Sri Lanka permits Glyphosate use; No More import restriction

09 August 2022, New Delhi: In response to persistent requests from the island’s tea sector, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has relaxed the prohibition on the weed killer glyphosate. 

The import restriction on glyphosate has been abolished with effect from August 5 according to a gazette notice published by President Wickremesinghe in his capacity as Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policies. 

Glyphosate has been added to the list of items that call for permits. 

Glyphosate was initially prohibited by Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena during the 2015–2019 administration, when Wickremesinghe served as Prime Minister. 

Since glyphosate is one of the internationally approved weed killers and alternatives are not permitted under food regulation in some of the export destinations, the Sri Lankan tea sector has been advocating for the use of glyphosate.