(UTV | COLOMBO) – Sri Lanka’s Director General of Agriculture Dr. Ajantha Silva has stressed that Sri Lanka has not agreed to re-test the twice rejected Chinese Organic Fertilizer, by a third party.
On Sunday (15), the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhen Hong during his visit to Kandy said that the Chinese Fertilizer Company and Sri Lankan authorities have come to an agreement to re-test the stock of fertilizer through a third party.
However, Sri Lanka’s Director General of Agriculture dismissed this comment noting that there is no provision to re-test rejected fertilizer, as per the National Plant Quarantine Act.
On the 13th of November, Director General of Agriculture Dr. Ajantha de Silva said that Chinese Organic Fertilizer samples, aboard the Hippo Spirit carrier, will NOT be retested.
He said although there were requests to have the fertilizer samples tested by a third party, there is no requirement to do so.
The Director-General of Agriculture also added that the fertilizer samples have not been handed over to a third party for testing, and mentioned that he is satisfied with the tests carried out by the National Plant Quarantine Service.
Dr. De Silva emphasized that the Hippo Spirit, carrying rejected Chinese Organic Fertilizer, currently anchored in Sri Lankan waters, will not be allowed to enter into the country.
