By Yohan Perera  

Government has decided to appoint a task force headed by the Director General of Health to study and submit a report on the effects of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday.  

The decision to appoint the task force was made at a meeting held by Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and several ministry officials yesterday.  

Minister Aluthgamage said it is essential to carry out a study on the effects of pesticides and fertilisers in the wake of WHO revealing that kidney disease and cancer had become the latest killer diseases in Sri Lanka. “It is essential to carry out a study as the Ministry of Health is yet to come up with an official stance on the matter.”  
He said the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment have a major role to play in ensuring the use of safe pesticides and fertilisers.  

Minister Rambukwella said more people have died of kidney disease and cancer lately and most of the deaths have occurred in families of farmers.