News
Cases of dementia in Sri Lanka estimated to increase
The risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia increases with age. As Sri Lanka has one of the fastest ageing populations in the region it is estimated that by the year 2050 there will be almost half a million people living with dementia in Sri Lanka. Evidence is also emerging that the COVID-19 may increase the risk of developing dementia later in life.
September is marked globally as World Alzheimer’s Month and 21st September as World Alzheimer’s Day. Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation (LAF), a member of the global association, Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), is focused on post-diagnosis support for those living with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias and to enhance the wellbeing of their family carers.
LAF’s is once again organizing a virtual walk from 1st to 21st September to encourage physical and mental exercise, one of the key factors in helping to delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, while educating participants about the disease. Details are available on their website https://alzlanka.org/together-we-can-do-so-much/.
The service provided by LAF, which is run mainly by volunteers with donations from well-wishers, includes: raising awareness; providing education on risk reduction; memory screening and assessment; an activity centre; care giver support groups; a help line; identification bracelets; befriending and counselling and much more to help persons living with dementia and their care givers.
“Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s” – armed with the power of knowledge, all of us together with LAF can do so much to spot the warning signs of dementia, ensure timely diagnosis, and provide post-diagnosis support for people living with dementia. Contrary to common belief Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of ageing. It is a disease, for which there currently is no cure but there are measures to reduce chances of developing dementia and slowing the onset or progression of the disease.
The Paddy Marketing Board has approximately 115,000 metric tonnes of paddy stocks purchased from farmers, which are currently stored in the Board’s warehouses, and it has been planned to retain a sufficient buffer stock from these reserves and sell the remaining quantity in order to provide the necessary storage space and financial resources for the purchase of paddy from farmers during the upcoming Yala season.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to sell the aforementioned paddy stocks
following a formal tender procedure.
The Promotion of Export Agriculture Act, No. 46 of 1992 provides the legal provisions for regulating and promoting the export agriculture sector in this country.
Taking into consideration administrative changes and sectoral developments that have taken place over time, approval was granted at the Cabinet Meetings held on 2023-09-04 and 2025-08-11 to amend the said Act, which has not been updated for over 30 years.
The proposed amendments are intended to amend the designations of the Head of the Department of Export Agriculture and other officials, and to provide a clearer definition of the term “the export agricultural crop.”
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to publish in the Government Gazette the Draft Export Agriculture Promotion (Amendment) Bill, prepared in all three languages by the Legal Draftsman to amend the Export Agriculture Promotion Act, No. 46 of 1992, and thereafter submit the same to Parliament for its concurrence
Latest News
Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, appointed as Director General of the Department of Management Services
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, to appoint Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, an officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service in the Special Grade who is currently serving as an Additional Director General of the Department of Management Services, to the post of Director General of the Department of Management Services with immediate effect.
Cabinet approves sale of Paddy stocks held by the Paddy Marketing Board
Amendment to the Promotion of Export Agriculture Act, No. 46 of 1992 to be gazatted
Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, appointed as Director General of the Department of Management Services
Cabinet approves collaboration agreement between Sri Lanka and Brazil for the implementation of the “Sugarcane Project in Sri Lanka”
Cabinet approval for Implementation of a Project for the Joint Exchange of Genetic Resources between Sri Lanka and Vietnam and the Development of High-Yielding and Salinity-resilient Rice Varieties.
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura extended till1600 hrs on Wednesday [27]
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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