SECTORSAdding rice farmers to the Rio+20 Agenda
By Amantha Perera
IPS: The year 2011 was one of extremes for the small Sri Lankan village of Verugal.
Lying on the island’s Northeastern coast, Verugal began the year with incessant rainfall. Between January and February of 2011, the East coast received a year’s worth of rain, which destroyed over 7,000 hectares of rice crops in Verugal and about 17 percent of the country’s annual rice harvest.
COO Anura promoted as Joint MD at Chemanex
Chemanex Plc on Friday announced that Anura Mapalagama has been appointed Joint Managing Director with effect from 18 May.
APL receives largest, most advanced vessel
APL’s largest and newest vessel is also its most environmentally-friendly and fuel-efficient.
The Singapore-based carrier says the 10,700-TEU APL Southampton, which called on the Port of Singapore on her maiden voyage recently, has been fitted with a ballast water treatment system and an electronically-controlled main engine, signalling a new era of sustainable ships entering its fleet.
Engine problem delays US rocket launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, (Reuters): The launch of a privately owned Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station was delayed on Saturday when a computer detected a possible problem with one of the rocket’s engines, a Space Exploration Technologies official said.
Dilmah’s Malik responds to Willie Weerasekera’s Pure Ceylon Tea or Tea hub?
Following is the response from Dlimah Tea Director Malik J. Fernando to Willie Weerasekera’s article ‘Pure Ceylon Tea’ or ‘tea hub’? The billion dollar question published last Friday in Daily FT.
The writer speaks sense when he says “the million-dollar question is therefore much more than ‘Ceylon Tea’ or ‘tea hub’ – It is: How do we formulate a sustainable competitive future for the Sri Lanka tea industry?”
The tea industry has no strategy. There is little linkage between tea producers and exporters. Everything is reactive like the current tea import story. Meantime we run out of markets. 60% of teas are exported to just five countries. Ceylon Tea and Sri Lankan brands are virtually absent in sophisticated markets.
Harsha to share possible scenarios for exchange rate at SLASA forum
Consultant Economist and UNP MP Dr. Harsha De Silva will share ‘possible scenarios for the exchange rate’ on 30 May at Waters Edge at a forum organised by the Sri Lanka Apparel Sourcing Association (SLASA).
Double-digit growth in passenger traffic for airports in Asia Pacific
According to the latest ACI Passenger and Freight Flash Reports, passenger traffic in the Asia Pacific region continued to show strong and steady growth in March 2012.
A year-on-year increase of 10.8% was recorded for airports in the Asia Pacific area whereas airports in the Middle Eastern showed an even more remarkable increase of 16.4% when compared to March 2011.
US ‘encouraged’ by Sri Lanka moves on Iran oil
WASHINGTON, (Reuters): The United States is encouraged by Sri Lanka’s drive to cut its oil imports from Iran, the US State Department said on Friday in a positive assessment of the island nation’s efforts to escape potential US sanctions.
Investors toast Hayleys FY12 results with share price up Rs. 16
Record profit fuelled by Rs. 2.3 b in capital gains; core businesses post recovery with 23% pre-tax profit growth
Hayleys Plc share price on Friday produced one of its highest day gains of Rs. 16 as investors toasted record earnings in FY2012 largely fuelled by Rs. 2.3 billion in capital gains but its core businesses too posting strong rebound.
President orders release of Fonseka
Reuters: Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the early release from jail of his highest-profile political rival Sarath Fonseka, the president’s spokesman said on Sunday, in an apparent bid to quell international criticism of the government’s human rights record.
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