Air Arabia Cancels Mattala/Hambantota Service

Air Arabia Cancels Mattala Service

Sri Lanka's second international airport

Air Arabia, the Sharjah-based United Arab Emirates has cancelled its services to Sharjah – Mattala/Hambantota route,just 6 weeks after it became the first foreign carrier to service the newest international airport in Sri Lanka.The airline previously operated twice weekly service.

Reservations on the airline's website is no longer available, the Airline Route  reported.

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Sri Lanka to boost deep sea fishing

Sri Lanka to boost deep sea fishing

increase exports from $250 million to $500 million

Sri Lanka is planning to boost deep sea fishing and double tuna exports by 2015 with the help of new vessels from Japan and China."We hope to increase exports from 250 million US dollars to about 500 million" Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senarathne has said.

He said Kiyoshi Kimura of Japan known as Tuna King has visited Sri Lanka and he expects to bring about 4 vessels for deep sea fishing. Kimura runs a sushi restaurant chain in Japan.

The Minister said Sri Lanka had exported 256 million dollars worth of fisheries products last year out of which about 45% was tuna.

Sri Lanka had taken steps to ban purse seining, dynamite, light course fishing and stopped the sale and import of nets that damaged the fishery resources.

In the Indian Ocean Tuna commission Sri Lanka was about to be blacklisted when he was made minister but the country has made so much progress that they were now deeply involved in international fishery rule formation, he said.

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Heavy rain continues-Sri Lanka Meteorology Department

Heavy rain continues-Sri Lanka Meteorology Department

The island will experience heavy rains during the next few days

More than 2000 persons from Gampaha, Kandy and Matale districts have been affected by heavy rains during the past two days, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.In Wattala, 2212 persons from 479 families are affected from flash floods while 331 persons are presently housed in temporary shelters. During the last 24 hours, Colombo recorded 70.1 mm rainfall followed by Katunayake with 69.3 mm, Ratmalana with 37.8mm and 22.3 mm in Vavuniya. 

The Meteorology Department states that due to atmospheric disturbances in the vicinity of the country,Meanwhile the Department of Meteorology states many areas in the island will experience heavy rains during the next few days due to a disturbance in the lower atmosphere. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize the damages caused by lightning activities.

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Coca-Cola & Habitat for Humanity dedicate revitalized wells and schools in Batticaloa

Coca-Cola & Habitat for Humanity dedicate revitalized
 wells and schools in Batticaloa

Coca-Cola Sri Lanka

Coca-Cola Sri Lanka and Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka dedicated more than 1700 wells and 4 play schools to the community members and students of Batticaloa today, under a joint community revitalization project. The project was begun in 2011 after the devastating floods in the Eastern Province of the country rendered 1 million people homeless, with 200,000 acres of paddy fields destroyed and 100,000 wells contaminated. The two partners have helped in the clearing of 1783 wells and the rebuilding of 4 playschools, impacting more than 3,800 people in the region.

Neeraj Garg - Vice President, South West Asia & Juice Business,
 Coca-Cola India & South West Asia Business Unit;
 unveiling the commemorative plaque to
open the Navalar pre school in Batticaloa

Mr. S. Giritharan – Divisional Secretary (MN) of Batticaloa; dedicated the Navalar Pre-School in Batticaloa,in the presence of Neeraj Garg - Vice President, South West Asia & Juice Business, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia Business Unit; Sanjeev Kumar - Vice President-Finance, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia Business Unit; Tony Senewiratne – National Director for Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka, Kapila Welmillage, Country Managers- SABCO, Sri Lanka and Abhishek Jugran, Country Manager-Sri Lanka,Coca-Cola Far East Ltd.
Cleaning the contaminated wells in the affected areas was crucial, since the community depends almost exclusively on these wells for their daily supply of water. The project acquired a unique element when home-owners began providing unskilled labour to help the project teams in their work. This reduced the overall time and the monetary benefits than what was initially planned. The support extended by the community enabled the project committee to complete 1783 wells, versus the 1600 that were initially budgeted for.

Neeraj Garg - Vice-President, South West Asia & Juices, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia Business Unit said, “The Coca-Cola Company has a world-wide focus on sustainability and undertakes a number of initiatives on water, climate protection and promoting healthy living in the community. We believe
that sustainable businesses thrive only amidst sustainable communities. Therefore it is crucial for us to support community initiatives across the world, including in Sri Lanka. We undertake various programs in partnership with organizations like Habitat for Humanity to improve sanitation, hygiene and water conditions.

We are very happy that we have been able to make a positive difference to the lives of people in Batticaloa.We hope we can partner with more organizations in the future as well and impact the society and the environment in more positive, sustainable ways.”

