Sri Lanka, May 11 -- The government has decided to permit the private-sector to distribute urea fertilizer, according to Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Thushara Wickramaarachchi.

The Director General said the prevailing fertilizer issue would be resolved within this week and urged that no false narrative of a fertilizer shortage be created, noting that farmers are particularly sensitive to such reports.

Dr. Wickramaarachchi further stated that sufficient fertilizer stocks are available in the country and that the government has already prepared a programme to procure fertilizer supplies for the forthcoming Maha season.

Meanwhile, despite having made payments to obtain the fertilizer required for cultivation, far...