Colombo (LNW): Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has called for an immediate report on the alleged use of internationally banned pesticides in Sri Lanka, following a disclosure made by the Centre for Environmental Justice that around 40 types of hazardous pesticides which are internationally banned are currently being used within the island. The Minister, accordingly, called for an immediate report on the allegation from the Secretary to the Ministry, and instructed Gunadasa Samarasinghe, the Agriculture Ministry’s Secretary, to take action as soon as possible. The Registrar of Pesticides responded to the claim of banned pesticides being utilised in Sri Lanka, stating that no approval has been granted so far for the utilisation of internationally banned pesticides.