Hingurana sugar factory in operation

M. A. Phakurdeen Addalaichenai Group Correspondent

Reconstructed Hingurana sugar factory closed for over 15 years owing to terrorism, ceremonially commenced crushing at an auspicious time after religious observances on May 19 in the presence of a large gathering.

Senior Minister P Dayaratna participated as chief guest.

Education Provincial Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake and Chief Operating Officer of Browns Group of Companies Rimoe Saldin inaugurated sugar production by feeding bundles of sugarcane to the crushing machine.

Gal- ya Plantations (Pvt.) Limited who undertook the administration of the Hingurana sugar factory since 2012 has brought 2,000 hectares of land under sugarcane cultivation by which 165,000 MT of sugarcane is expected with a production of 150,000 MT of sugar, according to Senior Plantation Manager E. Nayana De Z. Abeysekera.

He said the crushing activities also paved way to provide 900 persons with direct employment and 2,000 persons with indirect employment as the sugarcane harvesting activities are in hive of activity in Hingurana and the suburbs.

The crushing ceremony presided by Director /CEO Gal-Oya Plantations (Pvt.) Ltd Gamini K. B. Ratnayake was attended by Plantations Director Lalith Gamage, Assistant Plantation Manager A. Mohamed Harrreis, Damana Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Mangala Goonaratne and other officers.

Senior Minister Dayaratna and invitees inspected the machinery of the factory.