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| Tea
buyers keep close eye on labour conditions on estates The Tea Sourcing Partnership (TSP) of UK, which covers virtually 70 percent of the UK tea market, has said they would buy tea only from countries that comply with all the relevant labour rules, an industry expert said.“Their aim is to improve the social conditions of labour involved in the tea industry,” said Daya Wickramatunga, tea consultant at MJF Group, which manufactures Dilmah tea. “They state categorically that they have a shared responsibility for the social and ethical conditions involved in sourcing the tea they buy,” he told members of the Ceylon Planters’ Society in a speech on ‘Industrial Harmony’. Wickramatunga said that tea packers want to ensure that producing countries have laws to specify for hours of work, minimum age equal opportunity, health and safety, leave, education, housing, leave, summary dismissal and disciplinary procedures. “These they consider as basic ethical standards that need to be in place,” he said. “If not they will stop buying our tea.” The packers appeared to be satisfied that Sri Lankan laws cover all these provisions, he added. “If any estate or factory supplying tea does not comply with these rules and regulations, TSP members will cease to trade with such entities,” he said. The market share of Ceylon tea in the UK is just six percent, but the organisation feels that their mission would soon spread to other buyers as well, he said. Wickramatunga also said that it was important to adopt conflict management strategies to solve labour unrest in order to reach an amicable settlement in the case of disputes. Boost
for China-Lanka economic ties The vice chairman of CCPIT, Liu Wenjie, and his delegation recently held talks with Arjunna Mahendran, Chairman/Director General of the Board of Investment and other BOI officials. The CCPIT hopes to obtain a better understanding on Sri Lanka’s business environment, especially on the BOI’s incentives regime. The delegation was also keen to find out more on the peace dividends from which the country has recently benefitted. Liu Wenjie said that he will promote the country to investors in China. He said that the BOI and CCPIT have very similar roles and functions and should maintain strong ties. He also suggested
that the BOI should hold investment seminars in China. BIMST-EC
Business Forum NCCSL has invited
private sector delegations from each of the BIMST-EC countries.
Each country
is required to present a paper covering these aspects. Trade and Investment - (sub-sectors: - textiles and clothing, drugs and pharmaceuticals; gems and jewellery, horticultural and floricultural products; processed food, automotive industry and parts; rubber, tea, coffee, coconut and spices). Technology, transportation and communication, energy, tourism and fisheries. Ceylinco
provides genetic cancer testing facilities The Centre has
entered into arrangements with overseas laboratories to provide
Sri Lankans with easy access to testing for the dreaded ‘cancer
gene’ which could be an indicator of hereditary susceptibility
to the disease, a company statement said. It said certain leukemias and lymphomas could also be diagnosed and managed better with these genetic tests being made available to physicians. “Between 5 to 10 per cent of all cancers are shown to have a hereditary or familial link, and genetic testing will help identify those who are at high risk, reduce the risk and reduce the burden of cancer on families and the society at large,” said Prof. Rohan Jayasekara, Director - Human Genetics Unit and Professor of Anatomy of the Colombo Medical Faculty, who heads the genetic team of the Ceylinco Cancer Detection Centre. He said genetic testing for cancer is still largely done on an ad hoc basis at certain research facilities in Sri Lanka. Persons identified as being at high risk do not have access to professional counselling and a structured system of assistance after the testing. “Genetic testing is only the beginning and not the end of the process,” Professor Jayasekara stressed. The Ceylinco Cancer Detection Centre is equipped to provide counselling and cancer screening tests in accordance with accepted medical guidelines of individuals. Additionally genetic screening with the option of DNA testing and genetic counselling services are also available. Established in collaboration with the Washington Cancer Institute, the Ceylinco Cancer Detection Centre has the latest available medical facilities for comprehensive screening for several types of Cancer. Govt
gives assurances on privatisation “The plantation industry now has access to a very high standard of service and quality state-of-the-art software, equipping it to perform even better than that of the rest of the world,” said Samantha de Silva, the Project Manager of SSP. “The demand for advanced technology business solutions by the rapidly modernising plantation industry, mainly the tea, rubber, and coconut plantations, makes SSP’s Plantation Management Application the correct choice for Sri Lanka,” said Priantha Fernando, Director of SSP. “SSP’s TEA System is the solution for Sri Lanka’s tea industry, and SSP’s ability to provide customers the possibility of evolving using the true component-based TEA System will provide businesses a significant strategic advantage” said Sumedha de Silva the IT Advisor to the BOI. The SSP business concept is to increase their customer’s competitiveness by offering integrated solutions consisting of standardised business components. The TEA System consists of over 40 different components covering all aspects of Plantation Management such as Bought Leaf, Check Roll, Inventory Control, Factory Operations, Sales, Cultivation, Finance, and Management Information. |
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