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African Caribbean Travel Corridor (ACTC) launched to bridge Africa and the Caribbean

After much planning, consultation and negotiations, the African Caribbean Travel Corridor (ACTC) is being established as a new joint venture initiative designed to transform travel, tourism and logistics connectivity between Africa and the Caribbean. The ACTC brings together three experienced organisations and industry leaders: African Caribbean Sustainability and Investment Initiative (ACSII), based in London, led by Founding Chairman David F. Roberts; The Africa Guide, led by Dr Vicki Otaruyina; and Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Center for Hospitality, Aviation and Tourism (ACHAT), Ghana.

The initiative responds to a longstanding challenge: despite deep historical, cultural and economic connections between Africa and the Caribbean, travelling between the two regions remains unnecessarily difficult, expensive and fragmented.

The ACTC seeks to change that.

Its objective is to develop an integrated Africa-Caribbean Travel Corridor connecting people, businesses, investors, tourists, students, professionals and families while creating new opportunities for airlines, hospitality companies, tour operators, logistics providers and other travel-related businesses.

A major component of the emerging corridor will be to improve direct air connectivity. Developments include plans involving Air Peace to increase direct services connecting Lagos with Barbados and Jamaica, creating important new gateways between West Africa and the Caribbean.

Such connections could significantly reduce the time, cost and complexity associated with travelling between the regions, while opening new markets for tourism, trade and investment.

David F. Roberts, Founding Chairman of ACSII, said:

‘For too long, the Atlantic has connected Africa and the Caribbean historically and culturally, but not sufficiently through modern transportation and commercial infrastructure. The African Caribbean Travel Corridor is about changing that. We want to make Africa-Caribbean travel easier, more affordable and commercially meaningful.’

Dr Vicki Otaruyina of The Africa Guide added:

‘The Caribbean is one of Africa’s most important global communities and markets, yet there remains a significant travel and tourism gap between our regions. ACTC is designed to turn that gap into an opportunity by creating practical pathways for people to travel, discover, invest and do business across the Atlantic.’

Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Africa Center for Hospitality, Aviation and Tourism, said:

‘Connectivity is fundamental to the growth of tourism. By bringing African and Caribbean tourism stakeholders together and improving access between the two regions, ACTC can contribute to a new era of tourism development, investment and collaboration.’

The ACTC will explore and develop opportunities across aviation, tourism, hospitality, logistics, travel technology, destination marketing and investment, while working with governments, airlines, airports, tourism authorities and private-sector partners.

Beyond aviation, the initiative is intended to create a wider ecosystem that supports seamless movement between Africa and the Caribbean and strengthens the commercial relationships underpinning the Africa-Caribbean economic corridor.

The launch comes at a time of growing interest in strengthening Africa-Caribbean relations and unlocking the enormous potential of the global African and Caribbean diaspora.

The partners believe that improved connectivity can become a catalyst for increased tourism, business travel, investment, cultural exchange and trade.

The future of Africa-Caribbean travel is bright.

The African Caribbean Travel Corridor intends to help make that future a reality.

For media and partnership enquiries:

African Caribbean Travel Corridor (ACTC) – A joint venture of African Caribbean Sustainability and Investment Initiative (ACSII), The Africa Guide and the Africa Center for Hospitality, Aviation and Tourism (ACHAT

Where strength meets purpose: Century Tuna crowns its 20th Superbods Champions

Century Tuna has officially named Austin Dizon and Vienne Luna as the Grand Winners of the 20th Century Tuna Superbods this 2026, rising above a remarkable lineup of 40 inspiring finalists.

Century Tuna Male Superbod Grand Winner Austin Dizon is recognized for his advocacy for accessible quality nutrition. Meanwhile, Female Superbod Grand Winner Vienne Luna proudly celebrates Project H.E.R. – Health, Empowerment, and Resilience.

Austin and Vienne each took home the grand prize of ?1,000,000. Securing the podium, MJ Ordillano and Jas Paguio were named the Century Tuna Superbods Runners-Up, receiving ?250,000 each.

Celebrating its 20th milestone year, the premier fitness and wellness platform spotlighted authentic human stories, personal growth, and passion-driven advocacies-ranging from accessible nutrition to inclusive physical training and mental strength. Through this historic season, Century Tuna and its contenders proved that while physical conditioning earns a spot on stage, true purpose is what keeps them there.

