Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-05-09

Appointment of an Expert Committee on the Impact of the use of Glyphosate

The Cabinet appointed an Officials' Committee comprising of experts, to make a study to confine the use of Glyphosate only in respect of the Plantation Sector subject to restrictions, taking into consideration the adverse effects caused on the Plantation Sector of the country due to the decision taken by the Government to impose a prohibition on the use of Glyphosate as a pesticide. As such, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, to permit the use of Glyphosate only for tea and rubber cultivation for a period of 36 months, under strict control, subject to the establishment of a proper monitoring mechanism for over use and misuse of Glyphosate and prevention of leakage of Glyphosate to water sources, as recommended by the Committee, was approved by the Cabinet.