Sri Lanka expands crop insurance to protect farmers from climate risks

Sri Lanka's Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board has expanded crop insurance programs to give farmers stronger protection against natural disasters and climate-related risks, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation said in a statement on Thursday.

The ministry said the insurance schemes cover a wide range of crops, with priority given to key plantation crops such as cinnamon, rubber, banana, tea and coconut. The board has also introduced separate insurance coverage for seed paddy farms.

The schemes are offered at concessionary rates to help farmers protect their livelihoods from losses caused by adverse weather and other natural disasters, the ministry said.

Sri Lanka launched the expanded program amid growing concern over the impact of climate change and extreme weather on agriculture. The ministry said frequent droughts and heavy rainfall continue to affect crop production across the country.

This move comes in response to worries that El Niño conditions could heighten risks to farming activities, which can  affect crop yields and productivity.

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Sri Lanka Post to recruit 2,258 employees within 18 months

Sri Lanka Post will have recruited 2,258 employees within 18 months after it appoints 303 Postal Services Officers on the first of next month, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said.

The minister said Sri Lanka Post had already recruited 1,955 employees during the past 18 months. He made the remarks on Thursday at Postal Headquarters, where permanent appointments were granted to 192 acting sub-postmasters.

The appointments were made under a programme to strengthen the country’s sub-post office network, which provides postal and financial services to rural and remote communities.

The 192 officers had served for several years as acting sub-postmasters. They were selected from among 196 officers assigned to acting duties before 15 October 2020 and had met the required qualifications.

Dr Jayatissa said the appointments resolved a seven-year issue in the sub-postmaster service. Sri Lanka Post, he said, remained closely linked to the economy.

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Court defers consideration of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s petition to June 24

The Court of Appeal on Thursday deferred further consideration of a petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa seeking an order preventing his arrest in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

The petition was taken up before a Court of Appeal bench comprising Justices Rohantha Abeysuriya and Sarath Dissanayake.

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appeared for the petitioner, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath appeared for the respondents.

The petition names the Inspector General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department Director Shani Abeysekara, CID Officer-in-Charge Madhawa Gunawardena and the Attorney General as respondents.

The court fixed further consideration of the petition for June 24.