Embilipitiya, — Sassrika Lanka (Pvt) Ltd welcomed a high-level delegation from the Australian High Commission and the Market Development Facility (MDF) to its Bio Super Phosphate (BSP) manufacturing facility in Embilipitiya today, marking another important milestone in the company’s journey to strengthen locally developed fertilizer solutions for Sri Lankan agriculture.
The delegation was led by H.E. Matthew Duckworth, together with Ms. Zoe Kid, First Secretary; Mr. Sivasuthan, Program Manager, DFAT; Ms. Maryam Piracha, Country Director, MDF; and Ms. Vasundara Kalansuriya, Business Advisor, MDF.
The visitors were welcomed by Dr. Thulitha Ranwala, Founder and Managing Director of Sassrika Lanka; Mr. Isuru Nirmana, General Manager; Mr. Asitha Mendis, Business Advisor, and members of the company’s management, technical and factory teams.
From Sri Lankan Research to Commercial Fertilizer Innovation
Sassrika Lanka’s journey began with research aimed at addressing one of Sri Lankan agriculture’s long-standing challenges — the country’s dependence on imported phosphorus fertilizer despite possessing its own natural phosphate resources at Eppawala.
Following the completion of its initial laboratory research in 2014, Sassrika Lanka was incorporated in 2016, and its flagship Bio Super Phosphate (BSP) received its first registration with the National Fertilizer Secretariat in 2017.
BSP was developed using Eppawala Rock Phosphate together with biological and microbial technology, with the objective of making locally available phosphorus more accessible for crop nutrition. The innovation subsequently received patent protection and other national recognition, while Sassrika Lanka continued developing its manufacturing and quality-management systems.
Today, the company operates a dedicated manufacturing facility in Embilipitiya and continues to expand its production and distribution capabilities. Factory visit 1.pdf
MDF Partnership Helps Take Innovation to the Market
A significant turning point in Sassrika Lanka’s commercialization journey came through its partnership with the Market Development Facility, supported by the Australian Government.
While Sassrika Lanka had developed the technology and manufacturing capability, wider commercialization required greater farmer awareness, field-level evidence, retailer confidence and stronger market access.
During the 2023 Maha season, at the beginning of the major MDF-supported market-development intervention, BSP recorded sales of approximately 360 bags through 16 retail outlets in Ampara.
Since then, Sassrika Lanka has progressively expanded its farmer outreach and distribution network across several agricultural districts. By the 2026 Yala season, approximately 20,000 bags of BSP had been distributed, representing substantial growth from the initial market-development stage.
MDF support has contributed to strengthening farmer engagement, field validation, market development, retail expansion and product presentation, including the transition towards improved BOPP packaging.
Field evidence has also played an important role in building market confidence. Harvest analysis presented by Sassrika Lanka recorded a 23.56% yield increase in the analysed BSP comparison, supporting further evaluation and adoption of the locally developed fertilizer technology. Factory visit 1.pdf
Delegation Observes Manufacturing Process
During today’s visit, the delegation toured Sassrika Lanka’s manufacturing facility and observed key stages of BSP production, including raw-material preparation, microbial processes, granulation, screening, product handling and packaging.
Following the factory tour, Dr. Thulitha Ranwala presented the scientific and technical background of BSP and the history and future direction of Sassrika Lanka, while Mr. Asitha Mendis outlined the company’s market-development and distribution journey.
The programme also provided an opportunity for H.E. Matthew Duckworth to share his observations on Sassrika Lanka and its progress, while Ms. Maryam Piracha shared MDF’s perspective and insights on the partnership and its future potential.
Looking Towards National Scale
Sassrika Lanka is now preparing for its next stage of growth. Its current Embilipitiya facility has a production capacity of approximately 20 metric tonnes per day, equivalent to around 120,000 bags annually at the presented operating scenario.
The company’s longer-term expansion vision includes establishing an additional manufacturing facility closer to the Eppawala Rock Phosphate deposit, with a planned capacity of approximately 40 metric tonnes per day.
According to Sassrika Lanka’s expansion projections, the two manufacturing facilities together could eventually provide the annual phosphorus fertilizer requirement for approximately 360,000 farmers, representing around 15% of Sri Lanka’s national phosphate requirement for paddy under the company’s presented scenario. Factory visit 1.pdf
Dr. Ranwala said the company’s long-term objective is not simply to increase fertilizer production, but to demonstrate how Sri Lankan scientific innovation and local mineral resources can be transformed into commercially viable agricultural solutions.
The visit concluded with a discussion between the delegation and Sassrika Lanka team on the company’s progress, future expansion and opportunities to further strengthen the contribution of locally developed technologies to Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector.
The partnership between Sassrika Lanka and MDF demonstrates how local innovation, when combined with effective market-development support, can progress from laboratory research to manufacturing, farmer adoption and ultimately national-scale impact.
