Articles
Bridging the Workforce Gap: A Comparative Analysis of Global and Sri Lankan Labor Force Participation
Executive Summary Labor force participation is crucial for economic growth, with global rates typically ranging from 60% to 70% of the working-age population (ages 15-64). However, Sri Lanka faces significant challenges that inhibit its ability to reach these benchmarks, including outdated labor l...
WAGE NEGOTIATIONS, COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS & TRADE UNIONISM IN SRI LANKA
TRADE UNIONISM Master Servant struggle has been in continuation ever since the industrialised societies began in 18th century. However the need to protect the existence of the organization and its growth are considered to be paramount importance. In order to strengthen this thinking further...
Unleashing Transformation in Sri Lanka's Plantations Industry: A Journey Towards Sustainable Growth and Economic Prosperity Guided by Honesty and Integrity at the Ministerial Level
It was an extraordinary experience witnessing the Ministry of Plantations industries exhibit their exceptional teamwork at the national-level exhibition, which commenced on the 22nd June at BMICH. The active involvement of the esteemed Hon (Dr) Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Plantations Industries, a...
Strengthening Agriculture Insurance in Sri Lanka: Ensuring Food Security Amidst Climate Challenges
Dr. W.G. Somarathne is a highly respected expert in plantations Agri value chain management with over 40 years of experience. He holds a BA in Economics, a Masters in Agricultural Economics from Imperial College, London, and a PhD in Economics from La Trobe University, Melbourne. He has led key proj...
RETIREMENT AGE OF 60 – CEYLON PLANTERS SOCIETY
In the EU Member States, the most general retirement age is 65 years. Spain, Germany, and France are about to raise their retirement age from 65 to 67 years, while the goal is 68 years in Britain and Ireland. Increasingly, the retirement age is being linked to life expectancy. The OECD country with ...
Preserving Sri Lanka's Rich Agricultural Heritage Through Evidence-Based Practices
Sri Lanka boasts of a 2500-year-old agricultural heritage, which is a source of pride for its people. This knowledge was not born in laboratories but was developed through time-tested practices and a structured approach. However, the scientific method of research has led to further advancements in a...
NEW YEAR OIL PALM SONG OF SRI LANKA 2023
Verse 1: Oh the oil palm, black gold they say Helping economies rise every day Providing low-cost oil for all to eat A blessing for Sri Lanka, a treat so sweet Chorus: Oil palm, oil palm, let us cultivate A brighter future for our country, let us create Ban lifted, let us plant and grow A self-suff...
Revamping Sri Lanka's Agricultural Landscape: The Need for a Comprehensive Policy Framework
With insights from Professor Buddhi Marambe, an expert in agricultural policy from the University of Peradeniya, this article delves into the state of Sri Lanka's agricultural landscape. Sri Lanka has lacked a comprehensive agricultural policy for a considerable period of time. Despite the presence...
Driving Sri Lanka’s Economic Revival: Leveraging Value-Added Products, Latest Technologies, and Upmarket Opportunities for Sustainable Competitive Advantage
Mr. Indra Rupasinghe stands as a leading figure in plantations Agri value chain management, with an illustrious career spanning over 40 years dedicated to sustainable agriculture. His leadership has been instrumental in enhancing crop production and advancing sustainability in Sri Lanka. Notably, Ru...
ලංකාවේ කටුපොල් වගාව අපක්ෂපාතී විදු ඇසින්
වසර 2018 දී පමණක් අප රටේ ජනතාවගේ පරිභෝජනය සදහා පාරිභෝගික තෙල් මෙට්රික් ටොන් 234,738 ක් ලංකාවට ආනයනය කර ඇත. මේ සදහා විදේශ ව...
රුපියල් බිලියන 30 ක පාරිභෝගික තෙල් අවශ්යයතාවය රටතුළ නිපදවමු
කෝවිඩ් වසන්ගතයත් සමගම වැවිලි ආර්ථිකය නැවතත් සැමගේ අවධානයට නැවතත් ලක්වී ඇත. 1974 සිට මේ දක්වා වැවිලි ආර්ථිකය ගොඩනැග...
IS PLANTATIONS INDUSTRY A MISGUIDED MISSILE?
The dawn of 2021 is around the corner. The global pandemic has opened our eyes to the viable alternatives which is a blessing in disguise. Especially at a time, the industry is harping on low productivity and high costs. However, this opportunity could be the last chance to many industries in Sri La...
Securing Sri Lanka's Farming Future: Why Agriculture Insurance is Key to Avoiding Food Shortages
Mr. Indra Rupasingha, a senior value chain consultant at Vivonta Green Tech, has collaborated with the World Bank on intercropping spice crops, coffee, and tea. His expertise, enriched by Scandinavian and European agricultural systems, includes environment-controlled agriculture, organic production,...
Empowering Ex-Planters: Building Global Connections for a Sustainable Future
Introduction: Sri Lanka is facing the challenges of population aging, which has led to significant changes in the structure and behavior of its society. One noticeable trend resulting from this demographic shift is the increasing re-employment of individuals after their formal retirement. Among var...
Trailblazing Tea Evangelist: A Tribute
Within the heart of the Camellia sinensis plant, a mystique brew called tea emerges. Nature's delicate gift, this herb once held an enchanting allure, now fading into the annals of time. In the realm of tea, one name reigns supreme, echoing quality and the spirit of Ceylon. The late Merrill J Fe...
Captivating the President's Attention: Urgent Rally to Safeguard Sri Lanka's Rubber Realm from the Menace of Circular Spot Leaf Disease (CSLD)
Unveiling the Unseen: Catalyzing Action to Protect Sri Lanka's Precious Rubber Heritage The foreboding specter of Circular Spot Leaf Disease (CSLD) looms ominously over our cherished rubber industry, casting a shadow of uncertainty. Identified by the vigilant eyes of the Rubber Research Institute o...
Ceylon Tea – Climate and Profit per Hectare of Tea – Part 2
Seedling tea, also known as clonal tea, is a type of tea that is grown from genetically identical plants that are propagated from a single parent plant. It has the potential to be beneficial in mitigating the impacts of climate change for several reasons: Climate adaptation: Seedling tea plants ar...
Bee Conservation and the Implementation of National Agriculture Policy: Ensuring Food Self-Sufficiency
To ensure the successful implementation of the National Agriculture Policy and achieve self-sustainability in food production, it is imperative to address two crucial elements: ensuring adequate water supply for farmers and promoting the growth of the pollinator population. With the anticipation and...
Addressing the Challenges in Sri Lanka’s Rubber Cultivation: A Strategic Approach by Mr. Sarath Chandrasiri Vithana, the new chairman RRB (Rubber Research Board), Sri Lanka.
The Rubber Research Board (RRB) in Sri Lanka was established under the Rubber Research Ordinance No. 10 of 1930 and redefined by the Rubber Research Act No. 4 of 1979. This Act expanded the board’s responsibilities, enhancing governance and promoting effective research and development in the rubbe...
Mobilizing for the Resurgence of Sri Lanka's Rubber Industry
The Sri Lankan rubber industry, once the bedrock of our economy, faces an alarming crisis. This crucial sector is now perched perilously on the precipice of decline. To safeguard our economic stability and protect the livelihoods of many, swift and determined action is imperative. Are you cognizant ...
Leadership Competency Development for Sri Lanka’s Future:
Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne is currently a Director at ANCL and previously served as Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education in Sri Lanka (2010–2015). He introduced the K-SAM Graduates Model, revolutionizing higher education. With extensive public and private sector experience, he holds a b...
ශ්රී ලංකාවේ කටු පොල් වගාවට නිවැරදි නායකත්වයක් අවශ්යය වේ.
ජන හා සංඛ්යාලේඛන දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව මගින් 2017 වසරේදී කරන ලද සමීක්ෂණයකට අනුව තේ හා රබර් අස්වනු නෙලන්නන් 2900 කගේ පමණ විශා...
Igniting Economic Revival: Constitutional Reforms for Sri Lanka’s 9th President
Executive Summary: Sri Lanka, grappling with a stagnant GDP of $80 billion and recent bankruptcy, stands at a crossroads as it elects its 9th President. None of the 38 presidential candidates have adequately addressed the critical objectives of doubling the GDP to $160 billion and raising per capi...
Achieving Sustainability in Sri Lankan Plantations through Value Chain Management
The recent increase in wages for daily paid workers on plantations, mandated by the government, presents a significant financial challenge for plantation owners. However, this challenge can be transformed into an opportunity through the adoption of value chain management as detailed in the Agri Mode...
RESURRECTING PLANTATIONS INDUSTRY – 2019
Both our good neighbours China and India are trying to achieve 50 Trillion USD economy (GDP) by 2050. Both these economies have heavily invested in improving IT/ICT and in R & D. Sri Lanka must increase provisions for R & D at least 1% of GDP PPP. Almost 4.1% of the population of Sri Lanka lives bel...
The Minister of Health: "Revitalizing Sri Lanka: Transformative Changes in Food Labeling (Tea?) for Health and Wellness."
To propel Sri Lanka towards a healthier future, ensure sustainable food practices, and foster mindful eating habits for the well-being of generations to come, a transformative shift in our approach to food labeling is imperative. An impactful and cost-effective solution is the immediate implementati...
Circular Leaf Spot Disease
Although it was suspected to be the Pestalotiopsis leaf disease at the beginning it has now been positively identified as the circular leaf spot disease (CLSD) by the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka. Therefore, the damage it can do to the industry is not to the extend it happened in Malaysia...
Tea Factory Owners Must Be Treated Meaningfully
The extra special gazette notification dated 7 th January 2020 according to a directive issued by His Excellency the President on simplifying people friendly management system is referred. H ora (thief) is a well-established nickname for certain entrepreneurs in our society. Although a handful ...
Unlocking the Value of Sri Lankan Agricultural Products: Leveraging Nutrient Density Labeling for Global Market Success
Nutrient density is a measure of the amount of nutrients per serving of food or per unit of weight of a particular food. Different spices have different nutrient profiles and therefore different nutrient densities. Here are some examples of nutrient densities for some common spices that Sri Lanka is...
An HR Strategy For Acheving A Debt Free Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, despite its rich cultural heritage and natural resources, has been facing economic struggles in recent times, including a heavy debt load and a wide trade deficit. Despite efforts by the government to secure loans and implement austerity measures, the country remains mired in a debt crisi...
The Ceylon Planters Society Come Forward To Thwart A Foreign Currency Crisis
Sri Lanka is going through an economic meltdown of a scale unseen since the country's financial crisis of 1948, right after it secured independence from the British Empire. The Ceylon Planters Society has pointed out repeatedly that the plantations industry has the potential of earning USD 10 B per ...
Revolutionizing Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Through AI-Driven Agriculture Prompt Engineering
Executive Summary: Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector faces significant challenges, including inefficient resource use, low crop yields, and vulnerability to climate change. Agriculture Prompt Engineering, an innovative approach integrating AI, machine learning, and data analytics, offers a powerfu...
Plantations Policy and The Factors of Production
Plantations in Sri Lanka are a type of commercial farming where a single crop of tea, rubber, coconuts, sugarcane, cashew, cinnamon, timber, and oil palm is grown. This exercise is an attempt to understand the interventions required to harvest the untapped potential of the industry through the facto...
The Whispering Woods: How Trees Talk Through Fungal Networks
Beneath the rustling leaves and towering trunks lies a hidden world of communication. Trees, often seen as solitary giants, engage in a silent dialogue with each other through a network of fungal filaments. These fungal threads, known as mycorrhizae, weave between tree roots, forming a symbiotic con...
Prof. Upul Subasinghe
Prof. Upul Subasinghe is attached to the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. His expertise and research interests are forest, forest plantation managem...
Prof. S.P. Nissanka
Professor Sarath Premalal Nissanka possesses a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture with Honors from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, as well as Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy...
Dr Sunil Jayantha Nawarathne
Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne is currently a Director at ANCL. Previously, he served as the Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education in Sri Lanka from 2010 to 2015. During this tenure, he and his ...
Prof. Ajantha S. Dharmasiri
Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri holds unparalleled importance in plantations Agri value chain management, combining over three decades of diverse private and public sector experience, including roles at Unil...
Dr W G Somarathne
Dr. Somarathne stands as a distinguished figure in plantations agri value chain management, leveraging over four decades of expertise and a robust academic background. Graduating with a First Class i...
