Agri Minister hoodwinked - JNP

19 June 2011 08:07 am Views - 4648

By Yohan Perera

Government ally  Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) today charged that the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has been hoodwinked by certain officers with regard to the investigation of pesticides which are alleged to have been contaminated with arsenic.

JNP Politburo Member Piyasiri Wijenayake told a news conference that the Minister has been hoodwinked by the certain government officers attached to the agriculture sector who are working according to the agenda of the multinational companies.

Mr. Wijenayake made this point by stating that a proper investigation is needed as the Customs have confirmed that the pesticides that have been imported to the country contains arsenic and mercury which are toxic substances. “A proper investigation is needed as the reports which were published by the Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka Standards Institute and the academics are different to the investigations done by the Customs, “he said.

He explained that only 28 pesticides have been subjected to investigations though around thousand is imported to the country.  Therefore he said there had been a serious lapse in the investigations as a greater percentage of pesticides have not been subjected to investigations.





(Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana)