The Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board has paid Rs.550 million as compensation for paddy farmers who faced losses due to this year's prolonged drought.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries said the Board is currently in the process of awarding compensation for crop damage that occurred during the 2023 yala season.
The Ministry said compensation has been paid for farmers from the Walawe zone and Hambantota and by the end of this year, all affected paddy farmers will be compensated.
According to estimates made regarding crop damage in the yala season, about 65,000 acres were damaged due to the drought and 11,000 acres were damaged due to the floods caused by rains that followed.
"Generally, it takes about a year to provide crop damage compensation. President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of Finance instructed to release financial allocations for affected farmers without delay," said Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera.
He said this year will record the highest amount of compensation paid so far for crop damage in history.
The Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill under which benefits for former Presidents would be reduced has been gazetted.
The State Department is proposing requiring applicants for business and tourist visas to post a bond of up to $15,000 to enter the United States, a move that may make the process unaffordable for many, foreign media reported.
Sotheby’s has returned ancient gems linked to the Buddha’s remains following pressure from the Indian government.
Intex Sri Lanka 2025, the 17th edition of the region’s premier textile and apparel sourcing fair will take place from August 6 to 8 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.
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