SRI LANKA NEWS (JANUARY  2024) Compiled by Victor Melder Nearly a half of Sri Lanka’s households are adopting livelihood-based coping strategies to buy food, says a recent report published by the World Food Programme. The WFP’s ‘Sri Lanka – Household Food Security Survey: Preliminary Findings, December 2023’ says that 43 percent of households were adopting livelihood-based coping strategies to cope with the lack of adequate food. Borrowing money to buy food and purchasing food on credit were the most commonly adopted strategies, by 27 and 26 percent of households, respectively, says the report, adding that households remain vulnerable to future shocks and stresses. “According to the survey, a high proportion of estate households (80 percent) adopted livelihood-based coping strategies, followed by 50 percent of urban households. In the rural sector, 41 percent of households are resorting to coping strategies. In terms of household characteristics, 43 percent of male-headed households and ...

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Sri Lanka participated in COP. 27 & current news. – By Dr Harold Gunatillake Website: www.Doctorharold.com SL successfully concludes the second round of talks with creditors: President Ranil Wickremasinghe meets UN Secretary-General President Ranil delivered a direct speech at the sessions. COP27: Sri Lanka proposes the world’s first International Climate Change University ‘Democracy Gold Award’ was awarded to Mr R. Sambandhan Former opposition leader and Member of Parliament Mr R Sambandhan received the ‘Democracy Gold Award’, given only once in a lifetime to a senior political figure who dedicates himself to securing democracy. Thieves broke into the official residence of the Thai ambassador Looming food shortage and farmers’ woes Sri Lankan people in need of emergency aid has doubled – UN COLOMBO (News 1st) – State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said Sri Lanka’s second round of discussions with creditors concluded successfully. The State Minister added that Sri Lanka has ...

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Korean support for rural development in Sri Lanka South Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin Jeong Source:Dailynews South Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin Jeong on Thursday held a discussion with Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self Employment and Business Development State Minister Shehan Semasinghe via Zoom on a wide range of areas including avenues to increase collaboration for rural development cooperation between Korea and Sri Lanka. Ambassador Santhush said that following the recent constructive call on Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, he observed that the “Divineguma Project” and “Saemaul Undong Movement,” Korea’s New Village Initiative, share many common traits. It is commendable that Sri Lanka and Korea have been emulating this economic model to improve the living conditions of rural communities. Korea has a unique story of economic development, the so called “Miracle on Han River”. ...

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