PARLIAMENT

Control of Pesticides Act:

‘Law to raise awareness on proper use of pesticides’

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided, when Parliament met at 1 pm yesterday. After presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up several regulations made by the Agriculture Ministry under Section 26 of the Control of Pesticides Act for debate.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene: The objective of introducing these regulations under the Control of Pesticides Act is to make aware to pesticides sellers and traders in Sri Lanka the use of pesticides in the proper manner for agricultural activities.

Accordingly, a proper training would be accorded to them in the use of pesticides.

Pesticides are often used by farmers for cultivation purposes. They often receive advise from pesticide sellers on the usage of pesticides. It was for that reason that we have taken measures to educate the farmers on the proper use of pesticides.

If pesticides were to be used incorrectly by farmers without following proper instructions, it would badly affect the health of the users. It was also necessary to register all pesticide merchants and outlets under the Pesticide Registrar of the Agriculture Ministry.

P. Harison (UNP): Farmers throughout the country are unable to sell their paddy today. They are in great difficulties. They receive low prices for their paddy. Therefore, the government should allocate sufficient funds for the purchase of paddy from farmers islandwide.

Several studies carried out by many universities, had revealed that many pesticides imported contained different types of chemicals which are harmful to human beings. Several multi-national companies too are engaged in importing massive stocks of pesticides to the country while they earn huge profits. It was the ordinary people in Sri Lanka who finally consume these food poisoned by harmful chemicals. This is a crime. The government must pay attention in this regard to prevent importing of harmful pesticides to the country.

T. Ranjith de Zoysa (UPFA): We know that farmers frequently use pesticides for their cultivations. But there should be some control over the use of pesticides. Otherwise, it would badly affect the eco-system as well as the health of the users.

That is why it was necessary to provide proper training on the use of pesticides to sellers and traders. Then only could they make aware the farmers on the proper use of pesticides without any harm to their health and to the eco-system.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (DNA): Agriculture is one of the main livelihoods of the majority of the people in Sri Lanka. The biggest problem faced by the farmers is the selling of their paddy. The government purchase a kilo of paddy at a very low price of Rs. 16.

But, the farmer spends around Rs. 28 to produce a kilo of paddy. So farmers are even unable to recover their production cost. Today, no agriculture extension officer pays a visit to the fields and advise the farmers regarding the using of fertilizer and pesticides for cultivations.

It is the trader today who decide what has to be used for cultivation. This has created a number of problems and only multi-national companies who finally earn profits through these businesses while nothing happens for the betterment of the farmers.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Murugesu Chandrakumar takes the Chair

Akila Viraj Kariyawasam (UNP): The number of kidney patients have increased during the recent past. This has resulted in consuming crops contaminated by various types of chemicals.

It has been revealed that many chemicals have been found in food and crops imported to the country. We should formulate a national policy of using and importing pesticides. We expect the government to impose strict restrictions on the imports of pesticides.

Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera (UPFA): According to reports published by the WHO a number of chemicals harmful to human beings have been found in pesticides used in Sri Lanka. We have to understand the risk and dangers of using pesticides. It has been revealed that a number of patients with renal failure and diabetics have increased in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, due to consuming crops and foods contaminated by chemicals specially in pesticides. It has been proved that pregnant mothers and small children have become victims of using chemicals.

Most countries in the world have prohibited the use of pesticides. They use organic techniques for their cultivations, instead of using pesticides.

In Sri Lanka, we must apply these techniques.

Chandrani Bandara (UNP): There are over 3,500 registered kidney patients in Anuradhapura. They face severe difficulties due to lack of medical facilities and drugs. I urge the government to take measures to pay an allowance of at least Rs. 10,000 for kidney patients to purchase their drugs.

Price of kerosene oil has gone up. This has badly affected the farmers as well as the ordinary people. Most of the people have been forced to pawn their jewellery due to the high cost of living. Specially the farmers have been deprived of selling their paddy harvest.

Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle (UPFA): New rules and regulations should be introduced to control pesticides. Most of the people do not have a proper knowledge on the usage of pesticides. Therefore, it is necessary to make the farmers as well as agricultural officers aware regarding the using of pesticides.

