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2021 has been a good year for plantations – minister
The current year had been a good year for the plantation industry despite some problems, Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said recently at a function to felicitate a group of officers who had completed 25 years of service in the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority. Exports of rubber, coconut and cinnamon had generated a record USD 4 billion in export earnings in 2021, the minister added.
“The agricultural sector in general and the plantation industry in particular have faced a severe crisis this year. Those crises arose with the ban on fertiliser but we have already found solutions to the problem. Do not hesitate to get involved in the plantation industry, because whatever the challenges, we are committed to making the tea industry a profitable industry next year,” Plantation Minister Pathirana said.
The Minister said that around USD 4 billion expected from rubber, coconut and cinnamon exports in the year would be the highest export earnings in history for the sector. There was a potential to harvest about 305 million kilos of tea in 2022. In 2021 there were a lot of new tea planting initiatives.
“We are also ready to provide tea plants and compost fertilizer free of charge to anyone who wishes to grow tea. We need to go beyond traditional methods and only then, we will be able to build a better plantation economy. Many people have already asked for tea plants. It is our responsibility to provide them with the necessary technical know-how and high yielding tea plants,” he said.
Minister Pathirana said that the government had given permission to import fertilizer again and that there would be sufficient fertilizer by February. The price of fertilizer in the world market had increased and thus its price would continue to be a problem, he said.
State Minister of Company Establishment Reforms, Tea Estate Crops, Tea Factory Modernization and Tea Export Diversification Kanaka Herath said that the government had allocated Rs. 4 billion to support tea smallholders.
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Heat Index at Caution level’ in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 12 April 2026, valid for 13 April 2026.
Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 05th to 15th of April in this year.
The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (13th) are Pesalai, Mankulam and Nedunkerny about 12:11 noon.
The Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) TAIMUR and ASLAT arrived at the Port of Colombo on a goodwill visit on 12 Apr 26.
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in
compliance with naval traditions.
The duo of ships is commanded by Captain NIAMAT SAEED KHAN (PNS TAIMUR) and Captain NADIR MATEEN AFRIDI (PNS ASLAT).
Meanwhile, the ships are expected to conduct a Bilateral Naval Exercise LION STAR V with the Sri Lanka Navy in Colombo seas.
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Heat Index at Caution level’ in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
Showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western provinces.
Sun directly overhead Pesalai, Mankulam and Nedunkerny about 12:11 noon
PNS TAIMUR & ASLAT arrive in Colombo
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