Lanka Salt to export to Europe

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

LANKA SALT Limited hopes to export their products to Europe next year. The company is already exporting 100 metric tonnes to Japan through a subsidiary.

Deputy General Manger, Lanka Salt Limited, Mali Bandara said this is part of their three-year plan. A Chinese company too had visited the salt plains in Hambantota and are currently discussing on exports to China.

She said that in addition the company has also introduced fish food (Artenia) to the local market using Vietnamese technology. “We hope to increase production next year and in two years would be in a position to supply the total local requirement,” she said.

Chairman Mahinda Gunawardane is also keen to go ahead with this product.

Sri Lanka imports 10,000 metric tonnes of salt out of a annual demand of 120,000. Hambantota already manufacturers 72,000 and by the end of next year this would increase by 10,000 which would enable to stop imports.

The company has also for the first time made a profit of 28.5 per cent at the last financial year and this was the highest ever profit margin.

There are three other salt plains in Bundala, Puttalam and Elephant Pass.