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27 November 2025, Colombo – A transformative South-South Cooperation initiative between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of China, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture of Sri Lanka has delivered remarkable results in strengthening Sri Lanka’s fruit value chains. The two-year project, which ended this year, was implemented in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) and achieved significant productivity, quality, and capacity gains for banana, mango, and pineapple production across ten model farms established in Colombo, Kurunegala and Anuradhapura districts.

Key achievements include:

• Boosting productivity: Pineapple yields tripled to 55 t/ha with high density planting of 25,000 – 32,000 plants per acre, versus 4,000 plants per acre traditionally.
• Improving quality: Advanced pruning and fruit bagging techniques increased export-grade mango production to 90 percent.
• Cutting costs: Banana tissue cultured seedling production doubled, with costs reduced by 30 - 40 percent.
• Building capacities: Over 2,000 farmers and officers were trained at 10 model farms and six training videos were produced and integrated into national training curricula, supporting the long-term dissemination of improved practices.

A landmark achievement was the establishment of a state-of-the-art Banana Tissue Culture Laboratory at the North Central Provincial Department of Agriculture. This facility supplies disease-free, high-yielding planting materials to farmers across three provinces, reducing dependency on distant suppliers, lowering transport-related losses, and ensuring consistent access to affordable, quality inputs.

Inclusive and Sustainable Impact

The project placed strong emphasis on inclusivity, with women comprising 40 percent of trained beneficiaries. Targeted training addressed gender-specific challenges in agriculture, ensuring women farmers gained equal access to new technologies and practices.

The introduced technologies are being integrated into official training curricula and approved through national technology evaluation committees, ensuring institutional uptake and scaling.

“China is proud to partner with Sri Lanka in advancing agricultural innovation through this South-South Cooperation initiative. By sharing knowledge and technology, we are helping farmers achieve higher yields, better quality, and stronger livelihoods. said H E Qi Zhenhong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka.

The initiative has also become a model for South-South Cooperation, inspiring similar partnerships in the region. Technical protocols and innovations developed in Sri Lanka are now being adapted for use in other developing countries facing comparable agricultural challenges.

“The success achieved in Sri Lanka is not only improving the lives of farmers today but is also shaping a stronger, more resilient fruit value chain for the future. FAO looks forward to building upon these successes in close partnership with the Government and private sector stakeholders, including the country’s fruit farmers, to ensure sustainable growth and resilience in the sector.” said Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

“This initiative directly supports Sri Lanka’s Food Production Programme and strengthens our national capacity to meet future food security challenges. By empowering farmers with the latest knowledge and tools, we are improving productivity today and securing the long-term sustainability of our fruit sector,” said Mr D. P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture.

Speaking on the initiative, Ms. Dong Moli, Division Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China said, “These achievements clearly demonstrate that South–South Cooperation is not only a channel for technology transfer but also an important pathway for building a country’s own development capacity, fostering knowledge sharing, and promoting multiple benefits.”

IMAGE 1 Nochchiyagama, Sri Lanka. LSM Dissanayake, a mango farmer, prunes one of his trees, under the supervision of Zengxian Zhao, a Chinese expert advisor on crop cultivation. Dissanayake is receiving Chinese agricultural expertise and technological support to improve his harvests.

IMAGE 2Horana, Sri Lanka. Dr RNI Perera (L), Deputy Director of Research, FRDI, and Lijun Guo (R), a Chinese tissue culture expert advisor, examine banana and pineapple suckers in the culture room of the Food Research and Development Institute.

IMAGE 3 Makandura, Sri Lanka. Nimali Wijesooriya works on her banana farm. Nimali is receiving Chinese agricultural expertise and technological support to improve her plantation’s yields.

IMAGE 4 Horana, Sri Lanka. BHS Lakmal (L), a pineapple farmer, and Jifeng Li (R), a Chinese agriculture expert advisor, cover pineapples with paper protection against pests and the elements, as the fruit approach harvest time.

IMAGE 5Makandura, Sri Lanka. (L-R) Dr Darshani Jayamanne, an agronomist, and Additional Director of the pineapple Research Centre, Krishan Poorna, a pineapple farmer, Zengxian Zhao, a Chinese crop cultivation expert, and Poorna’s 13-year-old son, Thuhan, inspect the family fields. Poorna has just begun receiving Chinese agricultural expertise and technological support to improve his farm’s yields.

