News
China wants issue resolved amicably
Controversy over harmful organic fertiliser:
Amidst a simmering controversy both in and outside Parliament over accusations the SLPP government planned to import harmful organic fertiliser from China, the Chinese Embassy, in Colombo, has urged Sri Lanka and Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group to resolve this issue promptly, and address differences through dialogue, in good faith, for the mutual benefits of the China-Sri Lanka cooperation.
Both the Samagi Jana Balavegaya and the JVP have slammed the government over the moves to import organic fertiliser from China.
The following is the text of the Chinese Embassy statement: “It has been noticed that recently there are several news reports and statements in Sri Lanka claiming that the organic fertilizer to be imported from China contains harmful bacteria. In this regard, the Embassy of China in Sri Lanka contacted the product supplier, Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd. to examine the said issue, and found out that these reports and statements, which have already harmed the reputation of the company in question, directly contradict the facts. The Embassy would like to clarify as follows:
* Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as Seawin), is a high-tech enterprise focusing in the production of new-type seaweed organic fertilizer, found in 2000 with a registered capital of 132 million RMB (approximately 4.1 billion LKR). Its products, which have passed the EU ECOCERT Organic Certification, OMRI Certification, REACH Certification, and Australian Organic Input Certification etc., have been exported to more than 50 countries and regions in the world, including Europe and the United States. It also set up overseas branch companies in the U.S. and Australia.
* Seawin was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture of Sri Lanka through open tender to supply the urgently needed organic fertilizer.
* The company has undertaken obligations strictly in accordance with the signed contract. In their production process, the organic fertilizer must be sterilized at 600 ?, thus all harmful microorganisms are killed by the high temperature, which is in line with the standards required in the bidding documents, the contract, the letters of credit as well as the widely accepted international standards for organic fertilizers.
* In the process of enforcing the contract, however, the Sri Lanka National Plant Quarantine Services (NPQS) claimed that the sample received contained harmful bacteria including Erwinia, after only THREE (3) days of test and analysis, which lead to the above-mentioned news reports. It is noted that, according to the International Plant Protection Convention, it will take at least SIX (6) days to detect Erwinia. The hasty conclusion made by NPQS lacks scientific basis. As such, the decision made by the authorities to reject Seawin’s organic fertilizer based on the NPQS report is not only questionable but also causing great financial loss to the company.
* Therefore, the Embassy hopes that the related parties on the Sri Lankan side and the Chinese company could coordinate on the principles of respecting science and facts and the spirit of contract with the view to resolving this issue promptly, and address differences through dialogue in good faith for the mutual benefits of the China-Sri Lanka cooperation.”
The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education will introduce a single curriculum for preschools across the country from next year, according to Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewe.
Speaking at a programme on Monday (5), Kaluwewe said the new reforms would end the practice of individual preschools adopting different curricula and educational approaches.
He said the Ministry, as the institution primarily responsible for the country’s human resources, was introducing reforms covering preschool education as part of the broader education reforms currently underway.
“From next year, a single curriculum will be introduced for preschool education and implemented across the country,” he said.
Kaluwewe said preschools would no longer be permitted to teach different content or follow separate educational approaches.
He added that a comprehensive programme was already underway to assess the existing education system and introduce reforms across all three sectors of education.
Negombo Magistrate Shilanee Perera yesterday (06) ordered discharging the fourth suspect Jiffry Mohamed from further proceedings in the alleged drug case, stating that no offence under section 54 (a) of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Act has been disclosed in the reports before Court.
The Magistrate held further that no other criminal offence has been alleged against the suspect in the proceedings before Court.
Jiffry Mohamed, Director of A Y Investments Impex (Pvt) Ltd of ‘Supernova Complex’, Bankshall Street, Colombo, was produced in the Negombo Magistrate’s Court on allegations of receiving deposits of money from the bank account of the 1st suspect one Fernando. The 1st suspect was arrested previously with alleged possession of heroin. 1st suspect Fernando was enlarged on bail by the Negombo High Court.
President’s Counsel M.M. Zuhair appearing with Sanjay Perera, M.D.C Jayamini and Mayurika de Silva for Jiffry Mohamed filed written submissions that Jiffry Mohamed is a businessman of repute with no previous convictions or involvement with police or courts. His business accounts are open for deposits into which he regularly receives advance payments from multiple importers for import of goods. He is a service provider and deposits the payments received to banks. Thereafter it is the bank which converts the rupees into foreign currencies and transfers the money to the foreign exporters of goods to Sri Lanka. This is a lawful process under the Import & Export Control Act Regulation No 1 of 2011.
Counsel submitted that according to the police Jiffry Mohamed had received over Rs 74 billion into his rupee accounts during the years 2024 and 2025. He is not aware of Fernando and had no knowledge of any deposits by the 1st suspect or the history of any such deposits. Jiffry Mohamed has no knowledge or any records relating to drugs. In this case there is no allegation or evidence that the suspect had trafficked or possessed any quantity of any drugs at any time.
Quoting Sriyalatha Saraswathie Vs Attorney General Counsel Zuhair submitted that “The criminal liability attaches only to possession which is to be proved to be ‘actual’, ‘exclusive’ and ‘conscious possession’ on the part of a person. The facts of this case clearly show that there is no offence committed by Jiffry Mohamed under the dangerous drugs act.
Negombo Magistrate following the written submissions filed on behalf of the 4th suspect, directed the Negombo Headquarters Police to file a detailed report on the evidence relating to the allegations. Negombo Headquarters police filed report that there is no material to proceed further under the Drugs Act. Magistrate thereupon discharged suspect Jiffry Mohamed.
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader and MP Rauff Hakeem met Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, retired Major General Dr. Nayyar Naseer, at the Pakistan High Commission on Monday (5) evening.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on matters of mutual interest and the longstanding relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
During the meeting, Naseer presented a commemorative memento to Hakeem.
Cenmetrix and NOLIMIT drive Sri Lanka’s RFID shift in retail
Single curriculum for preschools from next year
Humanism Scores in the Skies
Munchee makes SLIM DIGIS history with record breaking 20 awards
Negombo Magistrate discharges Jiffry Mohamed from drugs case
Hakeem meets Pakistan envoy
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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