Aitken Spence performs botanical invention

R. RAJARATNAM, Nuwara Eliya group correspondent

The General Manager Roshan Lal Perera of one of the premier tourist hotels, the Kandapola Tea Factory Hotel here, together with his team have accomplished a scientific feat in finding and generating a gasification plant out of the gliricidia plant stems predominantly planted in the hill country plantations, and which is also used as fodder for livestock.

The invention was initiated by Rohitha Rajaratne, Engineering Director of Aitken Spence Group of Companies assisted by the Enerfab Ltd and its Managing Director Indika Gallage.

By this research and findings, the gasification plant, the hotel which spends Rs. 250,000 monthly on its fuel bill has been able to cut down by 50 per cent.

According to the General Manager, by introducing this project, it had been proved beyond any doubt that the entire environment has been protected, besides becoming environmentally friendly, without any form of pollution - in addition all the delicacies produced were free of all forms of gas used.

Roshan Lal Perera explaining in detail the experiments have found to be a success, in addition to provide adequate gas to the hotel’s giant boiler, and which is to be extended to other departments in due course.

He said that the wastage of its substances has been found to be organic fertiliser, for vegetation and horticulture around the district, since it is free from carbon dioxide and sulphuric acid and other deadly chemicals.

The other project this hotel has introduced was the entire used plastic materials are being chopped and crushed by machines and exported to Singapore which is in great demand in that country.

The waste water is cured and treated in their tanks and used for their vegetation.The new project was inaugurated by the Group Managing Director of Aitken Spence, Malinga Hapugoda, sponsored by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.