Held at the grand stage of Solaire Resort Quezon City, the high-energy event brought together top industry icons and fitness advocates. Century Tuna brand ambassadors Anne Curtis, Alice Dixson, and Atasha Muhlach graced the occasion, championing the finalists as they shared their real-life wellness journeys on stage. The powerhouse trio commanded the stage with a show-stopping entrance, making a bold statement of beauty with strength, celebrating the confidence and empowerment of the Superbod Era.

Evaluating the contenders on stage presence, authentic charisma, and their commitment to uplifting others through health were esteemed leaders and personalities across wellness, entertainment, and business. The powerhouse panel of judges included iconic actress Marian Rivera and multi-hyphenate actor-host Luis Manzano, Century Tuna ambassadors Anne Curtis and Alice Dixson, and Century Tuna Superbods 2014 Grand Winner, Muay Thai and HYROX athlete Mauro Lumba. They were joined by Century Pacific Food Inc. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mr. Greg Banzon, alongside Vice President, General Manager, and Group Business Head Mr. Carlo Endaya.

Guiding the momentous occasion as event hosts were radio DJ Sam YG and television host Bianca Gonzalez, keeping the energy high throughout the evening.

The Top 40 Superbod finalists commanded the spotlight through sequential runway presentations-showcasing their strength and versatility in activewear, lifestyle wear, and swimwear, before narrowing down to the Top 16 for the decisive Question and Answer round.

Prior to the main event, the contenders underwent comprehensive physical challenges, advocacy workshops, and community engagements designed to prepare them to serve as relatable motivators for the public.

Special awards were presented to standout candidates throughout the night:

Century Tuna Super Bowl Game Changer

Male: Ricardo de Jesus

Female: Diane Querrer

Century Tuna Nuggets Supermom

Rov Mizuse

Century Tuna Nuggets Superdad

Jaco Benin

Vita Coco Most Refreshingly Real Award

Male: Nunoy van den Burgh

Female: Jas Paguio

Fitness Breakthrough Award

Male: Ameer Ahid

Female: Maan Marquez

Jojo Bragais Power Walk Award

Male: MJ Ordillano

Female: Vienne Luna

Superbod Ultimate Transformation

Male: Rafael Tan

Female: Janica Reloxe

Fan Choice Award

Male: Austin Dizon

Female: Aleiah Torres

Bench Active Lifestyle Icon

Male: Austin Dizon

Female: Anna Lakrini

Kilos Superbod Synergy

Jaco Benin, Anna Lakrini

Josh Florendo, Cianne Dominguez

Digital Champ Award

Male: Lorenzo Isip

Female: Vienne Luna

Ageless Award

Male: Jay Gonzaga

Female: Gee Canlas

Solaire Wellness Icon Award

Male: Prince de Guzman

Female: Cianne Dominguez

Media Choice Award

Male: Prince de Guzman

Female: Cianne Dominguez

Beyond the Bod (Advocacy Champion)

Male: Ricardo de Jesus

Female: Thalia Joaquin

‘For 20 years, Century Tuna Superbods has stood as a national platform where health meets real purpose,’ said Mr. Carlo Endaya, Vice President, General Manager, and Group Business Head of Century Pacific Food Inc. ‘Tonight, our finalists showed the entire country that stepping into your Superbod Era isn’t just about physical fitness-it’s about leading with heart, lifting up others through your causes, and inspiring everyday Filipinos to pursue their own goals.’

The curtains may have fallen on Finals Night, but the Superbod Era is only just beginning. Equipped with passion, purpose, and real-life advocacies, these Superbods stand ready to lead by example-proving that a healthier, more empowered life belongs to every body.

LTO suspends Niño Muhlach’s license for 2 years

Movie actor Niño Muhlach is not allowed to drive a motor vehicle for two years after the Land Transportation Office (LTO) suspended his license in connection with a road accident in Antipolo, Rizal.

Investigation conducted by the LTO showed that Muhlach suffered from extreme fatigue, causing him to lose control of the wheel along Marcos Highway on Aug. 23.

The vehicle crashed into a row of commercial establishments and a motorcycle parked along the road before hitting a pedestrian.

The LTO found Muhlach liable for reckless driving and declared him an ‘improper person to operate a motor vehicle.’

Earlier, Muhlach admitted that he was the one driving the vehicle and acknowledged liability for the incident.

He said he had dozed off while driving.

The LTO said Muhlach’s vehicle would remain under ‘alarm status to ensure enforcement of penalty and to prevent any transactions involving it while the resolution is in effect.’

