In an interview with AFP, CEO Shmuel Yoskovitz announced that the Singapore-based company will not pay the first instalment of the billion compensation ordered by the Colombo Supreme Court. "It undermines the principle of limitation of liability on which maritime trade is based. We have already spent 0 million to repair the damage." Sri Lanka had announced criminal proceedings in the event of non-compliance.
Minister Nalinda Jayatissa identified four challenges: aging population, noncommunicable diseases, mental health, and nutrition. He stressed the need for better diagnoses and treatment. One of the objectives is to improve the country's ranking on the Universal Health Index.
Every year, approximately 500,000 metric tonnes of fruit and vegetables are lost – enough to feed the country for up to four months. Among the causes are poor transportation and packaging. Losses could be reduced to 5.7 per cent by following the Ministry of Agriculture's guidelines. The Circular Project sponsored by the FAO and the EU aims to reduce food waste with a circular economy approach and digital tools.
The arrest of five major Sri Lankan criminals in Indonesia has caused a stir in the island country. While the public is calling for exemplary punishment, Sister Deepa Fernando, activist and educator, says that “these young men were not born killers.” She calls for healing society in three steps: educational reform, a culture of non-violence, and strengthening the judicial system.
Thousands of children, wives and parents have been waiting for years for news about the fate of their family members who disappeared in mysterious circumstances. War, political motives and terrorism are among the reasons behind the kidnappings, from the north to the south of the island. The story of the family of Madushka Haris de Silva, originally from Anuradhapura, who disappeared on 2 September 12 years ago.
A new environmental emergency has hit the strait separating the Indian coast from Sri Lanka, threatening to cripple local tourism and fishing. Carried by currents from India, mounds of plastic reach the Mannar region. Monsoon currents, which carry dust, are more difficult to collect, compounding the problem. Globally, the failure to ratify or implement agreements and treaties weighs heavily on the country.
