Record harvest in salterns

M Nelson Piyaratne, Kataragama group cor

The Hambantota Maha Lunu Levaya, Bundala Saltern and Palatupana Saltern, belonging to Lanka Salt Company recorded a harvest of 90,000 metric tons of salt this year.

The company expects to reap a harvest of over 100,000 mts next year.

There will be an increase in salt production as the Palatupana Saltern will be developed next year, company chairman Pradeep Wijayasiriwardana said. He said Palatupana Saltern is situated on 860 acres while salt is produced only in 150 acres.

Wijayasiriwardana said they would be able to produce salt in 500 acres next year.

Steps have been taken to dig a new canal to bring sea water and to construct a pump house as the preliminary steps to develop Palatupana Saltern.

The chairman said the company received several orders from foreign countries.