News
Agriculture Dept recommends Eppawala Single Super Phosphate over imported TSP for paddy and other crops
By Ifham Nizam
The Department of Agriculture has recommended Single Super Phosphate (SSP) fertilizer as the most suitable option for country’s soil, replacing imported Triple Super Phosphate (TSP).
The steering committee yesterday appointed by the Presidential Secretariat convened to discuss the utilization of Single Super Phosphate fertilizer derived from Eppawala Rock Phosphate for paddy cultivation and other crops. Chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Mahinda Amaraweera, the focus of the meeting was the domestic production of Single Super Phosphate fertilizers.
Annually, Sri Lanka allocates USD 30 million on importing triple super fertilizers. However, recent research indicates that Single Super Phosphate fertilizer is highly compatible with our soil, presenting a viable alternative. The Eppawala rock phosphate deposit, currently holding 60 million tonnes of phosphate, ensures a sustainable production of single super phosphate fertilizers for years to come. This initiative promises significant savings by negating the need for costly imports.
Presently, eight private sector manufacturers have commenced large-scale production of single super phosphate using rock phosphate from Eppawala. Consequently, both privately and government-produced fertilizers are poised to support paddy cultivation in the upcoming Maha season.
Minister Mahinda Amaraweera emphasized the importance of informing farmers about the benefits of single super phosphate. He directed the National Fertilizer Secretariat and the two state-owned fertilizer companies, Lanka Fertilizer Company and Commercial Fertilizer Company, to initiate an outreach program.
The Minister also noted the directive from President Ranil Wickremesinghe to expedite the production of Single Super Phosphate domestically. Plans are underway to implement the use of this fertilizer starting from the 2024/25 Maha season.
The Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development has recommended the establishment of Sri Lankan Standards, i.e. the import testing methodology for imported tires used for passenger cars and pneumatic tires for three-wheelers with the aim of ensuring a fair competitive environment for local
manufactures and ensuring consumer safety and security.
Taking into the said recommendations, “Import and Export (control regulations N0.08 of the 2026)” has been enacted to amend the existing regulations by means of the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2508/27 dated 2026-10-01, prescribing Sri Lanka standard 1212 for the import of passenger types (HS Code 4011.10.90) and Sri Lanka standard 1347 for the import of
pneumatic tires for three – wheeled vehicles (HS Code 4011.90.10).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to submit the aforementioned regulations to Parliament for approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 02.06.2025 to introduce a new act to promote and providing legal provisions for facilitating the Public Private Joint Enterprises within Sri Lanka as well as the establishment of the National Agency for Public Private Partnership Joint Enterprises.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the relevant draft bill and the Attorney General has given his clearance to the said draft bill.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said
draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby submit it to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Regulation, development and control of indigenous medical sector in Sri Lanka comprised of Ayurvedha, Sidhdha, Unani, Local Therapies are carried out under the provisions of Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Although amendments were made to the act from time to time as per the requirements, the necessity of further amending the Ayurvedha Act has been identified to enable efficiently maintaining all activities of local medical field productively, further formalizing the regulation of the sector, taking actions to providing licenses applicable to export of local medicines, and achieving the progress and sustainable development goals in the local medical sector.
Based on the said factors, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to direct the Legal Draftsman to formulate a draft bill to amend the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 08 of 2026
Draft Bill of the Public Private Partnership Enterprises Act to be gazzetted
Amendment of the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961
Cabinet nod to amend the Sri Lanka Development Administration Institute Act No. 9 of 1982
Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre
State patronage for the cremation ceremony of the late deputy prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of the Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya, Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha, Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero
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