Sri Lanka exports electronic waste to Japan; why not value added? (Editorial)

Sri Lanka will export three tons of electric and electronic waste today to Japan, says Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera. 

The waste was collected recently through a national drive early in October and the Minister says the programme will continue. However, the country lacks regular ways to collect e-waste. 

The Minister earlier said to Economy Next that the government expected to recycle some of the E-waste materials such as Iron, Aluminium and plastic which could be recycled in the country, while other materials which could not be dealt with in the country would be sent overseas. The recycling process within the country will be given to institutions which are registered under the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) which will also supervise the process, he says.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Industry Wimal Weerawansa is pushing for local industry and it is a wonder why the Ministry of Environment has not discussed with them to process and add value to these electronic waste. 

We hope the Ministry of Environment will continue this good move while the Ministry of Industry tries to liaise with them to process these electronic waste and add value to them before export.

The link is to the Licensed E-Waste collectors & Exporters in Sri Lanka. 

Send your opinions to us briefly. Email to prajalanka@gmail.com or use the form to directly contact the editor

Bus fare in Sri Lanka increased by 20% since tomorrow

State Minister of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments and Motor Car Industry Dilum Amunugama said that bus fares of Sri Lanka would be increased since midnight today.

He said that the price increase would be effective according to three methods. 

In the circumstances, the health authorities allow normal transport, no fare hike will be effective.

The second method is approved now by the health authorities. According to it, the buses will transport passengers only according to the number of seats. The buses will be allowed for 20% fare increase and the minimum fare will be increased from Rs.12 to 14. The bus fares of semi-luxury and luxury buses will not be increased.

In the circumstances, the passengers will be allowed only up to 50% of the number of seats, 50% fare hike will be allowed. The fare hike for semi-luxury buses is 20% and for luxury buses 10%. 

Minister of Gamini Lokuge said that the cabinet had approved this fare hike. He further said that the government would arrange with the suspension of leasing payment for six months for the private bus owners.

Rs. 300,000 concessionary loan will also be provided to the bus owners. 

However, most of the bus drivers and conductors earn a commission from the income and the government's proposals are less likely to provide solutions to their issues.

Sri Lanka government consults experts on burial of COVID-19 dead bodies

Sri Lanka government says that the government will consult the relevant authorities to make the decision regarding the disposal of the dead bodies of COVID-19 patients according to the health precautions.

"There are various opinions about the issue," cabinet spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said to media. "In the cabinet meeting yesterday, Minister Ali Sabry submitted a proposal to consider burial of the dead bodies of the Muslim COVID-19 patients, especially in dry zone areas. However, the cabinet did not make a decision. The facts will be forwarded to the relevant authorities and a decision will be made according to their recommendations."

According to the government decision, the health and other authorities will have to make recommendations about the request of the Muslims for their rights. 

However, Muslim organizations including extremist National Thawheed Jamath thanked the government for being benign to the Muslim sentiments regarding the burial of the dead. Sources say that Minister of Justice Ali Sabry is the lead advocate in the government for the rights of the Muslims for burial. 

However, contamination of water sources by the virus is cited by the persons who are against the burial of COVID-19 dead bodies. Both science and anti-Muslim mentality are behind the campaign against the burial of COVID-19 dead bodies.

(Photo from Amnesty.org)

No decision yet in Sri Lanka to bury the dead bodies of Muslims

Sri Lanka government sources say that no final decision has been so far taken regarding the burial of the Muslim persons who pass away due to COVID-19. 

However, Muslim organizations including extremist National Thawheed Jamath thanked the government for being benign to the Muslim sentiments regarding the burial of the dead.  

Sources say Minister of Justice Ali Sabry is the lead advocate for the rights of the Muslims for burial. 

However, the government sources further say that the probability of burying the dead COVID-19 persons on dry cemeteries is being studied. Contamination of water sources by the virus is cited by the persons who are against the burial of COVID-19 dead bodies. 

Sri Lanka government has no proper plan yet for school education

Parents of school students of Sri Lanka complain that no proper plan is available to conduct the paralyzed education of the country's children. They lament about schools not having plans, authorities not providing proper directions, internet and electronic media access of the low-income groups. 

Some schools and teachers conduct online classes but many parents lament about the limited access to them because of coverage issues, internet access, lack of equipment and the quality of online education.

Meanwhile, Ceylon Teachers' Union issuing a statement urged the government to streamline the use of television and radio channels to benefit the students because the electromagnetic spectrum is public property.

Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris said that Gurugedara Educational Channel telecast about 2,700 lessons from Grade 3 to 13. Gurugedara Educational Channel is telecast on Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation's Channel Eye which has poor visibility in some areas of the island. 

Sri Lanka State Ministry of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Remote Education Promotion announced that remote education would start for the school students since November 15. 

GCE Ordinary Level examination will not be held in December. The examination will be held from January 17 to 26, The Secretary of the Ministry of Education Prof. Kapila Perera says. 

The start of the third term of government schools was scheduled to November 9 but it was postponed indefinitely due to spread of COVID-19.

Out of 10,175 government schools in Sri Lanka, 1,468 schools have less than 50 students. The number of schools with the number of students from 51 to100 is 1,498. The Secretary to the Ministry of Education said that the authorities were considering the possibility to start these schools.  

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) planning to open an aviation technology school in Digana

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is planning to open an aviation technology school in Digana Air Force camp in Kandy district. Commander of SLAF Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana announced this addressing media at Kandy on 7th November. 

The newly appointed 18th SLAF Commander visited the sacred Buddhist Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and invoked blessings there. 

The Air Force Commander said that the aviation technology school would educate youth on aero technology, engineering and other related subjects. 

He said that similar schools would be started in Northern, Eastern, North Central and Southern Provinces as well in future. 

Sri Lanka Railway's wrong media statement causes trouble to Panadura commuters

A wrong message by Sri Lanka Railway communicated by media caused a loss to Panadura railway station and the passengers who use the busy railway station.

A press statement by Sri Lanka Railway wrongly included Panadura and Pinwatta railway stations on the coastal lines into the list of railway stations in isolated areas at which the trains would not stop. However, no media questioned why Panadura and Pinwatta that were not in isolated areas had been in the list. 

The trains stopped at Panadura railway station normally yesterday but the number of passengers was very few due to Sri Lanka Railway's wrong statement. 

R.A.S. Premathilaka, a journalist of Bandaragama reported to Divaina newspaper that four trains bound Colombo stopped at Panadura station between 5.45 and 6.25 a.m. and a train started from Panadura station at 6.45. Only 30 passengers had boarded on these trains from Panadura although the bus stands were crowded and the commuters were in trouble.

Photo Credit to http://www.shashanka.in/