News
Chemicals needed for organic fertiliser not banned, says Treasury Secretary
By Ifham Nizam
The government had not said that it would stop import of chemical fertiliser for industrial requirements and such imports would be allowed under licensed items, said Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle, yesterday.
Fielding questions at the weekly briefing at the President’s Media Centre in Colombo, Attygalle said approval had been granted for importing liquid Nitrogen under import control licences, as it was needed for the production of organic fertiliser.
In response to a query over The Island story headlined “Abolition of range of taxes in Nov. 2019 triggered crisis” published in our August 2 edition, he said he would respond. However, due to time constraints he couldn’t do so.
Agriculture Ministry Secretary, Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe-Mudalige, speaking on the sidelines of the event, told that The Island President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had taken the right decision on fertilisers.
The former Vice-Chancellor of the Wayamba University, Senior Professor and the Chair of Dept. of Agribusiness Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management added: “We are working with all stakeholders would help us achieve the set targets.”
Chief Advisor to President, Lalith Weeratunga quoted`President Rajapaksa as saying that the decision to start using organic fertiliser had been taken for the sake of the people and future generations.
The “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” policy framework promised a changeover to organic fertiliser, he said.
It was the responsibility of the government to act in accordance with the pledges made to the people. Previous governments tried to popularise the use of organic fertilisers but had not been able to sustain the practice. “This is a challenging task, but it should be done on behalf of the country after identifying the correct strategy,” Weeratunga said.
Earlier this week, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa issued a gazette notification re-authorising the import of several types of chemical fertilisers including urea for cultivation in the forthcoming Maha season.
Licensees will be permitted to import mineral or nitrogenous mixtures including urea, ammonium nitrate with calcium carbonate or other inorganic substances, super phosphates and mineral or chemical fertilisers containing two or all three elements nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
The Cabinet approved the proposal made by the Minister of Agriculture on the 31st of May 2021, to import the plant nutrients which include natural chelated minerals and micro matter.
As the above natural chelated minerals and micro matter were already being imported under the HS Code, but currently prohibited by the Gazette Notification No. 2226/48, and in order to grant Cabinet approval to the aforesaid Cabinet paper submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, the Gazette Notification No. 2226/48 was amended.
The above licences also permit the import of packets of compound fertilisers containing the three plant nutrients, namely mineral or chemical nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, or capsules containing a mixture of two of them or packets weighing 10kg or less containing such products.
All these fertilisers are allowed to be imported only by the relevant agencies as per the requirements or under special licenses issued only for limited quantities to suit those requirements.
In addition, nitrogen extracts (organic) and mineral potassium can be imported, which are not classified as chemical fertilisers.
“The government must ensure the right of the people to a non-toxic diet to produce a healthy and productive citizenry”, the Agriculture Ministry Secretary said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
