Lanka Sugar Company, operating under the Ministry of Industries and Enterprise Development, today (Nov. 11) launched its first-ever brown sugar retail network in Nugegoda.
The initiative aims to make high-quality, locally produced brown sugar from the Pelwatte and Sevanagala factories available to Sri Lankan consumers at affordable prices.
The company, which came under state ownership in 2011, marks a major milestone with this launch—its first retail network in 14 years. The move also serves as a direct response to recent false claims that the Pelwatte and Sevanagala factories were to be closed or privatized.
Minister Sunil Handunnetti praised the initiative as a “turning point” for Lanka Sugar, noting that from January 1, the government has decided to free the company from statutory payments to strengthen its operations.
The new retail network is also expected to empower more than 250,000 sugarcane farming families by creating a stable market for their produce.
The Nugegoda outlet, located along Nawala Road, will sell brown sugar in bulk and retail, alongside a diversified range of products including jaggery, treacle, and sugarcane-based beverages.
The launch event was attended by Deputy Minister of Trade and Food Security R. M. Jayawardena, parliamentarians, ministry officials, Lanka Sugar Chairperson Sandamali Chandrasekara, and representatives of the local government and sugarcane growers. (Newswire)
