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‘Government temporarily takes one step forward after many backward steps on agriculture’

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5 years ago

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By Dr. Hemakumara Nanayakkara

Ever since April 2021, Sri Lanka’s agriculture and plantation sectors have been beset by needless difficulties as a result of an announcement, seemingly made on a whim, that Sri Lanka would switch to completely organic agriculture – effective immediately.

In doing so, the Government has jarringly halted all progress on efforts to develop these critical sectors, pushing the entire nation back many steps in the decision to ban import and use of all agro-chemicals and inorganic fertilizer.

A conflict of intentions and egos

By issuing such an extreme proclamation without a shred of scientific analysis into how these concepts could be practically implemented in Sri Lanka, they have done more harm than good to the expansion of true organic agriculture.

This is unfortunate because, as a concept, organic agriculture has many benefits. However, unlike what has been portrayed, it is not simply a matter of reverting to ‘ancient practices’. There is a deep and complex science to organic cultivation.

None of these complexities were understood or considered when the imprudent decision to ban all inorganic inputs was first announced. The assumption that ‘organic’ is just adding compost to soil has been the detriment of the directive. Hence, it was decided that imported chemical inputs were not necessary, not because organic agriculture is practical, but because imports require the Government to spend more of the nation’s now dwindling foreign reserves.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

In the months that have followed, everyone from academics to industry experts and farmers on the ground have been venting their frustration at the total breakdown of their regular cultivation practices as a result of this dangerously unscientific approach to agricultural reform.

After much condemnation, it was finally announced at the start of August that the Government was reverting their position. While not admitting it and maintaining that the ban is still in effect, probably to save face, the fact that they are relenting on import of chelated minerals, fertilizer mixes and micro-nutrients for specialist applications including for hydroponic cultivation and floriculture”, even if temporary, is a slight relief.

It may be assumed that technicalities of what these terms mean may be enough to dissuade the public from asking too many questions. But anyone with passing knowledge of agriculture would understand that chelated minerals and fertilizer mixes contain the exact same inorganic inputs which the Government is overtly claiming to ban – namely: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK). These are the elements which are essential to plant nutrition and growth.

Prior to the invention of techniques to produce synthetic fertilizer in the early 1900s, guano – the accumulated excrement of seabirds and bats was the only known reliable source of fertilizer with NPK suitable for commercial agriculture at that time. This pressing demand for fertilizer led to many predictions of mass starvation, and it would have come to pass were it not for the invention of the Haber-Bosch technique for the manufacture of synthetic nitrogenous fertilizer.

While it is possible to obtain Phosphorus locally, and organic Potassium could be imported from natural mines – leaving aside the fact that supply chains are not in place to meet the entire national requirement – sourcing Nitrogen is much more problematic. That is because it is extremely difficult to obtain N from plant or animal sources at the levels necessary for commercial scale agriculture.

Currently, we use Urea for tea and paddy, which contains approximately 46% Nitrogen. By contrast, organic sources like Gliricidia offers only 4%, while cattle dung has 3.5% and poultry dung –with 4.5% nitrogen by composition.

Prior to the ban, NPK was used in paddy, tea, rubber and coconut, and after the latest relaxation, these are still the same inputs that are being used, so in practice the Government has taken 3 months to make a bad decision and then reverse it – all the while falsely maintaining that inorganic NPK is not acceptable.

Had the Government simply consulted with relevant experts in the field in an open and transparent manner, they could have avoided all of the detrimental effects which followed from this disastrous decision. While there mention of a “Presidential Task Force for a green socio-economy” at the outset, they have not been forthcoming about their logic or approach in any public forums.

We are aware that there is a person in that task force who has been presented as a professor who made the ludicrous claim that sea-weeds as tall as coconut trees can be harvested from the ocean and used as organic fertilizer. While it is true that such large seaweed growth does exist, it is only found in close proximity to the North Pole, hence it is of no relevance to Sri Lanka. We offer this example in order to shine a light on the absurd and utter lack of credible scientific information behind policy decisions at the highest levels of this Government.

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it

If we continue to allow the State to intervene and interfere with the fundamentals of agriculture in Sri Lanka based on the whims of such individuals, what is the worst that could happen? Previously we were told that the import and use of all agrochemicals would be banned immediately. Thereafter, the deadline was pushed back to a period within 3 months – 1 cultivation season. Now they have temporarily reverted back to allowing agro-chemicals, but it is implied that these imports could once again be banned at any moment.

