News
‘Agrochemicals smuggled from India a danger’
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government was turning a blind eye to a racket where large amounts of agro-chemicals are smuggled into the country via the sea, former NGO activist and provincial Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon alleged yesterday.
He told The Island: “This is being done to convince people that the government’s organic agriculture initiative is working. I have personally seen the effects of some agro-chemicals that have been smuggled into the country. These agro-chemicals are extremely potent and will acidify the soil.”
The government banned the import of agro-chemicals a few months ago, claiming that Sri Lanka would be the first country to go 100% organic. Tennakoon said that he thought it should have been done gradually with the consent of all stakeholders.
“However, the government must immediately stop people smuggling in low quality agro-chemicals from India. These agro-chemicals are freely available in agricultural areas and would have devastating impacts on agriculture, farming and human health. The Ministry of Agriculture, Standards Institute and Office of the Registrar of Pesticides are not doing anything about it,” he said.
Tennakoon said that sub-standard agrochemicals are being smuggled in fishing boats to Mannar, Kattankudi, Trincomalee and Weligama harbours. Some of these agro-chemicals were banned in Sri Lanka a decade ago, he added.
“There is no plan to produce adequate amounts of compost. The government knows this. The government also knows that without adequate agrochemicals the agricultural production will decrease significantly in the coming months. Instead of sitting down with all stakeholders and deciding on the best course of action, the government is turning a blind eye to the issue,” he said.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
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