Clarification on Professor Gomika’s Statement About Phosphate Fertilizer Availability in 3 Months

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Spreading fake news in the format of newspapers is commonly taking place now through social media. Here is a fact check we did on such a post.

Social Media Posts :

A post in the format of a newspaper headline was circulated on social media stating that Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya, Senior Advisor to the President on Science and Technology, had stated that, “I didn’t say we’d make phospate in 3 months. Now only I relaize how difficult it is”.

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Here are some of the responses received by the above post.

This post was also shared through WhatsApp.

Accordingly, we investigated whether Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya had made such a statement, and here’s an insight into it.

Explainer :

There is no mention of the newspaper that reported the above news. However, since the above social media post appears to be similar in format to the Mawbima newspaper, we investigated whether Mawbima had published a similar story on the relevant date.We discovered that the Mawbima newspaper had not published a similar story on the relevant day.

In addition, we also checked the other major national newspapers, and such news wasn’t published in any of them. Accordingly, we checked other mainstream media outlets as well.

Although it was not an article published in a newspaper, Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya had made this statement on the ONAIR POLITICS program braodcast on the Independent Television Network on July 8.

Accordingly, the journalist who hosts the program questions the Professor about why, although earlier some newspapers reported that it was promised to provide Phosphate in 3 months, there’s still no Phosphate even though 3 months have passed.

Responding to this, Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya says that he had never made such a statement and that it is impossible to make them in 3 months.

“Although the headlines in newspapers reported that I made such a statement, I never said that Phosphate would be given in 3 months. It is impossible to do something like that in 3 months. Today we understand that this is really a difficult task and we are stuck in a lot of trouble.”

Providing further explanation about the project, the professor stated that the project will be carried out by resolving existing problems.

Accordingly, the journalists again question how long it will take to provide fertilizer under this project.

Answering the question, the Professor states, 

“I might get into a lot of trouble answering that question. When I was questioned regarding that earlier, I said that we could finish it by the middle of this year. I though so. But it turns out it’s more difficult than that. I can estimate a time frame, but I can’t predict what will happen in the meantime.”

Dinamina Newspaper reports on phosphate fertilizer.

However, on November 12, 2024, the Dinamina newspaper reported that Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya stated that the fertilizer production at the phosphate deposit would begin within 3 months.

The news was reported with the headline “Fertilizer production to commence at the Eppawala Phosphate Deposit within the next 3 months”, along with a photograph of the professor. The article further stated that the professor made this statement while on an inspection tour of the Lanka Phosphate Company in Eppawala on November 10, along with a group of leading scientists.

Experts, including Professor Gomika, on an observation tour of the Phosphate company

A group of experts, including Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya, inspected the Eppawala Phosphate Company on November 10, 2024. Experts had pointed out that all previous governments had not taken a significant economic value from the national resource. Here, you can view the news reported on the official ITN website regarding this matter.

Furthermore, several YouTube channels had reported the comments made by Professor Udugama and other experts.  However, in none of those reports did Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya state that phosphate fertilizer would be provided within 3 months.

Some of the reports are here and here.

Statements made at the Sirasa Pathikada program.

Meanwhile, Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya, while joining the Sirasa Pathikada program on December 3, 2024, explained the facts about the Eppawala phosphate deposit. He states that the Eppawala fertilizer production project has been initiated and that its benifits will be reaped by 2025.

The professor responded to the journalist’s questions about Phosphate as follows.

Question:  How long will it take to extract superphosphate on a commercial scale? 

Answer: Most likely within 5- 6 months. 

Question: Is it possible by June 2025? 

Answer: Definitely, all that will be done by 2025, and it will be possible to reap the benefits.  

Full discussion here.

Accordingly, here the professor states that they will be able to provide phosphate fertilizer by June.

Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya’s respones

We contacted Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya, Senior Advisor to the President on Science and Technology, by telephone to inquire about reports circulating on social media stating that phosphate fertilizer could be made available within 3 months. He stated that he had never made a statement that phosphate fertilizer could be provided within 3 months. He also points out that some newspapers had reported that he had made such a statement.

Furthermore, the professor noted that over the past 7 months, the Eppawala Phosphate Fertilizer Project has had to navigate many complex situations, including legal issues. The project has involved over 15 discussions, obtained 2 cabinet approvals and cleared legal hurdles. He stated that all legal matters related to the project have now been resolved.

Expressing further views, the professor also stated:

“All this is being done for the country. It is not appropriate to talk about this project on a political level. It is a service being done for the country out of love for the country. The project is not something that has been put aside. The Eppawala Phosphate Project will continue to operate.”

Eppawala Phosphate Deposit

The Eppawala Phosphate Deposit is the most economically significant phosphate deposit in the country, out of the two deposits. It spans an area of about approximately 6 square kilometres in the Eppawala region of Anuradhapura and has a capacity of around 60 million metric tons.

It was discovered by the Geological Survey Department in 1971. In 1992, the Lanka Phosphate State Company Limited was established, and it has been carrying out mining opertations there since then. Although 50 years have passed since the discovery of the deposit, it has not been fully utilized for the country’s development. Following the current government’s assumption of power, a fertilizer production project was initiated at the Eppawala Phosphate Deposit under the leadership of Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya, Senior Advisor to the President on Science and Technology.  More information here. 

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