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Sri Lanka’s long-discussed Eppawala rock phosphate deposit has finally begun feeding a domestic fertiliser value chain, with Lankem Ceylon PLC unveiling the country’s first locally manufactured Single Super Phosphate (SSP) fertiliser in a Rs. 3 billion industrial venture aimed at reducing import dependence and strengthening agricultural resilience.
The product, branded ‘Mada Raja’, was launched at a ceremony in Colombo on March 30, marking the commissioning of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility operated by Lankem Minerals Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of the diversified conglomerate.
With an annual production capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes, the plant is expected to meet up to 80% of Sri Lanka’s SSP fertiliser requirement, positioning the company to play a strategic role in stabilising fertiliser supply at a time when global supply chains remain vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions.
The project is also the first significant industrial initiative in recent years to systematically utilise Eppawala rock phosphate, one of the country’s key mineral resources. Lankem Minerals will source over 30,000 metric tonnes annually from Lanka Phosphate Ltd, thereby strengthening a domestic fertiliser value chain while generating economic activity in the Anuradhapura region.
Speaking at the launch, Lankem Ceylon PLC Managing Director Suren Goonawardene said the initiative reflects a broader effort to reduce Sri Lanka’s dependence on imported fertilisers and build local industrial capability.
“The launch of ‘Mada Raja’ represents a significant step forward in building Sri Lanka’s agricultural resilience,” he said. “As a group we are focused on enabling long-term national value creation by strengthening domestic capability while supporting farmers through locally manufactured solutions.”
The project itself was not a quick undertaking. According to company officials, the concept was first initiated in 2015, followed by nearly a decade of research, technical trials and regulatory clearances before the plant reached commissioning.
A senior official involved in the project said the long development timeline was largely due to the unique mineral composition of Eppawala phosphate.
Earlier fertiliser formulations had typically relied on sedimentary phosphate sources, while the Eppawala deposit contains crystalline rock phosphate, which behaves differently during chemical processing.
“This fundamental difference in mineral structure directly affects how the end product reacts,” the official explained. “The same parameters used for conventional raw materials could not be applied identically.”
The company therefore had to undertake extensive laboratory work and industrial trials to refine the process. During this period, Lankem also worked closely with regulators and technical agencies to ensure the product met recognised standards.
The Sri Lanka Standards Institution, National Fertiliser Secretariat, and the Ministry of Science and Technology were engaged in the process, which eventually led to refinements in the regulatory framework and alignment with ISO-based quality standards.
“Through professional collaboration with the relevant institutions, the standards were enhanced and refined,” the official said. “Today we are unveiling a product that has passed through a rigorous framework of testing and compliance.”
Beyond the industrial and economic dimensions, the company says the product also addresses a growing agronomic challenge: sulphur deficiency in Sri Lankan soils.
Unlike conventional fertilisers such as Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), which primarily supply phosphorus, SSP provides a combination of phosphorus, sulphur and calcium.
This integrated nutrient profile helps improve root development, protein synthesis and soil structure, contributing to better crop performance and long-term soil health.
Lankem Minerals Chairman Ananda Hettiarachchy said the shift toward balanced nutrient management is becoming increasingly important for sustainable agriculture.
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Strong ship repair performance, narrowing shipbuilding losses and lower finance costs drive continued recovery
Colombo Dockyard PLC continued its return to profitability during the second quarter of its 2026/27 financial year, recording its second consecutive profitable quarter and further strengthening the turnaround seen since the beginning of the current financial year.
For the three months ended 30 September 2026, profit attributable to shareholders reached Rs. 164.9 million, compared with a loss of Rs. 563.6 million during the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Earnings per share improved to Rs. 0.42 from a restated loss per share of Rs. 2.44.
The latest performance builds on the profit recorded during the first quarter ended 30 June 2026 and takes profit attributable to shareholders for the first six months of the financial year to Rs. 251.2 million. This compares with a loss of Rs. 1.37 billion during the corresponding six-month period last year.
The improvement reflects continued progress across several areas of the business, led by a strong performance from ship repairing, reduced losses from shipbuilding and a substantial reduction in finance costs following the Rights Issue and subsequent debt restructuring.
Group revenue for the quarter stood at Rs. 7.49 billion, marginally lower than the corresponding period last year. However, improved margins and better cost performance lifted gross profit by 53.4% to Rs. 1.56 billion, with the gross profit margin improving to 20.8% from 13.2%.
Ship repairing remained the strongest contributor to the Group’s performance. During the first six months, ship repair revenue increased by 32.4% to Rs. 8.85 billion, while gross profit from the segment increased to Rs. 3.28 billion from Rs. 1.87 billion in the corresponding period.
