Lankem Ceylon invests Rs. 3 b for first state-of-the-art Single Super Phosphate fertiliser factory

From left: Lankem Ceylon Managing Director Suren Goonewardene, Colombo Fort Land & Building Group Managing Director Anushman Rajaratnam, Lankem Ceylon and Colombo Fort Land & Building Group Chairman S.D.R. Arudpragasam, Science and Technology Minister Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena, Agriculture Ministry Secretary D.P. Wickramasinghe, Lankem Minerals Chairman Ananda Hettiarachchy, and Lankem Agro CEO Nishantha Jayamanne 

Lankem Ceylon PLC has unveiled ‘Mada Raja,’ Sri Lanka’s first locally manufactured Single Super Phosphate (SSP) fertiliser, marking a significant milestone in strengthening national agricultural self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on imported fertilisers. 

Manufactured by Lankem Minerals Ltd., a fully owned subsidiary of Lankem Ceylon PLC, the product is manufactured at the state-of-the-art facility with an annual capacity of 50,000 metric tons. This positions the company to meet up to 80% of the country’s SSP fertiliser requirement through local production, a strategic step towards building a more self-sustaining agriculture ecosystem. 

Backed by Lankem Ceylon PLC’s Rs. 3 billion investment, the product strengthens a sustainable national value chain by utilising Eppawala Rock Phosphate and sourcing over 30,000 metric tons annually from Lanka Phosphate Ltd., reducing imports, enhancing supply security, and generating employment within the Anuradhapura community while reinforcing long-term agricultural resilience in Sri Lanka.

Lankem Ceylon PLC Managing Director Suren Goonewardene said: “The launch of ‘Mada Raja’ signals a significant step forward in building Sri Lanka’s agricultural resilience. As a Group, we are focused on enabling long-term national value creation by reducing import dependency and strengthening domestic capability. This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting farmers and the broader agricultural sector through locally manufactured, sustainable solutions.”

Beyond its national and economic significance, ‘Mada Raja’ introduces a more balanced and forward-looking approach to plant nutrition. Unlike conventional phosphate fertilisers such as Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), which primarily supply phosphorus, SSP delivers a combination of phosphorus, sulphur, and calcium, supporting both crop productivity and long-term soil health.

The relevance of SSP is particularly pronounced in Sri Lanka, where soils have become increasingly sulphur-deficient due to continuous cropping, declining organic matter, and the widespread use of high-analysis fertilisers. By restoring this essential nutrient balance, ‘Mada Raja’ supports improved crop quality and productivity across key sectors including paddy, tea, coconut, pulses, and oil crops.

Lankem Minerals Ltd., Chairman Ananda Hettiarachchy said: “In Sri Lanka, sustaining agricultural productivity requires a shift from short-term input optimisation to long-term soil health management. SSP enables this transition by addressing critical nutrient deficiencies while improving overall soil structure and biological activity. Our focus is to support farmers with solutions that deliver consistent performance while restoring the natural capability of the soil over time.”

Unlike conventional phosphate fertilisers such as TSP, SSP delivers an integrated nutrient profile, combining phosphorus for root development, sulphur for protein synthesis and enzyme activity, and calcium for improved soil structure, resulting in better nitrogen-use efficiency and more consistent crop performance. Its agronomic benefits are particularly evident in crops like tea, where sulphur enhances leaf chemistry and cup quality, while also contributing to long-term soil regeneration by improving aggregation, aeration, and overall soil fertility for sustained productivity.