News
Exotic birds imported in violation of quarantine regulations
By Ifham Nizam
Some 330 foreign birds have been illegally imported from Suriname in a private plane via Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA).
The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) Senior Advisor Hemantha Withanage and CEJ Executive Director Dilena Pathragoda have questioned the Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation and Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation on the illegal importation of exotic birds and violations of fauna and flora protection ordinance.
Senior Attorney-at-Law Dr. Ravindranath Dabare said that the person responsible for this import did not have the necessary licence, and despite the licence and other procedures like standard quarantining, the birds had been delivered to the person concerned.
He said the CEJ had found that a shipment of those birds were prevented from being released due to a lack of documents and permits on a previous occasion.
Importing exotic birds without proper permits is a violation of Section 37 of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.
It is crucial to underline that neither Sri Lanka Customs nor the Wildlife Conservation Department has the authority to recommend re-licensing for illegally imported birds, and maintaining possession of these birds by the alleged perpetrator is legally flawed.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to accept 08 used low floorboard buses offered as a grant by the Government of Japan.
News
Payment of the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Yala season 2026.
While approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 18.08.2025 to pay the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Maha season 2025/26, the programme is planned to be continued for the Yala season 2026 as well.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to pay a financial subsidy of Rupees 25,000/- per hectare and for a maximum of 02 hectares per farmer for paddy cultivation and to pay Rupees 15,000/- per hectare for field crops cultivated in paddy lands[maximum of 02 hectares per farmer]
News
Ministerial Committee appointed to submit recommendations on proposed program to mitigate loss of crops to wild animals
The rural agricultural livelihood and food security have been severely impacted due to the damage caused by wild animals such as elephants, wild boars, monkeys, toque macaque, squirrels, and peacocks roaming around human habitats and cultivated lands.
Animal-human conflicts and property destruction have mostly been reported around these areas, and serious social and economic issues have also arisen.
Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation has prepared a comprehensive program based on the opinions of all stakeholders, including the public, university community, farmers’ organizations, environmentalists, non-governmental organizations which work for environmental issues, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Development, and other relevant organizations.
Taking into consideration the report submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to appoint a ministerial committee with the participation of other relevant ministers, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, to submit appropriate recommendations on how the aforementioned program should be implemented by further reviewing the proposals included in the said program and incorporating new proposals.
Cabinet nod to accept Japanese government grant of 08 used low floorboard buses
Payment of the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Yala season 2026.
Ministerial Committee appointed to submit recommendations on proposed program to mitigate loss of crops to wild animals
New Zealand elect to bowl first at Eden Gardens
Cabinet approves import of Maize to meet shortfall
Cabinet nod for the removal of Cess tax imposed on imported good
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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