News
Drones being used to fight blight disease in rubber plantations

Plantations State Minister Kanaka Herath stated that rubber growers should pay proper attention to the spread of a fungal disease associated with rubber cultivation which reduced the production of rubber latex by about 30 per cent.
Deputy Director of the Rubber Research Institute Dr. Priyani Seneviratne said that rubber growers should be vigilant to prevent the spread of leaf blight fungal diseases due to the prevailing rainy weather.
This fungal disease was found in rubber plantations in the island in both 2019 and 2020. This year too, the disease is associated with rubber growing districts such as Kegalle, Kalutara and Ratnapura has been identified.
This fungal disease, also known as Pestalotiopsis, is also known as leaf blight due to the shedding of leaves in rubber plantations. Although the average annual leaf fall in rubber plantations occurs from February to April, the leaves fall even after the normal leaf fall period in rubber plantations where the fungal disease has spread, she said.
According to Dr Seneviratne if any rubber plantation sheds leaves in or after May, it may be due to this new leaf fall disease. However, due to the current outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and severe travel restrictions in the country to arrest its spread, it is practically difficult to inspect these crops or to control the disease in any way.
“It has been noticed that the disease is spreading rapidly due to the prevailing monsoon rainy weather. It is essential to know the extent of the affected areas to treat the disease and to prevent further spread of the disease.
Therefore, Dr. Seneviratne urged all rubber collectors to be vigilant about leaf fall during or after May. If a leaf fall has occurred on your rubber plantation during the month of May, please notify the Rubber Development Officer of the area where the rubber land is situated or call the following telephone number,” she Stated.
Accordingly, the Rubber Research Institute kindly requests the Rubber Growers to send details such as a picture of a fallen leaf, the address of the land, your telephone number, the clone belonging to the plantation and the extent of the land to this WhatsApp number 0772419482 .
The Minister pointed out that for the first time in Sri Lanka, a pilot project for spraying chemicals using drone technology was launched to control this disease. The pilot project carried out at Panawatta Estate, Yatiyantota, the chemical was sprayed on the leaves of the rubber leaves under the guidance of Rubber Research Institute officials.
Fungicide spraying has long been practiced from the root of the tree. Applying the chemical in this way is practically impossible. As a solution to this situation, drones are used to apply chemicals directly on rubber leaves. The pilot project has proven that the application of the substance is more efficient and effective. Therefore, this fungal disease was successfully controlled using drones.
State Minister Herath said that in addition to drone technology, modern pest control methods will be used to control the spread of this fungal disease in rubber plantations and prevent its further spread.
The fungal disease, which affects rubber plantations, was first reported in the Kalawana area in Ratnapura in 2019 and has now spread to districts such as Kegalle and Kalutara. Dr. Seneviratne said that there is a high probability of the spread of this fungal disease in areas with high rainfall.
The disease was reported from Indonesia in 2017 and Malaysia in 2018. It is estimated that production could be reduced by as much as 30 per cent. This fungal disease causes damage not only for rubber cultivation but also for many plants including avocado.
If the leaf shedding is more than 50 per cent, the rubber taping should not be carried out. This could reduce rubber production by as much as 30 per cent.
It can be observed that if one fungus infects one rubber variant, it is often resistant to the other variants. However, it is observed that the disease spreads to all species, she declared.
News
UN asks govt. to vacate ‘remaining lands still occupied and used economically by the military’

