Faced with tensions in the Middle East, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is exploring the possibility of sourcing African crude, while Russia has also come forward. Meanwhile, a decline in agricultural production is pushing up food prices again.
The Middle East accounts for 25% of total tea exports. And 60% of private remittances come from the 1.5 million migrants working in the region. A 5% drop in orders could cost up to million a year. Attention is focused on the Strait of Hormuz for possible blockades by Tehran.
Illegal sand mining, mineral extraction, and large wind power plants are perceived as a danger to the delicate biodiversity of the island. Many do not see these projects as development, but rather as causing even greater damage than war.
Controversy is raging in the country over the different treatment by authorities and institutions. The authorities promise investigations and punishment for those who violate the laws. Domestic tourism is essential to sustain the economy after the Easter massacres and Covid. AsiaNews reports on local people being denied entry, especially during the high season.
On the day that marks the arrival of Arahant Mahinda Thero in Sri Lanka, Christians and Tamils also organised special "dansala", free food, to celebrate the festival. One group made a significant step by handing out coconut saplings, which will bear fruit over the years.
The discovery was made thanks to the work of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (RRISL). The global problem affects plants by delaying the production of the nutrients they need, impacting latex output. With the disease, yields drop by up to 40 per cent. The problem could get worse in the future.
