• Delayed tender may cost SL approx. $ 300 more per MT of fertiliser
• Ministry claims officials stalled calling tenders for 3 months

The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to transfer two Ministry officials who have allegedly not fulfilled the task of calling relevant tenders for the import of fertilisers for the upcoming Maha cultivating season, despite a direction having been issued by the Cabinet of Ministers, The Daily Morning learns.

The Agriculture Ministry claimed that due to the delay in finalising tenders, Sri Lanka risks incurring nearly United States $ 300 more per metric tonne (MT) of fertiliser.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Ministry's Media Director Dharma Wanninayake said that subject Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had – following receipt of Cabinet approval – directed the relevant officials of the Ministry to call tenders for the importation of fertilisers needed for the Maha season. Although three months have passed since the issuance of the directions by the Minister, he said that it had been revealed that the relevant two officials had not taken any step to call tenders.

"There is a risk of prices of all types of fertilisers – including urea – going up due to escalating tensions between certain countries. If actions were taken to purchase urea fertiliser when Cabinet approval was granted in May 2023, they could have been purchased at a price of US $ 350 per MT. Due to global situations, it has now gone up to US $ 650 and even more. This will cause a great loss to the Government" he said.

Wanninayake said that it was alleged that the relevant officials had deliberately neglected their duties, thereby causing a financial loss to the Government as well as possible delays in fertiliser supply to farmers. Considering the matter, he said that the Ministry had decided to transfer the two officials with immediate effect, and initiate a disciplinary inquiry against them.

Attempts to contact both officials in question regarding the delays in calling for the relevant tender, failed.