Thriposha factory under Govt

Disna Mudalige

The Health Ministry has taken measures to improve the total production capacity of Thriposha Manufacturing Company to 100 percent while strengthening the government program to distribute Thriposha free to pregnant mothers and children suffering from under nutrition.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena tasting Thriposha being made in the company when he participated at a ceremony to take over Thriposha Company to the Health Ministry. Picture by Samantha Dissanayake

This company operated under the Ceylon Tobacco Company was taken over by the Health Ministry administration last Friday. It resumed work yesterday as Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited Company.

About 1.5 million Thriposha packets are monthly manufactured by this company and this is 60 percent of the total production capacity. About 10,000 metric tonnes of maize and 8,000 metric tonnes of Soya Beans are required annually as the ingredients. In addition minerals, vitamins and milk powder are also used in the production.

The government spends about Rs 1,250 million to produce Thriposha. This company distributes Thriposha freely to about 750,000 pregnant mothers and children.

Addressing the occasion Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena noted that SLFP governments always came forward to protect the national assets in the country,” he said.

“Corporations comprising ordinary people were established under S W R D Bandaranaike to strengthen the national production process. Sirimavo Bandaranaike further strengthened it later. During previous regimes the profit gaining institutions and corporations and national assets were sold. The present government under President Mahinda Rajapaksa has now initiated to take over them back to the government,” he said.