In the interim, the solution that is currently being offered is a “nitrogen extract” that will be used as a spray. No further details have been provided. We don’t know if this extract is organic, inorganic, from the moon or even Mars. All we do know is that the only possible high percentage nitrogenous extracts can only be obtained from a chemical base. If the Government is trying to deceive people, they may use chemically extracted nitrogen, which could in turn be sprayed on organic manure and distributed among farmers.

In effect, the Government is refusing to reveal what exactly we will be adding to our soil through such extracts. Until they do, we must continue to call for more clarity and transparency. This is especially crucial for any agricultural exports – especially tea – whose buyers are sensitive to Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs).

Another fact to consider: no country in the world has ever succeeded in going totally organic. There are however some cautionary examples from history of those who tried. The example of Bhutan has been often cited in recent months. There, it was announced that over a period of 20 years, Bhutan would systematically phase out inorganic inputs. Even after careful and intensive planning with broad stakeholder consultation and preparation, the country was only able to convert 10% of their arable lands into organic agriculture after 30 years of effort in total.

The author is a former State Minister of Agriculture, Former Governor of the Southern Province, and Sri Lanka’s only PhD in Organic Agriculture from the Post-Graduate Institute of Agriculture at the Peradeniya University

To be continued


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Hour of reckoning comes for SL’s power sector

Published

20 hours ago

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2026/04/1

By

Eng. Pubudu Niroshan

By Ifham Nizam

A long-delayed reckoning in Sri Lanka’s power sector is finally beginning to take shape—driven less by choice and more by necessity.

At a time when the country’s fragile economic recovery hinges on stability, the electricity sector—long plagued by inefficiency, political interference, and costly dependence on imported fuel—has re-emerged as both a risk and an opportunity.

It is within this context that The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka will host a timely and potentially consequential forum on April 2 at the Wimalasurendra Auditorium, focusing on a “Pragmatic Approach to Electricity Sector Reforms in Sri Lanka and the Way Forward.”

This is not just another technical discussion. It is, in many respects, a reality check.

The keynote address by Eng. Pubudu Niroshan—who stood at the centre of recent reform efforts as Director General of the Power Sector Reforms Secretariat—comes at a moment when the gap between policy ambition and execution has become impossible to ignore.

For over three decades, Sri Lanka has spoken the language of reform. Yet, time and again, progress has been derailed by institutional resistance, political hesitation, and an entrenched reluctance to dismantle inefficient structures.

The result is a sector that continues to bleed financially while passing the burden onto consumers and the broader economy.

High electricity tariffs, supply vulnerabilities, and operational inefficiencies are no longer isolated technical issues—they are macroeconomic threats. Industries struggle to remain competitive, investors remain cautious, and households continue to bear rising costs. The over-reliance on imported fossil fuels has only deepened this vulnerability, exposing the country to global price shocks and geopolitical disruptions.

The economic crisis of 2022 briefly forced a shift in thinking. Under severe fiscal pressure, reform was no longer optional. The passage of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024 was seen as a breakthrough—an acknowledgment that structural change could no longer be postponed.

But legislation alone does not transform systems.

What has followed is a more grounded, outcome-driven approach—one that attempts to move beyond policy rhetoric. Within a relatively short span, the first phase of restructuring has been pushed through, including the repeal of the decades-old CEB Act, No. 17 of 1969, and the unbundling of the monolithic utility into six state-owned entities.

This is, by any measure, a significant structural shift.

Yet, the real test lies ahead.

Unbundling without genuine market discipline risks becoming another cosmetic exercise.

The promise of a competitive National Electricity Market—long discussed but never realized—will depend heavily on regulatory strength, transparency, and political consistency. Without these, the same inefficiencies could simply be replicated across multiple entities.

Moreover, reform cannot succeed in isolation.

Sri Lanka’s energy transition must be anchored in a broader economic strategy—one that aligns power sector reforms with industrial growth, environmental sustainability, and investment policy.

The proposed “Energy Transition Act,” now under consideration, will be a critical piece of this puzzle. If executed with clarity and discipline, it could provide the legal backbone for a coherent and forward-looking energy framework.

The reference to an Integrated Economic Development Framework (IEDF) in the 2026 Budget underscores this necessity. Energy is not a standalone sector—it is the foundation upon which economic recovery will either stand or falter.

