News

Govt. land in H’tota leased for brackish water shrimp farming

Published

2 years ago

August 8, 2023

editor

Shrimp farming is one of the main commercial aquaculture practices in Sri Lanka. This has resulted in a production of 14,414 metric tonness in the year 2021 and it is aimed to increase the production to 50,000 metric tonnes by the year 2025 to earn a foreign exchange of 65500 million rupees thereby.

However, the available land in the country that can be used for aquaculture is limited and this has become a challenge for the further expansion of commercial aquaculture.

The National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka has taken many steps to face this challenge.

One of them is the introduction of modern technology that can achieve high productivity in a limited space.

Accordingly, 218 acres and 30 perches of land belonging to the government located in Ambalantota Divisional Secretariat Area of Hambantota district has been identified as suitable for Vannamei shrimp cultivation which can complete a culture cycle in a short period of time.

As such, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the combined proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries and Minister of Tourism and Lands to provide this land to W.S.R. Lowe & K.M.N. Aqua Services (Pvt.) Ltd. and Rainbow Foods (Pvt.) Ltd, which have been selected following the government procurement process, 109 acres and 015 perches each, on a long lease basis for a period of 30 years based on the assessment of the government assessor.

News

Court summons ex-AGM of People’s bank over major fraud

Published

39 minutes ago

July 3, 2025

editor

The Attorney General has filed a case against one Vithanage Don Dayananda, a former Assistant General Manager (AGM) at People’s Bank head office, for allegedly preparing and using a forged document related to a Rs.2,000 million personal guarantee bond.

Colombo High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne has fixed the case (HC 39/2019) for trial on October 30. When the case was called on July 01, the accused had appeared in court.

It is alleged that around June 01, 2006, in Colombo, the accused knowingly prepared a forged document purporting to show that a personal guarantee bond, allegedly signed and dated July 27, 1995, by directors of Yashoda Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.had been submitted to the bank’s head office.

Despite being well aware that the document was a forged one, he had allegedly presented it as genuine evidence during the Commercial High Court Case No. 122/2004.

Therefore, the Attorney General has charged him under Section 459 of the Penal Code.

Related News :

Court orders CID to probe Rs.90 mn. fraud at People’s Bank

News

2nd round of Grade 06 admission appeals open online today

Published

1 hour ago

July 3, 2025

editor

The Ministry of Education has announced that online appeals for the second round of Grade 06 admissions in 2025, based on the 2024 Grade 05 Scholarship Examination results, can be submitted from today (July 03) until July 17.

Parents or guardians can submit appeals for up to three schools by visiting the official website of the Ministry of Education at www.moe.gov.lk or directly via the extension at g6application.moe.gov.lk.

News

Several showers expected today

Published

2 hours ago

July 3, 2025

editor

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts today (July 03), the Department of Meteorology said.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Meanwhile, fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.