Senior Professor Buddhi Marambe had a discussion with a social media channel recently. He was accompanied by journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama.
This is the first press conference held by Buddhi Marambe after leaving the country and the main focus was on whether the rumor that he had fled the country was true.
Accordingly, Prof. Buddhi Marambe made it clear that he had never fled the country and that he was leaving the country to attend the Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow as a State Representative.
Prof. Buddhi Marambe’s relationship with CIC was also highlighted at the meeting. He said that he had joined the company following a request to attend and contact him to get his views on the required technical knowledge.
He was also heavily accused of expressing his opposition to the ban on chemical fertilizers.
He made it clear that the President’s concept of green agriculture is a valuable concept, but there is some irregularity in the process by which it is implemented.
He points out that the farmers have been severely inconvenienced by the ban on chemical fertilizers overnight.
He also commented on the fertilizer imported from China and pointed out the results of further investigations into the situation where both tests on the fertilizer samples had failed on two occasions.
He has stated that this stock of fertilizer contains plant pathogens and that this stock of fertilizer is completely contrary to the standard No. 1704 issued by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution.
He also said that if this stock of fertilizer is accepted into the country, it will not be able to say how much damage it will do to our soil, agriculture, economy and all other sectors and it will be irreversible.
He further pointed out that it is necessary to pay for the fertilizer or send it back.