By Yohan Perera

Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday said that eight European nations including Germany and Switzerland have pledged their assistance and solidarity with the government’s plans to switch from chemical to organic fertilizers.

Speaking to media during an inspection tour to observe the progress of the Wayamba Canal Development Project Polpithigama, the minister said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage informed the cabinet meeting on Monday that eight leading European nations have come forward to assist us in introducing organic fertilizers.

“Those nations have realised the importance of this project and have expressed their wholehearted solidarity with our government to introduce the use of organic fertilizers. We observe that the opposition is trying to play politics with this issue. The president had made this decision keeping in line with his promise to the people in the ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ manifesto approved by 6.9 million voters at the last election. We are fast-tracking the development process and going ahead on the path towards development come what may and are not affected by the criticisms and allegations. Some of them are not against the project and want to introduce this gradually in ten years. They do not know the meaning of fast-tracking the development process. They have no idea of the damage that could be inflicted by chemical fertilizers for the coming nine years if we do not complete it in this year. We have a strong leader in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who does not retreat in the face of mudslinging and criticism. We continue with the programme for which people have given us the mandate and we also have the strongest belief that this project would be a success,” the Minister said.