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| Sunday, 20 March 2005 |
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Ex-planters ready to take over Eppawala Phosphate Deposit by Hiran H. Senewiratne The Association of Ex-Planters Sri Lanka (AEPSL) is offering to take over the Eppawala Phosphate Deposit, which has called for expressions of interests by the Public Enterprises Reform Commission (PERC). "We would like to offer our service to resolve the controversy over the Eppawala Phosphate Deposit for the sake of national interest," AEPSL President Lincoln Fernando said. He said that PERC has called for expressions of interest from foreign and local agencies to participate to develop deposits on a private and public partnership basis. He said that the Eppawala Phosphate deposit is considered to be one of the richest qualitative phosphate deposits in the world and it accounts for 89 per cent of the total production of Phosphate for plantation crops. AEPSL is willing to take over Lanka Phosphate Ltd and convert it into a joint stock company where the government continues to hold 50 per cent of shares. We will broadbase the balance 50 per cent of the shares among all stakeholders including the plantation sector, agricultural sector, paddy sector, Kapruka Societies, Growers Co-operative Societies, employees of the company and the General Public (especially residents in the Anuradhapura district), he said. Fernando said the Association believes that Sri Lanka being an agriculture economy should take steps to safeguard whatever resources of fertiliser available in the country and called for a "National Plan" to protect this national heritage. The Association is prepared to take over the management of Lanka Phosphate Limited who has exploration rights for deposits, to manage all deposits in an efficient and effective manner, with the use of new technology and expertise, the Association's President said. Fernando also said that this national resource should not be sold to any foreign party whatsoever, as it could be misused. |
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