Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières
A group of lawyers and businessmen were attempting to take over large swathes of Wattegama – Kebilitta forest reserve for large-scale corn plantation, Sajeewa Chamikara of Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform alleged yesterday.
Chamikara told The Island that people with political backing (...)
From the local fishmonger to the men who go out into the ocean to fill their nets with a catch, the X-Press Pearl ship disaster has placed the already suffering fish industry in a world of hurt.
“First the Peliyagoda fish market COVID cluster and now the ship disaster has resulted in people (...)
‘A spark’ that could lead to greater awareness of Tamil community’s struggles
When ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ fame Arivu from Chennai recently joined a virtual discussion with a group of activists and youth from Sri Lanka’s Malaiyaha or hill country Tamil community, there was one person binding them and their (...)
Organic agriculture expert calls Govt.’s import ban on chemical fertiliser impractical
Last month, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced that the importation of chemical fertilisers into the country would be banned in an effort to become the first country in the world to eliminate the use of (...)
Releasing gazette still in the process: State Minister
Nearly 90 days have elapsed since the farming community of Walsapugala had commenced a satyagraha demanding the proposed wild elephant management reserve in Hambantota to be included in the government gazette.
Walsapugala is a village in (...)
They seek a wildlife reserve for elephants to prevent them from raiding farms, homes
With rows of Sri Lankan flags fluttering in the morning breeze, it was not hard to spot the Independence Day event on Thursday in Walsapugala village, in the southern Hambantota district. But paired alongside (...)
At the third reading of the Budget 2021 the Minister of Agriculture, Mahindananda Aluthgamage informed the house his Ministry would prepare a national agricultural plan within a period of twelve months. In the context that under the present administration, the subject agriculture is fragmented (...)
The plantation sector workers have gone yet another year without seeing their daily wages increase and their standard of living further deteriorating amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his election campaign, pledged to increase the daily wage of a plantation sector (...)
Farmers and traders are tearing their hair in frustration and despair as fresh produce fails to make its way to market stalls due to COVID-19 curfews, with crops even being abandoned on farms or ditched at markets as sales fail.
They are pleading for the government and other authorities to (...)
Despite all efforts made by the Government in the development of the Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) sub-sector since its strong intervention after independence, one cannot be very happy about the status of Sri Lanka’s SSF as at present. Fishers complain of low catches and incomes and, in a context (...)
The ‘Pavidihanda’ Organisation headed by Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera launched a march towards the statue of Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala on September 18. The march was organised in support of the government ‘s decision to ban cattle slaughter. Cattle were paraded in a bid to convince people (...)
As Sri Lanka struggles with outstanding foreign debt, rural households across the country have been living off borrowings after exhausting their savings. Meera Srinivasan reports on how those already struggling with severe economic hardships are now grappling with a pandemic-induced crisis (...)
The time has come again to reveal the pathetic state of affairs looming around the plantation sector; unpredictable weather and work conditions, poor housing and education, low wages and poverty, while politicians are frantically crossing and switching sides to support the Presidential (...)
Often described as the backbone of the economy, close to 1.5 lakh tea estate workers have been agitating for fair wages for the last three years. Ahead of Sri Lanka’s presidential election in November, which the labourers see as another season of empty promises, Meera Srinivasan reports on how (...)
The ‘1,000 Movement’ comprising civil society organisations, human rights activists and trade unions said it will continue its struggle to increase the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,000 which had been deprived to them, despite repeated appeals for a decent wage.
The Movement (...)
Somewhere along a nondescript and bumpy but scenic B road between Bandarawela and Beragala Junction in Badulla lies the abandoned Mahakanda tea factory. For 10 months, this has been home to dozens of families whose houses were destroyed by the massive landslide that hit the village of (...)
Land and land policy has received much attention in recent times. There are numerous discussions and activism around land policy. For example, the LLRC has recommendations about land disputes in the North; land disputes were mentioned in the resolution passed against Sri Lanka during the 18th (...)
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