Colombo : , A dispute between Sri Lankan and Chinese over a Chinese fertilizer ship infected with bacteria has been reopened.However, the dispute has caused diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Agriculture rights activists from the island country have claimed that the vessel containing organic fertiliser is more dangerous than a nuclear bomb. Namal Karunaratne, National Organiser of the All Ceylon Farmers Federation complained that once mixed with the local soil, the spread of bacteria contained in the Chinese organic fertiliser in question could not be stopped and neither bacterium could be destroyed.
Namal Karunaratne was the National Organiser of All Ceylon Farmers Federation.He claimed that the Chinese organic fertilizer in question had spread to the soil and could not be stopped.
“You can at least see the nuclear bomb but you cannot see the harmful bacteria,” the activists demanded.The activists demanded that you could see the nuclear bomb, but not the harmful bacteria.
“Nuclear bomb can be defused before it blasts but how can bacteria infected soil be cured.Although a nuclear bomb can be detonated before it explodes, how can soil infected with bacteria be treated? If this fertiliser entered the island nation it would be much worse than the coronavirus pandemic and we could never be able to get rid of the bad effects of it,” Karunaratne added.Karunaratne said that if this fertiliser were to enter the island nation, it would be worse than the coronavirus epidemic and that we wouldn’t be able ever to eradicate its harmful effects.
He also warned that the government should not stand by a Chinese company as the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) which comprised of experts in the subject is an independent institution in the country.
He warned that the government shouldn’t stand by a Chinese company, as the National Plant Quarantine Service is an independent organization in the country.
In September, the NPQS has twice rejected Chinese vessel ‘Hippo Spirit’ which had arrived at Sri Lanka carrying 20,000 metric tonnes of organic fertiliser.
The NPQS rejected twice in September the Chinese vessel ‘Hippo Spirit’, which arrived in Sri Lanka with 20,000 metric tons of organic fertiliser.
The consignment was a part of the 99,000 metric tonnes of organic fertiliser cost at nearly $5 million.
The consignment was part of nearly $5 million worth of organic fertiliser, 99,000 tonnes.
The government had planned to import $63 million worth of fertiliser from China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd.The government planned to import fertilizer worth $63 million from China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co.Ltd.
With plans to go fully organic, the island nation had banned the use of chemical fertiliser and was promoting the organic farming.The island nation, which had plans to become fully organic, had already banned chemical fertilizers and promoted organic farming.But agitated farmers had taken to the streets demanding fertiliser from the government for major paddy harvesting season.
However, protestor farmers demanded fertiliser from government officials for the major paddy harvesting season.
On September 17 agriculture scientists found that China manufactured organic fertiliser contained a harmful microorganism identified as ‘Erwinia’.
Scientists discovered that organic fertilizer manufactured in China contained an invasive microorganism named ‘Erwinia’ on September 17.
However, China was forcing Sri Lankan authorities to pay for the organic fertiliser but the Sri Lankan court had imposed a temporary order not to make any payment to the Chinese fertiliser company.China had been threatening Sri Lankan authorities with the payment of organic fertilizer, but the Sri Lankan court had issued a temporary injunction preventing any payment to the Chinese fertilizer company.
In reply, China had immediately blacklisted one of Sri Lanka’s oldest state banks, through which the transaction was to take place.
China immediately responded by blaming Sri Lanka’s oldest bank, which was the channel through which the transaction was to be made.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong told media that the government has agreed to test the fertiliser sampled by the third party.
On Sunday, Qi Zhenhong, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, stated that the government had agreed to test the fertiliser collected by a third party.
However, Agriculture Ministry Secretary Prof.Udith K.Jayasinghe has said that the decision not to go to a third party for testing has not changed.Professor Udith Jayasinghe, Agriculture Ministry Secretary, stated that the decision to not send third parties for testing has not been changed.
A number of agricultural academic organisations have protested against China’s fertiliser ship and had claimed it would have a long term consequences on country’s soil.
Numerous agricultural academic organizations have protested China’s fertilizer ship, claiming it would have long-term consequences for the country’s soil.
Over the last two month, the fertiliser vessel has been hovering around western seas off Sri Lanka at times switching off the Automatic Identification System (AIS), hiding ship’s location.
The fertiliser vessel hovered around the western seas of Sri Lanka for the past two months, sometimes switching off the Automatic Identification System.This was in an attempt to hide the ship’s position.
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