Business
Lankem taps Eppawala phosphate to launch Sri Lanka’s first SSP fertiliser plant
Event coincides with volatility in global fertiliser markets
Sri Lanka’s long-discussed Eppawala rock phosphate deposit has finally begun feeding a domestic fertiliser value chain, with Lankem Ceylon PLC unveiling the country’s first locally manufactured Single Super Phosphate (SSP) fertiliser in a Rs. 3 billion industrial venture aimed at reducing import dependence and strengthening agricultural resilience.
The product, branded ‘Mada Raja’, was launched at a ceremony in Colombo on March 30, marking the commissioning of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility operated by Lankem Minerals Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of the diversified conglomerate.
With an annual production capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes, the plant is expected to meet up to 80% of Sri Lanka’s SSP fertiliser requirement, positioning the company to play a strategic role in stabilising fertiliser supply at a time when global supply chains remain vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions.
The project is also the first significant industrial initiative in recent years to systematically utilise Eppawala rock phosphate, one of the country’s key mineral resources. Lankem Minerals will source over 30,000 metric tonnes annually from Lanka Phosphate Ltd, thereby strengthening a domestic fertiliser value chain while generating economic activity in the Anuradhapura region.
Speaking at the launch, Lankem Ceylon PLC Managing Director Suren Goonawardene said the initiative reflects a broader effort to reduce Sri Lanka’s dependence on imported fertilisers and build local industrial capability.
“The launch of ‘Mada Raja’ represents a significant step forward in building Sri Lanka’s agricultural resilience,” he said. “As a group we are focused on enabling long-term national value creation by strengthening domestic capability while supporting farmers through locally manufactured solutions.”
The project itself was not a quick undertaking. According to company officials, the concept was first initiated in 2015, followed by nearly a decade of research, technical trials and regulatory clearances before the plant reached commissioning.
A senior official involved in the project said the long development timeline was largely due to the unique mineral composition of Eppawala phosphate.
Earlier fertiliser formulations had typically relied on sedimentary phosphate sources, while the Eppawala deposit contains crystalline rock phosphate, which behaves differently during chemical processing.
“This fundamental difference in mineral structure directly affects how the end product reacts,” the official explained. “The same parameters used for conventional raw materials could not be applied identically.”
The company therefore had to undertake extensive laboratory work and industrial trials to refine the process. During this period, Lankem also worked closely with regulators and technical agencies to ensure the product met recognised standards.
The Sri Lanka Standards Institution, National Fertiliser Secretariat, and the Ministry of Science and Technology were engaged in the process, which eventually led to refinements in the regulatory framework and alignment with ISO-based quality standards.
“Through professional collaboration with the relevant institutions, the standards were enhanced and refined,” the official said. “Today we are unveiling a product that has passed through a rigorous framework of testing and compliance.”
Beyond the industrial and economic dimensions, the company says the product also addresses a growing agronomic challenge: sulphur deficiency in Sri Lankan soils.
Unlike conventional fertilisers such as Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), which primarily supply phosphorus, SSP provides a combination of phosphorus, sulphur and calcium.
This integrated nutrient profile helps improve root development, protein synthesis and soil structure, contributing to better crop performance and long-term soil health.
Lankem Minerals Chairman Ananda Hettiarachchy said the shift toward balanced nutrient management is becoming increasingly important for sustainable agriculture.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
HNB FINANCE PLC has strengthened its Board with the appointment of four Independent Non-Executive Directors, effective September 8, 2026.
The new directors are Renuke Wijayawardhane, Shanti Gnanapragasam, Nabiha Mohamed and Dr. Thisuri Wanniarachchi, who collectively bring extensive experience in financial regulation, banking, risk management, corporate finance, investment strategy, development finance and public policy.
Wijayawardhane, an Attorney-at-Law and capital market professional, retired in July 2025 as Chief Regulatory Officer of the Colombo Stock Exchange after more than 31 years with the Exchange. His experience covers securities regulation, corporate governance, market infrastructure and compliance.
Gnanapragasam has over four decades of banking experience spanning treasury, risk management, credit and trade finance. She currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Cargills Bank, Wealth Trust and Vision Fund Lanka.
Mohamed is a corporate finance and investment professional who previously served as Lead Transaction Advisor at the State-Owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit of the Ministry of Finance, where she led five divestiture transactions worth over US$600 million.
Dr. Wanniarachchi brings over a decade of experience in development finance, institutional reform and social protection, including work with the World Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka.
Prime Lands Residencies PLC has completed and officially handed over The Palace Gampaha, described as the largest planned gated residential community in Gampaha, to its homeowners.
The development, which commenced construction in 2021, is located two kilometres from Gampaha town and 100 metres from the Colombo-Kandy main road.
Spread across 13.5 acres, The Palace Gampaha comprises 480 two- and three-bedroom apartments in a ground-plus-three-floor development, with prices starting from Rs. 27.5 million.
The project allocates about 80% of its land to landscaped areas and common facilities, while the remaining 20% is used for apartment development. Facilities include a swimming pool, gymnasium, clubhouse, library, community kitchen, laundry, mini-mart and a daycare centre managed by the Lyceum Group.
The fully gated community also incorporates solar power for common areas, underground electricity cabling and a sewage treatment plant with water recycling facilities.
Prime Residencies said all statutory approvals required for the handover had been secured, including certifications from the Condominium Management Authority and registration of the Condominium Plan and Deed of Declaration.
Prime Group Chairman Premalal Brahmanage said the project reflected the company’s vision of creating large-scale residential communities designed to enhance the quality of life of Sri Lankan families.
The project is the latest addition to Prime Group’s portfolio of more than 70 gated community and apartment developments.
Sri Lanka’s Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) sector is losing ground despite the expansion of the industry in several regional markets, Sri Lanka Association of NVOCC Agents (SLANA) Chairperson Swabha Wickramasinghe said.
Wickramasinghe, re-elected for a third consecutive term at SLANA’s ninth Annual General Meeting last week said the continued difficulty in collecting Colombo Terminal Handling Charges (THC) as a separate land-based cost was among the key challenges facing the industry.
She said the practice placed Sri Lanka at a competitive disadvantage as principals consider the overall economics of operating through Colombo.
“When Sri Lanka becomes less commercially attractive compared with other regional destinations, the consequences eventually reach our members,” she said.
Wickramasinghe said a committee had been proposed at a recent meeting with the Minister and Deputy Minister to evaluate the THC issue, urging the authorities to expedite its appointment and review.
She also called for an early solution to the problem of uncleared salt containers at the Port of Colombo, which has resulted in delays in releasing empty containers.
With more than 75 NVOCC lines operating in Sri Lanka, she stressed the sector’s importance to regional trade, particularly links with India and China.
Ports Minister Anura Karunathilaka said Sri Lanka should expand regional business while exploring areas such as bunkering, freight forwarding and e-commerce logistics.
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