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.

A conference titled ‘Riding the Indian Wave: World’s Fifth Largest Economy on Sri Lanka’s Shores’ was held today (March 27) at ITC Ratnadipa Hotel, Colombo. 

This conference was hosted by Verite Research with the support of the High Commission of India, Colombo and Hayleys Advantis.
The day-long conference in its three sessions explored how Sri Lanka can strategically leverage its proximity and connectivity to India – an emerging global economic powerhouse – to enhance exports, attract investments, and drive sustainable economic recovery.

Setting the stage, Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, delivered the welcome remarks highlighting how India’s multi-sectoral advancements can contribute to regional prosperity. He underlined the ‘India Opportunity’ for Sri Lanka particularly in areas of technology, logistics and skill development.

This was followed with the keynote address by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment –  Arun Hemachandra, who emphasised the special bonds between India and Sri Lanka as a unique strength for Sri Lanka to ride the wave of India’s emergence. Proposing Joint Ventures as the way forward, he identified entrepreneurs and innovators to be leading this shared pathway.

The hybrid conference saw over a hundred participants, including senior policymakers, industry leaders, economic experts, members of think-tanks and media community from Sri Lanka and India. 

The conference is another initiative by High Commission of India to encourage and promote conversations at Track 1.5 and Track 2 levels in order to further enrich the canvass of the India-Sri Lanka partnership, engage community on both sides in formulating the future roadmap and enhance mutual trust and goodwill between the people of the two countries.