Coca-Cola Sri Lanka and HFHSL not only ensured accessible clean water to people of the region, but also empowered the local community through training programs on water conservation, water preservation and critical, immediate disaster response techniques.

Tony Senewiratne - National Director for Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka commented - “Habitat for Humanity has been working in Sri Lanka for many years now, yet when we rebuild a school or clean a well,it is the same satisfaction we get – that we have made a difference to someone else’s life. We are very happy that we have brought about a change in the lives of the young children who can now gain access to education through these pre schools. We are glad that Corporates like Coca-Cola are partnering with us and we hope that more and more companies join us in our endeavors.”

The teams also distributed posters to homes, schools and government institutions on water filtration and conservation methods to ensure that the water used by people is not contaminated. A total of 20 training programs were held for community members in 8 villages and 43 training programs were held in schools across the region.

Coca-Cola in Sri Lanka

Coca-Cola in Sri Lanka refreshes thousands of consumers throughout the country with an exciting range of beverages including Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light, Sprite, Fanta Orange, Fanta Portello, Fanta Cream Soda, Lion Soda, Lion Tonic Water, Lion Gingerale, Lion Ginger Beer, Schweppes Tonic Water, Minute
Maid Orange, Minute Maid Mango, Minute Maid Apple and Minute Maid Mixed Fruit. The Coca-Cola System in Sri Lanka employs more than 400 people. Coca-Cola undertakes a number of community development and sustainability projects like the Coca-Cola Cricket Pathways to promote healthy active living, water and sanitation projects in partnership with organizations like United Nations Development Programme and Habitat for Humanity and PET collection and recycling with the Central Environmental Authority.

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David Cameron to attend CHOGM in Sri Lanka

David Cameron to attend CHOGM in Sri Lanka

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 

British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Foreign Secretary William Hague, will be attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka, Dr Chris Nonis, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK confirmed.

The Commonwealth biennial meeting in November this year, will be preceded by the Commonwealth People’s Forum, the Commonwealth Youth Forum, and the Commonwealth Business Forum, and usually attracts several thousand delegates, and global media coverage. It will provide the opportunity for the 54 Heads to meet to discuss matters of global and Commonwealth concern, and agree collective policies and initiatives.
“The prime minister believes this is the right thing to do for the Commonwealth and he will take a very tough message to the Sri Lankan Government: that they need to make concrete progress on human rights, reconciliation and political settlement,” the official said. “This Government is a strong supporter of the Commonwealth and we firmly believe that it can continue to be a force for good around the world, promoting the important values about freedom and democracy and rights.”

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Import tax on potatoes increased by 10 rupees

Import tax on potatoes increased by 10 rupees

Competitive market for the local farmer

The Import tax on potatoes has been increased by Rs.10 per kilogram  with effect from today(03-05-2013), Finance Ministry said.
The aim of the measure is to ensure a competitive market for the local farmer.
Accordingly, special commodity levy charged per kilo of imported potatoes has been increased from Rs.15 to Rs.25.

“The Government provides seeds and fertilizer to the farmers in order to boost local agrarian products. Particularly, high import taxes are imposed on products such as Chili, Cowpea, Green gram, Peanut, Sugar, Kurakkan which are locally produced to ensure a high price for the production of local farmers. Consequently, the country is self - sufficient in some of these products, such as rice and Maize and currently, local farmers are able to supply their production to meet 50% of the consumption requirement of the country” 

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Sri Lanka Champions Trophy Squad

Sri Lanka Champions Trophy Squad

ICC Champions Trophy 2013

Sri Lanka Cricket announced the 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2013,to be played in England in June 2013. 

The Sri Lanka team will be led by Angelo Mathews while Dinesh Chandimal acts as his deputy. Experienced TM Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene will join the squad along with Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath and Nuwan Kulasekara.

Off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake has been included in the squad as an expert spinner while explosive opener Kushal Perera too has been included into the side.  

Sri Lanka will have the services of five fast bowlers with the inclusion of Thissara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga and Chanaka Welagedara. 

Sri Lanka playing Group A alongside New Zealand, England and Australia.

Sri Lanka squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2013: 

• Angelo Mathews (Capt)
• Dinesh Chandimal
• TM Dilshan
• Kushal Perera
• Kumar Sangakkara
• Mahela Jayawardene
• Lahiru Thirimanne
• Jeevan Mendis
• Thissara Perera
• Lasith Malinga
• Rangana Herath
• Nuwan Kulasekera
• Shaminda Eranga
• Sachithra Senanayake
• Chanaka Welagedera

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