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Plans to cultivate 36,000 acres of coconut this year

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The Minister made this statement during the Ministerial Consultative Committee meeting on Plantation and Community Infrastructure, held under his Chairmanship at Parliament on March 05. Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure – Sundaralingam Pradeep, was also participated in the meeting.

To enhance coconut cultivation, the minister announced that 2.5 million coconut seedlings will be produced this year. Furthermore, from the 55,000 metric tons of MOP fertilizer received free of charge from Russia, 27,500 metric tons are being utilized to produce 56,000 metric tons of mixed fertilizer for coconut cultivation. Through this initiative, fertilizer subsidies will be provided to coconut estate owners with less than five acres of plantations. Accordingly, a 50 kg sack of this mixed fertilizer, which is valued at approximately LKR 9,500 in the market, will be made available to coconut farmers nationwide at a subsidized price of LKR 4,000 by the end of this month.

Additionally, under the Indian Aid program, 4,700 estate-sector houses are expected to be constructed this year as part of the 10,000-housing project. The Hon. Minister emphasized that while there were previous reports of political favoritism in the selection of housing beneficiaries, this time, the process will be conducted with greater transparency and without political bias. Also, priority will be given to families residing in landslide-prone areas, he said. Furthermore, LKR 1.3 billion in domestic funds is expected to be allocated for the improvement of estate housing and related infrastructure development.

Addressing the Committee, Secretary to the Ministry, Mr.Prabath Chandrakeerthi, presented an overview of the ministry’s operations and future plans. He stated that approximately 30,000 hectares of underutilized plantation company lands have been identified and that steps are being taken to allocate these lands to investors.

Moreover, the secretary reported that Sri Lanka’s total tea production in 2024 was approximately 262 million kg, while the target for 2025 is set at 275 million kg. He also noted a decline in rubber exports despite Sri Lanka being the home of the world’s first rubber research institute and announced that the target for 2025 is 78 million kg of rubber exports. Additionally, the goal for coconut production in 2025 is set at 2,875 million, he said.

During the meeting, discussions were also held regarding the threat of declining quality in Sri Lankan tea and cinnamon due to excessive use of glyphosate and other factors, highlighting the need for greater attention to this issue.

Members of Parliament also raised concerns regarding the quality standards of tea fertilizers, the promotion of cashew cultivation, and other issues relevant to the ministry.

The meeting was attended by ministers, deputy ministers, members of Parliament, and officials from institutions under the Ministry of Plantation and Rural Infrastructure.

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Police come out in full force for Lankan contestant Anudi at Miss World

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The Sri Lanka Police have mobilised support for Anudi Gunasekara, daughter of SSP Hemantha Gunsasekara, as she competes in the 72nd Miss World pageant. A congratulatory message was officially shared this week, recognising her as Sri Lanka’s representative at the international event.  

A circular issued by the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya was shared with Senior DIGs, DIGs, commanding officers, directors, OICs, and headquarters inspectors across the country. The directive outlined the importance of supporting Anudi through social media engagement.

The document emphasised that online popularity plays a role in the selection process. It included instructions for downloading the Miss World mobile app, voting for the candidate, and increasing her online presence by liking, commenting, and following her pages.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Buddika Manathunga defended the initiative, describing it as a matter of national pride. “Her representation brings honour to the country,” he said, noting that public funds were not used and drawing parallels with past promotional efforts for Sri Lanka Cricket.

Anudi among 20 finalists

Anudi Gunasekara, Sri Lanka’s representative at the 72nd Miss World pageant, has advanced to the 20 finalists of the Head to Head Challenge. She has also secured a place among the Top 5 finalists from Asia.

The final competition of the Miss World Festival will be held next Saturday, on May 31 at the HITEX Convention Center in Hyderabad, Telangana.

The public have been invited to vote for contestants via the “Miss World” app which can be downloaded via Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

(sundaytimes.lk)

(This story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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CIABOC unearths cash-for-favors racket at Motor Traffic Dept

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A Bribery Commission raid at the Motor Traffic Department on Friday resulted in the detection of Rs. 4.1 million in cash in the office of a deputy commissioner, believed to be bundled for distribution among selected staff later in the day as part of collections from private parties during the week.

Investigators from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) had found the cash packed in packets and

ready for distribution when they raided the premises armed with a search warrant.

Further investigations have found that the cash amounted to bribes collected from people who had visited the different divisions of the DMT from Monday to Friday of that week, sources added.

Bribery Commission officials who visited the DMT with the search warrant had come upon the cash stacked in a cupboard in the office room of one of the deputy commissioners.

The key to the cupboard, however, had been in the hands of an office assistant, who was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation of why he had the key to a cupboard with so much money in his possession.

CIABOC officials had arrested the deputy commissioner, a management assistant and the office assistant once they uncovered that the cash had been collected to be distributed among DMT employees on Friday.

The three suspects, identified as Deputy Commissioner Dilantha Nuwan Kumara, Pradeep Nishantha and D. Samantha Perera, were produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga and remanded till June 6.

(sundaytimes.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Legendary actress Malani Fonseka passes away

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Veteran Actress Malini Fonseka, widely revered as the “Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema,” passed away this morning (May 24) at the age of 78 while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.

Born on April 30, 1947, in Kelaniya as Wanni Arachchige Malani Senehelatha Fonseka, she later rose to fame in Sri Lankan cinema under the name Malani Fonseka.

Fonseka began her acting career on stage in 1963 and made her cinematic debut in 1968 with the film Punchi Baba.

She won the Most Popular Actress award in 1973 and has received numerous accolades, including the President’s Award, Sarasavi Award, OCIC Award, and Sumathi Award, with several honors for Best Actress.

Plays such as Nidhanaya, Bambaru Awitha, Wekande Walawwa, Aradhana, and Ammawarune are regarded as outstanding works that showcased the acting talents of Malani Fonseka.

Beyond her artistic achievements, she entered politics in 2010 and served as a National List Member of Parliament until 2015.

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