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Swiss experts conduct knowledge-sharing session on organic agro-ecosystem

Published

4 years ago

2021/08/8

A team of experts from Switzerland on a 10-day visit to the country conducted an experiential and insightful training session on organic agriculture and ecosystem, a need of the hour for Sri Lanka as it bans chemical fertilizers and pesticides to make a transition from conventional to an organic approach.

The event was held at the Baurs’ Fertilizer Factory (CMW) in Kelaniya on August 2 in adherence with strict health and safety guidelines with the presence of PHI officers on-site.

This knowledge sharing session saw the participation of Baurs’ senior management, support staff, fertilizer and plant protection field staff, CMW lab and factory staff, feed millers, invitees from animal health, poultry and biochar segments including INSEE Ecocycle, and special guests from Sunshine Holdings PLC including Binesh Pananwala, CEO of Watawala Plantations PLC.

The event was a part of the expert team’s visit to study the country’s agricultural landscape, an initiative of A. Baur & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd (Baurs). The experts are from two of the world’s leading institutes on the subject, namely the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL). They will meet with stakeholders from various key institutions, converse with farmers and other members, and visit numerous sites and facilities across the country.

Rolf Blaser, Managing Director/CEO of A. Baur & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd, in his welcome speech, said “We are proud to take a proactive stand on the organic fertilizer challenge. We established dialogue and started this initiative four months ago no sooner the country’s announcement to ban chemical fertilizers and pesticides”.

“We believe having such a world-class team of experts down here to study and exchange knowledge and resources on the holistic organic agriculture ecosystem is extremely beneficial to the country and the sector. Together, we will be visiting many sites and facilities in the coming days including key officials, academics and professionals to have an in-depth understanding of the system”, he added.

According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), Sri Lanka currently has a 2.5pct share of organic agriculture.

Dr. Christoph Studer, professor of natural resources management at HAFL, walked the audience through his presentation on the importance of having an agro-ecological approach. He highlighted the importance of soil fertility management, expressing that the objective is not only providing nutrients to crops but also nurture the soil to make it fit for its diverse tasks such as production and ecosystem services.

He also stressed on organic matters, soil life, sustainable use of resources, diverse cropping patterns, nutrients, biofertilizers, among others.

Dr. Jacques G Fuchs, senior scientist in plant pathology and soil quality at FiBL, shared insights on the basics of recycling organic residues, citing that everyone in Switzerland is individually involved with collecting and separating organic waste at home, and that there are a wide range of waste categories.

He also touched on improving soil fertility, numerous ways of composting practiced in Switzerland from farmers through to industrial plants, including systems for treating bio-waste, various waste that can be composted or treated by anaerobic fermentation, anaerobic degradation process, decomposition and maturation, entire cycle.

Dr. Fuchs shared the entire cycle of the process management from collection of green waste to utilization of the final product, to include concept of organic waste collection, composting, anaerobic fermentation systems, mixture of raw materials, process management, storage of end products.

The event had an interactive Q&A session with all four members of the expert team including Dr. Gurbir S Bhullar, senior scientist in tropical agroecosystems at HAFL, Paul van den Berge, senior consultant at FiBL, followed by a vote thanks by A. Baur & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd., Deputy Managing Director/Director – Agriculture Janaka Gunasekera.

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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.

The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.

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CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.

According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.

Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.

The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.

In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.

The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.

The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.

Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.

By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️

News

Health Minister sends letter of demand for one billion rupees in damages

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

Ondansetron controversy

Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has sent a letter of demand for Rs. 1 billion in damages from YouTube content creator Dharmasri Kariyawasam, accusing him of disseminating false and defamatory material linking the Minister to the importation of Ondansetron and inciting public unrest.

The notice, sent through the Minister’s lawyers, states that investigations are currently under way into 10 medicines, including Ondansetron Injection, manufactured by India-based Maan Pharmaceutical Limited.

Ondansetron Injection was among nine injectable drugs recently suspended by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) following reports of patients administered with the drug suffering adverse complications.

Despite the ongoing investigations, Kariyawasam allegedly aired a widely viewed programme on his YouTube channel titled “The hidden story of the Indian drug that claimed lives, Mayor Balthazaar’s relative, and Minister Nalinda’s cover-up.”

According to the letter of demand, the programme falsely portrayed Minister Jayatissa as being directly responsible for importing the drug, colluding with the supplier, and attempting to conceal the issue, while depicting him as indifferent to public suffering.

The Minister’s lawyers maintain that these allegations are entirely false and defamatory, citing passages in which Kariyawasam allegedly accused Jayatissa of lying about the supplier, concealing facts related to PTC Medicals (Pvt) Ltd., the actual importer, and showing a lack of concern over deaths purportedly linked to the drug.

The programme also claimed links between the directors of PTC Medicals and family members of Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, implying political favouritism.