Pathirana develops unique vegetable, fruit dehydration machine
Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI
Rankoth Pathirana
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A Sri Lankan engineer from Veyangoda, Rankoth Pathirana has
manufactured a vegetable and fruit dehydration machine that can be
operated without fuel.
A popular method of preserving vegetables and fruits is dehydration.
Pathirana the owner of Rankoth Industries said in Sri Lanka a lot of
fruits and vegetables go waste during the season, due to unavailability
of sufficient preservative systems and storage facilities.
This machine will help entrepreneurs in the food industry not only to
reduce production costs but also to get an additional income by way of
storing their products to sell during the season when items are in high
demand.
The rising fuel cost has become a dilemma globally. While some people
complain without doing anything about it some are trying to find
solutions to the problem using whatever the skills and knowledge they
have. Pathirana using his talents has found a solution to a particular
section of this problem without any cost on fuel.
Pathirana who is a specialist for design and manufacturing industrial
machinery told the Daily News that there is a huge potential within the
country to reduce fuel cost by using alternative methods.
The dehydration machine. |
“But it is necessary to make the people aware of these talents in the
country and make them confident about the local products rather than
importing from foreign countries at a huge cost.” he said.
Pathirana worked for two private sector companies as a mechanical
engineer and left as he wanted to do a business of his own where the
country will be benefit.
He started his manufacturing plant with a small investment two years
ago giving employment to few people in his village. He uses only saw
dust to operate this attractive dehydration machine.
The finished products using this machine is of high standard and in a
position to compete even with the international market where he
guarantees a responsible after sales service.
Being a designer of industrial machines, Pathirana is capable of
manufacturing tailor made machines required by any industrialist even on
a large scale.
Among the machinery that he manufactures are coconut scrapers, dust
collectors, spindal moulders, plastic crushers and sheet benders.
“The country spends a large amount of foreign exchange to import
machinery for various industries but most of these machines can be
manufactured here while providing employment to people with the support
of relevant authorities,” Pathirana said. |