw the deaths of 488 elephants due to various reasons, including human-elephant conflict, while 184 human fatalities were directly consequent to the conflict. Moreover, the sources told the Daily Mirror that the estimated wild elephant population, according to a 2011 survey, was 5,878. However, wildlife authorities now estimate the population ranges between 6,000 and 7,000, although this number is under threat with the current situation. Further, the Wildlife Department recently concluded a survey on the elephant population of which the final results are yet to be released. (Daily Mirror, 3.10.2024)
A family of four was reported living in a treehouse in the Mahawilachchiya Divisional Secretariat area of the Anuradhapura district, as they do not have a permanent home. They said they were struggling against various odds to survive and that the threat of wild elephants was a serious danger to them. The breadwinner of the family S.H. Susantha Kumara said his family did not have a fixed abode or a permanent income and that they were compelled to build a hut on a tree. “This is an area facing the threat of wild elephants. I built this hut on the tree as the last resort. We have a small kitchen at the foot of the tree, and we climb down the hut only to prepare our meals. Marauding herds often roam into the village at dusk, and we prepare our meals early and enter the hut to spend the night. My eldest son is 18 years old, and the youngest is five years old. My daughter is eleven years old. I earn a pittance as a manual worker to maintain my family,” he said. His wife said they had earlier lived in the Ratnapura area, and due to a dispute with relatives, they were compelled to shift. She said they were subject to discrimination from the people of this area. “A lady known to us got my elder son admitted to a technical institute about four days ago. My daughter is attending school. A gentleman of the area showed sympathy for us and allowed us to build a house on a block of land belonging to him. However, the villagers complained that it was within the tank reservation. However, the Mahawilachchiya Divisional Secretary intervened and granted us its legal possession. We laid the foundation to build a room on that land, but it has been stalled for lack of an income,” she said. She further said that their only request was to build at least two rooms for them on their land. (Daily Mirror, 4.10.2024)
There are between 15,000 and 30,000 street children in the country, according to the last study on the subject, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, Chairman of the Professional Forum of Physicians on Medical and Civil Rights, has said. Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, on Thursday, he said the majority of those children tended to gather near places of worship and large business areas .Dr. Sanjeewa expressed concern over the vulnerability of the street children, noting that they were often subjected to abuse and easily drawn into transporting narcotics. A significant number also ended up working as sex workers or beggars. He highlighted that many female child sex workers became underage mothers. (Daily Island, 4.10.2024)
The Sri Lankan government incurs an annual cost of Rs. 237 billion to address health problems linked to alcohol consumption, highlighting the significant social, economic, and health challenges posed by alcohol, according to the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC). Its Executive Director, Sampath De Seram, stated that global estimates suggest that alcohol consumption causes nearly 3 million premature deaths annually. Alarmingly, 8 out of 10 of these fatalities are preventable and linked to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In Sri Lanka, alcohol is a leading contributor to NCDs such as heart disease, cancer and respiratory illnesses. De Seram noted that alcohol consumption in Sri Lanka is responsible for the deaths of 50 individuals each day, translating to an annual toll of between 15,000 and 20,000 lives. In 2022, while the government generated Rs. 165 billion in revenue from alcohol taxes, the overall economic cost of alcohol consumption reached Rs. 237 billion, far surpassing the revenue generated. A report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) revealed that the financial and health costs associated with alcohol use continue to overshadow any potential revenue, raising concerns about the broader impact on the economy and public health.The alcohol industry continues to promote its products unethically and illegally, targeting all demographics, including children and youth—the future of the nation. By appealing to young people, these companies aim to encourage early drinking and attract new customers to offset losses from preventable deaths and a decline in overall alcohol consumption. (Daily Mirror, 4.10.2024)
Around 70 percent of annual cancer-related deaths occur in lower-middle-income countries, with breast cancer being one of the leading causes, according to Dr. Buddhini Denuwara, Senior Registrar in Community Medicine (Department of Nutrition) at the Ministry of Health said “Each year, we identify approximately 37,000 cancer patients in the country, which equates to an average of 103 new cases per day. Among these, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women, accounting for about 5,000 cases annually. Prevention should be a priority,” she said. Dr. Denuwara noted that the cancer incidence rate has increased significantly over the years. “In 2005, we recorded 18.4 cancer patients per 100,000 people. This number rose to 24.3 in 2014 and further increased to 34.9 in 2019.” She emphasised that the risk of breast cancer grows as women age, with the majority of cases being detected between the ages of 50 and 54. “Only about one-third of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women under 50 years old. Annually, breast cancer claims around 700 lives in Sri Lanka. We can reduce these deaths by improving early detection and increasing public understanding,” Dr. Denuwara added. “Women with a family history should follow screening guidelines closely and consider genetic testing. Several key genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, can increase the risk of breast cancer,” she explained. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are known as tumour suppressor genes, which play a crucial role in repairing DNA damage that can lead to cancer. Although everyone has these genes, certain mutations can impair their ability to prevent cancer, leading to a heightened risk. “A small percentage of the population, approximately one in 400 people, carry a mutation in one of these genes. Women with a BRCA1 mutation have a 55-65% chance of developing breast cancer before the age of 70, while those with a BRCA2 mutation have a 45% chance,” Dr. Gamage explained. She also pointed out the hormonal factors that may contribute to breast cancer risk. “Women who have been exposed to high levels of hormones over long periods, such as those who started menstruation early or experienced menopause later than average, are at greater risk.” Dr. Gamage noted that pregnancy can lower the risk of breast cancer as it halts the menstrual cycle for about 18 months, reducing exposure to hormonal fluctuations. “Other risk factors include ageing, obesity, unhealthy eating habits, smoking, and lack of exercise,” she added, stressing the importance of lifestyle changes in reducing the risk of developing breast cancer. The growing incidence of cancer, particularly breast cancer, underscores the need for greater public awareness, early screening, and preventive measures in Sri Lanka. (Sunday Island, 6.10.2024.
