Connect with us

BIZ

Imported corn seeds caught in aflatoxin fiasco!

Published

on

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has instructed the officials to immediately resolve the crisis that has prevented the release of corn seeds imported from India to the farmers.

The Prime Minister has made these instructions at the National Steering Committee to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals was convened yesterday (13) at Temple Trees.

Earlier, the distribution of imported corn stock was suspended due to the presence of aflatoxin but Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that it was simply a rumour.

The Prime Minister has further emphasized that if there is any ban on the release of the seeds needed by the farmers, the President or himself should have been informed. He also said they should be informed about which international standard was used to conduct tests before delaying the release of the seeds.

Speaking about social security included in the sustainable development goals, the Prime Minister pointed out that long-term continuation of court cases regarding minor matters is a serious problem faced by thousands of people across the country.

He also said that the government officials should be informed about the programmes to achieve development goals without limiting themselves to circulars.

United Nations Resident Coordinator Sarat Dash, who joined the discussion, said that USD 385 million is expected to be spent to achieve sustainable development goals of Sri Lanka between 2023 and 2027.

Continue Reading

BIZ

Qantas to close budget airline Jetstar Asia

Published

on

By

Singapore-based budget airline Jetstar Asia will close down at the end of July, its Australian owner Qantas has announced.

The low-cost carrier has struggled with rising supplier costs, high airport fees and increased competition from other airlines in the region.

Qantas says the closure will provide it with A$500m ($325.9m; £241.4m) to invest towards renewing its fleet of aircraft, adding that it will redeploy 13 planes for routes across Australia and New Zealand.

The closure of Jetstar Asia will not impact its Australia-based Jetstar Airways operations, nor those of Jetstar Japan, according to a statement from Qantas.

“We have seen some of Jetstar Asia’s supplier costs increase by up to 200 per cent, which has materially changed its cost base,” said Qantas Group Chief Executive Vanessa Hudson in the statement.

The discount airline, which has operated flights for over 20 years, is set to make a A$35m loss this financial year.

(BBC News)

Continue Reading

BIZ

Cement wholesale prices surge

Published

on

By

Cement companies have increased the wholesale price of a 50kg bag of cement by Rs.100, effective from yesterday (June 08).

The retail price remains unchanged.

The price hike is attributed to rising cement production costs, according to the companies.

Continue Reading

BIZ

SriLankan sends special relief flight to Sumatra

Published

on

By

SriLankan Airlines has dispatched a special relief flight – UL 302 from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to Medan International Airport on the Indonesian island of Sumatra to transport 101 passengers and crew members of SriLankan Airlines flight UL 306, which was grounded due to a technical fault.Singapore-bound SriLankan Airlines flight UL 306, which departed from BIA in Katunayake for Singapore last evening (June 05), had made an emergency landing at Medan Kuala Namu International Airport due to a technical issue.

Following an inspection by an Indonesian technical team, it was determined that the necessary repairs would require additional time. Therefore, SriLankan Airlines decided to accommodate the passengers in hotels.

Although a complication had initially arisen when Indonesian authorities initially declined to grant permission for hotel transfers, it was later resolved through the intervention of the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia.

Meanwhile, a technical team from Sri Lanka had departed for Indonesia on a flight bound for Jakarta this morning (June 06) to further inspect the grounded aircraft.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Sri Lanka Mirror. All Rights Reserved