Pelwatte Dairy invests Rs 300 Mn to upgrade milk collection and storage sectors
Pelwatte Dairy Industries Ltd had invested over Rs. 300 million in the last 18 months to upgrade their milk collection and storage sectors, said Pelwatte Dairy, Managing Director Akmal Wickramanayake.
He also disclosed that they pump in around Rs. 12 billion annually to purchase fresh milk from farmers. “we are putting our second factory in Kurunegala which will be opened soon and with this we will double our fresh milk intake from farmers to Rs. 24 billion.”
He also said they export ice cream and butter to Maldives and soon will expand their overseas markets to Seychelles and Mauritius. “locally we command around 25% market share to date.”
Pelwatte’s commitment to FSSC reinforces consumer and business partner confidence by maintaining the highest levels of food safety and regulatory compliance.”
Pelwatte Dairy Industries Ltd also announced that as part of its overarching safety strategy, they have adopted ISO 45001, the global standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). “As we expand into export markets, maintaining these high standards will ensure we remain competitive globally while upholding our commitment to safety and environmental responsibility.”
“This certification establishes a framework to enhance employee safety, reduce workplace risks, and create better, safer working conditions and is the first to receive this in the dairy industry,” he said.
The main objectives under this standard include promoting a safety culture by encouraging leadership and employee participation, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance with local laws such as the Factory Ordinance and international standards like those from the International Labour
Organization (ILO), and preventing workplace injuries through robust risk assessments aimed at achieving a zero-accident environment. In addition, Pelwatte Dairy Industries highlighted its ongoing efforts to improve environmental performance through the adoption of the ISO 14001 framework.
The FSSC (Food Safety System Certification) is another critical framework adopted by Pelwatte Dairy, ensuring that all products meet global food safety standards. Chairman Ariyaseela Wickramanayake said that Sri Lanka is now self-sufficient in Milk and there is no need for imports.
Assistant Manager – SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality), Chaminda Lanka, echoed these sentiments, adding, “We actively engage with every employee to make sure safety practices are fully integrated into their daily routines. Our focus is to create an environment where safety becomes second nature.”
“The company reaffirmed its commitment to meeting both local and international health and safety standards, including the Factory Ordinance and the ILO guidelines,” Lasantha Silva, General Manager – Manufacturing, stated.
Senior QA Manager, Shashikala Madakumbura, further emphasized the need for aligning safety practices with quality management: “Our quality assurance systems are designed to not only meet regulatory standards but also to proactively identify and mitigate potential risks that could impact the well-being of our employees or the quality of our products.” (SS)
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