Russian authorities have removed the mandatory requirement to fumigate Sri Lankan tea containers prior to exportation with effect from October 1, the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) said.
Since 2017, Sri Lanka had fumigated its containers of tea after the alleged detection of a 'Kapra beetle' in one of its containers exported to Russia - an exercise which the SLTB described as "costly and time consuming".
Accordingly, Plantations Industry Minister Navin Dissanayake and a few other SLTB experts had held talks with Russian agriculture ministry officials to lift this requirement.
It had been observed that no 'Kapra beetle' had been discovered in Sri Lanka's tea consignments exported to Russia between 2018 and 2019.
The Federal Services for Veterinary and Pyhtosanitary Surveillance of Russia’s Agriculture Ministry had then agreed to issue a circular declaring that the requirement to fumigate containers would be removed.
This circular would be issued to the Russian Customs Posts and all other relevant authorities, the SLTB said.
All Ceylon Makkal Congress MP Ali Sabri Raheem had been arrested by Kalpitiya police after he surrendered to the police today morning.
An interim order prohibiting Deshabandu Tennakoon from carrying out his duties as Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been issued by the Supreme Court.
The Presidential election will be held on September 21, the Commission of Elections has decided.
The former leader of the New Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) and the New Left Front and well-known figure in left-wing politics in Sri Lanka, Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne, passed away at the age of 81.
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