The plantation sector workers will receive their long-awaited revised daily minimum wage of Rs. 1,350 along with an additional allowance of Rs. 50 for each extra kilo of harvest from 10 October. The move follows recent negotiations between Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs), trade unions, and the Wages Board, culminating in an agreement with the Estate Sector Wage Control Council at the Labour Department. “As per the latest Gazette, RPCs must pay a basic wage of Rs. 1,350 effective 10 October,” industry sources informed the Daily FT. The Rs. 1,350 basic wage excludes contributions to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF), but with those added, workers’ total earnings will exceed Rs. 1,500 per day. The workers’ wages, typically calculated at the end of the month, are due to be paid on the 10th of the following month .The wage agreement reached on 10 September followed multiple rounds of disagreements between employers and trade unions, with workers advocating for better compensation. The new wage structure agreed upon by all stakeholders was seen as a critical step in improving the livelihoods of plantation workers, who have long campaigned for fair wages. “Under this productivity-based model, estate workers, including those in the tea and rubber sectors, can earn over Rs. 50 based on their output per day,” they explained. The revised wage system applies to workers in the tea and rubber industries, including those involved in tea growing, tea manufacturing, rubber cultivation, and raw rubber processing.
Under the current system, plantation workers receive a basic wage of Rs. 1,000 with an additional Rs. 40 per kilo after reaching the target of 20 kilos of tea leaves. (Daily Financial Times, 8.10.2024)
More than 134,400 people in twelve districts have been affected due to adverse weather conditions around the country, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said. Accordingly, people in Kalutara, Gampaha, Colombo, Kilinochchi, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Hambantota, Galle, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Kurunegala and Puttalam have been affected. A total of 6,963 persons from 1,753 families have been affected and sent to safe locations. However, three deaths and two injuries were reported due to natural disasters. Additionally, 240 houses have sustained partial damages, while one house has been completely destroyed as a result of the disaster. The latest situation report highlights that the Gampaha and Colombo districts have been the most severely affectected. In Gampaha, 80,529 persons from 20,067 families have been impacted, while in Colombo 40,231 individuals from 10,904 families have been affected. Daily Mirror, 14.10.2024)
The total strength of the Sri Lanka Army, which stood at approximately 230,000 at the end of the war, has now decreased to around 143,000, according to the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Major General Dinesh Nanayakkara, during a recent televised interview. He explained that during the final phase of the war, the Army recruited several intakes within a short period. “Now, a large number of those personnel are retiring after completing their service. Moreover, we have limited recruitment as we no longer require such large numbers of troops. However, we have not compromised national security. New recruits undergo significantly longer training periods, and we have invested more capital in technology,” he said. Major General Nanayakkara noted that out of the 143,000 troops, one-third are members of the Volunteer Corps. Meanwhile, Director of Sports, Brigadier Thushara Fernando, highlighted that the SLA has 41 committees dedicated to promoting various sports. Currently, 1,275 sportsmen are part of the Army. “Even Duncan White was an Army officer, holding the rank of lieutenant, and Susanthika Jayasinghe was also attached to the Army. These are examples of athletes at the highest level,” he said. Brigadier Fernando revealed that 1,184 sportsmen from the Army have competed in international tournaments, winning numerous medals and bringing pride to Sri Lanka. “The Army provides for the training, rest, and nutrition of these athletes. We have a sports village where they can rest, train scientifically, and receive proper nutrition,” he noted. Additionally, Brigadier Fernando announced plans to construct a biomechanics lab. “This will enable our coaches to study the body mechanics of our athletes in greater detail, with a focus on strength and conditioning, rate of force development, and neuromuscular performance. Currently, only the Sabaragamuwa University has a biomechanics lab, and we collaborate closely with them to improve the performance of our athletes,” he explained. Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps, Major Kalhari Perera, reported that the Army includes 673 female officers and 5,418 other ranks. The highest rank achieved by a female officer to date is that of Major General. The training period for female officers is currently one year, during which they receive a diploma. In contrast, male cadets undergo two years and nine months of training, earning a degree. Male short-commissioned officers receive one year of training, upon which they also receive a diploma. These officers may serve for a maximum period of 20 years or until the age of 45. However, the Army is considering extending the retirement age for female officers to 55 and taking steps to ensure they reach higher ranks. (Daily Island, 12.10.2024)
