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Governor Yahampath does her bit to wean farmers from toxic chemicals

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The soil damaged and made ill by agrochemicals should be cured by using carbonic manure, says the Governor of the Eastern Province Anuradha Yahampath.

Participating in the Aluth Sahal Mangallaya or the New Rice Festival, the first harvest festival of the 100 acres of organic paddy cultivation in the Eastern Province for the Yala season and trade exhibition in Kantale last week, Governor Yahampath said that witnessing the harvest of the first 100 acres cultivated using organic techniques was one of the milestones of her life. “The Aluth Sahal Mangallaya is not something new in our culture and the farmers of this province. But today we make a festival for the harvest of the first 100 acres of paddy cultivated using organic fertiliser and indigenous practices in countering the threats of weeds and pests. This is an environment friendly method. We have proven that using our indigenous knowledge we can produce food while in the meantime restoring an environment that had been damaged by years due to use of chemicals.”

She said that the advent of the use of chemicals in agriculture was neither an accident nor something that the country had asked for. “Western countries started using chemical fertilisers for agriculture soon after World War II to expedite the process of food production as there was a food scarcity. Protecting the environment was not a priority for them. During the times of the Cold War both the US and Russia started helping the developing countries by supplying chemical fertilisers to woo them into their rival camps. Thereafter, they introduced commercial agriculture and fixed a label on it as the Green Revolution. There is nothing green in that because it propagated the use of chemicals. Many of those who promoted chemical fertilisers today changed their methods and are using carbonic manure. We must understand the damage inflicted on our soil by the chemical fertilisers and shift ourselves from that toxic danger to environmental restoration. That is not something impossible. Look at the Kantale Tank built by King Agbo the Second. Such tanks did not come up by themselves. If our elder generations could do such marvels, we too can change the prevailing trend of using chemicals and restore our environment.”

Among those present were Chief Secretary to the Eastern Province Thusitha P Wanigasinghe, Consultant of the Deyata Hithethi Govithena Project Dr. Keerthi Wickremasinghe, Secretary to the government LP Madanayake, Trincomalee District Secretary Asanka Abeywardena, Provincial Agriculture Secretary and Provincial Agriculture Director and other officials.



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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

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The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued early warnings to the Districts of Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 1600hrs on 13th June 2026 till 1600hrs on 14th June 2026.

Accordingly,

LEVEL I (YELLOW) landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surounding areas of Palindanuwara and Agalawatta in the Kalutara district,  Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya and Ayagama, Pelmadulla,
Godakawela, Elapatha, Kalawana, Ratnapura and Nivithigala in the Ratnapura district.

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INS Sharda departs Colombo concluding replenishment visit

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The Indian Naval Ship (INS) ‘Sharda’ departed the island today (13 Jun 26), concluding her replenishment purposes.

On departure  the vessel was accorded a traditional naval farewell by the Sri Lanka Navy at the Port of Colombo.

The visit also paved the way for vibrant personnel interactions, fostering camaraderie and goodwill. The crew of INS Sharda and personnel from the Sri Lanka Navy participated in a
friendly volleyball match and a joint yoga session. A

dditionally, Sri Lanka Navy personnel had the opportunity to visit the Indian naval vessel, while the visiting crew took time to explore several culturally significant landmarks across the island.

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Special Dengue Prevention Week declared in Colombo District from June 15 to 21

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A decision has been taken to declare a Special Dengue Prevention Week from 15 to 21 of June by the Colombo District Dengue Control Committee to curb the spread of the disease in the Colombo District.

This decision was taken at the meeting of the Colombo District Dengue Control Committee held on Friday  (12) at the Colombo District Secretariat under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Compared to last year, the number of dengue cases reported this year has increased significantly. According to the National Dengue Control Unit, approximately 39,100 dengue cases have been reported island wide to date, of which 25.8% have been recorded in the Colombo District. Following this situation, the Colombo District has been identified as a high-risk district.

Health authorities informed that the increasing spread of the disease has been influenced not only by the nature of circulating virus but also to the lack of sufficient immunity among the population. They further noted that the recent period of heavy rainfall has aggravated the spread of Dengue.

It was also identified that the current outbreak is being reported more frequently from public places such as government institutions, private establishments, schools, and religious venues rather than from residential premises. Observations have identified improperly managed solid waste and drainage systems in offices and other public locations as major breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Accordingly, during the Dengue Prevention Week from 15 to 21 June, a series of measures will be implemented, including, organising community clean-up campaigns in government and private institutions, schools, residential areas, and other public spaces; Conducting inspections of high-risk premises by Divisional Secretariats and taking legal action, where necessary, followed by awareness programmes; Distributing informational leaflets, displaying banners, and carrying out public awareness campaigns through the media. Health authorities also requested school administrations not to involve students below Grade 10 in school cleaning programmes and to immediately notify the relevant Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office if a student is diagnosed with dengue.

The programme is expected to receive the active support and participation of the district’s political leadership, religious leaders of all faiths, public officials, local government institutions, the tri-forces, the police, and the general public.

The event was attended by the Chairperson of the District Coordination Committee, Members of Parliament, representatives of local government authorities, government secretaries, police officers, and officials representing the education and health sectors, among others.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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