North Eastern Ice Co to embark on Rs 60 m project

Indunil HEWAGE

North Eastern Ice Company is to embark on a Rs 60 million investment project for the setting up of ice manufacturing plants in three locations in the Northern and Eastern provinces, Kalmunai, Valaichchenai and Gurunagar in Jaffna.

The plants’ ice production is destined for the local fisheries industry as well as road construction activities. The BOI approved project opened its first ice manufacturing plant in Kalmunai recently which has the capacity to manufacture 708 ice cubes, which is equivalent to 35 tones per day .The construction work of the other two plants are nearing completion and will be opened in another six months time.

North Eastern Ice Company Director Damith Fernando told Daily News Business that the Kalmunai project has provided direct employment for 25 initially and plans are afoot to double the production capacity of the factory in the coming months.

“We are hopeful that the demand for commercial ice from the fisheries sector in the northern area is growing with the advent of peace. It is expected that this will further accelerate the demand for ice, once the construction of Oluvil harbour is completed,” Fernando said.