Asbestos ban which led to tea export crisis lifted

The government has decided to temporarily halt the imposed ban on Asbestos sales in the country. According to sources, the decision was made following a lengthy discussion held during the cabinet meeting yesterday (19).

Minister Navin Dissanayake is said to have expressed his views regarding the quality of the asbestos being imported from Russia at the meeting between Cabinet Minister. Based on these opinions the cabinet is said to have decided to postpone the ban on Asbestos which was to take effect from January 2018.

The government in 2016 had decided to ban all asbestos-related products in the country by 2024.

Meanwhile, it was also decided to deploy a special team to Russia. The team will report back on the quality of asbestos being imported from Russia sources claim. The team will comprise of officers from the Ministry of Science and Technology who will also present the cabinet with a health study report.

Tea and Asbestos investigation in Russia

Accordingly, two teams comprising of specialists attached to the government is set to visit Russia shortly where one team will hold discussions on the ban imposed by Russia on Sri Lankan agricultural products while the other team will look into the quality of asbestos sheets.

Speaking to ISIS news Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Dr Saman Weerasinghe said the team from Sri Lanka will visit the country on December 24 to observe the quality of Asbestos produced there on a special invitation from the Russian officials.

He also maintained that he held discussions yesterday (19) with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture in Russia and officials in this regard. The invitation was made at this meeting he said.

According to Russian officials, Russian manufactured Asbestos is not harmful and the visit will give the Sri Lankan team a better insight into its quality and manufacturing process the Ambassador further added.

Tit for Tat?

The ban on tea exports from Sri Lanka to Russia took effect on December 18 while former Ambassador to Russia during the Rajapaksa regime Udayanga Weeratunga claimed the ban on tea had been a tit for tat move by the Russians due to the ban on asbestos products in Sri Lanka.

The ban on asbestos was imposed according to a policy of President Maithripala Sirisena with the country set to ban asbestos sheets fully by 2020 according to his vision.

The basis for the ban by the government and the President has been presented as its cancer-causing nature. Sri Lanka imports asbestos mainly from Russia.

However, sources say Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alexander Karchava had expressed his displeasure at the baseless ban imposed.

Problem can be resolved

However, Ambassador Dr Weerasinghe claims that there is no connection between the two bans adding that the ban on tea exports can be resolved shortly.

The team to discuss this ban imposed will leave to Russia today (20) he said. The team will comprise of officers from the Tea Board, Tea Research Center and Tea Exporters Association.

The dates of the discussion are yet to be set however he said it will most probably be held on Friday he added.

No issue with other countries

Meanwhile President of the Tea Exporters Association Jayantha Karunaratne said while tea exports to Russia have halted, the exports to other countries are continuing as usual. ]

He also went on to say the beetle found in the tea have not been found in Sri Lanka for over 10 years and that Russian officials have informed the Association that it is a incidental occurrence.

Both parties are interested in resolving the issue soon he said.