Lanka Phosphate Ltd (LPL) was incorporated on 10th July, 1992 in terms of the conversion of public corporations or government owned business undertaking into Public Companies Act, No 23 of 1987 to take over the Eppawala Phosphate Project of the State Mining & Mineral Development Corporation. It is fully owned by the Secretary to the Treasury on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. LPL becomes a fully independent organization with the separation from Bogala Graphite Ltd in November 1998. Company has exclusive exploration rights over 450 hectares of land at Eppawala in Anuradhapura district on which a large Rock Phosphate deposit is located. The ore is currently estimated at 60 million Tons containing 33-40% of P2O5 and is considered to be one of the richest and unique phosphate deposit in the world.
Currently LPL produces two types of rock phosphate fertilizers namely Eppawala Rock Phosphate (ERP) and High-Grade Eppawala Rock Phosphate (HERP), which are used as fertilizer for perennial crops in Sri Lanka. In addition, LPL operating a Fertilizer mixing plant at Wariyapola, Kanaththewewa since 2014. However, there is a big potential to expand our activities to give the maximum benefit to the nation from this valuable deposit.
At present, we are producing about 60,000 mt Eppawala Rock Phosphate annually and marketing the same for plantation crop sector. Our fertilizers are used for perennial crops such as Tea, Rubber, Coconut, export cash crops and fruit crops. Tea plantations dominate 60 percent of the use of Eppawala Rock phosphate, whereas rubber and coconut sectors share 30 percent of the use. The export cash crops and the fruit crops mainly share the balance. Because of the use of our own Phosphate fertilizer there is a saving of substantial foreign exchange over Rs. 500 million annually.
I wish all the success to Lanka Phosphate Ltd for its future endures.
G.A.M.S.P. Ambanwela
Chairman
