Lanwa Sanstha Cement Corporation (Pvt) Ltd. was commissioned at the Mirijjawila Export Promotion Zone, Hambantota by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday.
The 200 million US dollar fully automated factory covering an area of 63 acres is a highly value-added investment for the country as it is expected to supply around 40 percent of the country’s annual cement demand.
At present the country needs seven million metric tons per year but Sri Lanka only produces three million tons while the balance is imported. The commissioning of this plant will add 40 million metric tons per year to the construction sector, reducing the import of cement which will reduce the outflow of foreign exchange .
This BOI project is set to produce 2.8 million metric tons of cement per year to add to the present production that is available in the country which will be of a great advantage for the Construction Industry which was badly affected due to the scarcity of cement as the supply was not available according to their needs.
With this the construction industry failed to reach targets according to project plans and the outcome was that the country›s development programs too were delayed to a great extent.
The first phase of this automated factory which commenced on Monday is packed with the latest machinery with quick access in getting the raw material from ships brought straight to the grinder, a distance of 2.5 kilometres without using land routes for transportation, minimising delays and additional costs.
The other most notable part of this project is that with a high standard of automation this also will not affect the environment as the machine itself takes measures to prevent the dust from reaching the environment. The technology of this project is at its best and will not harm the public as well as nature in any form according to higher-ups of the management.
The phase two of the project is set to be completed within two years. When phase two is commissioned the Lanwa Cement Corporation will be ready to supply the full quota needed for the construction industry in Sri Lanka.
When this becomes a reality the company hopes to find ways to export products to bring the needed foreign exchange which is one of main aims of the corporation in the future.