The shipbuilding business also showed encouraging progress despite lower revenue during the period. Shipbuilding revenue stood at Rs. 2.81 billion as recently contracted projects remain at early stages of execution. Importantly, the segment’s gross loss narrowed to Rs. 838.4 million from Rs. 1.31 billion a year earlier, following the completion of several legacy loss-making projects and the commencement of new projects secured more recently.
Net finance expenses for the September quarter declined by 40.7% to Rs. 294.5 million. The reduction reflects the impact of the Rights Issue and the restructuring of the company’s debt profile, which has helped ease the financing burden and establish a more sustainable capital structure.
Commenting on the results, Thimira S. Godakumbura, Managing Director/CEO of Colombo Dockyard PLC, said, “The results for the second quarter are another important step in Colombo Dockyard’s recovery. We have now delivered two consecutive profitable quarters, supported by the strong performance of ship repair business, improved margins and a significant reduction in financing costs. The completion of legacy loss-making shipbuilding projects is also allowing us to move forward with a stronger portfolio of newly contracted work. These projects are still at an early stage of execution and therefore have not yet translated into significant shipbuilding revenue, but we believe they provide a stronger foundation for the periods ahead.”
The Group’s balance sheet also reflects the impact of the financial restructuring undertaken over the past year. Current assets stood at approximately Rs. 33.09 billion against current liabilities of Rs. 23.58 billion as at 30 September 2026, placing the Group’s current ratio at approximately 1.4 times.
Cash and cash equivalents increased to Rs. 17.27 billion. A substantial portion of this balance, approximately Rs. 15.46 billion, comprises interest-earning deposits held under lien as security for bank guarantees and other credit facilities supporting the company’s projects.
Debt restructuring has also changed the maturity profile of the Group’s borrowings, with a greater proportion moved from short-term to longer-term facilities. This has helped strengthen the Group’s liquidity position and provide greater financial flexibility for ongoing operations and new projects.
Administrative expenses increased during the period, reflecting the broader inflationary environment and its impact on operating costs. However, improved operational margins and lower financing expenses enabled the Group to maintain its positive earnings trajectory.
With two consecutive profitable quarters now recorded, Colombo Dockyard remains focused on maintaining the momentum of its ship repair operations, improving the performance of shipbuilding projects and strengthening financial discipline as it works towards sustained long-term profitability.
Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC reported a strong set of results for the first nine months of 2026, recording a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 3.59 billion, up 19% from the corresponding period last year, underpinned by solid growth in lending, deposits and fee-based income, alongside further improvements in asset quality.
The Bank’s latest performance highlights its continued business momentum, with total assets expanding by 22% to Rs. 374.45 billion, placing it on the verge of the significant Rs. 375 billion milestone. The results reflect strengthening customer relationships, disciplined execution of growth initiatives and prudent balance sheet management in a gradually improving economic environment.
Growth remained broad-based across the Bank’s core operations. Net Interest Income rose 12% to Rs. 10.68 billion, driven by the expansion of the lending portfolio and higher business volumes. Meanwhile, Net Fee and Commission Income increased 17% to Rs. 2.18 billion, supported by stronger trade finance activity, increased card usage and higher transaction volumes across key customer segments.
Operating Profit before Taxes on Financial Services reached Rs. 6.24 billion, an increase of 9%, while Earnings Per Share improved by 19% to Rs. 8.12, reflecting the Bank’s ability to translate business growth into stronger shareholder returns.
The Bank’s balance sheet continued its upward trajectory during the period. Net loans and advances increased by 17% to Rs. 243.45 billion, supported by healthy demand from corporate, SME and retail customers. Customer deposits grew by a robust 19% to Rs. 274.89 billion, demonstrating the confidence placed in the Bank by its growing customer base and further strengthening its funding franchise.
hSenid Business Solutions PLC (hSenidBiz) announced its financial results for the second quarter of FY2027. The quarter reflected continued progress in the quality of the Company’s recurring revenue base and the strength of the underlying operating performance, even as sequential revenue was modestly softer due to the timing of large project invoicing.
Total revenue for the quarter reached LKR 598.6 million, up 16 percent year-on-year. Recurring revenue accounted for 76 percent of total revenue, and Exit Annualised Recurring Revenue stood at USD 5.7 million, also up 16 percent year-on-year and broadly in line with the prior quarter. Sequential revenue was marginally lower, reflecting softer contributions from OnPrem and payroll outsourcing solutions, partly offset by higher tracking-device sales. The Company views the sequential movement as consistent with the normal variability of a multi-product business that is steadily increasing the weight of its higher-quality recurring SaaS revenue.
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