In an Extraordinary Gazette Notification, Registrar of Pesticides DR. G. A. W. Wijesekara has banned the use or sale of Glyphosate, Propanil, Carbaryl, Cholopyrifos, and Carbofuran.

The ban prohibits the use, offer for sale or sale in the areas within the Districts of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, Moneragala and within the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Mahiyanganaya, Rideemaliyadda, Kandaketiya in the Badulla District.

The Registrar on the advice of the Technical and Advisory Committee has ordered to modify every license issued in respect of pesticides containing the five active ingredients.

A study published earlier this year in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found a link between the weedicide known as "Round Up" glyphosate and the fatal Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown origin (CKDu) affecting mostly, the rice farmers in Sri Lanka and several other countries.

In recent years a significant increase in the number of CKD patients has been observed in some parts of the country, especially in North Central, North Western, Uva and Eastern Provinces.