We are happy that the government has allocated a large amount of funds to encourage the manufacturers producing organic fertilizer.

Gamini Jayawickrema Perera (UNP): I thank the government for moving this Order. We have to educate the farmers and farmer associations about the astrological agriculture. We can reduce various diseases by introducing such systems.

The late Prime Minister D S Senanayake, rendered a great service for the development of agriculture in the country. We have to uplift the morale of our farmers. We also support the government for it.

Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Jayaratne Herath: Multinational companies create a serious issue by importing various types of pesticides. It is a pathetic situation. The farmers use the pesticides on the instructions written on the container. They use them even if their cultivations were not affected by pests. So the government has to take measures to control the use of pesticides unnecessarily. Now the people in certain areas of the country, suffer from kidney disease. Experts say it is because of use of various pesticides.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair.

P Radakrishnan (UPFA): There were times when we have to use pesticides because there are various diseases to cultivations which we are unable to control.

But the use of pesticides create various complications and health hazards.

What I have observed in that during the past, large groups of butterflies were seen during the Sripada season. But we are unable to observe because of the use of pesticides.

Ajith Perera (UNP): It has been highly questioned as to the standard of the pesticides and their usage.

I like to bring to the notice of this House about a chemical. It is an air freshner produced in Piliyandala. On this air freshner a picture of Lord Buddha has been printed and contains chemicals.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair.

I direct this issue to the Speaker for measures to be taken in this connection. This will also be directed to the IGP for legal actions. There is a law that pictures of religious leaders must not be used for commercial purposes.

S C Muthukumarana (UPFA): The farmers are willing to quit from using pesticides and chemicals in cultivation. For such farmers, the Agriculture Ministry should provide their support. Then only can we hand over a better earth for our future generation.

Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayake: There are various local varieties of local rice which have medicinal values for various health problems. For example Heenati and Suwandal were such varieties. Owing to the use of chemicals and pesticides, the farmers never profit. It is only the multinational companies that profit.

A report said the cadmium in chemicals cause kidney diseases.

Wildlife and Agrarian Services Minister S M Chandrasena: We had various indigenous methods to control pests and weeds.

But we have given them up and are using pesticides, weedicides and other chemicals.

The people are suffering from many diseases and the Health Ministry has to use an enormous amount of money on those patients. We are importing seeds from other countries. Therefore we will face a serious problem if multinational companies do not provide us those seeds. So we have to encourage our farmers to use our own seeds.

Our government encourages the production of compost and had developed 6,000 such units to produce organic fertilizer.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena: Our objective is not to ban the use of pesticides, weedicides, fertilizer and other chemicals, to control the using of them to maintain a middle path.

There are instances when we had to use such chemicals.

I thank MP Ajith Perera for divulging a scheme against religion and the nation.

Parliament adjourned until 1 pm today.

Adjournment Motion

Govt had provided the fishermen with relief

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Rajitha Senaratne: yesterday said in Parliament that the government had provided many relief to the fishermen, while the UNP has no right to talk of relief as they had not given a single penny as relief to people during their regime.

He made this observation in response to an adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara, who had requested the government to pay heed to the request of the fishermen to reduce oil prices and pay compensations to those who were affected at the protest.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Rajitha Senaratne: This problem had already been solved.

Any young child knows that the world is facing a fuel crisis and price of essential items were increasing. But the government had granted subsidies to people while incurring a loss of RS 188 billion.

The UNP government did not give a penny as subsidy to the people. The burden was put on the people. We have done protests, but never attacked the ASP's official houses or Judges houses.

Maybe an innocent fisherman was killed, but who urged them to do so? They are the real killers. When the government grant relief to fishermen, the UNP tries their tricks for political gains. The government has provided relief to all the fishermen in the country and they have accepted it.

Victor Anthony (UPFA): The Cabinet had decided to give a subsidy to fishermen. The fishermen who did not know it came on to the roads at various places in Chilaw, but when the situation was explained to them, the fishermen left.

But these people who had been urged by UNP, did not do so. So, the UNP is responsible for the death of the innocent fisherman in Chilaw. UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena also joined the motion.

