If everything moves as planned, chemical fertilizers would soon become history in Sri Lanka. President Gotabaya Rajapksa has on Thursday announced that the government is working on banning the import of chemical fertilizers in the country, citing long-term consequences on the environment. 

“Health officials point out that the effects of chemical fertilizers have led to a number of non-communicable diseases, including kidney disease. The cost of treatment and the impact on lives is high” Rajapksa was quoted as saying by Colombopage.

He further said the country would move to replace it with organic fertilizers. “the government must guarantee the right of the people to a non-toxic diet and agriculture in the country,” he added.

Currently, the government spends around $400 million annually on the import of chemical fertilizers. The funds will be diverted to increase the production of organic fertilizers in the country, Rajapaksa said in a meeting at his official residence in Colombo.

Chemicals are polluting lakes, water bodies, environment and causing other diseases, he pointed out. He said people expected a change of policy from his government, he said, expressing his commitment to the change in the policy framework.

Significantly, a few ago, Sri Lanka also banned the import of palm oil in the country and had asked many companies to uproot their palm oil plantation in Sri Lanka. The degradation of forests, losses to the domestic coconut oil industry were cited as the reason behind the ban.