Proposal to import urea fertilizer to be submitted to Cabinet tomorrow

COLOMBO (News 1st); Minister of Lands S.M. Chandrasena stated in Parliament on Thursday (Nov. 11) that the relevant proposal to import urea fertilizer will be submitted to the Cabinet on Friday (Nov. 12). The Minister of Lands speaking at the Parliament said that the President took this decision due to the delays experienced by the Department of Agriculture for a year and a half in implementing it and that he made the decision in good faith after observing statistics, although there has been a lot of opposition with regard to the imported fertilizer. The Minister further speaking stated that tomorrow he hopes to propose it to the Cabinet, and although some elements such as Phosphorus and Potassium can be obtained from the Phosphate Institute in Eppawala, the need for Nitrogen persists. Therefore, the Government would like to import at least 50% of the fertilizer necessary by 2022 and 25% by 2023, and by 2025 Sri Lanka hopes to produce the fertilizer necessary, in the country itself, the Minister mentioned. The contentious matter, however, will be directed to the President to obtain a form of relief for it, the Minister added.