India, May 23 -- The Director General of Agriculture has refuted allegations of releasing imported stocks of fresh cut flowers despite the presence of dangerous pests, risking the spread of these pests within the country.

Director General Thushara Wickramaarachchi said a consignment of flowers was imported into the country in 18 cardboard boxes on January 12, 2026 and since no insect pests or disease symptoms were observed in 12 of these 18 boxes, they were released after physical inspections.

He said however, after laboratory tests, the early life cycle stages of the whitefly-an insect pest specific to Chrysanthemum cultivation-and symptoms of White Rust disease were identified in samples obtained from the six Chrysanthemum boxes and ...