After the Sri Lankan Government detected contamination in the organic fertiliser supplied by China, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has lifted 100,000 kilograms of Nano Nitrogen fertilizer after the Government of Sri Lanka sent out a SOS.
The High Commission of India in Colombo, Sri Lanka said in a statement, “Two Indian Air Force (IAF) heavy-lift aircraft arrived in early morning hours of 04 November with a consignment of Nano Nitrogen fertilizer on the request of the Government of Sri Lanka.”
The statement stated further, “The two IAF C-17 Globemaster aircrafts arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport with 100,000 Kg of Nano Nitrogen. The deployment was essentially to support the Government of Sri Lanka’s initiative towards Organic farming and to expedite availability of Nano Nitrogen Fertiliser to the Sri Lankan farmers.”
“The Government of India has continued to support Sri Lanka in times of critical requirement as part of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and has repeatedly demonstrated its capacity and role as the ‘First Responder’ in the region,” it added.
As per reports, a consignment of Chinese fertiliser was found contaminated and it did not pass its quality standards set by Sri Lanka’s Plant Protection Ordinance that prohibits the government from importing any product that is found to host microbes or other harmful microorganisms.
However, tests that were carried out on Chinese samples showed the batch was contaminated with harmful microbes. The Chinese who are known to deny any failure on their part asked Sri Lanka to re-test the contaminated batch claiming the standards on the island nation did not meet the international standards.
As of now, Colombo has informed Beijing that it will not allow for a bulk permit to the Chinese batch of fertilisers, which prevents it from entering or loading in Sri Lanka.
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