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‘No harvest’: Ruling clan sees support from farmers wilt
by Aishwarya Kumar
Tissamaharama (AFP) Farmers were once big supporters of the Rajapaksas, but a bungled fertiliser ban withered their crops along with their backing for Sri Lanka’s previously powerful and popular political clan.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government last year outlawed agricultural chemical imports in a desperate — and ultimately doomed — bid to conserve foreign currency and avoid a debt default.
It was portrayed by Rajapaksa as a push for Sri Lanka to be the world’s first fully organic farming nation.
But it was a disaster. Yields fell sharply, hitting growers’ incomes just as essentials like fuel, food and medicines became scarce and expensive.
“This devastation was a result of policies made by people sitting in air-conditioned rooms who do not understand farming,” said S Jaliyagoda, 66, the head of an association of rice farmers.
Calling it a “stupid” plan, he said experts had decried the move and farmers clearly voiced their disapproval.
“But despite the opposition, the government went ahead and imposed strict rules and forced it on us. And in the end, it failed,” he told AFP.
“All prices of all goods have shot up. Living has became impossible for people. Hunger has become very common. So people have now rejected (the government),” he told AFP.
More than a quarter of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people rely on agriculture.
In past decades the sector was a success story, producing enough for the domestic market as well as exports — in particular Ceylon tea, which fetched 1.3 billion dollars annually for the island nation.
The agricultural chemicals ban was initiated with little warning or training for farmers on how to cultivate crops without them.
MM Jinasena, a farmer for almost all his adult life, always grew enough to feed his family and sell some excess.
Now, the 55-year-old has cut down on the food that he and his family consume.
“When we used chemical fertiliser, we were able to get a yield of about 3,000 kilos (6,600 pounds) per acre… but since we switched to organic farming, we have received only about half that,” Jinasena told AFP.
“Now, I regret taking up farming. I will tell everyone to avoid it if they can.”
The ban on imported fertilisers was reversed at the end of 2021, and Rajapaksa admitted it was a mistake. But now chemicals are expensive — if they can be found at all.”Fertiliser, fuel and pesticides are not available. What is available is unaffordable,” said farmer Jinadasa Paranamana.
The 62-year-old has now, for the first time, taken up manual labour work to sustain his family.
The government announced last month that it would reintroduce subsidies for farmers but those in the community have little hope that they will be paid.
Farmers have joined the months of mass protests around Sri Lanka demanding that the Rajapaksas — Gotabaya’s brother Mahinda is prime minister — quit.
“There is no harvest, we toil away all day long, but we have no revenue or harvest… The president’s policies have failed,” said Paranamana.
“Now we are just living day-to-day, trying to make ends meet.”
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
