President calls for crucial meeting to review ban on fertiliser imports

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has summoned stakeholders in Agricultural sector to take decision on permitting imports of fertiliser for crops today (22) morning, State Minister Sashindra Rajapaksa said.

He said at the meeting a final decision will be taken with the objective of converting into organic cultivation in the next three or four seasons. “You cannot convert into organic cultivation overnight”.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Prof Udith Jayasinghe said that the Secretary Ministry of Plantations and himself have been given the authority to grant permission to decide on allowing imports of pesticides and fungicides by deciding on the required amounts.

However, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Aluthgamage making a contradictory statement said no decision has been taken to reverse their previous decision.

The President has summoned the meeting in the wake of a sharp increase of vegetable prices and farmers abandoning cultivation lands.