Rajarata rice under probe

Nimal Wijesinghe - Anuradhapura Additional District Group Corr

The Agriculture Ministry has made arrangements to test the rice produced in Rajarata for quality following allegations that some of the rice produced there contained poisonous ingredients such as arsenic and mercury.

The North Central Provincial Agriculture Deputy Director (Extension Services) B P S W Pathirana said that steps have been taken to collect samples required for the chemical tests.

A series of medical and chemical tests had been conducted by a team of academics of the Rajarata University to find out the reasons for the rapid spread of kidney ailments, heart diseases etc and the diminishing level of immunity among the residents in Kebithigollewa, Padaviya, Medawachchiya, Mahawilachchiya, Hingurakgoda Medirigiriya etc.

As the farmers in these areas were using insecticides containing high degree of arsenic and mercury to grow paddy and other crops, the seeds absorbed these poisons through the paddy plant, according to Dr Channa Jayasumana attached to the Rajarata University’s Medical Faculty who is also a member of the research team.

Pathirana added that the insecticides containing arsenic are not allowed in the country since 2001 but arsenic might be found in certain fertilizer varieties.

The research has shown that in one litre of drinking water in these areas, arsenic and mercury percentages have been 100-200 and 10-25 micrograms respectively.

These levels are highly destructive and poisonous, medical experts have submitted.