Rs. 757.4 million in dividends from state enterprises handed over to treasury

A total of Rs. 757.4 million in dividends from state-owned enterprises under the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development was handed over to the Treasury in Parliament today (07).

The dividends were officially presented to Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Minister Anil Jayantha and Secretary to the Finance Ministry Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma by representatives of Lanka Mineral Sands, BCC Lanka Limited, National Salt Company, Lanka Phosphate Company, and Lanka Kahatagaha Graphite Limited.

Acting Chairman of Lanka Mineral Sands, Gayan Wellala, handed over Rs. 500 million to the Treasury as part of the dividends earned during the past nine months. He noted that the company is on track to achieve its revenue target of Rs. 5 billion by the end of the year.

Chairman of BCC Lanka Limited, H.A. Prasanna Indrajith, presented Rs. 50 million to the Treasury. Once considered for liquidation due to years of losses, BCC Lanka has now recovered and accumulated Rs. 105 million in fixed deposits this year.

National Salt Company Chairman, Gayan Wellalage, contributed Rs. 100 million in dividends. Despite earlier production challenges caused by a national salt shortage, the company has since achieved record output, with expectations of the highest production income in its history by year-end.

Lanka Phosphate Chairman, Ananda Premakumara, announced that Rs. 100 million would be transferred to the Treasury next week, while the remaining dividends will be reinvested into company development.

Meanwhile, Lanka Kahatagaha Graphite Chairman, P.V.A. Hemalal, noted that his institution had already contributed Rs. 7.4 million to the Treasury — marking the company’s first such payment in 14 years.

The total Rs. 757.4 million represents half-yearly dividends, with officials expressing confidence that further contributions could follow upon full-year assessments.