SRI LANKA NEWS (JANUARY 2022)Compiled by Victor Melder. Export earnings from rubber, coconut and cinnamon are on the verge of exceeding $ 4 billion, creating history by recording the highest annual income generated from these crops in a year, Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said. He also said that the Plantation Ministry was committed to make the tea industry a profitable industry in 2022. He said despite not being able to reach the target export earnings, tea crop was estimated to be 305 million kg in 2021. He outlined that the tea industry was a key export crop which contributed significantly to the national economy. “If we want to build up the economy, then we must strengthen the planters. The COVID pandemic and fertiliser problems have caused some setbacks in the industry. But, amidst all these problems, we are working to strengthen the smallholders who contribute to the national ...
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Water: The unique life insurance-By Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura The recently completed Yan Oya reservoir with a capacity of 169,000 acre feet Source:Sundayobserver. According to legends, the origin of the planet earth is based on water. The evolution of living things and the destruction or the extinction had been water centric so often as witnessed by the ancient and present civilisations. The main aim of competitive space explorations is to find whether there is any evidence of availability of water in planetary systems to ensure the possibility of any life in them. Water is not an unlimited resource. Even though 70 percent of the planet earth is considered as the water globe, only three percent is fresh water. Two- thirds of fresh water is too unavailable for the use of humans due to having been trapped in glaciers or otherwise. Only one percent of the fresh water available for the use ...
Documentary film on Buddhist heritage in Pakistan Source:Dailymirror A documentary film featuring the rich Buddhist heritage in Pakistan was screened at Temple Trees on November 16 as a follow up on bilateral discussions between Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The documentary showcases the Gandhara civilization that flourished between the first and seventh centuries. Taxila, the world’s first Buddhist University, is in Pakistan. ...
Political ignorance and electoral seesaw Source:Dailymirror The Opposition parties in Sri Lanka seem to be banking on the failures of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) government to come to power at the next Presidential as well as Parliamentary elections. It is natural, and it has to be so, but it would be the people who are going to lose again, as happened after each election since the Independence, if any of the current Opposition parties comes to power without viable solutions to the problems faced by the country as well as the people. It is clear that the current government is at a loss almost in every aspect of governance, whatever and whoever the reason may be. It has failed in containing the cost of living which is skyrocketing and seems to have gone out of hand. The farmers’ protests against the prevailing fertilizer shortage in the country is ...
Big prize money for Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy four nation soccer tourney-by Althaf Nawaz Source:Dailynews The champions will carry away the prestigious ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy and U$ 30,000 at the inaugural quadrangular invitation soccer tournament conducted by Football Sri Lanka (FSL) from November 8 to 17 at the picturesque Race Course grounds in Colombo. After almost two years with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the football loving fraternity in the country will have an opportunity to witness this four nation tournament where hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Seychelles will compete, which is likely to be one of the best competitions staged in the region. The FSL is making all endeavours to make this a highly competitive one offering a big cash bonanza for the winners. ...
Work on country’s seventh expressway to commence today Source:Island The construction of the country’s seventh expressway will be launched by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today (07). The inauguration ceremony of the first phase from Kahatuduwa to Ingiriya of the Ruwanpura Expressway is scheduled to be held with the participation of a limited number of people as per the health regulations in place in view of the pandemic. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will participate in the ceremony via new technology from Temple Trees, said a release issued by the Ministry of Highways. ...
ESR Cayman, Asia Pacific’s largest logistics property developer, explores investment opportunities in SL Stuart Gibson, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Hong Kong listed ESR Cayman Ltd, one of APAC’s largest logistics property platforms, visited Sri Lanka recently. Gibson and his senior management team held talks with the top level of the Sri Lankan government including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, State Ministers Nivard Cabraal, Tharaka Balasooriya, D.V. Chanaka, BOI Chairman Sanjaya Mohottala, Airport and Aviation Chairman Major General (Rtd.) G. A. Chandrasiri, as well as other key heads of state bodies. ESR is said to be exploring investment and development opportunities to build modern, large-scale industrial and logistics parks in the country. Photo Caption: ESR Cayman Ltd Co-Founder & Co-CEO Stuart Gibson ...
Grand Oriental Hotel re-opens-by Nisal Baduge Source:Dailymirror The Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH), Colombo, re-opened today under the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. GOH was renovated on the instructions of the Prime Minister as the Minister of Urban Development and Housing at a cost of Rs. 225 million. Pix by Nisal Baduge ...
Sri Lanka’s cricket WC win has lessons for all of us – Premier-by Dhammika Ratnaweera Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa with World Cup winning team members and other officials Source:Dailynews Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that if cricketers can build up excellent teamwork and play with more commitment like those days, then Sri Lanka could win the cricket world cup once again. He made these observations at a ceremony held to mark the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the 1996 Cricket World Cup triumph and to felicitate the players at Temple Trees. ...
PM says humanity triumphed with cricket 25 years ago-By Rex Clementine Source:Island Delivering a moving speech, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that along with cricket, humanity triumphed 25 years ago as the national cricket team became World Champions beating Australia by seven wickets in the final in Lahore. At a function held at Temple Trees to felicitate the members of the World Cup winning squad, PM Rajapaksa drove home some pertinent points. “I remember just before the World Cup, we had to deal with an issue as Australia and West Indies refused to play in Colombo, claming security reasons. It is India and Pakistan that came to our aid, setting aside their differences . We could see South Asian Solidarity 25 years ago.” ...
