I was not instrumental introducing organic farming: Rathana Thera

Refuting claims that he was behind the moves to ban chemical fertilizer, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said today that he was not aware of it until the Cabinet Paper prohibiting chemical fertilizer 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 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 fertilizer production. We regret 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 made the decision. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)