The government has decided to re-inspect imported fertilizer due to Chinese influence, removing a subject expert who had objected to the importation of a stock of fertilizer manufactured by a Chinese company that had been found to contain harmful bacteria.
Jayasuriya Udukumbura, Media Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage, has announced that Prof. Buddhi Marambe of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya has been removed from all his posts in the Ministry of Agriculture.
On Tuesday morning, the Director General of Agriculture stated that the Chinese Ambassador and representatives of the Fertilizer Company had requested the Ministry of Agriculture to re-inspect the stock of Chinese organic fertilizer which was rejected by the Sri Lankan government on the grounds that it contained harmful bacteria.
Responding to questions from the media during a program in Colombo, Minister of State for Agriculture Shashindra Rajapaksa said that the Chinese company had agreed to refer the organic fertilizer to an institution acceptable to both parties and re-examine it.
The Minister of State further stated that the relevant Chinese company had informed that the research conducted in the laboratories in Sri Lanka was not acceptable.
The Sri Lankan Plant Quarantine Service has on two occasions confirmed the presence of harmful bacteria in organic fertilizers manufactured by Chindao Siwing Biotech in China.
Despite the Ministry of Agriculture stating that the fertilizer will not be allowed to be imported to Sri Lanka, a ship carrying 20,000 metric tons of fertilizer is now approaching Sri Lanka, according to media reports.
Minister of State for Agriculture Shashindra Rajapaksa further stated that the study of Chinese organic fertilizer was proposed to be done by a third party which is mutually acceptable and then a decision would be taken in that regard.