Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage insisted to the media yesterday (27) that the Chinese fertilizer ship would not be taken in or paid for the consignment. He further stressed that there will be no a third sample test.
He also told the media.
“The ship must obtain a license before leaving China. The ship is leaving without this commercial license. Lanka Fertilizer Company has sent them an email stating that the ship have come without this license. “
“We have informed them that there are harmful microorganisms in the microbiological test and therefore this fertilizer cannot be taken. We have rejected only the shipments coming here from China. ”
“We will not let the ship in,” he said. Samples are not checked with this shipment. No payment will be made for this shipment. According to our agreement, according to the tender, if these people go back and make the right fertilizer according to our specification, we will buy the fertilizer. We pay. That is the end of the story. ”
The minister said with a laugh
Journalists questioned whether the fertilizer samples of this ship would be given to a third party for testing.
“A new shipment is allowed to be tested by a third party. Do not confuse. Now these companies are fighting to keep their creditworthiness at bay. Have pity on them. We are here as a government. The Minister said.
The Minister of Agriculture further stated that the state Minister of Agriculture had met the Chinese Ambassador to inform him to take the ship to China.
“The Sate Minister met the Chinese Ambassador and told him to take this shipment back to China. Take it and make it to the standard we say. Make it and put the fertilizer in an independent lab and check. Then we can test it in our labs and make a decision about it. The Minister of Agriculture said.
However, Minister of State for Agriculture Shashindra Rajapaksa addressing the media yesterday said,
“They said they could not accept the tests done in the laboratories in our country. They are not accredited laboratories. They asked us to conduct this investigation in an institution that is acceptable to both parties.
“This company manufactures fertilizer for 16 major countries in the world such as the United States, Australia and Canada. They asked us to understand the quality of these fertilizers. “