Unilever opens Rs.3.8bn malt drink and food manufacturing plant

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• Marks it its largest investment in South Asia

Unilever this week commenced the operations of a Rs.3.8 billion malt beverage and food manufacturing plant, under the popular Viva brand, marking the multinational’s largest investment in South Asia, according to the Industries Ministry.
Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunnetti unveiled the plant located at the Sapugaskanda Lindal Industrial Park on Thursday.
This was also the fourth plant built by Unilever in the island nation. The construction of this food processing plant was started in 2023 and production commenced this week.
Built using state-of-the-art technology, this food factory has been built with local engineering. The plant has a capacity of about 6000 metric tonnes annually. It has generated 350 direct and indirect employment opportunities and is expected to save US $ 2.5 million in foreign exchange annually. 

The state-of-the-art plant makes value additions to cereal-based beverages and generates 30 percent of the factory’s energy needs from solar energy.
Handunnetti emphasised that mega investment is a testament on confidence on the Sri Lankan economy by a leading multinational such as Unilever.
“This will immensely help the current government achieve its goal of saving and earning foreign exchange. We are always ready to facilitate big-ticket investments in such industries that save and earn foreign exchange,” he said.
Further, he opined that this plant is a major step towards self-sufficiency in food production in Sri Lanka by introducing the latest and best practices in the world.
Unilever Chairman and CEO Ali Tariq, Supply Chain Director Damith Abeyratne, Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry Additional Secretary Chaminda Pathiraja, Unilever board of directors and officers and others participated in the event. 
(NF)

**This article was edited to correct the Rs. 3.8 mn previously mentioned in the headline to Rs. 3.8 bn. The error is regretted**