2023-2024- A Year of Climate Extremes in the Amazon

1. Record-high temperatures and Droughts

According to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the Amazon Basin recorded average annual temperatures exceeding 2°C above pre-industrial levels between late 2023 and 2024, marking the hottest year on record for the region. This extreme heat has intensified prolonged drought conditions, with major rivers—including the Rio Negro, a critical waterway in the Amazon—reaching their lowest levels in over a century (INPE, 2024).

Such droughts have severely impacted local communities, leading to water shortages, crop failures, and the displacement of thousands who rely on the rainforest’s ecosystem for sustenance. Fisheries, a staple food source, have been devastated as lower water levels and higher temperatures result in massive fish die-offs.

Batticaloa District’s Agricultural Potential: Why Are Farmers Still Struggling?

Introduction

Batticaloa, a key agricultural region in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, contributes approximately 8.5% of the country’s total rice output. Despite its fertile land and significant production levels, local farmers face numerous challenges that prevent them from achieving sustainable profits. Limited irrigation access, middlemen exploitation, poor post-harvest infrastructure, and lack of local processing facilities continue to hinder the agricultural sector's potential.

According to the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture (2024), farmers in Batticaloa receive 35% less per kilogram of rice compared to millers in Colombo. Additionally, the Eastern Provincial Council (2023) reports that 45% of Batticaloa’s agricultural produce is processed outside the district, leading to economic losses for local farmers and reducing employment opportunities in the region.

This article examines the key challenges, government measures, existing gaps, and recommendations to improve the agricultural sector in Batticaloa.

Sri Lanka’s Economic Path: Reform or Repetition?

The National People’s Power (NPP) came to power with a vision of "a thriving nation, a beautiful life," promising a productive economy and the elimination of waste and corruption. However, a government’s first budget is a reflection of its policy direction, and unfortunately, the current administration's proposals fail to break away from the failed neoliberal economic model that has plagued Sri Lanka since 1977.

Rather than initiating a decisive shift towards economic sovereignty and long-term national development, the NPP government appears to be continuing within the restrictive framework of the 17th IMF programme—an agreement inherited from the previous administration and left unchallenged. The IMF's policies prioritize debt repayment and fiscal austerity over national development, locking countries like Sri Lanka into cycles of economic dependency and underdevelopment. Without a structural transformation that prioritizes industrialization, self-sufficiency, and economic modernization, the current policy direction risks deepening the country’s crisis rather than resolving it.

Development in Crisis- How the End of USAID Projects Threatens Third-World Economies

Introduction

For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a cornerstone of economic growth, humanitarian aid, and social development in developing nations. With billions of dollars in funding directed toward healthcare, education, infrastructure, and governance reforms, USAID has played a pivotal role in stabilizing fragile economies and fostering long-term growth. However, recent budget cuts, shifting geopolitical priorities, and donor fatigue have led to the termination or reduction of several USAID programs, raising concerns about the future of development in third-world economies.

The AI Revolution and Job Displacement: Who Wins and Who Loses?

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries, enhancing efficiency, and reshaping the global economy. However, this technological shift raises a critical question: At what cost to human jobs? While AI-driven automation promises productivity gains and new economic opportunities, it also poses risks of job displacement, widening income inequality, and workforce disruption.

Governments, businesses, and workers must adapt to this new reality by implementing strategic workforce planning, upskilling initiatives, and regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with social equity. This article explores the winners and losers of AI-driven automation, its impact on labor markets, and key policy recommendations based on real-world data and publicly available sources.

Celebrating 77 Years of Independence: Reflecting on Sri Lanka’s Journey and the Path to Economic Freedom

Today, Sri Lanka marks the 77th anniversary of its Independence Day, a momentous occasion that commemorates the nation’s liberation from British colonial rule on February 4, 1948. Since that historic day, the country has celebrated its political freedom annually, honoring the sacrifices of countless heroes who fought tirelessly for self-rule.

The Sri Lankan independence movement is often remembered as a peaceful political struggle, with figures like D.R. Wijewardene, the founder of this newspaper group, playing a pivotal role. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the bravery of those who laid down their lives in battles against colonial powers. Their efforts bore fruit when Ceylon was granted independence as the Dominion of Ceylon on February 4, 1948. Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayake, revered as the “Father of the Nation,” became the country’s first Prime Minister. Sri Lanka retained its Dominion status within the British Commonwealth for 24 years until May 22, 1972, when it became a republic and adopted the name “Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.”

The Global Fallout: Economic and Humanitarian Consequences of USAID’s Worldwide Shutdown

Introduction

For more than six decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a vital force in global development, supporting economic growth, public health, humanitarian aid, and democracy-building initiatives in over 100 countries. However, growing concerns over budget constraints, shifting U.S. foreign policy priorities, and domestic political divisions have led to drastic cuts in USAID funding, sparking discussions about a potential worldwide shutdown of its programs.

If USAID were to shut down or significantly scale back its operations, the consequences would be severe—leading to economic instability, food insecurity, public health crises, and political unrest in many of the world’s most vulnerable regions. This article examines the global economic and humanitarian fallout of a USAID shutdown, using publicly available reports from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations (UN), USAID, and other verified sources.