News
Tea smallholders warn: Fertilizer shortage bound to impact adversely on SL’s tea exports
By Steve A. Morrell
Tea smallholders, who contribute the lion’s share of 70% of Sri Lanka’s national production, warned that the dearth of fertilizer has impacted adversely on the crop with an envisaged snowballing influence on exports.
“There is yellowing of the leaf surface contributing to substandard conditions affecting the quality of the finished product”, officials representing the Tea Factory Owners’ Association and the Tea Small Holders’ Development Authority, complained.
“The situation is grave as the lack of fertilizer will ultimately translate into a drop in quality tea, with the end result of exports taking a big hit, the officials, who asked not to be identified, said.
It is also of significance that the tea smallholder sector will feel the pinch of tumbling incomes on bought leaf delivered to tea factories, they noted.
Green leaf delivered to factories was paid Rs. 80-100 per kilo, subject to the net sales average of each factory in terms of elevation of its location. For example, a four-member smallholder family could produce at least 50 to 100 kilos green leaf per day, which gives them an income of Rs.10,000. Their earnings will now see a drastic drop due to lack of fertilizer, they pointed out.
In addition, the drop in income levels will also reflect adversely on their bank loan commitments plus repayments for electronic appliances and motorbikes purchased on monthly installment plans, they said.
Meanwhile, President, Asia Siyaka Tea Brokers, Anil Cooke, said Colombo’s prestige world-wide as a recognized tea center was now in jeopardy because of emerging dwindling standards because producers have been affected by quality issues.
“This will result in other producing countries scoring at the expense of Ceylon Tea”, he cautioned.
Brokers reported that price trends in the first six months of trading in comparison to 2020 clearly indicated that quality gravely affected auction prices. Although the low grown catalogue indicated some three million kilos auctioned, the demand was not increasing barometer.
There were areas of doubt that infused some degree of uncertainty on all round prices, they said.
Forbes and Walker, in their market report said, June average 2021 was Rs. 586.51 per kilo. Comparatively, June 2020 was Rs. 612.67, indicating a YOY drop of Rs. 26.16. per kilo.
Asia Siyaka Tea Brokers, and John Keells Tea Brokers also outlined the same position that Colombo was losing its significance as a key tea center, which was open to the assumption that there were buyers moving out of Colombo in preference to other auction centers.
Experts in the field have pointed out that replacing imported chemical fertilizer with alternatives cannot be done on an ad hoc basis. Many years of planning and study should go into the conversion process on a phased out basis.
The fertilizer crisis is not restricted to tea, but on a broad front applies to all plantation crops. Even agricultural exports such as fruit, which generate foreign exchange will suffer the consequences, they remarked.
There is also the threat of foreign investors in the field pulling out as export markets demand quality produce, they added.
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
