Expolanka upgrades lentils splitting plant with $1 m expansion

Tuesday, 7 June 2011 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Expolanka Commodities Ltd., Expolanka Holdings’ import and entrepot trading arm, announced the upgrading of its lentils splitting plant due to an increasing demand both locally and internationally, in the first phase of its expansion drive.

The first round of expansion plans, amounting to a $ 350,000 upgrading of the plant, now gives Expolanka Commodities a fully automated lentils splitting plant.

The plant, located in Wellampitiya underwent a complete expansion, in order to meet the demands, including the addition of a state-of-the-art colour sorting machine, boasting of a capacity of 200MT per day. Expolanka Commodities is currently the third largest importer of red lentils in the country.

Speaking of the expansion of the plant, Expolanka Commodities Chief Operating Officer Azmy Mohideen commented: “The demand, both locally and globally has been huge, which led us to decide to upgrade the lentils splitting plant. The $ 1 m expansion is certainly a move in the right direction, giving us the opportunity to cater to more local market needs as well as the same internationally.”

Established in 2002, the Expolanka Commodities lentils splitting plant started off small; at its very own premises in Wellampitiya, with very basic splitting machinery – and now has a capacity of 200 MT per day. The plant produces red split/whole processed lentils as well as yellow lentils, both of high quality raw materials which, are imported from Australia and Canada.

In the market, Expolanka Commodities markets the lentils from its plant under a few brand names, including ‘Expo Gold,’ ‘Pure Earth,’ ‘Classic’ and ‘Expo Yellow Lentils’.

Speaking further on the company’s future moves, Mohideen said: “We certainly have plans of adding more production lines at the lentils splitting plant, but that’s a plan we’ll keep for phase two of the expansion. Currently, we are focused on meeting the current demands, and improving the quality of products we market. We will possibly also look at marketing consumer packing as well.”

Expolanka Commodities was established in 1980, importing and trading agricultural commodities such as dates, onions, garlic, coriander, dried fish, canned fish and wheat flour apart from lentils. The company is also one of the largest importers of sugar into Sri Lanka.