I was not behind moves to introduce organic farming: Rathana Thera

● When an important decision like this is taken, a committee of experts should be appointed ● They never proposed that it was possible to introduce organic farming within 24 hours through a Cabinet Paper

Refuting claims that he was behind the moves to ban chemical fertiliser,ven.athuraliye Rathana Thera said yesterday that he was not aware of it until the

Cabinet Paper prohibiting chemical fertiliser was presented to the Cabinet by the President.

The prelate told Parliament that they launched a massive ideological campaign to promote organic farming and that they never proposed that it was possible to introduce organic farming within 24 hours through a Cabinet Paper.

Ven. Rathana Thera said he was not included in any of the two committees appointed by the Government to implement this organic farming concept.

“When an important decision like this is taken, a committee of experts should be appointed. Is there any committee under the President or the Agriculture Minister appointed on weedicide and organic fertiliser production. We regret that the great concept of organic farming became a failure due to poor decision making,” the Thera said.

He said however, they did everything possible to make this important concept a success after the President put forward this decision.