‘The LTO is serious about enforcing traffic laws, especially regarding violations that could endanger other road users,’ LTO chief Markus Lacalinao said.

‘We will impose appropriate penalties based on the results of the investigation and hearing, regardless of a person’s status,’ Lacanilao added.

The agency said it strictly enforces road laws and regulations to safeguard the safety of all motorists and road users.

Motorists have been urged to practice responsible driving and follow rules to prevent accidents that could result in loss of life or damage to property.

SLIM holds successful certification ceremony 2026

Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) celebrated its latest certification recipients recently at the BMICH, Colombo recognising students completed professional marketing qualifications across programs including PCM (in English, Sinhala and Tamil), CDM, Pharmaceutical Marketing, and BPE.

Chief Guests were Hemas Holdings PLC Deputy Chairman Murtaza Esufally and Brandix Group Director and CEO Asanka Wimalaratna. Guests of Honour included Past Presidents Chinthaka Perera and Gayan Perera.

SLIM President Enoch Perera reaffirmed the institute’s vision. ‘Our vision is ‘From Local Strength to Global Influence.’ We are committed to positioning SLIM as an internationally recognised marketing institute and creating greater opportunities for every learner,’ he said.

Esufally encouraged awardees to look beyond conventional marketing. ‘Great marketers do more than sell products or promote brands. They understand people, solve real problems and inspire change. In a world shaped by AI, continue to learn and adapt, but never lose sight of integrity,’ he stated.

Wimalaratna stressed on continuous learning. ‘The knowledge and skills you have gained will provide a strong foundation, but lasting success belongs to those who embrace continuous learning and personal growth,’ he said encouraging further development through SLIM.

SLIM Vice President – Education and Research Manthika Ranasinghe said: ‘To become a great marketer, you must continue learning, observing, and staying alert to everything happening around society. Every human insight matters, because every marketing decision ultimately connects with people.’

SLIM Vice President – Events and Sustainability Rajiv David said: ‘Today marks the reward for your hard work and perseverance, but it is also the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning and leadership,’

SLIM CEO Chamil Wickramasinghe said: ‘The business landscape is evolving rapidly, presenting both challenges and opportunities. I am confident that the knowledge, skills, and values you have gained will empower you to navigate these changes successfully.’

Best Performance Medals and Subject Prizes honoured outstanding students, while the ceremony reinforced SLIM’s mission to develop competent, globally competitive marketing professionals. An after-party followed for networking and celebration.

Ridon still among co-lead prosecs in Duterte trial despite show-cause order

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon will remain one of the co-lead prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in connection with her alleged unexplained wealth.

He gave this statement amid the impeachment court’s issuance to him of a show-cause order over a possible violation of the sub judice rule.

Ridon has confirmed the receipt of the directive, and he expressed his respect to the Senate impeachment court over the matter.

‘Our role as co-lead of the unexplained wealth case will continue, and we will present the evidence on this matter in the coming weeks,’ said Ridon in an interview with reporters.

‘Our role and commitment to the public to explain this trial-in a manner that they can best understand-in accordance with the guidelines and rules of the Senate Impeachment Court, will continue,’ he added.

Ridon and private prosecutor Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. will file their responses to show-cause orders within the day.

The sub judice rule bars both the prosecution and defense teams, their witnesses, the respondent, and senator-judges from publicly commenting on the merits of the pending case.

Based on a recent ruling by court Presiding Officer and Senator-Judge Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, sub judice rule violators will face public reprimand with admonition on their first strike.

A monetary fine of P30,000, with the possibility of being restricted from speaking, objecting or examining witnesses on the floor, may be imposed upon them for their subsequent violations.

Sub judice on VP Sara Duterte

Meanwhile, Ridon said the sub judice rule should also be applied to the recent pronouncements of Duterte where she claimed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has a ‘hold’ on the Senate.

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‘I think it is very clear that there is a violation of sub judice when the vice president said that the president is in control of the senators, because it is a matter that goes into the integrity of the Senate itself,’ Ridon pointed out.

He, however, clarified that it is solely up to the impeachment court on whether it will take action against the vice president.

Asked if he thinks there is a special treatment favoring Duterte, Ridon responded that he believes the court-specifically presiding officer and Senator-judge Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero-has been ‘very fair and reasonable’ since the beginning of the trial.

‘So, we will give him the discretion if they will enact the same manner of this moto propio (on its own) show-cause order that was granted to the prosecution, and if he will grant a similar standard to other covered persons of the sub judice, including the vice president,’ he answered.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva arrived in Shamakhi district

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva arrived in Shamakhi district on September 17.