Military-held land down to 9% in North and East
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has said that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, during discussions with the Sri Lankan government, stressed the importance of releasing the remaining lands still occupied and used economically by the military.
OHCHR has included updated information provided by the government on land releases in its reports to the Human Rights Council, the OHCHR said.
OHCHR team member Jeremy Laurence said so in response to The Island query regarding the HC’s call for release of land which both serving and retired officers considered unfair.
The Island posed the following question to the HC’s office: “At the conclusion of the UNHRC Chief’s visit to Sri Lanka recently, one of the issues he raised was the failure on the part of the armed forces to vacate public and private property held in the Northern and Eastern provinces. However, the military insists that approximately 91% of the total land held at the time of the conclusion of military operations, in May 2009, had been released. We would like to know whether the UNHRC Chief hadn’t been briefed by the government of Sri Lanka or the UN Mission in Colombo on the vacation of approximately 91% of the land held by the military in 2009.
The Island contacted OHCHR as suggested by the UN Mission in Colombo.
The military pointed out that of over 24,000 acres held in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi sectors in 2009, less than 2,500 acres remained in their hands. “We are down to the bare minimum. Further reductions will pose major challenges,” one retired officer said.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
News
Need to attend to sick wild elephants promptly discussed at high-level meeting

A high-level discussion on the urgent treatment of sick wild elephants was held on Monday (July 7) at the Ministry of Environment under the patronage of Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi and Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody.
Senior veterinary officers representing the Wildlife and Zoological Parks Veterinary Officers’ Association participated in the discussion alongside Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Rohitha Udawawala and Director of Veterinary Services of the Department of Wildlife Conservation Dr. Tharaka Prasad.
The focus of the meeting was to streamline rapid response measures to treat elephants suffering from illnesses in the wild and to ensure timely access to life-saving antibiotics and medical resources.
Commenting on the need for swift intervention, Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi said:
“We cannot allow delays when it comes to the treatment of our wild elephants, especially those suffering from life-threatening conditions. These majestic creatures are an integral part of our natural heritage, and it is our duty to act fast. We are committed to providing our veterinary officers with the tools, resources, and policy support necessary to carry out this responsibility efficiently.”
Discussions also focused on identifying infected elephants promptly, administering treatment without delay, and addressing any shortages in medical supplies such as antibiotics. The officials explored avenues to ensure logistical and infrastructural support for veterinarians working in the field.
Significant attention was drawn to the existing cadre shortages within the Department of Wildlife Conservation’s veterinary and technical teams. Plans were discussed to address these gaps with the approval of the Department of Management Services and the Ministry of Public Administration.
Additionally, the need to provide field veterinarians with appropriate technical facilities and mobility support was emphasized as a key priority in enabling effective on-ground operations.
The meeting concluded with an understanding that urgent procedural and administrative steps would be taken to fast-track recruitment, supply of medication, and operational improvements necessary to protect the health of Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population.
By Ifham Nizam
News
Navy seizes contraband pesticides and seeds in Puttalam and Kalpitiya

The Navy detected a significant haul of smuggled pesticides and seeds during operations conducted in Puttalam and Kalpitiya from 20 to 30 June, 2025. The separate operations also resulted in two dinghies and a lorry also being taken into custody, Navy Headquarters said.
In a search operation on 20 June, the Northwestern Naval Command’s SLNS Vijaya inspected a suspicious lorry near Alankuda Beach, Puttalam, resulting in the vehicle, along with 32 sacks of pesticide materials and seeds suspected to have been smuggled into the country, being taken into custody.
On 28 June, during another search near Ippantivu Island, Kalpitiya, naval personnel spotted and took into custody two dinghies carrying 15 sacks of pesticide materials intended for smuggling.
It is suspected that the smugglers abandoned the contraband, along with the lorry and dinghies, due to heightened naval surveillance. The seized items were handed over to the Katunayake Customs Preventive Office for further investigation and legal action.
-
Features3 days ago
One of the finest foreign ministers the nation missed
-
News3 days ago
Cheap alms bowls imports hit Sri Lanka makers, monks
-
Opinion6 days ago
COPE findings and USJ reaction: External students left high and dry
-
News5 days ago
New KDU Medical Faculty admission policy challenged in Supreme Court
-
Features3 days ago
Going through Colombo Medical School
-
Features6 days ago
A shining example …
-
Sports3 days ago
Liverpool team join family of Diogo Jota, brother for funeral in Portugal
-
Editorial5 days ago
‘Celebration of debt’ and harsh reality