The use of the weedicide Glyphosate has been banned on a directive from President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Deputy Minister S.M. Chandrasena said. He said this weedicide is known to be linked to the rapidly spreading kidney disease in Sri Lanka.

“An investigation carried out by medical specialists and scientists have revealed that kidney disease was mainly caused by Glysophate. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the immediate removal of Glyphosate from the local market soon after he was told of the contents of the report,” the Special Project Minister and Deputy Minister of Economic Development said.

He said the North-Central Province had some 25,000 patients suffering from kidney ailments and that the ministry would use all possible means to fight the disease by providing them with funds to meet their medical expenses and supply them with clean drinking water. (Lahiru Pothmulla)