Air Quality and Cement Production: Examining the Implications of Point Source Pollution in Sri Lanka

Suspended particulate matter (SPM), dust, fumes and gases from cement production can result in a range of health effects to households living around factories. This study estimates the health costs associated with air pollution from a cement factory in the district of Puttalam in Sri Lanka. The study uses field data collected from 500 households living within a 3 km radius of the factory and measures seasonal air pollution to estimate dose-response functions and mitigation cost functions for different respiratory illnesses. The results indicate that the incidence of respiratory illness is about 14% amongst individuals who live in the vicinity of the cement factory. The study estimates that the expected annual welfare gain by reducing the SPM level by 50% is SLR 699 (US$7) per representative individual, while the annual welfare gain to all people living in the vicinity of the factory is SLR 2.96 million (US$ 29,600)

WELFARE EFFECTS OF GOVERNMENT INTER VENT10N IN RICE MARKETING: CASE FOR SRI LANKA

The fertilizer subsidy, producer price supports were the key short run policies for rice production in Sri Lanka. The removal of fertilizer subsidy results in a loss of producer and consumer welfare. The gain in producer and consumer welfare due to a change in producer price support for rice would be lesser than the loss through fertilizer subsidy. The increases in the value of food stamps have no significance on rice production In the country

Governmental agricultural policies and their impact on supply and demand for rice in Sri Lanka

Typescript (photocopy).Rice is the main staple food in Sri Lanka. The domestic production is insufficient to meet the local requirements and Sri Lanka is dependent on imports of rice and wheat flour to feed its population. To increase the rice production and reduce imports the government has introduced several agricultural policies as expanded irrigation, guaranteed price scheme, paddy lands act, fertilizer subsidy, agricultural credit scheme, crop insurance scheme, and rice ration scheme. This study attempts to identify and evaluate the factors that are important in aggregate production, consumption decisions of rice, and measure the impact of various government policies on the sectors of the rice economy. The regression results suggests that the guaranteed price scheme provides only a small incentive to paddy production. Irrigation is a major contributory factor to rice production in the dry zone. The modern varieties, agricultural credit significantly affects yields. The rainfall and the cultivated acreage in the previous season affects the current rice area

Forestry Policy, Non-timber Forest Products and the Rural Economy in the Wet Zone Forests in Sri Lanka

In 1995 the contribution of the forestry sector to the Sri Lanka economy was nearly 1.3 percent of the Gross National Product (Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 1995). Its contribution to the national economy declined from 1.7 percent in 1988 to 1.4 percent in 1994 as can be seen in Table 1. The marginal decline of the forestry sector reflected diminishing timber resources which has resulted from over exploitation of forests during this period due to population growth and economic development. The total employment in forestry and wood-based industries in 1995 were around 331,000 persons. Of the total 67 percent biomass energy produced in the country, nearly 66 percent was mainly from fuel wood, a main product of natural forests in the dry and wet zones of the country. This means fuel wood provided nearly 44 percent of the total energy produced in the country.Forest policy, Sri Lanka

Getting The Incentives Right: Sri Lanka Forest Conservation

Sri Lanka, like many countries in Southeast Asia, is battling deforestation. However, this study has found that the country's current forest conservation strategy could gain vital grass-roots support, provided it is carried out pragmatically and with full regard for local people's needs. The study looked at conservation efforts in Sri Lanka's wet zone forests. His main conclusion: that community participation in conservation efforts can only be secured by the provision of appropriate economic and cultural incentives, such as guaranteed access to non-timber forest products.Forest conservation, Sri Lanka