Outdated quarantine laws stifle SL agriculture growth By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s):Archaic quarantine laws are deterring the Sri Lankan agricultural sector from achieving its full potential. The South American Leaf Blight (SALB), caused by the fungus Microcyclus ulei, is a highly destructive quarantine disease of rubber trees confined to the Americas. It posed a significant threat to Sri Lanka’s rubber industry in the 1950s, as local clones are susceptible. He said that this restricts the local farmers from relying on the low-yielding, traditional crop varieties. “They get advice from certain fertiliser companies about compounds and blends which are the best nutrients for their crops.

Source: Sunday Times March 01, 2026 05:04 UTC