Fuel prices will be reduced - Minister Premajayantha

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha yesterday stated in Parliament that the fuel prices would be reduced as the government had done in the past when the fuel price in the world market dropped, though the government had to increase the price in line with the world market fuel price.

The minister further said that as the prices of a oil and crude oil barrel had been increased by around US $ 10 since January 1 this year, the government had to increase the prices of fuel.

Minister Premajayantha further stated that those who have attempted to betray the country and war heroes, by uttering baseless statements in western countries, now attempt to take petty political gains by making fuel price increase an issue. The Petroleum Industries Minister made these observations in response to a special statement made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, under Standing Order 23(2).

Minister Premajayantha further stated that the CPC had incurred a loss of Rs 26, Rs 30 and Rs 48 by each litre of diesel, kerosene oil and furnace oil, respectively at the time when the fuel prices had increased on February 11, 2012.

Due to this loss incurred throughout the last year, the CPC had incurred a total loss of Rs 81 billion last year, which in turn made the CPC indebted to the two State banks by Rs 53 billion.

In addition, due to the sanctions imposed by the US on import of fuel from Iran, the prices of a barrel of oil in the world market had increased by around US$ 10. As provision of oil subsidy had been removed and sanctions on Iran fuel by US, the fuel prices had been increased in our country.

The minister further stated that the government had reduced the fuel prices on December 29, 2009, petrol from Rs 157 to Rs 115, diesel from Rs 110 to Rs 73 and kerosene oil from Rs 80 to Rs 51. The government would take measures to reduce the fuel price when its price dropped in world market.

The minister further stated that the Sapugaskanda refinery was established in 1968 which uses Italian technology.

He added that only Iranian light or Arabian light crude oil could be refined with a higher efficiency. Out of the two, we use 92 percent of Iranian light crude oil and the government had been attempting to increase the use of Arabian light crude oil and other alternatives.

Minister Premajayantha further stated that the CPC so far, had not settled any amount due to the oil hedging agreement.

The case against the CPC which had been filed by the Citi Bank, had ended up with a decision in favour of the CPC. There had been two other cases pending. However, if those two cases had been finalized in favour of the CPC, Sri Lanka would have not incurred any loss.

He also said the import of the 20,000 tons of substandard oil had not incurred any loss to the CPC, as the government had taken corrective measures. Minister Premajayantha also said that in 1989, a questioned volume of oil had been lost.

A report by retired Supreme Court Judge Sosa had held that a UNP secretary and former CPC Chairman Daham Wimalasena, had been held responsible for the deal.

He added that the UNP had not taken any measures against him. The minister stated that the government had not increased the prices of oil to cover the loss incurred by fraud or corruption.

The minister said that the Opposition Leader had said that the CPC had made profits during the same period.

Then why did the UNP attempt to sell 105 of the best filling stations, a jetty in Trincomalee and 600 acres with 99 tanks to an Indian company? Even under such a situation, during 2004-2005, the CPC were able to earn Rs 4,000 million as profits.

Electricity bills have increased by 50 percent in 2003, under the UNP government.

The Opposition Leader also spoke of the period 1988/1989 and about democracy.

The UNP government that introduced the executive presidency in 1977, again fraudulently secured. The same mandate in 1982 by a referendum. Is it democracy? Under what democracy did the UNP hold the Jaffna Development Council election, 1988 Presidential Election and the 1989 General Election? Your statement reminds us of how 60,000 youth were killed and the manner in which the curfew was imposed by a small piece of paper.

This government never had postponed elections. It has been elected by a democratic system. Anybody can protest democratically. But one should remember the people would not allow anybody to unstable the government in line with the agenda of LTTE-friendly international communities.

Marking a special statement under Standing Order 23(2), Ranil Wickremesinghe, stated that the entire country had been jeopardized as the fuel prices had been increased without any fair reason.

He also stated that democracy in the country had eroded and law had not been maintained properly. He also stated that the fuel price had been increased due to corruption and inefficiency of the government.

He also stated that the Petroleum Corporation had earned profits during the UNP regime.

Even during 2003 and 2004, the CPC had earned profits. When the prices of fuel in the world market has dropped, the government says that it was due to the hedging agreement and the prices could not be reduced.