Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance approves gazette allowing imports of glyphosate

Sept 05, Colombo: The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance has given its approval for the gazette with regulations under Import and Export (Control) Act permitting importation of glyphosate.

The regulations enacted under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969 regarding the permission to import glyphosate, which is used as a weed killer for the plantation sector, was recently considered in the Committee on Public Finance and after a long discussion, the approval of the Committee was given for the importation.

The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance has given this approval when it met recently (02) under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, MP Dr. Harsha De Silva.

Accordingly, the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2291/44, which includes these regulations, is to be submitted to Parliament for approval on the 6th.

According to this gazette, import licenses for glyphosate will be issued subject to the recommendation of the Registrar of Pesticides.

The chairman of the Committee also said that although the approval of the Public Finance committee has been obtained for these regulations, it will be given with conditions.

He pointed out that further decisions should be taken after holding a wide discussion on the report prepared after discussing the use of glyphosate in Sri Lanka’s plantation crops with the officials of the relevant ministries and institutions according to the recommendation of the Finance Committee.

He also emphasized that draft bills and other by-laws to be submitted for Parliament’s approval should be received by the Public Finance Committee in advance and approval should be given only after extensive discussion.

Although the import of glyphosate is banned considering the possible health effects of the weed killer in plantations, the need for limited imports of glyphosate was discussed due to the obstacles in the exportation of tea and rubber crops and the need to control the disease of coconut leaf wilt in Weligama.

Also, the MPs as well as officials expressed their opinions regarding the health and environmental impact caused by the herbicide.

Accordingly, the chairman of the committee emphasized the need to hold a wide discussion about this in the future and take future decisions.

Minister Vidura Wickramanayaka, Members of Parliament Vijitha Herath, Shehan Semasinghe, Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, Dr. Suren Raghavan MA Sumanthiran, Harshana Rajakaruna, Chaminda Wijesiri, Anupa Pasqual and Professor Ranjith Bandara participated in the discussions.

Also, the officials of the Ministry of Finance, Import and Export Control Department, Ministry of Plantation Industry, Ministry of Agriculture and Pesticides Registrar’s Office also participated in this meeting and the officials of the Ministry of Health joined the discussion online.