Coir production factory opened in Kobeigane

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and National Languges and Social Integration Minister S.B. Navinne Thursday opened a coir production factory in Kobeigane, Nikaweratiya in the Kurunegala district, to be operated by Jiffy Products Sri Lanka Limited, the Sri Lankan subsidiary of Jiffy International AS Kristiansand, Norway.

Jiffy Products Sri Lanka Limited has set up the new plant in a 75 acre land with the approval of the Board of Investment in a Rs.250 million project to expand their operations in Sri Lanka.

Norwegian Government acting Ambassodor was also present on this occasion. The factory will generate 100 jobs, Economic Development Ministry sources said.

The plant will be Jiffy’s third in Sri Lanka .

The company will increase its monthly coir products exports from the present 5,000 metric tonnes to 8,000 metric tonnes with the establishment of the new plant at Kobeigane, the sources said.

The company earns US dollars three million annually and it expects to increase its revenues to US dollars five million by the end of the year as it will expand its distribution of plant propagation substrates, substrate systems and related horticultural products throughout the world, a company official said.