Academic who criticised organic fertiliser policy removed from posts at Agriculture Ministry

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has instructed his Ministry Secretary to immediately remove Prof. Buddhi Marambe of the University of Peradeniya from all positions he held at the Agriculture Ministry.

The Ministry said in a press release that accordingly, Prof. Marambe of the Peradeniya University's Agriculture Faculty, has been removed from positions he held as a member of the Expert Committee appointed to formulate a National Agriculture Policy, member the Committee on Agriculture Modernisation Project and his role as Advisor to the Smallholder Agribusiness Partnerships Programme. 

The Ministry statement claimed that Prof. Marambe had served for many years as a Director of CIC Holdings, which has been engaged in importing chemical fertiliser to the country. He was also accused of being at the forefront of efforts to overturn the glyphosate ban of the previous Government, the statement further said. 

Prof. Marambe is also accused of making statements criticising the current Government's decision to implement an environmentally friendly agriculture programme and of rallying university academics, civil society organisations and the public against it, the Ministry further alleged. "The Government's attention has also been drawn to Prof. Marambe's conduct of criticising Government policy whilst holding positions in several state ministries," the Agriculture Ministry also stated. 

The Minister's letter announcing the removal of Prof. Marambe from all positions he held with the Agriculture Ministry and institutions coming under it has been forwarded to Agriculture Ministry Secretary Senior Professor Udith Jayasinghe today.