Minister Amaraweera speaking at the meeting pointed out that although the best phosphate deposit in the world is in Sri Lanka, the government spends Rs. 47 billion annually to import phosphate fertilizer from other countries. In addition Rs. 33 billion is being spent as fertilizer subsidy. "If production of phosphate fertilizer from the Eppawala deposit commenced we can save Rs. 7 billion in the country," the Minister noted.

"If the previous government had invested Rs. 900 million to produce Single Phosphate fertilizer using the phosphate deposit, by now we would have been able to produce the fertilizer needed in our country," Minister Amaraweera said. "However, under the present Government, we will begin production of Single Phosphate fertilizer shortly with the full blessings of the President," he said.