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Irrigation, agriculture issues in new Sri Lankan book
"Irrigation and Agriculture in Sri Lanka", a book written and edited by Dr. Ric Shand, an Australian economist and scholar, was recently launched in Colombo. The book published by the Institute of Policy Studies - which has contributions from other distinguished specialists in the field - is a comprehensive study in the development of irrigation and agriculture in post-independent Sri-Lanka. It explores in depth the agricultural policies of successive governments from 1950 to the 1990's, and critically examines the impact investment in irrigation schemes had on the agricultural sector.

"Irrigation and Agriculture in Sri Lanka" brings together a great deal of useful information regarding irrigated agriculture and the wide array of irrigation projects in Sri Lanka. In fact, some important details contained in the book are not found elsewhere in the literature. One example is the discussions on the Walagambahu Village Tank Settlement model, Mutukandiya model, Welioya model Galoya model, and a host of other projects of this type, an IPS statement said.

The book's nine chapters analyses in detail the costs and benefits of irrigation, cost and benefits of rice-based agriculture development, and diversification and commercialization of agriculture. It then explores options for future investment in irrigation, and the possibilities of diversifying the commercial agricultural sector in Sri-Lanka. Shand has published extensively on development issues, especially on problems relating to rural poverty and agricultural development, in Asia and the Pacific over the last thirty-five years.

Challenges and opportunities for India Post
New Delhi - A recent study by the World Bank suggests that India Post is particularly well positioned to address the pressures of a changing environment by expanding and reinventing the services and products it offers, while building on its already impressive countrywide network infrastructure. New market demands, liberalization and innovative technologies are impacting the postal industry all over the world.

This changing environment presents enormous challenges for traditional postal businesses, but it also creates a vast array of new business opportunities.
Postal organizations are adapting to these challenges by diversifying product portfolios and expanding services into non-traditional areas such as e-banking, e-government and e-commerce. The World Bank study investigates various financial and non-financial services in order to present an overview of possibilities to India Post. Some of the case studies look at experiences undertaken by postal services in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, among others.

India Post is well positioned to improve and expand its communications through the use of information technology, with support for physical delivery and facilitation of financial transactions. India Post is already a major player in the banking sector through the Post Office Savings Bank, which handles over 110 million money orders a year, and holds approximately $44 billion in savings accounts.

"India Post's network is one of the best and quickest ways to take technology and its benefits to the rural population in India. Across India 154,000 post offices reach the people in an intense and intimate network of knowledge and service. No Indian is more than roughly a mile or so from the nearest post office and 137,000 of them are in rural areas. Beyond that, the last mile is traversed by the postman on the bicycle," said Mieko Nishimizu, president for the South Asia Region at the World Bank. She was speaking at a conference to discuss the report held in New Delhi on November 12 and 13. "You can think of India Post now as an old fashioned network trapped in the bricks and mortar of a dying mail service.

Or you can think of India Post as an extraordinary human network that facilitates incredible access to virtually all Indians. Imagine the development potential of such a network with such access to people."

The study also highlights the social and economic functions of the postal service. This is particularly true in the developing world where a reliable postal system is a critical component of the modern information and distribution infrastructure. In addition, the study suggests that any reform of the postal service looks for opportunities to leverage its extraordinary network to become more competitive in a challenging market environment by considering alternative business models with a stronger private sector orientation. (World Bank newsletter)

BOI presentation to future ambassadors
A Board of Investment team conducted a presentation at the Foreign Ministry's Institute for International Relations to 25 ambassador designates selected by the government to head Sri Lankan diplomatic missions overseas.
These diplomats, prior to their posting overseas, are being briefed on a wide range of international issues at sessions organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a BOI statement said.

The presentation included a description of the BOI and its role in promoting foreign direct investment into Sri Lanka. The purpose of this presentation was to convey to the ambassadors the crucial role they will play in the promotion of investment into the country. Since economic growth offers the prospects of more investment, higher employment and greater prosperity, diplomatic missions of most nation states have seen their role in economic affairs grow in importance.

The BOI team consisted of Vidharshan Fernando, Additional Director (Promotion), Sumedha de Silva, Director (Secretariat), Dilip S.Samarasinghe, Director (Media) and Mohamed Hameez, Management Assistant.

Leisure Times makes life more entertaining
Leisure Times (LT), a monthly entertainment magazine showcasing Colombo's entertainment scene and city events, was launched recently. The magazine is packed with listings, which will help readers to plan their leisure time activities more conveniently.

It also includes thought provoking features on entertainment, LT Publisher Rasika Jayawardena said at the launch. He said the magazine caters to both locals and foreigners and will be distributed on SriLankan Airlines. It would be distributed free for three months.

LT Editor Deshan Tennekoon said they hoped to print 50,000 copies per month, with an Internet issue in the future with plans to increase the number of copies for circulation in major cities in the country.

The magazine has features by Reggie Candappa, considered the godfather of advertising in Sri Lanka, on nightlife in the 19402, cricketer Aravinda de Silva talking about cricket and his son named Sampras, writer Richard Simon who ponders as to where the girls in Colombo city have gone, and Leah Marikkar who talks to restaurateur Kollu on his travels to Portugal, owning a bar and setting new trends in the restaurant business in Colombo. (HS)

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