Sri Lanka prepare for New Zealand challenge with unchanged T20I squad
Sri Lanka have named a strong 16-member squad led by Charith Asalanka for a six-match white-ball series involving three T20Is followed by three ODIs, against New Zealand.
Following the ban on importing organic fertiliser from China after detecting harmful bacteria, Sri Lanka will import it from India instead.
Last month, Sri Lanka cancelled the plans to import 99,000 MT of organic fertiliser at a cost of $63 million from China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd.
Advertisement
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said in Parliament on Tuesday that laboratory tests conducted on the organic fertiliser samples sent from India have confirmed that they were suitable for the use in Sri Lanka.
Advertisement
Responding to an opposition question raised on the ongoing fertiliser crisis, he said the National Plant Quarantine Service had approved the fertiliser from India.
“If there is a delay, a decision has been reached to import the nano-nitrogen fertilizer from India using air freight,” Aluthgamage said.
The opposition had questioned the Minister as to how the government was going to solve the problem of farmers who are waiting for fertiliser to start the major cultivation season.
The government had to drop the plans to import the Chinese organic fertiliser after scientists, activists, and political parties strongly objected the move following the detection of a harmful microorganism identified as ‘Erwinia’ on September 17.
However government complained of “foul play” and brought another set of samples but on September 29, they too were detected with a harmful bacteria.
Advertisement
