Sri Lanka bans glyphosate imports

Date:06-03-2015

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena recently announced that the imports and release of the agrochemical glyphosate will be banned with immediate effect. The release of already imported stocks is also barred.

The President made this announcement while participating in a function held to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity at the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment at Battaramulla.

Addressing the function, President Sirisena said he is satisfied to have taken a significant decision on behalf of the farmer fraternity.

The President, who was the Health Minister of the former government, said the government has decided to totally ban the imports of Glyphosate, which is linked to the kidney disease, as the number of kidney patients was surging.

The President noted that certain firms made a request to sell the already imported stocks but he did not concede to their request.