Rather than spending Rs. 65 billion on chemical fertilizer annually, it is commendable to stick to carbonic fertilizer at the cost of garbage and secondary waste, Agriculture Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

Thousands of years ago, Sri Lanka could export food to other nations due to the use of carbonic fertilizer, he said at a ceremony at National Youth Council, Maharagama on Wednesday, to spell out the national programme Pilisaru which focuses on Garbage Waste Management and Sri Lanka free from garbage by 2012.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party General Secretary commended the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry for taking the initiative to contribute to the national economy.

He said taking an initiative to make "gold" out of garbage coming out of each and every home was commendable, especially during a world food crisis. Sri Lanka would be better placed for providing a solution by improving the agriculture sector.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that irrespective of power and position, he would not give into pressure to prevent garbage recycling initiatives.

He said that he doesn’t work expecting votes, but for the betterment of the society.

Ranawaka said he strongly believed that protecting soil and water is of paramount importance for the future generation.