In its first reform act after the humiliating defeat it suffered in the local bodies elections held on February 10, the National Unity Government (NUG) [of Sri Lanka] led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has temporarily lifted the ban on the use of glyphosate by the tea and rubber plantations in the country.
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The decision was taken at the last meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held [in Colombo, Sri Lanka] on February 21.
The ban had been imposed at the instance of an environmentalist friend of the President’s. But it badly hurt the tea and rubber plantations which are leading contributors to the foreign exchange kitty of the country.
The planters’ protests went unheeded until the local bodies’ election results came out to show that the NUG was unpopular across the board.
NUG has now decided to allow the use of glyphosate for tea and rubber cultivation lands and suggested formulation of a new policy after thoroughly examining the pros and cons.
Read full, original post: As part of post-poll reform, Lanka lifts ban on glyphosate for tea and rubber plantations
