Audit report on nano-nitrogen fertilizer: Agriculture Minstry to take further action

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The special audit report compiled on the importation of nano-nitrogen liquid fertilizer from India has been forwarded to the Ministry of Agriculture for further inquiry.

Auditor General W.PC Wickramaratne stated that after examining the facts, the relevant report will be forwarded to the Parliament for further action.

Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture placed an order for nearly 2.1 million liters of liquid nano-nitrogen fertilizer from Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative of India in Gujarat, India.

In the process, it was revealed that Sri Lanka had purchased the nano nitrogen liquid fertilizer at 12.45 dollars, when its price in the Indian Market stood at 3.23 dollars.

Due to this, Sri Lanka had to pay Rs. 1,867 more than the actual retail price to purchase 500 ml of nano nitrogen fertilizer from India.

If this amount was spent on the fertilizers ordered in full, Sri Lanka would have incurred an additional cost of approximately Rs. 7,841 million.

The Auditor General previously initiated this investigation in view of the allegations regarding the importation of nano nitrogen fertilizers at high prices.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera stated that steps have been taken to appoint a committee to take further action on the recommendations of the special audit report on the payment of 6.9 million dollars for Chinese organic fertilizer.

The Minister mentioned that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has also been included in the committee to solve the related problem at the inter-state level.