Almost all sectors of the agriculture industry have seen a negative growth in 2017, according to statistics released by the Department of Census and Statistics.

The main reason for this, according to many industry experts, is the ban on Glyphosate, a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant largely used by farmers in Sri Lanka. 

They also believe last year's drought, which crippled the agriculture sector for a few months, has also contributed to the negative growth. 

Glyphosate was banned in Sri Lanka following an initiative launched by Athuraliye Rathana Thera, a close ally of President Maithripala Sirisena. 

Rathana Thera, a Buddhist monk, was one of the key advisors of President Siriesena when it came to agriculture-related matters.