A new table salt production facility at Elephant Pass was officially declared open yesterday (March 29).

The event was held under the patronage of Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development – Sunil Handunnetti.

Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and modern facilities, the factory is capable of producing up to 05 Metric Tonnes of table salt per hour.

The facility will manufacture iodine-mixed table salt branded as “Raja Lunu” in 1kg and 400g retail packs, which will be available to consumers at an affordable price from April 01.

The factory is to also generate around 450 direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Handunnetti said that they intended to reach excess production levels within 02 – 03 years and export the excess.

He also said that they also intend to start production at the adjoining Kurinchativu saltern which was abandoned during the war.

Sri Lanka’s luxury fragrance industry reached a new milestone with the official launch of Prestige OUD, an exquisite oud-based perfume developed in collaboration with Dominique Ropion, one of France’s most celebrated perfumers.

The fragrance is the latest offering from Pintanna Oud, a venture spearheaded by former Sri Lankan cricketer and ICC Elite Panel umpire Kumar Dharmasena. 

Building on the success of its Legacy and Elite Collections, the brand has crafted Prestige OUD using locally sourced oud from Pintanna Plantations, showcasing Sri Lanka’s potential in high-end perfumery.

A Masterpiece of Scent

Dominique Ropion, known for iconic fragrances like Carnal Flower (Frédéric Malle) and La Vie Est Belle (Lancôme), lent his expertise to create a rich, complex, and long-lasting oud perfume that blends tradition with modern sophistication.

Prestige OUD is now available at Pintanna Oud Boutiques in Nugegoda & Rajagiriya and online: www.pintannaoud.lk

A Vision for Sri Lankan Luxury

“This isn’t just a perfume—it’s an emotion, a legacy,” said Dharmasena at the launch, expressing pride in bringing a world-class Sri Lankan oud fragrance to global connoisseurs.

With its locally sourced ingredients and international craftsmanship, Prestige OUD positions Sri Lanka as a rising player in the global luxury fragrance market.

Chinese technology giant Tencent has made a €1.2bn ($1.25bn; £1bn) investment in a spin-off from Ubisoft, the maker of the Assassin’s Creed video games.

Shenzhen-based Tencent will own about a quarter of the new business, with Ubisoft holding the rest of the new subsidiary, which is valued at around €4bn.

The unit will run some of the French firm’s biggest franchises, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six.

Tencent, which is one of the world’s biggest video games developers, is also known for its internet-based services, including the hugely popular messaging app WeChat.

“Today Ubisoft is opening a new chapter in its history,” Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft’s co-founder and chief executive said in a statement.

Tencent, which is China’s most valuable company, is now Ubisoft’s second biggest shareholder with a stake of just under 10%.

“We are excited to extend our longstanding partnership with Ubisoft through this investment,” Martin Lau, President of Tencent, said.

Ubisoft said it will now focus on its other marquee titles, including Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon and The Division.

Ubisoft’s stock market value has fallen sharply in recent years after delays to the launches of new games and falling sales.

That’s despite its shares getting a boost earlier this month as investors welcomed the launch of the latest instalment of the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

The much-anticipated Assassin’s Creed Shadows had been delayed several times.

It followed the disappointing performance of another of the firm’s major titles, Star Wars Outlaws, and concerns from some onlookers about how Ubisoft is being run.

“Ubisoft has all these great games, like Assassin’s Creed, that it’s known for that recently haven’t delivered so much for fans,” video games journalist Shannon Liao told the BBC.

“There are reasons for why that business is now up for grabs and for Tencent it’s an opportunity for them to cash in on these franchises that are so beloved, that have so much street cred for gamers out there.”

The Assassin’s Creed series has sold more than 200 million copies worldwide and, according to a Ubisoft earnings report published last year, generated about €4bn revenue in the decade up to 2024.

(BBC News)