Sri Lanka’s export sector has continued its upward trajectory in 2025, demonstrating resilience in the face of global market volatility, tighter competition, and uneven demand across major economies.

According to the latest figures released by the Export Development Board (EDB), total exports for the first 10 months of the year reached $14.43 billion, reflecting a 6% year-on-year (YoY) increase, even as some monthly indicators showed stagnation.

EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe attributed the performance to stronger export competitiveness, market diversification, and the ability of local exporters to adapt quickly to global disruptions.

EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe

“Our exporters have once again proved their resilience and adaptability,” he said, noting that Sri Lanka’s integration into global trade continues to strengthen despite global uncertainties.

Growth Driven by Key Sectors

In October alone, total export earnings amounted to $1.47 billion, marking a modest YoY rise of 0.16%, although month-on-month performance remained flat. Merchandise exports grew by only 0.2% YoY to $1.15 billion, supported by gains in gems and jewellery, coconut-based products, electrical and electronics, and food and beverages.

From January to October, merchandise exports reached $11.37 billion, an increase of 6.53% YoY.

Sri Lanka’s services sector continued to play a crucial role, generating $316 million in October and $3.06 billion during the first 10 months a 4.01% YoY rise. The ICT/BPM industry, construction, logistics, financial services and transport sectors recorded steady, broad-based growth, underscoring the shift towards a more knowledge-driven export economy.

Sectoral and Market Highlights

Apparel and textiles, the country’s largest merchandise export sector, recorded a robust 5.56% YoY growth, reaching $4.44 billion for the 10-month period. Agriculture exports also performed strongly: tea exports rose 8.72% YoY to $1.28 billion, while coconut-based exports surged by 43.83% to $1.03 billion, benefiting from higher demand in Europe and the Middle East.

On the services front, transport and logistics grew 6.07%, while ICT/BPM rose 9.25%, together generating a combined $2.9 billion in the first eight months.

Shifting Global Markets

The United States remained Sri Lanka’s largest export destination, accounting for 23% of merchandise exports. While October exports to the US slipped 0.46% to $246 million, cumulative exports for the year grew 2.68% to nearly $2.5 billion.

India emerged as Sri Lanka’s second-largest export destination during the January–October period, with exports rising 19.31% to $866.9 million, driven by petroleum oils, animal feed and vegetable fats. Exports to the EU, which account for 24% of Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports, rose by 14.43% in October and 12.56% over the 10-month period.

Confident Outlook

The EDB maintains confidence that Sri Lanka is on track to meet its $19 billion export target for 2025. Projections indicate merchandise exports will reach $14 billion, while services exports are expected to expand to $4.2 billion, aligning with the country’s five-year plan to boost export earnings to $36 billion by 2030.

The Kandy District Secretary has announced the temporary closure of the Kandy - Mahiyanganaya main road between Medamahanuwara and Hasalaka. Officials say the measure was necessary due to the unsafe conditions caused by the current spell of severe weather.The closure will remain in effect until authorities determine that the route is safe for travel again. Motorists are advised to seek alternative roads in the meantime.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) announced that the nationwide death toll resulting from the severe weather conditions since November 17 has risen to 31. In addition to the fatalities, officials confirmed that 10 people have sustained injuries, while 14 others are still unaccounted for.

The DMC further noted that over 4,000 individuals have been affected as heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds continue to disrupt daily life across multiple regions of the country. Authorities are continuing relief efforts and closely monitoring the worsening weather situation.

The Department of Irrigation has announced that eight spill gates at the Deduru Oya reservoir have been opened in response to heavy rainfall across the catchment region. According to the Wariyapola Divisional Irrigation Office, four of the gates have been lifted by 12 feet each, while the remaining four have been raised by 13 feet.

This adjustment has resulted in a combined water discharge of 69,000 cubic feet per second. Authorities are closely monitoring downstream conditions as water levels continue to rise.

