(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The ship of urea fertilizer promised to be delivered to Sri Lanka from India is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Colombo on July 10 or 11, said the Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Mahinda Amaraweera.
Mr. Amaraweera said the ship carrying 65,000 metric tons of urea was scheduled to leave Oman on June 28. He said that the fertilizer could be distributed to farmers from July 15.
The stock of urea will be distributed to Agrarian Service Centers through the Fertilizer Secretariat, Commercial Fertilizer Company and Ceylon Fertilizer Company. A 50 kg bag of fertilizer will be sold for Rs. 10,000 by the Agrarian Service Centers, he said.
The fertilizer will be provided to paddy and maize farmers during the Yala season, the Minister added.
Responding to a question raised by Members of Parliament at the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Agriculture, the Minister of Agriculture said the Government of India had decided to supply the fertilizer ship to Sri Lanka, which had been ordered for use in India.
The Minister of Agriculture further stated that he is grateful for the decision taken by India at a difficult time for Sri Lanka.
