Pelawatta Sugar factory profits in the millions

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Pelawatta Sugar factory recorded a Rs 122 million net profit during the past two months. Around 20,000 kgs of sugar is provided for the Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation by the sugar factory for a month, Productivity Promotion Ministry former Secretary and new Indigenous Medicine Ministry Secretary Lalith Kannangara said.

He was addressing the media after assuming duties at the ministry yesterday.

Only six percent of the country’s sugar requirement is produced in the country. Plans have been made to produce 40 present. The government will increase the sugar production by 20 percent in next five years, he said.

Sri Lanka imports sugar from Thailand and India. However, due to floods in Thailand and drought in India, the production has reduced in the two countries, he said. The Kanthale sugar factory was not operated during the past 20 years. The government will restart it soon, he said. Sugarcane nurseries will be established in 200 hectares at Kantahle and 10,000 hectares in Kilinochchi, he said.