Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena earlier this month banned the imports and release of Glyphosate with immediate effect.

Agriculture Department Director General Dr. Rohan Wijeykoon said that letters have been sent cancelling the permits issued to companies that market these products in Sri Lanka.

The use of Glyphosate is believed to be the main cause for the chronic kidney disease (CKD) that is widespread in the North Central Province in the country.

In recent years a significant increase in the number of CKD patients has been observed in some parts of the country, especially in North Central, North Western, Uva and Eastern Provinces.