Planters’ Association hails Govt. decision

The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) yesterday commended the Government’s decision to lift the arbitrary ban on the importation of glyphosate-based weedicides, which caused a massive crop loss of over Rs. 35 billion during the past two years.

“This onerous ban is already estimated to have caused crop losses of up to Rs. 15 billion in 2016 and up to Rs. 20 billion in 2017 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,” said Planters’ Association Chairman Sunil Poholiyadde. 

The PA had been a vocal critic of the sudden and unexpected decision to ban glyphosate in 2015 – when Sri Lanka gained the dubious honour of being the first and only nation to do so on the basis of anecdotal and not scientific evidence. 

“In that regard, we are encouraged that even at this late stage that policymakers 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 plantation sector,” he added.

The PA called on 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.    

The association expressed its sincere gratitude to Plantation Industries Minister 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 Sri Lanka. 

Planters’ Association Secretary General Lalith Obeyesekere commended all key policymakers involved in the decision to reverse the ban, the announcement of which followed a similar prior decision from the National Economic Council (NEC) in March 2018 to raise the ban. 

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

The Planters’ Association had consistently requested the regulator and the TRI to explain the rationale behind its decision and provide a recommendation for a suitable alternative that would be feasible to use and acceptable in relation to the minimum residue limits imposed at export destinations for Sri Lankan tea.