Parliament Committee appointed to legalise Cannabis as an export product

Dollar-starved Sri Lanka is poised to shed an entrenched inhibition about allowing the commercial cultivation of medical cannabis. As of now, cultivation of Cannabis is banned except for use in indigenous medicine and that too, under strict State control.

The export community and the Chambers hailed the move by the Government to bring in a Bill to legalise the export of medical cannabis as it has been identified as a key foreign revenue generator.

Under the direction of President Ranil Wickramasinghe, a Parliamentary Committee has been established for this purpose, and they had their first official meeting at the Parliament Complex yesterday morning.

The high powered Committee includes Justice Minister Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Health Minister Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella, State Tourism Minister Diana Gamage, State Minister of Indigenous Medicine Sisira Jayakody, President Advisor on Parliamentary Affairs Prof. Ashu Marasinghe, Defence Ministry Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne, Health Ministry Secretary S.J.S. Chandragupta, State Tourism Ministry Coordinating Secretary Dr. Arosha Fernando and the senior officers from Health Ministry, Finance Ministry and the Board Of Investment (BOI).

It is expected the Committee to meet up fortnightly to make the necessary recommendations to the Parliament at the earliest possible date.