News

200,000 hatching eggs to be imported

Published

1 year ago

January 10, 2023

editor

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the Livestock Division of the Ministry to take steps to import 200,000 hatching eggs to Sri Lanka.

Authorities said the shortage of animal feed as well as the decrease in the annual import of parent birds from 80,000 to 40,000 has led to the reduction of the monthly egg production to 30 million.

The decrease in parent birds imported last year has affected poultry productions.

Since egg production may be delayed by 11 months when importing parent birds, it has been decided to import hatching eggs as an alternative.

The Department of Animal Production and Health has prepared necessary preliminary work in this regard and the procedure for breeding parent birds from imported hatching eggs will be implemented using the two hatcheries located in Miriswatta and Marawila farms under the Livestock Development Board.

Steps have been taken to transfer the importation of hatching eggs to the National Livestock Development Board and private sector institutions while the Livestock Development Division at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Production and Health provide necessary facilities.

If these hatching eggs are imported before the end of February, the production of eggs can be brought to a higher level by next May and June, the officials of the Livestock Development Division pointed out.

News

Prof. Nalin de Silva no more

Published

2 hours ago

May 2, 2024

editor

Philosopher, intellectual and academician Professor Nalin de Silva has passed away at the age of 79. Prof. de Silva initially served as a professor in the Department of Mathematics and later as the Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Kelaniya.

He was also a former member of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

In addition to his academic pursuits, de Silva also worked as a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Myanmar.

News

‘Company issuing visa at BIA not Indian or Indian based’

Published

6 hours ago

May 2, 2024

editor

The Indian High Commission in Colombo has issued a statement over reports of Indian companies taking over visa issuance at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.

The statement notes “companies referred to in these reports are not India based or Indian and are headquartered elsewhere. Any reference to India in this context is unwarranted.”

News

Chaos at BIA raises questions (Video)

Published

8 hours ago

May 2, 2024

nipuni

Questions have been raised after chaos at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake last night (May 01) has sparked widespread outrage.

This is with regard to a controversial takeover of the on-arrival visa issuance process at BIA by an Indian company – VFS Global since yesterday evening.

It is learnt that the company has levied an extra $25 alongside the standard $75 fee.

Long lines of frustrated travellers were also seen at the airport for several hours, which is a stark difference to the procedure smoothly managed in a matter of mere minutes by the Immigration and Emigration Department in the past.

Footage of a Sri Lankan citizen expressing outrage over Indian nationals deciding visa matters for fellow Sri Lankans, has also been making rounds on social media.

Although 10 Sri Lankan and Indian officers had commenced work from 5.00pm yesterday, the lines remained well over 9.00pm. Amid tensions, higher officials of the BIA and security forces had also arrived at the premises.

At 11.30pm the company officials temporarily suspended issuing visas and left the BIA with the money collected, reports say.

Upon the directive of the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration – Harsha Ilukpitiya, Immigration officers have commenced their usual duties with no issues since then, enabling the previous process to continue smoothly.

Concerns have been raised over the lack of transparency in this arrangement.