News
Korea’s Saemaul New Village Movement inspires Sri Lankan Women
State Minister of Women and Child Development Piyal Nishantha de Silva and Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin JEONG last week together vsited the stall for Saemaul Co-operative Members at the Exhibition and Fair for Women Entrepreneurs in BMICH on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Korean Embassy said in a news release.
“This stall exemplified Sri Lankan women’s empowerment and dedication to uplift rural economic development. Saemaul products including Kegalle Saemaul Mushroom, Shoe products and a variety of delicacies were displayed and sold at the stall,” it said.
During the visit to the stall, State Minister of Women and Child Development the state minister commended the efforts of inspiring women entrepreneurs who have taken opportunities provided by Korea’s Saemaul New Village Movement to increase their incomes and introduce poison-free indigenous food to the market.
Applauding Korea’s initiatives to improve rural development, he further stated that this stall demonstrates the successful results of Saemaul New Village Movement in Sri Lanka over the years. Ambassador Santhush impressed by the hard work of the co-operative members, noted his satisfaction on the expansion of the Saemaul Undong movement in Sri Lanka and the benefits reaped by Sri Lankan women through such initiatives. He encouraged Saemaul co-operative women-forces to continue to improve their lives through this successful concept.
The ‘Saemaul Undong’ movement is a visionary economic model, adopted in 1970s to develop and advance Korea’s rural sector. This model was crucial to revitalise the rural areas, contribute to poverty alleviation and transform the Korean economy as the ‘Miracle of Han River.’
Korea, one of the world’s poorest countries in the 1960s, is now among the world’s most industrialized and prosperous economies ranked as the ninth largest GDP in a short span on four decades. Today, it is universally acclaimed and credited as a successful model for rural economic development.
Sri Lanka has achieved reasonable success in developing rural livelihood through the Saemaul Globalization initiatives implemented in Sri Lanka. Saemaul Hewadiwela, Pahalagama, Pitiyegama Mushroom Cooperative Societies and Kegalle Mushroom Projects yielded significant results and assisted Sri Lankan women to transform their communities through their own efforts, diligence and cooperation, the news release said.
The Country Director of Saemaul Globalization Foundation, Mr. CHOI Sung Woo and First Secretary of the Korean Embassy, Ms. LIM Miyeon were also present at the stall to motivate women entrepreneurs.
During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 01 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 11 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan of Kareinagar, Jaffna.
The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval craft of the Northern Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters off Kovilan.
Meanwhile, compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 11 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
The seized boat (01) and Indian fishermen (11) were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
Latest News
Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.
The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.
According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.
Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.
The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.
In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.
The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.
The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.
Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.
By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️
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