The head of state and the First Lady visited the monument to the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, erected in the center of the city of Shamakhi.

Sri Lanka has creators; the platforms are years behind

A Sri Lankan creator can build a TikTok following in the millions, produce content that performs as well as anything coming out of Los Angeles or London, and earn nothing directly from the platform for it.

That is not an exaggeration. It is policy.

TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program remains limited to selected eligible regions, and Sri Lanka is not one of them. Neither is much of South Asia, much of Africa, and much of the Middle East.

YouTube, by contrast, has offered Sri Lankan creators a clearer and more direct path to monetisation for years. That proves this is not a technical impossibility. It is a choice other platforms have not made yet.

Platforms may argue that a limited eligible list is normal for a monetisation rollout, not exclusion, and that ad revenue viability genuinely varies by market. Fair enough. But that explanation does not change the reality on the ground: creators here are still producing content that drives engagement, attention, and time spent on these platforms, while the platforms benefit from that activity whether or not creators are paid directly for it.

What is actually changing, slowly. The situation is moving. Slowly.

Sri Lanka is now listed as eligible for Facebook Content Monetisation, after years in which many local creators building real audiences had limited access to direct platform monetisation. PayPal tells a similar story. Sri Lankans have long relied on PayPal-related workarounds, while full access to receiving and withdrawing funds has remained dependent on local banking pathways and partner-bank availability.

You learn to build around walls you did not put up and cannot take down. That is most of what local creator life actually is: quiet improvisation nobody outside the work ever sees.

Sri Lanka has a thriving, increasingly influential TikTok creator scene. Some creators here have audiences that would be the envy of mid-tier influencers in eligible markets. By visible measures, they may appear to be doing fine: sponsorships, brand deals, a public profile.

But doing fine through workarounds is not the same as being paid properly for what the platform itself profits from. The two get confused easily because the workarounds are genuinely resourceful. That does not make them sufficient.

Beyond individual creators

This is not just an inconvenience for people trying to make a living from content. It is a structural drag on a creator economy that a country like Sri Lanka could be building.

Brand deals exist here, and some creators do well from them. But without a stronger platform backed monetisation infrastructure, the market remains uneven. Rates are often negotiated through guesswork rather than evidence. A creator with real reach may have no reliable benchmark to point to, and a brand may have no reliable way to understand what fair value actually looks like.

That inconsistency is a direct consequence of having no strong platform-level monetisation infrastructure to build a market around.

When direct monetisation is absent, the creator economy becomes dependent on side doors: individual sponsorships, affiliate links, brand collaborations, donations, and payment workarounds. These methods can work, but they reward creators who already know how to negotiate, package themselves, and access international payment systems. They do not necessarily reward the creator producing the best work.

That matters because creator economies are not built only by viral personalities. They are built by systems: payment access, monetisation tools, brand standards, analytics, contracts, and trust.

Without those systems, talent exists, but it does not compound properly.

What creators here have built instead

In the absence of full platform support, creators have had to construct their own monetisation infrastructure from almost nothing.

Ko-fi linked to PayPal once that became more viable. Direct affiliate deals with brands willing to work around the gaps. Sponsorships negotiated one at a time, with no industry standard to lean on. Some creators rely on international audiences. Others build private communities, sell services, or use content as a funnel into entirely different work.

It works, mostly.

But ‘it works’ is a low bar when the alternative – being paid properly and consistently for content that performs – already exists for creators in selected countries.

Creators in markets like Sri Lanka are not asking platforms to invent a new internet for us. We are asking them to recognise the one we are already building.

What needs to change

This is not a call for charity. It is a call for platforms to recognise a market they are already benefiting from.

Sri Lanka has the creators. It has smartphone use, the internet culture, attention, and talent. What it lacks is the infrastructure that arrives at the same pace.

Until that changes, the responsibility also falls on local brands and businesses to close part of the gap themselves. That means building real partnerships, paying fairly, using clear expectations, and treating creator marketing as a serious discipline rather than an afterthought.

Creators should not have to prove, over and over again, that their work has value just because the tools around them arrived late.

Sri Lanka has the creators. It is time for the rest of the ecosystem to catch up to them.

Nigeria must turn economic reform into strategic power

Nigeria has spent three years paying the political and social price of economic reform. The removal of the petrol subsidy, foreign-exchange liberalisation, tighter monetary policy and the end of deficit monetisation have begun to restore macroeconomic stability. But stability is not the dividend. The real test is whether Nigeria can use its new economic room for manoeuvre to produce more, export more and negotiate with foreign partners from greater strength.

