Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, I answer as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) Year: 1988. (ii) Section 22 of the Regulation of Fertilizer Act, No. 68 of 1988, provides that upon summary conviction before a Magistrate: - for a first offence, a fine of not less than Rs. 2,500 and not more than Rs. 5,000, or imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding six months, or both; - for a second or subsequent offence, a fine of not less than Rs. 5,000 and not more than Rs. 10,000, or imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding twelve months, or both. (iii) Yes. All imported fertilizers require an international laboratory certificate prior to import, and post-import quality confirmation by an accredited laboratory before market release. Additionally, all domestically produced chemical, organic and compound fertilizers are laboratory-tested and quality-confirmed prior to licensing and market release. (iv) Yes. To promote organic fertilizer production in Sri Lanka, the National Fertilizer Secretariat works with the Makandura Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development Centre of the Department of Agriculture. Programmes include organizing and training traditional producers to meet standards; promoting improved solid organic fertilizer; increasing nutrient ratios; and developing new products by combining organic liquids and bio-organic liquids to enhance soil microfauna. In 2024, 54 organic fertilizer producers were registered with the National Fertilizer Secretariat; as at 30.06.2025, 15 producers have been registered for 2025. Further related processes are ongoing.

¶ 03 (b) Not applicable.