PM says $ 600 m needed to ensure adequate fertiliser

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe estimates $ 600 million would be needed to ensure adequate supply of fertiliser.

He revealed this during a discussion with representatives from the agriculture sector to discuss the pending food shortage in the country on Friday.

Officials had informed that the fertiliser companies would be able to supply the required fertiliser quantities if the banks released the dollars.

The Prime Minister also explained that he would be presenting a new Act in Parliament, the Essential Agriculture Supplies Act, which would ensure uninterrupted supply and distribution of agricultural materials.

The Prime Minister stated that due to the war in Ukraine the world was facing a wheat and fertiliser shortage. He explained that as the shortages increase, Sri Lanka’s food supplies would worsen unless remedial action was taken immediately. The Prime Minister instructed the officials to identify underutilised land in the urban areas which could be cultivated. He said that the situation in the country was dire and required a combined effort if we were to overcome it.

The Prime Minister was joined by Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera, Ports and Aviation Minister Nirmal Siripala, Youth and Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, along with relevant officials.