The recent media reports which claimed that the government has granted permission to import chemical fertilizer are ‘FALSE,’ says the President’s Spokesman.

He stressed that no such decision has been taken by the government.

Certain media reports had stated that the decision taken by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to halt the import of chemical fertilizer and pesticides was reversed by new Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, the Government Information Department, issuing a statement in this regard, emphasized that the government will not overturn the decision to move from chemical fertilizer to organic fertilizer.

The government settled on the plan of action to ban the import of chemical fertilizers and pesticides as the first step towards fulfilling the pledge to build a green socio-economy as mentioned in the President’s policy statement, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa, upon assuming duties in his new portfolio, has discussed the current and future action plans of the government with the ministers and other lawmakers, the Government Information Department added.

However, no proposals on making changes to the actions initiated for a green economy were put forward during these discussions, the statement read further.