Planters say better late than never!

The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) issuing a statement yesterday commended the government for deciding to lift the arbitrary ban on the importation of glyphosate-based weedicides in view of the overwhelming scientific consensus that the substance is not harmful to human health.

PA representing regional Plantation Companies (RPCS) noted that the glyphosate ban has cost Rs.35 billion in crop losses in 2015 and 2016 alone.

“This onerous ban is already estimated to have caused crop losses up Rs.15 billion in 2016, and up to Rs.20 billion in 2017. MORE ON

But at least now we can begin the difficult but necessary work to reverse the serious damage done to our estates as a result of the ban.

In that regard, we are encouraged that even at this late stage, that policy makers were willing to listen to reason, and take into account the overwhelming and indisputable scientific evidence that this substance is not harmful to human health, and is moreover a vital component in the sustainable management of Sri Lanka’s plantations sector,” PA Chairman Sunil Poholiyadde stated.

Commenting on Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake’s role in getting the ban glyphosate lifted, Poholiyadde said: “At the outset we wish to express our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the Minister of Plantation Industries Navin Dissanayake for the pivotal role he played amidst a great deal of opposition, in order to preserve and protect an industry that continues to serve as the lifeblood of our nation.”

PA Secretary General Lalith Obeyesekere commended Dissanayake and all key policy makers involved in the decision to reverse the ban, the announcement of which followed a similar prior decision from the National Economic Council in March 2018 to lift the ban.

In particular, Obeyesekere acknowledged the vital contributions other officials including former Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Rohan Pethiyagoda and current Chairman Lucille Wijewardena, in reversing the ban.

Moving forward, the PA called upon the government to honour the spirit of good governance and enter into consultation with all industry stakeholders in order to make major policy decisions of this nature in a systematic, as opposed to an ad-hoc manner.