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 Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to award the contract for printing and supplying vehicle number plates for the Department of Motor Traffic for a period of five (5) years to M/s South Asian Technologies based on the recommendations of the High-Level Standing Procurement Committee and the Procurement Appeal Board.
The National Lotteries board has been established subject to the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963. Having identified the requirement of amending that act which was imposed around 62 years to cater the current requirements of the lottery market, the Cabinet of Mnisters at their meeting held on 14.02.2017 granted approval to draft a new bill for the purpose.
Accordingly, the National Lotteries Board has recognized further amendments to be performed to the fundamental draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsmen.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the
resolution furnished by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to direct the Legal Draftsmen to finalize the formulation of the draft bill for the National Lotteries Board as soon as possible including the proposed new amendments as well.
The Werahara office of the Department of Motor Traffic performs issuance of temporary driving licenses in this country based on the driving licenses issued overseas, and measures have been initiated to render the service from a service window of the Department of Motor Traffic established at the Bandaranayake International Airport from 03.08.2025.
The fees charged for issuing temporary driving licenses have been published in Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 prepared under the provisions of the Motor Traffic (Authority 203) Act.
But, as the fee of Rupees 2,000/- charged for the service is not sufficient, the requirement of amending the regulations has been recognized.
The regulations for introducing the revised fees have been published in the government extraordinary gazette
notification No. 2463/04 dated 17.11.2025. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to
submit the regulations to the Parliament for its concurrence.
M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
Implementing the programme to provide concession for pepper, coffee and cardamom plantations affected by the disaster
Cabinet nod to obtain diagnostic reports under public-private partnership
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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