News
Baurs celebrates 127 years of innovation and growth in Lanka

A. Baur & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd., known as Baurs, marks 127 years of continued growth and innovation in Sri Lanka. With a strong reputation across diverse sectors, Baurs is a leading pioneer in the nation’s agriculture, pharma, and technology industries, playing a key role in shaping Sri Lanka’s future.
In 2021, Baurs embraced the organic fertilizer challenge, collaborating with experts to promote sustainable agriculture practices. The company also launched super urea, a nitrogen stabilizer that enhances crop yield while reducing environmental impact. This innovation aligns with Baurs’ commitment to sustainable farming and improving food security.
Baurs’ pharmaceutical division is flourishing as well, having secured exclusive distribution rights for GSK’s prescription medicines and vaccines in Sri Lanka. The company also partnered with Fresenius Medical Care Lanka to expand its healthcare portfolio.
Baurs is also driving digital transformation with cutting-edge technologies, including sales force automation, cybersecurity, and AI. The company’s IT director, Anoja Basnayake, was honored in the inaugural National CIO List 2023.
In its hospitality sector, Baurs’ Swiss Hotel Management Academy and the Skills for Sustainable Growth project aim to upskill Sri Lanka’s youth. With new learning centers across the island, Baurs is set to empower 2,240 youths by 2025.
Baurs is also committed to sustainability, with a new solar installation at its headquarters, contributing significantly to reducing carbon emissions.
CEO Rolf Blaser emphasized, “We don’t aim to be the best in Sri Lanka but to be the best for Sri Lanka.”
News
Unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation plague most schools, say Principals

By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakkone and Chaminda Silva
Around 500 schools across the country lack access to safe drinking water for students, Piyasiri Fernando, Secretary of the Sri Lanka Principals’ Association, has said.
Fernando told The Island that a significant number of schools did not have facilities to store water properly. He said many schools lacked sanitary facilities.
Fernando also noted that in some schools in the Eastern, North Central, Uva, North Western, and Central provinces, as well as in approximately 20% of schools located near coastal areas, there are no proper toilet facilities. Despite the issuance of circulars specifying the number of toilets to be built, based on the number of students, some schools still did not have sanitary facilities as per those guidelines, the Secretary of the Principals’ Association said.
According to the School Census -2023 (2024) conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics there were 3,882,688 schoolchildren, 830,021 in National Schools and 3,052,667 in Provincial Schools.
Out of 10,096 schools, 1,506 have 1-50 students, 1,638 have 51-100 students and 2,128 have 101-200 students. Only 67 schools have 3,001-4,000 students, while only 33 have more than 4,000 students. 3,117 or 30.9 percent schools have fewer than 10 teachers.
News
Julie meets Namal at SLPP HQ

US Ambassador, Julie Chung, visited the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) office on Friday (14) for discussions with party representatives.
Ambassador Chung arrived at the SLPP Headquarters around 10:00 a.m. and engaged in talks for over an hour and a half. Her visit followed a request by the SLPP to meet her.
During the meeting, she held discussions with SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, former Members of Parliament Sanjeewa Edirimanne, C.B. Ratnayake, and Jayantha Ketagoda, as well as current MP D.V. Chanaka. Milinda Rajapaksha, an advisor to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was also present.
The visit comes amid calls from SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa for an investigation into USAID fund recipients in Sri Lanka.
News
Speaker agrees to probe allegations of ‘unethical funding’ by USAID

By Saman Indrajith
Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne informed Parliament on Friday (14) that he intended to take necessary action regarding requests made by MPs concerning allegations over USAID funding in Sri Lanka.
He made this statement in response to a question raised by Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, who sought a clarification on the matter.
Jayasekara noted that SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa had sent a letter to the Speaker calling for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate reports about unethical USAID funding in the country. He questioned whether such a committee would be formed and the matter formally examined.
In response, Speaker Wickramaratne confirmed that he was planning to take appropriate action on the issue.
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