There are signs of progress. The International Monetary Fund says the reforms have reduced fiscal vulnerabilities, rebuilt external buffers and improved foreign-exchange market functioning. Gross international reserves reached $46bn at the end of 2025, up from $40bn a year earlier. Yet Nigeria remains heavily dependent on imported manufactured goods, foreign technology and capital, while much of its exports remain commodities with limited domestic value addition.

That is the central contradiction of the reform programme. A country can improve its balance sheet without fundamentally changing its economic power.

‘Nigeria should stop measuring partnerships primarily by announced investment and instead ask what capabilities remain. Major agreements should have measurable targets for capital actually deployed, local procurement, jobs, skills, technology transfer and export capacity. Where appropriate, these obligations should be time-bound and publicly monitored.’

Strategic sovereignty is not about rejecting foreign advice or keeping external partners at a distance. It means having sufficient productive capacity, financial resilience, technology and market access to make choices without economic weakness dictating them. Nigeria should therefore treat the next phase of reform as a conversion exercise: turning macroeconomic stability into productive capacity and productive capacity into bargaining power.

The priority is to ensure that fiscal reform changes what the economy can produce. Ending the petrol subsidy removed a major distortion and eased pressure on public finances. But the benefit will be squandered if fiscal gains are absorbed largely by recurrent spending rather than investment that raises productivity.

The government should publish a five-year framework showing how fiscal resources will improve electricity, transport, irrigation, industrial infrastructure and skills. Each major investment should have a baseline, a delivery deadline and publicly reported results. The test should be whether spending lowers production costs and creates jobs and exports, not simply whether budgets are larger.

Foreign-exchange reform faces the same test. A more market-determined naira can improve price discovery and correct distortions, but it cannot make Nigerian products competitive by itself. Reliable electricity, efficient ports, better transport, long-term finance and predictable regulation are what allow firms to respond to exchange-rate incentives.

Nigeria should therefore track a small set of competitiveness indicators annually: non-oil exports, the share of processed exports, manufacturing output, logistics costs and regional market share. If these do not improve, government should explain why.

The second priority is to convert Nigeria’s large domestic market and resource base into bargaining power. A large market is valuable only if it supports competitive domestic production rather than becoming a destination for imports. The African Continental Free Trade Area offers Nigerian firms a larger market, but protection alone will not make them competitive.

The government should identify a limited number of sectors with genuine regional potential and concentrate infrastructure, standards, finance and trade facilitation around them. The emerging cooperation among Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon on cocoa value addition points to a wider possibility: commodity-producing countries can gain leverage by coordinating processing, standards and market access rather than competing mainly as exporters of raw materials.

Nigeria should apply this principle where viable in agricultural processing, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, minerals and selected manufacturing. The objective should be to capture more value between the farm or mine and the final consumer.

Foreign partnerships should be judged by the same standard. Nigeria is right to diversify economic relationships with China, the United States, Europe, the Gulf states and other emerging economies. But more agreements do not automatically create more power.

Nigeria should stop measuring partnerships primarily by announced investment and instead ask what capabilities remain. Major agreements should have measurable targets for capital actually deployed, local procurement, jobs, skills, technology transfer and export capacity. Where appropriate, these obligations should be time-bound and publicly monitored.

Nigeria should be negotiating for productive capacity, not simply for capital. The constraints are familiar. Unreliable electricity raises production costs; poor logistics undermine exports; insecurity disrupts farms, transport corridors and energy infrastructure. The government should therefore publish annual targets for industrial electricity reliability, power costs, port clearance times and key logistics bottlenecks. Security spending should likewise be judged partly by whether it restores productive activity in farms, industrial zones and transport corridors.

Finally, reform must survive the political cycle. With the 2027 elections approaching, stricter fiscal rules, transparent reporting and independent monitoring of reform targets can reduce the risk of policy reversal.

The urgency is clear. The IMF estimates that Nigeria grew by 4 per cent in 2025 and projects 4.1 percent growth in 2026. Yet it also estimates that 63 percent of Nigerians lived below the national poverty line and 27 million faced food insecurity in late 2025. Stability has created an opportunity, not yet a dividend.

Nigeria has changed how it manages its economy. It must now change what that economy can do. The ultimate measure of reform is whether the country has more choices than it had before: whether it can produce more, export competitively, develop its own capabilities, and negotiate with the world from strength rather than dependence. That is when economic reform becomes strategic power.

