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Medicinal plants to be grown here to save forex
By Ifham Nizam
The Sri Lankan government spends nearly USD 09 million per year on importing ingredients, such as Aralu and Bulu, required for indigenous medicine. “We do not need to import such local medicines from India. Sri Lanka can produce these ingredients in sufficient quantities and action should be taken, in consultation with the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine, to do so, ” Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said, adding that a lot of foreign exchange could be saved through such action.These facts were revealed by a group of experts at a meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Green Economy with Solutions to Climate Change held at the Ministry of Environment last week. The experts suggested to the Presidential Task Force that a programme be launched to ensure that these plants can be grown in all parts of our country.The Chairman of the Task Force, Minister of Environment Amaraweera said that under the National Tree Planting Programme implemented by the Ministry of Environment, a project could be initiated to cultivate medicinal plants. He said that although there are medicinal plants such as Aralu and Bulu, in almost all parts of the country at present, there was no programme to harvest them.
Nilgala Herbal Garden has a large number of such medicinal plants and the Task Force will take steps to cultivate such plants, in other forest areas as well.Amaraweera also said wild animals destroyed crops as they did not have enough food in the forests. Therefore, the Presidential Task Force could initiate a programme to plant more fruit trees ,such as Atamba and Valu Amba, in the forests, the Minister said.
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Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Russian House in Colombo unveiled a plaque at the public library Colombo today (29th April) in honour of the 80th anniversary of victory day.
Victory Day is celebrated on the 9th of May, the day Nazi Germany was defeated in World War II. It is an important date in the Russian calendar and an integral part of Russian culture.
The plaque was jointly unveiled by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Lenav Dzhagaryan and Ms Maria Popova Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and Director of the Russian House in Colombo
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Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
It has been recognized that the state enterprises should be re – structured and maintained with proper administration with the assistance of local or foreign investments without being a continuous burden to the General Treasury and the country’s economy. Therefore, it is the policy of the new government to introduce an efficient and accountable mechanism in the regard. An initial draft named “State Commercial Enterprises Management Draft Bill” has been already prepared to introduce a new legal framework required for maintaining after performing necessary restructuring and with proper management of government owned business companies. Thereon, it will be possible to totally free the state entrepreneurship establishments from political influences and appoint professionals with proficiency for its board of directors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to grant policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the said initial draft and appoint a special committee with the following composition to submit appropriate proposals for further enhancing after reviewing the initial draft:
• Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development – (Chairman)
• Hon. Sunil Handunneththi Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship
• Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co – operative Development
• Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Sooriyapperuma Deputy Minister of Finance Plan Implementation
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to appoint Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi, a special grade officer in Sri Lanka Administrative Service who served in the post of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Buddha Shasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, to the post of Commissioner General of Official Languages with immediate effect.
Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi appointed Commissioner General of Official Languages
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