News

USAID commences 5-yr. ocean plastics reduction project in SL & Maldives

Published

5 months ago

December 22, 2022

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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announces the official launch of a planned 5-year project in Sri Lanka and Maldives to reduce environmental plastics by decreasing industrial use of plastic and improving integrated solid waste management practices in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The project’s consortium, led by Research Triangle International (RTI) works alongside local partners to target system inefficiencies and areas of reliance on virgin plastics. The project’s overall goal is to increase participation in solid waste management and reduction programs, preventing thousands of tons of plastic from leaking into the environment.

“USAID is proud to partner with the governments of Sri Lanka and Maldives, the private sector, civil society, and communities to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic products, which threaten the health and environment of the Sri Lankan and Maldivian people” stated Gabe Grau, the USAID/Sri Lanka and Maldives Mission Director. “Combatting plastic pollution will reduce threats to marine ecosystems and livelihoods, food security, and ultimately, human health.”

Ocean plastic pollution threatens the world’s delicate marine ecosystems, the fishing and tourism sectors, food security, and human health. The equivalent of an entire garbage truck of plastic makes its way into the world’s oceans every minute—roughly eleven million tons annually. Stopping plastic pollution at the source is the most effective way to address this challenge. The majority of plastic ocean debris comes from rapidly growing cities along coastal areas in the developing world where governments struggle with growing populations and increasing amounts of waste.

Sri Lanka and Maldives face unique challenges in waste management. In Sri Lanka, the country’s solid waste management systems struggle to keep pace with growing urban populations. Maldives, an archipelago of 1,200 coral islands, has extremely limited amounts of land to store waste, and is overwhelmed by managing both domestic waste and marine debris carried in by ocean currents from other countries.

News

SLT, Colombo Lotus Tower placed under Finance Ministry

Published

54 mins ago

May 31, 2023

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A gazette extraordinary has been issued placing Sri Lanka Telecom, Colombo Lotus Tower, Sri Lanka Cement Corporation, State Engineering Corporation and several other state institutions under the purview of the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies.
According to the gazette issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the North Sea Limited, Sri Lanka Thriposha Co. Ltd., Galoya Plantation (Pvt.) Company, National Salt Limited, Paranthan Chemicals Ltd BCC (Pvt.) Limited, Mahinda Rajapaksa National Tele Cinema Park and the Lanka General Trading Company Limited will also be placed under the purview of the Finance Minister.

The gazette extraordinary has been issued by the Head of State by exercising the powers vested in him under paragraph (1) of Article 44 of the Constitution, with effect from the 30th of May.

Click here to read the complete gazette

BIZ

Fuel prices revised at midnight

Published

56 mins ago

May 31, 2023

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The CPC has reduced the prices of fuel with effect from midnight today (31).

The price of Petrol 92 Octane has been reduced by Rs.15 per litre to Rs.318 while the price of Petrol 95 Octane has been increased by Rs.20 to Rs.385 per litre.

In addition, the price of a Super Diesel litre has increased by Rs.10 to Rs.340 while a litre of Kerosene reduced by Rs.50 to Rs.245.

News

Over 3,000 child abuse incidents in Jan. – April 2023

Published

2 hours ago

May 31, 2023

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There have been 3,102 reported child abuse related incidents in the first four months of this year, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) revealed.

These statistics were presented during a workshop at the NCPA on 24 May, with the aim of raising awareness among the media about child protection issues.

Sajeewani Abeykoon, Director of Law Enforcement at the NCPA, revealed that on average they receive over 600 complaints per month.

The highest number of reported cases this year occurred in March, with a total of 1,026 cases. The figures for the first four months of this year are as follows: January – 779 cases, February – 703 cases, March – 1,026 cases and April – 594 cases.

Furthermore, the statistics from 2022 indicate a total of 10,497 reported cases.

Abeykoon said, “There was a slight decrease in reported cases during the month of July last year, possibly due to the Aragalaya protest, as the fuel and economic crises may have had a positive impact for the first time. In the previous year, there were a total of 185 serious sexual harassment cases reported, along with 729 minor sexual harassment cases, 167 rape cases, and 132 reported cases of child smuggling.”

(Excerpts : Ceylon Today)