News
KOICA donates equipment to upgrade National Plant Quarantine Service Headquarters
KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) handed over laboratory equipment to Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage for the use at the National Plant Quarantine Service Headquarters at Katunayake.
The equipment was handed over to the Minister as a part of KOICA funded project Modernisation of National Plant Quarantine Service in Sri Lanka worth 6 Million USD with the objective of enhancing the export competitiveness of Lankan agricultural products by improving plant quarantine capacity, a press release issued by the KOICA said.
Santhush Woonjin Jeong Ambassador of the Republic of Korea said: Agriculture is a main sector for development cooperation between our two countries. The Korean government has assisted Sri Lanka by sharing knowledge, providing financial and technical support.” He added: “I hope that this Plant Quarantine Laboratory Equipment will be utilised to the maximum to increase agricultural exports, leading to the economic growth of Sri Lanka.”
Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Minister of Agriculture, highly appreciated the support of laboratory equipment by extending his sincere gratitude to KOICA Sri Lanka and the government of Korea for the continuous support.
In Sri Lanka, agricultural exports hold a significant portion of total exports and it is expected that agricultural exports will play an important role in economic development of Sri Lanka.
In order to expand exports of agricultural products, the plant quarantine system must comply with the importing countries’ quarantine conditions. Hence, it is necessary to establish an advanced plant quarantine system required by the export target country. As a step forward, KOICA has decided to join hands in strengthening and modernising the Plant Quarantine Service in Sri Lanka.
The main output of this project includes construction of Seaport Plant Quarantine Station, provision of latest laboratory and ICT equipment, capacity building of the agricultural sector, providing a latest Plant Quarantine Information Management System, and enhancing the Standard of Procedures and upgrading the Sri Lanka Good Agricultural Practice (SL-GAP).
Moreover, for the successful completion of this project, Ambassador Jeong encouraged the Sri Lankan Government to provide continuous dynamic support and cooperation to make this project a massive success.
Among those present were Kang Youn Hwa, Country Director of KOICA, Senior Professor Uditha K. Jayasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. W.M.W. Weerakoon, Director General of the Department of Agriculture, and Dr. W.A.R.T. Wickramarachchi, Head of the NPQS.
KOICA contributes to the advancement of international cooperation through various projects that build friendly and collaborative relationships and mutual exchanges between Korea and developing countries and support the economic and social development in developing countries, under the mission of ‘Leave no one behind with People centered Peace and Prosperity.’
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
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At least 28 dead as crane collapses onto train in Thailand
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
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