News
Severe global disruption of fertiliser supply; Lanka will be in a bind with mixed signals from govt. – MONLAR
By Rathindra Kuruwita
A severe global shortage of fertiliser in the coming years would seriously affect food prices that were already soaring across the world, moderator of the Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR,) Chinthaka Rajapakshe said yesterday. He warned that substantial increase in food prices would always lead to social unrest.
Rajapakshe said that Russia and Belarus were among the two main exporters of fertiliser, and given that they would not be exporting fertiliser in large quantities in the near future with both being involved in the war in Ukraine, the government would not be able to import fertiliser for the coming farming season as promised.
“The Cabinet of Ministers have approved the import of Muriate of Potash (Potassium Chloride) fertiliser for the Yala Season. They are planning to import 38,500 metric tonnes of muriate of potash fertiliser. The Cabinet says it wants to bring fertiliser through an international competitive bidding system and provide it to the farmers under the government fertiliser subsidy programme. However, the problem is where the government will get the fertiliser from and whether it can give subsidies.”
Rajapakshe said that a metric tonne of urea will hit USD 1,000 and it will be virtually impossible for the government to subsidise fertiliser.
Another big problem was that the government had been giving mixed signals about the future of organic agriculture, Rajapakhe said. If the government was serious about reducing the cost of importing fertiliser it should work with farmers and introduce easy compost making methods. Instead, it allowed its cronies to mass-produce compost, and when that failed it sought to import organic fertiliser, the MONLAR Moderator asserted.
“The government implemented its organic drive without any planning or discussion. When farmers oppose this ad hoc decision, it promises to make chemical fertiliser available. Now, farmers are confused again. There are also a significant number of farmers who successfully carried out organic farming. Instead of learning from farmers who have been successful in incorporating organic methods and sharing them with others, the government is now promising chemical fertiliser,” Rajapakshe said.
However, it was obvious that the government would find it difficult to import adequate quantities of fertiliser and that would lead to another round of farmer discontent, Rajapakshe said. This is another example of the government and officials being unaware of global developments.
The MONLAR moderator said that even before the hostilities in Ukraine erupted, Russia had restricted the export of Urea by 50%. China, which is another major player in fertliser production, too has curbed its exports.
“With Russia, Belarus, and China minimising exports there will be fertiliser shortages across the world. The demand will go through the roof. Countries like India with closer relations with Russia and nations like Pakistan and Iran close to both Russia and China will get hold of the limited stocks that Russia, Belarus, and China will export. What will happen to us?” he asked.
The MONLAR moderator said that the crisis in agriculture was not limited to fertiliser. Successive governments didn’t provide any direction to the sector and given that the next five years would be extremely challenging, the country immediately needed to have a serious discussion about the future of agriculture and food security, he said.
As part of the official visit to London for the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, held discussions with academic experts from the British Council on Wednesday [20 May 2026].
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in education, particularly in the areas of teacher training, English language programmes, education frameworks, and language acquisition skills.
The British Council shared international experience and highlighted its ongoing engagement in Sri Lanka, while expressing readiness to support the country through technical assistance, teacher development initiatives, and policy collaboration.
Discussions also included views on improving quality assurance, expanding research collaboration, and enhancing learning opportunities.
The Prime Minister appreciated the British Council’s continued engagement in Sri Lanka and reiterated the importance of deepening partnerships.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division’
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom, met with members of the Sri Lankan community living in London on Wednesday [20th] and engaged in cordial discussions.
Despite the event being held on a weekday, it was notable that nearly one thousand Sri Lankans representing the Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim communities attended with great enthusiasm.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that despite natural disasters and international crises, the present government has succeeded in stabilizing the country’s economy while providing relief to the people. She further noted that Sri Lanka’s political culture has now undergone a positive transformation that is irreversible.
Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj, addressing the event, stated that a governance system has now been established in the country where all communities are treated equally and the benefits of economic development are shared fairly among all citizens.
Moving away from the traditional method of political gatherings, the event also provided an open platform for members of the Sri Lankan community to directly raise questions and express their views to the Prime Minister and the Minister.
Commenting on the organization of the event, the organizing committee stated that all expenses, including dinner, were borne by the participants themselves. The organizers further remarked that it is unsurprising that opposition groups, accustomed to organizing such events through the misuse of public funds, appear unsettled by this transparent process.
The occasion was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya currently undertaking an official visit to London, United Kingdom, to participate in the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026 held a bilateral meeting with the Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom ON Wednesday [20]. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera, along with officials from the Sri Lankan High Commission.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed Sri Lanka’s appreciation to the United Kingdom for the support extended in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwa, including ongoing rebuilding and recovery assistance. The Prime Minister also commended the United Kingdom’s support in facilitating increased bilateral trade and exports for Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister briefed the UK delegation on Sri Lanka’s recent economic developments and policy priorities, the Government’s commitment to advancing human rights and reconciliation, as well as Sri Lanka’s positive growth trajectory.
The two sides also exchanged views on current global geopolitical developments, challenges in the energy sector, and the importance of enhancing regional connectivity and long-term energy security.
Both sides also emphasised the importance of strengthening structured academic mobility frameworks while ensuring fairness, clarity, and integrity within migration systems.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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