Cabinet divided over Glyphosate ban

The Cabinet is to decide whether the ban on the controversial Glyphosate weedicide should remain, amidst lobbying by ministers for and against the ban.

The move comes after a commit- tee of experts recommended to the Dovernment that Glyphosate was not directly linked to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKDU) epidemic, a cabinet minister said.

Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake told the Sunday Times

that the committee’s recommendations would be submitted to the Cabinet next week to decide whether the Government should lift the ban on Glyphosate.

But, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne and Parliamentarian Ven Athureliye Ratharana Thera are insisting that the ban should stay.

The Ven Rathana Thera who is strongly campaigning for the use of organic fertiliser said he had met President Maithripala Sirisena who gave him an assurance that the ban would remain at least for one more year.

“The President told me that some groups are calling for the lifting of the ban, but he assured me that the ban will not be lifted at least for a year and we need not worry,” he said.

The Thera explained that he was promoting the programme “Wasa Wisa Nathi Ratak”(a country free of poisonous substances) with the support of the President’s Office to educate the people on organic farming.

The Thera said that in addition to Health Minister Senaratne, Minister Susil Premajayantha would also defend the ban on Glyphosate.

Plantations Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake said the Glyphosate issue was taken up at the National Economic Council presided by President Sirisena.

He said they decided a decision would be taken after considering the reports of experts.

The minister said the tea plantation sector had suffered due to the ban on Glyphosate, because there was no substitute weedicide.