The Samagi Jana Balawegaya says Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage must resign from his post as he has failed to fulfil his responsibility in relation to the fertiliser issue.
The SJB said all citizens have been affected by the decision to suspend the import of chemical fertiliser and the decision to move towards organic fertiliser and subsequently return to the use of chemical fertiliser.
Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman speaking at a media briefing this morning said a directive was issued to suspend the import of chemical fertiliser and to utilise only organic fertiliser, adding that this decision was reached by the government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
MP Rahman said today farmers cannot take to the fields as organic fertiliser has not been provided, and charged the government of introducing nano liquid nitrogen as an alternative, which has also since been suspended.
He accused the government of causing absolute chaos.
The Parliamentarian said Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage claimed responsibility, boasted, and made various promises, only to claim that chemical fertiliser cannot be imported.
MP Mujibur Rahman called on the Minister to resign.
Meanwhile, MP Rahman said the Cabinet of Ministers that approved the payment of compensation for the substandard fertiliser ship from China must also resign.
He said the government reiterated that it will not accept the fertiliser shipment, only for the Cabinet to approve USD 6.7 million to be paid as a settlement for the stock.
He claimed it was not the opposition nor the public that decided to import the stock of fertiliser, adding that taxpayers’ funds should not be used for the compensation settlement.
