Category: Other
Oxidising Tea
At the laboratories of the tea research centre, scientists are brewing a new cup of tea.They are testing the properties lquote Ceylon Tea grown in various regions of the island. Tea Board officials are hoping they will produce the marketing and branding break through the industry has been waiting for. ” If we could prove […]
Fast Track
Cabinet has rubber stamped a Labour Ministry proposal to clear a backlog of fifteen thousand labour tribunal cases on a fast track basis. The proposal to be ratified before parliament makes it mandatory for Labour tribunal cases to be settled in four months, arbitration cases in two months and termination cases in one month. rnThe […]
Freeing Labour
Cabinet has rubber stamped a Labour Ministrys proposal to clear a backlog of 15,000 labour tribunal cases on a lquote 4:2:1 solution.The proposal to be ratified before parliament makes it mandatory for Labour tribunal cases to be settled in four months, arbitration cases in two months and termination cases in one month.rn rnTo cut back […]
Stretching Rubber
Out-grower schemes for rubber in non-traditional planting areas are being developed as one way to bridge an expected shortfall in top quality grades for the local rubber products industry. Spearheaded by the Southe Development Ministry, a smallholder project is being developed in Moneragala to produce rubber that will then be processed into high quality grades […]
Recovery Mode
Sri Lankan tea production has swung into rapid recovery mode following a weak first quarter, to end at 181.8 mn kilos to date, up from 3.6 mn kilos the previous year. This follows a pick up in monthly production for each of the three months in the second quarter, which exceeded intakes for the same […]
Checkmate
Clamping down on excessive government spending, cabinet on Wednesday passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the UNF governments solution for the growing problem. The Act seeks to reduce the budget deficit to 5 per cent of GDP by 2006 and hold state institutions responsible for spending public funds. rn rnFinancial analysts say the move will prompt […]
Social Watch
The government is introducing a new law that will de-politicise welfare payments and improve targeting.“People will no longer be able to claim benefits due to political connections,” Deputy Finance Minister Bandula Gunewardene told the media. rnrn”The poorest of the poor who have no connections will now have a legal right to claim benefits.” rnrnThe government […]
Blue-Collar Blues
With the Youth Corp bill getting the Parliament nod an estimated 40,000 young persons will go into job – oriented training this year.A further 150,000 will receive training next year. rnThe training will also include leadership and teamwork skills. rnPromoters of the new bill say that young people of today are mostly interested in government […]
No more promises
A new law to prevent abuse of public funds while committing the government to its budget targets will come before the house soon.In addition to putting spending plans of the government in power under the strict scrutiny the proposed Fiscal Responsibility Act will also expose the impact of vote catching election proposals on the public […]
Limited Scope
The government plans to form an asset management company to takeover the debts of the two state banks.A top Central Bank official said the upcoming Bank Rescue Law, will makes its way to parliament before end September. rnrnThe debt recovery and collection agency or RACA will be modelled on similar lines to the successful Malaysian […]
Unorthodox Shift
Local factions in the tea industry say the Indian threat was looming for over a year, but officials here had made no effort to plan for competition. Sri Lankan orthodox teas sell at an attractive premium above CTC prices. In addition Sri Lanka dominates the orthodox market controlling well over 75 per cent of supply. […]
Rainy Day Funds
This is one of two pieces of legislation that are coming before parliament in the next few weeks, laying the groundwork for an eventual re-haul of the Termination of employment Act. rnrnFemale overtime is a key feature of the Factory Ordinance amendment, which is to be extended to 60 hours a month, as against the […]