Eco watch-dogs up in arms

by Manjula Fernando

Despite frantic calls for legal action by environmental watchdogs, the massive shipload of carcinogenic herbicide Glyphosate, the biggest ever consignment to have reached the Colombo Harbour in recent history, was released to the importer last Monday. In many countries the agrochemicals containing Glyphosate is banned but in Sri Lanka its use is prohibited in just four districts plus three divisional secretariat divisions in the Badulla district where people are seriously affected by acute kidney disease.

Former Deputy Director of Customs and Founder of Customs Bio Diversity Unit, Samantha Gunasekera says such a partial ban minus a proper mechanism to monitor its implementation amounts to an 'insult or a joke'. "We have found the chemicals with glyphosate purchased in other areas, being used in places where it is banned," he told the Sunday Observer. Glyphosate has been identified as one of the main culprits in causing kidney failures among the farming populace in the dry zone.

"It has been proven beyond doubt that this chemical is responsible for the rapidly spreading kidney disease in Sri Lanka," said Dr.Channa Jayasumana of Department of Pharmacology of Faculty of Medicine at Rajarata University.

The study, in which Dr. Jayasumana played a leading role, found glyphosate as one of the major factors for the kidney disease in the North central. It was conducted by experts from Rajarata, Kelaniya and California State universities.

The environmental organisations were up in arms against permitting the use of Glyphosate in local agro chemicals. Widespread protests resulted in the former government issuing a promise in the run up to the last Western province Provincial election to ban agrochemicals with Glyphosate. The words however, did not turn in to action.

This time the words did turn into action, but the extraordinary gazette notice that was issued by the Pesticides Registrar Anura Wickremasiri Wijesekera, banned it only in a few selected places within the country.

The notice issued on December 22, 2014 under section II of The Control of Pesticides Act No 33 of 1980 read, 'the use, offer for sale or sale of pesticides with the active ingredients Glyphosate, Propanil, Carbaryl, Cholopyrifos, Carbofuran are prohibited.'

It was effective in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, Moneragala and within the divisional secretariat divisions of Mahiyangana, Rideemaliyadda and Kandaketiya in Badulla district where kidney disease is near epidemic proportions.

Thus, the import or the clearance of the carcinogenic pesticide consignment fell within the existing legal framework of the country.

The environmental activists could only watch in disbelief while a 15 container load of liquid concentrate glyphosate was released to the Agrochemical company to make agro-products to be used in Sri Lanka.

The consignment which originated from Indonesia and re-shipped from Singapore was valued at Rs.70,454,951. The importer has paid government taxes including the customs levies to the tune of Rs.14 million for its release.

The World Health Organisation, in a study conducted in March this year warned Glyphosate could be cancer causing for humans.