News

Local Government Elections are critical for Sri Lanka – US Ambassador

Published

1 year ago

March 12, 2023

editor

Local Government Elections are ‘critical’ for Sri Lanka, stated US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung.

She made the statement while speaking as the Guest of Honour at the 2023 edition of the National Law Conference, the most prestigious event of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, in Colombo on Sunday (12).

“Democracies are understrained across the globe and no democracy stands without the rule of law. You, all of you are the guardians of that precious rule” the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka stated.

“The United States support for the rights of everyday Sri Lankans to voice their concerns peacefully and participate in their government is unwavering,” Ms. Chung further explained.

The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka stated Sri Lanka’s “proud history of free elections underpins those rights”.

“Giving citizens the ability to advocate directly to the government in partnership with civil society organisations and through qualified legal representation in an independent judiciary. That’s why local government elections, we have been discussing, are so critical” she said.

(newsfirst)

News

China to back digital education transformation project

Published

39 mins ago

May 7, 2024

nipuni

The Chinese Government has pledged support for Sri Lanka’s digital education transformation project.

This project is expected to enhance general education by providing classrooms, data centres, and necessary equipment like tables, studio rooms, and conference rooms.

These resources will facilitate blended learning methods, and resource sharing, and enable teachers with special skills to engage students effectively.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Education.

News

MoP fertilizer subsidies to farmer accounts from today

Published

52 mins ago

May 7, 2024

nipuni

The Department of Agriculture emphasizes that the application of Muriate of Potash (MoP) to paddy cultivation has been quantitatively reduced in the last few seasons.

According to the Department of Agriculture, it is mandatory to use MoP fertilizer to strengthen paddy pods as well as to improve the quality of paddy seeds.

But the use of MoP has decreased in the last ‘Maha’ season. Only 11,000 MT of MoP was used despite around 800,000 hectares being cultivated during the season.

Although the MoP requirement for the ‘Maha’ season is 30,000 MT, it appears that only one third was purchased by farmers.Therefore, in a bid to promote the use of MoP, it has been decided to credit the fertilizer subsidy money to the farmers’ accounts in this ‘Yala’ season.

The Department of Agricultural Development states that depositing subsidies will commence from today (May 07) with financial allocations scheduled to be given to the farmers who have finished planting paddy fields.

Authorities have assured that sufficient stocks of MoP are available in the country.