Fertiliser dispute to be settled by arbitration

● The company insisted on payment for the stock of fertiliser shipped to SL ● SL authorities declined to accept it after the NPQS said it detected harmful bacteria

Qingdao Seawin Biotech, the Chinese company involved in the fertiliser dispute, has decided to settle the matter by arbitration, Daily Mirror learns. The company has served the notice of arbitration to the Sri Lankan authorities. The company insisted on payment for the stock of fertiliser shipped to Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan authorities declined to accept it after the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) said it detected harmful bacteria called ‘Erwinia’ in samples.

However, the Sri Lanka Standard Institute cleared the stock. Currently, there is a court order barring the stock from being uploaded in any port in the country.

The Chinese company disputed findings by the NPQS. It said even the third party testing organisation had cleared its product of any harmful bacteria.