News

Americares sends over 2 Tonnes of urgently needed aid to SL

Published

1 year ago

March 2, 2023

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Consequent to an official request of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C., and under the guidance of His Excellency Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe, Americares, the health-focused relief and development organization, has generously donated more than two tons of urgently needed nutritional supplements for pregnant women at risk of malnourishment across Sri Lanka.

An essential treatment recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), multiple micronutrient supplements are critically needed by the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka to support the nutritional health of pregnant women and to improve birth outcomes for babies. Over 16,000 pregnant women will benefit from the donated nutritional supplements.

In coordination with the Ministry of Health and the Food Commissioners Department in Sri Lanka, the shipment containing more than 2 tons of nutritional supplements from Americares arrived in Colombo on 24 February 2023.

“At a time when nutritional supplements are imperative for the island nation, the people of Sri Lanka and this Embassy express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Americares for their generous efforts to assist our country,” said His Excellency Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe.

In addition, Americares recently delivered a second shipment to Sri Lanka containing nearly 1 ton of medicines to help treat patients with parasitic worm infections. This donation will help treat more than 227,000 patients. “These medicines are in short supply in Sri Lanka and the shipment we received from Americares was put to use immediately to treat patients, especially children,” said Ambassador Samarasinghe.

Americares has a long history of providing assistance to Sri Lanka, including deliveries of medicines, medical supplies and relief items in response to emergencies and ongoing needs.

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster. Each year, the organization reaches 85 countries on average, including the United States, with life-changing health programs, medicine, medical supplies and emergency aid. Since it was established more than 40 years ago, Americares has provided over $22 billion in aid to 164 countries, including the United States.

News

China Pledges Full Support for Sri Lanka’s Debt Restructuring

Published

13 hours ago

May 4, 2024

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State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe has met with the Chinese Vice Minister of Finance Liao Min.

This meeting was held on the sidelines of the ADB annual meeting in Georgia.

Minister Semasinghe said on X ”at this discussion China assured its fullest support and cooperation to conclude the debt restructuring process in Sri Lanka.”

Furthermore, he said that China reaffirmed steadfast support to Sri Lanka on all fronts.(news first.lk)

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Sri Lanka slips down Press Freedom Index

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

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Reporters Without Borders released the 2024 World Press Freedom Index on Friday (03).

According to RFS, Sri Lanka has slipped to the 150th position in the index, from 135th position last year.

Click here to read the RSF Sri Lanka Fact File

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Companies should be ashamed of not giving workers a raise – Vadivel Suresh

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

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Mr. Vadivel Suresh, General Secretary of the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers’ Union, emphasized that both the Government and the Plantation Employers’ Association bear the responsibility of providing wage increases to plantation workers. These workers, who play a pivotal role in sustaining the esteemed reputation of ‘Ceylon Tea’, contribute significantly to the national economy of Sri Lanka.

MP Vadivel Suresh, made this statement during his participation in today’s (03) news conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC), under the theme ‘Collective path to a Stable Country’.

The Member of Parliament noted that plantation companies, benefiting significantly from the fluctuating dollar value, ought to feel ashamed for not providing their workers with a salary raise. He emphasized that the salary increase outlined in the gazette notice issued by the Labour Commissioner General for plantation workers should be implemented.

MP Vadivel Suresh further commented:

“We express gratitude to the President and the government for raising the salary of plantation workers to LKR. 1700. However, the Plantation Employers’ Association is contesting this decision.

The estate companies that profited greatly from the dollar’s value should be ashamed of themselves for not giving their workers a raise. Expressing opposition to the decision to increase wages for their workers, who contribute significantly to strengthening the national economy by upholding the reputation of Ceylon Tea, is regrettable. The decision to raise estate workers’ wages was not made hastily; rather, it followed extensive negotiations over the course of a year involving the Department of Labour, trade unions, and relevant stakeholders.

Employers’ unions persistently refrained from engaging in wage-fixing negotiations. Similarly, they remained silent when a salary increase of LKR 1000 was requested. However, the Labour Commissioner General, utilizing his authority, lawfully issued a gazette notice for a salary hike of LKR 1700. It is unjust for estate companies to procrastinate without providing relief to the workforce amidst fluctuations in the dollar’s value.

Both the government and the plantation Employers’ Association bear responsibility in this matter. Consequently, companies cannot contravene government decisions. Estate companies claim they are in dialogue with the high-level committee for the ultimate verdict. However, all 22 estate companies are owned by five individuals. These owners are involved not only in tea plantations but also in sectors such as tourism, small-scale manufacturing, agriculture, and gems. Additionally, plantation workers and trade unions must unite in support of this wage increase.

(President’s Media Division)

Gazette issued to up estate workers’ daily wage

Unable to increase daily wage – Plantation owners