Attorney-at-Law / Solicitor (England & Wales) Mangala A Niyarepola
Attorney-at-Law/ Solicitor (England & Wales)/ MD at CeyLits Chambers
Mr. Dyan Seneviratne
Dyan Seneviratne is a distinguished figure in the realm of plantation agriculture, renowned for his extensive expertise and value chain capabilities. Selected by the World Bank in 2017 to join the 'Ex...
Mr. Indra Rupasingha
Mr. Indra Rupasingha emerges as a stalwart in the realm of plantations Agri value chain management, boasting a distinguished career spanning over 40 years. His unwavering commitment to sustainable ag...
Dr Rudy Fernandez
Dr. Rudy Fernandez; Rudy's profile is emblematic of a distinguished career marked by profound contributions across various sectors, with particular significance in the context of plantations agri val...
Attorney Kumarawickrama
Attorney R.A.D. Kumarawickrama, aged 71, is an accomplished Attorney at Law specializing in Employment Law for over 25 years. With professional qualifications as an Attorney at Law and a Chartered Che...
Attorney Dinendra Senarathne
Attorney Dinendra Senarathne brings invaluable expertise to plantations agri value chain management through his extensive legal career, specializing in Labour Law, Industrial Law, Arbitration, and Pro...
Mr. Sanuja Kobbekaduwe
Sanuja Kobbekaduwe's school leadership as Tennis Team Captain and Interact Club Vice President showcases versatile skills, emphasized by achievements like the Platinum Standard Club Award and completi...
Mr. Dammike Kobbekaduwe
Welcome to Vivonta We extend a warm invitation to explore the diverse services offered by Vivonta, envisioning the entirety of Sri Lanka as a potential "smart plantation" hub with unparalleled compet...
Dr Gamini Piyadasa
Chithra Kirthi Gamini Piyadasa is a male senior research scientist currently residing at 118 Sable wood Rd, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Born on October 27, 1959, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, he holds a Ph.D. in I...
Mr. Sudarman Siripala
E.A.D. Sudarman Siripala is a registered licensed surveyor and the Managing Director of Geoinformatics International (Pvt) Ltd. With over 40 years of experience, he began his career as a government su...
Mr. Senaka Muhandiramge
BA, MBA, Auditor for ISO 9000 (quality management system) series and ISO 14000 and SA 8000. Possess over 35 years of experience in HRM/General Administration, of which a few years in Logistics in the ...
Mr. Sher Afzal
Sher Afzal, of Pakistani origin, holds professional accounting education from ICMAP and ICAP. With over two decades of experience, he founded Global CEO’s Club Pvt. Ltd.
Prof. Nalin Abeysekera
Professor Nalin Abeysekera is attached to the Department of Marketing Management, Faculty of Management Studies of the Open University of Sri Lanka. He is a graduate of the University of Sri Jayewarde...
Prof. Lasitha Devendra
Professor at Brittany Université, UK, Former Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology, AUC, Senior Lecturer Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sabaragamuwa ...
Prof. Sudharma Yatigammana
Professor Sudharma Yatigammana has held diverse administrative roles at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, from 2004 to 2023, displaying notable leadership. Serving as Chairperson for the Intern...
Dr. GG Jayasinghe
Dr. GG Jayasinghe is a seasoned researcher with 28 years of expertise in cinnamon cultivation. Having served as a research manager at the Matara National Cinnamon Research and Training Institute, affi...
Dr. K. Ramasamy,
Dr. K. Ramasamy, a distinguished leader in agricultural education and research, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the realm of value chain consultancy for Vivonta clients. With a two-term...
Lt Col Upali Premadasa
It's great that Lt. Col Upali Premadasa is involved in designing a physical fitness program for estate security personnel, with a focus on strength, endurance, and flexibility. This comprehensive appr...
Lt. Col. Dr. Asanka Pallewatta
Dr. Asanka, a PhD holder in nanotechnology, boasts a diverse research and academic background. Having earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Japan (in Japanese medium) and completing his PhD in...
Mr Arjun Dharmadasa
Arjun Dharmadasa, the Managing Director of Lanka Exhibition & Conference Services (LECS), leads a regional organization with a global vision, supported by influential business figures with substantial...