The moneys from Sri Lankans working abroad continued to flow in quite robustly in September albeit some softening seen from a month ago, with a potential to bring the full year inflows by the year end at a striking distance from their former levels seen in normal times. Sri Lankans working abroad sent back a robust US$ 555.6 million in September 2024, up 15.2 percent from the levels seen in the same month a year ago. However, this was a negligible slowdown from the US$ 577.5 million received a month ago in August 2024, which wasn’t at all a thing to be concerned about, as there could always be some volatility between months. And Sri Lanka is again entering into its year end festive season which usually brings in higher than average inflows from the migrant Sri Lankans. The September inflows meanwhile brought the cumulative nine months inflows to US$ 4,843.8 million, up 11.5 percent from the same period in 2023. In a normal year, Sri Lanka used to receive US$ 7.0 billion from those working abroad. Despite largely a people’s favourite government coming into power at the Presidential election held on September 21, there are still a large number of Sri Lankans who want to leave the country seeking better jobs and greener pastures. Economy remains still much smaller than it was before the pandemic, depriving jobs for hundreds of thousands of people. And the prolonged shortages of essentials, and the hyperinflationary conditions in 2022 and most of 2023 forced many of them to flee those deplorable economic conditions at home. Despite months-long softer inflation readings which flipped into deflation in September cannot undo multifold increase in prices of everything people buy as the inflation is a measure of change in prices within a period of 12 months. Some attribute the inflation what Sri Lanka went through to higher demand conditions, meaning people have eaten much more than they used to, and others link it to supply chain bottlenecks caused by both the pandemic and the Ukraine war. What exacerbated Sri Lanka’s situation was the currency depreciation. During the worst of the pandemic, many of those who were in the Middle East and elsewhere wanted to come back home, and the government at the time facilitated their arrivals in even chartered flights as they felt safer at home than remaining with their foreign employers.Now that the opposite is taking place, Sri Lanka should be receiving higher income from remittances than a few years ago and they must also be feeling a lot more confidence in repatriating their moneys back home as Sri Lankans gave a resounding mandate last month to a new government which ran its entire campaign to root out corruption. (Daily Mirror, 14.10.2024)
Health Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala says that by addressing modifiable risk factors and promoting healthy lifestyle patterns, thousands of cancer cases can be prevented each year. Speaking at the inaugural session of the 21st Annual Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Oncologists (SLCO) at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo, Dr. Mahipala said that over 33,000 new cancer cases had been reported last year, and 19,000 persons had died due to cancer. Dr. Mahipala highlighted the prevalence of oral cancer among men and cervical cancer among women, warning that the global population of new cancer patients was expected to increase by 77% by 2050. Dr. Mahipala emphasised that cancer was a significant global health challenge, with around 20 million new diagnoses worldwide in 2022, leading to over 9.7 million deaths. In Sri Lanka, the rising burden of cancer was evident, with over 33,000 new cases and 19,000 deaths last year. Those statistics showed that age, gender, or background did not affect cancer incidence, he said .Dr. Mahipala pointed out that cervical, breast, and stomach cancers were the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Sri Lanka, with oral cancer particularly prevalent among men (16.5 cases per 100,000 population in 1990) and cervical cancer affecting women at a rate of 27.3 cases per 100,000. The high incidence of those types of cancer highlights the urgent need for prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies, Dr. Mahipala said: “We have a responsibility as health service professionals to confront this challenge, especially as cancer incidence is expected to rise in low- and middle-income countries. A significant increase of 77% in new cancer patients is anticipated globally by 2050, with the most substantial growth in these regions.” He added that globally, 5% to 10% of all cancers were attributed to genetic mutations, while up to 95% were linked to environmental and lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, and physical inactivity. “By addressing these modifiable risk factors and promoting healthy lifestyles, we can prevent thousands of cancer cases each year. (Daily Mirror, 14.10.2024)
