Category: Agriculture
Sri Lanka’s Plantation sector sounds alarm over 30% U.S. tariff
The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) has expressed grave concern over the United States’ decision to impose a 30% tariff on Sri Lankan tea and rubber exports, set to take effect from August 1st. The Association warns that this move could devastate two of Sri Lanka’s most historic and employment-intensive sectors, tea and rubber undermining […]
Pelwatte Dairy Launches First-Ever Pension Scheme for Sri Lankan Dairy Farmers
In a historic move that redefines rural financial security, Pelwatte Dairy Industries has announced the launch of Sri Lanka’s first pension scheme for dairy farmers, reinforcing its commitment to both national self-sufficiency and the welfare of the farming community. Pelwatte Dairy, one of Sri Lanka’s foremost homegrown dairy brands, has long been a pillar in […]
Seafoods, Seacucumber, and Seizing Opportunity in Jaffna
By Jekhan Aruliah Mr Ganendran is from Navaly, near Manipay Jaffna. Born in 1975 to a Christian Catholic family, Ganendran had his schooling from Grade 3 to A’Levels at St Patrick’s College. St Patrick’s is one of the leading Jaffna schools, not far from Jaffna Fort. In the midst of the Sri Lankan Civil War, […]
Bridging Farms and Markets to Strengthen Smallholder Farmer Resilience
As part of an ongoing collaborative initiative to empower smallholder farmers, representatives from Hirdaramani Apparel, Lacoste Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, recently conducted a site visit to the ‘Smallholder Farmer Resilience through Innovative Financing Project’ in Vengala Chettikulum and Vavuniya South Divisional Secretariat divisions. Mr. Mathieu Brousse, Vice President […]
Reforming organic agriculture laws in Sri Lanka to unlock export potential
With over 400 certified organic exporters/ processors and more than 12,000 organic producers, Sri Lanka’s organic sector contributes over $0.5 billion annually to the national economy. By aligning regulations with international standards, the country aims to strengthen its credibility in the global organic market and unlock new trade opportunities. Key organic exports include tea, coconut-based […]
Is the country prepared to harvest the potential dollar income through its rubber industry?
By Emeritus Professor Asoka Nugawela (Department of Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka & Former Director, Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka) Sri Lanka earned 930 million US$ from the export of both raw rubber and rubber products in 2023. Out of that the major share, around 900 million US$, came from the export […]
Opinion: Embracing change, charting a brighter future for Sri Lanka’s plantation industry
By Sunil Poholiyadde, Chairman of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon For 170 years, Sri Lanka’s plantation industry has stood the test of time. Despite continuous upheavals, it has managed to adapt and endure. Over this period, the ownership structure of the industry underwent significant changes—from 124 years of British colonial ownership to the post-independence era […]
Innovative Water Management Techniques Revolutionizing Paddy Cultivation in Sri Lanka
For centuries, rice has been the heartbeat of Sri Lankan agriculture, with over one million hectares of paddy fields cultivated annually, accounting for 37% of the country’s land use. But as climate change accelerates, the task of managing water resources, especially for paddy, has become ever more challenging. The Green Climate Fund financed Climate Resilient Integrated […]
A sip of History: The enduring legacy of Dambatenne estate
Nestled in the misty hills of Sri Lanka’s Uva Province is a living piece of Pure Ceylon Tea history in the form of Dambatenne Estate. Sprawling across the verdant slopes of Haputale, this iconic estate holds the legacy of one of the most famous names in tea—Sir Thomas Lipton. Dambatenne estate is a place where […]
ComBank to take advanced agriculture to Sri Lankan farmers, village by village
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has embarked on an ambitious mission to propagate technology in the agriculture sector, encompassing all areas of agricultural potential in the country. This initiative aims at empowering farmer communities and improving the quality and volume of crop yields by fostering sustainable agriculture practices and equipping rural communities with the latest […]
‘ Forum Ready to Collaborate with Govt for Economic Revival & Food Security
The Sri Lanka Agripreneurs’ Forum (SLAF) congratulates the newly elected government and parliament, expressing optimism for a transformative era in Sri Lanka’s agricultural and economic landscape. SLAF firmly believes that the new government, with its visionary leadership, has the potential to bring about the comprehensive changes needed to uplift the agriculture sector. This leadership offers […]
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Fitch Ratings has downgraded Kotagala Plantations PLC’s National Long-Term Rating to ‘CCC(lka)’, from ‘B+(lka)’, and its listed unsecured debentures of LKR251 million due between the financial years ending March 2025 (FY25) and FY27 to ‘CCC-(lka)’, from ‘B+(lka)’. The downgrade follows a major weakening in liquidity. We expect the statutory increase in labour costs effective September […]