Sri Lanka suspends Chinese organic fertiliser shipment

Sri Lanka has decided to suspend the import of the Chinese organic fertilszer after informing the importer that the samples tested had contained bacteria.

Agriculture Ministry Director General Dr. Ajanata De Silva said today (29) that the authorities have decided to suspend the import of the stock of organic fertiliser from China.

The authorities had already informed the importer Chelina Capital Corporation Pvt. Ltd. that the stock of fertiliser has failed the test to comply with the local requirements. The second test results of this consignment came on Monday (27).

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said the suspension was mainly due to laboratory reports on samples revealed that the nitrogen organic fertilizer contained harmful bacteria that could cause problems to the local soil.

He said the government is focused on ensuring that there is no shortage of fertilizer during the upcoming Maha season and that the farmer will get quality organic fertilizer.

However, it is learnt the stock of organic fertilizer had already been loaded from the Port of Qingdao headed for Colombo by Qingdao Seawin Biotech fertiliser company.

Authorities are now laying the blame on the (local) importer for going ahead with the importation of the stock of fertilizer without awaiting the green light from Sri Lanka.(SD)