Sri Lanka PM says country needs $600 million to ensure fertilizer supply

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that $600 million would be required to ensure an adequate supply of fertilizers in Sri Lanka.

He was speaking during a discussion with representatives from the agriculture sector.

The officials present in the meeting informed the PM that the fertilizer companies would be able to supply the required fertilizer quantities if the banks released the dollars.

PM instructed the representatives to boost agriculture production to cope with the food shortage.

The Prime Minister also explained that he would be presenting a new bill in Parliament, the Essential Agriculture Supplies Act, which would ensure uninterrupted supply and distribution of agricultural materials.

Wickremesinghe, during his discussions with the representatives, said that urgent actions need to be ensured else Sri Lanka’s food supplies would worsen, reported Colombo Page.

Instructing the officials to identify underutilized land in the urban areas which could be cultivated, the PM said that the situation in the country was dire and required a combined effort.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister was joined by Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Ports and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, and Minister of Youth & Sports, Roshan Ranasinghe, along with relevant officials.

Wickremesinghe on Friday praised India for extending support amid the continuing economic crisis and expressed a desire to further strengthen ties between the two nations.

“I expressed our country’s appreciation for the support India has extended during this difficult period. I look forward to further strengthening ties between our nations,” the Sri Lankan PM tweeted.