Rs. 150m machinery boost for Chilaw Plantations!
- Prasad Poornamal
Chilaw Plantations has launched a major mechanisation drive, investing Rs. 150 million in tractors, water bowsers and other agricultural machinery to improve plantation productivity and strengthen its ability to withstand climate-related challenges such as El Niño.
The machinery was handed over to the company’s plantation divisions yesterday (5) at the Chilaw plantation, in the presence of Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyaratne and Minister of Public Administration Chandana Abeyratne.
North Western Province Governor Tissa Warnasuriya, Puttalam District MP Ajith Gihan, Chilaw Plantations Chairman Chandana Dissanayake and senior ministry officials were also present.
The investment is described by the company as the largest procurement of agricultural machinery since its establishment.
The machinery, including tractors and water bowsers, was supplied by Browns Company at significantly reduced prices following what officials described as a transparent procurement process.
A tractor costing around Rs. 5 million at prevailing market prices was purchased for approximately Rs. 3.2 million, officials said.
Chairman Chandana Dissanayake said the newly acquired machinery would significantly strengthen the company’s capacity to improve productivity across its plantations.
The programme also saw the presentation of appointment letters to newly recruited employees who will be deployed at the company’s plantations.
The management has also planned to plant 200,000 coconut seedlings across its plantations during the next year as part of a programme to expand coconut cultivation and increase future production.
The new machinery is expected to play a key role in improving plantation operations and helping the company respond to changing weather patterns and climate-related challenges, including El Niño conditions.
From losses to Rs. 650m income
Addressing the gathering, Minister Samantha Vidyaratne said the plantation company had made considerable progress after facing financial difficulties in the past.
He said that when the new Government assumed office, the country had been compelled to import coconut to meet domestic demand, but that situation was now gradually improving.
The Government’s target was to increase annual coconut production to 4.2 billion nuts by 2030, while also increasing foreign exchange earnings through coconut-based product exports.
The Minister said the country was expected to make significant progress towards these targets by the end of this year, including achieving US$ 1.5 billion in export earnings from coconut products.
“When we took over this institution, there were only 23 tractors. During the nearly two years since then, we have provided 39 tractors along with agricultural equipment worth Rs. 150 million,” Minister Vidyaratne said.
He said the company had recorded an income of Rs. 650 million last year, despite having previously suffered losses, and had allocated Rs. 137 million of that income for its employees.
“We have another three years ahead of us. We will see how much we can develop this plantation company and how much we can improve the living standards of its employees,” he said.
The latest investment is expected to further strengthen the company’s agricultural operations while improving productivity, expanding coconut cultivation and enhancing its resilience to future climate-related challenges.
