The Effects of Agricultural Trade Liberalisation under the Doha Development Agenda with Special Reference to the Asia Pacific Region: A Brief Survey

The main purpose of this paper is to survey the results of recent quantitative studies on the effects of Agricultural Trade Liberalization with special reference to the Asia-Pacific region under the July Framework Agreement or the “July Package” of the Doha Development Agenda, DDA (the decision adopted by the General Council of the WTO on 1 August 2004, see WTO, 2004, WT/L/579).Agricultural Trade Liberalization, Doha Development

Studies in Trade and Investment - AGRICULTURAL TRADE - PLANTING THE SEEDS OF REGIONAL LIBERALIZATION IN ASIA

this chapter attempts to evaluate the impact of agricultural trade reform in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on RTAs.Agricultural trade liberalization, Asia-Pacific region, preferential trade agreements

Trade Liberalisation and Income Distribution: Evidence from a Small Open Economy

Abstract: Over the last few decades there has been a great deal of interest in investigating the link between trade liberalisation and income distribution in developing countries. Although there is a significant amount of empirical evidence to support the positive link between trade liberalisation and growth, the evidence on the relationship between trade liberalisation and income distribution among different household groups has been inconclusive. This study investigates the effects of trade liberalisation on income distribution in the Sri Lankan economy using a computable general equilibrium model. In terms of income distribution it can be observed that tariff reduction in manufacturing industries tends to widen the income gap between the low and the high income earners. Understanding these distributional effects of trade liberalisation will help in designing better targeted and robust welfare programmes in order to mitigate the adjustment costs of further liberalisation in developing countries like Sri Lanka

Phenotypic and genotypic distribution of ESBL, AmpC β-lactamase and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in community-acquired and hospital-acquired urinary tract infections in Sri Lanka

Objectives: Although Sri Lanka belongs to a region with a high prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), AmpC β-lactamase and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, data regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is limited. We studied the prevalence and diversity of β-lactamases produced by Enterobacteriaceae urinary pathogens from two hospitals in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Methods: ESBL, AmpC β-lactamase and carbapenemase production was detected by phenotypic testing followed by genotyping. Results: The species responsible for urinary tract infections (UTI) were Escherichia coli (69%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (16%) and Enterobacter sp (6%). The prevalence of ESBL (50%), AmpC β-lactamase (19%) and carbapenemase (11%) phenotypes was high, and greater in hospital-acquired (HA-UTI) (75%) than in community-acquired UTI (CA-UTI) (42%). Identification of CA-UTI caused by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (5%) is alarming. Only one ESBL gene, blaCTX- M-15, was detected. AmpC β-lactamase genes found in E. coli and K. pneumoniae were blaCMY-2, blaCMY-42 and blaDHA-1, while Enterobacter sp. carried blaACT-1. Carbapenemase genes were blaNDM-1, blaNDM-4, blaOXA-181 and blaOXA-232, while blaKPC, blaIMP and blaVIM were absent. Co-occurrence of multiple bla genes, with some isolates harbouring six different bla genes, was common. Carbapenem-resistant isolates without carbapenemase genes displayed mutations in the outer membrane porin genes, ompF of E. coli and ompK36 of K. pneumoniae. Factors associated with UTI with β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae were age ≥50 years, previous hospitalization, presence of an indwelling urinary catheter, history of diabetes mellitus or other chronic illness and recurrent urinary tract infections. Conclusion: This study adds to the currently scarce data on AMR in Sri Lanka

Recognition of skin malignancy by general practitioners: observational study using data from a population-based randomised controlled trial

Skin malignancy is an important cause of mortality in the United Kingdom and is rising in incidence every year. Most skin cancer presents in primary care, and an important determinant of outcome is initial recognition and management of the lesion. Here we present an observational study of interobserver agreement using data from a population-based randomised controlled trial of minor surgery. Trial participants comprised patients presenting in primary care and needing minor surgery in whom recruiting doctors felt to be able to offer treatment themselves or to be able to refer to a colleague in primary care. They are thus relatively unselected. The skin procedures undertaken in the randomised controlled trial generated 491 lesions with a traceable histology report: 36 lesions (7%) from 33 individuals were malignant or pre-malignant. Chance-corrected agreement (κ) between general practitioner (GP) diagnosis of malignancy and histology was 0.45 (0.36–0.54) for lesions and 0.41 (0.32–0.51) for individuals affected with malignancy. Sensitivity of GPs for the detection of malignant lesions was 66.7% (95% confidence interval (CI), 50.3–79.8) for lesions and 63.6% (95% CI, 46.7–77.8) for individuals affected with malignancy. The safety of patients is of paramount importance and it is unsafe to leave the diagnosis and treatment of potential skin malignancy in the hands of doctors who have limited training and experience. However, the capacity to undertake all of the minor surgical demand works demanded in hospitals does not exist. If the capacity to undertake it is present in primary care, then the increased costs associated with enhanced training for general medical practitioners (GPs) must be borne

MANAGING THE TOURISM-LED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN POST-WAR SRI LANKA

The Sri Lankan tourism industry has been booming since the end of war in 2009. Considering the key role that tourism can play in post-war economic development, the Sri Lankan government launched a Tourism Development Strategy (TDS). This study has evaluated the feasibility of achieving the targets of the TDS by building a simple tourism demand model and by undertaking a qualitative comparative assessment with a selected tourism booms in a number of war-affected countries. The findings suggest that the TDS targets are achievable provided the country manages to expand supply of tourism related infrastructure (hard as well as soft) in a price competitive manner

IN-VITRO CALLUS FORMATION OF RED SANDALWOOD (Pterocarpus santalinus L.) AS AFFECTED BY EXPLANT TYPE AND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF 2,4-D AND BAP

Pterocarpus santalinus is a valuable medicinal plant, now included in red listof endangered plants under IUCN guidelines. Distribution of this plant in SriLanka is very limited and the local demand for ayurvedic purposes is stillunreached. As conventional propagation techniques are not satisfactory,possibilities in in-vitro techniques seem to be promising, and callus culture isone aspect that has to be studied. Leaf parts, cotyledon parts, root segments,inter-nodal segments, and nodal segments from in-vitro seedlings were usedas explants. 2,4-D and BAP were used separately in six differentconcentrations (1 mg/l - 6 mg/l) for callus initiation Full strength MS medium(Murashige and Skoog, 1962) was used with 30 g/l of sucrose and 8 g/l agaras the culture medium. Callus formation could be observed in every explant.However, large clumps of creamy white callus were obtained from nodalsegments. Callus formation in root segments was very poor and showedbrown color. In nodal segments, callus formation was started within twoweeks and large clumps of callus were observed while slight swellin~occurring on root segments, leaf parts and in cotyledon parts at the end of 41week. Callus formation was best when the culture medium was supplementedwith 3 mg/l of BAP. Though callus formation could be observed in 2,4-D,amount of callus formed was poor. Present studies revealed that MS mediumsupplemented with 3 mg/l BAP is ideal for callus induction in Pterocarpussantalinus and possibility of using nodal segments as initial explants

VASE LIFE STUDIES ON Dracaena reflexa CUT DECORATIVE SHOOTS

Wilting and color change of Dracaena leaves are major post harvestproblems in exportation. This study is an attempt to overcome these problemsand to improve vase life of Dracaena cut stems. Experiments were done atGreen Farms Ltd. Marawila to investigate post harvest handling of Dracaenareflexa to maintain export quality and freshness. Series of experiments wereconducted to investigate management practices; effect of glycerol solution(pure glycerol in 1,3 & 5hrs); effect of immersing one hour (using KMn04 2,5 & 10pmm); effect of sucrose solution (2, 5 & 10%); effect of KMn04 (2, 5& lOppm) for cultivars of Dracaena reflexa "Reflex a Green", "Song ofJamaica" and "Song of India". Treatments were arranged in completerandomized design with 4 replicates each. Data were analyzed using SASstatistical programme with analysis of variances. Mean separation was doneusing LSD on parametric procedures.The results revealed that wilting, color change and rotting, of Dracaenareflexa cultivars were not significantly affected by post harvest solutions ofKMn04 and sucrose compared to the control (tap water). However, pureglycerol (dipped for 1hr) and tap water maintained vase life of "Song ofJamaica" for 21days. Damaged cuttings showed Erwinia infection after 10-12days during vase period (CV = 05.628813). Results in general show avoidinginjury to specimens, and this helps to maintain the quality of the products.Many infections can be avoided by keeping the specimens dry. Experimentsproved that maximum vase life of Dracaena cuttings could be achieved bymaintaining proper management practices and sanitation conditions in a coldroom.

Costing of a Blended Course at the Open University of Sri Lanka: An Empirical Study

In a viable Open and Distance Learning system, providing immediate access to learning resources and fostering effective teacher-learner interactions are essential components while balancing the cost of the course without compromising quality. Owing to the advancement of ICT across the globe, the Open University of Sri Lanka has initiated integrating online components into the existing print-based courses and offering them as blended courses. The gauging costs for these blended courses are also vital to determine the various costs components. Hence, an empirical study was conducted to estimate total costs and cost per student of a blended course. In this empirical study, costing was carried out, based on five major costs categories; course materials design and development, course materials production, course delivery, student evaluation, overhead and infrastructure. Th