[COLOMBO] Sri Lankans, aged 60 and over, are more likely to die of rabies than their younger compatriots, says a new study. The findings, published last month (31 May) in Infection, Genetics and Evolution, indicate that school awareness programmes and proactive surveillance have helped younger people receive timely treatment for theinfectious disease. Older victims tended to … Continue reading →

COLOMBO] Cultivation of cardamom, a high value spice crop, can take a toll on evergreen forests in tropical countries, independent studies in Sri Lanka and India have shown. Apart from disturbing biodiversity, cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), plantations affect water and soil quality in tropical forests, the studies said. Researchers from Sri Lanka and the United  Kingdom studying abandoned cardamom … Continue reading →

[ISLAMABAD/COLOMBO] The lack of rains in large, monsoon-dependent, agricultural areas of South Asia has compounded concerns expressed in a recent report about an impending global water crisis and its detrimental impact on agriculture. Poor monsoon rains have diminished the water available for agriculture and groundwater reservoir replenishment in South Asia, as well as making it difficult for farmers to know when … Continue reading →

[COLOMBO] Lack of reliable data on forest resources could prevent Sri Lanka from immediately accessing UN funds pledged to help the island nation reduce carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, a new study said. Sri Lanka was last month (25 March) promised initial funding worth US$ 4 million from the UN-managed, multi-partner trust fund to reduce … Continue reading →