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Drones being used to fight blight disease in rubber plantations
Plantations State Minister Kanaka Herath stated that rubber growers should pay proper attention to the spread of a fungal disease associated with rubber cultivation which reduced the production of rubber latex by about 30 per cent.
Deputy Director of the Rubber Research Institute Dr. Priyani Seneviratne said that rubber growers should be vigilant to prevent the spread of leaf blight fungal diseases due to the prevailing rainy weather.
This fungal disease was found in rubber plantations in the island in both 2019 and 2020. This year too, the disease is associated with rubber growing districts such as Kegalle, Kalutara and Ratnapura has been identified.
This fungal disease, also known as Pestalotiopsis, is also known as leaf blight due to the shedding of leaves in rubber plantations. Although the average annual leaf fall in rubber plantations occurs from February to April, the leaves fall even after the normal leaf fall period in rubber plantations where the fungal disease has spread, she said.
According to Dr Seneviratne if any rubber plantation sheds leaves in or after May, it may be due to this new leaf fall disease. However, due to the current outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and severe travel restrictions in the country to arrest its spread, it is practically difficult to inspect these crops or to control the disease in any way.
“It has been noticed that the disease is spreading rapidly due to the prevailing monsoon rainy weather. It is essential to know the extent of the affected areas to treat the disease and to prevent further spread of the disease.
Therefore, Dr. Seneviratne urged all rubber collectors to be vigilant about leaf fall during or after May. If a leaf fall has occurred on your rubber plantation during the month of May, please notify the Rubber Development Officer of the area where the rubber land is situated or call the following telephone number,” she Stated.
Accordingly, the Rubber Research Institute kindly requests the Rubber Growers to send details such as a picture of a fallen leaf, the address of the land, your telephone number, the clone belonging to the plantation and the extent of the land to this WhatsApp number 0772419482 .
The Minister pointed out that for the first time in Sri Lanka, a pilot project for spraying chemicals using drone technology was launched to control this disease. The pilot project carried out at Panawatta Estate, Yatiyantota, the chemical was sprayed on the leaves of the rubber leaves under the guidance of Rubber Research Institute officials.
Fungicide spraying has long been practiced from the root of the tree. Applying the chemical in this way is practically impossible. As a solution to this situation, drones are used to apply chemicals directly on rubber leaves. The pilot project has proven that the application of the substance is more efficient and effective. Therefore, this fungal disease was successfully controlled using drones.
State Minister Herath said that in addition to drone technology, modern pest control methods will be used to control the spread of this fungal disease in rubber plantations and prevent its further spread.
The fungal disease, which affects rubber plantations, was first reported in the Kalawana area in Ratnapura in 2019 and has now spread to districts such as Kegalle and Kalutara. Dr. Seneviratne said that there is a high probability of the spread of this fungal disease in areas with high rainfall.
The disease was reported from Indonesia in 2017 and Malaysia in 2018. It is estimated that production could be reduced by as much as 30 per cent. This fungal disease causes damage not only for rubber cultivation but also for many plants including avocado.
If the leaf shedding is more than 50 per cent, the rubber taping should not be carried out. This could reduce rubber production by as much as 30 per cent.
It can be observed that if one fungus infects one rubber variant, it is often resistant to the other variants. However, it is observed that the disease spreads to all species, she declared.
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
