NewsPlans by two ministers to fly to Russia to resolve a crisis over Ceylon tea after a bug was found in a tea container shipped from Sri Lanka are unlikely to immediately materialise, informed sources said on Tuesday. Russia last week suspended agriculture products from Sri Lanka, which is mainly tea, from December 18 after the discovery of the Khapra beetle (normally found in grains and seeds) was discovered in the packaging of one consignment of tea from Sri Lanka. It was widely believed that the suspension was a tit-for-tat over Sri Lanka banning asbestos which mostly comes from Russia. The sources said that the delay in ministers or officials flying to Russia is also connected to getting ‘urgent’ appointments with senior Russian officials owing to normal protocol attached to such visits. The tea developments were also discussed at today’s Cabinet where concerns were raised on the impact.

Source: Sunday Times December 19, 2017 13:30 UTC