More arrests are likely in the case of the probe on the import of a substandard consignment of organic fertiliser from China in 2021, legal experts said yesterday.
This follows the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court issuing an arrest warrant against former Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage over the importation of the substandard consignment of organic fertiliser which was rejected by Sri Lankan quarantine bodies.
The order was issued by Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali, following a request by the Bribery Commission. The Commission alleged that the former Minister was involved in facilitating the entry of a ship carrying the fertiliser in 2021, despite quality concerns raised by local agriculture and quarantine bodies.
However, the Minister had urged the Cabinet to accept the certifications issued by a Chinese company. Aluthgamage filed an anticipatory bail application seeking to prevent his arrest.
It has been revealed that the fertiliser deal resulted in a total loss of US$ 11.7 million to the Government, comprising the payment of US$ 6.7 million to the Chinese company and the failure to recover a performance bond of US$ 5 million.
The Ministry of Agriculture and the State Ministry of Agriculture have allegedly ignored and bypassed Cabinet decisions in awarding this tender.
Moreover, the lack of fertiliser for the Maha season also led to reduced harvests and massive losses for the agricultural community.
