Govt to save Rs. 19 b through new fertilizer company

EPPAWALA: Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama said, after the starting of the Single Super Phosphate factory of Lanka Phosphate Ltd, a large sum out of Rs. 12 billion, which the Government spends from public funds for the importation of fertilizer and Rs. 7 billion, which is paid for the fertilizer subsidy, could be saved.

Minister Welgama further stated that from the new factory employment could be provided to about 250 people.

The Minister said so at the Eppawala Lanka Phosphate premises with regard to the inauguration of the 'Phosphate Compost' new organic fertilizer project.

Minister Welgama said: "The Phosphate Company has made arrangements for the basic activities to open a new factory to manufacture Single Super Phosphate fertilizer at a cost of Rs. 750 million.

For this purpose, initial action has been taken to acquire the entire plot of land belonging to the phosphate deposit at present.

After the use of the fertilizer manufactured in the new factory, the majority of the money out of the Rs. 19 billion, spent by the Government annually for the importation and the subsidy could be saved. Moreover, we would also able to provide employment to 250 unemployed youth of this area.

Today, we have been able to enjoy the benefits of the peaceful struggle engaged in by the people of this area not to let this Phosphate deposit which is a national asset to be handed over to a foreign company."

"Many believe that chemical fertilizer is harmful to the human body. This new natural fertilizer is an option for it. Moreover, anybody could easily manufacture this. Under Mahinda Chinthana, priority has been given to develop rural areas.

Almost all the industrial estates existing under the Ministry of Industrial Development and all the factories initiated under the 'Gamata Karmantha' Programme are being opened in rural areas. Through the new fertilizer factory of the company, the economy and the infrastructure facilities of the area would be developed."

Phosphate Company Chairman Dr. Chandana Udawatta said: "As raw materials for this type of fertilizer, we used straw, parts of plants, urea, cow-dung and rock phosphate. In our country, annually around three million metic tonnes of straw is retained.

In the same manner, there is a large amount of plant pats in the form of discarded vegetables, which gets collected daily.

Our objective is to utilize this waste for a purpose and through this to manufacture a type of organic fertilizer without chemicals which could be used for paddy, vegetable and fruit cultivation."