A shortage in the harvest of tea has been seen in the recent past, and the lack of fertiliser was to be blamed. Minister of Plantations and Co Cabinet Spokesman Dr Ramesh Pathirana confirmed that this was the current scenario in the tea industry. He made this statement during the cabinet media briefing today (19). "We never faced a shortage in tea, whereas now, we have to admit that we have had a shortage in the tea harvest. This is mainly due to the lack of fertiliser. Now that the stocks of organic fertiliser is being brought in, I am sure we can catch up and within a short while we can boost the harvest," said Pathirana. Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesperson and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Dullas Alahaperuma interrupted to clarify that the Government made such drastic decisions for the betterment of the country, and keeping the health and well-being of the people of Sri Lanka in mind. "This decision is a good decision. There is no wrong to it. Whereas, to reach our goals, time is needed and this is that period. There might be issues during this period, and farmers are being inconvenienced. But, our goals must not be given up on," clarified Alahaperuma.