What makes this moment different is the absence of alternatives.

Sri Lanka can no longer afford half-measures or delayed decisions. The cost of inaction is too high, and the margin for error too narrow. Reform, in this sense, is no longer a policy preference—it is an economic imperative.

The upcoming forum at The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka is therefore more than a professEng. Pubudu Niroshanional gathering. It is a critical platform where technical expertise must confront political reality, and where long-standing assumptions must be challenged.

For years, Sri Lanka’s electricity sector has been caught in a cycle of discussion without delivery. The shift toward a pragmatic approach signals an understanding that outcomes—not intentions—will define success.

The question now is whether that realization will finally translate into sustained, irreversible change.

Because this time, failure is not just an option—it is a risk the country simply cannot afford.

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Dialog introduces Samsung Galaxy S26 Series with AI-powered camera and 5G Connectivity

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20 hours ago

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2026/04/1

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From left to right: Shiromy Ali, Assistant Vice President, Group Corporate Planning & Strategy, Dialog Axiata PLC; Hemaka Balasooriya, Chief of Dialog Business Services, Dialog Axiata PLC;  Shanaka Fernando, First Pre-order Customer; Sang Hwa Song, Managing Director, Samsung

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, announced the availability of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Series in Sri Lanka through its retail and digital channels, bringing Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone lineup to local consumers. The series includes the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra, combining advanced AI-powered capabilities, premium design and next-generation connectivity for everyday mobile use, with customers able to experience the power of Dialog 5G Ultra on the devices.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Series introduces an AI-powered camera system featuring a 200MP AI-enhanced rear camera with improved low-light performance, advanced zoom and intelligent editing tools for capturing and refining content directly on the device. The lineup also includes Galaxy AI capabilities, a privacy display that limits viewing angles to protect on-screen information, and steady video functionality for smoother and more stable video recording.

The Galaxy S26 Series features Dynamic AMOLED displays across the lineup, including a 6.3-inch Galaxy S26, 6.7-inch Galaxy S26+, and 6.9-inch Galaxy S26 Ultra, supporting smooth performance for streaming, gaming and everyday productivity. The devices are available with 12GB RAM and storage options of 256GB or 512GB, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra also offers a 16GB RAM variant with up to 1TB storage for users requiring additional capacity.

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Ideal Motors celebrates gala ‘Excellence Awards’ honouring outstanding performance

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20 hours ago

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2026/04/1

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The Mahindra Ideal Excellence Awards ceremony, a grand celebration to recognize dealers and other stakeholders of Ideal Motors, was held at the Wave n’ Lake Banquet Hall & Restaurant in Welisara recently.

The event was graced by the presence of special guests including Nalin Welgama, Founder and Chairman Ideal Motors, Dilani Yatawaka, Group Managing Director/CEO Ideal Motors, Nimisha Welgama, Director Legal and Corporate Affairs Ideal Motors, Sachin Arolkar, Head International Operations, Auto Division Mahindra & Mahindra India. Senthil Selvaraju, Head International Operations and Customer Service Automotive Division Mahindra & Mahindra India, Sujeeth Jayant, Country Head Mahindra & Mahindra India and Shitam Kundu, Head Domestic Services Mahindra & Mahindra India.

Also, in attendance from Ideal Motors were Kasun Fernando, General Manager Commercial Vehicle Sales Division, Sameera Bamunuarachchi, Deputy General Manager Spare Parts, Logistics & Inventory and Prasanna Manamperi, Deputy General Manager After Seles Service.

The Excellence Awards ceremony honoured the top sales dealers at the provincial and national levels. Recipients were presented with awards, certificates of merit, and cash prizes in recognition of their achievements. The three best national‑level sales dealers from the various categories were further rewarded with an opportunity to visit Bangkok, Thailand. In addition, special recognition was extended to banks and financial institutions that partner with Ideal Motors.

Speaking at the event, Nalin Welgama Ideal Motors Founder and Chairman said, “When we began our journey with Mahindra in 2009, the previous company had sold 300 vehicles in the country, of which nearly 150 had various defects. At that time our journey began by engaging with the parent company in India and repairing those vehicles free of charge. That commitment has brought us to where we are today. As we believe, our journey truly begins after the sale. We are dedicated to strengthening our customers, and in doing so, strengthening ourselves. That is how we transformed the after‑sales service experience.”

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