News
Governor Yahampath does her bit to wean farmers from toxic chemicals

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.
Latest News
Navy seize two Indian fishing boats poaching in Sri Lankan waters north of Mannar

The Sri Lanka Navy seized two [02] Indian fishing boats and apprehended 14 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, during a special operation conducted in the sea area north of Mannar in the dark hours of 08 Feb 25.
The seized boats together with the fourteen Indian fishermen were brought to the Iranativu Island and they were to be handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Kilinochchi for onward legal proceedings.
Latest News
Islandwide power outage

A sudden power cut has been reported across the island.
Accordingly, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said steps are being taken to restore the power supply.
Business
President invites exporters to rise again from the economic setback

President Anura Kumar Disanayake invited Sri Lankan exporters to rebuild and thrive on a robust economic foundation.
The President emphasized that our country faces the challenge of capturing market share from a position of relative weakness. He pointed out that, to overcome this, external support had to be sought. In this regard, he highlighted that the government is prepared to provide assistance for recovery based on the current economic stability.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake made these remarks at the 26th Presidential Export Awards Ceremony.
The 26th Presidential Export Awards, organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), was held on Friday (07) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) under the patronage of President Anura Kumar Disanayake.
The main objective of the awards ceremony is to recognize exporters who have made significant contributions to the economic development of Sri Lanka.
The Presidential Export Award, presented by the President, is the highest honour for Sri Lankan exporters who have made significant contributions to the export sector and economic development.
The Presidential Export Awards program, initiated by the EDB in 1981, has been held annually to recognize Sri Lanka’s top exporters. The awards ceremony for the 2023/24 financial year took place this year.
A total of 14 major awards and 51 awards in the categories of production and services were presented, with recipients gaining the opportunity to use the Presidential Export Award logo as a marketing tool for three years.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake further emphasized the critical importance of the trust placed in Sri Lanka by international economic stakeholders to stabilize the country’s economy. He noted that the global market economy is interconnected, not entirely independent.
He further pointed out that the primary challenge facing Sri Lanka is securing a substantial share of the market amidst the current global division of markets and the ongoing competition to reclaim market shares.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake noted that the global market has become an interconnected network. He emphasized that in order for the country to become a key participant in this market, it must engage in trade agreements that are beneficial to Sri Lanka. He cautioned that aggressive, reckless approaches to market penetration would not be successful, stressing the need for strategic, thoughtful engagement.
The President further stated that the government is already taking steps to provide the necessary technical support for Sri Lankan exporters to enter the market with high-quality products. He highlighted the government’s focus on supplying new goods and services in response to global changes, in line with international market trends.
Regarding the reduction of electricity bills, the President mentioned that the government is prioritizing renewable energy sources to maintain long-term stability in energy costs. He added that efforts are underway to lower costs and ensure stable pricing over the next few years.
President Disanayake also emphasized that the government is committed to playing a pivotal role in advancing the nation’s economy to new heights. He noted that even small or misguided decisions can have significant negative impacts on the economy, and therefore, decisions regarding the economy must be made with great caution and foresight.
In his remarks, the President assured that the government is fully committed to fulfilling exporters’ requests, which are vital to strengthening the nation’s economy and maintaining a strong economic foundation.
Finally, the President invited Sri Lankan exporters to unite in strengthening the economy, stressing the importance of collaboration and mutual understanding to navigate the challenges of economic recovery and growth effectively.
The ceremony was attended by several distinguished individuals, including Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Duminda Hulangamuwa, along with various Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentarians, foreign diplomats, Secretaries to the Ministries, and members of the EDB.
[PMD]
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