India’s Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, will arrive in Sri Lanka on December 1 for a two-day official visit that comes at a decisive geopolitical moment for the island—one in which Colombo is simultaneously deepening defence ties with the United States, expanding commercial cooperation with China, and attempting to maintain strategic balance in a competitive Indo-Pacific landscape.

The Indian Army described the visit as a reaffirmation of New Delhi’s Neighbourhood First policy, signalling greater commitment to stability, capability-building, and military cooperation with Sri Lanka. But the timing also reflects India’s strategic urgency as the island strengthens multiple foreign partnerships that could reshape regional influence networks.

A Visit Driven by Regional Power Calculus

Military officials in New Delhi say General Dwivedi’s mission goes beyond ceremonial goodwill. His agenda includes reviewing bilateral defence cooperation, assessing Sri Lanka’s evolving security requirements, and expanding Army-to-Army collaboration through training, joint exercises, and intelligence-sharing.

 These initiatives are part of India’s broader goal of countering growing strategic competition, particularly China’s expanding footprint along the Indian Ocean littoral.

Sri Lanka’s position along critical maritime routes makes its partnerships central to India’s security doctrine. The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has become the arena of a widening geopolitical contest, with major powers positioning themselves for influence.

 General Dwivedi is expected to discuss defence technology transfers, joint maritime surveillance, and ways to tighten cooperation against transnational threats such as illegal fishing, smuggling networks, and grey-zone maritime activities.

US Defence Pact Adds another Layer of Complexity

The visit comes months after Colombo entered a new defence pact with the United States under the State Partnership Program (SPP), marking the most significant upgrade in US–Sri Lanka military cooperation in recent years.

Washington sees Sri Lanka as a strategic node in its Indo-Pacific security architecture, and the pact includes joint training, disaster-response support, improved maritime domain awareness, and logistical coordination.

For India, a long-standing US strategic partner, the pact is not necessarily a threat but it signals that Washington is moving to deepen its presence in Sri Lanka at a time when New Delhi wants to maintain primacy in its immediate neighbourhood.

China’s Expanding Commercial Grip Raises Alarm in New Delhi

Adding to the complexity is Sri Lanka’s renewed push to strengthen commercial ties with China, including fresh investments linked to the Hambantota Port, logistics hubs, and industrial zones. While Colombo frames these partnerships as economic necessities, New Delhi views China’s expanding commercial and infrastructure presence as dual-use assets that could potentially shift regional power equations.

Balancing Act for Colombo

General Dwivedi’s visit seeks to ensure that India remains Sri Lanka’s closest and most dependable defence partner amid growing competition from Washington and Beijing. For Colombo, the challenge remains navigating tight geopolitical corridors leveraging partnerships for economic recovery and security modernisation while avoiding entanglement in great-power rivalry.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale struck the Indian Ocean off Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, at 10.26 a.m. today (27), the National Tsunami Early Warning Center of the Meteorology Department said.

According to the Earthquake Information Bulletin, the quake occurred at a depth of 25 km and was pinpointed at latitude 2.68°N and longitude 96.07°E.

Although no tsunami warning has been issued for Sri Lanka at this time, authorities have urged coastal residents to remain vigilant for further updates. 

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck off western Indonesia's Sumatra Island on Thursday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake struck at 4.56 am, with a depth of 25.4 kilometers (15.7 miles), 45 km (27.9 miles) west-northwest of Sinabang town on the east coast of Simeulue Island.

https://meteo.gov.lk/

(Source - Dailymirror)

Capital Metals PLC is entering a decisive phase as it moves toward the Final Investment Decision (FID) on its flagship Taprobane Minerals Projectan exceptionally high-grade mineral sands venture.

It is poised to become one of Sri Lanka’s most economically significant resource developments. Executive Chairman Greg Martyr said describing the deposit as “one of the highest-grade undeveloped mineral sands projects in the world,” with construction expected to begin in early 2026 following regulatory approvals targeted by the end of 2025.

The Taprobane Minerals Project, formerly known as the Eastern Minerals Project, is located on Sri Lanka’s eastern coastline in the Ampara District, Eastern Province.

The deposit stretches along a coastal belt close to the towns of Pottuvil and Akkaraipattu, placing it near key road networks and export-friendly deep-water ports. This strategic positioning adds commercial value while improving the logistics of future production.