Maresca criticises focus on controversial winner

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca says it is ‘quite poor’ that the controversy surrounding Erling Haaland’s winner has overshadowed his side’s performance at Manchester United on Sunday.

Haaland’s goal on the hour mark, which was awarded after the virtual assistant referee ruled in City’s favour, secured a 1-0 Premier League victory despite the visitors playing the majority of the derby at Old Trafford with 10 men following Phil Foden’s red card.

The VAR decision was subsequently ruled to be incorrect by the referees’ body and the aftermath of City’s fourth successive league win has been dominated by the fallout from the incident.

‘Talking about one episode or one moment after that game when we played for 70- 75 minutes with 10 players, I think it’s quite poor,’ Maresca said, speaking before today’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Norwich City. ‘I think the performance was unbelievable, and I’m pleased with the performance.’

Haaland’s goal was initially disallowed on the field for offside but the VAR review found the striker was just onside, and the goal was awarded.

However, it soon became apparent that the officials had made an error in failing to identify an offside offence by Enzo Fernandez, diving at the ball in a central position and interfering with opponents.

‘There is knowledge that there was a mistake and that’s all. Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you. It’s football,’ the Italian said.

Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola in the summer, said previous VAR decisions have gone against City, including in a 2-1 defeat by United in January 2023.

‘Three years ago when I was here [as Guardiola’s assistant], it happened the exact same against United,’ he said. ‘The goal was not a regular goal and no one apologised. We are still waiting for the apology for that.’

Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref’s chief Howard Webb has admitted the VAR did not consider whether Fernandez was offside before Haaland turned home the winner.

‘I was really disappointed with this outcome. We all are,’ said Webb, speaking on ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up’.

‘None more so than the officials themselves. They take a lot of personal pride in what they do and they’re obviously hurting now, having fallen short in this situation.’

Foden was sent off for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes in the 23rd minute and United hit the post either side of half-time before the Norwegian’s controversial goal on Sunday.

‘The VAR gets super-focused on Haaland,’ said Webb. ‘He establishes he’s onside, he thinks that’s a good goal.

‘He doesn’t truly evaluate the full impact of Fernandez’s position. He has a look to see if he touches the ball, because then that relates to potentially knocking it to Haaland, who goes on to score.’

City host Norwich tonight before returning to league action against Sunderland on Sunday, 20 September .

Cabinet approves Rs. 2.5 b top-up for Paddy Marketing Board as Yala season purchases continue

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved an additional allocation of Rs. 2,500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board, on a reimbursement basis, to ensure the continued purchase of paddy under the 2026 Yala season procurement program.

Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the additional funding was needed to ensure uninterrupted paddy purchases in affected districts as the harvest continues.

He said the Paddy Marketing Board had earlier received Rs. 6,000 million from allocations under the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Ministry to carry out the Yala season paddy purchase program, and had been using those funds to purchase paddy from farmers. However, with the harvest still ongoing in the districts of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Mannar and Mullaitivu, as well as in the Mahaweli B, C and H zones, it was observed that funds currently allocated for those areas were insufficient to meet demand.

‘To address the shortfall, the Cabinet approved the release of a further Rs. 2,500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board, drawn from the additional Rs. 7,500 million previously allocated to the Fund at the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Ministry for implementing the 2026 Yala season paddy procurement program,’ Dr. Jayatissa said.

Responding to questions, Dr. Jayatissa revealed that actual paddy purchases have far outpaced initial projections. ‘The original Rs. 6,000 million allocation was intended to purchase 35,500 tons of paddy, to be stored across 143 storage facilities. Now, we have purchased 67,156 tons at Rs. 8,221 million. This additional sum of Rs. 2,500 million is being provided to facilitate the recovery of these funds,’ he said.

He added that purchases have continued to grow even beyond that figure, noting: ‘We have purchased over 30,000 tons more at present’, suggesting total procurement volumes are continuing to climb as the harvest progresses in the remaining districts.

Dr. Jayatissa singled out Ampara district as a significant contributor to the procurement effort, noting that 19,426 tons of paddy had been purchased from farmers there alone, worth Rs. 2,350 million.

The additional Rs. 2,500 million allocation is expected to ensure the Paddy Marketing Board can continue purchasing paddy without interruption as harvesting wraps up in the remaining districts and Mahaweli zones.

The proposal to this effect was submitted by Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lalkantha.