At the heart of the project’s appeal is its exceptional resource quality. The company’s latest assessments show an average grade of 17.2% total heavy mineral content, more than three times the global industry average of below 5%.

Capital Metals discards anything under 5% material that most global operators treat as ore underscoring its geological advantage.

 Recent drilling has uncovered zones with grades reaching 60%, while exploration success to the west has tripled the initial mining area, supporting plans to reduce the cutoff grade from 5% to 2%. This will significantly expand the mineable resource while maintaining its high commercial value.

The project targets four key commodities ilmenite, rutile, zircon and garnet widely used in paints, ceramics, inks and industrial applications.

Extraction involves simple surface mining with no blasting, chemicals or deep excavation. Sand is mixed with water, processed through gravity-based spiral plants and immediately rehabilitated, allowing the land to be restored almost instantly.

This low-impact profile supports the global shift toward ESG-aligned mining practices.Capital Metals’ phased development strategy keeps upfront capital low. An initial US$25 million investment is expected to generate US$35–40 million in annual revenue at sub-US$20 million operating costs.

The total project requires US$80 million, and despite higher taxes and royalties introduced in Sri Lanka, updated modelling shows a strong NPV of US$180 million.

Local partnerships are central to navigating regulatory complexities. Ambeon Capital’s US$4 million investment for a 20% stake has strengthened the company’s domestic presence, supported by board member and former Sri Lankan cricket Vice captain Aravinda de Silva, now an influential investment professional.

The firm currently holds the only mineral-sands mining licence in the country and awaits two further approvals licence expansion and export clearance.

The project’s potential and favourable economics were highlighted at a recent promotional event hosted by the Sri Lankan High Commission in London.

Officials emphasised improving macroeconomic indicators, policy reforms and an upcoming Investment Protection Act aimed at strengthening investor confidence.

With first production targeted for early 2027, Capital Metals argues that the Taprobane project represents a rare opportunity: a high-grade, low-cost, strategically located mineral asset trading at a market value well below its economic potential.

The Commissioner General of Examinations, AKS Indika Kumari Liyanage, has announced that the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations scheduled for today (27), tomorrow (28), and Saturday (29) will not take place as planned. The exams have been rescheduled for December 7, 8, and 9.

According to the Department of Examinations, the decision was made in response to the widespread disruptions and risks posed by the ongoing adverse weather conditions, which have created a disaster situation in several parts of the country. Authorities emphasized that the postponement aims to safeguard students and ensure fair access to examination centers.

The Department of Irrigation has issued an extended major flood alert for communities living in low-lying zones along the Deduru Oya Basin. The warning follows substantial rainfall recorded in the upper and middle catchments over the past 24 hours, which has increased the reservoir’s outflow. Spill gates at the Deduru Oya Reservoir are currently releasing water at an estimated rate of 33,000 cubic feet per second, heightening the possibility of flooding downstream.Based on recent observations and water-level readings, the Divisional Secretariat areas of Wariyapola, Nikaweratiya, Mahawewa, Kobeigane, Bingiriya, Pallama, Halawatha, Arachchikattuwa, and Rasnayakapura have been identified as potentially affected zones.

The flood warning first issued under Notification No. 01 at 6:30 a.m. on November 23, 2025, has now been extended for an additional 48 hours.
Authorities advise residents in these areas-and motorists travelling through them-to exercise maximum caution. Disaster management agencies have also been urged to implement appropriate preparedness and response measures.

The Department of Meteorology has issued an alert predicting significant rainfall across the country today, with certain regions expected to experience exceptionally heavy showers. Areas within the North-Central and North-Western provinces, as well as the Trincomalee District, may see rainfall surpassing 200 mm.

Meanwhile, parts of the Northern, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, and Western provinces—and the districts of Galle, Matara, and Batticaloa—are likely to receive over 150 mm of rain. Other regions throughout the island could also face downpours exceeding 100 mm.In addition to the heavy showers, strong winds ranging between 60 and 70 kmph are expected to sweep across many areas.
The public has been advised to remain vigilant and take necessary safety measures to mitigate the impact of severe weather conditions.